The Musafir Stories - India Travel Podcast

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with a very dear listener - Geo Sebastian, a rural development professional who takes us to the quaint town of Diu   Today's destination: Diu, Union territory   Nearest Airport: Diu Airport, DIU Nearest Railway Station: Veraval Railway Stn, VRL Prerequisites:  N/A Packing: Pack light and carry extra liquids as it can get hot during the day in the summers Time of the year: October to February is the best time to visit Length of the itinerary: 2-3 days Itinerary Highlights:  We start off by locating Diu on the map, a union territory on the western coast of India close to Gujarat. Diu is a part of the Daman, Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli - one of the union territories in India.  Geo also talks about the historical context and significance of Geo, the history with the Mauryas, Chavdas, Mughals and Portuguese. The Portuguese ruled Diu for over 400 years and established Diu as one of the strongholds of its operations in India. We also discuss the iconic battle of Diu and the siege of Diu fort that established the Portuguese as the undisputed rulers of the Diu.  Diu is popular for its beaches given its strategic location and also offers a welcome destination to crowds from Gujarat who seek to get away from the dry state.  Important beaches in Diu include  Nagoa beach: most popular and commercial, adventure activities like parasailing, speed boats, water-ski; Hokka trees; close to hotels  Ghoghla Beach: watersports, dolphins Jallandhar Beach: Jallandhar shrine - a demon slain by Krishna, On a hillock stood the shrine of Jallandhar, a water demon slayed by Vishnu’s discus, lending its name to the Chakratirth beach Chakratirth Beach: more like a lagoon, watch tower Gomatimata Beach: western most corner, gulls, birdwatching  Besides the beach, one should also make a visit to the Diu fort and learn about the history of this iconic fort, including the battle of Diu. While here, don’t forget to check out the massive Paanikotha fort that served as a first line of defence.  There are also important churches, temples and Parsi places of worship  in Diu with notable mentions for St. Thomas Church, St. Paul’s church, Gangeshwar temple, Tower of slience of the Parsis Other places of interest include the Naida caves - natural rock formations; old city, Zampa gateway, Fudam bird sanctuary  We also spend some time discussing some popularly available foods of the region including Farsan and seafood.                                                                        Links: Link to Geo’s Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/asocialscientist/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/khanabadoshtraveliving/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/geo-sebastian-52542011/?originalSubdomain=in Photo by Jenish 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: 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 very dear listener - Amruta Dhalkar, a museologist and archivist, who takes us to a beautiful yet underrated part of Maharashtra!  Today's destination: Sawantwadi, Maharashtra Nearest Airport: Dabolim Airport, GOI Nearest Railway Station: Sawantwadi Railway Stn, SWV Prerequisites: N/A Packing:  Pack light and carry extra liquids as it can get hot during the day in the summers Time of the year: September to February is the best time to visit Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days Itinerary Highlights: We start off our conversation with a quick peek into the history of the Sawantwadi royal family and the contribution of the women rulers of the region in maintaining its sovereignty. Amruta explains the strategic location of Sawantwadi and how it was a significant location in the ancient trade routes.  We begin by visiting the Sawantwadi Rajwada or the royal palace, its architectural structure, use of locally available colours and raw materials as well as the rich artifacts and interiors of the Sawantwadi palace.  Amruta talks about the Ganjifa art form and the origins of Ganjifa, how it came to India from Persia and was Indianized to adopt the Dashavathar form of playing cards and artistic box.  We visit the museum in the second wing of the palace, the paintings from the royal family as well as the beautiful interiors.  From the royal palace, we move towards the beautiful views of the Moti Talav and Narendra hills. Further down is the popular Ubha bazaar which is iconic for its wooden toys, lacquerware and handicrafts. The fruit plate or the fruit basket is especially popular among locals and visitors alike.  Moving away from the city, we start exploring the neighbouring towns and points of interest - the key amongst them being Pinguli village for Chitrakathi, Vetoba temple famous for offerings of kolhapuri chappals, beaches like Tarkarli, Devbagh, Nivati and Vengurla which is famous for beaches, dutch factory and Ganapati temple.  Also on the agenda are the popular forts in the vicinity including Nivati fort, Sindhudurg fort, Vijaydurg fort and its connection to Mercury! Another unique point of interest is the Dhamapur lake - a 400-year-old manmade reservoir that is a UNESCO-recognized world heritage irrigation structure. One of the earliest examples of a sustainable irrigation system in the world.                                                            We wrap up the conversation with an overview of the iconic Sawantwadi and Malvani cuisine, the popular mangoes and drinks like solkadhi!                                                                                                                                               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 Photo by Makarand Sawant 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! Follow @musafirstoriespodcast on Instagram and check out our stories for a chance to win!   This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Girin Nayak, the founder of XOtoXO games as he takes us on a trip to the Chettinad region!   Today's destination: Chettinad region, Tamil Nadu!   Nearest Airport: Madurai Airport, IXM   Nearest Railway Station: Chettinad Railway Station, CTDN   Prerequisites -  N/A   Packing - Pack light clothes and sunscreen if travelling in summers   Time of the year - December to Feb    Length of the itinerary: 3-4 days Itinerary Highlights:    Girin is the founder of XOtoXO games that brings stories from India to the world, one game at a time.  We cover the very popular but less explored region of Chettinad with Girin - Chettinad is a region in Tamil Nadu that covers over 90 villages and is the home of the prominent and enterprising Chettiyar community covering the Shivaganga and part of Pudukottai districts.  The Chettinad region is peppered with over a 11000 mansions built by the Chettiyar community between the mid 1800s to 1900s - these mansions were built by procuring materials from all over the world, thanks to the trading roots of the Chettiyar community who were seafaring merchants travelling all across Southeast Asia for trade.  We begin the journey in one of the main towns of the region - Kanadukathan, which serves as a good base, given its strategic location. Make sure to visit the popular mansions in the town - Chettinad Mansion, Vishalam by CGH group. Girin also describes the architectural features, and structure of these mansions along with the front yard, courtyard, rooms and kitchens along with open roofs. Other things to check out in Kanadukathan include the markets, temples and the abandoned airfield! The next stop on the itinerary is Karaikudi, one of the most developed towns in the region. The Aairam jannal veedu or 1000 window bungalow, The Bangala are two popular mansions in the region. There are also vibrant markets for textiles, souvenirs as well as antiques.  Another of the towns in the vicinity is Thirumayam - the popular attraction in the area is a fort known as Oomayan kottai or dumb man’s fort, named after the brother of a famous Tamil freedom fighter who was executed here. The most famous mansion here is Chidambaram Vilas.  