Podcast The Musafir Stories - India Travel Podcast by Saif & Faiza Episodes

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	Title	Pub. Date	Duration
	Kodaikanal with Ananya Vats	11 Jul 2024	00:49:05
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to a traveler and product manager, Anaya Vats, as she takes us to the princess of hills! Today's destination: Kodaikanal!! Nearest Airport: Madurai International airport (IXM) Nearest Railway Station: Kodaikanal railway station (KQN) Requirements: n/a Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters are cool and summers can be HOT! Time of the year: June to Feb Length of the itinerary: 7 days Itinerary Highlights: Ananya covers some of the highlights from her trip to Kodaikanal, which started out as a weekend getaway but turned into a longer workcation. Some of the points of interest covered on the podcast include Dolphin’s nose Waterfalls including - Silver cascade waterfall, Bear Shola waterfall, Liril waterfalls, Pambar waterfalls Lakes including Kodaikanal lake, Mannavanur lake, Kookal lake Poombrai village Pine forest Coaker’s walk Guna caves or Devil’s kitchen Pillar rocks View points Kodaikanal Solar Observatory Food - including Altaf’s cafe, Abby’s cafe, Mia’s treats, Astoria Links: Link to Ananya’s newsletter: https://ananyavats.substack.com/ Link to Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ananya_vats?igsh=MXFmOXJ4NTFqcHpvaw== Photo by Preethi RB 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.
	New Delhi with Aditya Worah	27 Jun 2024	00:57:53
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to returning guest, Aditya Worah, a traveler and audio producer as he takes us to New Delhi Today's destination: New Delhi!! Nearest Airport: Indira Gandhi International airport (DEL) Nearest Railway Station: New Delhi railway station (NDLS) Requirements: n/a Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters can be cool and summers can be HOT! Time of the year: October to Nov Length of the itinerary: 1 days Itinerary Highlights: The walk begins at Lodhi Gardens, following which one moves through Delhi’s iconic Khan Market with its book stores and eateries, and then passes through the Judah Hyam Hall, North India’s only Synagogue. We then pass through an ‘Art Nukkad’, move across the Taj Hotel, and reach the corridors of power, where MPs, Judges, Civil Servants, and top names of the Armed forces reside. We now reach India Gate, and the Central Vista Zone, pass through a museum and an art gallery, walk across the Grand Masonic Lodge as we enter the commoner’s road from the King’s way, pass Jantar Mantar, a Mughal-era observatory, which is better-known these days for the protests around it. After a near-10,000-step walk, We finally reach Connaught Place, with its cinemas, shops, and eateries, truly the heart of Delhi. Understanding ‘New Delhi’ The cities of Delhi What, Where, is ‘New Delhi’ Shift of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi Lodhi Gardens Khan Market Partition and History Bookstores Khushwant Singh, Sujan Singh Park and Sir Sobha Singh Judah Hyam Hall Street Art Nukkad and Delhi Street Art Corridor of Power ‘Lutyens Delhi’ LBS Memorial 10 Janpath AICC VP’s Home India Gate Central Vista Kingsway to Rajpath to Kartavya Path Janpath National Museum NGMA Jantar Mantar, Dissent and Dosa Kutty’s Kerala House Agrasen ki Baoli Connaught Place Historic Overview Moving around CP Cinemas of CP In and around Regal Rivoli Plaza Odeon The Bollywood Mural Dhoomimal Art Gallery Food Conclusion Correa and Stein - connecting CP and Lodhi - a note on the architecture in and around Lodhi Gardens and ‘Steinabad’, and on Charles Correa’s Jeevan Bharati building at CP. A walk that begins with one great architect and ends with another. Map Link: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1yfha9m5qJXS4TdvYlseOyPZ0tBg0ULU&usp=sharing Links: Link to Aditya’s twitter: Worah \| #WalkingInDelhi (@psychedelhic) / ...X · psychedelhic1.6K+ followers Link to website: http://adityaworah.in/whois/ Link to the KBC clip:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cpAYSw4c5s Link to the Old Delhi episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/74UpUSZOB2qX9evCHx8NKV?si=5hd5ZQ-RQA6L_UvD-ARraA Photo by Abhidev Vaishnav 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	Indore and Ujjain with Tushar Shukla	18 Jan 2024	00:57:18
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to our favorite listener and traveler, Tushar Shukla! Today's destination: Indore & Ujjain, MP! Nearest Airport: Devi Ahilya Bai airport, IDR Nearest Railway Station: Ujjain Junction, UJJN Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions Time of the year: October - Mar Length of the itinerary: 3 days Itinerary Highlights: Tushar starts the conversation outlining the objective of the solo trip along with the points/themes of interest in both the places Points of interest covered - Indore: Khajrana Ganeshji temple Chappan Dukaan Gandhi Hall Lalbagh palace Rajwada palace Kaanch Mahal Points of interest covered - Ujjain Mahakaal Harsiddhi Mata temple Chawkhamba Kaal Bhairav temple Shipra river Evening Aarti at Ram ghat Other places in the vicinity Omkareshwar Bada Talaav Indira Gandhi tribal art museum Links: Link to the Thushar’s blog: https://medium.com/@humanprojector83 Link to Tushar’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paneldaze/ Link to Tushar’s twitter: https://twitter.com/humanprojector Link to the blogpost: https://medium.com/@humanprojector83/the-case-of-the-missing-newspaper-a-3-day-trip-to-indore-ujjain-e6b627c9da0d Photo by Meet Gada 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.
	76: Rebroadcast: Explore Spiti with the desi Traveler	17 Feb 2020	00:49:22
In this episode: #Spiti #Himachal #HimachalPradesh #valley #offbeat #desert #kaza #market #buddhist #monastery #prayerflags #lakes #chandrataal #himalayas #roadtrip #clouds #dhankar #ki #meditation #ecotourism This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Prasad NP, also known as the 'desi Traveler'. Prasad shares his story about the time he spent traveling the Spiti Valley, Dhankar lake, Chandratal Lake and the beautiful Monasteries around. So sit back and enjoy listening! Today's destination: Spiti -- Kaza, Chandratal Lake, Ki Monastery, Dhankar Lake in Himachal Pradesh Nearest airport: Manali or via Shimla; Nearest Railway Station: Shimla railway station; Joginder Nagar railway station Direct buses are available from Chandigarh, Shimla, Kullu, Manali etc Packing - Sunglasses, sunscreen, hats/umbrella, warm clothes, a good pair of shoes, medicines for AMS Time of the year - June to September Length of the itinerary: 7-10 days Itinerary Highlights: Spend a day in Manali to acclimatize yourself to the higher altitudes Start from Manali to Kaza - its about 12-14 hours by road. It is advisable to hire a cab/guide from Manali for your entire trip. Kaza can serve as the base - lodging in the Himachal tourism hotel; visit the Kaza monastery and kaza market. Enjoy the beautiful star trails at night from the rooftop of the hotel. Savour on some flavorful spitian food that is also influenced by tibetan cuisine Make a short stop to Ki Monastery, Enjoy the blue skies and cotton candy clouds, meet with the monks and get a beautiful view of the kaza city from the rooftop. Enjoy the awesome Himalayan tea offered from the Ki monastery's kitchen. If you are lucky, you could get a chance to interact with the monks help them with plucking sweet peas from the farm. Make a visit to the Dhankar monastery which is about 2 hours from Kaza, getting some beautiful shots along the way. Trek to the Dhankar lake, which is about an hour's hike from the monastery. Be sure to have a good pair of walking shoes on, some sunscreen to ward off the sun, and keep hydrated! Drive to the Langza Village, stay with the locals, enjoy interactions with the locals, partake in their daily chores like farming and weaving. Camp close to the Chandratal lake - the crescent shaped perennial lake that is also one of the source of the Chandra/Chenab River. Trek to the Chandratal lake early in the morning to enjoy the fabulous view of the lake with golden peaks in the backdrop as the sun ascends. Make a stop at the amazing Kunzum pass. Capture the pictures of the snow clad peaks, gompas and fluttering colourful prayer flags. Head back to Manali. Last but not the least, listen to some funny stories and useful advise on how to travel responsibly! Links: desitraveler.com/ Links to the blog posts: desitraveler.com/dhankar-lake-trek-spiti/ desitraveler.com/travel-kunzum-pass-kunzum-la/ More about the Guest: desitraveler.com/travel-tips-blog…dia-photography/ twitter: @desiTraveler facebook: facebook.com/thedesitravelerOfficial instagram: www.instagram.com/desitraveler/ 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 itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	75: Khajuraho with Tarun & Pournima	27 Jan 2020	00:49:05
In this episode: #Khajuraho #MadhyaPradesh #temples #architecture #erotic #sculptures #architecture #history #folklore #religion #UNESCO #heritage #cycling #walking #tour #museum #spirituality #sex #taboo #archaeology This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Tarun and Pournima, two of our dear listeners and two budding doctors about their trip to Khajuraho! Today's destination: Khajuraho, MP Nearest Airport: Khajuraho airport Nearest Railway Station: Khajuraho or Mahoba station Prerequisites - n/a Packing - Make sure to pack according to the weather as summers can be hot. Time of the year - November Length of the itinerary: 3 days Itinerary Highlights: - Tarun and Pournima set off on a 3 day itinerary to explore the myths and truths around the UNESCO world heritage site - Khajuraho - The duo talk about the motivation and inspiration for their travel to Khajuraho and the background of the famed temples of Khajuraho that are home to some erotic sculptures. - Day 1 is spent relaxing and visiting Matangeshwar temple, perhaps the only functional temple in the region. - Day 2 was a busy day right from the morning starting off with a visit to the Western temple complex, the most well maintained and elaborate group of temples. The Western group of temples comprises of Kandariya Mahadev temple, Lakshmana temple, Jagadambi temple, Vishwanath temple, Chitragupt temple and smaller temples of Varaha and Nandi. - Tarun and Pournima also talk extensively about the backstory of some of the sculptures. Must utilize the services of a guide to get the most out of this visit. - There is also an Archaeological museum close to the Western group of temples that is a must visit. - Eastern group of temples include a Jain group of temples along with Jowari temple, Vamana temple among others. - Chaturbhuj temple - the only temple facing west and Dulhadev temple are a part of the southern group of temples. The duo also visit the sound and light show in the evening to cap off a very fruitful day. - Day 3 is more about revisiting some temples and photography before heading back to Nagpur. Links: Link to the blogpost: https://www.tripoto.com/trip/khajuraho-where-sex-is-sacred-5cbcdc86a6906 Link to the blog: https://www.tripoto.com/profile/tarunasati1272653 IG: @pournima.kole @tarun_asati Image by Rinki Lohia from Pixabay 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 itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	74: TMS Specials : Safari with Suyash	09 Jan 2020	00:41:07
In this episode: #Bandhavgarh #safari #nationalpark #jungle #forest #tiger #documentary #filmmaker #conservation #stories #solo #rajbhera This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Suyash Keshari - a young wildlife filmmaker and presenter as he takes us on a safari to Bandhavgarh, the tiger capital of India! Today's destination: Bandhavgarh, Madhya Pradesh Nearest Airport: Jabalpur airport, JLR Nearest Railway Station: Umaria Prerequisites - Make reservations ahead of time Packing - Pack clothes according to weather, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug repellant, poncho, camera Time of the year - October to March Length of the itinerary: 2-3 days Itinerary Highlights: - Suyash talks about his interest in wildlife and how he took the bold decision to take the plunge and follow his passion - He also discusses how the series 'Safari with Suyash' came about after a partnership with WWF (World Wildlife Fund) - Suyash talks about Bandhavgarh and the protagonist of his series - Solo, the daughter of the famous tigress Rajbhera, who was featured in the BBC documentary, Dynasties. - The youtube series "Safari with Suyash" focuses on Solo and her cubs and how they represent the future of this magnificent species. Make sure to watch the season 1 which is out on youtube now. Season 2 airs later in 2020. Links: Safari with Suyash - Season 1 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2nGhEGXFVslobIwOGgQjqPbzgaMAVTn Ep1: https://youtu.be/ia4SRQcM7cg Ep2: https://youtu.be/z6qgAzCyWc4 Ep3: https://youtu.be/FwyK52Fih0k Ep4: https://youtu.be/DGFefW9rST8 Ep5: coming soon Link to the Suyash's blog: https://suyashkeshari.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suyash.keshari Twitter: https://twitter.com/suyashkeshari96 IG: https://www.instagram.com/suyashkeshari/ 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 itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	73: A speed date with Bengaluru ft Travel.Earth	25 Dec 2019	00:49:24
In this episode: #Bangalore #Bengaluru #city #walking #siliconvalley #southindia #museums #restaurants #parks #fort #palace #citytour #history #culture Contest Alert!Celebrating the festive season and new year by giving away a copy of 'Globetrotting for Love and other stories from Sakhalin island' by Ajay Kamalakaran. Just answer the question in the form and stand a chance to win Ajay's book! This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Malavika and Vitasta from Travel.Earth as we explore Namma Bengaluru! Today's destination: Bengaluru! Nearest Airport: Kempe Gowda International Airport Nearest Railway Station: Bangalore City Railway Station Prerequisites - N/A Packing - Carry some water and a wear a good pair of walking shoes! Time of the year - November to January is a great time to visit Bengaluru Length of the itinerary: A Weekend itinerary Itinerary Highlights: - The duo set out on exploring Bangalore starting off with a delicious breakfast at Koshy’s - one of Bangalore’s erstwhile restaurants, started as a bakery in 1940 and has since been managed by successive generations of the family. Make sure to try out the Koshy’s bread, Fish and Chips and some yummy desserts. - The next stop is a quick walk to St. Mark’s Cathedral - inspired by St Paul’s Cathedral in London, this magnificent church is dedicated to St Mark the Evangelist and was founded in 1808 (and consecrated in 1816).- At a stone’s throw away from the cathedral is Chinnaswamy stadium - a very popular stadium which is also the home ground of RCB - Royal challengers Bangalore.- The next pitstop is Cubbon Park, named after Mark Cubbon, the Commissioner of Mysore State. It is a huge park with an area of over 300 acres and has a number of beautiful statues as well, including Chamarajendra Wodeyar, Seshadri Iyer, King Edward, Queen Victoria among others. - After walking around for half a day, the girls have a quick bite at The only place, a great haunt for lovers of steaks and sizzlers! - The second half of the day is spent covering some beautiful museums within Cubbon park - Government Museum, Visveswaraya technology museum and Venkatappa art gallery. - Day 2 starts off with a bang, with a visit to the Bangalore palace - inspired from the Windsor Castle. Built in 1878, the palace was home to Chamarajendra Wodeyar and has some beautiful rooms inside, including the famous Darbar Hall. - The next destination on the agenda is the Bangalore fort, Bengaluru’s erstwhile fort built by the founding father Kempe Gowda and later renovated by Hyder Ali. Only a small part of the original for remains today. - At a close distance from Bangalore Fort is Tipu Sultan’s summer palace - a rustic wooden palace built of teak wood that houses some beautiful paintings and artefacts from Tipu Sultan. The upper level of the palace was used by the women of the royal family. - Other places that find mention in the podcast are Lal Bagh, another beautiful part within the city premises, famous eateries like MTR or Mavalli Tiffin Rooms, CTR or Central Tiffin Rooms, Vidyarthi Bhavan. Links:Link to the blogpost: https://travel.earth/bangaloreans-explore-bangalore-for-the-first-time/ https://travel.earth/day-2-experience-in-the-garden-city/ Link to episode on Old Bengaluru: https://audioboom.com/posts/7044774-tms-specials-old-bengaluru-dargah-to-dharmaraya Link to the website: https://travel.earth Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/traveldotearth/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/traveldotearth IG: https://www.instagram.com/traveldotearth/ This episode is brought to you by Cambly - Cambly is the only app in India that provides on demand native English speaking tutors over video to teach English one on one.- For those who are interested in improving their fluency/communication skills, they can subscribe to Cambly's monthly or quarterly plans and practice consistently every week.- It is especially useful for those who want to better prepare for interviews, presentations and become a confident speaker. All sessions focus on what you want to improve on.- It can be accessed on the website www.cambly.com or by downloading the Cambly app from the Playstore or AppStore.- The Musafir Stories listeners can get a 32% discount on the quarterly plan by using the code "tms32" Follow the Musafir stories onTwitter: @musafirstoriesFacebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcastwebsite: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	72: TMS Specials: Sakhalin Island with Ajay Kamalakaran	05 Dec 2019	00:45:57
