The Musafir Stories - India Travel Podcast

Winner of Giveaway of Pranav’s book - Kunal Sachdev This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to author and content creator, Aakash Mehrotra as he takes us to his hometown of Allahabad of the yesteryears, now known as Prayagraj! Today's destination: Allahabad, UP! Nearest Airport: Prayagraj Airport (IXD) Nearest Railway Station: Prayagraj Railway station, PRYJ Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters are cold and summers are hot and humid! Time of the year: Feb-Mar, or during the Kumbh if you have a chance! Length of the itinerary: 4-5 days Itinerary Highlights: Aakash covers a short history and mythological significance of Allahabad, formerly known as Prayag and currently known as Prayagraj, the home to the confluence of the 3 rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. We also cover other influences on the city including the Mughal period and the origin of the Ganga Jamuni tehzeeb as well as the British period and the strategic location of the city. Important places to visit include the sangam, Allahabad fort, Civil lines and the british architecture, Khusro Bagh, Anand Bhavan, Swaraj Bhavan, Azad park, State Museum, Minto park, Allahabad University, All Saints Cathedral, Alopi devi temple, Kalbhairav temple, Lete Hanuman temple, Nag Vasuki temple, Jhusi fort of Chaupat Raja, Shankar Viman temple, Muni Bharadwaj’s ashram. We also touch upon the literary connection of Allahabad including the Allahabad university and some of the popular hindi writers and poets including Sumitranandan Pant, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Harivanshrai Bachchan, Suryakant Tripathi Nirala, Kailash Gautam, Yash Malviya, Mahadevi Varma, Akbar Allahabadi to name a few. We also visit some of the important cuisines and foods one should try while in Allahabad including chaat like khasta and dum aloo, poor ke samosa, aaloo samosa, gajak, kali gajar ka halwa, malai makkhan, til ka laddoo, mughlai dishes, dahi jalebi, amrood, kandmool. Links: Link to Aakash’s book: The Other Guy - https://www.amazon.in/Other-Guy-Aakash-Mehrotra/dp/9352017609 Link to Aakahs’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aakashmehrotra/ Link to Aakash’s blog: https://handofcolors.in/ Link to episode on Nagaland: https://open.spotify.com/episode/26TT57iSuUu5iGXGjOCtPL?si=1qLlPkemRJ2eOA17I7Bx2Q Link to episode on Landour: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jyTU9Q4fQK8AIkB0mBqbM?si=VhOwfvL-T8-XiLjg7IuneQ Link to episode on Pragpur and Garli: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3PRTJBAwq50iebqS7L5XYM?si=b-d-sjX8Ttasum8lBQhHCA Photo by Shubhanshu Prajapati 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: http://www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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.

GIVEAWAY of Pranav’s book - Expedition to an Alternate Swarajya - Where the subcontinent remained uncolonised!  https://forms.gle/T72T2w72RMM4Hhye7  This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to author and content creator, Pranav Gogwekar as he takes us to the coastal town of Vengurla! Today's destination: Vengurla, Maharashtra Nearest Airport: Goa, Mopa (GOX) Nearest Railway Station: Kudal Railway station, KUDL Packing: Pack light clothes for humid weather Time of the year: Dec-Feb Length of the itinerary: 2-3 days Itinerary Highlights:  Pranav starts the conversation with the history of Vengurla, the influence of the colonial powers - Portuguese, Dutch and British, as well as local rulers like Chattrapati Shivaji and the Sawants of Wadi.  We also talk about some historic milestones including the impact on the local economy and this being the target of Aurangazeb’s army.  We talk about some of the popular beaches - Sagareshwar, Vayangani, Mochemad, Nivti, Bhogwati ; the port, the two lighthouses of Vengurla, Crawford market, the mangroves, the burnt islands of Vengurla, Fruit research centre, temples of Vengurla and the vicinity including Rameshwar, Sateri, Vetoba, Manseshwar.  Pranav also talks about some must try foods, including seafood, amboi,ghavan,alni pav, usal and the cocktail.  Links: Link to Pranav’s book: Expedition to an Alternate Swarajya https://www.amazon.in/Expedition-Alternate-Swarajya-Subcontinent-Uncolonised/dp/B0CP3VCCWL Link to Pranav’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pranavgogwekar/ Link to Pranav’s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@pravyavnav Link to episode on Sawantwadi: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6OjyGV4HqBPirul8EjlMr8?si=TEJwmDg1RryHH1RHZ9rRig Link to episode on Kolhapur: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SHkw6h3NVYWcqoEA07bMv?si=xOvaVrSoS_2FHhWPw2rSWg Link to episode on Goa roadtrip: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5qVIaTJi9aVGkG306w94jW?si=5f0a9314ed764183 Photo by Krishna Savji 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: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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.