Athangudi is the next town on the itinerary and also happens to be the protagonist of today’s episode, as it is also the source of inspiration for XOtoXO games’ first board game. Athangudi not only has beautiful mansions but is also popular for its handmade tiles that are made in small factories. Girin also explains what goes into the making of the tiles and how this has inspired his first board game. We also talk about important temples in the region including one where terracotta horses are offered to the deity.  Finally we discuss one of the more popular exports of the region - the Chettinad cuisine!    Links: XOtoXO games on  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xotoxogames/ XOtoXO games on  Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/xotoxogames/ XOtoXO games on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077484262331 Link to website - https://www.xotoxo.com   Cover Photo by Nakkeeran Raveendran 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   You can check out IVM Podcasts website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featured Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media. We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=en 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 Prasenjit Sharma, founder of Kamakhya walks and Six Degree Adventures!   Today's destination: Guwahati, Assam!   Nearest Airport: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, GAU   Nearest Railway Station: Guwahati Railway Station, GHY   Prerequisites -  N/A   Packing - N/A   Time of the year - October to March    Length of the itinerary: 5-6 days   Itinerary Highlights:    Prasenjit kicks off the episode by giving us an overview of Guwahati and its strategic location as a gateway to the Northeast. The walk begins in the Nilachal Hills in Guwahati.  Kamakhya walks covers the spiritual trails in Assam, including but not limited to the iconic Kamakhya temple complex. The Kamakhya temple is believed to be one of the Shakti peeths in hinduism and is considered as a holy place for Hindus. It is believed that the reproductive organ of Sati, the wife of Shiva, landed here after the episode including her father’s yagnya.  Prasenjit provides us with a background of the story related to Sati, Shiva and Dakshya and how this place came to be such a significant place for Hindus. Kamakhya is also known as the center for Tantrik fertility worship, given the backstory.  We also review the pillars of Tantrik worship, its perceptions, as well as related practices. In addition to this, we also cover things like architecture, the concept of sacrifice, panchamakara offering in tantrik worship as well as the other significant temples in the Kamakhya complex.  We also discuss the festival of Ambubachi, the festival that celebrates the menstrual cycle of the goddess and its beliefs. The temple sees close to 500,000 devotees during this festival and is often referred to as the mini-kumbh.  The communities in the temple complex including the pandas or the priests, the mali community or the cleaning staff and the signers are discussed along with some commonly held perceptions.  Prasenjit also highlights the contribution of the Ahom kingdom to Assam, a kingdom that ruled the region for over 600 years and was never defeated by the Mughals in 17 attempts. We talk about the heroic Lachit Barphukan, his rise and achievements and how they are being identified by the National Defense Academy.  We discuss other important places in the vicinity including Uzan bazaar, flower markets, beautiful heritage buildings, Ugra Tara temple, Pobitora wildlife sanctuary, Mayang - the black magic capital, Umananda island - the smallest river island, Gurudwara in Dhubri, Paua Mecca mosque in Hajo, buddhist sites, Kaziranga and Manas national parks among other places.  The team also engages in arts and crafts tours covering bell metal, cane and bamboo, traditional jewellery, textile tours covering the popular muga silk in Sualkuchi, the gamcha or gamosa, makhela chador as well as the celebrations of Bihu Finally we discuss some exotic delicacies from Assam including rice and chicken powder, silkworm fry, ghost pepper or bhoot jhalokia, bamboo shoot and pork, sticky rice among other things.    Links: Kamakhya walks on  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamakhyawalks/ Kamakhya walks on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KamakhyaWalks/ Six Degree Adventures on Instagram  - https://www.instagram.com/sixdegreeadventures/ Prasenjit’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dreamweavers.journal/ Link to podcast on Majuli - https://open.spotify.com/episode/16TwAz8XY5luMwv3yYsO9r?si=1f6d842cc5264e5f Link to website - https://www.sixdegreeadventures.com   Cover Photo by Suchitra Shots 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 You can check out IVM Podcasts website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featured Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media. We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/ Follow the show across platforms: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon Music Do share the word with you folks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with a slow traveller and returning guest, Tanisha Guin from @stepsandstreets on Instagram.   Today's destination: Raigad District, Maharashtra!   Nearest Airport: Pune International Airport (PNQ)   Nearest Railway Station: Mumbai CST, Pune Railway Station    Prerequisites -  Ensure to check for ground conditions before traveling   Packing - Pack rain gear to be safe   Time of the year - Monsoons are a good time   Length of the itinerary: long weekend   Itinerary Highlights:  Tanisha kickoffs the journey by sharing her account of her visit to the Raigad District of Maharashtra.  We start the journey from Alibag, after taking the Ro-Ro service from Mumbai. Alibag has been a popular weekend destination historically. However, Tanisha decides to skip sightseeing for now and turns focus on the culture and heritage of the place. She also shares the root of the name and sheds light on an important community of the region, the Beni Israeli jews.  After spending a short time in Alibag, Tanisha heads towards Revdanda - the key points of interest being the Fort, beach, the Rameshwar temple - it has a unique architecture that is a mix of konkani architecture and islamic influences After Revdanada, the team moves to Korlai that has one of the only villages that has its own creole, also called as cristi or Kristi. There is also a hilltop fort that is popular.  Finally, the last stop is at Murud or Murud Janjira. The region is popular for the huge sea fort, but along with this they are very  popular as the home of the Siddis.    Links: Tanisha’s  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stepsandstreets/ Tanisha’s  Twitter - https://mobile.twitter.com/guintanisha Link to Tanisha’s podcast on Mirik - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Gvi0Maa19eJE3sth8zC5D Link to Tanisha’s website - https://tanishaguin.com Cover Photo by Girish Dalvi 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   You can check out IVM Podcasts website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featured Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media. We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=en 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.

