Posted ON December 12, 2022 A D V E R T I S E M E N T It’s 5.15 a.m. on a Friday and I have another 15 minutes to go before my alarm sets off. I lay in company of quiet contemplation that entices me to stay snug in bed, but tenacity slowly coaxes me awake. It is my second day at Atmantan, a wellness retreat overlooking the Mulshi Lake near Pune. The sun is still shy outside and the November air stings my face as I stroll past mango trees and garden-surrounding accommodations leading to the Kriya…
Author: Pooja Naik
Posted ON November 25, 2022 A D V E R T I S E M E N T The scent of pine trees mingle with fresh soil and the plummeting temperature is directly proportional to the fading sun. I’m in the Skyview Gondola—supposedly India’s highest at 65 metres of ground clearance—from where I watch tops of fir trees, people the size of sparrows, corn and barley fields, narrow hiking trails, village homes, and school grounds flicker past over a distance of 2.8 kilometres in the next 10 minutes. Thick forests surround formidable mountains straight ahead, while a glance at Patnitop—the…
Posted ON October 6, 2022 A signboard indicates the commencement of our drive through Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. Suddenly, the bars on my phone disappear and the sky grows ominously dark—a split-screen contrast from the sweltering noon we have just left behind in Coimbatore. Our car steadily curves along the bends of the forest road leading to Marayoor in Kerala, whilst affording views of the Western Ghats—mountains, valleys, and waterfalls—in all shades of green and white, respectively. Mum and I keep our eyes peeled for sightings of elephants, bison, and deer, but are met with no luck. An hour later, we…
You can hear the Bay of Bengal even before you can see it. Coconut trees sway to the symphony of the waves crashing along the stretch of Rushikonda beach as the sky grows ominously dark in the backdrop. The weather is balmy, but a gentle March breeze brings some respite every now and then. Occasionally, tourists are seen plunging into the pool, while some are seen lounging in a neatly manicured garden dotted with dim lights and dainty blooms. The setting of by-the-beach Radisson Blu Resort Visakhapatnam is perfectly in sync with its coastal environs. A weekend at the 10-acre property is…
A D V E R T I S E M E N T As the Bay of Bengal swallows the sun whole, Vizag’s streets are ignited by lampposts and the buzzing MVP Colony gears up for a flamboyant show. The magicians, clad in simple checkered shirts and jeans, draw a ravenous audience that gather to witness a beguiling act. Except, the stage is replaced with a giant iron griddle and the wand with a ladle. The oil hisses and the batter sizzles upon contact with the hot surface. Chopped onions garnish the dosa, and a minute later, the crisp delish…
A D V E R T I S E M E N T As the Bay of Bengal swallows the sun whole, Vizag’s streets are ignited by lampposts and the buzzing MVP Colony gears up for a flamboyant show. The magicians, clad in simple checkered shirts and jeans, draw a ravenous audience that gather to witness a beguiling act. Except, the stage is replaced with a giant iron griddle and the wand with a ladle. The oil hisses and the batter sizzles upon contact with the hot surface. Chopped onions garnish the dosa, and a minute later, the crisp delish…
Posted ON January 28, 2022 On Thursday, The Delhi Disaster Management Authority decided to lift the odd-even system of opening non-essential shops and weekend curfew in the city. Cinema halls, restaurants and bars have been permitted to reopen with 50 per cent seating capacity. The capital reported 4,291 new COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate at 9.56 per cent in the last 24 hours. However, night curfew between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. will remain in place. Among other measures, the number of guests at weddings has been raised to 200 from 20. Educational institutes such as schools and colleges…
Posted ON January 27, 2022 Underneath the surface of the deep blue exists a marine world, much of which waits to be discovered. While deep sea diving has become a popular pastime along India’s 7,516-kilometre coastline, exploring sunken vessels in the ocean depths is a rare rush. However, myriad domestic diving sites offer a heady cocktail of legends, mysteries, and history that swirl around the wreckage. The once lively crafts are reduced to rusty skeletal remains sleeping on the seabed, where schools of fish play peek-a-boo in their abandoned corners. We handpick five Indian destinations where you can drop anchor…
After being reportedly exterminated in the country in the mid-20th century, the first batch of the big cats will be reintroduced from Africa by the end of this year. India News Wildlife Pooja Naik | POSTED ON: March 23, 2021 Photo by: Katerina Mirus/Shuterstock The year was 1947. India was at the cusp of breaking free from the trammels of the British rule. It was, however, a dark period in the nation’s wildlife history. Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo of Koriya hunted and shot the last three recorded Asiatic cheetahs, and the government declared it extinct in 1952. Cut…
Seven master food makers let us in on their favourite culinary joints across the country, from glitzy five-stars and quirky standalones to hole in the walls that need no reservations—just an appetite to stomach it all. Food connoisseur Manu Chandra (right) turns to a sumptuous serving of beef fry (left), a much sought-after delicacy in Bengaluru. Photo courtesy: Manu Chandra (self), Photo by: Simon Reddy/Alamy/indiapicture (beef fry) Ladles clink against cast iron woks, knives slice through crisp greens, marinated meats sizzle on griddles. Such daily behind-the-scenes choreography in commercial kitchens is routine for chefs who strive to plate perfection.…