This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Sangeetha as we explore the Kashmir of the South, Munnar! Today's destination: Munnar, Kerala Nearest Airport: Kochi International airport (110kms) Nearest Railway Station: Aluva, Kerala (110kms) Prerequisites - n/a Packing - pack some light layers of wool as mornings and evenings can be chilly Time of the year - September to Feb is a good time to visit Length of the itinerary: 5 days Itinerary Highlights: - Sangeetha travels with her family by flying from Bangalore to Kochi and driving down to Munnar, this way one can enjoy the beautiful drive leading up to Munnar. - The first day is spent seeing around the resort and visiting the Blossom Hydel Park, a park formed by a Hydel power station and has some fun activities for kids. One could spend between 2-3 hours at the park enjoying the beautiful views. - Close the park is the Pothamedu view point where one can drive to and enjoy some stunning views of the tea plantations along with picture perfect view of the valley. - To experience the rich cultural heritage of the Kerala, Sangeetha visits the Punarjeevi Cultural village to enjoy a Katahakali show next. Kathakali is the popular dance form of Kerala that is based on a song/dance performance to the stories of Mahabharatha and other epics. The beautiful costumes, face paint and expression of the artists is something one should not miss out. - The next day begins with a short trek organized by the resort where Sangeetha gets to learn more about the local flora and fauna of the place. The trek is not very strenuous and can be done with ease. - Following the morning trek, the family drives down to Eravikulam National park, the first national park of Kerala and home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. The park also sees the blooming of the Neelakurunji flowers once every 12 years. Make sure to plan your visit to the park well as waiting times can be a hinderance, specially on weekends. - Following the visit to the park, the family drives towards the Anamudi peak - the highest peak in Kerala. The peak is a monolith and offers some stunning views on a clear day. There are also options to trek a part of the peak if one is up for it. - Next on the itinerary is a visit to Mattupettey Dam where one can indulge in boating and a few other fun rides. There is also an Echo point, not far away from the dam where you can go shout your lungs out. If you are lucky, you can also run into a herd of elephants grazing the meadows close to the dam! - After having fun with the speed boat ride, the family heads back to the Punarjeevi cultural village for an evening of Kalaripayattu - the very popular martial arts form of Kerala that is believed to have originated in the 3rd century BCE. One can watch the performers battle it out with swords, dagger and fire! - The other must do trip while in Munnar is a drive up to the Kolukumalai peak - one of the higher peaks in Kerala that is also home to the world's highest organic tea estate, the Kolukumalai tea estate. An early morning drive makes a great spot for watching the sunrise from the peak. PS: Don't miss the egg omelette sold by a little tea stall on the peak! - It is better to sign up with a tour company to drive you up the peak as the drive can be quite bumpy. The estate has a very old wooden tea factory that still produces tea in the orthodox style, there are tours of the tea factory available that are worth the time. There are treks around the area that one can take part in as well. - Other places of interest in Kerala include a variety of waterfalls, beautiful lakes, tea museums and some great food! One can easily spend a week in Munnar and enjoy the lush green tea gardens and the vistas and still end up wanting more! Links: Link to Sangeetha's blogpost: https://msangeetha.wordpress.com/2019/10/22/munnar-the-land-of-the-mighty-mountains/ Link to Sangeetha's blog: https://msangeetha.wordpress.com/ You can check out the Passion People podcast on your favourite podcast app and follow on social media Passion People Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7A1tBp7leAD8egg2SknxMX Twitter: Passion People podcast: https://twitter.com/thepassionpeop1 Naga Subramanya: https://twitter.com/n1n3stuff Photo by Vivek Kumar on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories on 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 itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo

The Musafir Stories - India Travel Podcast

77: Munnar with Sangeetha

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Prasad NP, also known as the 'desi Traveler'. Prasad shares his story about the time he spent traveling the Spiti Valley, Dhankar lake, Chandratal Lake and the beautiful Monasteries around. So sit back and enjoy listening! Today's destination: Spiti -- Kaza, Chandratal Lake, Ki Monastery, Dhankar Lake in Himachal Pradesh Nearest airport: Manali or via Shimla; Nearest Railway Station: Shimla railway station; Joginder Nagar railway station Direct buses are available from Chandigarh, Shimla, Kullu, Manali etc Packing - Sunglasses, sunscreen, hats/umbrella, warm clothes, a good pair of shoes, medicines for AMS Time of the year - June to September Length of the itinerary: 7-10 days Itinerary Highlights: Spend a day in Manali to acclimatize yourself to the higher altitudes  Start from Manali to Kaza - its about 12-14 hours by road. It is advisable to hire a cab/guide from Manali for your entire trip. Kaza can serve as the base - lodging in the Himachal tourism hotel; visit the Kaza monastery and kaza market.  Enjoy the beautiful star trails at night from the rooftop of the hotel. Savour on some flavorful spitian food that is also influenced by tibetan cuisine Make a short stop to Ki Monastery, Enjoy the blue skies and cotton candy clouds, meet with the monks and get a beautiful view of the kaza city from the rooftop.  Enjoy the awesome Himalayan tea offered from the Ki monastery's kitchen. If you are lucky, you could get a chance to interact with the monks help them with plucking sweet peas from the farm.  Make a visit to the Dhankar monastery which is about 2 hours from Kaza, getting some beautiful shots along the way.  Trek to the Dhankar lake, which is about an hour's hike from the monastery. Be sure to have a good pair of walking shoes on, some sunscreen to ward off the sun, and keep hydrated!  Drive to the Langza Village, stay with the locals, enjoy interactions with the locals, partake in their daily chores like farming and weaving.  Camp close to the Chandratal lake - the crescent shaped perennial lake that is also one of the source of the Chandra/Chenab River.  Trek to the Chandratal lake early in the morning to enjoy the fabulous view of the lake with golden peaks in the backdrop as the sun ascends. Make a stop at the amazing Kunzum pass. Capture the pictures of the snow clad peaks, gompas and fluttering colourful prayer flags. Head back to Manali.  Last but not the least, listen to some funny stories and useful advise on how to travel responsibly! Links: desitraveler.com/ (http://desitraveler.com) Links to the blog posts: desitraveler.com/dhankar-lake-trek-spiti/ desitraveler.com/travel-kunzum-pass-kunzum-la/ (http://desitraveler.com/dhankar-lake-trek-spiti/) More about the Guest: desitraveler.com/travel-tips-blog…dia-photography/ (http://desitraveler.com/travel-tips-blog-india-photography/) twitter: @desiTraveler (https://twitter.com/desitraveler) facebook: facebook.com/thedesitravelerOfficial (https://www.facebook.com/desiTravelerOfficial/) instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desitraveler/ Follow The Musafir Stories on 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 (http://www.themusafirstories.com/) email: themusafirstories@gmail.com (mailto:themusafirstories@gmail.com) itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo

76: Rebroadcast: Explore Spiti with the desi Traveler

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Tarun and Pournima, two of our dear listeners and two budding doctors about their trip to Khajuraho! Today's destination: Khajuraho, MP Nearest Airport: Khajuraho airport Nearest Railway Station: Khajuraho or Mahoba station Prerequisites - n/a Packing -  Make sure to pack according to the weather as summers can be hot. Time of the year -  November Length of the itinerary: 3 days Itinerary Highlights: - Tarun and Pournima set off on a 3 day itinerary to explore the myths and truths around the UNESCO world heritage site - Khajuraho - The duo talk about the motivation and inspiration for their travel to Khajuraho and the background of the famed temples of Khajuraho that are home to some erotic sculptures. - Day 1 is spent relaxing and visiting Matangeshwar temple, perhaps the only functional temple in the region. - Day 2 was a busy day right from the morning starting off with a visit to the Western temple complex, the most well maintained and elaborate group of temples. The Western group of temples comprises of Kandariya Mahadev temple, Lakshmana temple, Jagadambi temple, Vishwanath temple, Chitragupt temple and smaller temples of Varaha and Nandi. - Tarun and Pournima also talk extensively about the backstory of some of the sculptures. Must utilize the services of a guide to get the most out of this visit. - There is also an Archaeological museum close to the Western group of temples that is a must visit. - Eastern group of temples include a Jain group of temples along with Jowari temple, Vamana temple among others. - Chaturbhuj temple - the only temple facing west and Dulhadev temple are a part of the southern group of temples. The duo also visit the sound and light show in the evening to cap off a very fruitful day. - Day 3 is more about revisiting some temples and photography before heading back to Nagpur. Links: Link to the blogpost: https://www.tripoto.com/trip/khajuraho-where-sex-is-sacred-5cbcdc86a6906 Link to the blog: https://www.tripoto.com/profile/tarunasati1272653 IG: @pournima.kole @tarun_asati Image by Rinki Lohia (https://pixabay.com/users/RikkyLohia-8528200/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3880539) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3880539) Follow The Musafir Stories on 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 (http://www.themusafirstories.com/) email: themusafirstories@gmail.com (mailto:themusafirstories@gmail.com) itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo

75: Khajuraho with Tarun & Pournima

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Suyash Keshari - a young wildlife filmmaker and presenter as he takes us on a safari to Bandhavgarh, the tiger capital of India! Today's destination: Bandhavgarh, Madhya Pradesh Nearest Airport: Jabalpur airport, JLR Nearest Railway Station: Umaria Prerequisites -  Make reservations ahead of time Packing - Pack clothes according to weather, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug repellant, poncho, camera Time of the year - October to March Length of the itinerary: 2-3 days Itinerary Highlights: - Suyash talks about his interest in wildlife and how he took the bold decision to take the plunge and follow his passion - He also discusses how the series 'Safari with Suyash' came about after a partnership with WWF (World Wildlife Fund) - Suyash talks about Bandhavgarh and the protagonist of his series - Solo, the daughter of the famous tigress Rajbhera, who was featured in the BBC documentary, Dynasties. - The youtube series "Safari with Suyash" focuses on Solo and her cubs and how they represent the future of this magnificent species. Make sure to watch the season 1 which is out on youtube now. Season 2 airs later in 2020. Links: Safari with Suyash - Season 1 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2nGhEGXFVslobIwOGgQjqPbzgaMAVTn Ep1: https://youtu.be/ia4SRQcM7cg Ep2: https://youtu.be/z6qgAzCyWc4 Ep3: https://youtu.be/FwyK52Fih0k Ep4: https://youtu.be/DGFefW9rST8 Ep5: coming soon Link to the Suyash's blog: https://suyashkeshari.com (https://suyashkeshari.com/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suyash.keshari Twitter: https://twitter.com/suyashkeshari96 IG: https://www.instagram.com/suyashkeshari/ Follow The Musafir Stories on 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 (http://www.themusafirstories.com/) email: themusafirstories@gmail.com (mailto:themusafirstories@gmail.com) itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo

74: TMS Specials : Safari with Suyash

Contest Alert! Celebrating the festive season and new year by giving away a copy of 'Globetrotting for Love and other stories from Sakhalin island' by Ajay Kamalakaran. Just answer the question in the form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfU1C6YPhkZgx3LYPw0p4QC4bEx0tq0IMvp9FjPyxHKmzplOA/viewform) and stand a chance to win Ajay's book! This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Malavika and Vitasta from Travel.Earth (https://travel.earth) as we explore Namma Bengaluru! Today's destination: Bengaluru!   Nearest Airport: Kempe Gowda International Airport Nearest Railway Station: Bangalore City Railway Station Prerequisites -  N/A Packing -  Carry some water and a wear a good pair of walking shoes! Time of the year -  November to January is a great time to visit Bengaluru  Length of the itinerary:  A Weekend itinerary Itinerary Highlights:  - The duo set out on exploring Bangalore starting off with a delicious breakfast at Koshy’s - one of Bangalore’s erstwhile restaurants, started as a bakery in 1940 and has since been managed by successive generations of the family. Make sure to try out the Koshy’s bread, Fish and Chips and some yummy desserts.  - The next stop is a quick walk to St. Mark’s Cathedral - inspired by St Paul’s Cathedral in London, this magnificent church is dedicated to St Mark the Evangelist and was founded in 1808 (and consecrated in 1816). - At a stone’s throw away from the cathedral is Chinnaswamy stadium - a very popular stadium which is also the home ground of RCB - Royal challengers Bangalore. - The next pitstop is Cubbon Park, named after Mark Cubbon, the Commissioner of Mysore State. It is a huge park with an area of over 300 acres and has a number of beautiful statues as well, including Chamarajendra Wodeyar, Seshadri Iyer, King Edward, Queen Victoria among others.  - After walking around for half a day, the girls have a quick bite at The only place, a great haunt for lovers of steaks and sizzlers!  - The second half of the day is spent covering some beautiful museums within Cubbon park - Government Museum, Visveswaraya technology museum and Venkatappa art gallery.  - Day 2 starts off with a bang, with a visit to the Bangalore palace - inspired from the Windsor Castle. Built in 1878, the palace was home to Chamarajendra Wodeyar and has some beautiful rooms inside, including the famous Darbar Hall.  - The next destination on the agenda is the Bangalore fort, Bengaluru’s erstwhile fort built by the founding father Kempe Gowda and later renovated by Hyder Ali. Only a small part of the original for remains today.  - At a close distance from Bangalore Fort is Tipu Sultan’s summer palace - a rustic wooden palace built of teak wood that houses some beautiful paintings and artefacts from Tipu Sultan. The upper level of the palace was used by the women of the royal family.  - Other places that find mention in the podcast are Lal Bagh, another beautiful part within the city premises, famous eateries like MTR or Mavalli Tiffin Rooms, CTR or Central Tiffin Rooms, Vidyarthi Bhavan.  Links: Link to the blogpost:  https://travel.earth/bangaloreans-explore-bangalore-for-the-first-time/ https://travel.earth/day-2-experience-in-the-garden-city/ Link to episode on Old Bengaluru: https://audioboom.com/posts/7044774-tms-specials-old-bengaluru-dargah-to-dharmaraya Link to the website: https://travel.earth (https://travel.earth/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/traveldotearth/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/traveldotearth IG: https://www.instagram.com/traveldotearth/ This episode is brought to you by Cambly - Cambly is the only app in India that provides on demand native English speaking tutors over video to teach English one on one. - For those who are interested in improving their fluency/communication skills, they can subscribe to Cambly's monthly or quarterly plans and practice consistently every week. - It is especially useful for those who want to better prepare for interviews, presentations and become a confident speaker. All sessions focus on what you want to improve on. - It can be accessed on the website www.cambly.com (http://www.cambly.com/) or by downloading the Cambly app from the Playstore or AppStore. - The Musafir Stories listeners can get a 32% discount on the quarterly plan by using the code "tms32" Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories  Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com (http://www.themusafirstories.com/) email: themusafirstories@gmail.com (mailto:themusafirstories@gmail.com) itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj  website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV  Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0  iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo

73: A speed date with Bengaluru ft Travel.Earth

Contest Alert! Celebrating the festive season and new year by giving away a copy of 'Globetrotting for Love and other stories from Sakhalin island' by Ajay Kamalakaran. Just answer the question in the form and stand a chance to win Ajay's book! This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Ajay Kamalakaran, an independent journalist and novelist as he takes us to the Far East corner of the world, Sakhalin island!! Today's destination: Sakhalin island   Nearest Airport: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport Nearest Railway Station: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Station Prerequisites -  Please check travel documents required Packing - Pack for the cold! Time of the year -  Summer is ideal for Indian travellers although winter has its own charm! Length of the itinerary: NA Itinerary Highlights:  - Ajay talks about the hidden gem of Sakhalin island, that lies at the confluence of the north and the east, where Russia meets Japan! - Learn more about the history of the Sakhalin island, its native people, and the connection to the Japanese and Koreans.  - We talk about the geographical orientation, demography and the seasons of Sakhalin. Ajay explains the favourite pass-times of Sakhalin, how he got there and life in Sakhalin, the non-Americanized version.  - The oil connection of Sakhalin and preferred status for Indian citizens in terms of visas is also discussed.  - Ajay talks more about his book - Globetrotting for love and other stories from Sakhalin island and what inspired the book.  Links:  Link to the 'Globetrotting for love and other stories from Sakhalin island:  https://www.amazon.in/GLOBETROTTING-OTHER-STORIES-SAKHALIN-ISLAND/dp/9386206269 Link to the Ajay's latest book, A Week in the Life of Svitlana: https://www.amazon.in/Week-Life-Svitlana-Ajay-Kamalakaran-ebook/dp/B07ZXW2GKC/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=ajay+kamalakaran&qid=1573532215&sr=8-2   Twitter: https://twitter.com/AjayKamalakaran   Photo by Alex Kotomanov (https://unsplash.com/@kotomanov?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/s/photos/russia?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) This episode is brought to you by Cambly - Cambly is the only app in India that provides on demand native English speaking tutors over video to teach English one on one. - For those who are interested in improving their fluency/communication skills, they can subscribe to Cambly's monthly or quarterly plans and practice consistently every week. - It is especially useful for those who want to better prepare for interviews, presentations and become a confident speaker. All sessions focus on what you want to improve on. - It can be accessed on the website www.cambly.com (http://www.cambly.com/) or by downloading the Cambly app from the Playstore or AppStore. - The Musafir Stories listeners can get a 32% discount on the quarterly plan by using the code "tms32" Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories  Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com (http://www.themusafirstories.com/) email: themusafirstories@gmail.com (mailto:themusafirstories@gmail.com) itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj  website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV  Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0  iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo

72: TMS Specials: Sakhalin Island with Ajay Kamalakaran

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Aakash Mehrotra from Delhi who talks to us about his childhood connection to the land of Landour, Uttarakhand! Today's destination: Landour, Uttarakhand Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (DED) Nearest Railway Station: Dehradun Prerequisites -  NA Packing -  Lots of books! Carry warm clothes as the hill stations are quite chill. Time of the year -  April Length of the itinerary:  3 days Itinerary Highlights: - Aakash talks about his childhood connection to Landour and the charm of this Raj era cantonment sharing some quick tips as to when one can travel. - He also shares titbits about his lodging, Rokeby Manor, a heritage property built in 1840 and one of the early constructions in Landour. - Some more trivia about the history of Landour, it's founders, it's legends and myths. - Aakash also shares stories about Pahadi Wilson, one of the famous residents of Landour and how his story inspired Rudyard Kipling to write the book, The man who became king. - Aakash talks about the famous points in Landour - the Char Dukaan, Sister's bazaar, Emily's kitchen, Landour Bakehouse among others. There are also heritage buildings like Kellog Church and St. Paul's church as well as a private sanctuary - The Jaberkhet wildlife sanctuary. - Finally we discuss about the legend and most famous celebrity of Landour - Ruskin Bond, his early life in Landour, his cottage and the influence of Landour on his works. - We wrap up the episode calling out other famous celebrity connections to Landour! Correction: The author of "The Man who would be King" is Rudyard Kipling and not Ruskin Bond as mentioned in this episode. Links: Link to Aakash's blogpost: https://handofcolors.me/2018/04/01/the-secret-miracles-of-landour/#more-2093 https://handofcolors.me/2018/04/17/rokeby-manor-a-colonial-charm/ Link to the blog: https://handofcolors.me (https://handofcolors.me/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handofcolors/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/aakashmehrotra?lang=en Follow The Musafir Stories on 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 (http://www.themusafirstories.com/) email: themusafirstories@gmail.com (mailto:themusafirstories@gmail.com) itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo

71: Explore Landour with Aakash Mehrotra

Contest Alert!!! ---------------- We're giving away a copy of Rajat Ubhaykar's book - Truck De India, a hitchhiker's guide to Hindustan, to one lucky listener! All you have to do is listen to Rajat's episode - Around India on trucks (https://audioboom.com/posts/7258364-tms-specials-around-india-on-trucks-and-highways-with-rajat-ubhaykar) and answer two simple questions and send them to our email - themusafirstories@gmail.com (mailto:themusafirstories@gmail.com) before Nov 10, 2019. 1. From which city did Rajat start his first leg of travel on trucks? 2. Name any one driver with whom Rajat hitches a ride, who finds mention in the episode. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Winners of #GetFeatured on The Musafir Stories! - Tarun - Sangeetha Congrats!! We will reach out to you on very soon to schedule a recording session! IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to the Nomadic Thunker, Elita, as she takes us to a lesser explore gem of North East India, Manipur! Today's destination: Manipur Nearest Airport: Bir Tikendrajit International Airport (IMF) Nearest Railway Station: Dimapur Railway Station Prerequisites -  Government issued Photo ID will be required at checkposts. Please be sure to check the ground situation before planning your travel as there might be closures. Packing - Pack some warm clothes if you're traveling during the winter months. Time of the year - January Length of the itinerary: 4 days Itinerary Highlights: - Elita covers Manipur as a part of her 49 day North east itinerary. Please be sure to check the ground situation before planning your travel. - Elita starts off her journey from Imphal where she flies into. It can be quite economical to hail a shared taxi from the airport to the city. - The first point of interest after settling down in Imphal is the Ima Keithel Women's Market, one of the biggest women-run market in the world! The market is a must see while in Imphal and is a great opportunity to pick up some local souvenirs. - Having spent some time interacting with women traders and getting a first hand experience of their warmth and hospitality, Elita heads back to the rest for the day. - The plan for Day 2 is to travel to the border town of Moreh, which borders Myanmar's Tamu. The town is the eastern most frontier of India, opening up to the South East Asian market. - The journey involved taking a shared taxi to Moreh, and some interesting experiences passing through army checkposts. The market is a minor trading hub for nearby villages and a lot of traders sell their produce here. One can walk about to the sister town of Tamu in Myanmar with the necessary ID documents. - Elita spends some time interacting with the local traders and buying some edibles. Once spending some time here, Elita heads back to Imphal in the same shared cab. - The Day 3 itinerary is planned for a visit to the Loktak lake, the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India and is famous for the phumdis/vegetation floating over it. The lake is located at Moirang in Manipur state, India. - The lake is also the location of the Keibul Lamjao National Park, famous for the Sangai deer or the brown antlered deer, found here in large numbers. - After spending some time watching the natural marvel of the Loktak lake, Elita heads to the INA martyr memorial. The INA Martyr's Memorial complex is a war memorial at Moirang, India, dedicated to the soldiers of the Indian National Army and some haunting stories of the freedom struggle and World War 2. - Day 4 was a reserve day which Elita uses to check out the war memorial in Imphal. Travleres can also check out the Kangla fort/palace, Thalon Caves, Govindajee temple, RKCS art gallery if they have time on hand! Links: Link to the blogpost- https://nomadicthunker.com/2017/04/micro-stories-of-hope-manipur-loktak-khwairamband-bazar.html https://nomadicthunker.com/2017/04/indo-myanmar-border-photos-friendship-gate.html https://nomadicthunker.com/2017/04/khwairamband-bazar-imphal-women-market-manipur.html Link to the blog: Nomadic Thunker (https://nomadicthunker.com (https://nomadicthunker.com/) ) Link to #BeYouForYou expressive writing workshops https://nomadicthunker.com/be-you-for-you Social media: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nomadicthunker/?hl=en Contact: https://nomadicthunker.com/contact Image Credit: Thank you Grasskode! http://grasskode.xyz/ Follow the Musafir stories on 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 (http://www.themusafirstories.com/) email: themusafirstories@gmail.com (mailto:themusafirstories@gmail.com) itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo

70: Explore Manipur with Elita

#GetFeatured on the Musafir Stories! Capping off International Podcast Day (https://www.facebook.com/internationalpodcastday/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARBzrA3UoBGh6TJJNF-n7VuvldwVxBpaem5oAncHzspmuMyFcQu18matbdHLr3EOl53BhdY9YOJZ88E0&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAuyskK8T5eZMKcS3csKzg6BCwshiRNHBrKOao2hQaTewkilaUEzEtHx2dMuf7enxsGxA7IHYmG_IM977-PvmTU-E_BY9pc-FC2rONJ2ykwRegk1NotikBy9C1RbDfGeUIgj-n_v7CKWsxsnstraxWJ7VYsbuH97LoAok_eLa2tkP4N4_WaPYIqHj307FyIJUVexypZl4lbAS94PA) by inviting all listeners to our annual contest #GetFeatured (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/getfeatured?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAuyskK8T5eZMKcS3csKzg6BCwshiRNHBrKOao2hQaTewkilaUEzEtHx2dMuf7enxsGxA7IHYmG_IM977-PvmTU-E_BY9pc-FC2rONJ2ykwRegk1NotikBy9C1RbDfGeUIgj-n_v7CKWsxsnstraxWJ7VYsbuH97LoAok_eLa2tkP4N4_WaPYIqHj307FyIJUVexypZl4lbAS94PA&__tn__=%2ANK-R) on The Musafir Stories - India Travel Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARADlKq1r4ss_pxHD5iZc-Jvkl-JSwvySjExFYOqzTMQRb-lJGPNZ0EhJWm2OUcFYg6BzZDu1LZ8htOf&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAuyskK8T5eZMKcS3csKzg6BCwshiRNHBrKOao2hQaTewkilaUEzEtHx2dMuf7enxsGxA7IHYmG_IM977-PvmTU-E_BY9pc-FC2rONJ2ykwRegk1NotikBy9C1RbDfGeUIgj-n_v7CKWsxsnstraxWJ7VYsbuH97LoAok_eLa2tkP4N4_WaPYIqHj307FyIJUVexypZl4lbAS94PA) .  The process is very simple, just reach us on our email themusafirstories@gmail.com (mailto:themusafirstories@gmail.com) with a. An #Indian (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/indian?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAuyskK8T5eZMKcS3csKzg6BCwshiRNHBrKOao2hQaTewkilaUEzEtHx2dMuf7enxsGxA7IHYmG_IM977-PvmTU-E_BY9pc-FC2rONJ2ykwRegk1NotikBy9C1RbDfGeUIgj-n_v7CKWsxsnstraxWJ7VYsbuH97LoAok_eLa2tkP4N4_WaPYIqHj307FyIJUVexypZl4lbAS94PA&__tn__=%2ANK-R) destination or experience you would like to talk about (preferably not already covered on the podcast) b. A #summary (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/summary?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAuyskK8T5eZMKcS3csKzg6BCwshiRNHBrKOao2hQaTewkilaUEzEtHx2dMuf7enxsGxA7IHYmG_IM977-PvmTU-E_BY9pc-FC2rONJ2ykwRegk1NotikBy9C1RbDfGeUIgj-n_v7CKWsxsnstraxWJ7VYsbuH97LoAok_eLa2tkP4N4_WaPYIqHj307FyIJUVexypZl4lbAS94PA&__tn__=%2ANK-R) of your experience/highlights c. Links to blogs/posts about your experience (optional) The winner will be announced at the end of October! Please share with anyone who might be interested!! #InternationalPodcastDay (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/internationalpodcastday?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAuyskK8T5eZMKcS3csKzg6BCwshiRNHBrKOao2hQaTewkilaUEzEtHx2dMuf7enxsGxA7IHYmG_IM977-PvmTU-E_BY9pc-FC2rONJ2ykwRegk1NotikBy9C1RbDfGeUIgj-n_v7CKWsxsnstraxWJ7VYsbuH97LoAok_eLa2tkP4N4_WaPYIqHj307FyIJUVexypZl4lbAS94PA&__tn__=%2ANK-R) #India (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/india?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAuyskK8T5eZMKcS3csKzg6BCwshiRNHBrKOao2hQaTewkilaUEzEtHx2dMuf7enxsGxA7IHYmG_IM977-PvmTU-E_BY9pc-FC2rONJ2ykwRegk1NotikBy9C1RbDfGeUIgj-n_v7CKWsxsnstraxWJ7VYsbuH97LoAok_eLa2tkP4N4_WaPYIqHj307FyIJUVexypZl4lbAS94PA&__tn__=%2ANK-R) #travel (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/travel?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAuyskK8T5eZMKcS3csKzg6BCwshiRNHBrKOao2hQaTewkilaUEzEtHx2dMuf7enxsGxA7IHYmG_IM977-PvmTU-E_BY9pc-FC2rONJ2ykwRegk1NotikBy9C1RbDfGeUIgj-n_v7CKWsxsnstraxWJ7VYsbuH97LoAok_eLa2tkP4N4_WaPYIqHj307FyIJUVexypZl4lbAS94PA&__tn__=%2ANK-R) #podcast (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/podcast?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAuyskK8T5eZMKcS3csKzg6BCwshiRNHBrKOao2hQaTewkilaUEzEtHx2dMuf7enxsGxA7IHYmG_IM977-PvmTU-E_BY9pc-FC2rONJ2ykwRegk1NotikBy9C1RbDfGeUIgj-n_v7CKWsxsnstraxWJ7VYsbuH97LoAok_eLa2tkP4N4_WaPYIqHj307FyIJUVexypZl4lbAS94PA&__tn__=%2ANK-R) IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Arvind from the blog Jaipur thru my lens, an expert on Jaipur and its gems! Today's destination: A walking tour around the Walled city of Jaipur! Nearest Airport: Jaipur International Airport, JAI Nearest Railway Station: Jaipur Junction railway station, JP Prerequisites - Walking shoes, sun glasses, sun screen, energy bars and water to keep you hydrated! Packing -  Pack light, perhaps a backpack while you head out on this walking tour! Time of the year -  December to February is a good time to walk around the city as summers can be hottt! Length of the itinerary: 2 - 2.5 hours Itinerary Highlights: - Are talks about the benefits of self-guided walks vs group walking tours and what makes sense. - We start off the self guided tour of walled city of Jaipur, starting from New gate or Naya gate, the newest of the 9 gates in Jaipur. - Walking through the New gate, the first stop is at Bapu Bazaar, famous for fabric, women's shoes or mojaris/jootis, bed linen, clothes and handicrafts. -  The next gate we pass through is the Sanganeri Gate en-route to Johari Bazaar - one of the oldest and most popular markets of Jaipur. - Johari bazaar is popular for its jewellery - gold, silver, stones and all kinds of handicrafts. The Johari bazaar also has some buildings that have retained the old architecture that is unique to Rajasthan and Jaipur. - Are also talks about the other famous by-lanes of Johari bazaar like Haldion ka raasta, Ghee-walon ka raasta, Moti singh Bhamiyon ka raasta among others as well as a flavour of the local sweets - Ghevar and Fini! - Close to Johari Bazaar is Badi Chauper, a large square that is also very close to Hawa Mahal - another iconic monument of Jaipur. - Other places of interest near Badi Chauper is the Flower market that can be quite interesting for foreign travellers. - The next point of interest is the Hawa Mahal, one of the more popular palaces of Jaipur. The facade is brilliant but hidden behind is a whole complex, that is filled with stories and Rajas and Ranis. - Other points one passes by after walking around Hawa Mahal includes an old administrative building, Sirehdyodi bazaar, which leads to the Sirehdyodi Gate. - Another gate in the vicinity is the Nakkarkhana gate, an internal gate used for protection. - Jaleb chowk is another square where armies used to gather, but this is mostly empty now. - As one passes through Jaleb chowk, one can either head towards the City palace or Govind Devji temple, one of the very popular and older temples of Jaipur. - The walk can either end at this point, or trailers can choose to visit some of the more popular monuments like City Palace or Jantar Mantar depending on time and interest. Links: Link to the blogpost: https://jaipurthrumylens.com/2019/06/20/self-guided-jaipur-heritage-walking-tour/ Ghevar: https://jaipurthrumylens.com/2018/09/03/ghevar-in-jaipur-rajasthani-sweet/ Link to the blog: Jaipur Thru my lens (https://jaipurthrumylens.com (https://jaipurthrumylens.com/) ) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jaipurthrumylens/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvjpr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arv_jpr/?hl=en Photo credits Mitchell Ng Liang an (https://unsplash.com/@mitchellngyummy) from Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/) Follow the Musafir stories on 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 (http://www.themusafirstories.com/) email: themusafirstories@gmail.com (mailto:themusafirstories@gmail.com) itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo

69: Walled City of Jaipur with Arv

International Podcast Day Convention 2019 in Bangalore: Join us!!!  Register now: https://podcasts.hubhopper.com/o2podcollective-international-podcast-day ************************************************************************* This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Sudharsan SN, a polyglot and a linguist who runs a youtube channel called Indic Living (https://www.youtube.com/user/sudharsansn) Today's destination: Dhanushkodi - the story of a ghost town! Nearest Airport: Madurai, TN Nearest Railway Station: Rameshwaram, TN Prerequisites -  n/a Packing - light clothes, hat, sun screen and lots of water! Time of the year: Oct - Feb is the best time to visit as the temperatures soar during summer Length of the itinerary: 1 day Itinerary Highlights: - Sudharsan shares his experience visiting Dhanushkodi for the first time in 2002. - He draws out the history of Dhanushkodi leading up to the Rameshwaram cyclone of 1964 - The lives of the fishermen before and after the cyclone - The ruins of Dhanushkodi, the railway station, the temple, the church - The inspiration for Sudharsan's book and the storyline Links: Follow Sudharsan on Twitter : https://twitter.com/sudharsansn Time and a Cyclone Book : http://www.sudharsansn.com/cyclone/release.html Link to Sudharsan's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/sudharsansn Photo by fahad pgd (https://unsplash.com/@fahadpgd?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/s/photos/dhanushkodi?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) Follow the Musafir stories on 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 (http://www.themusafirstories.com/) email: themusafirstories@gmail.com (mailto:themusafirstories@gmail.com) itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo

68: Ghost town of Dhanushkodi with SN Sudharsan

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Deenaz Raisinghani, a backpacking mom who has been traveling around the world with her little kiddo!  Today's destination: Parvati Valley, Himachal Pradesh   Nearest Airport: Bhuntar Airport or Chandigarh Airport Nearest Railway Station: Pathankot Railway station Prerequisites -  NA Packing -  Your usual winter gear along with other essentials for travelling with a kid.  >Also make sure to take care of the baby's eating, sleeping and pooping schedules!!  >Travel as light as possible.  >Travel a baby carrier  >Emergency medications for the family >Handy snacks for the journey Time of the year -  June (Feb to Jun is a good time to travel) Length of the itinerary:  10 days Itinerary Highlights:  - The trio of Deenaz, Arianna and the dad start from Ambala for this 10 day road trip.  - Parvati Valley is situated in the state of Himachal Pradesh and covers the region where the river Parvati and Beas meet and pass along a bunch of villages like Jari, Tosh, Kasol, Malana, Manikaran amongst others.  - The valley has some great views of the mountains and the forests and some hot springs too!.  - The first stop is at a little town called Jari, in a homestay that is right by the river alongside a village called Baladi. Reaching the homestay involves a bit of a trek and crossing a bridge, but is definitely manageable.  - Day trips from here to places like Tosh are a great option that offers great cafes and views of the mountains, but be prepared for the crowds! - Another option is day treks to close by villages like Baladi that have some wonderful treks and offer an opportunity to interact with the local Himachali people.  - It's a good idea to get a buffer day if there are any sick days during the trip.  - After spending a few days at Jari, and doing day trips, the family decides to experience camping near Kasol - Arianna's first camping trip! - More hiking expeditions this time trekking via Chalal and Katagla, and a trip to Kasol town.  - There are other options like Kheerganga, Pin Parvati pass, Malana, Grahan Village and other multi-day treks that one can indulge in and enjoy the verdant valley! - Deenaz also shares little tidbits about interactions with the locals as well as a little adventure of getting the local brew of Himachal - the Lugdi! - Finally, Deenaz shares some quick tips about inculcating travel in kids at an early age, the challenges and how to overcome them! Listen on!    Links: Link to Deenaz's blog (https://backpackindianmama.com/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backpackingindianmama/ Instagram : backpacking_indian_mama (https://www.instagram.com/backpacking_indian_mama/) (https://www.instagram.com/backpacking_indian_mama/) Footprints of the Shadows by Piyush Dewan : https://www.amazon.in/Footprints-Shadows-Part-I-ebook/dp/B07KNN49W6 Photo by Harigovind Kaninghat (https://unsplash.com/@harkan?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/search/photos/parvati?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) Follow the Musafir stories on 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 (http://themusafirstories.com/) email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj  website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV  Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0  iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo

67: Explore Parvati Valley with Backpacking Indian Mama

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Karan and Parul, the couple on a break from work traveling around India and the world! Today's destination: Kashmir Great Lakes trek! PS: Please be sure to check on the travel advisory before traveling to the region.  Nearest Airport: Srinagar airport Nearest Railway Station: Udhampur railway station Prerequisites - Some level of fitness! Packing - Pack trekking shoes, sticks, ponchos, warm clothes and a day pack with necessary first aid, medication and snack! Please note that the there is a support team to take care of transportation of luggage while trekking. Time of the year -  July to September is a good time to visit. Length of the itinerary: 8-9 days Itinerary Highlights: The group start of the trek from Srinagar to Naranag village, where they explore old temple ruins before starting of the trek. Day 1: First stop at Butshree pass, for refuelling! The first day of trekking is quite steep and one of the more difficult days of the trek. The campsite is by the Nundkul lake below the glacier mountain - Harmukh. You will encounter a couple of army camps/check posts during the trek, government IDs are required to be produced. A beautiful evening spent under the stars, playing Maafia and enjoying the views and making new bonds! Day 2: Break day (already)! The group spends time exploring nearby lakes like Gangbal, a daring dip in ice cold water of Gangbal and more Maafia! Day 3: Rain Gods show up! The group sets off from Nundkul to Satsar Valley, passing the Zajbal pass enrolee! Some majestic views of the lakes Nundkul and Gangabal from Zajbal pass. The group finally reaches Satsar Valley - the valley of 7 lakes and enjoy a very special local cuisine! Day 4: The destination for Day 4 is Gadsar valley - lots of green meadows and a relatively easy day of trekking. The group decides to spend some time exploring lakes, watching the night sky and relaxing before heading off to Krishansar lake the next day. Day 5: Gadsar valley to the Krishansar and Vishansar camp with a brilliant views of the twin lakes from Gadsar Pass. Day 6: The group descends to the twin lakes of Krishansar and Vishansar, enjoy another dip in the lakes and more beautiful views of the night sky! Day 7: The final day of the trek as the group descends to Sonamarg with a bittersweet feeling! A week cut off from civilization, making bonds & forging friendships and enjoying nature's bounty, but at the same time, happy to be heading back to civilization! Links: Link to the blogpost: http://grasskode.xyz/post/travel/kashmir-great-lakes/ Link to the blog: http://grasskode.xyz (http://grasskode.xyz/) IG: @grasskode & @capturedbypaulina Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com (http://www.themusafirstories.com/) email: themusafirstories@gmail.com (mailto:themusafirstories@gmail.com) itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo

66: Trek the Great Lakes of Kashmir with Karan & Parul

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to the trio from F5 Escapes. F5 Escapes is redefining how women travel in India, encouraging them to get out of their comfort zone and explore the world. They plan and organize travel tours for women to travel in groups and solo as well! Hand crafted itineraries to suit their needs. To know more about F5 Escapes checkout their social media pages: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/F5Escapes/) : https://www.facebook.com/F5Escapes/ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/f5escapes/) : https://www.instagram.com/f5escapes/ Twitter (https://twitter.com/F5Escapes) : https://twitter.com/F5Escapes Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWGFUxtraAUnvxgmM7V_KEw) : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWGFUxtraAUnvxgmM7V_KEw Website (https://www.f5escapes.com/) : https://www.f5escapes.com/ Photo credit by Guille Álvarez (https://unsplash.com/@guillealvarez) on Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/) Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter (https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en) : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories) : https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/) : https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/ website: www.themusafirstories.com (http://www.themusafirstories.com/) email: themusafirstories@gmail.com (mailto:themusafirstories@gmail.com) itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo At the time of publishing this episode- Sindhu is taking a break as a lead from F5 Escapes.

65: TMS Specials : Women in Travel with F5 Escapes

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Dhiraj from the blog, Team G Square as he discusses his journey to some of the hidden gems of India. Today's destination: Orchha, Madhya Pradesh!! Nearest Airport: Gwalior Airport or Khajuraho Airport (HJR) Nearest Railway Station: Jhansi Railway station (about 18kms away) Prerequisites -  NA Packing -  Depending on the time of the year you visit, make sure to carry hats, eyewear and sunscreen. Best time to visit is between November and February as the plains get very hot after that. Time of the year -  January Length of the itinerary: 3 days Itinerary Highlights: - Dhiraj and his 'team' cover Orchha as a part of a bigger MP road trip that lasted about 10 days. - The Orchha itinerary can be broken down into 3 areas - the palaces, the temples and the Chattris with the Vulture sanctuary. - Orchha is the home of the Bundela Rajas in the 16th century, who were originally based in the Varanasi region, until the invasions by the Delhi Sultanate began after which they moved to MP. - The town is home to a number of palaces of different architecture shapes and sizes. Notable among the palaces are the Raja Mahal built in 1538 which is one of the biggest and most beautiful of the palaces. The palace has innumerable jharokas and chattris that amplify the beauty of the palace. - Next on the list is the Jehangir Mahal, also a very beautiful palace that has shades of Mughal/Indo-islamic architecture that makes it stand out. Legend has that this palace was built for the visit of Emperor Jehangir, son of Akbar, who visited here just for a night! - Another unique palace that is high on the list of must see palaces is the Sheesh Mahal, which is now a boutique hotel and was one of the palaces built during the fag end of the rule of Bundela Kings. - An interesting and smaller palace is the Rai Parveen Mahal, believed to have been built for the Rai Parveen, a courtesan in the court of King Indrajit Singh. The legend goes that she was so beautiful and talented that even Emperor Akbar was blown away by her beauty and wanted to have her as a part of his entourage of courtesans. However, she did not budge and chose to stay with the Bundela King and was eventually moved to this palace. - Other smaller structures/palaces also adorn the town, although they have not been very well maintained. Notable among them are Dasiyon ka mahal, Dauji ki Kothi, Himma Hamir ki Kothi, ShamDua ki Kothi, Rasaldar ki Kothi etc. - Moving on from the palaces, one cannot overlook the umpteen number of temples and their marvellous beauty that Orchha has to offer. One of the first temples to catch your attention is Chatturbhuj temple that is one of the grandest temples of Orchha. - Legend has it that the Chaturbhuj temple was built by King Madhukar Shah for Lord Rama, but the Lord instead chose to stay at the Raja Ram temple, which was previously the Rani Mahal. - The story behind the Raja Ram temple is that when Rani Ganesh Kunwari performed penance to invite Lord Rama, he was impressed by her devotion and agreed to accompany her only if he is to be the King of the first place they stop at, which ends up being the Rani Mahal. The Lord also puts a condition that he will remain the only king of the place and hence he is worshipped as King in this region. - Other temples that are notable are the Shiva temple, Vanavasi Ram Mandir, Radhika Vihari temple, Panchamukhi temple and Lakshmi temple. All in all, Orchha provides a great treat for lovers of architecture and temples. - On the last leg of the journey, one can stop by the iconic Cenotaphs or Chattris of Orchha that are situated on the banks of the river Betwa. - The 14 Chattris were built as a homage for the Bundela kings and were constructed between the 17th and 18th century. Being situated on the banks of the river just amplifies the beauty of the cenotaphs. - As an icing on the cake, the region is also home to some endangered species of vulture and houses a Vulture Sanctuary. One can spend hours admiring the beauty fo the history and architecture, the beautiful sunset and eerie vultures or Orchha! All in all, a great trip uncovering some hidden gems of India! Links: Link to the blogpost: Chattris of Orrcha (https://www.teamgsquare.com/2017/08/mp-diaries-orchha-chhatris-grander-than.html) Palaces of Orchha (https://www.teamgsquare.com/2017/08/mp-diaries-palaces-of-orchha-medevial.html) Temples of Orchha (https://www.teamgsquare.com/2017/07/mp-diaries-temples-of-orchha-medieval.html) Vultures of Orchha (https://www.teamgsquare.com/2017/07/mp-diaries-vultures-of-orchha-one-of.html) Paintings of Orchha (https://www.teamgsquare.com/2017/08/mp-diaries-orchha-chitra-katha-painted.html) Link to the blog- TeamGSquare (https://www.teamgsquare.com) Follow the TeamGSquare on: Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/teamgsquare) Twitter (https://twitter.com/TeamGSquare) IG (http://instagram.com/teamgsquare) Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter (https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories) Instagram (https://instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/) website: www.themusafirstories.com (http://www.themusafirstories.com/) email: themusafirstories@gmail.com (mailto:themusafirstories@gmail.com) itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo

64: Explore Orchha with Dhiraj

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Charles Worringham, an Australian academic and clean energy evangelist, who shares his experience of traveling with a purpose. Listen on! Today's destination: Around India, exploring some of her energy challenges and innovative solutions! Nearest Airport: Indira Gandhi International airport Nearest Railway Station: NA Prerequisites - Be open to travel, be open to learning! Packing - NA Time of the year - November Length of the itinerary: 1 month Itinerary Highlights: - Charles tells us about the objective of the trip and how one can look for a purpose in travel, be it history, culture, adventure or just learning about something you love! - More about the planning and preparations, the books Charles read up before the big trip: India calling - Anand Giridhardas (https://www.amazon.in/India-Calling-Intimate-Portrait-Remaking/dp/1250001722) (https://www.amazon.in/India-Calling-Intimate-Portrait-Remaking/dp/1250001722) Looking away - Harsh Mander (https://www.amazon.in/Looking-Away-Inequality-Prejudice-Indifference/dp/9385288458) (https://www.amazon.in/Looking-Away-Inequality-Prejudice-Indifference/dp/9385288458) Inspite of the Gods, the strange rise of modern India - Edward Luce (https://www.amazon.in/Spite-Gods-Strange-Modern-India/dp/0349123462/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1AO814J40I06U&keywords=in+spite+of+the+gods+the+strange+rise+of+modern+india&qid=1560488987&s=gateway&sprefix=gods+rise+%2Caps%2C230&sr=8-1) (https://www.amazon.in/Spite-Gods-Strange-Modern-India/dp/0349123462) The City of Djinns - William Dalrymple (https://www.amazon.in/City-Djinns-Delhi-William-Dalrymple/dp/9385936557) (https://www.amazon.in/City-Djinns-Delhi-William-Dalrymple/dp/9385936557) - The trip begins in Delhi where Charles meets some interesting personalities, experiences the local Delhi food, the Delhi metro and as luck would have it, the phenomenon called 'demonetization'!! - Charles also makes an impromptu visit to Unnao, UP to see an interesting energy project - Ahmedabad was next on the itinerary, even though Charles gets a stomach bug, but he still manages to do some sight seeing through a heritage walk around the old city and a visit to the Sabaramati Ashram of Mahatma Gandhi! - Following this, Charles makes his way to Mumbai where he meets more interesting people, experiences the Mumbai local and a visit to IIT Mumbai! - Charles then stops by in Pune, where he sees some first hand innovative ways in which energy efficiency was being achieved at the grassroots.  - Hyderabad is next on the itinerary where Charles meets an energy efficiency expert and learns more about commercial building standards. Stops at IIIT Hyderabad and Golkonda fort were also part of the trip although he misses out on the Hyderabadi biryani! - As he descends further south, Charles visits Bangalore to meet some very interesting people at IISC and discovers a local Australian connection in a very innovative startup in Bangalore. - The trip slowly begins to wrap up with a final stop at Kochi, where Charles engages in some touristy things as he discovers the wonderful history of Fort Kochi and the surrounding areas! Notable mentions in the episode: Debi Goenka (https://twitter.com/mangrovesindia?lang=en) Himanshu Thakkar (https://www.indiawaterportal.org/author/himanshu-thakkar) Brookings India, Delhi (https://www.brookings.edu/center/brookings-india/) Simran grover - boond energy (https://www.linkedin.com/in/simran-grover-238b8918/?originalSubdomain=in) IIT mumbai Rangan Banerjee - (http://www.ese.iitb.ac.in/faculty/rangan-banerjee) Rajkiran Rilolikar (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajkiranbilolikar/?originalSubdomain=in) Harish Hande - Selco foundation (https://www.selcofoundation.org/selco_team/harish-hande/) TV Ramachandran IISC (http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/new/?q=user/31) Pollinate energy (https://pollinateenergy.org (https://pollinateenergy.org/) ) Links: Link to the Charles' blog (https://indiapowerreview.com/) (https://indiapowerreview.com/) Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter (https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/) website: www.themusafirstories.com (http://www.themusafirstories.com/) email: themusafirstories@gmail.com (mailto:themusafirstories@gmail.com) Cover Photo by Riccardo Annandale (https://unsplash.com/@pavement_special?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) itunes -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo

63: TMS Specials : Purposeful Travel with Charles Worringham

The Musafir Stories is an audio podcast that documents Indian travel tales. Each episode we share the journey of travelers in their own words and relive their experience with our listeners. The sole aim of our podcast is to share the rich experiences of traveling in India and inspire listeners to take the leap of faith, grab those backpacks and set out to explore the beautiful and exotic country, India.