Winners of the GiveawaySudip MajiSanand Dekhane Litishka Jagdeo This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with slow traveller and host of the podcast - Postcards from Nowhere, Utsav Mamoria! Today's destination: Kashmir! Nearest Airport: Srinagar Airport (SXR) Nearest Railway Station: Udhampur Railway Station (UHP) Prerequisites -  Ensure to check for ground conditions before traveling Packing - Pack warm clothes depending on time of the year Time of the year - N/A Length of the itinerary: 1month Itinerary Highlights:  Utsav starts off the episode by taking us to Arq-e-gulab, one of the last remaining rosewater makers of Kashmir and shares the state of the occupation and it’s originsWe also talk about Khanaqah-e-Moula, one of the oldest mosques in Kashmir - very unique for its wooden architecture as well as some stunning interiors made of papier mache.Utsav’s next visit was to the carpet makers of Srinagar who make handmade carpets - again one of the last remaining generations of this traditional art form. Next stop is at Burzahom - an ancient archaeological site that has ruins that date back to 9000 years ago. There is also a very unique stone depiction of a hunting scene and its surprising connection to astronomy. We also talk about the sad state of the archaeological remains and the conflicting needs of the locals and preservation. We also cover some touristy spots like Aru valley and Betaab valley (of the movie Betaab fame, starring Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh). Utsav talks about his experience trekking to the Shesh Nag lake and his encounter with the hospitality of the native Gujar bakharwal shepherd community. We also discuss about the challenges this community and their occupation faces. We next talk about Utsav’s visit to the Ganesh Temple in Pehalgam also called the Mamleshwar temple and the story of Ganesh and Karthikeya circumnavigating the world. One of our final stops is a visit to the Kargil war memorial and Hunderman Museum of memories, talking about the village of Hunderman and how it exchanged hands between India and Pakistan during recent conflicts, and how the people’s lives have been impacted.  Links: Utsav’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42/ Utsav’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/utsavmamoria Link to Utsav’s podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/1wBEmLH3UjoMV0kbMgy5gy?si=LULYcnCYRdWvb5YwkiGBrQ  Links to Utsav’s series on Kashmir: The last rosewater maker of Srinagarhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/7K2uTDPcq2X2C5gQkow503?si=JuSpdW09T_ePCVRZW_l5oQ  The Art of Writing Time: Persian and Sanskrit Chronogramshttps://open.spotify.com/episode/1UebJ7ccoS9XTUQQuZ8HOl?si=Bby4cTN0RYesN5Mv0njVbA  Gujar Bakarwals - The forgotten people of Kashmirhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/7mAxndubsMcu0zPf4VnhVS?si=LAPU62buTae83EuQyXMKdA  Kargil, Hunderman and The Museum of Memories https://open.spotify.com/episode/7mAxndubsMcu0zPf4VnhVS?si=LAPU62buTae83EuQyXMKdA  Srinagar, ancient carvings and Supernovashttps://open.spotify.com/episode/2wEMBgiBkYzeliXKvG5Ph7?si=6UrAITjNTiiPFUG3aEHqNQ  Kashmiris, Hangul and the Manual of Lifehttps://open.spotify.com/episode/7bzdllBWy48K1LieJgmTqq?si=Ndfx4nKdR3yF0LDMkHughA  The Vanishing art of Kashmiri carpet weavinghttps://open.spotify.com/episode/2kTTQkdiS0LFhzdOwXRuAT?si=f1U0aDXIQnCyejPKMg6H2Q  Sheshnag, deadly hikes and a thousand year old traditionhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/2OL8mp09s2FQdmS2Z5bHKB?si=q0deAcUgSnyikahLnQtY0Q  Zbayul, the invisible village of Ladakhhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/0WZNprAo1ISgz2L2HE3HM1?si=4xM3YilSSxSq-DgLKuCyPg  Cover Photo by Raisa Nastukova 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. https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/ Follow the show across platforms: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon Music Do share the word with you folks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Giveaway - Fill out the form to stand a chance to win a copy of Clyde’s book - Susegad: The Goan Art of Contentment - https://forms.gle/qA9hg1qMibsKWyZv7   This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to 3x author and podcaster, Clyde D’Souza as we talk about the concept of Susegad - the Goan art of Contentment!   Today's destination: Goa!   Nearest Airport: Goa International Airport (GOI)   Nearest Railway Station: Karmali Railway Station (KRMI)   Prerequisites -  N/A   Packing - N/A   Time of the year - Nov - Jan   Length of the itinerary: 1-2 weeks   Itinerary Highlights:  We kick off the conversation by discussing the root of the word susegad, its significance and its different connotations in Goa, both good and bad.  Clyde discusses his connection to Goa, his ancestral home at Colvale and years growing up visiting Candolim and the early memories. We also talk about the historical background and rulers of Goa and their influences, primarily the portuguese influence We talk more about the concept of Susegad, starting with the characteristics of Goan homes and the key features - the balcao, the red laterite exterior, the wells, the backyards, mother of pearl windows, azulejos tiles among other things.  Clyde also discusses the staple diet of Goans, right from poiee or breads to the xiit kodi or rice and curry, the Portuguese influences and much more. We talk about some of the popular dishes as well as some of the recipes that Clyde shares in his book. Besides the food, we also talk about mangoes and desserts which are an intrinsic part of the diet.  We also talk about the spirits and drinks of Goa - Feni and Urak and how they have been GI tagged and representing India around the world. Other topics include the celebrations and festivities and some of the unique festivals of Goa, the music of Goa and the different types of songs - from dekhnis to dulpods, fados to mandos and the popular artists.    Links: Clyde’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clydedsouzaauthor/ Link to Clyde’s book on audible and amazon - https://linktr.ee/clydedsouzaauthor Link to Clyde’s podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/3wuewIESKhHiMetJpK0GSv?si=8c99ef309ba94db8   Other episodes on Goa: Islands of Goa with Stuti Bhadauria TMS#031 : Riverside Goa with Kaushal Karkhanis TMS#002: Road trip to Goa with Venkat Ganesh Photo by Steve Rybka 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   You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app. You can check out our website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featured Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media. We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/ Follow the show across platforms: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon Music Do share the word with you folks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to a returning guest, Arjun Narayanan, as we talk about the popular Madras Music season aka Chennai Music festival aka December Music Season or Margazhi music season! Today's destination: Madras aka Chennai! Nearest Airport: Chennai International airport (MAA) Nearest Railway Station: Chennai Central Railway Station (MAS) Prerequisites -  N/A Packing - N/A Time of the year - Nov - Jan Length of the itinerary: 4-8 weeks    Itinerary Highlights:  This week, we have a very special episode that talks all about the popular Madras Music Season - a city wide celebration of Indian classical performing arts covering carnatic music, dance (bharatanatyam) and drama. The episode is unique as it focuses on an event, a phenomenon, rather than an itinerary.  We start off talking about the significance of month of Margazhi, it’s importance in the Hindu religion as well as the history of the music festival starting in the early 1900s Arjun talks about the concept of Sabhas and kacheris as well as the popular sabhas in the city like Parthasarathy sabha, Brahma Gana Sabha, Narada Gana Sabha, Madras Music Academy, Mylapore Fine arts club, Triplicane fine arts society among others.  We also talk about the popular locations where the events are held - primarily T. Nagar, Triplicane, Mylapore, Adyar, the challenges in getting tickets and how to plan them as well as popular artists who are the crowd pullers  The events include carnatic music performances, bharatanatyam dance performances, drama and plays. The performances include both renowned artists as well as up and coming artists. In addition to the performances, there are also lecture series provided by experts. There are free concerts by up and coming artists (usually during the noon sessions), as well as ticketed events by more popular artists.  The instruments used in carnatic music include percussion instruments like mridangam, ghatam, violin, veena, mandolin etc. that are accompanied by vocalists.  