Today's destination: Kodaikanal!!

Nearest Airport: Madurai  International airport (IXM)

Nearest Railway Station: Kodaikanal railway station (KQN)

Requirements: n/a

Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters are cool and summers can be HOT! 

Time of the year: June to Feb

Length of the itinerary: 7 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

Ananya covers some of the highlights from her trip to Kodaikanal, which started out as a weekend getaway but turned into a longer workcation. Some of the points of interest covered on the podcast include 

• Dolphin’s nose
• Waterfalls including - Silver cascade waterfall, Bear Shola waterfall, Liril waterfalls, Pambar waterfalls
• Lakes including Kodaikanal lake, Mannavanur lake, Kookal lake
• Poombrai village
• Pine forest
• Coaker’s walk
• Guna caves or Devil’s kitchen
• Pillar rocks
• View points
• Kodaikanal Solar Observatory
• Food - including Altaf’s cafe, Abby’s cafe, Mia’s treats, Astoria

Links:

Link to Ananya’s newsletter:

https://ananyavats.substack.com/

Link to Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ananya_vats?igsh=MXFmOXJ4NTFqcHpvaw==

Photo by Preethi RB on Unsplash

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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We are @‌IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.

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Today's destination: New Delhi!!

Nearest Airport: Indira Gandhi International airport (DEL)

Nearest Railway Station: New Delhi railway station (NDLS)

Requirements: n/a

Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters can be cool and summers can be HOT! 

Time of the year: October to Nov

Length of the itinerary: 1 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

The walk begins at Lodhi Gardens, following which one moves through Delhi’s iconic Khan Market with its book stores and eateries, and then passes through the Judah Hyam Hall, North India’s only Synagogue. We then pass through an ‘Art Nukkad’, move across the Taj Hotel, and reach the corridors of power, where MPs, Judges, Civil Servants, and top names of the Armed forces reside. We now reach India Gate, and the Central Vista Zone, pass through a museum and an art gallery, walk across the Grand Masonic Lodge as we enter the commoner’s road from the King’s way, pass Jantar Mantar, a Mughal-era observatory, which is better-known these days for the protests around it. After a near-10,000-step walk, We finally reach Connaught Place, with its cinemas, shops, and eateries, truly the heart of Delhi. 

• Understanding ‘New Delhi’ 
• The cities of Delhi
• What, Where, is ‘New Delhi’ 
• Shift of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi
• Lodhi Gardens
• Khan Market
• Partition and History
• Bookstores
• Khushwant Singh, Sujan Singh Park and Sir Sobha Singh
• Judah Hyam Hall
• Street Art Nukkad and Delhi Street Art
• Corridor of Power 
• ‘Lutyens Delhi’ 
• LBS Memorial 
• 10 Janpath 
• AICC 
• VP’s Home

• India Gate 
• Central Vista
• Kingsway to Rajpath to Kartavya Path
• Janpath
• National Museum
• NGMA
• Jantar Mantar, Dissent and Dosa
• Kutty’s
• Kerala House
• Agrasen ki Baoli
• Connaught Place 
• Historic Overview
• Moving around CP
• Cinemas of CP
• In and around Regal
• Rivoli
• Plaza
• Odeon
• The Bollywood Mural
• Dhoomimal Art Gallery
• Food
• Conclusion

Correa and Stein - connecting CP and Lodhi - a note on the architecture in and around Lodhi Gardens and ‘Steinabad’, and on Charles Correa’s Jeevan Bharati building at CP. A walk that begins with one great architect and ends with another. 

Map Link: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1yfha9m5qJXS4TdvYlseOyPZ0tBg0ULU&usp=sharing

Links:

Link to Aditya’s twitter: Worah | #WalkingInDelhi (@psychedelhic) / ...X · psychedelhic1.6K+ followers

Link to website: http://adityaworah.in/whois/

Link to the KBC  clip:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cpAYSw4c5s

Link to the Old Delhi episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/74UpUSZOB2qX9evCHx8NKV?si=5hd5ZQ-RQA6L_UvD-ARraA

Photo by Abhidev Vaishnav on Unsplash

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's destination: Chikmagalur, Karnataka!!

Nearest Airport: Mangalore airport (IXE)

Nearest Railway Station: Kadur railway station (DRU)

Requirements: n/a

Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters can be cool and monsoon 

Time of the year: October to February

Length of the itinerary: 5 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Sahana begins the conversation with the meaning of the town of Chikmagalur or “younger daughter’s town”, named after one of the paleygara or town cheif.
• The points of interest  include 
• Adventure activities including trekking to Mullayangiri peak, Baba Budangiri, Gaali kere, Kudremukha, Balladarayana durga, Ettinabhuja trek, Narsimha parvata
• Another option is to cut off from the busy town life  and opt for a cosy homestay and some self care. 
• Estate visits to plantations like coffee, tea, spices, arecanut, betel nut. Visiting in Jan-March will enhance the sensory elements. 
• Wildlife tours is another option like Bhadra wildlife sanctuary as well as the kudremukh reserve.  
• Temples such as Belur and Halebidu in the nearby Hassan district, lesser known ones in Javagal, Chikmagalur. 
• We also talk about the delicious cuisine of this region including fruits like jackfruit, vegetarian food like akki rotti, roast, steamed food,chutneys  and non-vegetarian food !
• Other places of interest/things to buy include Panchami kallu, Sringeri, river rafting in river Bhadra, Kyatanamakki hills, banana chips, coffee powder, spices, herbs and oils, haale toppi, or areca caps.

Links:

Link to Sahana’’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/sahana.kulur

Link to blog post:

https://vacaywork.com/chikmagalur-travel-guide/

Link to website:

https://vacaywork.com/

Link to the Bijapur episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SHkw6h3NVYWcqoEA07bMv?si=oBL-7i0FRhKeg94MgkG5Ow

Link to the Madurai episode:https://open.spotify.com/episode/0sfbo4CGkeJJImd1Acx5K1?si=8lb2biYOTcuyd5yIqCJ2Zw

Photo by Sachin S Nair on Unsplash

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Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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Today's destination: Ratnagiri  district, Maharashtra!!
Nearest Airport: Kolhapur airport  (KLH)
Nearest Railway Station: Ratnagiri railway station, RN
Requirements: n/a
Packing: Pack depending on the weather, summers can be hot
Time of the year: Post monsoon or winter months
Length of the itinerary: 8-10 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Amruta takes us around her hometown/district of Ratnagiri. The journey is split into four cluster of places which can be easily bundled with other itineraries or transit stops while travelling between major cities. 
• The four clusters include 
• Dapoli, Khed, Mandangad
• Chiplun, Guhagad
• Sangameshwar, Ratnagiri town
• Rajapur, Lanja
• We also talk about the delicious cuisine of this region including alphonso or hapus mangoes, jackfruits, amboli, modak, fish, crab, misal pav, vadas and exotic vegetables and greens!

Links:

Link to Amruta’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amrutadhalkar/

Link to Amruta’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/amruta_dhalkar

Link to the Kolhapur episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SHkw6h3NVYWcqoEA07bMv?si=oBL-7i0FRhKeg94MgkG5Ow

Link to the Sawantwadi episode:https://open.spotify.com/episode/6OjyGV4HqBPirul8EjlMr8?si=S5N-lwXTSJqDhgcLV6oZog

Photo by Jayesh Nikam on Unsplash

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Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media.

We are @‌IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.

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Today's destination: Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh!

Nearest Airport: Kullu Airport (KUU)

Nearest Railway Station: Joginder Nagar railway station, JDNX

Requirements: n/a

Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters are cold

Time of the year: Summer

Length of the itinerary: 8-10 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Priyanka shares some of her time spent in the villages of Himachal
• The primary locations include the lesser known villages in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh
• We start by exploring the ancient village of Pangna and its historic connections and legends. 
• The next pitstop is the village of Chindi where Priyanka has the opportunity to interact with the local girls, explore apple orchards and engage in some profound conversations with the locals
• Chindi is also one of the starting points to the trek to Shikari Devi temple. Priyanka shares some near mishaps during this challenging trek. 
• Another popular trek is the Kamrunag trek which is popular among the locals. 
• Priyanka also spends time around the Karsog valley, engaging in apple picking, tasting radishes and some local greens
• Other places in the vicinity include the Prashar lake, Rewalsar lake and Mandi town. 
• Priyanka also shares some lip smacking local dishes that one should not miss out on while in this region. 

Links:

Link to Priyanka’s blog: https://www.onmycanvas.com/

Link to Priyanka’s Instagram: https://www.onmycanvas.com/contact-me/

Link to episode on Manali: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7jMetTs5Kg0T3V4MOmAMLk?si=aEDm0nocQTagVMGnLcwJRg

Link to episode on Bhagsu Nag: 

https://www.audible.in/podcast/Bhagsu-Nag-Going-Offbeat-in-Himachal/B09F1Z9XHY

Link to the blog posts

https://www.onmycanvas.com/meandering-in-himalayas-simple-joys/

https://www.onmycanvas.com/apples-himachal-pradesh-india/

https://www.onmycanvas.com/himalayan-girls-patriarchy-grateful-hardearned-freedom/

https://www.onmycanvas.com/hotel-mamleshwar-chindi-karsog-mandi/

https://www.onmycanvas.com/shimla-tattapani-himachal-karsog-mandi/

https://www.onmycanvas.com/shikari-devi-temple-mandi-himachal/

https://www.onmycanvas.com/village-pangna-karsog-mandi-himachal/

https://www.onmycanvas.com/himachal-pradesh-images-india/

Photo credits: Priyanka Gupta on https://www.onmycanvas.com/

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Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's destination: Arunachal Pradesh!

Nearest Airport: Dibrugarh Airport (DIB)

Nearest Railway Station: Naharlagun railway station, NHLN

Requirements: Inner-line permit

Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters are cold and monsoons are wet!

Time of the year: Dec-Feb, or during shoulder seasons after the monsoon!

