Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib: A Trek with Strangers

In 2008, I first came across the existence of the Valley of Flowers. While I waited to see the images of this flourishing valley on my screen, I wondered when would I be able to visit this heaven-like place. Many people confuse the Valley to look like Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden of Kashmir or Keukenhof…

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People of Kumaon, Uttarakhand

As an obvious introvert, I find myself comfortably hiding behind a book, in a corner or under the open sky by myself. And then there are those smiles that infuse me with curiosity to reluctantly make me leave my hideout to hear their stories. Have you noticed how mountain people have a twinkle in their…

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The Serene Mir Bahay in Uttarakhand

I still remember the evening when I sat wrapped up in a Naga shawl, with a kerosene lantern light my notebook and was surrounded by quiet nothings. It was my last night at Mir Bahay. The evening when I walked into this quaint home, the first vibe made me feel warm. In the following 24…

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The Senses of Home

The concept of home is subjective. It may be a place where we have lived for most parts of our lives or for travellers like me, it could be a place we keep going back to in life. No matter the influence of the location or memory, home is a place of belonging. It is…

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Unwinding at Keanna Village Home, Uttarakhand

Greeted by the cloudy drizzle, I wished for clear skies when I entered Keanna Village Home in Nathuakhan. Nestled in a quiet hamlet of Uttarakhand, my initial thoughts of the homestay were warm and cosy. In the next two days, my conversations with Devika Aunty, who owns and lives in the compact property, made me…

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