Arunachal Pradesh, a state in India’s far east, is one of the least explored regions of India. There are only 11 marked tourist trails in Arunachal Pradesh, places where tourists are allowed to venture. Everyone, including Indians from other parts of the country, must have entry permits to travel here. But

We humans are strange animals. We are different and divided, yet our hearts long to connect to other souls. Deep in the mid-hills of Nepal, I stayed in a picturesque village named Tansen on my way between Lumbini and Pokhara. The kind people of Tansen offer their local hospitality through

Early on a summer morning, I woke up from my bed in Sauraha, a village on the edge of the Chitwan National Park. Eight of us, all slightly petrified, all majorly excited, were headed out on a walking safari experience in the core jungle area of Chitwan. We walked past a sleeping Tharu

Only a few more steps, I could do that. I’d already climbed what felt like 100,000, I could manage another dozen or so. Huffing and puffing along with a flock of other early-bird trekkers, we reached our destination on the Nayapul to Ghandruk Trek, Poon Hill. I had just enough time

As travelers learn more about the Kingdom of Bhutan, the country finds itself atop many a travel bucket list. It’s unlike any other place on earth, and is certainly worth visiting. Its Himalayan vistas, ornate monasteries and well-preserved culture rightfully attract intrepid travelers from around the world. However, its very

Nepal is one of my favourite destinations for spiritual journeys. The Himalayan country, full of sacred sites, is a centre of love, peace, and serenity. It’s also a land of age-old myths and traditions. Even today these myths and traditions are deep-rooted in the culture of the Nepali people. During my

Located in the picturesque Punakha-Wangdue Valley, Punakha is the former capital of the Kingdom of Bhutan. Terraced rice fields, fruit orchards and wooden houses against the backdrop of the Himalayas and glacial rivers make it an ideal retreat for those looking to indulge in nature and culture. Each year in

The Sham Valley is one of the shortest treks in the Ladakh region of India. You’ll often hear it said that this is one of the ‘easier’ treks in this part of the world, but just how easy is it? While there may be more technically difficult trails throughout Northern

A red-faced woman came breathlessly around the corner and was obviously stunned at the sight of me. “How did you get up here? In heels?” Fair enough, we were at nearly 4,000 metres above sea level in the Himalayas after all. Whereas she had taken the energetic and admirable way

Standing in the lobby of our hotel in Gangtok, we wondered whether it was really safe to go north. Should we really go ahead with our plan and try to visit Lachung and Yumthang? Just two days earlier, north Sikkim had received such heavy snowfall that routes were impassable. The

The grass was warmed by the gentle sun; the pasture was open before us. Some wild horses stopped for a few seconds to check us out. I guess we didn’t seem to present any danger to them as they continued their relaxed feast. Some wild yaks crossed the river a little

  The British rulers of colonial India loved to ‘summer’ in Mussoorie. Evidence of their occupation is still visible in the architecture they left behind, and in the names of the streets, buildings and even mountains. Subsequent generations of middle-class Indians have continued the tradition of escaping to Mussoorie. Given

Sometimes it can be necessary to get away from Kathmandu for a day or two. Everybody knows about Nagarkot and Dhulikhel, but a lesser-known destination for a short trip out of the capital is Kakani. It’s 23 km to the north-west of Kathmandu, right next to the Shivapuri National Park. The small

At 5 am, Kanchenjunga wakes under a blanket of saffron clouds. The sky is an unnatural shade of pink, but the air tastes cold and clean, and is a welcome change from the grey stuff back in Delhi. Admittedly, I’m hungover and sore from having lost three games of Mahjong.

The Government of Nepal is putting a special emphasis on encouraging travellers to visit Nepal in 2020, promoting it around the world as a destination for adventure, luxury, and everything in between. While any year is a good year to visit Nepal, here are 20 reasons to visit Nepal in

The verdant rolling hills, cows grazing in the valleys and the plate overflowing with Emmental cheese at your homestay would lead you to believe you’re vacationing somewhere in the Swiss Alps. But this is a common scene here in Bumthang, Bhutan. It is the perfect place for farming, and the

For travellers looking for an alternative to the tourist highway of Ghandruk to Ghorepani, take the less well-trodden path up to Isahru and Dobato to reach Muldai Viewpoint. My friends and I headed up on the first day of the season, and while we were prepared for some snow, a

I have a tendency to make travel plans on my own, not because I don’t want the company of others—I do! But in my experience, it’s difficult to find friends who can take time off work, who have similar traveling styles and budgets, and who won’t drive me insane (and