In this episode: #russia #sakhlin #island #novella #nature #lifestyle #fareast #book #korea #japan #history #food #leisure Contest Alert!Celebrating the festive season and new year by giving away a copy of 'Globetrotting for Love and other stories from Sakhalin island' by Ajay Kamalakaran. Just answer the question in the form and stand a chance to win Ajay's book! This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Ajay Kamalakaran, an independent journalist and novelist as he takes us to the Far East corner of the world, Sakhalin island!! Today's destination: Sakhalin island Nearest Airport: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport Nearest Railway Station: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Station Prerequisites - Please check travel documents required Packing - Pack for the cold! Time of the year - Summer is ideal for Indian travellers although winter has its own charm! Length of the itinerary: NA Itinerary Highlights: - Ajay talks about the hidden gem of Sakhalin island, that lies at the confluence of the north and the east, where Russia meets Japan!- Learn more about the history of the Sakhalin island, its native people, and the connection to the Japanese and Koreans. - We talk about the geographical orientation, demography and the seasons of Sakhalin. Ajay explains the favourite pass-times of Sakhalin, how he got there and life in Sakhalin, the non-Americanized version. - The oil connection of Sakhalin and preferred status for Indian citizens in terms of visas is also discussed. - Ajay talks more about his book - Globetrotting for love and other stories from Sakhalin island and what inspired the book. Links: Link to the 'Globetrotting for love and other stories from Sakhalin island: https://www.amazon.in/GLOBETROTTING-OTHER-STORIES-SAKHALIN-ISLAND/dp/9386206269 Link to the Ajay's latest book, A Week in the Life of Svitlana: https://www.amazon.in/Week-Life-Svitlana-Ajay-Kamalakaran-ebook/dp/B07ZXW2GKC/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=ajay+kamalakaran&qid=1573532215&sr=8-2 Twitter: https://twitter.com/AjayKamalakaran Photo by Alex Kotomanov on Unsplash This episode is brought to you by Cambly - Cambly is the only app in India that provides on demand native English speaking tutors over video to teach English one on one.- For those who are interested in improving their fluency/communication skills, they can subscribe to Cambly's monthly or quarterly plans and practice consistently every week.- It is especially useful for those who want to better prepare for interviews, presentations and become a confident speaker. All sessions focus on what you want to improve on.- It can be accessed on the website www.cambly.com or by downloading the Cambly app from the Playstore or AppStore.- The Musafir Stories listeners can get a 32% discount on the quarterly plan by using the code "tms32" Follow the Musafir stories onTwitter: @musafirstoriesFacebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcastwebsite: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	71: Landour with Aakash Mehrotra	13 Nov 2019	00:42:40
In this episode: #Landour #Uttarakhand #hillstation #mountains #cafes #nature #walks #viewpoints #sunset #woods #heritage #british #colonial #architecture #ruskinbond #books #quaint #northindia This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Aakash Mehrotra from Delhi who talks to us about his childhood connection to the land of Landour, Uttarakhand! Today's destination: Landour, Uttarakhand Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (DED) Nearest Railway Station: Dehradun Prerequisites - NA Packing - Lots of books! Carry warm clothes as the hill stations are quite chill. Time of the year - April Length of the itinerary: 3 days Itinerary Highlights: - Aakash talks about his childhood connection to Landour and the charm of this Raj era cantonment sharing some quick tips as to when one can travel. - He also shares titbits about his lodging, Rokeby Manor, a heritage property built in 1840 and one of the early constructions in Landour. - Some more trivia about the history of Landour, it's founders, it's legends and myths. - Aakash also shares stories about Pahadi Wilson, one of the famous residents of Landour and how his story inspired Rudyard Kipling to write the book, The man who became king. - Aakash talks about the famous points in Landour - the Char Dukaan, Sister's bazaar, Emily's kitchen, Landour Bakehouse among others. There are also heritage buildings like Kellog Church and St. Paul's church as well as a private sanctuary - The Jaberkhet wildlife sanctuary. - Finally we discuss about the legend and most famous celebrity of Landour - Ruskin Bond, his early life in Landour, his cottage and the influence of Landour on his works. - We wrap up the episode calling out other famous celebrity connections to Landour! Correction: The author of "The Man who would be King" is Rudyard Kipling and not Ruskin Bond as mentioned in this episode. Links: Link to Aakash's blogpost: https://handofcolors.me/2018/04/01/the-secret-miracles-of-landour/#more-2093 https://handofcolors.me/2018/04/17/rokeby-manor-a-colonial-charm/ Link to the blog: https://handofcolors.me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handofcolors/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/aakashmehrotra?lang=en 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 itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Gaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYY Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	70: Manipur with Elita	28 Oct 2019	00:56:00
In this episode: #manipur #northeast #offbeat #solotravel #markets #food #history #war #bordertowns #nature #lakes #nationalparks #warmemorial #ina #moreh #loktak #imakeithel Contest Alert!!! ---------------- We're giving away a copy of Rajat Ubhaykar's book - Truck De India, a hitchhiker's guide to Hindustan, to one lucky listener! All you have to do is listen to Rajat's episode - Around India on trucks (https://audioboom.com/posts/7258364-tms-specials-around-india-on-trucks-and-highways-with-rajat-ubhaykar) and answer two simple questions and send them to our email - themusafirstories@gmail.com before Nov 10, 2019. 1. From which city did Rajat start his first leg of travel on trucks? 2. Name any one driver with whom Rajat hitches a ride, who finds mention in the episode. Winners of #GetFeatured on The Musafir Stories! - Tarun - Sangeetha Congrats!! We will reach out to you on very soon to schedule a recording session! This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to the Nomadic Thunker, Elita, as she takes us to a lesser explore gem of North East India, Manipur! Today's destination: Manipur Nearest Airport: Bir Tikendrajit International Airport (IMF) Nearest Railway Station: Dimapur Railway Station Prerequisites - Government issued Photo ID will be required at checkposts. Please be sure to check the ground situation before planning your travel as there might be closures. Packing - Pack some warm clothes if you're traveling during the winter months. Time of the year - January Length of the itinerary: 4 days Itinerary Highlights: - Elita covers Manipur as a part of her 49 day North east itinerary. Please be sure to check the ground situation before planning your travel. - Elita starts off her journey from Imphal where she flies into. It can be quite economical to hail a shared taxi from the airport to the city. - The first point of interest after settling down in Imphal is the Ima Keithel Women's Market, one of the biggest women-run market in the world! The market is a must see while in Imphal and is a great opportunity to pick up some local souvenirs. - Having spent some time interacting with women traders and getting a first hand experience of their warmth and hospitality, Elita heads back to the rest for the day. - The plan for Day 2 is to travel to the border town of Moreh, which borders Myanmar's Tamu. The town is the eastern most frontier of India, opening up to the South East Asian market. - The journey involved taking a shared taxi to Moreh, and some interesting experiences passing through army checkposts. The market is a minor trading hub for nearby villages and a lot of traders sell their produce here. One can walk about to the sister town of Tamu in Myanmar with the necessary ID documents. - Elita spends some time interacting with the local traders and buying some edibles. Once spending some time here, Elita heads back to Imphal in the same shared cab. - The Day 3 itinerary is planned for a visit to the Loktak lake, the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India and is famous for the phumdis/vegetation floating over it. The lake is located at Moirang in Manipur state, India. - The lake is also the location of the Keibul Lamjao National Park, famous for the Sangai deer or the brown antlered deer, found here in large numbers. - After spending some time watching the natural marvel of the Loktak lake, Elita heads to the INA martyr memorial. The INA Martyr's Memorial complex is a war memorial at Moirang, India, dedicated to the soldiers of the Indian National Army and some haunting stories of the freedom struggle and World War 2. - Day 4 was a reserve day which Elita uses to check out the war memorial in Imphal. Travleres can also check out the Kangla fort/palace, Thalon Caves, Govindajee temple, RKCS art gallery if they have time on hand! Links: Link to the blogpost- https://nomadicthunker.com/2017/04/micro-stories-of-hope-manipur-loktak-khwairamband-bazar.html https://nomadicthunker.com/2017/04/indo-myanmar-border-photos-friendship-gate.html https://nomadicthunker.com/2017/04/khwairamband-bazar-imphal-women-market-manipur.html Link to the blog: Nomadic Thunker (https://nomadicthunker.com) Link to #BeYouForYou expressive writing workshops https://nomadicthunker.com/be-you-for-you Social media: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nomadicthunker/?hl=en Contact: https://nomadicthunker.com/contact Image Credit: Thank you Grasskode! http://grasskode.xyz/ 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 itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	69: Walled City of Jaipur with Arv	12 Oct 2019	00:51:10
In this episode: #Jaipur #Rajasthan #city #walkingtour #markets #bazaars #streets #forts #gates #palace #jewellery #foods #handicrafts #shoes #temples #hawamahal #joharibazaar #citypalace #GetFeatured on the Musafir Stories! Capping off International Podcast Day by inviting all listeners to our annual contest #GetFeatured on The Musafir Stories - India Travel Podcast. The process is very simple, just reach us on our email themusafirstories@gmail.com with a. An #Indian destination or experience you would like to talk about (preferably not already covered on the podcast) b. A #summary of your experience/highlights c. Links to blogs/posts about your experience (optional) The winner will be announced at the end of October! Please share with anyone who might be interested!! #InternationalPodcastDay #India #travel #podcast This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Arvind from the blog Jaipur thru my lens, an expert on Jaipur and its gems! Today's destination: A walking tour around the Walled city of Jaipur! Nearest Airport: Jaipur International Airport, JAI Nearest Railway Station: Jaipur Junction railway station, JP Prerequisites - Walking shoes, sun glasses, sun screen, energy bars and water to keep you hydrated! Packing - Pack light, perhaps a backpack while you head out on this walking tour! Time of the year - December to February is a good time to walk around the city as summers can be hottt! Length of the itinerary: 2 - 2.5 hours Itinerary Highlights: - Are talks about the benefits of self-guided walks vs group walking tours and what makes sense. - We start off the self guided tour of walled city of Jaipur, starting from New gate or Naya gate, the newest of the 9 gates in Jaipur. - Walking through the New gate, the first stop is at Bapu Bazaar, famous for fabric, women's shoes or mojaris/jootis, bed linen, clothes and handicrafts. - The next gate we pass through is the Sanganeri Gate en-route to Johari Bazaar - one of the oldest and most popular markets of Jaipur. - Johari bazaar is popular for its jewellery - gold, silver, stones and all kinds of handicrafts. The Johari bazaar also has some buildings that have retained the old architecture that is unique to Rajasthan and Jaipur. - Are also talks about the other famous by-lanes of Johari bazaar like Haldion ka raasta, Ghee-walon ka raasta, Moti singh Bhamiyon ka raasta among others as well as a flavour of the local sweets - Ghevar and Fini! - Close to Johari Bazaar is Badi Chauper, a large square that is also very close to Hawa Mahal - another iconic monument of Jaipur. - Other places of interest near Badi Chauper is the Flower market that can be quite interesting for foreign travellers. - The next point of interest is the Hawa Mahal, one of the more popular palaces of Jaipur. The facade is brilliant but hidden behind is a whole complex, that is filled with stories and Rajas and Ranis. - Other points one passes by after walking around Hawa Mahal includes an old administrative building, Sirehdyodi bazaar, which leads to the Sirehdyodi Gate. - Another gate in the vicinity is the Nakkarkhana gate, an internal gate used for protection. - Jaleb chowk is another square where armies used to gather, but this is mostly empty now. - As one passes through Jaleb chowk, one can either head towards the City palace or Govind Devji temple, one of the very popular and older temples of Jaipur. - The walk can either end at this point, or trailers can choose to visit some of the more popular monuments like City Palace or Jantar Mantar depending on time and interest. Links: Link to the blogpost: https://jaipurthrumylens.com/2019/06/20/self-guided-jaipur-heritage-walking-tour/ Ghevar: https://jaipurthrumylens.com/2018/09/03/ghevar-in-jaipur-rajasthani-sweet/ Link to the blog: Jaipur Thru my lens (https://jaipurthrumylens.com) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jaipurthrumylens/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvjpr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arv_jpr/?hl=en Photo credits Mitchell Ng Liang an from 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 itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	68: Ghost town of Dhanushkodi with SN Sudharsan	22 Sep 2019	00:31:26
