Tag Archives: India

Himachal, India, Tourism, Travel, Uttarakhand

Tourist or Traveler – Don’t know who we are?

June 23, 2017 allgudthings 53 Comments

Are we confused who we are – Tourist or traveler?

Tourist or traveler; the two debatable words had put us in deep thoughts and left us wondering who exactly are we?

Let’s see if these pointers can really help us decide:

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During the beginning of our each journey and trip, we wander endlessly on the roads without knowing where we are heading. Which place will be our final destination being completely unaware of the pleasant and unpleasant events on the way? But in the same trip, at the end of the day when we are tired, the heart & mind juggle among themselves and says it would have been better if you had some fixed itinerary, at least a room booking. So isn’t that self-contradictory?

The saying goes that a tourist has a fixed scheduled plan and a traveler has none. He just follows his heart and the trails. So, who are we? A traveler in the beginning and throughout the trip? but tourist at the end of the trip or when we are tired?

On the way to Gangotri - Tourist or Traveler — On the way to Gangotri

We love traveling and want to be full-time travelers. We too never want to return back from the offbeat (like Tehri Dam, Mana Village, Kinnaur) and conventional places (like Shimla) but our work commitments, time, finances, and family pull us back. If not after 7 but surely after 10 days. So, what it is?

And the saying goes travelers like to travel slow, stick to places for exploring more. Whereas tourist comes back exploring the fixed trails in a fixed time. So, what are we– Tourist or traveler or a combination of both?

On the way to Badrinath - Tourist or Traveler — On the way to Badrinath

While traveling we taste traditional cuisines, stay at homestays and camps, mingle with locals, explore their culture and make new friends. But at the same time, we start craving for our staple food after few meals and days. We start missing people back home.

And some say, tourist always look for McDonald, Subway, Pizza Hut whereas traveler loves to munch on local delicacies. So, we are again confused nuts and where should we put ourselves into a tourist or traveler?

Views from Ranikhet Homestay : Tourist or Traveler — Views from Ranikhet Homestay

Before hopping to any of the places, we read the blogs and enquire from locals about the dos & don’ts at the destination. Whereas after reaching and seeing the suggested places, we try to roam around to find the hidden and mysterious gems of the place.

The saying goes that tourists follow the travel guide and fixed trails whereas travelers explore the offbeat place. So, what are we here – a Tourist or Traveler?

Trails near Kasol: Tourist or Traveler — Trails near Kasol

We always prefer traveling as a couple, with friends, family and also solo when it is the need of an hour.

In 2015 Holidify once illustrated in their post that tourist’s travel in a group whereas traveler travels alone. So in which category do we fall– tourist or traveler?

We trek, walk, hitchhike, travel by local transport and take road trips in our own vehicle as well as rented and shared cars/cabs.

The saying goes that tourist prefers taking cars or cabs instead of walking tours and treks. So where should we fit ourselves- a tourist or traveler?

We always carry our laptops, tablets, cameras, tripods, and phones on our trips. They are not only an essential component of our work but we use them to capture photographs too.

The saying is tourist carry selfie sticks, laptops, phones & tabs for luxury whereas travelers just carry cameras & tripods. So, where do we stand- A tourist or traveler or both.

We take pictures of landscapes, mountainscapes, and lakes with people, without people and our own selfies too.

For this many of my fellow friends quote, that tourists take selfies with monuments and landscapes behind whereas travelers just photo shoot landscapes and other people’s portraits. So who are we – a tourist or traveler?

The term tourist and traveler might have different dictionary meanings, but for us, these two terms overlap in every trip. One might be a traveler in his own eyes but the locals always take him/her as a tourist only. We too feel that the one who is a traveler is also a tourist and vice versa. Actually, both of them follows each other’s trail – but then does it really matter and do you care?

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I guess, it is just one’s own mindset and reflection of how he/she wants to be called and what they want to be seen as. For us – Travel is all about experiences and it’s an endless fairy land. So, simply wear your shoes, pack your bags and search for the next trail. It doesn’t matter anywhere whether you are a tourist, traveler or both, but more important is to enjoy the journey, destination as well as whole trip.

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India, Tourism, Travel

Experience Indian festival on a Holiday Trip – Part II

February 10, 2017 allgudthings 18 Comments

India is a country where each day; one or the other festival can be celebrated, with the equal zeal and enthusiasm. In Part I of Indian festival we discussed the famous festivals for the month of January, February, March, and April. Taking this ahead, here is a guide describing the festivals, their celebration and places to experience for the months of May, June, July, and August.

