The podcast by Varada Sambhus provides a captivating exploration of the “Vari Pilgrimage,” a sacred journey deeply embedded in the cultural and spiritual heritage of India. As the author of the book “Vari Pilgrimage: Bhakti, Being, and…
This article is a Tourist’s Guide To Antarctica, the fifth-largest continent in the world. If you are an adventure tourist do read. Introduction However, the majority of cruises and tour guides will focus on the Antarctic Peninsula (the…
If Xuan Zang, the 7th-century-ce Chinese traveler, and Buddhist scholar, were to visit his beloved alma mater at Nalanda University in the current-day state of Bihar, he’d find only a portion of its ruins accessible and excavated. Viewing…
Darjeeling, a hill station located in the Himalayan foothills offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. It is in the state of West Bengal, India. Darjeeling is also a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors with its…
Agroha is the place where I would trace my origins to. This is the place where our ancestor Maharaja Agrasen ruled from. However, it took me discovering many historical places in India before I reached Agroha on a cold January evening.…
One fine Sunday morning 5 of us gathered at the edge of Dharamrayaswamy temple street in Nagarathpete to explore the old temples of Bangalore. Located right in the heart of the city, amidst busy markets these temples are the open-air…
Hutheesing Jain Temple – I told my cab driver on a fine Sunday morning. He asked me where it is and I wondered about his basic knowledge of the city. I checked the address on Google and said Madhupura. He laughed and said – Oh Hatheesing…
Like every region of India, Mithila also is full of Devi temples. I saw many of them at Darbhanga, however, most of them are new. Ancient Devi temple of Mithila include Uchhaith Bhagwati Temple and Ahilya Sthan, both of which are mentioned…
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India. However, as we know, India is a land of many (1.4 billion to be exact). Within this vast expanse, Diwali takes on a myriad of colours,…
Girivalam is parikrama or pradakshina of Arunachaleshwara hill located in Tiruvannamalai town of Tamil Nadu. The town is also famous for Ramana Maharishi Ashram. In fact the sage was so fond of the hill that he saw it as embodiment of…
According to recent reports, there were 19.8 million visitors to Japan between January and October of 2023. Naturally, when visiting a different country, you’re likely to want to learn a few key common phrases to help you get by. But it’s…
I first heard of Alandi when I was reading about the Vari pilgrimage. This is when I learned about the Palki of Dnyaneshwar Maharaj which leaves from here to Pandharpur. I quickly looked for it on Google Maps and found it not too far from…
In the serene embrace of the Vishnu Ganga valley, a mere 23 kilometers downstream from the sacred sanctuary of Badrinath, lies the unassuming town of Pandukeshwar. With the onset of winter, as the chill in the air intensifies, and the…
Nandigram or Nandi Gaon is a small village located on the outskirts of Ayodhya city. Even today it is outside the city limits. This is the place where Bharat, the younger brother of Sri Ram lived for 14 years when Sri Ram was in exile.…
Bahuchara ji is one of three main Shaktipeethas in Gujarat. Other two being Amba ji near Mt Abu and Kalika Devi on Pavagadh hill. I have been to Champaner Pavagadh, so this time when I had an opportunity to visit Ahmedabad, I took a detour…
Bihar is a beautiful state with many Bihar Handicrafts that one can bring back as souvenirs. From paintings, to handcrafted grass to terracotta – the options are abundant. In fact, each of these Bihar handicrafts represent a certain region…
Located in the district of Pathanamthitta of Kerala, in the western Ghats lies Sabarimala, the abode of Lord Ayyappa. The temple is an important source of spiritual wealth and is famous amongst South Indians for the Sabarimala Yatra or…
Travel medical insurance is a specialized insurance plan that focuses on covering medical emergencies while traveling abroad. You never know when you might need it. Travel Medical Insurance It provides financial protection for unexpected…
Boita Bandana is celebrated in the lunar month of Kartika in Odisha. It falls roughly in the months of October-November. Kartika ushers in an abundance of sacred vibes & auspicious activities throughout the length & breadth of India. Of…
Walk through ancient Chennai with Pradeep Chakravarthy. The author of “Thanjavur: A Cultural History”, Pradeep Chakravarthy has written multiple books which impart life lessons from Indian History and Philosophy. In this podcast, Pradeep…
Kashi has many Yatras. I have already written about the Nava Durga Yatra in Kashi that is done during the Navaratas in Kashi. Nava Gauri Yatra is another Devi Yatra in Varanasi that takes you through nine Gauri temples across the city.…
Araku Valley the “Queen of Hills” is a picturesque hill station located in Andhra Pradesh, better known for its natural beauty, lush green landscapes, coffee plantations, and pleasant climate. It is situated in the Eastern Ghats mountain…
In the good old childhood days, when we did long journeys by trains, we carried our food for the whole journey. Yes, the food, fruits and chai vendors popped up at every station. If there was Agra petha at Agra station, there was Sweet…
Darbhanga literally means a gateway to Banga or Bengal. So, if you are traveling east, this is where the ancient Bengal started. This region was also known as Tirhut, besides the more popular name – Mithila. Darbhanga is the main city in…
Bisrakh gets its name from Rishi Vishwashrva, that must have got distorted over time. We better know him as the father of ten headed Ravana, the one who ruled golden Lanka. Some accounts say that he was born here while others say that he…
Maharashtra is the land of many Bhakti poet-saints. Sant Tukaram of Dehu is one of the tallest saints among them. He is best known for his Abhangs which are fondly sung in concerts as well as Kirtans. Since most of their works are…
Nestled in the Himalayas, in the state of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, lies the entrance to the underground cave city known as Patal Bhuvaneshwar. It is believed that this massive underground city has internal paths which lead to Kailash…
Vidhisha was an important city in ancient India. It stood on the trade route connecting the north and south India. It finds mention in many ancient stories, specially the stories of the traders. Besides the popular Sanchi Stupa there are…
Janakpur Dham is the ancient capital of Mithila. Today, it falls within the political boundaries of Nepal, but culturally it remains an integral part of Mithilanchal. This district of Nepal that has Janakpur, is called Dhanush after the…
“ In India rivers are worshipped as a mother, matru upasana. Respect to rivers is respect to water as without water there is no life.” – HH Paramahamsa Prajnanananda ji Maharaj on Prachi Parikrama Story of Prachi River Prachi Mahatmya in…