Length of the itinerary: 11 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Start from Dibrugarh
• Namdapha jungle camp in Miao
• Roing with stops at
• Tibetan settlements at Choephelling
• Golden Pagoda at Namsai
• Archaeological remains at BhismakNagar
• Lake Sally
• Aalo or Aalong (home of the Kalo tribe)
• Mechuka
• Pasighat

Links:

Link to Seema’s blog: https://seemamisraart.blogspot.com/

Link to Seema’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seemamisra/

https://www.instagram.com/lonelycanopy/

Link to Seema’s portfolio: https://sites.google.com/view/seemamisraart

Link to episode on Mechuka: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5xnYrM4dIVeOHXKh2sqngv?si=87Jk5QZ9SPiOpZLTHjduJw

Link to episode on Tawang: ​​https://open.spotify.com/episode/5VmROjDO0oJZCkpMtGjLy2?si=-hriIlseTLa6FbQ55VcnZA

Link to episode on 7 Lakes trek:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7gEeyeSuykvK25ihBw6tFj?si=QuVE285TS2qbg5Jw7x7k2Q

Link to episode on Glaw Lake: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3VlES9609CvpupgwcFSR3n?si=Zq2x35mZQ66tQchLuo9Acg

Link to episode on Indore and Ujjain:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0BwEHojSBcJi5RoMjFhWjb?si=xtfnJph4Q5m0PVlph6XPiA

Photo by Seema Misra

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Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to author and content creator, Aakash Mehrotra as he takes us to his hometown of Allahabad of the yesteryears, now known as Prayagraj!

Today's destination: Allahabad, UP!

Nearest Airport: Prayagraj Airport (IXD)

Nearest Railway Station: Prayagraj Railway station, PRYJ

Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters are cold and summers are hot and humid!

Time of the year: Feb-Mar, or during the Kumbh if you have a chance!

Length of the itinerary: 4-5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• Aakash covers a short history and mythological significance of Allahabad, formerly known as Prayag and currently known as Prayagraj, the home to the confluence of the 3 rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati.

• We also cover other influences on the city including the Mughal period and the origin of the Ganga Jamuni tehzeeb as well as the British period and the strategic location of the city.

• Important places to visit include the sangam, Allahabad fort, Civil lines and the british architecture, Khusro Bagh, Anand Bhavan, Swaraj Bhavan, Azad park, State Museum, Minto park, Allahabad University, All Saints Cathedral, Alopi devi temple, Kalbhairav temple, Lete Hanuman temple, Nag Vasuki temple, Jhusi fort of Chaupat Raja, Shankar Viman temple, Muni Bharadwaj’s ashram.

• We also touch upon the literary connection of Allahabad including the Allahabad university and some of the popular hindi writers and poets including Sumitranandan Pant, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Harivanshrai Bachchan, Suryakant Tripathi Nirala, Kailash Gautam, Yash Malviya, Mahadevi Varma, Akbar Allahabadi to name a few.

• We also visit some of the important cuisines and foods one should try while in Allahabad including chaat like khasta and dum aloo, poor ke samosa, aaloo samosa, gajak, kali gajar ka halwa, malai makkhan, til ka laddoo, mughlai dishes, dahi jalebi, amrood, kandmool.

Links:

Link to Aakash’s book: The Other Guy - https://www.amazon.in/Other-Guy-Aakash-Mehrotra/dp/9352017609

Link to Aakahs’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aakashmehrotra/

Link to Aakash’s blog: https://handofcolors.in/

Link to episode on Nagaland: https://open.spotify.com/episode/26TT57iSuUu5iGXGjOCtPL?si=1qLlPkemRJ2eOA17I7Bx2Q

Link to episode on Landour: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jyTU9Q4fQK8AIkB0mBqbM?si=VhOwfvL-T8-XiLjg7IuneQ

Link to episode on Pragpur and Garli:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3PRTJBAwq50iebqS7L5XYM?si=b-d-sjX8Ttasum8lBQhHCA

Photo by Shubhanshu Prajapati on Unsplash

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: http://www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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https://forms.gle/T72T2w72RMM4Hhye7 

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to author and content creator, Pranav Gogwekar as he takes us to the coastal town of Vengurla!

Today's destination: Vengurla, Maharashtra

Nearest Airport: Goa, Mopa (GOX)

Nearest Railway Station: Kudal Railway station, KUDL

Packing: Pack light clothes for humid weather

Time of the year: Dec-Feb

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Pranav starts the conversation with the history of Vengurla, the influence of the colonial powers - Portuguese, Dutch and British, as well as local rulers like Chattrapati Shivaji and the Sawants of Wadi. 
• We also talk about some historic milestones including the impact on the local economy and this being the target of Aurangazeb’s army. 
• We talk about some of the popular beaches - Sagareshwar, Vayangani, Mochemad, Nivti, Bhogwati ; the port, the two lighthouses of Vengurla, Crawford market, the mangroves, the burnt islands of Vengurla, Fruit research centre, temples of Vengurla and the vicinity including Rameshwar, Sateri, Vetoba, Manseshwar. 
• Pranav also talks about some must try foods, including seafood, amboi,ghavan,alni pav, usal and the cocktail. 

Links:

Link to Pranav’s book: Expedition to an Alternate Swarajya https://www.amazon.in/Expedition-Alternate-Swarajya-Subcontinent-Uncolonised/dp/B0CP3VCCWL

Link to Pranav’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pranavgogwekar/

Link to Pranav’s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@pravyavnav

Link to episode on Sawantwadi: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6OjyGV4HqBPirul8EjlMr8?si=TEJwmDg1RryHH1RHZ9rRig

Link to episode on Kolhapur: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SHkw6h3NVYWcqoEA07bMv?si=xOvaVrSoS_2FHhWPw2rSWg

Link to episode on Goa roadtrip:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5qVIaTJi9aVGkG306w94jW?si=5f0a9314ed764183

Photo by Krishna Savji on Unsplash

Follow the Musafir stories on:

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to founder of Kannur City Heritage Foundation, Muhammed Shihad as he takes us to Kannur!  

Today's destination: Kannur, Kerala

Nearest Airport: Kannur international airport (CNN)

Nearest Railway Station: Kannur Railway station, CAN

Packing: Pack light clothes for humid weather

Time of the year: Dec-Feb

Length of the itinerary: 3-4 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Shihad talks about the history of Kannur, previously known as Canonore and its significance as a port city. 
• We talk about the Mapilla bay, the origin of its name and the various travellers who visited including Marco Polo, Fahien and Ibn Batuta
• We also discuss the St. Angelo fort, the history of all the three colonial powers who rule there and a recent discovery of cannonballs in the premises. 
• Shihad also talks about the St. John’s anglican church which is nearby and the rich archives it holds. 
• Our next stop is the Arakkal museum as we talk about the only muslim sultanate of kerala, their allies, the matrilineal system of succession they follow and much more. 
• Finally we chat about the mouthwatering cuisine of Kannur as well as the cultural festivities like Theyyam.  

Links:

Whatsapp: +91 8377024979

Email: mail@cityheritage.in

Link to website: www.cityheritage.in

Link to Kannur City Heritage’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/city_heritage/

Link to Shihad’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore_with_shihad/

Photo by s.hri on Unsplash

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Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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We are @‌IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to columnist and author, Anmol Jain, as we discuss his book Wanderings in the Land of Mist - A complete story of Mussoorie! 

Today's destination: Mussoorie, Uttarakhand

Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (DED)

Nearest Railway Station: Dehradun Railway Station, DDN

Packing: Pack warm clothes

Time of the year: All year round, except monsoons

Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Anmol provides an overview of the origins of Mussoorie, the founding fathers and how the town was established
• We also talk about some of the folklore around Lord Balram and his abode in the Bhadraj hills, as well as the temple that still stands. 
• We talk about Landour, its origins, the convalescent depot, the cantonment and some of its important locations. 
• We then talk about the important personalities of Mussoorie and their connection to Mussoorie, including 
• Capt. Young
• Sir George Everest
• Jim Corbett
• General Dyer 

• We talk about Mussoorie’s infamous title of the “Pleasure capital of the Raj”, the wild parties and the separation bells. 
• We talk about the urban legends and haunted stories, including the human oil extractors and dancing mistress. 
• We speak to the evolution of brews and breweries in Mussoorie, including the IPA and VAT 69
• We close the episode with some remarkable stories that deserve to be in the movies!

Links:

Link to buy Anmol’s  book: 

https://www.amazon.in/Wanderings-Land-Mist-Complete-Mussoorie-ebook/dp/B0CG6M5L8C

https://rupapublications.co.in/books/wanderings-in-the-land-of-mist-the-complete-story-of-mussoorie/

Link to Anmol’s website: https://anmoljain.in/

Link to Anmol’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anmolj_75/

Link to episode on Landour: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jyTU9Q4fQK8AIkB0mBqbM?si=K_qBTWhzRAKbRKlCRbKrRg

Photo by Soham Kalghatkar on Unsplash

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media.

We are @‌IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.

Follow the show across platforms:

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Do share the word with your folks!

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Today's destination: Indore & Ujjain, MP!

Nearest Airport: Devi Ahilya Bai airport, IDR

Nearest Railway Station: Ujjain Junction, UJJN

Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions

Time of the year: October - Mar

Length of the itinerary: 3 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Tushar starts the conversation outlining the objective of the solo trip along with the points/themes of interest in both the places
• Points of interest covered - Indore:
• Khajrana Ganeshji temple 
• Chappan Dukaan 
• Gandhi Hall
• Lalbagh palace 
• Rajwada palace
• Kaanch Mahal

• Points of interest covered - Ujjain
• Mahakaal
• Harsiddhi Mata temple
• Chawkhamba
• Kaal Bhairav temple 
• Shipra river 
• Evening Aarti at Ram ghat 

• Other places in the vicinity
• Omkareshwar
• Bada Talaav
• Indira Gandhi tribal art museum

Links:

Link to the Thushar’s  blog: https://medium.com/@humanprojector83

Link to Tushar’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paneldaze/

Link to Tushar’s twitter: https://twitter.com/humanprojector

Link to the blogpost: https://medium.com/@humanprojector83/the-case-of-the-missing-newspaper-a-3-day-trip-to-indore-ujjain-e6b627c9da0d

Photo by Meet Gada on Unsplash

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Today's destination: Mizoram!