In this episode: #Dhanushkodi #Tamilnadu #southindia #ghost #town #tragedy #deluge #cyclone #stories #ruins #novel #fishermen #history #srilanka #talaimannar #rameshwaram International Podcast Day Convention 2019 in Bangalore: Join us!!! Register now: https://podcasts.hubhopper.com/o2podcollective-international-podcast-day ************************************************************************* This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Sudharsan SN, a polyglot and a linguist who runs a youtube channel called Indic Living (https://www.youtube.com/user/sudharsansn) Today's destination: Dhanushkodi - the story of a ghost town! Nearest Airport: Madurai, TN Nearest Railway Station: Rameshwaram, TN Prerequisites - n/a Packing - light clothes, hat, sun screen and lots of water! Time of the year: Oct - Feb is the best time to visit as the temperatures soar during summer Length of the itinerary: 1 day Itinerary Highlights: - Sudharsan shares his experience visiting Dhanushkodi for the first time in 2002. - He draws out the history of Dhanushkodi leading up to the Rameshwaram cyclone of 1964 - The lives of the fishermen before and after the cyclone - The ruins of Dhanushkodi, the railway station, the temple, the church - The inspiration for Sudharsan's book and the storyline Links: Follow Sudharsan on Twitter : https://twitter.com/sudharsansn Time and a Cyclone Book : http://www.sudharsansn.com/cyclone/release.html Link to Sudharsan's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/sudharsansn Photo by fahad pgd 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 itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	67: Parvati Valley with Backpacking Indian Mama	02 Sep 2019	00:44:39
In this episode: #Parvati #valley #Himachal #northindia #river #parvati #beas #mountains #nature #hillstations #roadtrip #familytravel #kidstravel #hiking #trekking #camping #cafes #markets #hippie #kasol #tosh #jari #malana #manikaran #kheerganga #pinparvati #himachali #village This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Deenaz Raisinghani, a backpacking mom who has been traveling around the world with her little kiddo! Today's destination: Parvati Valley, Himachal Pradesh Nearest Airport: Bhuntar Airport or Chandigarh Airport Nearest Railway Station: Pathankot Railway station Prerequisites - NA Packing - Your usual winter gear along with other essentials for travelling with a kid. >Also make sure to take care of the baby's eating, sleeping and pooping schedules!! >Travel as light as possible. >Travel a baby carrier >Emergency medications for the family>Handy snacks for the journey Time of the year - June (Feb to Jun is a good time to travel) Length of the itinerary: 10 days Itinerary Highlights: - The trio of Deenaz, Arianna and the dad start from Ambala for this 10 day road trip. - Parvati Valley is situated in the state of Himachal Pradesh and covers the region where the river Parvati and Beas meet and pass along a bunch of villages like Jari, Tosh, Kasol, Malana, Manikaran amongst others. - The valley has some great views of the mountains and the forests and some hot springs too!. - The first stop is at a little town called Jari, in a homestay that is right by the river alongside a village called Baladi. Reaching the homestay involves a bit of a trek and crossing a bridge, but is definitely manageable. - Day trips from here to places like Tosh are a great option that offers great cafes and views of the mountains, but be prepared for the crowds!- Another option is day treks to close by villages like Baladi that have some wonderful treks and offer an opportunity to interact with the local Himachali people. - It's a good idea to get a buffer day if there are any sick days during the trip. - After spending a few days at Jari, and doing day trips, the family decides to experience camping near Kasol - Arianna's first camping trip!- More hiking expeditions this time trekking via Chalal and Katagla, and a trip to Kasol town. - There are other options like Kheerganga, Pin Parvati pass, Malana, Grahan Village and other multi-day treks that one can indulge in and enjoy the verdant valley!- Deenaz also shares little tidbits about interactions with the locals as well as a little adventure of getting the local brew of Himachal - the Lugdi!- Finally, Deenaz shares some quick tips about inculcating travel in kids at an early age, the challenges and how to overcome them! Listen on! Links:Link to Deenaz's blog (https://backpackindianmama.com/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backpackingindianmama/ Instagram : backpacking_indian_mama (https://www.instagram.com/backpacking_indian_mama/) Footprints of the Shadows by Piyush Dewan : https://www.amazon.in/Footprints-Shadows-Part-I-ebook/dp/B07KNN49W6 Photo by Harigovind Kaninghat 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 itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	Mizoram with Krishan Insan	04 Jan 2024	00:50:29
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to returning guest, listener and traveller, Krishan Insan! Today's destination: Mizoram! Nearest Airport: Aizawl airport, AJL Nearest Railway Station: Bairabi Railway station, BHRB Prerequisites: Innerline permit - https://ilp.mizoram.gov.in/ Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions Time of the year: October - April Length of the itinerary: 7 days Itinerary Highlights: Krishan starts off the conversation talking about the objective of the trip, to experience the famous Chapchar Kut festival in Aizawl, to trek the Blue mountain and visit the Castle of Beuno. Detailed itinerary listed below: Day 0: Arrived at Aizawl. Direct flights for Aizawl is available from Delhi/Calcutta/Guwahati Airports. Day 1: We reached the Parade Ground super early for Chapchar Kut Festival and enjoyed the entire Day there. In the evening we went to a Private ChapChar Kut Celebration which was a ticketed entry and spent the evening there and came back at midnight. Day 2: We started for Sangau at 05:10. The first stop was Aizawl City itself, Our next Stop was in Falkawn Village, The Traditions Mizo Village. We spent about 40 Minutes there. Our next stop at Tropic of Cancer, which was after getting a few pictures clicked here, we moved and halted at Hmuifang Tourist Resort. We halted again at the Tourist Lodge in Thenzwal at 10:30 and freshen up and moved further. Then we stopped at Tuirihiau Waterfall at 11:00. We trekked further and took a Indiginious Boat to Reach to Vantawng WaterFall Originating Point. Then we went to Thenzawl Golf Course and finally reached Sangau Tourist Lodge at 19:30. Day 3: Started from Lodge at 05:30. We went upto Thaltlang Village (7KM from Sangau Tourist Lodge). Then we hired a 4X4 Bolero for travel upto Far Pak, 7KM (Forest Rest House) where the foothill starts. The Blue Mountain Trek. We started Hiking from Far Pak Rest House at 07:20 and Reached at Blue Mountain at 09:35. We spend 45 Minutes there and started back at 10:15. Reached back to Far Pak at 12:15. Day 4: We started from Siaha Tourist Lodge for the Castle of Bawinu/Great Canyon of Mizoram. Then we moved to Palak Lake. We spent about an hour there and moved to Phura. Where we stayed Over Night inn Forest Guest House. Day 5: We started our journey back to Langtlai. Day 6: We visited Tuirum Li-Nghasih Lui and reached Aizawl at 20:30. We had Dinner in Aizawl Club. Day 7: In the morning we started at 06:00 for Lalsavunga Park and then We went to Khawpawk Waterfall then we went to Local Market, where I would have preferred to spend more time. Then we moved to Airport See Off I fly to respective locations Links: Link to the Krishan’s website: https://www.krishanginsan.com/ Link to Krishan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insankg/ Link to Krishan’s Linkedin: https://in.linkedin.com/in/insankg Link to Krishan’s twitter: https://twitter.com/InsanKG Krishan’s previous episode on Tripura: https://open.spotify.com/episode/57TXGdaPPQCCuJAAtyZDfm?si=JSDsoBSTSZey6WnV9PsTVg Photo by DigiLife Siaha 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.
	66: Great Lakes of Kashmir with Karan & Parul	08 Aug 2019	00:51:13
In this episode: #Kashmir #lakes #greatlakes #trek #mountains #nature #valleys #friends #northindia #camping #bonfire #freshwater #glacier #snow #nundkul #gangbal #krishnasar #vishansar #sonmarg #srinagar #satsar #gadsar #zajbal This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Karan and Parul, the couple on a break from work traveling around India and the world! Today's destination: Kashmir Great Lakes trek! PS: Please be sure to check on the travel advisory before traveling to the region. Nearest Airport: Srinagar airport Nearest Railway Station: Udhampur railway station Prerequisites - Some level of fitness! Packing - Pack trekking shoes, sticks, ponchos, warm clothes and a day pack with necessary first aid, medication and snack! Please note that the there is a support team to take care of transportation of luggage while trekking. Time of the year - July to September is a good time to visit. Length of the itinerary: 8-9 days Itinerary Highlights: The group start of the trek from Srinagar to Naranag village, where they explore old temple ruins before starting of the trek. Day 1: First stop at Butshree pass, for refuelling! The first day of trekking is quite steep and one of the more difficult days of the trek. The campsite is by the Nundkul lake below the glacier mountain - Harmukh. You will encounter a couple of army camps/check posts during the trek, government IDs are required to be produced. A beautiful evening spent under the stars, playing Maafia and enjoying the views and making new bonds! Day 2: Break day (already)! The group spends time exploring nearby lakes like Gangbal, a daring dip in ice cold water of Gangbal and more Maafia! Day 3: Rain Gods show up! The group sets off from Nundkul to Satsar Valley, passing the Zajbal pass enrolee! Some majestic views of the lakes Nundkul and Gangabal from Zajbal pass. The group finally reaches Satsar Valley - the valley of 7 lakes and enjoy a very special local cuisine! Day 4: The destination for Day 4 is Gadsar valley - lots of green meadows and a relatively easy day of trekking. The group decides to spend some time exploring lakes, watching the night sky and relaxing before heading off to Krishansar lake the next day. Day 5: Gadsar valley to the Krishansar and Vishansar camp with a brilliant views of the twin lakes from Gadsar Pass. Day 6: The group descends to the twin lakes of Krishansar and Vishansar, enjoy another dip in the lakes and more beautiful views of the night sky! Day 7: The final day of the trek as the group descends to Sonamarg with a bittersweet feeling! A week cut off from civilization, making bonds & forging friendships and enjoying nature's bounty, but at the same time, happy to be heading back to civilization! Links: Link to the blogpost: http://grasskode.xyz/post/travel/kashmir-great-lakes/ Link to the blog: http://grasskode.xyz IG: @grasskode & @capturedbypaulina Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	65: TMS Specials : Women in Travel with F5 Escapes	13 Jul 2019	00:35:37
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to the trio from F5 Escapes. F5 Escapes is redefining how women travel in India, encouraging them to get out of their comfort zone and explore the world. They plan and organize travel tours for women to travel in groups and solo as well! Hand crafted itineraries to suit their needs. To know more about F5 Escapes checkout their social media pages: Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/F5Escapes/ Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/f5escapes/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/F5Escapes Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWGFUxtraAUnvxgmM7V_KEw Website : https://www.f5escapes.com/ Photo credit by Guille Álvarez 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/ website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo At the time of publishing this episode- Sindhu is taking a break as a lead from F5 Escapes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	64: Orchha with Dhiraj	30 Jun 2019	00:37:43
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Dhiraj from the blog, Team G Square as he discusses his journey to some of the hidden gems of India. Today's destination: Orchha, Madhya Pradesh!! Nearest Airport: Gwalior Airport or Khajuraho Airport (HJR) Nearest Railway Station: Jhansi Railway station (about 18kms away) Prerequisites - NA Packing - Depending on the time of the year you visit, make sure to carry hats, eyewear and sunscreen. Best time to visit is between November and February as the plains get very hot after that. Time of the year - January Length of the itinerary: 3 days Itinerary Highlights: - Dhiraj and his 'team' cover Orchha as a part of a bigger MP road trip that lasted about 10 days. - The Orchha itinerary can be broken down into 3 areas - the palaces, the temples and the Chattris with the Vulture sanctuary. - Orchha is the home of the Bundela Rajas in the 16th century, who were originally based in the Varanasi region, until the invasions by the Delhi Sultanate began after which they moved to MP. - The town is home to a number of palaces of different architecture shapes and sizes. Notable among the palaces are the Raja Mahal built in 1538 which is one of the biggest and most beautiful of the palaces. The palace has innumerable jharokas and chattris that amplify the beauty of the palace. - Next on the list is the Jehangir Mahal, also a very beautiful palace that has shades of Mughal/Indo-islamic architecture that makes it stand out. Legend has that this palace was built for the visit of Emperor Jehangir, son of Akbar, who visited here just for a night! - Another unique palace that is high on the list of must see palaces is the Sheesh Mahal, which is now a boutique hotel and was one of the palaces built during the fag end of the rule of Bundela Kings. - An interesting and smaller palace is the Rai Parveen Mahal, believed to have been built for the Rai Parveen, a courtesan in the court of King Indrajit Singh. The legend goes that she was so beautiful and talented that even Emperor Akbar was blown away by her beauty and wanted to have her as a part of his entourage of courtesans. However, she did not budge and chose to stay with the Bundela King and was eventually moved to this palace. - Other smaller structures/palaces also adorn the town, although they have not been very well maintained. Notable among them are Dasiyon ka mahal, Dauji ki Kothi, Himma Hamir ki Kothi, ShamDua ki Kothi, Rasaldar ki Kothi etc. - Moving on from the palaces, one cannot overlook the umpteen number of temples and their marvellous beauty that Orchha has to offer. One of the first temples to catch your attention is Chatturbhuj temple that is one of the grandest temples of Orchha. - Legend has it that the Chaturbhuj temple was built by King Madhukar Shah for Lord Rama, but the Lord instead chose to stay at the Raja Ram temple, which was previously the Rani Mahal. - The story behind the Raja Ram temple is that when Rani Ganesh Kunwari performed penance to invite Lord Rama, he was impressed by her devotion and agreed to accompany her only if he is to be the King of the first place they stop at, which ends up being the Rani Mahal. The Lord also puts a condition that he will remain the only king of the place and hence he is worshipped as King in this region. - Other temples that are notable are the Shiva temple, Vanavasi Ram Mandir, Radhika Vihari temple, Panchamukhi temple and Lakshmi temple. All in all, Orchha provides a great treat for lovers of architecture and temples. - On the last leg of the journey, one can stop by the iconic Cenotaphs or Chattris of Orchha that are situated on the banks of the river Betwa. - The 14 Chattris were built as a homage for the Bundela kings and were constructed between the 17th and 18th century. Being situated on the banks of the river just amplifies the beauty of the cenotaphs. - As an icing on the cake, the region is also home to some endangered species of vulture and houses a Vulture Sanctuary. One can spend hours admiring the beauty fo the history and architecture, the beautiful sunset and eerie vultures or Orchha! All in all, a great trip uncovering some hidden gems of India! Links: Link to the blogpost: Chattris of Orrcha Palaces of Orchha Temples of Orchha Vultures of Orchha Paintings of Orchha Link to the blog- TeamGSquare Follow the TeamGSquare on: Facebook Twitter IG Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter Facebook Instagram website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	63: TMS Specials : Purposeful Travel with Charles Worringham	14 Jun 2019	00:47:59