Winners of the GIVEAWAY of Anmol’s book - Wanderings in the Land of Mist - A complete story of Mussoorie!  : Arjun Harish & Vijaya Bhat This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to founder of Kannur City Heritage Foundation, Muhammed Shihad as he takes us to Kannur!   Today's destination: Kannur, Kerala Nearest Airport: Kannur international airport (CNN) Nearest Railway Station: Kannur Railway station, CAN Packing: Pack light clothes for humid weather Time of the year: Dec-Feb Length of the itinerary: 3-4 days Itinerary Highlights:  Shihad talks about the history of Kannur, previously known as Canonore and its significance as a port city.  We talk about the Mapilla bay, the origin of its name and the various travellers who visited including Marco Polo, Fahien and Ibn Batuta We also discuss the St. Angelo fort, the history of all the three colonial powers who rule there and a recent discovery of cannonballs in the premises.  Shihad also talks about the St. John’s anglican church which is nearby and the rich archives it holds.  Our next stop is the Arakkal museum as we talk about the only muslim sultanate of kerala, their allies, the matrilineal system of succession they follow and much more.  Finally we chat about the mouthwatering cuisine of Kannur as well as the cultural festivities like Theyyam.   Links: Whatsapp: +91 8377024979 Email: mail@cityheritage.in Link to website: www.cityheritage.in Link to Kannur City Heritage’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/city_heritage/ Link to Shihad’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore_with_shihad/ Photo by s.hri 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: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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.

GIVEAWAY ALERT: Listen to the episode and answer 3 simple questions linked in the URL below: https://forms.gle/V383GKghqBfarsNi6 This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to columnist and author, Anmol Jain, as we discuss his book Wanderings in the Land of Mist - A complete story of Mussoorie!  Today's destination: Mussoorie, Uttarakhand Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (DED) Nearest Railway Station: Dehradun Railway Station, DDN Packing: Pack warm clothes Time of the year: All year round, except monsoons Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days Itinerary Highlights:  Anmol provides an overview of the origins of Mussoorie, the founding fathers and how the town was established We also talk about some of the folklore around Lord Balram and his abode in the Bhadraj hills, as well as the temple that still stands.  We talk about Landour, its origins, the convalescent depot, the cantonment and some of its important locations.  We then talk about the important personalities of Mussoorie and their connection to Mussoorie, including  Capt. Young Sir George Everest Jim Corbett General Dyer  We talk about Mussoorie’s infamous title of the “Pleasure capital of the Raj”, the wild parties and the separation bells.  We talk about the urban legends and haunted stories, including the human oil extractors and dancing mistress.  We speak to the evolution of brews and breweries in Mussoorie, including the IPA and VAT 69 We close the episode with some remarkable stories that deserve to be in the movies! Links: Link to buy Anmol’s  book:  https://www.amazon.in/Wanderings-Land-Mist-Complete-Mussoorie-ebook/dp/B0CG6M5L8C https://rupapublications.co.in/books/wanderings-in-the-land-of-mist-the-complete-story-of-mussoorie/ Link to Anmol’s website: https://anmoljain.in/ Link to Anmol’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anmolj_75/ Link to episode on Landour: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jyTU9Q4fQK8AIkB0mBqbM?si=K_qBTWhzRAKbRKlCRbKrRg Photo by Soham Kalghatkar 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: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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 our favorite listener and traveler, Tushar Shukla!  Today's destination: Indore & Ujjain, MP! Nearest Airport: Devi Ahilya Bai airport, IDR Nearest Railway Station: Ujjain Junction, UJJN Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions Time of the year: October - Mar Length of the itinerary: 3 days Itinerary Highlights:  Tushar starts the conversation outlining the objective of the solo trip along with the points/themes of interest in both the places Points of interest covered - Indore: Khajrana Ganeshji temple  Chappan Dukaan  Gandhi Hall Lalbagh palace  Rajwada palace Kaanch Mahal Points of interest covered - Ujjain Mahakaal Harsiddhi Mata temple Chawkhamba Kaal Bhairav temple  Shipra river  Evening Aarti at Ram ghat  Other places in the vicinity Omkareshwar Bada Talaav Indira Gandhi tribal art museum Links: Link to the Thushar’s  blog: https://medium.com/@humanprojector83 Link to Tushar’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paneldaze/ Link to Tushar’s twitter: https://twitter.com/humanprojector Link to the blogpost: https://medium.com/@humanprojector83/the-case-of-the-missing-newspaper-a-3-day-trip-to-indore-ujjain-e6b627c9da0d Photo by Meet Gada 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: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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, listener and traveller, Krishan Insan!  