We also discuss the popular sabha saapad or sabha canteens that are popular for their meals and filter coffee. Finally we wrap it with some places one can visit while covering the music season - these places include the popular temples in Triplicane like Parthasarthy temple, Wallajah mosque or big mosque of Triplicane, Kapaleshwar temple in Mylapore, Chepauk stadium and Chepauk palace, shopping for traditional jewellery and sarees among other things. Links: Arjun’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madraswallah/ Arjun’s Instagram - Simply Stories Chennai - https://www.instagram.com/simplystorieschennai/ Arjun’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/madraswallah Madraswallah podcast - https://madraswallah.com/category/podcasts-2/ Episode on Varanasi - https://themusafirstories.com/podcasts/varanasi-with-arjun-narayanan/ Episode on Thrissur - https://themusafirstories.com/podcasts/thrissur-with-arjun-narayanan/ Cover Photo by Ricky Singh - https://unsplash.com/photos/rTikKt6ir5g 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 You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app. You can check out our website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featured Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media. We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/ Follow the show across platforms: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon Music Do share the word with you folks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Antarik Anwesan, a vlogger and Youtuber as we take you to India’s Little Lhasa - McLeod Ganj!Today's destination: McLeod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh! Nearest Airport: DharamShala Airport, (DHM)Nearest Railway Station: Pathankot (PTK)Prerequisites - N/APacking - Pack warm clothes as well as rain gear!Time of the year - March to June, Oct to DecemberLength of the itinerary: 3-5 daysItinerary Highlights: Antarik starts off by talking about the historic connection of McLeod Ganj to Tibet and why it is also known as Little Lhasa or mini Tibet. We speak of the Tibetan government in exile and the time when HH Dalai Lama escaped Chinese rule in Tibet to set up home in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.We begin talking about the places to cover in McLeod Ganj starting with the Tibetan quarters - Dalai Lama temple complex and his home. The Kalachakra temple and prayer hall is another prominent monument in town. Another scenic spot near the market area is the St. John in the Wilderness church that is a popular haunt of the tourists and locals and is renowned for its beautiful setting and neo-gothic architecture. We discuss the nearby villages of Dharamkot and Bhagsu Nag that form a great option for short trips from McLeod Ganj. Dharamkot is popular as the starting point for the Triund trek that gives you wonderful views of the Dhauladhar ranges. Bhagsu Nag is a beautiful village popular for the Bhagsu temple and waterfall. The other popular spot in the village is the Shiva cafe and the wonderful sights it offers. Naddi village is another closeby hamlet that is popular for its sunset views and the Dal lake. Another popular spot in the area is the Dharamshala cricket stadium that has stunning views of the Dhauladhar ranges. Gallu waterfall is another less explored gem that offers wonderful views and a quick dip. Going back to the Tibetan quarters, make sure to check out the Norbulingka Institute to explore Tibetan culture, tradition and art forms. The region also has some very interesting monasteries - Gyuto Monastery that offers an opportunity to meet and interact with the monks and observe the prayer sessions.Tsuglagkhang monastery complex and monastery is another prominent spot for checking out Tibetan art forms and ways of life of the Tibetan community in McLeod Ganj. There is a short hiking circuit called Kora circuit that has some great views of both the mountains and the monasteries. Tibetan institute of performing arts and Library of Tibetan archives are a couple other places that offer unique experiences for visitors. Wrapping up with the local eateries and cuisines, don’t forget to check out the popular places like Cafe Kalimpong for momos, Common Ground, Shiva cafe, Dudu falafel for middle eastern food. Cafes like moonshine, Raku’s place, Tibet kitchen, Norling, Chocolate log to name a few.Momos, thukpa, tibetan brown breads like tingmo, chole samosa, Bhagsu cake are some specialities of the region you should not miss out on.For shopping, there are several markets offering curios and trinkets from prayer flags to prayer wheels, souvenirs, thangka paintings, wooden carvings and carpets. Main market, Kotwali bazaar, jogibara road are some popular shopping haunts. Links:Antarik’s youtube:: https://www.youtube.com/c/AntarikAnwesanAntarik on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamantarik/?hl=enAntarik on Twitter: https://twitter.com/antarikCover Photo by Clasiqh - https://unsplash.com/@clasiqhFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featuredDo follow IVM Podcasts on social media.We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.https://twitter.com/IVMPodcastshttps://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=enhttps://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/Follow the show across platforms:Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon MusicDo share the word with your folks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Darshan Dudhoria, an ardent heritage enthusiast and co-owner of Murshidabad’s first Luxury Heritage hotel!Today's destination: Murshidabad, West Bengal! Nearest Airport: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)Nearest Railway Station: Azimganj City Rly Station(ACLE)Prerequisites - N/APacking - Pack according to the weatherTime of the year - Winters are the best timeLength of the itinerary: 3-8 daysItinerary Highlights: Darshan starts off the episode by sharing some insights into the history of Murshidabad, previously known as Makhsudabad, the founder Murshid Quli Khan and the small but mighty community of Sheherwalis and their contributions towards the building of Murshidabad.We discuss the origins of the Sheherwali community, their contributions to building Murshidabad, and some of the iconic members of the community including Jagat Seth. Darshan delves into the history of the Bari Kothi, the erstwhile home of his Sheherwali ancestors, the decline and the eventual rebuilding and restoration of the property. We also touch upon the important features of the Bari Kothi, now Murshidabad’s first luxury heritage hotel and its architecture. We also cover some of the iconic experiences offered by Bari Kothi including places like Hazarduari palace, Katra mosque, Kathgola palace, Nashipur Rajbari, House of Jagat Seth, Kiriteshwar temple, Charbangla terracotta temples, and experiences including Tantipara weavers village, Tea on the Ganges and the traditional Raibeshe dance and Baul music performances. The sheherwali cuisine is an intrinsic part of the Bari Kothi experience - this vegetarian cuisine is a wonderful confluence of jain, bengali and mughlai cuisines and includes dishes like hhaata ka tarkari (vegetable prepared using lotus pod), mocha ka tarkari (banana flower preparation), kathbel chutney (wood apple paste), muri ka laddoo (puffed rice and jaggery sweet), pitha (steamed rice dumplings stuffed with khoya), kache aam ka kheer (ram mango pudding) and bore ka boondiya (a sweet made of white bean powder)Links:Bari Kothi’s website:: https://barikothi.com/index.phpBari Kothi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barikothi/Bari Kothi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BariKothi/Cover Photo by Bari KothiBattle music: Sota War (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/sounds/258207/ ) by YleArkisto (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/ ) is licensed under CC by 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ )Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featuredDo follow IVM Podcasts on social