Indian Festival for month of April, May, June and July — Source: http://www.classictajtours.com

May – Indian Festival

10. Buddha Purnima

Buddha Purnima is a Buddhist festival that marks the Gautam Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death. It is also known as a Vesak day.

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Celebrations: The Buddha followers visit Buddhist temples to listen to the hymns and praise and some of them spend their whole day in the temple on this occasion. Temples display Lord Buddha statue as an infant, in the water-filled basin decorated with flowers. Devotees offer fruits, flowers and light candles on the statue. People are seen dressed up in white clothes and they refrain themselves from consuming nonvegetarian food.

Key Attractions –Various cultural and religious events/ fairs are held like Boodhidroom Mela (which takes place in ‘Boiddopara’ village in Chittagong). In Gangtok, a special procession by monks is carried out carrying Buddha sculptures.

A place to experience– Bodh Gaya, Lumbini, Kushinagar, and Sarnath. Bodh Gaya is the place where Gautam Buddha got enlightenment and at Sarnath, he first taught Dharma. Lumbini is his birth place and Kushinagar is a death place. Other places are Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim.

June – Indian Festival

11. Jagannath Rath Yatra /Puri Rath Yatra

The Chariot festival is one of the oldest Indian festivals happening in India as well as the world. It is associated with lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. Rath Yatra is symboled as a festival of unity as hundred of devotees from all over the world come together to pull the chariots and celebrate.

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Celebrations: The Deities of lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Subhadra are taken out in procession on huge decorated Chariots (approx 45 feet high) from Puri temple to Gundicha temple which is 2km away. The devotees together pull the chariots. The three deities stay at Gundicha temple for 9 days and return back to the main temple on the 10th day. This return ceremony is known as Bahuda Jatra.

Key Attractions: Three huge decorated chariots and the way they are pulled. Lord Jagannath Chariot height is 45.6 feet high with 18 wheels; Lord Balabhadra chariot is 45 meters with 16 wheels and Subhadra’s height is 44.6 meters with 14 wheels.

A place to experience: Puri in Orissa.

12. Eid –ul- Fitr (Ramadan)

Eid is a fast-breaking festival or the end of Ramadan celebrated by millions of Muslims in the country with lots of devotion and energy. It is a festival of brotherhood. The whole month of fast is known as Ramzan/ Ramadan month.

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Celebrations: Muslims fast from sunset to dawn for 29 to 30 days in this month. They rise before sunrise, take bath and offer prayers. Every evening before sunset there is a feast known as Iftar Parties. The night before Eid is known as Chand Raat. People visit markets, shop and young girls apply Heena on their hands. Everyone greets each other with “Eid Mubarak”.

Key Attractions – Iftar parties during Ramzan; decorated markets and prayer offering on Eid day.

A place to experience– The huge celebrations happen at Jama Masjid in Delhi; Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad; Aishbagh Idgah in Lucknow; Red road and Nakhoda Masjid in Kolkata; Taj-ul Majid in Bhopal; Jama Mosque in Mumbai and Hazrat Bal mosque in Kashmir.

July – Indian Festival

13. Hariyali Teej

Teej festival is celebrated by women and young girls of India; with songs, dances and prayers. The festival marks the union of Goddess Parvati with lord Shiva. It too represents the onset of monsoon season.

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Celebrations: On Teej; fairs are held and swings are put in the courtyard under the trees. Women get dressed and come together to perform Gidda and take swings. Girls also apply Heena and pray to God for their husband longevity. Mothers send Sindhara to their married daughters which include bangles, clothes, mehndi etc.

Key Attractions- Swings, Gidda, Fairs and Gehwar (special sweet)

A place to experience– Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan

14. Hemis Festival

The Hemis festival is a two-day celebration done to remember the birth of Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Tantric Buddhism.

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Celebrations: Locals dress up in their traditional attires. Men wear Cummerbund and women wear headbands with lots of jewelry. The monk performs mask dance known as Cham dance to the songs and tunes of cymbals, drums, and trumpets. The Cham dance is a part of tantric traditions.

Key Attractions- Decorated Hemis Monastery, Cham dance and dressed up locals.

A place to experience – Hemis Gompa, the monastery in Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir.