Today's destination: Mizoram! Nearest Airport: Aizawl airport, AJL Nearest Railway Station: Bairabi Railway station, BHRB Prerequisites:  Innerline permit - https://ilp.mizoram.gov.in/ Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions Time of the year: October - April Length of the itinerary: 7 days Itinerary Highlights:  Krishan starts off the conversation talking about the objective of the trip, to experience the famous Chapchar Kut festival in Aizawl, to trek the Blue mountain and visit the Castle of Beuno.  Detailed itinerary listed below:  Day 0: Arrived at Aizawl. Direct flights for Aizawl is available from Delhi/Calcutta/Guwahati Airports. Day 1: We reached the Parade Ground super early for Chapchar Kut Festival and enjoyed the entire Day there. In the evening we went to a Private ChapChar Kut Celebration which was a ticketed entry and spent the evening there and came back at midnight.  Day 2: We started for Sangau at 05:10.  The first stop was Aizawl City itself, Our next Stop was in Falkawn Village, The Traditions Mizo Village. We spent about 40 Minutes there.  Our next stop at Tropic of Cancer, which was after getting a few pictures clicked here, we moved and halted at Hmuifang Tourist Resort.  We halted again at the Tourist Lodge in Thenzwal at 10:30 and freshen up and moved further. Then we stopped at Tuirihiau Waterfall at 11:00. We trekked further and took a Indiginious Boat to Reach to Vantawng WaterFall Originating Point. Then we went to Thenzawl Golf Course and finally reached Sangau Tourist Lodge at 19:30.  Day 3: Started from Lodge at 05:30. We went upto Thaltlang Village (7KM from Sangau Tourist Lodge). Then we hired a 4X4 Bolero for travel upto Far Pak, 7KM (Forest Rest House) where the foothill starts.  The  Blue Mountain Trek.  We started Hiking from Far Pak Rest House at 07:20 and Reached at Blue Mountain at 09:35. We spend 45 Minutes there and started back at 10:15. Reached back to Far Pak at 12:15. Day 4: We started from Siaha Tourist Lodge for the Castle of Bawinu/Great Canyon of Mizoram. Then we moved to Palak Lake. We spent about an hour there and moved to Phura. Where we stayed Over Night inn Forest Guest House.  Day 5: We started our journey back to Langtlai.  Day 6: We visited Tuirum Li-Nghasih Lui and reached Aizawl at 20:30. We had Dinner in Aizawl Club.  Day 7: In the morning we started at 06:00 for Lalsavunga Park and then We went to Khawpawk Waterfall then we went to Local Market, where I would have preferred to spend more time. Then we moved to Airport See Off I fly to respective locations Links: Link to the Krishan’s website: https://www.krishanginsan.com/ Link to Krishan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insankg/ Link to Krishan’s  Linkedin: https://in.linkedin.com/in/insankg Link to Krishan’s twitter: https://twitter.com/InsanKG Krishan’s previous episode on Tripura:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/57TXGdaPPQCCuJAAtyZDfm?si=JSDsoBSTSZey6WnV9PsTVg Photo by DigiLife Siaha 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: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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, Sahana Kulur from https://vacaywork.com Today's destination: Madurai, Tamil Nadu! Nearest Airport: Madurai International airport, IXM Nearest Railway Station: Madurai Junction, MDU  Prerequisites:  NA Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions, summers can be hot. Time of the year: October Length of the itinerary: 2-4 days Itinerary Highlights:  Sahana starts the episode  with some backstories about her travels to Sri Lanka, the inspiration for this trip - from a world famous architect, Geoffery Bawa to the coolest drink in South Inida - JigarThanda.  We cover the history and background of Madurai as well as the popular legends about the city and its main attraction, the Meenakshi temple.  The points of interest include a visit to  Meenakshi Amman temple - the most iconic structure and soul of Madurai  Koodal Azagar temple - an experience going to the rooftop of a temple and observing the gopurams up close.  Thepakkulam temple - the floating temple Tirumalai Nayak Palace - the palace of the Nayaka king and location of some very popular songs from Guru to Bombay. The palace has a museum and a sound and light show as well. Markets of Madurai including the Pudhu Mandapam, Banana market, Sungundi sarees, Madurai Malli or jasmine, the kumkum and the dasara golu or dolls The cuisine of Madurai includes the variety of idlis and dosas, ragi puttu, Kari dosa, idiyappam, keerai vada, mutton chukka, bun parota, jigar thanda, paruthi paal among others.  Other options include a visit to the archaeological site of Keeladi, Vellacheri doll village and a number of jain caves and rock sculptures We wrap up the discussion with other points of interest in the vicinity including Chettinad, Tanjavur, Chennai that one can plan for an extended itinerary.  Links: Link to the blog post: https://vacaywork.com/madurai-travel-blog/ Link to Sahana’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sahana.kulur/ Link to Sahana’s website: https://vacaywork.com Sahana’s previous episode on Bijapur:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/0sfbo4CGkeJJImd1Acx5K1?si=luN1sAtdSo63QvhK_fqTeg Photo by Ben Chobot 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: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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.