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Charles Worringham, an Australian academic and clean energy evangelist, who shares his experience of traveling with a purpose. Listen on! Today's destination: Around India, exploring some of her energy challenges and innovative solutions! Nearest Airport: Indira Gandhi International airport Nearest Railway Station: NA Prerequisites - Be open to travel, be open to learning! Packing - NA Time of the year - November Length of the itinerary: 1 month Itinerary Highlights: - Charles tells us about the objective of the trip and how one can look for a purpose in travel, be it history, culture, adventure or just learning about something you love! - More about the planning and preparations, the books Charles read up before the big trip: India calling - Anand Giridhardas (https://www.amazon.in/India-Calling-Intimate-Portrait-Remaking/dp/1250001722) Looking away - Harsh Mander (https://www.amazon.in/Looking-Away-Inequality-Prejudice-Indifference/dp/9385288458) Inspite of the Gods, the strange rise of modern India - Edward Luce (https://www.amazon.in/Spite-Gods-Strange-Modern-India/dp/0349123462) The City of Djinns - William Dalrymple (https://www.amazon.in/City-Djinns-Delhi-William-Dalrymple/dp/9385936557) - The trip begins in Delhi where Charles meets some interesting personalities, experiences the local Delhi food, the Delhi metro and as luck would have it, the phenomenon called 'demonetization'!! - Charles also makes an impromptu visit to Unnao, UP to see an interesting energy project - Ahmedabad was next on the itinerary, even though Charles gets a stomach bug, but he still manages to do some sight seeing through a heritage walk around the old city and a visit to the Sabaramati Ashram of Mahatma Gandhi! - Following this, Charles makes his way to Mumbai where he meets more interesting people, experiences the Mumbai local and a visit to IIT Mumbai! - Charles then stops by in Pune, where he sees some first hand innovative ways in which energy efficiency was being achieved at the grassroots. - Hyderabad is next on the itinerary where Charles meets an energy efficiency expert and learns more about commercial building standards. Stops at IIIT Hyderabad and Golkonda fort were also part of the trip although he misses out on the Hyderabadi biryani! - As he descends further south, Charles visits Bangalore to meet some very interesting people at IISC and discovers a local Australian connection in a very innovative startup in Bangalore. - The trip slowly begins to wrap up with a final stop at Kochi, where Charles engages in some touristy things as he discovers the wonderful history of Fort Kochi and the surrounding areas! Notable mentions in the episode: Debi Goenka (https://twitter.com/mangrovesindia?lang=en) Himanshu Thakkar (https://www.indiawaterportal.org/author/himanshu-thakkar) Brookings India, Delhi (https://www.brookings.edu/center/brookings-india/) Simran grover - boond energy (https://www.linkedin.com/in/simran-grover-238b8918/?originalSubdomain=in) IIT mumbai Rangan Banerjee - (http://www.ese.iitb.ac.in/faculty/rangan-banerjee) Rajkiran Rilolikar (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajkiranbilolikar/?originalSubdomain=in) Harish Hande - Selco foundation (https://www.selcofoundation.org/selco_team/harish-hande/) TV Ramachandran IISC (http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/new/?q=user/31) Pollinate energy (https://pollinateenergy.org) Links: Link to the Charles' blog (https://indiapowerreview.com/) Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter Facebook Instagram website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com Cover Photo by Riccardo Annandale on Unsplash itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	62: Savanadurga Trek with Divyam Goenka	30 May 2019	00:28:51
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Divyam Goenka, a young trekking enthusiast and founder of Kyuriosity, a Bangalore based trekking community. Today's destination: Savanadurga Trek!! Nearest Airport: Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore (BLR) Nearest Railway Station: Bangalore Railway station Prerequisites - Some trekking experience doesn't hurt! Packing - Make sure to carry enough water to stay hydrated and some energy bars for when the going gets tough! Time of the year - November to February is a good time to do this trek Length of the itinerary: 1 day Itinerary Highlights: - Divyam and his friend hit the road after an impromptu plan to do the trek. The hill is situated about 70 kms from Bangalore and is well connected by roads. - The Savanadurga peak is over 1200 m high and is Asia's biggest monolith rock! - The best option would be to start early in the day so that you can hit the peak around sunrise. The official timings of the trek are sunrise to sunset. - Make sure to stock yourself before hitting the trek as it can be tiring if you get dehydrated. There are a couple of options at the foot of the hill that offer very good food. - Make sure to follow the trail markers or the lamp posts all the way to the summit, and avoid getting lost (although you have to try really hard for that!) - You will encounter fort walls along the trek at a few places, these are the remnants of the fort built by Kempegowda, the founder of Bangalore and later used by other rulers like Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. - The trek is medium level of difficulty, unless there is rain, or you choose to do it on a hot day. - Make sure to start early so that you can catch the sunrise and a view of the nearby Manchabele dam and Arkavati river! - The views from the summit are quite beautiful and well worth the climb, make sure to catch visit the Nandi statue at the summit! - Once you spend time at the summit, you can head back down and have a wholesome meal at the little shack at the base of the hill. - If you have more time on hand, you can indulge in activities like kayaking near the dam! - All in all, a great day trek, to a place that has a lot of historical and geographical significance! Links: Link to the Kyuriosity: Instagram Facebook Other links: https://www.karnataka.com/bangalore/savandurga-fort/ IG: @kyuriosityofficial Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter Facebook Instagram website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	61: TMS Specials: Around India on Trucks and Highways with Rajat Ubhaykar	11 May 2019	00:49:56
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Rajat Ubhaykar, a journalist from Mumbai who talks about his journey around India on trucks and highways! Today's destination: India! Nearest Airport: n/a Nearest Railway Station: n/a Prerequisites - n/a Packing - n/a Time of the year - April Length of the itinerary: n/a Itinerary Highlights: Rajat talks about his roller coaster of a journey traversing India on trucks as he set out to document the lives of truckers and the highway economy of India. Rajat's journey was covered in 2 legs, first leg was Mumbai-Srinagar-NE, the second leg covered the eastern and western coastlines of India. Rajat talks at length about the lives of the truckers, the kind of stereotyping they are subject to, the reality of life on a highway, and how things evolved over the 2 years of his journey. Rajat's travelogue about his journey is set to hit the book stands later this year, make sure to check it out! Links: Links to blog post https://roadsandkingdoms.com/2017/truckin-on-in-india/ On building of truck bodies in Sirhind, Punjab - https://www.outlookbusiness.com/enterprise/trend/life-in-the-slow-lane-1826 On hitchhiking with nomads from Jammu to Srinagar - https://www.outlookbusiness.com/enterprise/trend/a-season-of-exodus-1889 Two pieces on trucking on NH39, India's most unsafe highway that passes through Nagaland & Manipur - https://www.outlookbusiness.com/enterprise/trend/when-not-just-goods-but-fear-too-piles-1976 https://www.outlookbusiness.com/enterprise/trend/a-convenient-arrangement-2084 On overloading and corruption on the highways - https://www.outlookbusiness.com/enterprise/trend/death-on-wheels-2197 More about the Guest: Twitter: @rajatub Photo by Harsh Fuloria on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter Facebook Instagram website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	60: A weekend in Mysuru with Subhadip Mukherjee	18 Apr 2019	00:35:08
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Subhadip Mukherjee from the blog Indian Vagabond Today's destination: Mysore or Mysuru! Nearest Airport: Mysore Airport (MYQ) Nearest Railway Station: Mysore Junction (MYS) Prerequisites - Book early if you plan on traveling during the festive season of Dussehra (usually around Oct) Packing - Pack light, make sure to carry appropriate clothing as it tends to get hot during summers Time of the year - NA Length of the itinerary: 2 days Itinerary Highlights: Subhadip takes us on a speed date with the royal city of Mysore or Mysuru, the home of the Wodeyars! We start the day by making an early sprint to the Mysore Zoo, one of the older zoos of India and is home to a variety of animals. Plastic bags are not allowed inside the premises, so plan accordingly. The Mysore Zoo used to be home to penguins in the 1980s! Yep, it's true! After the zoo, we head towards the St. Philominas church, built in 1936. Don't miss out the relics of St. Philomina inside the church premises. Next stop to the railway museum to get first hand expereince of the cabs and wagons of the Mysore railway network that dates back to the British era. Jaganmohan palace and art gallery is a treasure trove for the art lovers. Noteworthy are the paintings of the famous painter Ravi Varma in this art gallery. You can spend some time at the Karanji lake, enjoying the nature and a serene boat ride! After savouring some art and nature, it is time to head to the Chamundi Hills that houses the famous Chamundeshwari temple and the statue of Mahishasura, from whom the city of Mysore gets it's name. Do stop for some fine viewpoints of Lalith Mahal palace enroute the Chamundi hills. Our first evening is a great time to head to the Mysore Palace (Amba Vilas palace), the iconic palace that symbolizes Mysore. Get a view of beautiful Indo-sarcenic architecture and interiors including arches, Darbar-e-aam, Darbar-e-khaas and ofcourse the beautiful lighting during weekends and Dussehra. One can also shop for sandalwood artifacts and momentos as well as mysore silk sarees in the vicinity of the Palace. If you want to explore the palace further, you can also visit the 12 temples within the Palace complex. Lalith Mahal is another one of the popular palaces in Mysore which is now a heritage hotel, but be prepared to pay for luxury! Another popular destination that one can spend an evening at is the Brindavan Gardens and KRS dam. The musical fountains and the variety of flowers and gardens are the mainstay of the garden. Make sure to catch a good spot to view the musical fountain show during the evenings. One can also enjoy a boat ride by the KRS dam, but this can be quite crowded during weekends. Other places of interest include Srirangapatna (which deserves an itinerary of its own), Ranganthittu bird sanctuary, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav sanghralaya, National museum of Natural history, Folklore museum, Kukkarahalli lake among others! And last but not the least, do not forget to binge on some mouth watering Mysore Masala Dosa and Mysore Pak, the iconic dishes of Mysore! Links: Link to the blogpost Link to the blog: https://indianvagabond.com/ Thanks to Ashim D’Silva from Unsplash for this beautiful picture! Facebook Twitter Instagram Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter Facebook Instagram website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	59: TMS Specials: Paintings of the Himalayas with Medhavi Gandhi	05 Apr 2019	00:34:28
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Medhavi Gandhi, the founder of Heritage Lab (heritagelab.in), a unique media platform for citizens to interact with museums! Today's destination: The Indian Himalayas in paintings by Nicholas Roerich! Nearest Airport: NA Nearest Railway Station: NA Length of the itinerary: 5-8 years, 25,000 kms Itinerary Highlights: - Medhavi takes us on the Himalayan expedition covered by Nicholas Roerich and his family in the early 20th century (1923) in search of the mythical kingdom of Shambala, that is believed to be home to the King who will bring peace and harmony to humanity. Roerich's expedition started from Sikkim through Punjab, Kashmir, Ladakh, the Karakoram Mountains, Khotan, Kashgar, Qara Shar, Urumchi, Irtysh, the Altai Mountains, the Oyrot region of Mongolia, the Central Gobi, Kansu, Tsaidam, and Tibet" with a detour through Siberia to Moscow in 1926. The journey was done on horses and mules, with minimal resources and it is during this expedition that Roerich painted more than 500 marvellous paintings of the himalayan landscapes, architecture and people. Roerich also uses very novel ways to paint, using crushed rocks minerals in his paintings to give them a unique finish. The expedition wasn't witout controversy - Roerich was often accused of being on a spy mission and was also detained in Tibet for over 5 months in very harsh climatic conditions. After the expedition, Roerich settles down in Naggar, Kullu in Himachal Pradesh - it is now converted into a house museum and run by the Naggar trust and still houses a lot of his important paintings. Other important paintings of Roerich can be found in the Nicholas Roerich Museum, New York. A huge collection of his paintings is also available in National Gallery of Modern Art, Allahabad Museum, International Roerich Trust, Naggar - Himachal Pradesh, Government Museum and Art gallery, Chandigarh, Shri Jaganmohan palace, Mysore, Chitrakala parishad, Bangalore. Some of his paintings that were passed on to his son, have been the subject of a legal tussle for his estate that has gone of for the longest time, with paintings worth several lakhs reportedly stolen and sold abroad. Over his lifetime Roerich made over 7000 paintings, but his Himalayan paintings and the mystery of the expedition live one! Some notable paintings from Roerich's Himalayan expedition detailed in Medhavi's blog A view of Kanchenjunga from Sikkim (Tashi view point) A view of Kanchenjunga from Darjeeling (Tiger hill) Tashiding Monastery, Sikkim (Bhumchu festival/Banners of the east) Mt Kailash (tibet) Kinner Kailash (HP, 28 colors of the ranges) Lahual (Himachal), Rohtang Pass; Buddhist MOnks, Sissu waterfalls Ladakh - shooting star in Changthang plateau Buddhist sculptures on boulders (Zanskar range) Maitreyi Buddha, near Mulbek monastery lamayaru Monastery, Leh (Yuru Kabgyata festival, masked dance) Lake sheshnag, Kashmir (enroute amarnath yatra, Shiva's serpent) Naggar, Kullu Links: Link to Medhavi's website: http://www.theheritagelab.in/ Link to the blog post: http://www.theheritagelab.in/himalayas-paintings-roerich/ Twitter: @medhavigandhi @theheritagelab Instagram: @theheritagelab Facebook: @heritagelab Image Credit : The Heritage Lab, Painting at Nicholas Roerich Museum, New York Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter Facebook Instagram website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	58: Bodh Gaya with MSN Karthik	24 Mar 2019	00:36:20
