“Did you go paragliding?” A flood of DMs, all with the same four words, hit my Instagram inbox, minutes after I posted stories of myself in this lush green paradise in the mountains. Bir, after all, is the second-best paragliding spot in the world (and the best one in Asia,)…
View Post
With Kasol on one end of Parvati Valley, and the village of Tosh on the other, I had a few of the tiny settlements to explore in between. Kalga, Pulga and Tulga are all located between the two, a short distance from each other, but on the opposite side of the…
View Post
Each of the several villages in Parvati Valley offers stupendous views of the river, the rolling hills carpeted in meadows, and pine trees in every conceivable shade of green. A few, however, stand out for being tourist favourites. These are the ones that have developed affordable accommodation and chilled-out cafes…
View Post
I’d been hearing a lot about Kasol. Being one of the most popular tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh, getting bits of information to piece together from friends who’ve travelled there came easily. I’d pictured a haven for backpackers sporting dreadlocks and wearing Bob Marley T-shirts. A Mecca for young Israeli…
View Post
The ferocious Parvati River roared as its churning waters flowed alongside the narrow road leading to Kasol. It carried more mud with it, appearing almost like milky coffee, since it had been raining for the last few days. On the opposite side, a discreet-looking wall hid behind it a dramatic…
View Post
A simple, but comfortable house with a large balcony overlooking cucumber fields is my base camp in Naggar, Himachal Pradesh. I keep my luggage here and only carry a small bag with a couple of clothes for when I head off to explore a new part of this picturesque state.…
View Post
Shivadya Resort in Karjan is just about as far off the beaten path as you can get. Hidden just out of view, this boutique hand-crafted resort is set in a breathtaking landscape and offers a slice of luxe Himachali living paired with unprecedented comfort. I spent a couple of days…
View Post
I heaved a sigh of relief as my GPS showed 5 minutes to Brajesh’s location. I travelled a long way to get to Jibhi – around 150 km from Fagu. It wasn’t the distance, but the road, riddled with bumps and potholes that made the journey seem endless. It’s almost…
View Post
As someone from a touristy hub like Goa who lives in a quiet little village, away from the cacophony of the beach belt, I can sense why Jibhi would appeal to off-beat travelers. Apart from a winding road running straight through this mountain village, there is almost no sign of…
View Post
Ever dreamed of waking up in the mountains and opening your curtains every morning to postcard-like views of green pine and spruce trees? Or being completely cut off from the world for just a little while, only to be thousands of miles away, wrapping a shawl closer around your body…
View Post
As Shimla came into view, I gaped at what looked like a vertical city. Buildings appeared as if they were growing behind each other – from where I stood, what was someone’s top floor was the start of someone else’s ground floor. The road went on bending, dipping and climbing…
View Post