Uniquely Nepal!

Some unique and interesting things about Nepal that I learned on our first trip and scenes from my travels in watercolors & ink on paper.

Riding through the Central Highlands of Vietnam

Before we set out on our road trip through the Central Highlands of Vietnam, I was nervous about riding for the first time in a new country. It took me a while to get comfortable on the motorbike and let my eyes off the road to enjoy the scenic views. But after riding more than 1300 km through half of the country, I am convinced there is no better way to travel in Vietnam than on a motorbike! And the freedom of exploring a place riding on my own adds to the depth of my travel experiences.

Kumortuli: Where Goddesses are made

On the banks of Hooghly, in North Kolkata is a labyrinth of narrow lanes, older than the city and full of vibrant color and art, Kumortuli – the potter’s colony, where idols of Gods and Goddesses are made from scratch for the Hindu festival of Durga Puja. Various artists work on different stages of sculpting, painting & decorating the idol of Goddess Durga in the workshops here. Deeply engrossed in the making of the Goddess, they look meditative.

Hidden treasure of Ladakh

Ladakh is famous for it’s stunning landscapes, peaceful & heartwarming people, dangerous mountain passes, extreme weather conditions, pristine high-altitude mountain lakes, unique wildlife and gorgeous ancient monasteries, but in this remote land there lies another hidden treasure thousands of years old…the prehistoric Rock Art paintings – some of the earliest expressions of our species, our artistic and cultural beginnings!

Happy New Year! :)

May you have good health, happiness, peace and prosperity throughout the New Year! Wishing you a joyful holiday season and great travels ahead! Cheers! 🙂

Untouched Kinnaur: Rusklang village, Ropa valley, Himachal

Kinnaur in northeast Himachal, surrounded by Tibet in the east, is the least explored and the second least populous district, after Lahaul & Spiti, in Himachal Pradesh, India. The old Hindustan-Tibet road, the ancient Silk Route, passes through Kinnaur along the banks of Sutlej River. Kinnaur Kailash is a peak (6500 meters) in Kinnaur, considered the…

Weekly Photo Challenge: Nostalgic

Nostalgia – fond recollections of the past. A few images that I shot in the good old days of the film camera, from the year 1998, almost 15 years ago! For the weekly photo challenge – Nostalgia

Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern

For the Weekly photo challenge : Pattern

The magnificent Angkor

It’s an early day, we’re on our way to visit the grand Angkor Wat, a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu ( Avatar) – the Preserver. Angkor Wat, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and am excited as its the first time, I’ll experience the spectacular sunrise at the temple. As we cross the bridge over the gigantic Angkor…

Bayon Temple

Prasat Bayon is the main temple of Angkor Thom, and is situated right in the center of the ancient city. As I walk to the temple, the guards at the entrance check my pass. I notice a lot of japanese tourists here, some with their faces covered in hygiene masks. Our guide explains that the temple’s conservation…

Ta Prohm : Jungle temple

In the jungle among the really tall trees is the outer wall of the ‘Jungle temple’ – Ta Prohm. The entrance gate with a Bayon head gopura, leads to a dirt track, on the sides of which are some men under a huge umbrella, playing traditional cambodian music. They are land-mine victims, who now play music,…

Baphuon – A Shiva Temple

Baphuon, a pyramid shaped temple was built in the mid 11th century as the state temple of Udayadityavarman II and was dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. It is located in Angkor Thom, northwest of the Bayon in Siem Reap. In the late 15th century, the Baphuon was converted to a Buddhist temple. One side wall of the temple is in the…

The Elephant Terrace

Built by Jayavarman VII, Terrace of the Elephants is a part of the walled city of Angkor Thom, in Cambodia. Most of the original structure was made of organic material and is lost, only the foundation platform of the complex remains. The terrace is named for the carvings of elephants on its eastern face. The middle section of the…

Angkor Thom – Angkor City

The Khmer Empire, one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asia flourished from around the 9th to 15th century AD. Founded by King Jayavarmana II, the whole empire covered parts of modern-day Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma and Malaysia. It’s greatest legacy Angkor, was the capital city during the empire’s zenith. Angkor Thom, translating to Angkor…