media.We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.https://twitter.com/IVMPodcastshttps://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=enhttps://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/Follow the show across platforms:Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon MusicDo share the word with you folks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to blogger and traveler Upasana Kakati from www.unconventionalandvivid.com!Today's destination: Seven Lakes Trek, Arunachal Pradesh! Nearest Airport: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Intl Airport - GAUNearest Railway Station: Naharlagun Railway Stn (NHLN)Prerequisites - Inner line permit is required (https://itanagar.nic.in/service/inner-line-permitilp/)Packing - Sleeping bags, odomos, hat, rain gear, gum boots, trekking gear, backpack, raincoat, down jacket, trekking pole (optional), waterproof clothingTime of the year - Monsoons are the best timeLength of the itinerary: 8 daysItinerary Highlights: Upasana talks about the seven lakes trek in the Dibang valley in Arunachal Pradesh, one of the most pristine and beautiful treks in the country.The trek lasts for at least 8 days and covers 7 alpine lakes, the highest one being located at a height of over 14,000 ft. done with Emudu trekkers.Upasana does the trek in October, one of the nicer months to do this trek, however monsoons might be a great option to consider given the offbeat nature of this expedition.The nearest village is Anini, where the group gathers and heads to the trailhead at Emuli village. Day 1 involves trekking through a grassland and camping at the base of the forests for about 4-5 hours. It is best to have a hat, a walking stick and odomos as there are dam dims or insects in the grasslands that could cause itchy bites. The first base camp is Aniku where the group spends the first night at. The next day, the team starts walking through the grasslands. It involves 4-6 hours of trekking, and is filled with the cacophony of insects and birds making loud sounds. The second campsite is called Emudu camp site and has a beautiful logwood cabin in the middle of the rainforest. The third day included trekking through the rain forest and ascending uphill to scale rocky mountains. It is one of the longest days of trekking along with some technical climbs accompanied by winds and rain. The first lake - Kahmu-yu lake is accessed from this basecamp. The next campsite is after a fairly easy trek through the rolling hills, the 2nd lake Emuh-ya lake is next to the campsite. There are also wonderful views including waterfalls, streams and fog covered peaks that one can see from this campsite which is base for the next 3 days and serves as the basecamp to trek to the remaining 5 lakes. The team fills up on tin fish, dal, rice, pickle, rotis, leafy vegetables and maggie for meals with the aim of ensuring enough nutrition for the treks. Sitting by the campfire and gazing at the night sky was another of the moments to remember. The next day includes a trek to lake 3 (Koyombo lake) and lake 4 (Dinu lake). Dinu lake is the most gorgeous of all the lakes, situated at 14,000 ft, deep blue colored and sandwiched between two mountains. After return to the camp and refreshing to have a go again the next day to the final three lakes, lake 5 (Che-ne lake), and lake 6 and 7 - Huhu I and Huhu II. This culminates in a very beautiful sight, Huhu I which is located at a higher altitude, flowing down to Huhu II, engulfed by mist all around. The return journey retraces the initial trek, making stops at campsite 2 before heading back to Anini. Links:Upasana’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unconventionalandvivid/Upasana’s blog:: https://unconventionalandvivid.comBlog post on the 7 lakes trek: https://unconventionalandvivid.com/guide-to-seven-lakes-trek-dibang-valley/Upasana’s podcast: https://unconventionalandvivid.com/travel-podcast/Emudu Trekkers on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emudutrekkers/Video series by Geetfreebird on the 7 lakes trek experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k93Ohent6Ts&list=PLZSzUvvwYwnducSpiBEW28wq_ronomF0QCover Photo by Upasana KakatiFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featuredDo follow IVM Podcasts on social media.We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.https://twitter.com/IVMPodcastshttps://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=enhttps://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/Follow the show across platforms:Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon MusicDo share the word with you folks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to lawyer turned travel entrepreneur Paro from rawdiaries.in!Today's destination: Gokarna, Karnataka Nearest Airport: Goa International Airport - GOINearest Railway Station: Gokarna Road Station (GOK)Prerequisites - NAPacking - Pack clothes for the beach, sunscreen, sunglasses and your flipflopsTime of the year - Oct to MarchLength of the itinerary: 5 daysItinerary Highlights: Paro starts with the origin story of Gokarna and the etymology of the name Gokarna which means cow’s ear. She discusses the importance of gods Ganesha and Shiva to Gokarna as well as the important temples for these deities. We discuss the religious circuit of Gokarna which is also referred to as the Dakshin Kashi or Kashi of the south. The most important temples are around the Gokarna main beach. The Ganesha temple and Mahabaleshwar temple are the most important temples of the circuit. The Ganapathi temple is dedicated to lord Ganesha in the standing form, and relates back to the story of how Ganesha takes the form of a young brahmin boy to trick Ravana in letting go of the Atmalinga which was awarded to Ravana for his penance. The deity is in the standing form and also has short legs that reflect the episode with RavanaThe other important temple is the Mahabaleshwar temple that is dedicated to Shiva, it is believed that the atmalinga was placed here by lord Ganesh, who had taken the form of a young boy. The deity is usually submerged in water and only surfaces fully every 40 years. The third temple that is quite important is the Mallikarjuna temple, it is believed to be the only temple that is oval in shape and is a bit away from the Gokarna main beach. The architecture of the temple is really beautiful and offers one an opportunity to spend some time in solitude away from the crowds. The other important temples are the Ram thirth, Jatayu thirth and the Shiva cave that have their own significance. The Ram thirth has a very unique architecture and is situated very close to the beach and offers some great views. Moving over to the beach town of Gokarna, the best way to explore some of the prominent beaches is to do the 5 beach trek. It is best to start early in the day, preferably by 5am and takes about 5-6 hours to complete. The first beach is the Belekan beach, a rocky beach then going to Paradise beach. The third beach is the half moon beach that appears in a crescent shape from a height and has phytoplanktons that can be viewed at night. The next beach is the Om beach which is popular with the locals and has a variety of water sports. The final beach is the kudle beach that also has some water sports as well as shacks and restaurants. There are a couple of other beautiful and offbeat beaches including Nirvana beach and the Honey beach. One has to take a ferry to reach these beaches and hence they are not very crowded. Make sure to catch a sunset at kudle hilltop while in GokarnaThe other things one can indulge in includes cafe/shack hopping - important cafes include white elephant, Levis, half way home, mantra cafe, bhagwan cafe, Prema’s cafe, Lagoon.Places in the vicinity include Murdeshwar temple town, Mirjan Fort, Yana caves, Vibhuti falls and Honnavar. These places are within about 100kms from Gokarna. Links:Raw Diaries on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawdiaries.in/Raw Diaries on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSJD6yexHqBB-2VYMCnwMjgGokarna video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBCu62LFSMo&t=9sPhoto by Darshan Gajara on UnsplashFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featuredDo follow IVM Podcasts on social media.We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.https://twitter.com/IVMPodcastshttps://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=enhttps://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/Follow the show across platforms:Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon MusicDo share the word with your folks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to traveller, entrepreneur and content creator Abhishek Vaid from the Untravel Show!Today's destination: Ladakh, a Union Territory in India Nearest Airport: Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport - IXLNearest Railway Station: Jammu Tawi Railway Station (JAT)Prerequisites - Inner line permit may be required depending on your itineraryPacking - Pack warm clothes, depending on the time of the year; medications for AMSTime of the year - Winter (November to Jan) and monsoons (June to Aug) are ideal time to visitLength of the itinerary: 8-10 daysItinerary Highlights: Abhishek takes us on another untravel expedition, exploring Ladakh in his signature “untravel” style - soaking in experiences rather than checking off bucket lists. But first things first - acclimatisation in order to avoid AMSHe talks about his experience starting off in Leh - walking through lesser known bakers’ street trying out the local breads from Kashmir; meeting a young Ice hockey star who is also an art conservator during the day; meeting young entrepreneurs who are trying to revive local couture and cuisines.Next stop is to a small village close to the capital Leh called Phyang! The idea was to spend time in a village that promotes decongestion of Leh via agri tourism. Abhishek spends time with the family, learning about their livelihoods, living the simple village life and exploring the local points of interest. Some interesting local cuisine and dishes Abhishek tries include Thukpa (soupy noodles), momos or mokmoks, Chuttagi (soupy pasta), Yarkhandi Pulao (originating from China and brought to India through the silk route), Churpee (dried cheese based chips), Apricot jams, Changg (local beer) and much more. Another stop on the untravel experience includes a visit to Nubra but looking at experiences beyond camel rides and ATV rides. The experience includes living in a luxury property called KyagarFollow the Untravel show on Youtube to see other experiences in Ladakh including Pangong Tso, Stok Village and more food experiences in Leh.Links:Untravel Show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.untravel.show/Untravel Show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUntravelShow/Untravel Show on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/THEUNTRAVELSHOWUntravel Ladakh Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL76-1IsJMwJLRB1UouRSi9RRfzW07HFAEUntravel with Abhishek: Apply here - https://forms.gle/aFQaUf9DvP3vWfuWAThe Musafir Stories - Kartarpur Sahib with Abhishek Vaid: https://open.spotify.com/episode/58dGzqrVyeHhDv4adUlYKl?si=M6OxoIscTD2eTKn9HBwz_APhoto by Hans-Jurgen Mager on UnsplashFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featuredDo follow IVM Podcasts on social media.We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.https://twitter.com/IVMPodcastshttps://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=enhttps://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/Follow the show across platforms:Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon MusicDo share the word with you folks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to podcaster Keshave Chaturvedi as he takes us on a temple trail across North Karnataka!Today's destination: Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal, KarnatakaNearest Airport: Hubballi Airport - HBXNearest Railway Station: Badami Railway Station (BDM)Prerequisites - N/APacking - Pack light clothes, as it is hot most of the yearTime of the year - Winter (November to Jan) and monsoons (June to Aug) are ideal time to visitLength of the itinerary: 3-4 daysItinerary Highlights: Kehsav takes us on a whirlwind tour across the Northern part of Karnataka on a temple trail. The pit stops include the Badami cave temples, Aihole and Pattadakal. We start with Badami, discovering the rock cut cave temples built during the 4-5th century CE by the Badami Chalukyas as they established their political capital in Badami. The cave temples consist of 4 main caves - 3 Hindu and 1 Jain cave that have some finely sculpted temples. Keshav talks through the significance of each of these cave temples as well as subtle differences. There is Cave 5, which is a relatively newer cave that is closer to the Agastya lake and Bhootnath temple and is unique for its representation of the deities Besides the cave temples, Badami also has a mosque that was likely built during the Adil Shahi sultanate. The town is also a popular hot spot for bouldering among the local and international community. Aihole was considered to be the cultural capital of the Chalukyas and is situated a few kms away from Badami. It is considered to be the cradle of Indian temple architecture due to the sheer diversity and number of temples found here. There are over 100 temples in the main complex including Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples. THe main temples include the Durga temple, Lad Khan temple, Gaudargudi temple and the Ravan Pahadi caves. Other important temples include Ambigergudi temples complex, Jyotirlinga temples complex, Mallikarjuna temples complex, Ramalinga temples group, Veniyar shrines complex, Maddin temples group, Triyambakeshvara temples group, Kuntigudi complex. Finally, Pattadakal came into prominence between the 7th and 8th century CE and was considered as the place of coronation of the Chalukya Kings. It is often referred to as a harmonious blend of architecture styles from North and South India. The main temples include - Kadasiddheshwara temple (Nagara/North Indian style), Jambulingeshwara temple, Galaganatha Temple, Chandrashekhara Temple, Sangameshwara Temple (dravidian/vimana style), Kashi Vishwanatha Temple (rekhanagara), Virupaksha Temple (dravidian/vimana), Jain Narayana TempleLinks:Keshav’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keshavchaturvedi9/Keshav’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keshav.chaturvedi.37Keshav’s podcast - https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/show/tedhe-medhe-raaste-8nsu-Rh7epsqeWjEL8yjlFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featuredDo follow IVM Podcasts on social media.We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.https://twitter.com/IVMPodcastshttps://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=enhttps://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/Follow the show across platforms:Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon MusicDo share the word with you folks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Ayush Kumar, solo traveller and photographer as he takes us to the hill town of Coonoor in Tamil Nadu! Today's destination: Coonoor, Tamil NaduNearest Airport: Coimbatore International Airport - CJBNearest Railway Station: Coonoor Railway Station (ONR)Prerequisites - N/APacking - Pack warm clothes, depending on the time of the yearTime of the year - Summers (March to May) and winters (October to February) are ideal time to visitLength of the itinerary: 3-5 daysItinerary Highlights: Ayush takes us to the quaint little hill town of Coonoor on the podcast today - we begin the journey on the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nilgiri Mountain Railway or popularly known as the toy train. The train runs from Mettupalayam to Udhagamandalam or Ooty, making stops at several beautiful stations, including Coonoor. Make sure to book the tickets well in advance as the demand is very high during the tourist season! The toy train runs 3 times a day between Ooty and Mettupalayam, and is one of the steepest lines that is run on a narrow gauge rail line supported on a rack and pinion mechanism. The journey takes about 5 hours, and is one of the few