WINNERS OF THE GIVEAWAY (NAMMA BANGALORE), pls check your email for further instructions.  Tanushree Tyagi Vijay Prakash  This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to returning guest, Saakshi Rajat - a traveller and co-founder at True Joy Travels, as she takes us to Goa with seniors!∂ Today's destination: Goa!! Nearest Airport: Dabolim Airport, GOI Nearest Railway Station: Karmali Railway Station, KRMI Prerequisites:  NA Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions Time of the year: July Length of the itinerary: 5 days Itinerary Highlights:  Saakshi starts off with an overview of True Joy travels - a luxury travel service company for seniors, their USP and objectives. You can check out more on the social media handles of TJT linked below.  We discuss the planning and considerations that go into curating the trip and itinerary for seniors, origin story of TJT.  The points of interest include a visit to  A heritage walk to Fontainhas -  the latin quarter of Old Goa A visit to Basilica of Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral  A visit to some popular beaches A trip to Chorao island and Salim Ali bird sanctuary A boat ride around the mangroves of Chorao island A visit to a local’s home and cooking session A stop at Konkani canteen for goan thalis A visit to a casino A stop over at fort Aguada and the beach We wrap up the discussion with upcoming trips and contact info for True Joy Travels   Links: Link to TJT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truejoytravels/ Link to Saakshi’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saakshirajat/ Link to TJT’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyk7iRYo0Q3l-NreJMjY94A Saakshi’s previous episode on Majuli: https://open.spotify.com/episode/16TwAz8XY5luMwv3yYsO9r?si=3QfbEnXqRRetZ5bjXa8BvA Other episodes on Goa:  Riverside Goa - https://open.spotify.com/episode/0HeHcX8FwaKiDHge99x5NX Islands of Goa - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5RDLi8SRHdd14TvngVl61H?si=jz8a856xSR-h8nvYNO7csA Susegad Goa - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6SrAaNTHCZfJ4KyuFjY1Tq?si=Nj6tJirJTmyzpCCQ8e-L9A Roadtrip to Goa - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5qVIaTJi9aVGkG306w94jW?si=swG6hsIARuiFP5n1e194cw Photo by Mohammad Aqhib 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: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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.

GIVEAWAY ALERT: Answer 3 simple questions in the linked google form and stand a chance to win a copy of Shoba’s book on Bangalore!  https://forms.gle/3AYKXjBpULeXUJSP7 This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with a author, columnist and podcaster Shoba Narayan as we talk about her latest book, Namma Bangalore: The soul of a metropolis Today's destination: Bengaluru! Nearest Airport: Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) Nearest Railway Station: KSR Railway station (SBC) Prerequisites:  NA Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions Time of the year: NA Length of the itinerary: NA Itinerary Highlights:  Shoba opens the episode with an overview of the book, her connection to Bangalore and how the book came about.  We talk about the history of Bangalore, including the recent discoveries of hero stones that date the city back to 750-500 BC. We also talk about the myths and legends as well as Bangalore’s earliest trade connections.  We dive into the transformation of Bangalore of the 90s from pensioner’s paradise to the pub city of the 00s, some of the iconic drinks and breweries, the drinking culture of Bangalore, as well as the earliest connections to liquor.  We talk about the monsoon delicacies and snacks and take a quick stroll down memory lane.  Next we cover some iconic neighbourhoods of Bangalore, including Malleshwaram, Shivajinagar and VV Puram.  We cap off the episode by talking about the green lungs of Bangalore and closing comments.  Links: Link to buy “Namma Bangalore: The soul of a metropolis”: https://www.amazon.in/NAMMA-BANGALORE-Metropolis-SHOBA-NARAYAN/dp/9357024662 Link to Shoba’s website: https://shobanarayan.com/books-main-page/namma-bangalore/ Link to Shoba’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shobanarayan/ Link to Shoba’s podcast: https://birdpodcast.com/ Photo Credit: Namma Bangalore: The soul of a metropolis, published by Rupa Publications 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: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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 with a award winning travel writer Varun Suchday as he talks about time spent with the Tribes of Chhattisgarh and Odisha Today's destination: Chhattisgarh and Odisha! Nearest Airport: Maa Danteshwari Airport, Jagdalpur (JGB) Nearest Railway Station: Jagdalpur Train Station (JDB) Prerequisites:  NA Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions Time of the year: Oct-Feb Length of the itinerary: 7 days Itinerary Highlights:  Varun takes us on a one of a kind journey to the hinterland of tribal India as he shares his experience spending time with the tribes of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.  Varun spent a month living and interacting with tribes such as Muriaa, Maria, Halba, Gond, Dhurva,, Praja and Bonda.  The topics  covered during the episode include Cultural and religious practices Concept of Dowry in some tribes, hunting and eating practices, forest to table way of life Guru maayis and the dying form of travelling songs  Haats or tribal markets, things bought and sold in such markets Festivals of the tribes  Ant chutney and local brews like Salfi Cock fights and controversies Places of interest - Jagdalpur, Bastar, Kanger valley national park, Chitrakoot falls, Thirathgarh falls, Dholkal trek, Kotpad, Koraput, Deomali Hills, Bonda Ghati, Dantewada.  Links: Link to Varun’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirdworldstoryteller/ Link to Varun’s blog: www.windsoftravel.com Link to Varun’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WindsofTravel Photo by AMIT MAHATO 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: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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 with a returning guest, Ayush Kumar, a solo traveller and listener who takes us to the spiritual city of Udupi! Today's destination: Udupi, Karnataka! Nearest Airport: Mangalore International airport (IXE) Nearest Railway Station: Udupi Railway Station (UD) Prerequisites:  NA Packing: Good walking shoes and rain gear, dress appropriately while visiting temples Time of the year: Nov-Feb Length of the itinerary: 3-6 days Itinerary Highlights:  Returning guest Ayush Kumar covers a comprehensive itinerary of Udupi and the places of interest in the vicinity. The itinerary can be split across religious/spiritual places, culture, nature and food.  Ayush also covers the experience of travelling on the Green Route (Bangalore-Mangalore), covering the western ghats The places of interest covered during the podcast include Udupi Sri Krishna temple, its origins and significance Kanakana Kindi at the Sri Krishna temple complex Experience with the temple prasada and lunch Ananteshwara temple Varanga Jain Basadi Kamala shile cave temple  Brahmi Durga Parmeshwari temple  Pajaka  Local festivals including Bhoota kola, yakshagan and Kambala  Manipal and places of interest including the Hasta Shilpa museum, Manipal museum of Anatomy Popular beaches include Padukere beach, Kodi Bengera or Delta beach.  Treks around the western ghats, home ot Agumbe, the city with the second most rainfall Exploring the unique cuisine or the region Links: Link to Ayush’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soul.traveller.kumar/   Ayush’s other episodes on The Musafir Stories Coonoor - https://spotify.link/r1Vd63sWaEb Puri - https://spotify.link/UjpVQquWaEb Bhubaneshwar - https://spotify.link/6G5zvXvWaEb Photo by Alka Jha 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: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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.