August – Indian Festival

15. Krishna Janmashtami / Dahi Handi

Janmashtami is another religious festival of India, celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Krishna.

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Celebrations– On this auspicious occasion, temples are decorated with flowers. The deity of Lord Krishna as an infant is kept in the swing. Devotees visit temples, sing and dance on the hymns during midnight. They fast throughout the day and break their fast with a feast in the late evening. Small children are dressed up as Lord Krishna and processions depicting their life are carried out. At some places, Raas Lila, depicting youthful naughty flirtatious acts Of Lord Krishna is played. In some part of the country, people play Dahi Handi, where young men form human towers to break the high-hanging pot containing curd.

Key Attractions: Decorated temples, deity of Lord Krishna in swing, Raas Lila, and Dahi Handi

A place to experience: Celebrated throughout India but best can be seen at Mathura and Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat for Dahi Handi.

16. Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is a 10 day long colorful festival; celebrated in honor of Lord Ganesha. People pray on this day to complete the newly started work satisfactorily without any obstacles.

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Celebrations– The clay idol of Lord Ganesha is installed at home, offices, and Pandal. People pray during morning and evening and on 10^th Visarjan (immersion of idol into the sea, lake, or river) are performed. Other activities include singing, dancing, and food stalls.

Key Attractions: The Handcrafted colorful idol of Lord Ganesha, Pandal decorations and most important is immersion ceremony.

A place to experience- Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

This is not the end. Be with us to know and experience some of the more Indian Festival for the month of September, October, November and December.

Click here to read for Indian Festivals Part I (January, February, March, and April)

India, Tourism, Travel

Experience Indian festivals on a Holiday Trip

February 4, 2017 allgudthings 70 Comments

India is a largest democratic country with a diversity of religion, culture, and topography. it is divided to 29 states & 7 Union territories and it holds more than 1.252 billion people in 3.2 million Km square. The country may be divided but festivals and traditions unite the whole India to a single bunch. There are many Indian festivals celebrated on a large scale. Some of them have a religious affair whereas others are for fun and seasonal change. The main motto of each is to bring people of all religions together for bonding and humanity. So, here we are listing the month wise Indian festivals calendar of India.

So, here we are listing the month wise Indian festivals calendar of India. This is the first series of the post and it features the famous Indian festivals for the month of January, February, March, and April.

January : Indian Festivals

Lohri & Makar Sakranti

Lohri is celebrated on 13^th January and Makar Sakranti on 14^th January mostly by Punjabis in Punjab, marking the winter solstice (on the last day of desi calendar POH) and harvesting of Rabi crop. The farmers associate Lohri also with the beginning of the new financial year.

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Celebrations –It is celebrated by dressing in traditional clothes, lighting bonfire, throwing gur, sesame seeds, moongfali into the fire, singing folks songs and dancing around the fire. During the day, young children also go door to door singing folk song “Sundar Mundaria” and asking Lohri. The children are treated with sweets and savories and occasionally money too. In some parts of Punjab especially Amritsar Kites flying is done on the terraces with loud music.

Key Attractions – The special food includes Sarson Ka Saag & Makki Di Roti; Jaggery, Gachak, Rewri, Moongfali and Til Laddu or Til Rice.

A Place to Experience – Whole of Punjab

Pongal

Pongal is celebrated from 13^th to 16^th January in South India to represents the beginning of harvesting and the newly harvested rice is cooked. The festival Pongal is considered equivalent to Makar Sakranti.

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Celebrations –Houses are cleaned and decorated by rangolis. Bhogi festival is celebrated on the first day where people light the bonfire in the evening. On the second day, worship is done by offering milk to sun God. The third day known as Mettu Pongal where a cattle is worshiped and on the last day, Mukkanuma people visit friends and relatives to enjoy festivities.

Key Attractions – Everyone is beautifully dressed up, Rangolis, Pongal dishes, sweets, and cattle races.

A place to Experience – Tamil Naidu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana.

Also Read: The best Indian Foods you need to try

February : Indian Festivals

Vasant Panchami

Vasant Panchami initiates the spring festive cycle and people worship Maa Saraswati.

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Celebrations- People celebrate the day by wearing yellow clothes, eating sweet dishes and displaying yellow flowers. In Punjab, people fly Kites and dance on the music too. In Rajasthan, people mark the day with yellow garlands and in Gujarat women play dandiya dance.