lines that still runs on a steam engine (for a part of the journey). Other stations in the journey include Runnymede, Ketti, Hillgrove, Lovedale and Wellington. The railway line has also been featured in a number of popular movies including the SRK/Mailaika song “Chaiyya Chaiyya” and Kamal Hasan/Sridevi starrer Sadma. The Nilgiri biosphere is also an ecological hotspot that is teeming with wildlife and hundreds of species of flora and fauna. The western ghat formation is believed to be at least 150million years old, making this a significant part of the Indian subcontinent. After enjoying the train ride, Ayush covers off the touristy places in Coonoor including Sim’s Park, Lamb’s Rock and Dolphin’s nose to get a view of the beautiful Catherine Waterfalls. As you are visiting these spots, make sure to visit tea estates in the vicinity like Glen Morgan, Homedale, Glen Mark, Highfield tea estate, Guernsey Tea factory etcOther places Ayush explores include Tiger Hills and the cemetery, Wellington, Kotagiri among some of the other places. From a local cuisine perspective, make sure to check out Ramachandra restaurant (hotel) for some mouthwatering local dishes. Cafes include Cafe Diem, La Belle Vie, Bird house cafe, Crown bakery, Indian Bakery, Ayush shares his experience being stung by a honey bee as well as the trip to the nearby town of Wellington!Wellington is popular as the HQ of the Madras Regiment and its famous alumni include Field Marshall KM Cariappa. The trip also includes a visit to the Defence college, Wellington Lake and the Wellington Station. Other points of interest in the vicinity include Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Bandipur Tiger reserve and Kotagiri. Links:Ayush’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soul.traveller.kumar/Ayush’’s Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ayush.kumar.737448Ayush’s previous episodes:Bhubaneshwar - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3j9rNyQ9FUVrJJoSD4tcDP?si=6528696138dc4a01Puri - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2qlot1VdxOHoUsQhxGYPTc?si=50710e9bb1c44d43BBC Documentary on Indian Railways: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpoQO9ggzC4&list=PLwOyHkOUH9wKRF46cU7Pzxc4U1eE0RPstThe Musafir Stories on Audible: Ooty - The Queen of Hills!https://www.audible.in/pd/Ooty-The-Queen-of-Hills-Podcast/B09F1PLKF7?ref=a_pd_The-Mu_c0_lAsin_0_3&pf_rd_p=fb415642-61ca-48d1-82f5-1e0dcaa1f83f&pf_rd_r=JP0AVEWDCXJYSEJ7B0XKImage Credit - Ayush KumarFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featuredDo follow IVM Podcasts on social media.We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.https://twitter.com/IVMPodcastshttps://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=enhttps://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/Follow the show across platforms:Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon MusicDo share the word with you folks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Surya Raju who was the very first guest on the podcast when we started more than 5 years ago talking about her experience on the Kedarkantha Trek! Today's destination: Kedarkantha, Uttarakhand!Nearest Airport: Dehradun Airport (DED)Nearest Railway Station: Dehradun Railway Station (DDN)Prerequisites - Permit requiredPacking - Pack trekking gear and warm clothesTime of the year - DecemberLength of the itinerary: 6 daysItinerary Highlights: Surya talks about the USP of the trek, as well as the difficulty level and preparation required. The railway head for the trek is Dehradun from where the trek company takes the team to Sankri, the starting point of the trek. Sankri is a small village that serves as the base camp for a lot of treks including Harki Dun, Rupin pass along with Kedarkantha trek. It is situated at about 200kms from Dehradun and some buses ply to this little village. The first day’s trek involves trekking for about 5 hours and camping at the Juda Ka Talaav - a high altitude alpine lake. This is the first pitstop and provides some wonderful views with the stunning alpine lake surrounded by trees and some dense forests. The stop is a great chance not just to rest and recoup from the first day’s trek but also acclimatise with the altitude and get to know your trekking group. The next day’s trek is fairly easy and the team gains relatively less in terms of elevation. The destination of the second day’s trekking is the Kedarkantha base camp. The team not only rests here, but also prepares for the snow trek with microspikes to ensure grip. The final day of trekking starts very early in the morning, as early as 1AM when the team sets off for the Kedarkantha peak. This is the most strenuous of days given that the team has to not only summit the peak but also return to the base camp at Sankri. The trek involves an ascent in sub zero temperatures on very narrow ridges and severe conditions. However the views once you reach the summit are worth every bit. One gets a view of neighbouring Himalayan peaks including Nanda Ghunti, Swargarohini, Kalanag peak, Gangotri and Yamunotri ranges amongst others. The descent involves taking the same route back to the Kedarkanta base camp followed by a descend to Sankri, usually through a different route. Links:Surya’s podcast: Travel Rope - You Inspire Me - https://open.spotify.com/show/7vkwapzVBv2adt3qCjcLzlSurya’s blog - https://travelrope.comSurya’s’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/travel_ropeSurya’s Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/travelrope/Surya’s Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/thetravelrope/Surya’s episode on Sikkim with The Musafir Stories: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5YI3FaVMG1QqCQOC6rdRr3Image Credit - Photo by Vivek Sharma on UnsplashFollow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featuredDo follow IVM Podcasts on social media.We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.https://twitter.com/IVMPodcastshttps://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=enhttps://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/Follow the show across platforms:Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon MusicDo share the word with you folks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Amol Wanjari, co-founder of Orange Odyssey - a tour company specialising in curating heritage experiences around Nagpur, Maharashtra! Today's destination: Nagpur, MaharashtraNearest Airport: Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport (NAG)Nearest Railway Station: Nagpur Railway Station (NGP)Prerequisites - N/APacking - Pack lightTime of the year - October to February, winters are ideal time to visitLength of the itinerary: 3 hoursItinerary Highlights: Amol takes us on a guided heritage tour around the old city of Nagpur, uncovering the evolution of Nagpur. The evolution takes us from the prehistoric time to the post-independence era, unravelling a layered history of Nagpur. The first reference is of the stone circles at Junapani and Mahurjari that date back to the megalithic period. There are 300 such stone circles dating back to 3000 years ago and are believed to be burial sites of those periods. There is also a copper inscription at Devri dating back to the 10th century, probably from the Rashtrakuta period that mentions Nagpur. Then we discuss the Gond era, the Gond Fort, the foundation of Modern Nagpur, and the brief rule of Gods at Nagpur. There’s a bastion left from the early Gond period which we visit during the walk.After that, we unfold the History of Maratha's rule at Nagpur by visiting the Kalyan Dwar, a gateway of the old Rajmahal or Mahal of Nagpurkar Bhonsles, their rule & development of the city. During this layer, we visit Gol Bazaar, Kotwali Police Station, Kelibag Temple Complex, and Bakabaicha Wada (Now DD Nagar School).We then visit the site of the old palace to see the Town Hall & Native Library. We start here with the British rule & developments during the colonial period. After that, we visit Senior Bhonsla Palace, followed by the Rukmini temple complex. This temple is a masterpiece from the Bhonsle Rule.We then