Nearest Airport: Aizawl airport, AJL

Nearest Railway Station: Bairabi Railway station, BHRB

Prerequisites:  Innerline permit - https://ilp.mizoram.gov.in/

Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions

Time of the year: October - April

Length of the itinerary: 7 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Krishan starts off the conversation talking about the objective of the trip, to experience the famous Chapchar Kut festival in Aizawl, to trek the Blue mountain and visit the Castle of Beuno. 
• Detailed itinerary listed below: 
• Day 0: Arrived at Aizawl. Direct flights for Aizawl is available from Delhi/Calcutta/Guwahati Airports.
• Day 1: We reached the Parade Ground super early for Chapchar Kut Festival and enjoyed the entire Day there. In the evening we went to a Private ChapChar Kut Celebration which was a ticketed entry and spent the evening there and came back at midnight. 
• Day 2: We started for Sangau at 05:10. 
• The first stop was Aizawl City itself, Our next Stop was in Falkawn Village, The Traditions Mizo Village. We spent about 40 Minutes there. 
• Our next stop at Tropic of Cancer, which was after getting a few pictures clicked here, we moved and halted at Hmuifang Tourist Resort. 
• We halted again at the Tourist Lodge in Thenzwal at 10:30 and freshen up and moved further. Then we stopped at Tuirihiau Waterfall at 11:00. We trekked further and took a Indiginious Boat to Reach to Vantawng WaterFall Originating Point. Then we went to Thenzawl Golf Course and finally reached Sangau Tourist Lodge at 19:30. 
• Day 3: Started from Lodge at 05:30. We went upto Thaltlang Village (7KM from Sangau Tourist Lodge). Then we hired a 4X4 Bolero for travel upto Far Pak, 7KM (Forest Rest House) where the foothill starts. 
• The  Blue Mountain Trek. 
• We started Hiking from Far Pak Rest House at 07:20 and Reached at Blue Mountain at 09:35. We spend 45 Minutes there and started back at 10:15. Reached back to Far Pak at 12:15.
• Day 4: We started from Siaha Tourist Lodge for the Castle of Bawinu/Great Canyon of Mizoram. Then we moved to Palak Lake. We spent about an hour there and moved to Phura. Where we stayed Over Night inn Forest Guest House. 
• Day 5: We started our journey back to Langtlai. 
• Day 6: We visited Tuirum Li-Nghasih Lui and reached Aizawl at 20:30. We had Dinner in Aizawl Club. 
• Day 7: In the morning we started at 06:00 for Lalsavunga Park and then We went to Khawpawk Waterfall then we went to Local Market, where I would have preferred to spend more time. Then we moved to Airport See Off I fly to respective locations

Links:

Link to the Krishan’s website: https://www.krishanginsan.com/

Link to Krishan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insankg/

Link to Krishan’s  Linkedin: https://in.linkedin.com/in/insankg

Link to Krishan’s twitter: https://twitter.com/InsanKG

Krishan’s previous episode on Tripura: 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/57TXGdaPPQCCuJAAtyZDfm?si=JSDsoBSTSZey6WnV9PsTVg

Photo by DigiLife Siaha on Unsplash

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Today's destination: Madurai, Tamil Nadu!

Nearest Airport: Madurai International airport, IXM

Nearest Railway Station: Madurai Junction, MDU 

Prerequisites:  NA

Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions, summers can be hot.

Time of the year: October

Length of the itinerary: 2-4 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Sahana starts the episode  with some backstories about her travels to Sri Lanka, the inspiration for this trip - from a world famous architect, Geoffery Bawa to the coolest drink in South Inida - JigarThanda. 
• We cover the history and background of Madurai as well as the popular legends about the city and its main attraction, the Meenakshi temple. 
• The points of interest include a visit to 
• Meenakshi Amman temple - the most iconic structure and soul of Madurai 
• Koodal Azagar temple - an experience going to the rooftop of a temple and observing the gopurams up close. 
• Thepakkulam temple - the floating temple
• Tirumalai Nayak Palace - the palace of the Nayaka king and location of some very popular songs from Guru to Bombay. The palace has a museum and a sound and light show as well.
• Markets of Madurai including the Pudhu Mandapam, Banana market, Sungundi sarees, Madurai Malli or jasmine, the kumkum and the dasara golu or dolls
• The cuisine of Madurai includes the variety of idlis and dosas, ragi puttu, Kari dosa, idiyappam, keerai vada, mutton chukka, bun parota, jigar thanda, paruthi paal among others. 
• Other options include a visit to the archaeological site of Keeladi, Vellacheri doll village and a number of jain caves and rock sculptures
• We wrap up the discussion with other points of interest in the vicinity including Chettinad, Tanjavur, Chennai that one can plan for an extended itinerary. 

Links:

Link to the blog post: https://vacaywork.com/madurai-travel-blog/

Link to Sahana’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sahana.kulur/

Link to Sahana’s website: https://vacaywork.com

Sahana’s previous episode on Bijapur: 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0sfbo4CGkeJJImd1Acx5K1?si=luN1sAtdSo63QvhK_fqTeg

Photo by Ben Chobot on Unsplash

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Tanushree Tyagi

Vijay Prakash 

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to returning guest, Saakshi Rajat - a traveller and co-founder at True Joy Travels, as she takes us to Goa with seniors!∂

Today's destination: Goa!!

Nearest Airport: Dabolim Airport, GOI

Nearest Railway Station: Karmali Railway Station, KRMI

Prerequisites:  NA

Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions

Time of the year: July

Length of the itinerary: 5 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Saakshi starts off with an overview of True Joy travels - a luxury travel service company for seniors, their USP and objectives. You can check out more on the social media handles of TJT linked below. 
• We discuss the planning and considerations that go into curating the trip and itinerary for seniors, origin story of TJT. 
• The points of interest include a visit to 
• A heritage walk to Fontainhas -  the latin quarter of Old Goa
• A visit to Basilica of Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral 
• A visit to some popular beaches
• A trip to Chorao island and Salim Ali bird sanctuary
• A boat ride around the mangroves of Chorao island
• A visit to a local’s home and cooking session
• A stop at Konkani canteen for goan thalis
• A visit to a casino
• A stop over at fort Aguada and the beach
• We wrap up the discussion with upcoming trips and contact info for True Joy Travels  

Links:

Link to TJT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truejoytravels/

Link to Saakshi’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saakshirajat/

Link to TJT’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyk7iRYo0Q3l-NreJMjY94A

Saakshi’s previous episode on Majuli: https://open.spotify.com/episode/16TwAz8XY5luMwv3yYsO9r?si=3QfbEnXqRRetZ5bjXa8BvA

Other episodes on Goa: 

Riverside Goa - https://open.spotify.com/episode/0HeHcX8FwaKiDHge99x5NX

Islands of Goa - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5RDLi8SRHdd14TvngVl61H?si=jz8a856xSR-h8nvYNO7csA

Susegad Goa - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6SrAaNTHCZfJ4KyuFjY1Tq?si=Nj6tJirJTmyzpCCQ8e-L9A

Roadtrip to Goa - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5qVIaTJi9aVGkG306w94jW?si=swG6hsIARuiFP5n1e194cw

Photo by Mohammad Aqhib on Unsplash

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https://forms.gle/3AYKXjBpULeXUJSP7

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with a author, columnist and podcaster Shoba Narayan as we talk about her latest book, Namma Bangalore: The soul of a metropolis

Today's destination: Bengaluru!

Nearest Airport: Kempegowda International Airport (BLR)

Nearest Railway Station: KSR Railway station (SBC)

Prerequisites:  NA

Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions

Time of the year: NA

Length of the itinerary: NA

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Shoba opens the episode with an overview of the book, her connection to Bangalore and how the book came about. 
• We talk about the history of Bangalore, including the recent discoveries of hero stones that date the city back to 750-500 BC. We also talk about the myths and legends as well as Bangalore’s earliest trade connections. 
• We dive into the transformation of Bangalore of the 90s from pensioner’s paradise to the pub city of the 00s, some of the iconic drinks and breweries, the drinking culture of Bangalore, as well as the earliest connections to liquor. 
• We talk about the monsoon delicacies and snacks and take a quick stroll down memory lane. 
• Next we cover some iconic neighbourhoods of Bangalore, including Malleshwaram, Shivajinagar and VV Puram. 
• We cap off the episode by talking about the green lungs of Bangalore and closing comments. 

Links:

Link to buy “Namma Bangalore: The soul of a metropolis”: https://www.amazon.in/NAMMA-BANGALORE-Metropolis-SHOBA-NARAYAN/dp/9357024662

Link to Shoba’s website: https://shobanarayan.com/books-main-page/namma-bangalore/

Link to Shoba’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shobanarayan/

Link to Shoba’s podcast: https://birdpodcast.com/

Photo Credit: Namma Bangalore: The soul of a metropolis, published by Rupa Publications

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Today's destination: Chhattisgarh and Odisha!

Nearest Airport: Maa Danteshwari Airport, Jagdalpur (JGB)

Nearest Railway Station: Jagdalpur Train Station (JDB)

Prerequisites:  NA

Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions

Time of the year: Oct-Feb

Length of the itinerary: 7 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Varun takes us on a one of a kind journey to the hinterland of tribal India as he shares his experience spending time with the tribes of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. 
• Varun spent a month living and interacting with tribes such as Muriaa, Maria, Halba, Gond, Dhurva,, Praja and Bonda. 
• The topics  covered during the episode include
• Cultural and religious practices
• Concept of Dowry in some tribes, hunting and eating practices, forest to table way of life
• Guru maayis and the dying form of travelling songs 
• Haats or tribal markets, things bought and sold in such markets
• Festivals of the tribes 
• Ant chutney and local brews like Salfi
• Cock fights and controversies
• Places of interest - Jagdalpur, Bastar, Kanger valley national park, Chitrakoot falls, Thirathgarh falls, Dholkal trek, Kotpad, Koraput, Deomali Hills, Bonda Ghati, Dantewada. 