Key Attractions – Yellow clothes, good delicious food, kite flying, and dances

A place to Experience – Punjab for Kite flying and Gujarat for Dandiya.

Maha Shivratri

Maha Shivratri; a Hindu festival is celebrated to honor Lord Shiva.

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Celebrations- Devotees of Lord Shiva fast during the day and sing praises and hymns during nights. At some places, Jagraans are held throughout the night. Temples are beautifully decorated with flowers and lights, and offerings of sweets, fruits, wood apple leaves and milk are made on Shivling. The aura of the whole environment smells sweet.

Key Attractions– Decoration of Temples and sweets

A Place to Experience –Maha Shivratri is celebrated throughout India. Major celebrations take place at Ujjain temple and there is a special Shivratri Mandi fair in Himachal.

Losar festival

The Losar festival marks the beginning of Ladakhi or Tibetan New Year.

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Celebrations- The celebrations take place for 15 days where the first 3 days are considered as the most important days. There are humorous events like deer dance and amusing battles between the king and his minister. Apart these offerings made at the shrines and general dances happen. Images of Deer and other symbols are carved in kitchen and doors to welcome New Year.

Key Attractions – Dances, deer dances, mass prayers and offerings, local beverage (Chhaang) is served.

Place for Experience – Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh

March : Indian Festivals

Holi

The festival of colors is celebrated throughout India for two days with lots of zeal and enthusiasm. All the friends, families come together to play. It is believed this festival strengthens up bonding and end up any misunderstanding in the relations.

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Celebrations –Holi is played with colors and water in both dry and wet form. Water balloons and water guns are thrown by children as well as adults to color and wet each other in various shades. A night before playing, Holika bonfire is lightened and people pray, dance and sing around it. Bhang Thandai, as well as pakodas, are served as prasad in temples on the day of Holi.

Key Attractions – Holika Bonfire, colors, water Balloons, water guns, Bhang

A Place to Experience – Holi is played intensely across the whole country but the vibrant and musical one can be seen in North India. The best one happens in Vrindavan and Barsana. At Kullu in Himachal, there is a 40 day long Holi fest. To know more about it, read here

Also read the Best place to celebrate Holi

April : Indian Festivals

7. Ram Navami

Ram Navami another Hindu Indian festival is celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Rama.

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Celebrations – The temples are decorated with flowers. A small deity of Lord Rama as the infant are kept in the cradle and devote swing the cradle to shower blessings as a ceremony. Some of them keep fast for the whole day. In South, India people worship this day as the marriage day of Lord Rama and Sita. The processions are performed on the streets with the deities of Lord Rama and Sita.

Key Attractions – Decorations of statues of Lord Rama, Sita and Laxman, Prasad, chanting of religious hymns and prayers.

A Place to Experience– Ayodhya( Karnataka)& Uttar Pradesh; Sitamarhi (Bihar); Rameshwaram (Tamil Naidu); Bhadrachalam (Andhra Pradesh); Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)

8. Baisakhi

Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi is a Punjabi festival celebrated on 14^th April, the harvest festival of the Punjab region.

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Celebrations – On Vaisakhi people get up early, take bath and visit Temples and Gurdwaras to express gratitude to gGodfor harvest and good times in future. During day farmers get together to harvest the rabi crop and drums are played around it. Fairs are organized and men and women are very jubilant. They dress up well and perform Bhangra and Gidda, the folk dances of Punjab.

Key Attractions – Vaisakhi fairs, gidda, bhangra, wrestling competitions

A Place to Experience – Punjab, and Haryana

9. Bihu

Bihu is the North-East Indian festival. There are three Bihu festivals celebrated in Assam– Bohaag (Baisakhi; celebrated in April); Maagh (middle of January); and Kaati (Kartik, celebrated in October) coinciding with the harvest months. But the Bohaag is the main one.

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Celebrations – The celebrations include famous Bihu dance with the beats of Dhol and Pepe (buffalo hornpipe). The songs are sung with themes around love and they carry erotic tones. Everyone is dressed up in traditional attires like dhoti, Gamocha, and Chadar, Mekhala.

Key Attractions –Traditional attires, Bihu dance and playing instruments, bull fights, bird fights, local cuisine like coconut ladoo, til pitha and fish pitika

A place to Experience – Assam

There are many religions in India, and each community has their own traditions, culture, and festival. This is just the Part 1 of the series of Indian festivals calendar covering the months January, February, March, and April. Stay tuned to read the next posts where you will get the glimpse of the rest of the Indian festivals.