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to MSN Karthik - a traveller, a film maker and a youtuber! Today's destination: Bodhgaya, Bihar! Nearest Airport: Gaya Airport or Patna Airport Nearest Railway Station: Gaya Junction Prerequisites - Just leave your worries home! Packing - Nothing unusual! Time of the year - Best to travel when the festive season is upon us, important festivals being Buddha Poornima (May) or Kalchakra puja (Oct-Nov) or other world healing pujas (watch for them in the calendar) Length of the itinerary: 3-4 days Itinerary Highlights: Karthik begins the journey by explaining the significance of Bodhgaya, the home of Buddhism. Here is where Prince Siddhartha found enlightenment after traveling all the way from Lumbini, present day Nepal. Karthik enlightens us about the Bodhi vriksha or Bodhi tree, it's history and importance. We talk more about the timeline of the Mahabodhi temple - one of the most important structures in Bodhgaya which is over 2000 years old, how it was patronized by Ashoka, plundered by foreign invaders, left in ruins and finally discovered again in the 19th century. The temple is a beautiful structure, that lies in a sprawling complex with over a thousand stupas, a number of other temples and statues of the Buddha. There is a 80 ft statue that was contributed by the Japanese government that signifies 80 years of Buddha's life. Karthik also speaks about the teachings of Buddhism, the interactions with monks who have travelled from all around the world and how their views converge. Karthik talks about the other temples and monasteries built by representatives of different countries and the kaalachakra maidan, a huge field that is the venue of all congregations including while his holiness Dalai Lama is visiting. Karthik further talks about his experience with Vipasana, its importance and what the retreat involves. Links: Link to the youtube documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xA42Eu6Fds&t=0 Link to the channel Adwhyta: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU7XVC0jMY1tGEUf6m3lC0w Linik to Vipasana meditation centers: www.dhamma.org twitter: @MSNKarthik instagram: @MSNKarthik facebook: @adwhyta Photo by Mattia Faloretti on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter Facebook Instagram Website email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes- https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website- http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn- https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify- https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts- https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox- https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast- https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom- https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn- https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic- https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio- https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer- https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	57: Dalhousie with Meenakshi Param	07 Mar 2019	00:40:07
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Meenakshi Param from the blog polkajunction.com. Sit back and enjoy as we speak to the multi-talented Meenakshi as she speaks about her tryst with travel! Today's destination: Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh Nearest Airport: Dharamshala, HP Nearest Railway Station: Pathankot, Punjab Prerequisites - N/A Packing - Warm clothes depending on the season of travel Time of the year - All year round! Length of the itinerary: 3-4 days Itinerary Highlights: Meenakshi begins the conversation by setting up the orientation of Dalhousie, the necessity of acclimatization given Dalhousie is between 6-9K ft above sea level and the history of the colonial influence on Dalhousie! Dalhousie is named after Lord Dalhousie, the Governor general of Bengal during the British Rule and was set up as a sanitorium to help ailing soldiers recover, given it's wonderful setting. It was purchased from the Raja of Chammba for a princely sum of 12,000 Rupees over 150 years ago Meenakshi gives us some titbits about the Thandi (cold) and Garam (hot) sadak, why they are called so and some of the nearby churches (St. John's church and St. Francis church) that one can visit while spending time acclimatizing with the city. One can also visit the nearby markets of Subhash chowk and Gandhi chowk as well as some Tibetan markets to get a flavor of the local stuff. Visitors to Dalhousie can also enjoy a great mix of architecture right from Himachali architecture which dominates most of the nearby hamlets to the colonial buildings in the city as well as the more recent contemporary architecture. The people in Dalhousie is a mix of HImachali, Tibetan, Buddhists, Punjabi and Bengali people. We also discuss about the Bengal connection of Dalhousie with prominent personalities like Subhash Chandra Bose and Rabindranath Tagore having lived here during their lives. We also discuss the points of interest in the vicinity including Khajjiar and some treks one can indulge in including Dayankund, CHamba, Bakrota hill and Aala! Listen to the local folklore about the Dainkund legends and get spooky! The local flavors of Dalhousie include everything from fast-food to Momos, chaats, golgappas, himachali food and Rasgollas. Make sure to grab exotic souvenirs from Dalhousie such as Himachali Chukk (pickle), wines and chutneys. Finally, make sure to carry an umbrella while going about Dalhousie! Links: Meenakshi's Blog Blogposts: Dalhousie's Snowfall - White carpet Dalhousie : Enchantment Dalhousie : Folklore - Conquering Witches! Dalhousie's Bengal connection Find Meenakshi on Twitter Like her work on Facebook Follow her on Instagram ======================================================================== Winners of the 2nd Anniversary episode - TMS Specials: The Shooting Star!! Abhinav Kaushik Megha Deora Rohan Shetty Thank you and Congratulations guys! ======================================================================== Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast Website email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	Madurai with Sahana Kulur	21 Dec 2023	00:57:59
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to returning guest, Sahana Kulur from https://vacaywork.com Today's destination: Madurai, Tamil Nadu! Nearest Airport: Madurai International airport, IXM Nearest Railway Station: Madurai Junction, MDU Prerequisites: NA Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions, summers can be hot. Time of the year: October Length of the itinerary: 2-4 days Itinerary Highlights: Sahana starts the episode with some backstories about her travels to Sri Lanka, the inspiration for this trip - from a world famous architect, Geoffery Bawa to the coolest drink in South Inida - JigarThanda. We cover the history and background of Madurai as well as the popular legends about the city and its main attraction, the Meenakshi temple. The points of interest include a visit to Meenakshi Amman temple - the most iconic structure and soul of Madurai Koodal Azagar temple - an experience going to the rooftop of a temple and observing the gopurams up close. Thepakkulam temple - the floating temple Tirumalai Nayak Palace - the palace of the Nayaka king and location of some very popular songs from Guru to Bombay. The palace has a museum and a sound and light show as well. Markets of Madurai including the Pudhu Mandapam, Banana market, Sungundi sarees, Madurai Malli or jasmine, the kumkum and the dasara golu or dolls The cuisine of Madurai includes the variety of idlis and dosas, ragi puttu, Kari dosa, idiyappam, keerai vada, mutton chukka, bun parota, jigar thanda, paruthi paal among others. Other options include a visit to the archaeological site of Keeladi, Vellacheri doll village and a number of jain caves and rock sculptures We wrap up the discussion with other points of interest in the vicinity including Chettinad, Tanjavur, Chennai that one can plan for an extended itinerary. Links: Link to the blog post: https://vacaywork.com/madurai-travel-blog/ Link to Sahana’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sahana.kulur/ Link to Sahana’s website: https://vacaywork.com Sahana’s previous episode on Bijapur: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0sfbo4CGkeJJImd1Acx5K1?si=luN1sAtdSo63QvhK_fqTeg Photo by Ben Chobot 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.
	56: TMS Specials : The Shooting Star with Shivya Nath	21 Feb 2019	00:45:56
CONTEST ALERT!!! Listen to the episode and answer these 3 simple questions and stand a chance to win a copy of Shivya's best seller - The Shooting Star 1. Which Indian town did Shivya spend her childhood in? 2. In which country did Shivya go to university? 3. What is the title of Shivya's best selling book? Email your responses to themusafirstories@gmail.com before March 7th 2019! The winners will be announced on the next episode of the podcast! This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to none other than the Shooting Star - Shivya Nath, top travel blogger and now author with her national best seller, The Shooting Star! Interview Highlights: Shivya talks about her time growing up in India, where she spent her childhood in and what were her erstwhile ambitions We talk to Shivya about her journey away from home for university, how that shaped her choices as a person and how eventually she succumbed to her 'calling' Shivya also talks about tryst with a 9-5 job, how she constantly craved for freedom and how eventually she quit her job to move back to India We talk about Shivya's tryst with entrepreneurship, the highs and the lows and some difficult decisions We also discuss about Shivya's travel philosophy, her roots and the place she calls home, being a digital nomad and giving up her home We finish the interview by talking about her choices, how she chose veganism, the percpetions and the reality of being a vegan traveler and some final thoughts to finish off the interview. Links: Instagram: @shivya Twitter: @shivya Facebook: @theshootingstarblog Blog: https://the-shooting-star.com/ Buy your copy of the Shooting Star on Amazon India Kindle Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	55: Gandikota and Belum Caves with Srikanth	05 Feb 2019	00:40:32
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Srikanth from the blog traveldiaries.vacations and the capter lead of RTC Hyderabad! Today's destination: Gandikota gorge and Belum caves, Andhra Pradesh! Nearest Airport: Tirupati Airport at Renigunta Nearest Railway Station: Kondapuram Prerequisites - Camping equipment if you're planning to camp Packing - Gandikota can get hot during the day, plan to carry sufficient water and also extra layers for the night. Time of the year - September Length of the itinerary: 2 days Itinerary Highlights: Srikanth and team set out from Hyderabad towards Gandikota - a natural gorge formed by the Pennar river in Andhra Pradesh. A couple of stops enroute the destination and a navigation error on google maps led Srikanth to the foot of some magnificent wind mills in the vicinity of Gandikota! After spending some time refreshing themselves at the APSTDC branded Haritha resorts, the group heads towards the Gandikota fort by about 3pm. Please note that camping areas are present in the vicinity of the fort, so do not fall prey to scamsters asking for money to pitch tents. Once the group had settled in on the camping area, they set out to explore the fort and its monuments. First up is the Mini Charminar that welcomes you as you drive through the fort city after passing through the gigantic darwaaza or fort gates. The mini charminar is modeled after the original monument in Hyderabad The other important monuments within the fort include the Jama Masjid, the Ranghanatha Swamy temple and the Madhavaraya Swamy temple (from the Hoysala era). Along with the religious monuments, there are several other structures like the Granery, Mausoleum, Jail, Ponds and water bodies are abundant. Unfortunately we did not have enough time to discuss some of the smaller monuments due to time constraints. Once you have enjoyed the history and architecture of the monuments, move over to the view points for some great sunset views of the gorge and the river. Indulge in star gazing as night falls, enjoy a bonfire, a sumptous meal and spend the night chatting away with friends. Wake up early for wonderful views of the sunrise and the sun painting the gorge into different colors. The group head out towards Belum caves - the second longest underground cave network in India formed by a river several centuries ago, over 3 kms long! A beautiful Buddha statue welcomes you to the monument complex, it is believed that both Buddhist and Jain monks have lived here centuries ago. The cave network is about 150m below ground level and tends to get pretty hot during the day, even in September! The caves are well lit with a number of formations like Pilidwaram, saint bed, Dhyan mandir or meditation hall, Kotilingalu chamber (thousand hoods), Banyan tree, Patalaganga and many more interesting formations! Links: Link to Srikanth's blog Link to blog post Checkout Srikanth on Instagram! Follow him on Twitter. Link to Elita's 'Be you for you' expressive writing workshops Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	54: TMS Specials : Travel Without Quitting Your Job with Pradnya Kulkarni	25 Jan 2019	00:33:08
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Pradnya Kulkarni, a smart traveler who believes in traveling without quitting your job! Let's find out more! Prerequisites - A job! Just kidding! Highlights: Pradnya talks about the importance of travel in life and how one should approach travel. Her own trials and errors with travel Hacks to make use of to plan your travel How to save for sustainable travel How her job has helped her travel the world! Parting advice! Pradnya's social media: Twitter Instagram Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	53: Kumbh Mela with Priyanka	10 Jan 2019	00:41:04
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Priyanka Dalal from the blog MapRoute Travel Blog. Priyanka is a digital entrepreneur and traveler and on this episode she shares her experience of falling in love with the Kumbh Mela! Today's destination: The Kumbh Mela! Nearest Airport: Allahabad Airport, IXD Nearest Railway Station: Allahabad Junction Prerequisites - Be prepared to be a part of large crowds and lose your personal space! It is better to book accommodation beforehand, specially if you are going to be here on the days of the Shahi Snan! Packing - Pack light, and be ready to rough it out! Time of the year - Jan 15 - Mar 4, 2019 Length of the itinerary: NA Itinerary Highlights: Priyanka talks at length about her experiences from the previous Kumbh Mela at Trimabakeshwar, Nashik and Ujjain. History and legends of the Kumbh Mela what to expect at your maiden Kumbh Mela Important days of the Kumbh mela - the Shahi Snan days Activities during the Kumbh Mela - discourses, holy dips, temple visits, processions Interacting with people at the Kumbh Mela - From Naga babas to foreigners and devotees from around India Useful advise for solo travelers Links: Links to blog posts: Priyanka's Travelogue : My Kumbh Mela Story @ Trimbakeshwar, Nashik Priyanka's Travelogue : Ujjain Simhasth Solo at the Kumbh Mela Priyanka's podcast Photo by Jose Aragones on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter Facebook Instagram Website email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	52: TMS Specials - A Drive from Coimbatore to London with Meenakshi Arvind	30 Dec 2018	00:46:02
