All posts filed under: Places Travelled

Getting Local Village Experience In Kumaon Region In Uttarakhand

Published by Dev

Want to experience local Kumao culture and explore village life in Uttarakhand? Visit Naikana village, near Jageshwar Dham… because I have found you a place! Not very high in the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, I happened to hike through dreamy villages, deodar forest, and secret rhododendron trails, where women would wake up at 4 am to chop wood across daunting terrain; where men would find a new job every day; and where kids who can hop, skip and climb down a steep mountain face while I precariously slide one foot in front of the other were certainly more real and practically successful than I was. My two-day stay in this sleepy village called Naikana, that, in fact, was located only 20 minutes away from a well-trodden road, was, in fact, lost deep inside a forest. It remained the most beautiful highlight of the many journeys that I have previously had across in Uttarakhand, for it took me to a world where iPhones, drones, and Instagram still held no value. While planning for my 20-day road trip …

Top Travel Tips For Almora In Uttarakhand

Published by Dev

Planning to visit Almora? Read these top travel tips and make your experience better! At first glance, Almora appeared as one of those bustling towns in the mountains that are growing too fast and akin to a concrete jungle. There were hospitals and shopping complexes being arranged on the narrow ridge at a frenetic pace. Neighborhoods were quickly getting buried under plastic waste. Local people seemed too busy in their lives to answer any requests. Honestly speaking, my first impression of Almora wasn’t a pleasing one. It had been only 10 minutes that I had arrived there and every part of me already wanted to escape its madness. I knew my hotel was located some 5km outside of the main town – thankfully far enough from Almora’s maddening Lala Bazaar – yet I needed a stronger reason to console my heart. To make it even worse, Google navigated me to a dead-end, forcing me to now ask for directions. “The Himalayan Woods” I enquired a few random faces, but no one had a clue. Then …

Kalagarh: A perfect Weekend Getaway From Delhi

Published by Dev

Looking for a quick weekend getaway from New Delhi? Visit Kalagarh, near Jim Corbett! As I left New Delhi, and with that, the imposing concrete buildings behind me, I could already smell fresh air. The beautiful countryside of Uttar Pradesh with periodic glimpses of green pastures and lush foliage were enough to keep me going even on a hot summer day. It had been less than 4 hours since I left home and a part of me already wanted to go astray, ride aimlessly on quaint walkways, spotting friendly locals and some rare wildlife. This was certainly one of the most picturesque (though equally confusing) drives I’ve ever experienced near New Delhi – the kind that makes you introspect at each turn, as you listen to the tunes of rusting winds, connecting trees, and distant chirping birds! I remember when I was planning my 20-day motorbiking trip across Uttarakhand (towards Munisyari) I wanted to keep my first day’s ride as easy and unchallenging as possible. I mean during a summer day, of 40-degree Celsius temperature, …

Goa Travel Tips

Published by Dev

When it comes to a travel destination like Goa, writing a travel guide or a few backpacking tips become literally challenging. I mean there is so much to see and do in Goa that compiling it all in a list can be a tough task. And then, there are all those striking dissimilarities between different parts of Goa (yes, I am comparing North Goa and South Goa) to add to the struggle. So yea, writing a few travel tips for Goa, and claiming them to work throughout Goa is nearly impossible. But attempting the impossible, here are a few useful Travel Tips for Goa that I carefully gathered during my one-month long journey across north and south Goa. See if you agree… When In Goa, Rent A Scooter As I said in one of my previous articles on Goa where I have talked about Different Beaches Of Goa – Goa is massive. So, to make sure you don’t miss out much and see most of Goa in the least possible time, you need to have …

A One Week Road Trip Along The Romantic Road: Germany’s Most Beautiful Holiday Route

Published by Dev

Last year, while backpacking in Bavaria region in Germany, I got introduced to Germany’s most beautiful holiday route: The Romantic Road. It all happened when I planned a day trip to Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber, almost unknowingly that it is located on the Romantic Road trail, or, the fact that there is something called the Romantic Road, and found out that Germany has not just one but several such picturesque fairy-tale towns. “You should do the Romantic Road sometimes, if visiting similar small medieval towns is your thing” I remember being told as I picked a brochure that read ‘Medieval Germany’ at the tourist information center in Rothenburg At that time I paid no interest in what the lady at the reception desk was saying, and neither did I bother inquiring more on the subject. But as I got back to my hotel later in the evening, and looked at the brochure, I came across the same term again “The Romantic Road”. Naturally Intrigued, I Google more about the subject and found that Romantic Road, …

