The Musafir Stories - India Travel Podcast

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to a traveler and product manager, Anaya Vats, as she takes us to the princess of hills! Today's destination: Kodaikanal!! Nearest Airport: Madurai  International airport (IXM) Nearest Railway Station: Kodaikanal railway station (KQN) Requirements: n/a Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters are cool and summers can be HOT!  Time of the year: June to Feb Length of the itinerary: 7 days Itinerary Highlights:  Ananya covers some of the highlights from her trip to Kodaikanal, which started out as a weekend getaway but turned into a longer workcation. Some of the points of interest covered on the podcast include  Dolphin’s nose Waterfalls including - Silver cascade waterfall, Bear Shola waterfall, Liril waterfalls, Pambar waterfalls Lakes including Kodaikanal lake, Mannavanur lake, Kookal lake Poombrai village Pine forest Coaker’s walk Guna caves or Devil’s kitchen Pillar rocks View points Kodaikanal Solar Observatory Food - including Altaf’s cafe, Abby’s cafe, Mia’s treats, Astoria Links: Link to Ananya’s newsletter: https://ananyavats.substack.com/ Link to Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ananya_vats?igsh=MXFmOXJ4NTFqcHpvaw== Photo by Preethi RB on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories on: Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en website: www.themusafirstories.com email: [email protected] Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media. We are @‌IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. Follow the show across platforms: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon Music Do share the word with your folks!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to returning guest, Aditya Worah, a traveler and audio producer as he takes us to New Delhi Today's destination: New Delhi!! Nearest Airport: Indira Gandhi International airport (DEL) Nearest Railway Station: New Delhi railway station (NDLS) Requirements: n/a Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters can be cool and summers can be HOT!  Time of the year: October to Nov Length of the itinerary: 1 days Itinerary Highlights:  The walk begins at Lodhi Gardens, following which one moves through Delhi’s iconic Khan Market with its book stores and eateries, and then passes through the Judah Hyam Hall, North India’s only Synagogue. We then pass through an ‘Art Nukkad’, move across the Taj Hotel, and reach the corridors of power, where MPs, Judges, Civil Servants, and top names of the Armed forces reside. We now reach India Gate, and the Central Vista Zone, pass through a museum and an art gallery, walk across the Grand Masonic Lodge as we enter the commoner’s road from the King’s way, pass Jantar Mantar, a Mughal-era observatory, which is better-known these days for the protests around it. After a near-10,000-step walk, We finally reach Connaught Place, with its cinemas, shops, and eateries, truly the heart of Delhi.  Understanding ‘New Delhi’  The cities of Delhi What, Where, is ‘New Delhi’  Shift of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi Lodhi Gardens Khan Market Partition and History Bookstores Khushwant Singh, Sujan Singh Park and Sir Sobha Singh Judah Hyam Hall Street Art Nukkad and Delhi Street Art Corridor of Power  ‘Lutyens Delhi’  LBS Memorial  10 Janpath  AICC  VP’s Home India Gate  Central Vista Kingsway to Rajpath to Kartavya Path Janpath National Museum NGMA Jantar Mantar, Dissent and Dosa Kutty’s Kerala House Agrasen ki Baoli Connaught Place  Historic Overview Moving around CP Cinemas of CP In and around Regal Rivoli Plaza Odeon The Bollywood Mural Dhoomimal Art Gallery Food Conclusion Correa and Stein - connecting CP and Lodhi - a note on the architecture in and around Lodhi Gardens and ‘Steinabad’, and on Charles Correa’s Jeevan Bharati building at CP. A walk that begins with one great architect and ends with another.  Map Link: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1yfha9m5qJXS4TdvYlseOyPZ0tBg0ULU&usp=sharing Links: Link to Aditya’s twitter: Worah | #WalkingInDelhi (@psychedelhic) / ...X · psychedelhic1.6K+ followers Link to website: http://adityaworah.in/whois/ Link to the KBC  clip:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cpAYSw4c5s Link to the Old Delhi episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/74UpUSZOB2qX9evCHx8NKV?si=5hd5ZQ-RQA6L_UvD-ARraA Photo by Abhidev Vaishnav on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories on: Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en website: www.themusafirstories.com email: [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to returning guest, Sahana Kulur from https://vacaywork.com/ Today's destination: Chikmagalur, Karnataka!! Nearest Airport: Mangalore airport (IXE) Nearest Railway Station: Kadur railway station (DRU) Requirements: n/a Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters can be cool and monsoon  Time of the year: October to February Length of the itinerary: 5 days Itinerary Highlights:  Sahana begins the conversation with the meaning of the town of Chikmagalur or “younger daughter’s town”, named after one of the paleygara or town cheif. The points of interest  include  Adventure activities including trekking to Mullayangiri peak, Baba Budangiri, Gaali kere, Kudremukha, Balladarayana durga, Ettinabhuja trek, Narsimha parvata Another option is to cut off from the busy town life  and opt for a cosy homestay and some self care.  Estate visits to plantations like coffee, tea, spices, arecanut, betel nut. Visiting in Jan-March will enhance the sensory elements.  Wildlife tours is another option like Bhadra wildlife sanctuary as well as the kudremukh reserve.   Temples such as Belur and Halebidu in the nearby Hassan district, lesser known ones in Javagal, Chikmagalur.  