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Meenakshi Arvind, an avid traveler, business woman and mom! Buckle up as Meenakshi takes us on this mother of all road trips, from Coimbatore, India to London, England! Today's destination: London! Nearest Airport: NA Nearest Railway Station: NA Prerequisites - permits, visas, carnet and loads of patience! Time of the year - March 2017 Length of the itinerary: 70 days, 24K kms!! Itinerary Highlights: Meenakshi starts off the preparation by mapping out the route and preparing the permits and visas well in advance. The plan is to drive through 24 countries, across continents, over 70 days and 24K kms to end in London as a mark of celebrating 70 years of Indian independence. Meenakshi shares her approach, preparation, planning and the run up to the big day. Stories of some mishaps, some surprises and loads of memorable moments. Driving into London with a range of emotions and memories for a lifetime Links: Find Meenakshi on Facebook Follow her on Instagram Coimbatore to London Road Trip Pictures Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	51: Chadar Trek with Ajitha Yasmin	15 Dec 2018	00:42:01
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to a very dear guest - Ajitha Yasmin, a long time listener and winner of the "Get Featured on the Musafir Stories" contest we ran on International Podcast Day earlier this year. Today's destination: Chadar Trek on the frozen Zanskar river, Jammu & Kashmir Nearest Airport: Leh Airport, IXL Nearest Railway Station: NA Prerequisites - Some experience in trekking is preferred, although not mandatory Packing - Make sure to either pack winter clothes or buy them in Leh. Decathalon is a good option in your city as well. Equipment is usually taken care of by the trek company. Time of the year - January Length of the itinerary: 6 day trek, 2 day acclimatization Itinerary Highlights: The 12 people strong team, set off after a day of acclimatization in Leh with a stopover at Magnetic hill. The trek kicks off at Chiling from where the group heads off on a 70km trek over 6 days. The trek goes through some interesting terrain with different formations of ice over the Zanskar river. The early hours are tricky with the team having to negotiate some thin layers of ice. The first stop for the night is Shingra where the team camps. Periodic oxygen level checks are performed by the trek company to ensure that everyone is good health. The trek continues through some magnificent terrain, covering icy sheets to frozen streams. The stop of the day is at Tibb caves, a point of meeting of two mountain ranges. The team also enjoy some good vegetarian food along with Thukpa, the tibetan soupy noodles. The final day of the onward journey ends at Nerak waterfalls - a frozen waterfall that is one of the iconic points of the trek at over 11,000 ft. The return journey is along the same path but on th other side of the frozen river bank. The team enjoys interacting with the local porters and share some hummable songs and the evergreen calls of Julley! Links: Ajitha's Travel Listen to Saif & Faiza on Castbox's Original: Podcast Unfiltered with Bijay Gautam Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter Facebook Instagram Website email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	50: Land of Pashmina with Adventure Sindbad	29 Nov 2018	00:37:26
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Vishwas Raj, founder of the adventure travel company - Adventure Sindbad (www.adventuresindbad.com). Adventure Sindbad specializes in a variety of adventure activities across the Himalayas, right from hiking, cycling, whitewater rafting to family adventure tours. Sit back and enjoy as Vishwas takes us to Changthang, the land of the Pashmina! Today's destination: Changthang, Jammu & Kashmir Nearest Airport: Leh Airport Nearest Railway Station: Udhampur Railway station Prerequisites - Inner line permits may be required for a few areas. This is taken care of by Adventure Sindbad if you travel with them. Packing - Warm clothes, sunscreen, sunglasses, good walking boots Time of the year - August Length of the itinerary: 10 days Itinerary Highlights: This experience is a part of a photography trip led by Adventure Sindbad. The trip begins with acclimitization in Leh for 2-3 days in order to get used to the high altitude. The guests get to go around and explore the old Leh city during the acclimatization process! The group then heads off towards the Changthang area, a highland plateau in Kashmir that extends to Tibet and covers about 1600 kms into Tibet. The first stop is close to the picturesque Tso Moriri lake, albeit at some distance from the touristy points around the lake. One gets to experience the beautiful colors of nature while camping close to Tso Moriri. The group then heads off towards the camping site close to the nomads of Changthang - the Changpas. The Changpas are a nomadic community that wanders across the Changthang area with their herd of sheep and goats. The famous pashmina wool is made from the wool of the sheep and goat of this region, which is then crafted by Kashmiri artisans and is very valuable. The adventure sindbad team does a recce of the area well in advance and establishes contact with the nomads in order to ensure the group isn't being intrusive. As a part of the photography trip, the patrons get to document the life of the Changpas and their nomadic lifestyle. The rebo or yak wool tents of the Changpas are the epitome of minimalism and simplicity. The tents contain a kitchen, a dining area, sleeping area and a prayer room. Once the group has made contact with the nomads and set up tent in the vicinity, the patrons get a chance to observe and document the lifestyle of the Changpas, considered a dying lifestyle with the younger generations prefering to move away. The Changpas usually own anywhere between 100-800 sheep and start the day early by milking the goats and sheep. Some of the family then heads off to graze the sheep, while one or two family members stay back and take care of the household chores. The group gets to experience the various aspects of nomads life and also get some exotic shots of the arid plateau. Links: Adventure Sindbad's Website Follow Adventure Sindbad on Facebook Twitter Instagram TripAdvisor A big congratulation to the winner of our book give away - Somdeep Kundu! Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter Facebook Instagram Checkout our website Or you can email us: themusafirstories@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	49: TMS Specials : Time Travel with The Autograph Seeker	15 Nov 2018	00:39:27
This week on The Musafir Stories we talk to novelist and media professional Tony V. Francis about his epic coming-of-age romantic novel 'The Autograph Seeker' which brings to life the whispering landmarks of Calcutta in the 1980 and 1990s. During the course of the interview Tony talks to us about the bestselling novel and different landmarks of Calcutta (now Kolkata) which play a significant role in this story. From the famous Park Street to Eden gardens, to the theatre play to all the autographs! this book has it all! The Autograph Seeker : During the colonial rule in India, fate throws together a diverse cast onto the San Souci Theatre stage – Esther Leech, the Kohinoor of Bengal theatre; James Barry, the theatre manager facing bankruptcy; Alice Anderson, the enchanting English woman estranged from her husband Thomas Anderson; and Baboo Bustomchurn Addy, the dark Bengali actor infatuated with Alice and ready to kill for her. Yet, history has forgotten this cast who perished with the San Souci Theatre until it’s discovered by a school boy in Calcutta desperate to tell their story. To help him is an effervescent Anglo Indian beauty. She’s mute. It was the end of innocence and the dawn of a glorious institution. Unearth the story of the greatest theatre in colonial India hidden for the last 150 years inside the pages of this epic school-age novel. You can get your hands on 'The Autograph Seeker' on Amazon ( https://www.amazon.in/Autograph-Seeker-Tony-V-Francis/dp/938150699X ) Flipkart( https://www.flipkart.com/autograph-seeker-original-complete/p/itmezgzzurmyj9uf ) or you can find it in any leading bookstore. Contest Alert!!! Stand a chance to win a copy of the book "The Autograph Seeker" by Tony V Francis by writing to us on our social media handles or email us at themusafirstories@gmail.com Photo by Martin Jernberg on Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	48: Ayodhya with Anuradha Goyal	01 Nov 2018	00:47:11
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Anuradha Goyal from www.Inditales.com. Anuradha is an accomplished travel blogger and a book reviewer with her blog "AnuReviews" as well as the author of the book "The Mouse Charmers - Pioneers of Digital India" Today's destination: Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh! PS - Happy Diwali wishes in advance! Nearest Airport: Gorakhpur Airport (GOP), Gorakhpur OR Amausi Airport (LKO), Lucknow Nearest Railway Station: Ayodhya Junction, AY Prerequisites - Better to carry your ID proof if you are planning to visit the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. It is not mandatory though. Packing - Pack light and according to the season you are travelling in. Make sure to carry a good pair of walking shoes! Time of the year - October Length of the itinerary: 6 days Itinerary Highlights: Anuradha starts off the conversation by giving a background about Ayodhya and its significance not only to Hinduism but to every religion that was born in India - Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. She adds about the various Kings and dynasties that ruled Ayodhya before Shri Ram. Anuradha also touches upon the significance of Diwali and its connection to Ayodhya as well as the major festivals celebrated here - Ram Navami (Mar-Apr), Diwali (Oct-Nov), Karthik Poornima (15 days after Diwali). Anuradha discusses the various temples across Ayodhya and the best way to explore them by doing one of the yatras - Panchkosi (5kms), Chudhakosi (45kms), Chowraseekosi (300kms) Some of the points of interest that Anuradha covers in the podcast are Temples: Ram Janmabhoomi, Kanak Bhavan, Badi Hanumangarhi, Valmiki Mandir Ghats on the river Sarayu: Naya ghat, Guptar Ghat, Jhunki Ghat, Raj ghat and others Others: Ayodhya Research Institute, International Ram Katha museum, Ram Leela performance at Ayodhya research Institute Culinary delights: Litti Chokha, Dahi Jalebi, Kachori, Samosas, Ram Daana, and ofcourse some delightful prasads from the temples Links: Link to Anuradha's blog: https://www.inditales.com/ Link to Blog Post : https://www.inditales.com/ayodhya-travel-guide-ram-ramayan/ Link to Anuradha's book review blog: www.anureviews.com Link to Anuradha's book: http://www.anuradhagoyal.com/the-mouse-charmers/ You can listen to the Writer and Geek Show at https://writerandgeek.com/ Social media: Facebook: @inditales Twitter: @anuradhagoyal Instagram: @inditales Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	47: TMS Specials : Old Bengaluru - Dargah to Dharmaraya	13 Oct 2018	00:37:10
This week at The Musafir Stories we have historian, teacher and artist Sujatha Balakrishnan walking us through Bengaluru Pete area. The founder of Bengaluru, Kempe Gowda-I established the city in 1537, he started this city at the Pete Area. We explore and talk about different historical points from Hazrath Tawakkal Mastan Dargah to Dharmaraya Swamy Temple in the Pete. Sujatha tells us about how the Tawakkal Mastan Dargah was built and the festivals celebrated there. We then walk ahead to find the bygone Vijayalakshmi Theater and Mohan Building where once a Maratha King had his palace. Then we come across the Doddapete area where Kempe Gowda once established different temples, markets and towers and fortified Bengaluru considering the Doddapete as the center point of Bengaluru. Sujatha also discusses the different localities in the Pete area and how they got their names based on the commodity that was sold there and also based on the residents that lived there all the way from Balepet to Nagarathpet. We then come across Taramandalpet, a place where Tippu Sultan had his rocket R&D. Taramandalpet which means a Galaxy of Stars! Then our final stop is the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple which is dedicated to the Pandavas & Draupathi. We finally hear about a strong and secular bond between our first stop, i.e. the Dargah and the last stop, i.e. the Dharmaraya temple. Follow Sujatha Balakrishnan's Theater for Change here. Sujatha's IMDB page. Know more about Sujatha in The Passion People Podcast. Big thanks to Suhotra Roychoudhury for his pictures of Bengaluru Pete area and for our cover image. Checkout Suhotra's website Unseen Destinations and his Instagram page. A special give-away for listeners of the Musafir Stories, courtesy the wonderful folks at Castbox.fm. Now listeners can enjoy a free trial of Premium version of Castbox which comes with features like No ads, Personalized homepage, ability to turn off "Similar episodes" and more by using the special code MUSAFIR. Just log in to your CastBox account and select "Go Premium". Enjoy! Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf audioboom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	Senior Travel to Goa with True Joy Travels	07 Dec 2023	00:46:14
WINNERS OF THE GIVEAWAY (NAMMA BANGALORE), pls check your email for further instructions. Tanushree Tyagi Vijay Prakash This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to returning guest, Saakshi Rajat - a traveller and co-founder at True Joy Travels, as she takes us to Goa with seniors!∂ Today's destination: Goa!! Nearest Airport: Dabolim Airport, GOI Nearest Railway Station: Karmali Railway Station, KRMI Prerequisites: NA Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions Time of the year: July Length of the itinerary: 5 days Itinerary Highlights: Saakshi starts off with an overview of True Joy travels - a luxury travel service company for seniors, their USP and objectives. You can check out more on the social media handles of TJT linked below. We discuss the planning and considerations that go into curating the trip and itinerary for seniors, origin story of TJT. The points of interest include a visit to A heritage walk to Fontainhas - the latin quarter of Old Goa A visit to Basilica of Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral A visit to some popular beaches A trip to Chorao island and Salim Ali bird sanctuary A boat ride around the mangroves of Chorao island A visit to a local’s home and cooking session A stop at Konkani canteen for goan thalis A visit to a casino A stop over at fort Aguada and the beach We wrap up the discussion with upcoming trips and contact info for True Joy Travels Links: Link to TJT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truejoytravels/ Link to Saakshi’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saakshirajat/ Link to TJT’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyk7iRYo0Q3l-NreJMjY94A Saakshi’s previous episode on Majuli: https://open.spotify.com/episode/16TwAz8XY5luMwv3yYsO9r?si=3QfbEnXqRRetZ5bjXa8BvA Other episodes on Goa: Riverside Goa - https://open.spotify.com/episode/0HeHcX8FwaKiDHge99x5NX Islands of Goa - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5RDLi8SRHdd14TvngVl61H?si=jz8a856xSR-h8nvYNO7csA Susegad Goa - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6SrAaNTHCZfJ4KyuFjY1Tq?si=Nj6tJirJTmyzpCCQ8e-L9A Roadtrip to Goa - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5qVIaTJi9aVGkG306w94jW?si=swG6hsIARuiFP5n1e194cw Photo by Mohammad Aqhib 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.