Visiting Munich? Don’t Miss The Town Of Augsburg

Published by Dev

Last year I spent three days traveling in Munich and I know a lot of Indian and Asian tourists doing the same — spending a good share of their Bavarian holiday wandering and lazying around in Munich. Where Munich is certainly a great destination to travel to, and you won’t find such amazing beer culture (I still miss its beer gardens!) anywhere in the world, it still makes no sense if you spend all your time there and lose the opportunity of exploring another great town located at only half-an-hour train ride away from Munich. Yes, I am talking the town of Augsburg, on the Romantic Road Trail. If you’ve not heard of the Romantic Road Trail, read about it here: Romantic Road Trail in Germany. My First Impression of Augsburg Despite being located only 70km away from Munich (or a quick half an hour train ride) Augsburg is unlike any part of Munich. I mean statistically it may just be Bavaria’s third biggest town, but when you’re there you don’t feel it that big. …

My First Impression Of Nördlingen

Published by Dev

When, after revisiting Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber, I moved further south of the Romantic Road to spend a night in Nordlingen, I wasn’t expecting anything exceptionally medieval, for the name Nördlingen sounded pretty ordinary and regular. It didn’t seem to hold that weight to its name that ‘Rothenberg Ob Der Tauber’ rather did, at least for my Indian ears. So yea, Nördlingen sounded pretty ordinary and I was hoping for nothing beyond just another small German town, beautified with a colorful Marketplatz, a few dozen half-timbered houses, and cobblestone streets. From Rothenburg, it took me just a little over an hour to reach Nördlingen. Getting to my hotel (that sounded pretty welcoming with its name 2nd Home Hotel) was moreover easy, for it was located right outside of the old town. But as I reached my hotel and to the reception, I saw a brochure drawing out a walking trail for the town of Nördlingen. “We have a city wall in Nördlingen too?” I asked the lady at the reception, sounding taken aback. “Yes, we do. In fact, you can …

Revisiting Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber

Published by Dev

I am not one of those people who appreciates the idea of revisiting places, for there’s so much to see and do in this world that revisiting places feels like a waste of time. But as with everything, for some places, there exists an exception. And one such place happens to be the town of Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber, in the Bavaria region in Germany. I happened to visit Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber the first time less than a year ago while backpacking around the Bavaria Region in Germany. It was moreover the time I was first introduced to Germany’s Romantic Road Trail and I realized how Germany can be so beautiful beyond the popular Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin, among other metropolis, where tourists often frequent. Though of course, small German towns can be expensive for there exists no backpacking culture, and most of the tourists who visit them are either fancy honeymooners or families travelling on a decent budget, the fact that these offbeat medieval towns offer the Real Old European Charm cannot be …

The Bible of Budget Travel In India: Top Tips

Published by Dev

After living in India for almost my entire life, when I quit my job in 2015 to travel, I decided to initially explore my own country, before stepping out in the world. This was for two reasons: one, because I knew if I survived a few months in India and still didn’t give up on travelling, I can handle any place in the world. I wanted to test my endurance. Secondly, because India was among one of the cheapest countries to travel, and given I had no source of regular income at the moment, budget travelling was the only way to afford travelling. So my choice was easy, and I spent the initial 12 months of my travelling stint mapping the length and breadth of my country, before actually stepping abroad (except for travelling Nepal and Bhutan. But they’re more or less India). During my corporate life, I used to travel during weekends and wonder how some poeple (particularly European and Israeli backpackers in India) manage to live a nomadic life. “Where do they get the money from,” I always asked myself, because …

5 Bucket-List Worthy Things to Do in Venice

Published by Dev

Although Italy is loaded with must-visit travel destinations, including the ancient town of Rome and the many island, the city of Venice is truly magnificent. It has been praised throughout history and still remains one of the world’s top tourist destinations. With palaces, churches, and more all constructed on a lagoon, the city appears to be floating and is unlike any other city on the continent. These are a few reasons why you’ll want to add Venice to your destination list. These are a few reasons why you’ll want to add Venice to your destination list. 1.The Secluded Islands Many travelers know that Venice is surrounded by islands, but they don’t know that there are 118 small islands linked by roughly 400 bridges. You can easily see many of them by using the water-bus service run by the city. This is a great way to step off the beaten path and enjoy the authentic city life that’s not been altered much by tourism. You’ll probably want to visit several spots on your trip, but make …