GIVEAWAY ALERT!  Stand a chance to win Nomads of India merchandise - follow our stories on Instagram for more details! This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Vatsal Nandu, a traveller and founder of travel community Nomads of India as he takes us to the breathtaking Zanskar and Suru Valley! Today's destination: Zanskar and Suru Valley, Ladakh! Nearest Airport: Srinagar International airport (SXR) Nearest Railway Station: Jammu Railway Station (JAT) Prerequisites:  NA Packing: Good walking shoes, camping gear if needed, AMS medication, warm clothes Time of the year: May-Oct Length of the itinerary: 12 days Itinerary Highlights:  Vatsal shares his experience travelling and hitchhiking across the Zanskar and Suru valley. The journey starts off at Kargil and Vatsal boards a bus to Sanku. Here he explores Kartse Khar ruins and the Maitreya Buddha Statue. He also makes a trip to Parkachik and Panikhar to get a view of the Nun Kun peaks. This covers the Suru valley leg of the journey. Other options include Rangdum monastery, Drang Drung glacier  Next stop is Padum, which is the administrative capital of Zanskar. From here, Vatsal makes trips to Purney and treks to Phugtal monastery, Gonbo Rongjon, Stongdae Monastery, Karsha Monastery, Zangla palace and Shilla waterfall and Sani lake and monastery. This covers the Zanskar leg of the itinerary.  Vatsal also talks about the hospitality of the locals, some options for food and boarding as well as challenges and adventures of travelling solo.  Links: Link to NOI’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomadsofindia/ Link to NOI’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nomadsofindia Link to the website: https://nomadsofindia.com/ Link to the blog post: https://nomadsofindia.com/travel-guides/zanskar-valley-ultimate-travel-guide/ 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: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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 with Prasenjit Sharma from Six Degree Adventures as we explore Nagaland on foot! Today's destination: Nagaland Nearest Airport: Dimapur airport (DMU) Nearest Railway Station: Dimapur Railway station (DMV) Prerequisites -  Inner line permit, will be arranged by Six Degree Adventures Packing - Good walking shoes, water to stay hydrated, warm clothing Time of the year - Sept - Mar Length of the itinerary: 8 days Itinerary Highlights:  In this unique episode focused on rural tourism, Prasenjit talks about the flagship Nagaland on foot tour that spans a series of villages in this jewel of North East India.  The trip focuses on exploring villages, ways of life, culture, traditions of each village and tribe, all while also enjoying the bountiful natural resources that the region is blessed with.  The trip begins in Dimapur where the group flies into, from here, the group sets off on the journey spanning 5-6 villages listed below Kiruphema village is the first pitstop, where the group spends the first evening, spending in bonding exercises and learning about their local hosts Khonoma is the next village on the itinerary and is one of the more populous villages - it is also known for the vicinity to the capital Kohima. It is also reknown as Asia’s first green village and the group gets to learn about the shifting cultivation practised by the villagers. The team also visits the tragopan wildlife sanctuary on the way to this village. The team also gets the opportunity to do a number of village walks, visit the Khonoma fort as well as learn more about the history of the region. We also discuss the concept of Morungs of the community center for the youth of the village.  The group’s next destination is Dzuleke - renown for its streams and rainbow trout. The group also gets to interact with the Angami and Zeling tribe while travelling through this region.   The group also covers other villages like Poilwa and Benreu. People do have the option to visit Kohima on request if there is interest.  There are also extended options of covering the Hornbill festival and the Dzuku valley trek during the month of December.  Links: Link to Six Degree Adventure’s website: https://www.sixdegreeadventures.com/ Link to Six Degree Adventure’s Instagram - https://instagram.com/sixdegreeadventures?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Other episodes on Nagaland: Nagaland with Aakash Mehrotra - https://spotify.link/JPbQwGKoqDb Headhunters of Nagaland with Ila Reddy - https://spotify.link/MRCGS5MoqDb 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: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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 with Vishnu Menon, a traveller and a student of History, as he takes us to Old Delhi aka Shahjahanabad!  Today's destination: Old Delhi! Nearest Airport: Indira Gandhi International airport (DEL) Nearest Railway Station: New Delhi  Railway station (NDLS) Prerequisites -  NA Packing - Good walking shoes, water to stay hydrated, umbrella, shades Time of the year - Oct, Feb, Mar Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days Itinerary Highlights:  Vishnu starts by covering the history and background of the 7 cities of Delhi, and why it was so important over the years We focus our discussion on Shahjanabad or current day Old Delhi, Delhi 6.  1. Lal Kot / Qila Rai Pithora - settled by the Tomars and the Rajputs, including Prithviraj Chauhan 2. Siri - In 1192, Mohammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj, and left the region to his slave and commander, Qutbuddin Aibak, who built the city of Siri, which was also used and consolidated by the Khilji dynasty.  