Also Read: What to wear in India

Himachal, India, Photolog, Tourism, Travel

Spiti Valley, in photos, which made me mad for Travel

December 10, 2016 allgudthings 32 Comments

The “Spiti” means the middle land; that lies between India and Tibet.

The Spiti Valley journey brings you close to never ending landscapes, ancient world monasteries, gushing wide rivers, crystal clear blue lakes, snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and clear blue skies. In the valley, each carved mountain, treacherous roads, and innocent villagers have their own story to tell. The travelers like us (me and Tashi) get mesmerized to become a storyteller, photographer and travel blogger.

The famous story writer Joseph Rudyard Kipling said: “Spiti Valley is a land of god and this place is no place for men. Here the mountains peaks are high enough from the feet and silence has beaten this place” – I completely agree, there is no human/vehicular noise, no pollution, no over development, no industrialization. How silent and ethereal the place is Only wind and water sing their own songs.

The Spiti Valley has its own crazy aura which binds you to sit quietly and get lost in nature. You start planning to stay back, instead of going. Here in few pictures from our lens, I will describe how the beauty of this “Land of God” turned us to a passionate photographer and travel blogger.

Journey to Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh

Our journey started from Rohtang Pass, also known as Pass of the Corpses. This pass connects Kullu valley with the Lahaul and Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh.

We were heading towards Chandratal Lake but each mountain on the way stopped me for a click. I wonder how beautiful each peak is carved naturally. The mountains call me to reach the heights and explore the most unexplored paths.

Before reaching the mesmerizing Lake of the moon, on the way, there are so many crazy valleys. Each valley is covered in hues of golden sand, rocky mountains peaks covered in snow, glaciers, and river flowing in the center of the valley. Such views make me think nothing else is more beautiful than this place.

The complete semi-arid dessert, Spiti valley is a world in itself. There are hardly any humans. The wind, water, and nature have written their own stories on each wall.

The valleys are so wide and mountains peaks are so high; that I and this huge vehicle; Mahindra – Scorpio seems to be like ants in this panoramic view.

Driving just next to the river bed, and again mountains have changed their colors. I wish I could count the color hues of mountains in this valley.

Here comes this master place for which the whole journey started. The Chandratal Lake, located at an altitude of 14,100 feet where each mountain changes its color every hour. It is so clean, so quiet and so beautiful. We spent here one day and night. For details check my blog post on Chandratal click here.

The best view- I could spot so many yaks grazing together (Check those black dots)

The Kunzum pass located at 15,600 feet is a high mountain pass that connects Kullu Valley and Lahaul valley to the Spiti valley. The fluttering prayer flags have Buddhist mantras and prayers displayed on them produce a spiritual vibration that is activated and carried by the wind across the countryside. Here the wind was at full speed and check my Scorpio has turned gray from Black.

The Gateway to Spiti valley (Where Gram Panchayat of Losar village welcomes you)

My next stop was at Kaza the capital of Spiti Valley. The Hotel Deyzor, Kaza is an awesome property, where this wonderful caption and calligraphy pulled me to click. Hotel Deyzor represents a true spirit of Spiti Valley for any traveler with a comfortable stay & good Dining Menu. The way in which it has been constructed at such a remote location is really applaudable.

Next day we started our journey from lush green Dhankar village; an abode in heaven. Dhankar is the old capital of Spiti and lies between Kaza and Tabo. It is built at an altitude of 12,774 feet. The village seems as a spur or bluff which stands out into the main valley and ends in a precipice.

Ahead Kaza, we stopped at Tabo. The Tabo Monastery lies at the bottom of the valley, unlike the other monasteries perched on the top. The monastery offers you a stay at a mere amount of Rs 500 per person. The rooms have mud lining on the walls and ceiling and are super cozy and comfortable.

Oh! Not to be missed! On the way, there is 550 years old mummy of Saint Sangha Tenzin in sitting position at Gue Village. The locals believe that she gave up her life while meditating.

Heading towards Kinnaur Valley, at Khab there is a confluence of two rivers –the Satluj and Spiti River. Check whole scene is so picturesque.

Last but not the least; when roads were that adventurous and nature had so much to show, we got transformed to a writer, poet, travel blogger, storyteller, and photographer.

We say travel to this terrain, even you will explore and get to know more about yourself.