Links:

Link to Varun’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirdworldstoryteller/

Link to Varun’s blog: www.windsoftravel.com

Link to Varun’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WindsofTravel

Photo by AMIT MAHATO on Unsplash

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Today's destination: Udupi, Karnataka!

Nearest Airport: Mangalore International airport (IXE)

Nearest Railway Station: Udupi Railway Station (UD)

Prerequisites:  NA

Packing: Good walking shoes and rain gear, dress appropriately while visiting temples

Time of the year: Nov-Feb

Length of the itinerary: 3-6 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Returning guest Ayush Kumar covers a comprehensive itinerary of Udupi and the places of interest in the vicinity. The itinerary can be split across religious/spiritual places, culture, nature and food. 
• Ayush also covers the experience of travelling on the Green Route (Bangalore-Mangalore), covering the western ghats
• The places of interest covered during the podcast include
• Udupi Sri Krishna temple, its origins and significance
• Kanakana Kindi at the Sri Krishna temple complex
• Experience with the temple prasada and lunch
• Ananteshwara temple
• Varanga Jain Basadi
• Kamala shile cave temple 
• Brahmi Durga Parmeshwari temple 
• Pajaka 
• Local festivals including Bhoota kola, yakshagan and Kambala 
• Manipal and places of interest including the Hasta Shilpa museum, Manipal museum of Anatomy
• Popular beaches include Padukere beach, Kodi Bengera or Delta beach. 
• Treks around the western ghats, home ot Agumbe, the city with the second most rainfall
• Exploring the unique cuisine or the region

Links:

Link to Ayush’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soul.traveller.kumar/

Ayush’s other episodes on The Musafir Stories

Coonoor - https://spotify.link/r1Vd63sWaEb

Puri - https://spotify.link/UjpVQquWaEb

Bhubaneshwar - https://spotify.link/6G5zvXvWaEb

Photo by Alka Jha on Unsplash

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Stand a chance to win Nomads of India merchandise - follow our stories on Instagram for more details!

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Vatsal Nandu, a traveller and founder of travel community Nomads of India as he takes us to the breathtaking Zanskar and Suru Valley!

Today's destination: Zanskar and Suru Valley, Ladakh!

Nearest Airport: Srinagar International airport (SXR)

Nearest Railway Station: Jammu Railway Station (JAT)

Prerequisites:  NA

Packing: Good walking shoes, camping gear if needed, AMS medication, warm clothes

Time of the year: May-Oct

Length of the itinerary: 12 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Vatsal shares his experience travelling and hitchhiking across the Zanskar and Suru valley.
• The journey starts off at Kargil and Vatsal boards a bus to Sanku. Here he explores Kartse Khar ruins and the Maitreya Buddha Statue. He also makes a trip to Parkachik and Panikhar to get a view of the Nun Kun peaks. This covers the Suru valley leg of the journey. Other options include Rangdum monastery, Drang Drung glacier 
• Next stop is Padum, which is the administrative capital of Zanskar. From here, Vatsal makes trips to Purney and treks to Phugtal monastery, Gonbo Rongjon, Stongdae Monastery, Karsha Monastery, Zangla palace and Shilla waterfall and Sani lake and monastery. This covers the Zanskar leg of the itinerary. 
• Vatsal also talks about the hospitality of the locals, some options for food and boarding as well as challenges and adventures of travelling solo. 

Links:

Link to NOI’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomadsofindia/

Link to NOI’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nomadsofindia

Link to the website: https://nomadsofindia.com/

Link to the blog post: https://nomadsofindia.com/travel-guides/zanskar-valley-ultimate-travel-guide/

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Today's destination: Nagaland

Nearest Airport: Dimapur airport (DMU)

Nearest Railway Station: Dimapur Railway station (DMV)

Prerequisites -  Inner line permit, will be arranged by Six Degree Adventures

Packing - Good walking shoes, water to stay hydrated, warm clothing

Time of the year - Sept - Mar

Length of the itinerary: 8 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• In this unique episode focused on rural tourism, Prasenjit talks about the flagship Nagaland on foot tour that spans a series of villages in this jewel of North East India. 
• The trip focuses on exploring villages, ways of life, culture, traditions of each village and tribe, all while also enjoying the bountiful natural resources that the region is blessed with. 
• The trip begins in Dimapur where the group flies into, from here, the group sets off on the journey spanning 5-6 villages listed below
• Kiruphema village is the first pitstop, where the group spends the first evening, spending in bonding exercises and learning about their local hosts
• Khonoma is the next village on the itinerary and is one of the more populous villages - it is also known for the vicinity to the capital Kohima. It is also reknown as Asia’s first green village and the group gets to learn about the shifting cultivation practised by the villagers. The team also visits the tragopan wildlife sanctuary on the way to this village. The team also gets the opportunity to do a number of village walks, visit the Khonoma fort as well as learn more about the history of the region. We also discuss the concept of Morungs of the community center for the youth of the village. 
• The group’s next destination is Dzuleke - renown for its streams and rainbow trout. The group also gets to interact with the Angami and Zeling tribe while travelling through this region.  
• The group also covers other villages like Poilwa and Benreu. People do have the option to visit Kohima on request if there is interest. 
• There are also extended options of covering the Hornbill festival and the Dzuku valley trek during the month of December. 

Links:

Link to Six Degree Adventure’s website: https://www.sixdegreeadventures.com/

Link to Six Degree Adventure’s Instagram - https://instagram.com/sixdegreeadventures?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Other episodes on Nagaland:

Nagaland with Aakash Mehrotra - https://spotify.link/JPbQwGKoqDb

Headhunters of Nagaland with Ila Reddy - https://spotify.link/MRCGS5MoqDb

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Today's destination: Old Delhi!

Nearest Airport: Indira Gandhi International airport (DEL)

Nearest Railway Station: New Delhi  Railway station (NDLS)

Prerequisites -  NA

Packing - Good walking shoes, water to stay hydrated, umbrella, shades

Time of the year - Oct, Feb, Mar

Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Vishnu starts by covering the history and background of the 7 cities of Delhi, and why it was so important over the years
• We focus our discussion on Shahjanabad or current day Old Delhi, Delhi 6. 
• 1. Lal Kot / Qila Rai Pithora - settled by the Tomars and the Rajputs, including Prithviraj Chauhan
• 2. Siri - In 1192, Mohammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj, and left the region to his slave and commander, Qutbuddin Aibak, who built the city of Siri, which was also used and consolidated by the Khilji dynasty. 
• 3. Tughlaqabad - 
• 4. Jahanpanah - Ghiyassudin Tughlaq’s impressive fort-city, which can still be visited, was cursed from the start, and his successor Mohammad bin Tughlaq fortified the walls of Qila Rai Pithora and Siri, and encapsulated them into a new city: Jahanpanah
• 5. Firozabad/ Feroz Shah Kotla - His successor, Feroz Shah Tughlaq, was the first to build a fort along the Yamuna, recognized as the fifth city of Delhi. Feroz Shah’s city was humongous by the standards of the day, extending from the Northern Ridge (where the other Ashokan Pillar stands) to Hauz Khas
• 6. Shergarh - Then, Sher Shah Suri, upon defeating Humayun in 1540, returned to Indrapat, a purportedly ancient village, and built his city, Shergarh, at the same site.
• 7. Dinpanah  - Humayun came to power in 1555, and added to that, building the Purana Qila as his city, Dinpanah.Shah Jahan’s great-grandfather, Humayun, too, had built a capital city there—Dinpanah, which later came to be called the Purana Qila or ‘Old Fort’. 
• 8. Shahjahanabad  - Shahjahan was the next Mughal to reign from Delhi, and gave it the most recent historical city,Shahjahanabad. Northward along the Yamuna, it had fourteen gates, and enjoyed the Golden Era of Mughal rule. It continued to serve as the Mughal capital until the end of the dynasty in 1857, in the decades before which it saw a brilliant cultural renaissance, a time of high etiquette, courtly graces and flourishing literary and music culture.
• We talk about the main structures around which Shahjahanabad is structured - Red Fort and Jama Masjid
• We also speak about the different developments that came up between and around these structures including Chandni Chowk, mosques, temples, markets, food streets, nature and much more. 

“Link to episode on Mangalore with Sampath Menon” - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1vVloNSFG0deaMUzzSuhUk?si=ia9whfB6Q4ePm7ZgKt5F8Q 

Links:

Link to Vishnu’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charithra.sanchari/

Photo by Sergio Capuzzimati on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Trustee and Head of Operations at Madras Inherited (https://www.madrasinherited.in)

Today's destination: George Town, Chennai!

Nearest Airport: Chennai International Airport (MAA)

Nearest Railway Station: Chennai Central Railway station (MAS)

Prerequisites -  Wake up early!

Packing - Good walking shoes, water to stay hydrated, umbrella, shades

Time of the year - Round the year

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 hours

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Ashmitha Athreya is Trustee and Head of Operations at Madras Inherited - The vision for Madras Inherited streams from a larger vision for Heritage Awareness, Preservation and Conservation in the city. 
• The walk focuses on getting to the origins of George Town, the first British colonial settlement that was set up around Fort St. George. The walk includes pit stops at various historically and architecturally significant landmarks. 
• The first stop is at Parry’s corner, also known as Dare House - Ashmitha shares the history of the welshman after whom this building is named and some interesting insights on the architecture style known as Artdeco. 
• The next turn is on to the NSC Bose road or Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose road that was also called China Bazaar road in the past. Some important buildings include TNSC bank, LIC building, SBI building that are built in the art deco style of architecture. 
• If one is interested, they could venture out further to check out some of the narrow market lanes of George Town - for paper/stationery, textiles, fireworks, flowers etc. 
• Our next pit stop is Armenian St where one can find the historic Armenian church and discuss its importance. 
• We next stop at what was formerly the Binny & Co headquarters. The building no longer remains and all that is left is a humongous parking lot which is used for shooting movies including the likes of Hey Ram and Guru. 
• Other important structures include YMIA - Young Mens Indian Assn and Gokhale hall. 
• Ashmitha talks of the two Beach Roads of George Town - Rajaji Salai and Kamaraj Salai - or North beach road and South beach road. The North Beach road has no longer access to the beach as the sea has receded. 
• We make a stop at the General Post office - one of the most beautiful structures in the city and we discuss the social implications of the GPO and its Indo Saracenic architectural style
• You can check out other walks offered by Madras Inherited on their website - (https://www.madrasinherited.in)

Links:

Link to the website:

https://www.madrasinherited.in

Link to Madras Inherited’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madrasinherited/

Link to Madras Inherited’s Twitter:https://twitter.com/MInherited 

Photo by Febin Roy on Unsplash

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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Today's destination: Meghalaya, the abode of clouds!