3. Tughlaqabad -  4. Jahanpanah - Ghiyassudin Tughlaq’s impressive fort-city, which can still be visited, was cursed from the start, and his successor Mohammad bin Tughlaq fortified the walls of Qila Rai Pithora and Siri, and encapsulated them into a new city: Jahanpanah 5. Firozabad/ Feroz Shah Kotla - His successor, Feroz Shah Tughlaq, was the first to build a fort along the Yamuna, recognized as the fifth city of Delhi. Feroz Shah’s city was humongous by the standards of the day, extending from the Northern Ridge (where the other Ashokan Pillar stands) to Hauz Khas 6. Shergarh - Then, Sher Shah Suri, upon defeating Humayun in 1540, returned to Indrapat, a purportedly ancient village, and built his city, Shergarh, at the same site. 7. Dinpanah  - Humayun came to power in 1555, and added to that, building the Purana Qila as his city, Dinpanah.Shah Jahan’s great-grandfather, Humayun, too, had built a capital city there—Dinpanah, which later came to be called the Purana Qila or ‘Old Fort’.  8. Shahjahanabad  - Shahjahan was the next Mughal to reign from Delhi, and gave it the most recent historical city,Shahjahanabad. Northward along the Yamuna, it had fourteen gates, and enjoyed the Golden Era of Mughal rule. It continued to serve as the Mughal capital until the end of the dynasty in 1857, in the decades before which it saw a brilliant cultural renaissance, a time of high etiquette, courtly graces and flourishing literary and music culture. We talk about the main structures around which Shahjahanabad is structured - Red Fort and Jama Masjid We also speak about the different developments that came up between and around these structures including Chandni Chowk, mosques, temples, markets, food streets, nature and much more.  “Link to episode on Mangalore with Sampath Menon” - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1vVloNSFG0deaMUzzSuhUk?si=ia9whfB6Q4ePm7ZgKt5F8Q  Links: Link to Vishnu’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charithra.sanchari/ Photo by Sergio Capuzzimati 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: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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.

GIVEAWAY ALERT: Listen to the episode and answer 3 simple questions on our Instagram  ( @musafirstoriespodcast  ) https://forms.gle/aP35sfqcDkFLgczo7  to win some cool Madras Inherited Merch!  This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Trustee and Head of Operations at Madras Inherited (https://www.madrasinherited.in) Today's destination: George Town, Chennai! Nearest Airport: Chennai International Airport (MAA) Nearest Railway Station: Chennai Central Railway station (MAS) Prerequisites -  Wake up early! Packing - Good walking shoes, water to stay hydrated, umbrella, shades Time of the year - Round the year Length of the itinerary: 2-3 hours Itinerary Highlights:  Ashmitha Athreya is Trustee and Head of Operations at Madras Inherited - The vision for Madras Inherited streams from a larger vision for Heritage Awareness, Preservation and Conservation in the city.  The walk focuses on getting to the origins of George Town, the first British colonial settlement that was set up around Fort St. George. The walk includes pit stops at various historically and architecturally significant landmarks.  The first stop is at Parry’s corner, also known as Dare House - Ashmitha shares the history of the welshman after whom this building is named and some interesting insights on the architecture style known as Artdeco.  The next turn is on to the NSC Bose road or Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose road that was also called China Bazaar road in the past. Some important buildings include TNSC bank, LIC building, SBI building that are built in the art deco style of architecture.  If one is interested, they could venture out further to check out some of the narrow market lanes of George Town - for paper/stationery, textiles, fireworks, flowers etc.  Our next pit stop is Armenian St where one can find the historic Armenian church and discuss its importance.  We next stop at what was formerly the Binny & Co headquarters. The building no longer remains and all that is left is a humongous parking lot which is used for shooting movies including the likes of Hey Ram and Guru.  Other important structures include YMIA - Young Mens Indian Assn and Gokhale hall.  Ashmitha talks of the two Beach Roads of George Town - Rajaji Salai and Kamaraj Salai - or North beach road and South beach road. The North Beach road has no longer access to the beach as the sea has receded.  We make a stop at the General Post office - one of the most beautiful structures in the city and we discuss the social implications of the GPO and its Indo Saracenic architectural style You can check out other walks offered by Madras Inherited on their website - (https://www.madrasinherited.in) Links: Link to the website: https://www.madrasinherited.in Link to Madras Inherited’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madrasinherited/ Link to Madras Inherited’s Twitter:https://twitter.com/MInherited  Photo by Febin Roy 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: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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 with lawyer and a hobbyist blogger - Juhi Gupta who blogs at www.forumhopping.wordpress.com Today's destination: Meghalaya, the abode of clouds! Nearest Airport: Shillong (SHL) Nearest Railway Station: Guwahati Railway station (GHY) Prerequisites -  Inner line permit may be required, pls check with relevant authorities. Packing - Good walking shoes, rain gear, waterproof gear, trekking/hiking gear Time of the year - All year round Length of the itinerary: 8 days Itinerary Highlights: Juhi starts by sharing some insights into the state of Meghalaya, what it is known for and why she decided to visit. An overview of Chalo Hoppo and their USP - https://chalohoppo.com/ Juhi starts her journey from Guwahati