A few select photos from Rishikesh, Haridwar and Himachal pradesh in order to provide a taste of what one can expect while traveling in this part of India.
Towards the end of my Ladakh trip i had become very proficient in hitchhiking around the place. I no longer hesitated to stick out my hand to flag down any passing vehicle. I knew that people would stop if they could spare the space to take you on board. So i no longer worried about finding transportation to anywhere in Ladakh.
That little theory of mine was put to the test when i went to the Nubra valley. And i barely made it through.
In between Leh and Pangong Lake lies the mighty Chang La pass. At over 5400m high, Chang La is officially the 3'rd highest mountain pass in Ladakh (after Khardung La and Tanglang La).
After successfully cycling across the Leh - Manali highway i did not think that crossing Chang La on my bicycle would pose much of a problem. But i was wrong.
After 5 beautiful sunny days around Pangong Lake, the weather turned for the worse and dropped a ton of snow on the mountains around Chang La. I had to find a way back to Leh. Cycling was impossible now, but i had not planned on cycling back anyway. So i waited at Tangste, hoping to get ride on a jeep or truck going towards Leh.
Spotting a tiger in the wild is a once in a lifetime experience for any tourist and the wildlife park officials know it well. A successful spotting means big tips for the guides and they literally leave no leaf unturned in the forest inorder to spot a tiger.
This is especially true in Ranthambore, the park is well known for its of tiger sightings. The tigers themselves are used to all the... (more)
The floating markets of Bangkok are a photographers delight. As well as being colorful, they offer a wonderful glimpse into the traditional market practices of the river dwelling Thai.
Yes, the markets are commercialized for the benefit of the tourists. But in doing so, they have not lost their original charm, they remain quintessentially Thai, as the below photos will show.
One of the things i'am unhappy about myself as a photographer is my reluctance to take more portraits while traveling. There are some good reasons for it. But still, at the end of a trip when i look back at my photos, the ones that bring me the most joy are the ones with people in them.
If i had taken a portrait of someone, then more often than not, it means that i had interacted with that person before taking... (more)
Har-ki-Pauri (meaning the "Steps of Lord Shiva") is a famous ghat located on the banks of the Ganges river near Haridwar. It is here that the Ganges finally leaves the mountains and enters the plains of North India.
Every evening, the local priests perform a Ganga Aarti ceremony to welcome the revered river to the plains of India. It is a spectacular ceremony of fire and songs, participated and performed by thousands of people who gather here from all over the country..
Eating Chillies is a major part of the Bhutanese lifestyle. Some experts would argue that this habit was necessitated by cold weather of the place (to keep warm). While, others may argue that it is due to the limited variety of vegetables that could be grown in the country. But ask any average Bhutanese out in the street and their answer would be as simple as it is true. They just love the taste.
After an eventful first day, where i was caught in a freak hailstorm and had to camp by the side of the road, i was looking forward to a new day. Many questions still remained. Will the rains abate ? Will the road to Rothang pass be open ? and more importantly.. Will i be able to cross the Rothang pass on my cycle ?
This is a folk tale about how the Tsokar lake in Ladakh lost most of its water. It also explains the origin of the tiny Tso Kiagar lake on the way to TsoMoriri. The story was told to me by a local from the Thukje village.
I had modest goals for my first day. Cycle the 35 odd kms from Manali to Marhi, spend the night there, acclimatize and then push towards Rothang pass and beyond.
Sounds simple enough but the 35km ride does involve climbing from 1900m to 3300m. I've never cycled at any of these altitudes before, so i was a bit anxious and wanted to take it slow.
Based on my experience while cycling the Manali - Leh route (in Oct 2010) i've compiled a list of Food and Accommodation stops on the route.
I hope this information would be useful to other cyclists who are planning to do this trip. I have also tried to include the approximate dates till which these establishments would remain open, but these days might... (more)
Wildlife volunteering programs offer a great way for someone to experience the rich biodiversity of India. Firsthand, on the ground and out of the relative safety and comfort of a tourist vehicle. They provide you with a wonderful insight into the various wildlife conservation and research activities going on in the country. So its time for you to get off that couch, turn... (more)
My general policy with people is to trust until that trust is broken. But as i was sitting in the van, i started wondering what his game could be. "nobody's that nice", i thought. Especially since he was tout for a hotel and has nothing to gain by giving me this free ride. With my suspicions gradually growing, i suddenly jumped out of the van, grabbed my... (more)
If you love the mountains and love the freedom & the pure wind-in-your-face exhilaration of biking then Ladakh provides the perfect opportunity for you to combine the two and go motor biking in Ladakh. There is no better way to experience this wonderful place, free from the constraints of packaged trips and the safety of civilization biking in Ladakh puts... (more)
Growing up, I had never given eclipses much thought. I remember a few happen around Chennai when i was growing up. The Surya Grahanam was not an auspicious sign and we were usually told to stay indoors when it happened. You were not allowed to take a bath or eat anything during the eclipse. And once it was over, the family would do a... (more)
On the days leading up to the Chinese new year, the whole of China shuts down. I was caught unawares at KangDing and was stuck there for a couple of days before deciding to turn back to ChengDu and go on north towards Songpan and JiuZhaiGou. It was two days before the buses started running towards Songpan and i was on it along with a bunch of other people... (more)
Ladakh is a cycling paradise. There is no question about it. The quiet roads, the friendly locals, the serene landscape and high altitude all combine together to provide you a safe, fun, at times challenging and at all times visually stimulating experience that few other locations in India and indeed in the world could hope to match.
Thanjavur, the ancient city of Tamil Nadu and the erstwhile capital of the Chola Empire is home to numerous 'Great Living Chola Temples', the greatest of which is the Brihadeeswarar temple or more commonly known as the Big Temple ('Periya Kovil' in Tamil).
The 1000 year old temple is well known for its architecture and prized... (more)
The Pushkar Mela was the reason i decided to go on the Rajasthan trip
during my 'extended' Diwali holidays. Once i knew that the camel fair
will happen in the first week of November, there was no looking back
and i wasn't disappointed. Read on..
Usually people transport their bikes in cardboard boxes, but i felt that having a dedicated bike bag would be better as it is more compact, has more room for accessories and most of all because of the reason that the bag can be stowed away easily at a left luggage counter or in a hotel and can be used for the return trip as well. That last item was the major selling... (more)
A journey along the Manali - Leh highway is bound to be one of the most exciting, adventurous and visually stunning journeys anywhere in the world. The route traverses through some of the highest mountain passes in the world, crossing the Pir Panjal, Great Himalaya and the Zanskar ranges.
The road, traversing through these mountain ranges, takes the traveler to... (more)
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