Nearest Airport: Shillong (SHL)

Nearest Railway Station: Guwahati Railway station (GHY)

Prerequisites -  Inner line permit may be required, pls check with relevant authorities.

Packing - Good walking shoes, rain gear, waterproof gear, trekking/hiking gear

Time of the year - All year round

Length of the itinerary: 8 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• Juhi starts by sharing some insights into the state of Meghalaya, what it is known for and why she decided to visit.

• An overview of Chalo Hoppo and their USP - https://chalohoppo.com/

• Juhi starts her journey from Guwahati and makes the first stop at Shillong. A quick overview of preparation, group size as well as other requirements

• The first stop is the popular Umiam lake, a man made lake that offers serene views as well as opportunities for boating. The team also make a quick stop at the Dylan café, dedicated to American artist Bob Dylan

• Below are the places covered over the next few days

• Mawlyngbna

• Mawsynram

• Umkhakoi lake

• Split Rock

• Laitlum canyons

• Pynter village

• Shnompdeng village

• Umngot river

• Bangladesh border

• Root bridges - Mawkyrnot, the longest root bridge

• Cherrapunji/ Sohra

• Wei sodong waterfall

• Arwah caves

• Mawphlang sacred forests

• Other places to visit - Nongriat root bridge, Nokhalakhai waterfalls, David Scott trail

Links:

Link to the blog:

https://forumhopping.wordpress.com/

Link to blogpost:

https://forumhopping.wordpress.com/2023/02/19/meghalaya-part-i/

https://forumhopping.wordpress.com/2023/03/18/meghalaya-part-2/

Link to Forumhopping’s’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forumhopping/

Link to other episodes on Meghalaya

Lost in the Caves of Meghalaya: https://open.spotify.com/episode/509JER1Ulg7ZbtZWp72HKM?si=nIh8kQqyQDCivOPaaOtqNw

A ride to Meghalaya:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1pTqG2aejXX5TJdolpD7Kr?si=zr9LmjKTT06goHlqtu81Qw

Photo by Amit Jain on Unsplash

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Today's destination: Gir National Park, Gujarat

Nearest Airport: Rajkot Airport (RAJ)

Nearest Railway Station: Junagadh Railway Station (JND)

Prerequisites -  Book for permits to safaris 2-3 months in advance and lodging.

Packing - According to the weather, sunscreen, hats, bug repellent

Time of the year - September - Feb

Length of the itinerary: 4-5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• Anuj talks about the USP of the Gir national park, home to the world’s only Asiatic lion population.

• We discuss how excessive hunting by the Royal families and British officers  and human movement had made this a critically endangered species in the early 1900s. We also discuss how the State government and other stakeholders have been able to turn the situation around in the early 2000s.

• Anuj discusses the importance of booking the safaris and lodging in advance (2-3 months before the trip) as well as the best times for sighting.

• Finally Anuj shares his experience sighting over 20 lions in his 4 days at the Gir National park. This ranges from fully grown males, to a young couple and mother and cubs. He also discusses the nearby Devaliya sanctuary where lions and leopards are kept in closed environment.

• We also touch upon places in the vicinity that one could include as a part of an extended itinerary - including Sasan Gir, Swaminath temple, Diu and Junagadh.

Link to Anuj’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/anujph/

Photo by Lenstravelier on Unsplash

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website: http://www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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Today's destination: Bijapur or Vijayapura, Karnataka

Nearest Airport: Goa International Airport (GOI)

Nearest Railway Station: Vijayapura/Bijapur Station (BJP)

Prerequisites -  N/A

Packing - Good walking shoes, carry extra water as it can get hot during the day, sunglasses and caps/hats

Time of the year - September - Feb

Length of the itinerary: 2 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• We start the conversation with a quick chat about the very diverse and interesting history and backstory of the Adil Shahi sultanate and its origins - on how a young prince from Turkey was sold to a merchant and eventually ended up in the Deccan region after growing up in Persia.

• Set up by Yusuf Adil Shah, the Adil Shahi sultanate broke away from the Bahamani Sultanate after constant conflicts with the Vijayanagara empire. Bijapur served as the capital of the Adil Shahi sultanate.

• The Gol Gumbaz is the most prominent landmark of the capital and is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah who ruled in the 17th century. It is also the second largest dome in the world without any reinforcement, second only to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It is also the biggest domed structure in India and is currently on the tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites.

• Sahana shares her experience of visiting the Gol Gumbaz at sunrise, the views from the terrace, the optical illusion and the famous whispering gallery.

• Next up, we make a pitstop at Jama masjid, one of mosques in the vicinity with quaint architecture and interesting stories from the siege of Aurangazeb in 1686.

• One of the other interesting monuments is the unfinished Baara Kaman or the 12 arches. It was kicked off by the son of Ali Adil Shah II, but was never completed as he was killed before its completion. It is believed that the construction was stopped by his father fearing that the structure could eclipse the Gol Gumbaz.

• Another monument of interest is the Ibrahim Rouza built as a mausoleum for Ibrahim Adil Shah and his wife. It consists of a beautiful structure along with a mosque.

• One of the more recent hindu structures of Bijapur or Vijaypura is the Shiva statue at the Shivagiri park. It is one of the largest Shiva statues in India and was inaugurated in 2006.

• The other pit stops include a visit to the popular Khaanavali restaurants of North Karnataka that are prominent in the Jowar belt of the state. Sahana talks about Jowar rottis, brinjal curries as well as a variety of other mouth watering dishes from the state.

• Finally we end the trip with a visit to the Shastri market for pulses and spices, one of the biggest markets in Bijapur and some of its popular offerings.

• Some other monuments that could not be covered on the podcast include Asar Mahal, Gagan Mahal to name a few. For a detailed travel guide, please check out Sahana’s article on the blog - https://vacaywork.com/bijapur-travel-guide/

Links:

Link to Sahana’’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/sahana.kulur

Link to blog post:

https://vacaywork.com/bijapur-travel-guide/

Link to website:

https://vacaywork.com/

Photo by Sahana Kulur

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website: http://www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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Today's destination: Tripura

Nearest Airport: Agartala Airport (IXA)

Nearest Railway Station: Udaipur Tripura Train station (UDPU)

Prerequisites -  N/A

Packing - Good walking shoes for pandal hopping!

Time of the year - Durga Pujo (October)

Length of the itinerary: 5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• We start off the episode starting with the premise of Krishan’s trip, the geographical orientation as well as access to the third smallest  state in India.

• Krishan talks about the background of Durga Pujo, the 10 days of celebration, the significant Bengali influence as well as the variety of pandals that one could visit. The stops during the 5 day itinerary include

• Ujjainta palace and museum

• Heritage park

• Albert Ikka memorial

• Integrated Agartala checkpost (Bangladesh border)

• More pandal hopping in the evenings

• Bengali cuisine, sweets, and pushkas!

• Jampui hills, Betlingchip

• Tripura’s cleanest village, Vanghmun

• Unakoti

• Madarhaat

• Chabimura

• Neer mahal

• Celebrating dashami and pandal hopping

Links:

Link to Krishan’s instagram

https://www.instagram.com/insankg/

Link to Krishan’s Twitter:

https://twitter.com/InsanKG

Photo by PREYAS PATEL on Unsplash

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website: http://www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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Today's destination: Surat

Nearest Airport: Surat International Airport (STV)

Nearest Railway Station: Surat Station (ST)

Prerequisites:  N/A

Packing: Good walking shoes, carry extra water as it can get hot during the day in the summers

Time of the year: Round the year, check Instagram for details

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 hours

Itinerary Highlights: 

• We start off the walk by talking about the history and golden era of Surat - a port town on the banks of river Tapi or Tapti. Although Surat has existed for a long time, the documented history seems to suggest important structures being built around the 14th century. 
• The first stop of the walk is the Surat castle or Surat fort, indicating that Surat was once a walled city and is believed to have been built during the time of Gujarat Sultanate in the 16th century by a Turkish governor/general turned associate of the ruler, Khudavand Khan. The remaining structure is now a museum and has several interesting galleries, including a gallery of archives, textiles, pictures, and woodwork among others. 
• From the Surat fort, we move to Andrew’s library, built over 200 years ago during the British rule of the city and is a functional library. Close to the library is the CNI church or Anglican church, one of the oldest churches in the city built in the 1800s. 
• The banks of the river Tapi are in the vicinity and one can walk here to experience the ghats of Surat. We also speak of the first warehouse of the British in India that was built in this region, although the warehouse/factory doesn’t exist anymore but is a marker of an important landmark in Indian history. 
• We also talk briefly about the battle of Swally which is not too far away from here - one of the first battles between the Portuguese and the British forces fighting on the side of the Moguls. Another iconic event that perhaps does have long-lasting repercussions similar to the battle of Plassey. 
• We speak about the Ghanta ovara, custom house and mint house and how a day in the ancient port city would’ve looked like. 
• The next stop is the Mughalsarai, which is currently the office of the SMC or Surat Municipal Corporation. The original building was built as a travel lodge or musafir khana - primarily used as a hostel for pilgrims who would board ships to Mecca. This was built by Jahanara, the eldest daughter of Shah Jahan.  
• The final stop is the tomb of Khudavand Khan, the man who built the Surat Fort - we talk about his origins in Turkey, how he ended up in Surat and what one can see at the tomb. 
• We also discuss the unmissable local street food of Surat as well as the various communities that have made Surat so cosmopolitan. 
• We end the episode discussing some other interesting walks offered by the Surat Heritage project, including walks in Rander, Swally, Dumas, and British and Dutch cemeteries among others.                                                                    

Links:

Link to Surat Heritage Project’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/surat.heritage.project/

Link to Saloni’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/the.turquoise.ink

Link to website: 

https://www.suratheritage.com/

Photo by VD Photography on Unsplash

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Ila Reddy, a returning guest and listener as she takes us to the ancient kingdoms of Newar. 