come to Shukrawar Darwaja, which is known as Gandhi Gate now. We talk about history from the post-independence period, discussing the Nagpur pact & the renaming of the gate & lake after Gandhi. As the walk ends here, we visit an old food establishment, to have Nagpuri breakfast of Tarri-Poha.Post that we take an overview of the structures of Civil Lines, like the Central Museum, High Court & Zero Mile Stone. We also have an overview of Weavers of Mominpura.Links:Orange Odyssey’s website - https://www.orangeodyssey.comOrange Odyssey’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/OrangeOdysseyINOrange Odyssey’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orangeodysseyindia/Orange Odyssey’s Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/OrangeOdysseyIndia/Image Credit - Amol Wanjari, Orange OdysseyBattle music: Sota War (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/sounds/258207/ ) by YleArkisto (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/ ) is licensed under CC by 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ )Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Ajay Kamalakaran, a writer and traveller as we explore the beautiful town of Calicut or Kozhikode, in the Malabar region of Kerala!!!Today's destination: Calicut or Kozhikode, KeralaNearest Airport: Calicut International Airport (CCJ)Nearest Railway Station: Kozhikode Railway Station (CLT)Prerequisites - N/APacking - Pack lightTime of the year - October to FebruaryLength of the itinerary: 2-3 daysItinerary Highlights: Ajay sets off on our virtual trip to Calicut by speaking about the historical significance of the place, the influence of the Zamorins or Samoothris as well as the conquest of the colonial powers starting with the arrival of Vasco da Gama on the shores of Calicut. Some of the first pit stops in the city include the famous Kuttichira, a heritage locality popular for some wonderful monuments like the Miskhal mosque and the Tali temple. Ajay discusses the history of the place, architecture, cultural influences of the Chinese as well as Arab merchants which forms a part of the popular culture. We also discuss the popular eateries in Calicut, including the influence of the Arab and Gulf cuisine. We talk about the busy SM Street and its specialities including Halwa and Banana chips. Ajay then takes us to some of the prominent beaches including the Calicut beach and Kappad beach, where Vasco Da Gama first landed in India. Ajay also shares the experience of walking about in SM Street area as well as watching a movie in an old single screen theatre - Radha talkies. Ajay speaks of the popular personalities of Calicut including the former Defense Minister, VK Krishna Menon, PT Usha and author Vaikom Basheer as well as his hometown of Beypore and its shipbuilding industry. We discuss short day trips that cna be done from Calicut - Kannur, Ponnani, Thalassery and other places nearby including Mahe. Finally Ajay shares his experience interacting with the locals from different communities - including the oldest woman freedom fighter, Parsi community Links:Ajay Kamalakaran’s newsletter - https://ajaykamalakaran.substack.comAjay’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/AjayKamalakaran Ajay’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajaykamalakaran/Ajay’s episode on Sakhlin islands: https://themusafirstories.com/podcasts/explore-sakhalin-island-with-ajay-kamalakaran/Image Credit - Photo by Arun Geetha Viswanathan on Unsplash Battle music: Sota War (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/sounds/258207/ ) by YleArkisto (https://freesound.org/people/YleArkisto/ ) is licensed under CC by 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ )Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Sagar Senapati from Travel Safar aur Hum as we explore the historical town of Aurangabad.Today's destination: Aurangabad, MaharashtraNearest Airport: Aurangabad Airport (IXU)Nearest Railway Station: Aurangabad Railway Station (AWB)Prerequisites - N/APacking - Pack lightTime of the year - October to FebruaryLength of the itinerary: 2-3 daysItinerary Highlights: Sagar starts off the journey by taking an overnight bus to Aurangabad from Mumbai. The historic town is at a distance of about 300kms from Mumbai. Sagar spends the first day exploring the Ajanta caves. Along with Ellora, these cave temples are the first UNESCO world heritage site from India. Ajanta caves are about 4 hours away from Aurangabad. The caves contain intricate sculptures and frescos and are an exemplary form of buddhist architecture. Ellora on the other hand is a mix of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain rock cut caves and temples, the most popular being the Kailashnath temple or Cave 16. The next day’s itinerary starts off with the Grishneshwar temple, one of the 12 jyotirlings of Hinduism. The temple is believed to be almost 1000 years old. The temple was reconstructed after previous Mughal destruction by queen Ahilyabai Holkar On the way from Ellora to Aurangabad, Sagar makes his next stop at the tomb of Aurangzeb, a very modest structure given he was one of the last powerful Mughal emperors. From here, Sagar visits the Devagiri fort, believed to be one of the most impregnable forts in India. The other structures within the complex include Chand Minar, similar to the Qutub minar The final destination on the itinerary is the Bibi ka Maqbara, a mausoleum built by Aurangzeb for his first wife, Dilras Banu Begum. The monument resembles the Taj Mahal but is on a much smaller scale. Make sure to enjoy a sunset at the maqbara to cap off your visit. Other places close by include Aurangabad caves, Panchakki and Shivaji Maharaj Museum. Also dont forget to try out the paan at the popular outlet Tara paan center and Paithani sarees. Links:Sagar Senapati’s travel on Travel Safar Aur Hum -Sagar’s Aurangabad trip - https://travelsafaraurhum.com/bibi-ka-maqbara-the-dakkhani-taj/ andExploring Ajanta& Ellora Caves - https://travelsafaraurhum.com/exploring-the-most-visited-unesco-world-heritage-site-ajanta-and-ellora-caves-along-with-aurangabad-city/Sagar’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagar_senapati1/Image Credit - Sagar Senapati (Travel Safar aur Hum)Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Subhadip Mukherjee from www.indianvagabond.com as we explore India’s only China Town!Today's destination: Kolkata, IndiaNearest Airport: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Intl Airport, CCUNearest Railway Station: Kolkata Railway Station, KOAAPrerequisites - N/APacking - Pack light, carry warm clothes as it can get bit chilly in winterTime of the year - End of January Length of the itinerary: 2-3 daysItinerary Highlights: Subhadip starts off by sharing some background on the Chinese community’s origins in India and Kolkata, the connection to sugar, leather, tanneries and more. We start by covering the two distinct china towns in Kolkata, Tiretti bazaar or Old chinatown and Tangra or the new chinatownTiretti Bazaar is one of the earlier settlements of the Chinese community in India and is popular for the morning breakfast market as well as the Chinese temples that are in abundance in the region. Tangra was set up initially as a industrial area for tanneries but was eventually turned into a hub of all the popular chinese restaurants in KolkataWe discuss the new year celebrations in Kolkata, the popular lion and dragon dance that takes place during the celebrations as well as other popular festivals of the chinese communityFinally we touch upon other important places like prominent temples, cemeteries as well as the must visit restaurants in the area. Links:Link to the blog: https://indianvagabond.com/Link to Subhadip’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/subhadipindia/Link to Subhadip’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/subhadip.mukherjee.indiaLink to the Subhadip’s twitter: https://twitter.com/subhadipindiaLink to Subhadip’s episode on Mysore - https://themusafirstories.com/podcasts/a-weekend-in-mysuru-with-subhadip-mukherjee/Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.