and makes the first stop at Shillong. A quick overview of preparation, group size as well as other requirements The first stop is the popular Umiam lake, a man made lake that offers serene views as well as opportunities for boating. The team also make a quick stop at the Dylan café, dedicated to American artist Bob Dylan Below are the places covered over the next few days Mawlyngbna Mawsynram Umkhakoi lake Split Rock Laitlum canyons Pynter village Shnompdeng village Umngot river Bangladesh border Root bridges - Mawkyrnot, the longest root bridge Cherrapunji/ Sohra Wei sodong waterfall Arwah caves Mawphlang sacred forests Other places to visit - Nongriat root bridge, Nokhalakhai waterfalls, David Scott trail Links: Link to the blog: https://forumhopping.wordpress.com/ Link to blogpost: https://forumhopping.wordpress.com/2023/02/19/meghalaya-part-i/ https://forumhopping.wordpress.com/2023/03/18/meghalaya-part-2/ Link to Forumhopping’s’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forumhopping/ Link to other episodes on Meghalaya Lost in the Caves of Meghalaya: https://open.spotify.com/episode/509JER1Ulg7ZbtZWp72HKM?si=nIh8kQqyQDCivOPaaOtqNw A ride to Meghalaya: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1pTqG2aejXX5TJdolpD7Kr?si=zr9LmjKTT06goHlqtu81Qw Photo by Amit Jain 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: themusafirstories@gmail.com Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/ 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 with Anuj Haribhakti, a long time listener and avid traveller as we speak about the only place in the world where Asiatic lions live, Gir National Park! Today's destination: Gir National Park, Gujarat Nearest Airport: Rajkot Airport (RAJ) Nearest Railway Station: Junagadh Railway Station (JND) Prerequisites -  Book for permits to safaris 2-3 months in advance and lodging. Packing - According to the weather, sunscreen, hats, bug repellent Time of the year - September - Feb Length of the itinerary: 4-5 days Itinerary Highlights: Anuj talks about the USP of the Gir national park, home to the world’s only Asiatic lion population. We discuss how excessive hunting by the Royal families and British officers  and human movement had made this a critically endangered species in the early 1900s. We also discuss how the State government and other stakeholders have been able to turn the situation around in the early 2000s. Anuj discusses the importance of booking the safaris and lodging in advance (2-3 months before the trip) as well as the best times for sighting. Finally Anuj shares his experience sighting over 20 lions in his 4 days at the Gir National park. This ranges from fully grown males, to a young couple and mother and cubs. He also discusses the nearby Devaliya sanctuary where lions and leopards are kept in closed environment. We also touch upon places in the vicinity that one could include as a part of an extended itinerary - including Sasan Gir, Swaminath temple, Diu and Junagadh. Link to Anuj’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anujph/ Photo by Lenstravelier 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: http://www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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 with Sahana Kulur, an educator, architect, traveler and blogger at http://www.vacaywork.com as she takes us to the erstwhile capital of the Adil Shahi sultanate - Bijapur! Today's destination: Bijapur or Vijayapura, Karnataka Nearest Airport: Goa International Airport (GOI) Nearest Railway Station: Vijayapura/Bijapur Station (BJP) Prerequisites -  N/A Packing - Good walking shoes, carry extra water as it can get hot during the day, sunglasses and caps/hats Time of the year - September - Feb Length of the itinerary: 2 days Itinerary Highlights: We start the conversation with a quick chat about the very diverse and interesting history and backstory of the Adil Shahi sultanate and its origins - on how a young prince from Turkey was sold to a merchant and eventually ended up in the Deccan region after growing up in Persia. Set up by Yusuf Adil Shah, the Adil Shahi sultanate broke away from the Bahamani Sultanate after constant conflicts with the Vijayanagara empire. Bijapur served as the capital of the Adil Shahi sultanate. The Gol Gumbaz is the most prominent landmark of the capital and is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah who ruled in the 17th century. It is also the second largest dome in the world without any reinforcement, second only to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It is also the biggest domed structure in India and is currently on the tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites. Sahana shares her experience of visiting the Gol Gumbaz at sunrise, the views from the terrace, the optical illusion and the famous whispering gallery. Next up, we make a pitstop at Jama masjid, one of mosques in the vicinity with quaint architecture and interesting stories from the siege of Aurangazeb in 1686. One of the other interesting monuments is the unfinished Baara Kaman or the 12 arches. It was kicked off by the son of Ali Adil Shah II, but was never completed as he was killed before its completion. It is believed that the construction was stopped by his father fearing that the structure could eclipse the Gol Gumbaz. Another monument of interest is the Ibrahim Rouza built as a mausoleum for Ibrahim Adil Shah and his wife. It consists of a beautiful structure along with a mosque. One of the more recent hindu structures of Bijapur or Vijaypura is the Shiva statue at the Shivagiri park. It is one of the largest Shiva statues in India and was inaugurated in 2006. The other pit stops include a visit to the popular Khaanavali restaurants of North Karnataka that are prominent in the Jowar