Today's destination: Nepal

Nearest Airport: Tribhuvan International Airport, KTM

Nearest Railway Station: N/A

Prerequisites:  N/A

Packing: Pack according to the season

Time of the year:  September - Feb

Length of the itinerary: 9 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Ila takes us overseas as we discover the Newari capitals of Nepal - Patan, Bhaktapur along with other places like Panauti and Bharatpur! Historically, the Nepal valley and adjoining areas made up a confederation known as the Nepal Mandala. Until the 15th century, Bhaktapur was its capital, when two other capitals, Kathmandu and Lalitpur (Patan), were established. 
• The trip was done with the Community Homestay Network (CHN). The Community Homestay Network (CHN) is a social enterprise that supports a network of homestays run by local women and families across Nepal. Their homestay model provides hosts with an additional source of income and the opportunity to meet travelers from around the world, while travelers get a taste of the local way of life. 
• The best part is that 80% of the revenue goes directly to the community and is used for family and household expenses, education, personal development, community activities, and community development
• We begin the journey by flying into Kathmandu and making our way to Patan/Lalitpur, one of the ancient cities of the Newari kingdom. 
• The Durbar Square is one of the iconic locations of Patan that is made up of a number of temples and provides a view into the wonderful architecture of the region. 
• The prominent temples of Patan Durbar Square include:: Krishna Temple, Royal Palace Patan, Jagannarayan Temple, Keshav Narayan Temple, Char Naarayan Temple, Golden Temple and others. 
• On the east side of the square looms the impressive Ancient Royal Palace, which dates back to the late 1600s. With its red-brick walls, tiered rooftop pavilions and latticed window screens, the palace is a shining example of traditional Nepalese architecture.
• The next stop is the Golden Temple Also known as Kwa Bahal and Hiranyavarna Mahavihara, this Buddhist monastery takes its English name from the beautiful golden metalwork which adorns its façade. We also speak of the rich traditional food from Nepal - including local candy, thalis, daal and sabzi. 
• The next pitstop is Bharatpur - to experience the life of the Tharu community that lives around the Chitwan national park. Besides the rhinos and mustard fields, the experience is all about the time spent with the community, sampling their way of life, food and celebrations! 
• Ila makes a short trip back to Patan again, which they used as their base camp. In this leg, Ila covers the Paubha painting workshop which she was a part of. The painting is native to Nepal and is similar to the Tibetan Thangka paintings and involves detailing of Hindu mythological figures and deities and Mandalas. Paubha painting is treated as a form of meditation by its practitioners, and mastering the pattern of even a single leaf, wave, or cloud can take weeks.
• The next stop from Patan is Bhaktapur, another of the capitals of the Valley. Bhaktapur, the "City of Devotees," is also known for Newar traditions, food, and artisans, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nepal
• The Bhaktapur Durbar Square - is similar to the one in Patan, except that the temples are more massive. There are several smaller squares or chowks and the one with pottery shops was particularly beautiful. Like Patan, the area is best explored on foot and the local mitho doi (similar to Bengali mishti doi, or sweet curd) is a must-try!
• Ila moves to Panuati after spending time in Bhaktapur -  Panauti is a historical city in Nepal, originally it was a small state given by King Bhupatindra Malla as a dowry to his sister. 
• Ila explores a few temples, walked around the market and alleys, and even made a day trip to Namobuddha Monastery, located atop a hill and offering exceptional views of the snow peaks.
• The final stop is a quick return to Patan where Ila takes part in a Ranjana lippi workshop, the traditional script of the Newari people as well as a quick visit to Kathmandu to visit the Pashupatinath temple and a sound bath meditation!                                                                            

Links:

Link to Ila’s substack:

https://ilareddy.substack.com/

Link to blog posts: 

https://ilareddy.substack.com/p/nepal-part1

https://ilareddy.substack.com/p/nepal-part2

Link to Community Homestay network:

https://www.communityhomestay.com/

Link to Ila’s episode on Nagaland: 

Ep. 110: Headhunters of Nagaland with Ila Reddy The ...Applehttps://podcasts.apple.com › podcast › ep-110-headhu...

Photo by binaya_photography on Unsplash

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TRIGGER WARNING: Some ambient sounds are used to depict War sounds. 

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Tathagata Neogi, co-founder and CXO at Immersive Trails (https://www.immersivetrails.com) - a purpose-driven company that converts ethical, in-depth research into immersive experiences. 

Today's destination: Calcutta

Nearest Airport: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)

Nearest Railway Station: Howrah Railway Station (HWH)

Prerequisites:  N/A

Packing: Pack light and carry extra water as it can get hot during the day in the summers

Time of the year: Round the year on weekends, check the website for details

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 hours

Itinerary Highlights: 

• We start off the walk by setting context around the period during world war 2, important events around the world and in Southeast Asia and how Calcutta became a vantage point for both sides. 
• The first pitstop of the trail is at the New Market area, one of the busy hubs for locals to shop for their daily needs, and how this area was bustling with activity even in the 1940s. Tathagata also speaks of the ongoing air raid drills and sirens and how people didn't take them seriously. 
• We also discuss the Bengal famine and the lack of preparedness and empathy shown by the British government, how this was triggered and some last remaining silos with connections to the famine. 
• We also discuss the role of the local politicians during the famine and their vested personal interests, protests by students and mill workers. Some important pit stops include the Calcutta Municipality headquarters, Victoria Memorial, Mango Lane, Grand Hotel, Metro cinema, and Statesman House among others. 
• We also discuss the cultural influence the American troops brought to Calcutta including Coca-cola, the movies and ice cream! Tathagata also mentions the Calcutta key, the pocket-sized guide provided by the troops on tips to navigate Calcutta including cultural nuances.                                                                       

Links:

Link to Immersive Trail’s social media: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/immersivetrails/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/immersivetrails

Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/company/immersivetrails

Link to website: 

https://www.immersivetrails.com/

Link to Wndr self-guided experiences app:

https://linktr.ee/wnderapp

Photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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Today's destination: Diu, Union territory 

 Nearest Airport: Diu Airport, DIU

Nearest Railway Station: Veraval Railway Stn, VRL

Prerequisites:  N/A

Packing: Pack light and carry extra liquids as it can get hot during the day in the summers

Time of the year: October to February is the best time to visit

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• We start off by locating Diu on the map, a union territory on the western coast of India close to Gujarat. Diu is a part of the Daman, Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli - one of the union territories in India. 
• Geo also talks about the historical context and significance of Geo, the history with the Mauryas, Chavdas, Mughals and Portuguese. The Portuguese ruled Diu for over 400 years and established Diu as one of the strongholds of its operations in India. We also discuss the iconic battle of Diu and the siege of Diu fort that established the Portuguese as the undisputed rulers of the Diu. 
• Diu is popular for its beaches given its strategic location and also offers a welcome destination to crowds from Gujarat who seek to get away from the dry state. 
• Important beaches in Diu include 
• Nagoa beach: most popular and commercial, adventure activities like parasailing, speed boats, water-ski; Hokka trees; close to hotels 
• Ghoghla Beach: watersports, dolphins
• Jallandhar Beach: Jallandhar shrine - a demon slain by Krishna, On a hillock stood the shrine of Jallandhar, a water demon slayed by Vishnu’s discus, lending its name to the Chakratirth beach
• Chakratirth Beach: more like a lagoon, watch tower
• Gomatimata Beach: western most corner, gulls, birdwatching
•  Besides the beach, one should also make a visit to the Diu fort and learn about the history of this iconic fort, including the battle of Diu. While here, don’t forget to check out the massive Paanikotha fort that served as a first line of defence. 
• There are also important churches, temples and Parsi places of worship  in Diu with notable mentions for St. Thomas Church, St. Paul’s church, Gangeshwar temple, Tower of slience of the Parsis
• Other places of interest include the Naida caves - natural rock formations; old city, Zampa gateway, Fudam bird sanctuary
•  We also spend some time discussing some popularly available foods of the region including Farsan and seafood.                                                                       

Links:

Link to Geo’s Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/asocialscientist/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/khanabadoshtraveliving/?hl=en

https://www.linkedin.com/in/geo-sebastian-52542011/?originalSubdomain=in

Photo by Jenish Patel on Unsplash

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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Today's destination: Sawantwadi, Maharashtra

Nearest Airport: Dabolim Airport, GOI

Nearest Railway Station: Sawantwadi Railway Stn, SWV

Prerequisites: N/A

Packing:  Pack light and carry extra liquids as it can get hot during the day in the summers

