TRAVEL TALES
Enjoy fun adventures, experiences in the wild and check out unique travel trails.
The Jungle Book Wilderness: Patience, Focus & Meme Moment in Pench Tiger Reserve
On one “fine” day at the end of March 2022, we found ourselves in the heart of a forest in Central India, seated dutifully in our safari chariots, baked under the blazing sun, awaiting magic. Our forest guide had some tantalizing news – two fabulous tigresses enjoying a siesta in a gorge. And so, despite the heat and the safari circus of curious onlookers attempting acrobatics worthy of a Jungle…
10 Adventure-Filled Stops on the Enthralling Spiti Valley Circuit
Ah, the Lahaul-Spiti Valley circuit, the beautiful Himalayan Cold Desert where your GPS loses its mind, and the grand mountains play hide-and-seek with your sense of direction. Back in 2019, I stumbled upon the ideas of taking on this whirlwind adventure tour, while preparing for the Ladakh Marathon. The brilliant plan was to acclimatize before the big race in a stimulating manner. So in August 2019, I went with a…
Nature’s Cinematic Marvel: Tigers, Tales, & Tinsel in Kanha Tiger Reserve
Embarking on a journey to Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh in March 2022 was like stepping onto the sets of a grand Bollywood blockbuster, where the lush tapestry of Sal trees painted a backdrop so mesmerizing, it could rival the most extravagant film sets. Accompanied by my cousin, a fellow ‘forest’ and ‘tiger’ enthusiast, we were eager to witness the grand spectacle of nature’s own cinema and pen some…
Nature’s Runway: Discovering the Vogue of the Wild at Tadoba Andhari
My visit to the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in February 2022 was no less than a Jungle Vogue Extravaganza, where real catwalks stole the show. It had felt like I had snagged an exclusive invite to an event like the Paris Fashion Week, but here at the Animal Kingdom. After months of COVID-led closures, the national park had opened its gates for visitors, and the forest was unveiling its latest…
10 Life Lessons that I Learned from Running and Training for Marathons
You’ve probably seen countless ‘selfies’ or ‘photos of victory poses’ of recreational marathon finishers flaunting shiny medals like me on social media, and while it might look like all fun and games; it’s a result of a months of self-torturous grind that we willingly embrace. Why, you ask? Well, apparently because running unleashes some quirky body chemistry that gives you the same high (natural here) as a drug junkie gets…
Ladakh Marathon Chronicles: Running and Wandering in the Himalayan Wonderland
Ah, the Ladakh Marathon, the event that turns sane folks into oxygen-deprived, sweat-wicking fabric-wearing maniacs! Yours truly ran the half marathon – 21 km distance in 2019. The race was a great experience, but in the last 7 kms, a major uphill steep slope, my mind and body both abused me, and I questioned all about my existence and life choices. Why did I start an activity like running long…
Legacy of Freedom: Rediscovering Vadnagar’s Timeless Charm with a Nonagenarian Trailblazer
As India joyfully marks its 77th Independence Day on August 15, 2023, my mind can’t help but rewind to last year’s escapade when I embarked on a whirlwind adventure during the #azadikaamritmahotsav with my feisty 90-year-old grandmother. It’s like I inherited my wandering genes directly from her, though I’m barely hitting 5% of her outgoing persona. Grandma and I had embarked on a nice day trip to celebrate her incredible…
10 Whacky Adventures on 2 wheels riding 200 km in the Kumaon Mountains
Buckle up, folks, because my mountain biking saga of 2021 is about to take you on a rollercoaster ride. Picture this: me, armed with a daring spirit and a rented Bajaj Avenger motorcycle larger than life (and me), ready to conquer the treacherous twists and turns of the Kumaon wonderland of Uttarakhand state in Northern India. My grand plan was to embark on a whirlwind tour from Nainital to Almora,…
My Motorcycle Diaries: From Wobbly Wheels to Solo Mountain Tripping
The mountains stood tall and majestic, welcoming me to a world of wonder and excitement. I had set on a mission to ride through the high-altitude wilderness and conquer the curvy routes on a larger than me motorcycle. Then there came this moment, when I entered the road less taken. The 7-8 km stretch of road ahead was a bumpy, unpaved trail cutting through the dense, creepy foliage of the…