We also talk about the delicious cuisine of this region including fruits like jackfruit, vegetarian food like akki rotti, roast, steamed food,chutneys  and non-vegetarian food ! Other places of interest/things to buy include Panchami kallu, Sringeri, river rafting in river Bhadra, Kyatanamakki hills, banana chips, coffee powder, spices, herbs and oils, haale toppi, or areca caps. Links: Link to Sahana’’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sahana.kulur Link to blog post: https://vacaywork.com/chikmagalur-travel-guide/ Link to website: https://vacaywork.com/ Link to the Bijapur episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SHkw6h3NVYWcqoEA07bMv?si=oBL-7i0FRhKeg94MgkG5Ow Link to the Madurai episode:https://open.spotify.com/episode/0sfbo4CGkeJJImd1Acx5K1?si=8lb2biYOTcuyd5yIqCJ2Zw Photo by Sachin S Nair on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories on: Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en website: www.themusafirstories.com email: [email protected] Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media. We are @‌IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. Follow the show across platforms: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon Music Do share the word with your folks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to museologist and archivist, Amruta Dhalkar as she takes around the district of Ratnagiri in Maharashtra! Today's destination: Ratnagiri  district, Maharashtra!!Nearest Airport: Kolhapur airport  (KLH)Nearest Railway Station: Ratnagiri railway station, RNRequirements: n/aPacking: Pack depending on the weather, summers can be hotTime of the year: Post monsoon or winter monthsLength of the itinerary: 8-10 days Itinerary Highlights:  Amruta takes us around her hometown/district of Ratnagiri. The journey is split into four cluster of places which can be easily bundled with other itineraries or transit stops while travelling between major cities.  The four clusters include  Dapoli, Khed, Mandangad Chiplun, Guhagad Sangameshwar, Ratnagiri town Rajapur, Lanja We also talk about the delicious cuisine of this region including alphonso or hapus mangoes, jackfruits, amboli, modak, fish, crab, misal pav, vadas and exotic vegetables and greens! Links: Link to Amruta’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amrutadhalkar/ Link to Amruta’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/amruta_dhalkar Link to the Kolhapur episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SHkw6h3NVYWcqoEA07bMv?si=oBL-7i0FRhKeg94MgkG5Ow Link to the Sawantwadi episode:https://open.spotify.com/episode/6OjyGV4HqBPirul8EjlMr8?si=S5N-lwXTSJqDhgcLV6oZog Photo by Jayesh Nikam on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories on: Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en website: www.themusafirstories.com email: [email protected] Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media. We are @‌IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. Follow the show across platforms: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon Music Do share the word with your folks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to traveller and writer Priyanka Gupta as she gives takes us around some villages in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh!  Today's destination: Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh! Nearest Airport: Kullu Airport (KUU) Nearest Railway Station: Joginder Nagar railway station, JDNX Requirements: n/a Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters are cold Time of the year: Summer Length of the itinerary: 8-10 days Itinerary Highlights:  Priyanka shares some of her time spent in the villages of Himachal The primary locations include the lesser known villages in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh We start by exploring the ancient village of Pangna and its historic connections and legends.  The next pitstop is the village of Chindi where Priyanka has the opportunity to interact with the local girls, explore apple orchards and engage in some profound conversations with the locals Chindi is also one of the starting points to the trek to Shikari Devi temple. Priyanka shares some near mishaps during this challenging trek.  Another popular trek is the Kamrunag trek which is popular among the locals.  Priyanka also spends time around the Karsog valley, engaging in apple picking, tasting radishes and some local greens Other places in the vicinity include the Prashar lake, Rewalsar lake and Mandi town.  Priyanka also shares some lip smacking local dishes that one should not miss out on while in this region.  Links: Link to Priyanka’s blog: https://www.onmycanvas.com/ Link to Priyanka’s Instagram: https://www.onmycanvas.com/contact-me/ Link to episode on Manali: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7jMetTs5Kg0T3V4MOmAMLk?si=aEDm0nocQTagVMGnLcwJRg Link to episode on Bhagsu Nag:  https://www.audible.in/podcast/Bhagsu-Nag-Going-Offbeat-in-Himachal/B09F1Z9XHY Link to the blog posts https://www.onmycanvas.com/meandering-in-himalayas-simple-joys/ https://www.onmycanvas.com/apples-himachal-pradesh-india/ https://www.onmycanvas.com/himalayan-girls-patriarchy-grateful-hardearned-freedom/ https://www.onmycanvas.com/hotel-mamleshwar-chindi-karsog-mandi/ https://www.onmycanvas.com/shimla-tattapani-himachal-karsog-mandi/ https://www.onmycanvas.com/shikari-devi-temple-mandi-himachal/ https://www.onmycanvas.com/village-pangna-karsog-mandi-himachal/ https://www.onmycanvas.com/himachal-pradesh-images-india/ Photo credits: Priyanka Gupta on https://www.onmycanvas.com/ Follow the Musafir stories on: Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en website: www.themusafirstories.com email: [email protected]  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.