Time of the year: September to February is the best time to visit

Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• We start off our conversation with a quick peek into the history of the Sawantwadi royal family and the contribution of the women rulers of the region in maintaining its sovereignty. Amruta explains the strategic location of Sawantwadi and how it was a significant location in the ancient trade routes. 
• We begin by visiting the Sawantwadi Rajwada or the royal palace, its architectural structure, use of locally available colours and raw materials as well as the rich artifacts and interiors of the Sawantwadi palace. 
• Amruta talks about the Ganjifa art form and the origins of Ganjifa, how it came to India from Persia and was Indianized to adopt the Dashavathar form of playing cards and artistic box. 
• We visit the museum in the second wing of the palace, the paintings from the royal family as well as the beautiful interiors. 
• From the royal palace, we move towards the beautiful views of the Moti Talav and Narendra hills. Further down is the popular Ubha bazaar which is iconic for its wooden toys, lacquerware and handicrafts. The fruit plate or the fruit basket is especially popular among locals and visitors alike. 
• Moving away from the city, we start exploring the neighbouring towns and points of interest - the key amongst them being Pinguli village for Chitrakathi, Vetoba temple famous for offerings of kolhapuri chappals, beaches like Tarkarli, Devbagh, Nivati and Vengurla which is famous for beaches, dutch factory and Ganapati temple. 
• Also on the agenda are the popular forts in the vicinity including Nivati fort, Sindhudurg fort, Vijaydurg fort and its connection to Mercury!
• Another unique point of interest is the Dhamapur lake - a 400-year-old manmade reservoir that is a UNESCO-recognized world heritage irrigation structure. One of the earliest examples of a sustainable irrigation system in the world.                                                           
• We wrap up the conversation with an overview of the iconic Sawantwadi and Malvani cuisine, the popular mangoes and drinks like solkadhi!                                                                                                                                              

Links:

Link to Amruta’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amrutadhalkar/

Link to Amruta’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/amruta_dhalkar

Link to the Kolhapur episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SHkw6h3NVYWcqoEA07bMv?si=oBL-7i0FRhKeg94MgkG5Ow

Photo by Makarand Sawant on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Girin Nayak, the founder of XOtoXO games as he takes us on a trip to the Chettinad region!

Today's destination: Chettinad region, Tamil Nadu!

Nearest Airport: Madurai Airport, IXM

Nearest Railway Station: Chettinad Railway Station, CTDN

Prerequisites -  N/A

Packing - Pack light clothes and sunscreen if travelling in summers

Time of the year - December to Feb 

Length of the itinerary: 3-4 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Girin is the founder of XOtoXO games that brings stories from India to the world, one game at a time. 
• We cover the very popular but less explored region of Chettinad with Girin - Chettinad is a region in Tamil Nadu that covers over 90 villages and is the home of the prominent and enterprising Chettiyar community covering the Shivaganga and part of Pudukottai districts. 
• The Chettinad region is peppered with over a 11000 mansions built by the Chettiyar community between the mid 1800s to 1900s - these mansions were built by procuring materials from all over the world, thanks to the trading roots of the Chettiyar community who were seafaring merchants travelling all across Southeast Asia for trade. 
• We begin the journey in one of the main towns of the region - Kanadukathan, which serves as a good base, given its strategic location. Make sure to visit the popular mansions in the town - Chettinad Mansion, Vishalam by CGH group.
• Girin also describes the architectural features, and structure of these mansions along with the front yard, courtyard, rooms and kitchens along with open roofs. Other things to check out in Kanadukathan include the markets, temples and the abandoned airfield!
• The next stop on the itinerary is Karaikudi, one of the most developed towns in the region. The Aairam jannal veedu or 1000 window bungalow, The Bangala are two popular mansions in the region. There are also vibrant markets for textiles, souvenirs as well as antiques. 
• Another of the towns in the vicinity is Thirumayam - the popular attraction in the area is a fort known as Oomayan kottai or dumb man’s fort, named after the brother of a famous Tamil freedom fighter who was executed here. The most famous mansion here is Chidambaram Vilas. 
• Athangudi is the next town on the itinerary and also happens to be the protagonist of today’s episode, as it is also the source of inspiration for XOtoXO games’ first board game. Athangudi not only has beautiful mansions but is also popular for its handmade tiles that are made in small factories. Girin also explains what goes into the making of the tiles and how this has inspired his first board game.
• We also talk about important temples in the region including one where terracotta horses are offered to the deity. 
• Finally we discuss one of the more popular exports of the region - the Chettinad cuisine! 

Links:

XOtoXO games on  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xotoxogames/

XOtoXO games on  Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/xotoxogames/

XOtoXO games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077484262331

Link to website - https://www.xotoxo.com

Cover Photo by Nakkeeran Raveendran on Unsplash

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Today's destination: Guwahati, Assam!

Nearest Airport: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, GAU

Nearest Railway Station: Guwahati Railway Station, GHY

Prerequisites -  N/A

Packing - N/A

Time of the year - October to March 

Length of the itinerary: 5-6 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Prasenjit kicks off the episode by giving us an overview of Guwahati and its strategic location as a gateway to the Northeast. The walk begins in the Nilachal Hills in Guwahati. 
• Kamakhya walks covers the spiritual trails in Assam, including but not limited to the iconic Kamakhya temple complex. The Kamakhya temple is believed to be one of the Shakti peeths in hinduism and is considered as a holy place for Hindus. It is believed that the reproductive organ of Sati, the wife of Shiva, landed here after the episode including her father’s yagnya. 
• Prasenjit provides us with a background of the story related to Sati, Shiva and Dakshya and how this place came to be such a significant place for Hindus. Kamakhya is also known as the center for Tantrik fertility worship, given the backstory. 
• We also review the pillars of Tantrik worship, its perceptions, as well as related practices. In addition to this, we also cover things like architecture, the concept of sacrifice, panchamakara offering in tantrik worship as well as the other significant temples in the Kamakhya complex. 
• We also discuss the festival of Ambubachi, the festival that celebrates the menstrual cycle of the goddess and its beliefs. The temple sees close to 500,000 devotees during this festival and is often referred to as the mini-kumbh. 
• The communities in the temple complex including the pandas or the priests, the mali community or the cleaning staff and the signers are discussed along with some commonly held perceptions. 
• Prasenjit also highlights the contribution of the Ahom kingdom to Assam, a kingdom that ruled the region for over 600 years and was never defeated by the Mughals in 17 attempts. We talk about the heroic Lachit Barphukan, his rise and achievements and how they are being identified by the National Defense Academy. 
• We discuss other important places in the vicinity including Uzan bazaar, flower markets, beautiful heritage buildings, Ugra Tara temple, Pobitora wildlife sanctuary, Mayang - the black magic capital, Umananda island - the smallest river island, Gurudwara in Dhubri, Paua Mecca mosque in Hajo, buddhist sites, Kaziranga and Manas national parks among other places. 
• The team also engages in arts and crafts tours covering bell metal, cane and bamboo, traditional jewellery, textile tours covering the popular muga silk in Sualkuchi, the gamcha or gamosa, makhela chador as well as the celebrations of Bihu
• Finally we discuss some exotic delicacies from Assam including rice and chicken powder, silkworm fry, ghost pepper or bhoot jhalokia, bamboo shoot and pork, sticky rice among other things. 

Links:

Kamakhya walks on  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamakhyawalks/

Kamakhya walks on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KamakhyaWalks/

Six Degree Adventures on Instagram  - https://www.instagram.com/sixdegreeadventures/

Prasenjit’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dreamweavers.journal/

Link to podcast on Majuli - https://open.spotify.com/episode/16TwAz8XY5luMwv3yYsO9r?si=1f6d842cc5264e5f

Link to website - https://www.sixdegreeadventures.com

Cover Photo by Suchitra Shots on Unsplash

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Today's destination: Raigad District, Maharashtra!

Nearest Airport: Pune International Airport (PNQ)

Nearest Railway Station: Mumbai CST, Pune Railway Station 

Prerequisites -  Ensure to check for ground conditions before traveling

Packing - Pack rain gear to be safe

Time of the year - Monsoons are a good time

Length of the itinerary: long weekend

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Tanisha kickoffs the journey by sharing her account of her visit to the Raigad District of Maharashtra. 
• We start the journey from Alibag, after taking the Ro-Ro service from Mumbai. Alibag has been a popular weekend destination historically. However, Tanisha decides to skip sightseeing for now and turns focus on the culture and heritage of the place. She also shares the root of the name and sheds light on an important community of the region, the Beni Israeli jews. 
• After spending a short time in Alibag, Tanisha heads towards Revdanda - the key points of interest being the Fort, beach, the Rameshwar temple - it has a unique architecture that is a mix of konkani architecture and islamic influences
• After Revdanada, the team moves to Korlai that has one of the only villages that has its own creole, also called as cristi or Kristi. There is also a hilltop fort that is popular. 
• Finally, the last stop is at Murud or Murud Janjira. The region is popular for the huge sea fort, but along with this they are very  popular as the home of the Siddis. 

Links:

Tanisha’s  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stepsandstreets/

Tanisha’s  Twitter - https://mobile.twitter.com/guintanisha

Link to Tanisha’s podcast on Mirik - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Gvi0Maa19eJE3sth8zC5D

Link to Tanisha’s website - https://tanishaguin.com

Cover Photo by Girish Dalvi on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with slow traveller and host of the podcast - Postcards from Nowhere, Utsav Mamoria!

Today's destination: Kashmir!
 
Nearest Airport: Srinagar Airport (SXR)

Nearest Railway Station: Udhampur Railway Station (UHP)

Prerequisites -  Ensure to check for ground conditions before traveling

Packing - Pack warm clothes depending on time of the year

Time of the year - N/A

Length of the itinerary: 1month

Itinerary Highlights: 

Utsav starts off the episode by taking us to Arq-e-gulab, one of the last remaining rosewater makers of Kashmir and shares the state of the occupation and it’s origins
We also talk about Khanaqah-e-Moula, one of the oldest mosques in Kashmir - very unique for its wooden architecture as well as some stunning interiors made of papier mache.
Utsav’s next visit was to the carpet makers of Srinagar who make handmade carpets - again one of the last remaining generations of this traditional art form. 
Next stop is at Burzahom - an ancient archaeological site that has ruins that date back to 9000 years ago. There is also a very unique stone depiction of a hunting scene and its surprising connection to astronomy. We also talk about the sad state of the archaeological remains and the conflicting needs of the locals and preservation. 
We also cover some touristy spots like Aru valley and Betaab valley (of the movie Betaab fame, starring Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh). Utsav talks about his experience trekking to the Shesh Nag lake and his encounter with the hospitality of the native Gujar bakharwal shepherd community. We also discuss about the challenges this community and their occupation faces. 
We next talk about Utsav’s visit to the Ganesh Temple in Pehalgam also called the Mamleshwar temple and the story of Ganesh and Karthikeya circumnavigating the world. 
One of our final stops is a visit to the Kargil war memorial and Hunderman Museum of memories, talking about the village of Hunderman and how it exchanged hands between India and Pakistan during recent conflicts, and how the people’s lives have been impacted. 