belt of the state. Sahana talks about Jowar rottis, brinjal curries as well as a variety of other mouth watering dishes from the state. Finally we end the trip with a visit to the Shastri market for pulses and spices, one of the biggest markets in Bijapur and some of its popular offerings. Some other monuments that could not be covered on the podcast include Asar Mahal, Gagan Mahal to name a few. For a detailed travel guide, please check out Sahana’s article on the blog - https://vacaywork.com/bijapur-travel-guide/ Links: Link to Sahana’’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sahana.kulur Link to blog post: https://vacaywork.com/bijapur-travel-guide/ Link to website: https://vacaywork.com/ Photo by Sahana Kulur 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: http://www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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 with Krishan Insan, a traveller and clean energy professional as he takes us to this lesser known gem of the North East - Tripura! Today's destination: Tripura Nearest Airport: Agartala Airport (IXA) Nearest Railway Station: Udaipur Tripura Train station (UDPU) Prerequisites -  N/A Packing - Good walking shoes for pandal hopping! Time of the year - Durga Pujo (October) Length of the itinerary: 5 days Itinerary Highlights: We start off the episode starting with the premise of Krishan’s trip, the geographical orientation as well as access to the third smallest  state in India. Krishan talks about the background of Durga Pujo, the 10 days of celebration, the significant Bengali influence as well as the variety of pandals that one could visit. The stops during the 5 day itinerary include Ujjainta palace and museum Heritage park Albert Ikka memorial Integrated Agartala checkpost (Bangladesh border) More pandal hopping in the evenings Bengali cuisine, sweets, and pushkas! Jampui hills, Betlingchip Tripura’s cleanest village, Vanghmun Unakoti Madarhaat Chabimura Neer mahal Celebrating dashami and pandal hopping Links: Link to Krishan’s instagram https://www.instagram.com/insankg/ Link to Krishan’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/InsanKG Photo by PREYAS PATEL 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: http://www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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 with Saloni Prasad, curator at the Surat Heritage Project as she talks about the story of Surat, through a fascinating heritage walk! Today's destination: Surat Nearest Airport: Surat International Airport (STV) Nearest Railway Station: Surat Station (ST) Prerequisites:  N/A Packing: Good walking shoes, carry extra water as it can get hot during the day in the summers Time of the year: Round the year, check Instagram for details Length of the itinerary: 2-3 hours Itinerary Highlights:  We start off the walk by talking about the history and golden era of Surat - a port town on the banks of river Tapi or Tapti. Although Surat has existed for a long time, the documented history seems to suggest important structures being built around the 14th century.  The first stop of the walk is the Surat castle or Surat fort, indicating that Surat was once a walled city and is believed to have been built during the time of Gujarat Sultanate in the 16th century by a Turkish governor/general turned associate of the ruler, Khudavand Khan. The remaining structure is now a museum and has several interesting galleries, including a gallery of archives, textiles, pictures, and woodwork among others.  From the Surat fort, we move to Andrew’s library, built over 200 years ago during the British rule of the city and is a functional library. Close to the library is the CNI church or Anglican church, one of the oldest churches in the city built in the 1800s.  The banks of the river Tapi are in the vicinity and one can walk here to experience the ghats of Surat. We also speak of the first warehouse of the British in India that was built in this region, although the warehouse/factory doesn’t exist anymore but is a marker of an important landmark in Indian history.  We also talk briefly about the battle of Swally which is not too far away from here - one of the first battles between the Portuguese and the British forces fighting on the side of the Moguls. Another iconic event that perhaps does have long-lasting repercussions similar to the battle of Plassey.  We speak about the Ghanta ovara, custom house and mint house and how a day in the ancient port city would’ve looked like.  The next stop is the Mughalsarai, which is currently the office of the SMC or Surat Municipal Corporation. The original building was built as a travel lodge or musafir khana - primarily used as a hostel for pilgrims who would board ships to Mecca. This was built by Jahanara, the eldest daughter of Shah Jahan.   The final stop is the tomb of Khudavand Khan, the man who built the Surat Fort - we talk about his origins in Turkey, how he ended up in Surat and what one can see at the tomb.  We also discuss the unmissable local street food of Surat as well as the various communities that have made Surat so cosmopolitan.  We end the episode discussing some other interesting walks offered by the Surat Heritage project, including walks in Rander, Swally, Dumas, and British and Dutch cemeteries among others.                                                                     Links: Link to Surat Heritage Project’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surat.heritage.project/ Link to Saloni’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.turquoise.ink Link to website:  https://www.suratheritage.com/ Photo by VD Photography 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: themusafirstories@gmail.com 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.