	46: TMS Specials - Our Journey So Far	30 Sep 2018	00:20:15
Happy International Podcast Day! International Podcast Day is September 30th and it's an international celebration of the power of podcasts! #InternationalPodcastDay We are so glad to all the support and love that we have got from all our listeners so far, we have a very special episode for you guys where we discuss the journey of The Musafir Stories with our buddy Pod-casters Naga from the Passion People Podcast and Shankar & Vishnu from the Writer & Geek Podcast. You can lay your hands on 'The Autograph Seeker' here. Also the winner of the 'Get Featured on The Musafir Stories' contest is Ajitha Yasmin!!! Lastly but most importantly you can listen to some deep conversations with brilliant & passionate people on Naga's show 'The Passion People Podcast' and give a boost to your knowledge by listening to some enlightening episodes of Shankar & Vishnu on everything under the sun at the 'Writer & Geek Podcast'. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	45: Thanjavur with Passing Ports	20 Sep 2018	00:44:02
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Preethika and Narayanan, the couple behind the wonderful blog "Passing Ports". Listen in to the conversation as we talk Cholas, temples, history, architecture and more! Today's destination: Thanjavur or Tanjore, Tamil Nadu! Nearest Airport: Tiruchirapalli International Airport Nearest Railway Station: Thanjavur Junction Prerequisites - n/a Packing - Stay hydrated, comfortable clothing, some of the temples might require 'modest' clothing too! Time of the year - November Length of the itinerary: 4 days Itinerary Highlights: Preethika and Narayanan start off their journey with the Tanjore Royal Palace or Thanjavur Palace, a fort/palace complex with other monuments like the Bell tower, Art Gallery, Maratha Darbar, Arsenal tower, Library and more. Learn about the art of Veena making (Veena or Veenai is an ancient chordphone instrument that originated in India) and Bronze sculpting with the local craftsmen A visit to th living Chola temples, UNESCO world heritage sites reknown for their architechture and history 1. Brihadeeshwara temple or the Big temple 2. Airawateshwara temple in Darasuram 3. GangaiKonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur Links: Link to the blog: http://passingports.com/ Links to the blogpost: http://passingports.com/thanjavur-tourist-places/ http://passingports.com/ancient-temples-in-tamil-nadu/ http://passingports.com/svatma-heritage-hotel-thanjavur-review/ Links to social meadia: Twitter: @passingports Facebook: @passingports Instagram: @passingports Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi web/audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	44: Riverside Goa with Kaushal Karkhanis	06 Sep 2018	00:42:29
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Kaushal Karkhanis aka The Exotic Gringo. Sit back and listen to where this pro traveller and polyglot takes us to today! Today's destination: Riverside Goa! Nearest Airport: Dabolim Airport (GOI), Goa Nearest Railway Station: Multiple options depending on your destination. Prerequisites - NA, but make sure to plan and book your stay ahead of time if traveling during the holiday season Packing - Nothing specific, but make sure to carry appropriate clothes depending on the weather Time of the year - November to March is ideal, but is also going to be busy! Length of the itinerary: Can be anything from 1 weekend to long term for slow travel Itinerary Highlights: Kaushal starts off by taking us to the river side of North Goa - starting at the Tirakhol river. Tirakhol river divides Maharashtra and Goa and is one of the lesser explored regions. Tirakhol Fort, which is now a hotel, is a beautiful place and the restaurant is open to public. Make sure to carry your camera along, specially right after the monsoons! Nearby regioins of Keri and Arambol are very popular for their beautiful beaches as well. Mandrem, Patnem and Morjim are some of the other beaches in the vicinity. Next up is the Chapora river, which is Kaushal's favorite for its tranquility and calm. It also has a number of rare bird species and other flora and fauna. The Siolim, Chapora and Vagator are some of the villages along the river. Historically, this was the river that demarcated Portuguese India from the rest of India. Goa only became a part of independent India only in 1961! Whaaat! Other places of interest are the Chapora fort of Dil CHahta hai fame! There is the fishing village of Chapora (The village gets it's name from Shahpura, its Mughal name from the past!). There are a number of jettys which you can take a boat ride on. A very offbeat destination, ideal for someone who is looking to get away from the crazy crowds of tourists. As one heads further south, one can spend time at the village of Colvale, a quaint fishing village, also famous for the Colvale beach. Make sure to lodge at Kaza Colvale while here. Getting around Goa is a breeze - one can take the local buses, the most budget way of traveling. Then there are the 'for hire' bikes which is ideal for solo travelers and couples and Bike pilots for someone looking for a cheap alternative to cabs. The government has also tied up to Ho-Ho Goa or hop-on hop-off Goa, for full day tours around Goa for a steal. The newest mode of transport that is going to be commercialized soon will be the ferry service that can fetch you directly from the airport! Woohooo! As we continue our journey further south, one can experience the beautiful mainland from the banks of rivers like Baga, Arpora, and Mapusa which have some beautiful flea markets on the banks. The backwaters of the river Mapusa have some beautiful and quaint villages of carona, Olaulim, Corjuem and Aldona, non-touristy and super tranquil - just the perfect place to do NOTHING, and relax! Next up on the course, is the river Mandovi - one of the bigger rivers of Goa along with the Zuari. Mandovi has a number of commercially active regions along its banks and is also close the the mainland that has the capital Panjim - just the place to get you a sample of Old Goa, with ample heritage walks, fontainhas - UNESCO declared world heritage walks. The other regions of note are Reis Magos, Ribandar, Old Goa as well as a handful of islands like Vanxim island, St. Estevam island (the smallest ferry crossing), Divar island (great bicycle trails) and Chorao island (famous for Dr. Salim Ali bird sanctuary) Also, FOOOD! The area around Panjim has some of the best places to eat. Check out Anand Ashram (for the fish thali, check out Chonak and Motso fish), Konkani canteen and DTR (for some great local food), Taj Aguada (for unlimited buffet!). And for dessert, make sure to check sweets like serradura (at Mr. Baker), Bibbingk (Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro), Dodol (Cafe Morango), Vonn (at Chef Peter's restaurant). Further south are the rivers of Zuari and Sal - areas in the vicinity like Lutolim (famous for old portuguese mansions by Zuari), Varca, Cavelossim, Assolna and Navelim (by Sal river). Further south are the Agonda and Palolem backwaters (which are more popular for the beaches by the same names). In the vicinity of the Palolem backwaters are hidden beaches like Butteryfly and HOneymoon! Talpona, Galgibag and Rajbag beaches and backwaters are further down south and have some marvellous 5 star properties for anyone interested. However, one should explore the riversides in this area for some great bicycle rides. The final reccommendation, that Kaushal is also planning to visit soon is the wonderful Cola beach lagoon (north of Agonda beach), accessible by foot, bicycles and bikes only! Before wrapping up, Kaushal also gives a big shout out to Jeevit Nadi (www.jeevitnadi.org) that makes organic products like shampoos, soaps and more as well as free recipes for a toxin-free lifestyle, that go a long way in preventing the pollution of rivers, which is a real problem that is staring at the ecology of the region. Make sure you support them and the environment. Kudos! Links: Nagaland Chief Minister's relief fund: A/C No. 10530527879 IFSC Code: SBIN0000214 State Bank of India, Kohima Branch OR https://cmrelieffund.nowpay.co.in/ OR https://paytm.com/helpinghand/cm-relief-fund-nagaland Kaushal's blog: http://exoticgringo.com/ http://www.goatrippers.com/ Twitter: @exoticgringo/ @goatrippers Facebook:@gowithgringo/ @goatripping Instagram: @exoticgringo/ @goatrippers Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi web/audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	43: TMS Specials - Himalayan Mountaineering Institute with Shubhangi Jeswal	23 Aug 2018	00:36:48
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Shubhangi Jeswal, a traveler and adventure seeker as she takes us with her to one of her most memorable journeys to the mountains! Today's destination: Completing the Basic Mountaineering course (BMC) at Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling Nearest Airport: Bagdogra, Airport, West Bengal Nearest Railway Station: Siliguri Junction railway station, West Bengal Prerequisites - One needs to apply online and via mail to be accepted to the HMI. The pre-requisites also include a full body check up that an individual needs to pass in order to sign up for the BMC. Also, please note that there can be a waiting period of up to 1 year for admission, so please plan accordingly. Packing - One can pack the necessary winter wear while travelling to the HMI institute in Darjeeling. However, equipment and other gear required for mountaineering will be provided by the HMI. The fee (7-8K INR) covers all the equipment and training. Time of the year - April Length of the itinerary: 28 days (10 days training at the HMI, Darjeeling; 5 day trek to base camp; 10 days of mountaineering at the glacier; 2 days for the return trip and Graduation ceremony on the final day!) Itinerary Highlights: Shubhangi starts off her journey from Sikkim where she completed a pre-planned itinerary and reaches Darjeeling by a shared cab from Bagdogra! The initial 10 day training at HMI has a daily routine consisting of acclimatization, PT (physical training), yoga and a strict diet. At the end of the 10 day training, there is a medical check up again after which the participants are cleared to go ahead. The traing is split up into 3 areas of importance - Rock craft, snow craft and ice craft. Shubhangi advises one to prepare oneself better with yoga, breathing and some strength exercises to be able to carry upto 20kgs of equipment whie trekking. The Himalayan Mountaineering institute is one of the first mountaineering institute and it was inaugurated by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. The daily routine at the institute is very rigorous with the wake up bell sounding at 4:30AM, breakfast at 6:00AM, dinner at 7PM and sleep by 8PM. Daily briefings were given by instructors to the class of 80-90 which was further divided into groups called 'ropes'. The rockcraft training was provided over the first 10 days at the institute. Once this was completed, the team set out to the basecamp which is a trek of about 5 days where the group learned snow craft while trekking. From the basecamp, the team trekked every day for 2.5 hours daily to the Rangthong glacier to practice ice craft. This was done for the next 10 days. Here, the team learns to use the different equipment like ice axe, cramp-ons, harness, ropes, decenders, jumars etc. Shubhangi also gives us an insight into the grading system at the Institute, D for distinction, A for above average, B for average and C for below average. Challenges faced during the daily training routines from food, to hygeine to family as well as the motivation to keep going. Finally, Shubhangi talks about the joy of coming back, the graduation day and bitter sweet moment of leaving friends made over the duration of the course! Links: Donate for Kerala relief & rebuilding: https://donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/ Donate for Kodagu relief & rebuilding: https://twitter.com/CMofKarnataka/status/1031458830087942144 Shubhangi's words: https://www.tripoto.com/profile/shubhangijeswal Link to the blog post: https://www.tripoto.com/trip/28-unforgettable-days-at-the-basic-mountaineering-course-at-hmi-darjeeling-591aa3f6b015c Link to HMI website: https://hmidarjeeling.com/ Link to application form: http://hmidarjeeling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/NewApplicationForm.pdf Follow Shubhangi on Instagram: @shubhangijeswal Facebook: @shubhangi.jeswal Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi web/audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	42: Kochi with Johann Kuruvilla	09 Aug 2018	00:41:54
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Johann Binny Kuruvilla, the face behind the blog https://kochiheritageproject.in. So sit back and enjoy as Johann takes us to his hometown!! Today's destination: Kochi, Kerala! Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport Nearest Railway Station: Ernakulam Town Station or Ernakulam Junction Station Packing - Make sure to carry some rain gear if you are there during the monsoons/rainy season Time of the year - September to February is a good time to go! Length of the itinerary: 3 days Itinerary Highlights: Johann begins by sharing his story about the journey from the corporate world to being a blogger and how one movie - Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna bhoomi inspired him to travel to the North East! Johann begins the conversation by sharing some insights into the rich history of Kochi and how it was formed when the previously prominent port city of Muziris was wiped out by the flooding of Periyar river in 1341. The itinerary begins at Fort Kochi, formerly known as Fort Emmanuel - established by the portugese explorere Vasco da gama in the 15th century. The fort was then ruled by the Dutch and later on by the British with the evolution of power. A walk through the lanes of the fort city gives one a view of the beautiful colonial era houses mingled with traditional Kerala style houses. Streets such as Princess street, Peter celli street, Burger street blend in finely with the colonial vibes of the city! Popular churches like St. Francis cathedral (where Vasco da gama was initially buried) and Santa Cruz basilica are a part of Fort Kochi. Other interesting things to do are attending a Kathakali performance at the Kerala Kathakali center The walk ends at the iconic Chinese fishing nets which have become synonymous with Kochi! From here, one can take a tuktuk or bicycle to Mattancherry, where the locals traditionally lived. This place used to be a hub of local markets and commerce as well as house boats. Make a stop at the Mattancherry palace - where the Kerala royals used to live, this was gifted by the Portuguese to the royals! The Dutch later on renovated the palace and hence it is sometimes referred to as the Dutch Palace! The palace also has a number of murals depicting the Indian epics. Johann also speaks of the diversity of Kochi that includes Marathis, Gujaratis, Konkanis, Kutchi memons, Jews, Arab muslims, Jains and many more sects that live peacefully together. The next pitstop of our journey is Thrippunithura, a historical area where the erstwhile Kerala royals lived. There is the magnificent Thrippunithura palace overlooking more than 50 acres of the fort. Sloped roof, large Dutch windows, British arches and the traditional Thacchushaastram style of architecture gives a unique flavor to the palace, which is now a museum. There is also the Poornathrayesa temple in the vicinity, which is famous for the Vrishchikoltsawam festival. The procession of decorated/Caparisoned elephants carrying the deity is a prominent event of the temple in Nov-Dec. The final pitstop of our tour is Ernakulam - the newer region of Kochi! This is the hub of all the commercial activity among other things. A lot of new projects like the Broadway - a walkway with a lot of shops and markets, the Ernakulam market, the Marine drive etc. There is also the Subhash Park where one can catch the beautiful view of the lakes and sunset. One can also indulge in shopping at the Lulu supermarket, the biggest mall in India, to end the trip! Links: Website: https://kochiheritageproject.in/ Instagram: @kochiheritageproject Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com Apple podcasts - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljor voice/text search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi web/audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	41: Mechuka with Sharanya Iyer	26 Jul 2018	00:42:42