Links:

Utsav’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42/ 
Utsav’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/utsavmamoria 
Link to Utsav’s podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/1wBEmLH3UjoMV0kbMgy5gy?si=LULYcnCYRdWvb5YwkiGBrQ 

Links to Utsav’s series on Kashmir:

The last rosewater maker of Srinagar
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7K2uTDPcq2X2C5gQkow503?si=JuSpdW09T_ePCVRZW_l5oQ 

The Art of Writing Time: Persian and Sanskrit Chronograms
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1UebJ7ccoS9XTUQQuZ8HOl?si=Bby4cTN0RYesN5Mv0njVbA 

Gujar Bakarwals - The forgotten people of Kashmir
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7mAxndubsMcu0zPf4VnhVS?si=LAPU62buTae83EuQyXMKdA 

Kargil, Hunderman and The Museum of Memories 
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7mAxndubsMcu0zPf4VnhVS?si=LAPU62buTae83EuQyXMKdA 

Srinagar, ancient carvings and Supernovas
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2wEMBgiBkYzeliXKvG5Ph7?si=6UrAITjNTiiPFUG3aEHqNQ 

Kashmiris, Hangul and the Manual of Life
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7bzdllBWy48K1LieJgmTqq?si=Ndfx4nKdR3yF0LDMkHughA 

The Vanishing art of Kashmiri carpet weaving
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2kTTQkdiS0LFhzdOwXRuAT?si=f1U0aDXIQnCyejPKMg6H2Q 

Sheshnag, deadly hikes and a thousand year old tradition
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2OL8mp09s2FQdmS2Z5bHKB?si=q0deAcUgSnyikahLnQtY0Q 

Zbayul, the invisible village of Ladakh
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0WZNprAo1ISgz2L2HE3HM1?si=4xM3YilSSxSq-DgLKuCyPg 

Cover Photo by Raisa Nastukova on Unsplash

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to 3x author and podcaster, Clyde D’Souza as we talk about the concept of Susegad - the Goan art of Contentment!

Today's destination: Goa!

Nearest Airport: Goa International Airport (GOI)

Nearest Railway Station: Karmali Railway Station (KRMI)

Prerequisites -  N/A

Packing - N/A

Time of the year - Nov - Jan

Length of the itinerary: 1-2 weeks

Itinerary Highlights: 

• We kick off the conversation by discussing the root of the word susegad, its significance and its different connotations in Goa, both good and bad. 
• Clyde discusses his connection to Goa, his ancestral home at Colvale and years growing up visiting Candolim and the early memories. We also talk about the historical background and rulers of Goa and their influences, primarily the portuguese influence
• We talk more about the concept of Susegad, starting with the characteristics of Goan homes and the key features - the balcao, the red laterite exterior, the wells, the backyards, mother of pearl windows, azulejos tiles among other things. 
• Clyde also discusses the staple diet of Goans, right from poiee or breads to the xiit kodi or rice and curry, the Portuguese influences and much more. We talk about some of the popular dishes as well as some of the recipes that Clyde shares in his book. Besides the food, we also talk about mangoes and desserts which are an intrinsic part of the diet. 
• We also talk about the spirits and drinks of Goa - Feni and Urak and how they have been GI tagged and representing India around the world.
• Other topics include the celebrations and festivities and some of the unique festivals of Goa, the music of Goa and the different types of songs - from dekhnis to dulpods, fados to mandos and the popular artists. 

Links:

Clyde’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clydedsouzaauthor/

Link to Clyde’s book on audible and amazon - https://linktr.ee/clydedsouzaauthor

Link to Clyde’s podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/3wuewIESKhHiMetJpK0GSv?si=8c99ef309ba94db8

Other episodes on Goa:

Islands of Goa with Stuti Bhadauria

TMS#031 : Riverside Goa with Kaushal Karkhanis

TMS#002: Road trip to Goa with Venkat Ganesh

Photo by Steve Rybka on Unsplash

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Today's destination: Madras aka Chennai!

Nearest Airport: Chennai International airport (MAA)

Nearest Railway Station: Chennai Central Railway Station (MAS)

Prerequisites -  N/A

Packing - N/A

Time of the year - Nov - Jan

Length of the itinerary: 4-8 weeks 

Itinerary Highlights: 

• This week, we have a very special episode that talks all about the popular Madras Music Season - a city wide celebration of Indian classical performing arts covering carnatic music, dance (bharatanatyam) and drama. The episode is unique as it focuses on an event, a phenomenon, rather than an itinerary. 
• We start off talking about the significance of month of Margazhi, it’s importance in the Hindu religion as well as the history of the music festival starting in the early 1900s
• Arjun talks about the concept of Sabhas and kacheris as well as the popular sabhas in the city like Parthasarathy sabha, Brahma Gana Sabha, Narada Gana Sabha, Madras Music Academy, Mylapore Fine arts club, Triplicane fine arts society among others. 
• We also talk about the popular locations where the events are held - primarily T. Nagar, Triplicane, Mylapore, Adyar, the challenges in getting tickets and how to plan them as well as popular artists who are the crowd pullers 
• The events include carnatic music performances, bharatanatyam dance performances, drama and plays. The performances include both renowned artists as well as up and coming artists. In addition to the performances, there are also lecture series provided by experts. There are free concerts by up and coming artists (usually during the noon sessions), as well as ticketed events by more popular artists. 
• The instruments used in carnatic music include percussion instruments like mridangam, ghatam, violin, veena, mandolin etc. that are accompanied by vocalists. 
• We also discuss the popular sabha saapad or sabha canteens that are popular for their meals and filter coffee.
• Finally we wrap it with some places one can visit while covering the music season - these places include the popular temples in Triplicane like Parthasarthy temple, Wallajah mosque or big mosque of Triplicane, Kapaleshwar temple in Mylapore, Chepauk stadium and Chepauk palace, shopping for traditional jewellery and sarees among other things.

Links:

Arjun’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madraswallah/

Arjun’s Instagram - Simply Stories Chennai - https://www.instagram.com/simplystorieschennai/

Arjun’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/madraswallah

Madraswallah podcast - https://madraswallah.com/category/podcasts-2/

Episode on Varanasi - https://themusafirstories.com/podcasts/varanasi-with-arjun-narayanan/

Episode on Thrissur - https://themusafirstories.com/podcasts/thrissur-with-arjun-narayanan/

Cover Photo by Ricky Singh - https://unsplash.com/photos/rTikKt6ir5g

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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Today's destination: McLeod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh!

Nearest Airport: DharamShala Airport, (DHM)

Nearest Railway Station: Pathankot (PTK)

Prerequisites - N/A

Packing - Pack warm clothes as well as rain gear!

Time of the year - March to June, Oct to December

Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• Antarik starts off by talking about the historic connection of McLeod Ganj to Tibet and why it is also known as Little Lhasa or mini Tibet. We speak of the Tibetan government in exile and the time when HH Dalai Lama escaped Chinese rule in Tibet to set up home in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.

• We begin talking about the places to cover in McLeod Ganj starting with the Tibetan quarters - Dalai Lama temple complex and his home. The Kalachakra temple and prayer hall is another prominent monument in town.

• Another scenic spot near the market area is the St. John in the Wilderness church that is a popular haunt of the tourists and locals and is renowned for its beautiful setting and neo-gothic architecture.

• We discuss the nearby villages of Dharamkot and Bhagsu Nag that form a great option for short trips from McLeod Ganj. Dharamkot is popular as the starting point for the Triund trek that gives you wonderful views of the Dhauladhar ranges.

• Bhagsu Nag is a beautiful village popular for the Bhagsu temple and waterfall. The other popular spot in the village is the Shiva cafe and the wonderful sights it offers. Naddi village is another closeby hamlet that is popular for its sunset views and the Dal lake. Another popular spot in the area is the Dharamshala cricket stadium that has stunning views of the Dhauladhar ranges.

• Gallu waterfall is another less explored gem that offers wonderful views and a quick dip.

• Going back to the Tibetan quarters, make sure to check out the Norbulingka Institute to explore Tibetan culture, tradition and art forms.

• The region also has some very interesting monasteries - Gyuto Monastery that offers an opportunity to meet and interact with the monks and observe the prayer sessions.

• Tsuglagkhang monastery complex and monastery is another prominent spot for checking out Tibetan art forms and ways of life of the Tibetan community in McLeod Ganj. There is a short hiking circuit called Kora circuit that has some great views of both the mountains and the monasteries. Tibetan institute of performing arts and Library of Tibetan archives are a couple other places that offer unique experiences for visitors.

• Wrapping up with the local eateries and cuisines, don’t forget to check out the popular places like Cafe Kalimpong for momos, Common Ground, Shiva cafe, Dudu falafel for middle eastern food. Cafes like moonshine, Raku’s place, Tibet kitchen, Norling, Chocolate log to name a few.

• Momos, thukpa, tibetan brown breads like tingmo, chole samosa, Bhagsu cake are some specialities of the region you should not miss out on.

• For shopping, there are several markets offering curios and trinkets from prayer flags to prayer wheels, souvenirs, thangka paintings, wooden carvings and carpets. Main market, Kotwali bazaar, jogibara road are some popular shopping haunts.

Links:

Antarik’s youtube:: https://www.youtube.com/c/AntarikAnwesan

Antarik on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamantarik/?hl=en

Antarik on Twitter: https://twitter.com/antarik

Cover Photo by Clasiqh - https://unsplash.com/@clasiqh

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: themusafirstories@gmail.com

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