Travel Express with Mastani Musafir

A visit to the Bishnoi Sect.... Jodhpur is like any other Rajasthan town with its step wells and Sandy terrain, historic forts and hospitable people, veritable bazaars and vibrant life. But if you have a traveller's eye, it won't be hard to find its unique character throbbing in myriad of ways. As I arrived at the railway station of the Blue City in a wintry morning at the break of dawn, what had me in the grip of thoughts was the mesmerising art work. The beautiful portrait of a climbing lady on the stairs to the over-bridge connecting various platforms was a unique, to say the least. Rajasthan has truly got something that attracts so much and never allows the visitors to leave. The huge and intricate Rajasthani paintings on the walls the station, people with Rajput moustaches wearing turban and serving tea in the early morning, the neat and clean of the station serve you   the real cultural taste of the desert state as it offered you a warm welcome. ...

Delhi has many historic monuments like Lal Quila and Qutab Minar and landmarks like Lotus temples. They are popular among tourists. Very few would know the existence of Majnu ka Tilla or its history. In fact, the place has much less to offer as a tourist destination. But the place still attracts people like me because of its history. After getting down at Secretariat metro station, I took an e-rickshaw ride through narrow lanes and by lanes to reach the mini Tibet commonly named "Majnu ka Tilla". If you just go by the name of the place, you would believe that the story of the place is someway related to Laila-Majnu story where "Majnu" sacrifices his life for the sake of his love for "Laila". The real Delhiii Entrance of Majnu ka Tilla(Tibetan Colony) The historic name of area, literally means the hillock of Majnu, after the tilla or mound where during the reign of Sikandar Lodhi (1489–1517) on Delhi Sultanate, a local Iranian Su...

Spiritual Pushkar and its material magic Padhaaroni Mahre Des Re!!!! Apart from the barren and dusty desert, amidst the hilly and mountainous region of Rajasthan, there is a hidden gem surrounded by hills and sandy plains. Often thronged by foreigners, some with colourful Bandej turban, a visit to the holy village Pushkar during the chilly winter was something unplanned and sudden. I had a plan to explore the Punjabi tadka and was set to go to Amritsar but I think that was not to be. Being only 146 km from Jaipur, it was an easy escape, and being on Sakrat, it made all the sense ultimately.   At Pushkar Ghat I reached Pushkar early morning and headed to the Brahma Ghat. I sat on the edge of the holy lake as I always liked to see ripples across a vast stretch of waters particularly when ducks and other winged wonders relish and revel in the undisturbed waters. I could also see some devout ladies on the ghats almost naked and taking bath in the sacr...

Ultimate Uttarakhand and Its Jewels   I look upon the purple hills   That rise in steps to yonder peaks,   And all my soul their silence thrills   And to my heart their beauty speaks……   Yes, these lines perfectly sum up the experience when we take a long walk among the evening spirits in the kingdom of the queen of hills. Dehradun to Mussoorie A trip to Uttarakhand, starting from Dehradun in a local bus and then on a shared cab to Dhanaulti and return to Dehradun was simply unforgettable, as I was rolling in the lap of the undulating giants.   Climbing up the hills in the midst of natural fountains even as the local bus would periodically wobble into an unwilling break dance was a raw experience not many visitors would like me would undertake. But I chose the road not yet taken as I did not want to cherry pick but feel the locale in its entire neutrality.                   ...