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to a pro traveler and blogger, Sharanya Iyer who blogs under the handle "TrulyNomadly". So sit back and enjoy as Sharanya takes us places! Today's destination: Mechuka, Arunachal Pradesh (29km from the Indo-China border) Nearest Airport: Lilabari (North Lakhimpur) and Guwahati (Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport)and Mohanbari (Dibrugarh) both in Assam Nearest Railway Station: Silapathar (Assam) and Naharlagun (Arunachal Pradesh) Prerequisites - Inner line permit or ILP, can be obtained online (http://arunachalilp.com/onlineApp.do) or at the Guwahati airport. Packing - Warm clothes and rain jackets/rain coats are advisable. Time of the year - April Length of the itinerary: 4 days Itinerary Highlights: Sharanya starts off her journey from Guwahati, from where she takes the Lachit express to the border town of Murkongselek, Assam. She then hailed a shared taxi to Pasighat at Ruksin gate (where one has to produce the ILP). A 4 hour cab ride to Along or Aalo is the first overnight pitstop, also the last major hub before the border town of Mechuka. She starts off for Mechuka the following morning in a shared sumo at 530AM(it's best to book the seats before hand, ideally the previous day) The last major village before hitting Mechuka is Tatu. The Siko Dido waterfall is a notable point of interest about half hour before reaching. She finally reaches Mechuka by about 230PM after a long sumo ride. For accommodation, Sharanya uses the services of Gebu Sona, one of the most popular home stays in the region (Gayboo's guest house). After relaxing for sometime and freshening up, Sharanya set out to explore the town, the market area and the new monastery. It is preferable to hire a car to see around the village and nearby points of interest. Make sure to pick up some lovely boots and woolens for a bargain, while checking out the market! While at the homestay, get a first hand experience of an open kitchen, where everyone participates in chores and sits around the fire. Delicacies include a number of beef and pork dishes. Chhang beer is a local millet based beer! Rain plans to play spoilsport on Day 2 of the itinerary but turns out Sharanya has a bunch of activities to keep her entertained at the homestay. This included hanging out with the Bruce-Lee look alike and the locals. The rain gods show some mercy the following day and Sharanya heads off to a small trek up the Samten Yongcha monastery, the 400 year old monastery that is older than the Tawang monastery. The monastery has a big Tibetan influence and has a number of traditional masks and Buddha statues. The view from the monastery is a stunning mix of browns and greens of the rolling hills, blues of the river and whites of the snow capped mountains and clouds! After spending some time at the Monastery, Sharanya and Gebu descend downwards, passing through beautiful rickety hanging bridges over the Yargyap Chu river (Also known as the Siyom river in some places) The next pitstop is the Sikh Gurudwara built on the Yargyap Chu river, built by the army. Sharanya shares some stories and a meal with the armymen while sharing the Langar. She moves on to the place where there is a Hanuman mandir and naturally formed sculpture of Hanuman! Sharanya also gives a try to making home-made jewellery at Gebu's house to end the day! On the final day of the trip, Sharanya makes a trip to Dorjeeling village to a small monastery that houses a huge Buddha statue and then made a quick hike to a small cave which has a head impression that Buddhishts believe is of the spiritual teacher Rinpoche while the sikhs believe is that of Gurunanak while he was meditating at this cave. Sharanya is introduced to a number of legends right from the crevasse in the cave to the little pools with the white, black and grey stones! Mechuka also manages to turn Sharanya into a poet, no kidding! In a valley far far away, There flows a river with a voice. Through lush forests and meadows and snowy mountains it goes, Under rickety hanging bridges and over rocky beds it roars. It talks and hums and merrily sings, Tales of lamas and tribes and other ancient things. Those were peaceful times before the world was hungry for power, it croons, No borders or wars or territorial violent loons. Om Mani Padme Hum, it chants as the valley echoes it back, The vibrant prayer flags flutter in the wind, flap flap flap. No one honks here to chase a deadline or come first in a race, it says aloud There‘s patience and goodness here, look there it is, floating with that misty cloud. You’re blessed to be here, cut away from the trappings of time and a to-do list, Paradise has been found in hiding, it does exist. Links: Shout out: https://hubhopper.com/ Link to Sharanya's blog: https://www.trulynomadly.com/ Link to the blogpost: https://www.trulynomadly.com/mechuka-guide-to-indias-shangri-la/ Follow Sharanya Iyer on Instagram: @trulynomadly Twitter: @trulynomadly Facebook: @trulynomadly Follow The Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com Apple podcasts - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi web/audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	40: Offbeat Ladakh with Chandroma Ray	14 Jul 2018	00:41:05
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Chandroma Ray, who blogs at oneearthtooless.com and loves to travel and blog when she's not wearing her corporate hat! Today's destination: Offbeat Ladakh! Nearest Airport: Leh Airport (IXL) Nearest Railway Station: Jammu Tawi (700 km from Ladakh) Prerequisites - Permits might be needed for some of the locations (Turtuk); checkposts will be encountered at the border villages like Turtuk. Make sure you acclimatize atleast for a couple of days before you set out to explore the region. Make sure to pre-book a vehicle if you plan on not using public transport! Packing - Warm clothes, shoes with good grip, first aid kit, Diamox for AMS (when needed), make sure you pack light! Time of the year - End of August - Early September Length of the itinerary: 16 days for the full Ladakh itinerary, but only the offbeat destinations like the villages of Alchi, Lamayaru, Dha and Turtuk are covered in this episode! Itinerary Highlights: Chandroma kicks off her journey on the episode by taking us to the quaint and lazy village of Alchi, situated on the banks of the river Indus! Points of interest are the old monastery of Alchi, dating back to the 11th century, and has a distinctive Kashmiri influence and has some great wall murals and paintaings. Spend time exploring the pretty cafes in Alchi for some authentic Ladakhi cuisine! Make sure to have the lamb Mok moks (known as Momos in the plains), Khambir - the home-made ladakhi breakfast bread. Just be aalsi while in Alchi, and slow travel your way to bliss! Next pitstop at the moonland of Lamayuru that is famous for its moonscapes and is about 107 kms from Leh and is accessible by bus. The village has the appearance of being in ruins and resembles the surface of the moon, gives one a feeling of travelling back in time. Best views can be seen during the early hours of dawn. Lamayuru is also home to one of the oldest monasteries in the region that dates back to the 11th century as well. One can also plan a visit around the Yuru Kabgyat Festival that takes place in the month of June/July, where the monks of the monastery put on huge masks and perform a variety of dances A quick shout out to Sandeepa/Chetan and Neelima Vallangi for their brilliant posts about the region that helped Chandroma in planning the itinerary. After spending a day in Lamayuru, heads off to the unexplored village of Dha to do something truly offbeat! About 180kms from Leh, is this village that is the home of Drokpas - the descendants of Alexandar the Great aka the Aryans, and is cut off from the rest of the world! The village is not easily located on Google maps either and the people of the village are not very welcoming to outsiders either. After having a tough time finding a place to lodge, Chandroma and her fellow travellers finally managed to find a small hotel. On exploring further, they finally met a couple of kids who took them to a local museum which was quite a find with some historic artifacts of the region. If one plans visiting the village, home-stays are not hard to come by, so it's better to pre-book and have a local contact if possible. After spending a very 'different' evening and night in the village of Dha, Chandroma heads out to village of Turtuk, on the banks of the river Shyok which is one of the last villages of India! Recaptured by India after the 1971 war with Pakistan, Turtuk is a village still trying to find its identity. The people of Turtuk are predominantly muslim and has a very different culture in comparison to the rest of Ladakh. The village also offers some great scenic views of the river Shyok, the valley and a first hand experience of the Balti culture! The region has just been opened up to tourists from 2009. Chandroma signs off with a beautiful message about why one should check out these gems of Ladakh and not just the Pangongs and Nubras! Links: Chandroma's blog: https://oneearthtooless.com/ Twitter: @pagli86 Instagram: @chandroma86 Facebook: @oneearthtooless Shout outs: A recap of Bangalore podcasters' meetup: https://medium.com/@amarvyas/podcasters-meet-in-bengaluru-cd3ee9000168 SandeepaChetan's Blog: https://sandeepachetan.com/ Neelima Vallangi's Blog: http://www.travelwithneelima.com/ Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice/ text search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi web/audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	39: TMS Specials - Kingdom of Dixit with Suyash Dixit	28 Jun 2018	00:34:28
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Suyash Dixit, the Indian businessman who traveled to an unclaimed piece of land between Egypt and Sudan, called Bir Tawil and lay claim to the territory! And no, we're not kidding! Today's destination: Kingdom of Dixit aka Bir Tawil Nearest Airport: Abu Simbal Nearest Railway Station: N/A Time of the year - November, 2017 Length of the itinerary: 1 day Itinerary Highlights: "I, Suyash Dixit, first of my name and the protector of the realm, declare myself as the king of “Kingdom of Dixit”. I call myself, King Suyash First from today. I declare this unclaimed land of Bir Tawil as my country from now to the eternity of time. I pledge to continue to work for the prosperity of my people of the country and this motherland." This is no joke, an Indian guy from Indore, Suyash Dixit, put a lot at stake to travel to this unclaimed piece of land between Egypt and Sudan, hoisted his flag, sowed some sunflower seeds and declared himself as the ruler of the land - the land he calls, the Kingdom of Dixit! Suyash gives a brief background about his personal and professional life and how this idea of traveling to and claiming this unclaimed land came into being. We further discuss about the things at stake, the planning that went into this, the local support he recieved and the dangers he put up with! Suyash gives a detailed description of the journey and the adventures he went through to achieve this feat. This includes, traveling to Abu Simbal as the only passenger on a commercial plane! We also discuss the topography of the Kingdom of Dixit aka Bir Tawil, the size in terms of area, how Suyash hoisted his flag there, and sowed sunflower seeds to lay claim to the land! Suyash also discusses the controversies that came with this adventure and how he dealt with them. Finally, Suyash discusses his plans for this piece of land, the progress made since his journey back and how he hopes to develop this territory into a country! Links: Facebook page: @KingSuyashDixit Link to related article: Telegraph article Link to episode with Road trippers club: The Musafir Stories with Road Trippers Club! Contact RTC: website: www.roadtrippersclub.com Twitter: @roadtripperclub facebook: @roadtrippersclub instagram: @roadtrippersclub Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi web/audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	38: Harihar Fort with Saurabh	15 Jun 2018	00:43:38
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Saurabh from Mumbai, who authors the blog A season of Mountains under the handle www.nomadosauras.wordpress.com. Sit back and enjoy as we find out where Saurabh is taking us to today! Today's destination: Harihar Fort Nearest Airport: Ozar airport, Nashik or Mumbai Airport Nearest Railway Station: Kasara railway station or Nashik railway station Prerequisites - Medium level of fitness, make sure you're not acrophobic! Packing - Trekking shoes and gear, water for hydration, caps and energy bars. It's advisable to carry ones own food, but food is available at shacks outside the fort. Time of the year - December Length of the itinerary: 1 day Itinerary Highlights: You can start early from a nearby station (Mumbai/Pune/Nasik) to reach the Kasara railway station. Once at Kasara, you can take a shared cab to Nirgudpada/Nirgudwadi - the base village for the trek. Saurabh sheds some light on the history of this 800-1000 yr old fort and its strategic location overlooking the ancient trade route between Gujarat and Maharashtra. The fort has changed hands between the Yadavas, Moghuls, Marathas and finally acceeded to the British. The journey starts off with a few nail-biting moments as the connecting trains were running late but Saurabh and group are re-united at Thane from where they head off the Kasara and reach the station at 7:30AM. The group manage to find a cab to the base village round-trip but the journey is not without some adventure. After the suspense and some 'bollywood'esque moments in the Maruti Omni - the official kidnapping vehicle of bollywood! After some comic relief, the group finally reaches Nirgudpada at 10AM and the cabbie agrees to return back for a pickup at 5PM. The group is now looking at the majestic Harihar mountain and fort. In the vicinity, one can also see other peaks such as PhaniDhongar, Uttwad, Bhaskargad, Bhrahma hill, Brahmagiri Bhandardurg etc which are a part of the Trimbakeshwar mountain range. A 1-2km walk from Nirgudpada passing through Kotewadi leads you to the Harihar fort, staring at the iconic rock-cut vertical stairway. The 80 degree incline of the staircase and height of about 60m or 200ft, and steps that are almost 2ft hight, can take one about 2-20 mins depending on the fitness and skill level of the individual. First stop at the Maha-Darwaza or Main Gate, a semi-circular door to the fort, and a view of PhaniDhongar, Uttwad and Bhasgad mountains and the valley beneath. The group enjoy lunch with a view at the Maha-darwaza, in the passage way with a beautiful breeze, overlooking the mountain range! The group then proceeds to a helical staircase, with a sheer rock on the right makes for an adrenaline rush while ascending! There are also a number of trap doors, capable of holding off an entire army with just 5 soldiers! There are also escape doors, in case the fort is compromised by the enemy. The passageway leads you to the plateau of the fort that has a Hanuman Mandir, a pond, a few water cisterns and a Shiv Ling (Shiva statue). One can get a view of the Brahma hill as well and a clear view of the peak of the Harihar hill with the Bhagwa Jhenda (Saffron flag) which is symbolic of the Maratha King Shivaji Maharaj. A five minute trail leads you to the peak of the fort and one can enjoy a panoramic view from top of the fort, as well as a view of the base villages! After spending some time at the top, the group decides to start their descent back to the base village in order to make it in time for the 5PM pick up. THe group runs into a jam on the staircase, a nightmare given that they were up against a 5PM deadline! After all the adventure, the group makes it back to the base village in time for the pickup and end a memorable trek to an end! Links: Link to Saurabh's blog: A Season of Mountains (https://nomadosauras.wordpress.com/) Read about Saurabh's trek to Harihar Fort (https://nomadosauras.wordpress.com/2017/01/03/harihar-fort-trek-blog/) Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter:@musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 android - voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast", listen, subscribe and save a shortcut on your home screen! Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi web/audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio -https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	37: TMS Specials - Road Trippers Club with Vineet & Deepak	31 May 2018	00:37:12
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Vineet and Deepak, the duo behind the sparkling new initiative called Road Trippers Club - A road travel club for road trip enthusiasts, beginners and those who love hitting the roads on four wheels - Camaraderie on four wheels! #KeepTheRhythmAlive Prerequisites - 4 wheels! Just sign up on www.roadtrippersclub.com and you are good to go! Packing - Specifics vary depending upon the trip. Once you have signed up and join a micro-group, the Team captain will breif everyone about the preparation and packing list. Time of the year - N/A Length of the itinerary: Depending on the drive, the trips vary from one day trips, to weekend drives to longer drives! The Mumbai chapter of RTC has done brunch runs, city drives, drives to Dapoli, Indore, Anjarle beach for the olive ridley turtle festival and many more shapes and sizes! Episode Highlights: Vineet and Deepak share some nuggets about their history biking together, their first venture scoutmytrip.com and set the context about how The Roadtrippers club came into being. Procedure to sign up with RTC! Just log on to their website, www.roadtrippersclub.com, set up an account and sign up for a ride! No, there's nothing more to it! Next steps after signing up for the drive involve following instructions of the team captain in terms of preparation, packing, costing, activities and more. The end to end planning, as well as booking of lodging, activities, treks and other fun stuff is done well before the ride. All you need to be a part of the drive is a four wheeler - size, power, seating and everything else doesn't matter. You dont even have to own one, rent one or better, car-pool! Bring your family, bring your friends, bring your partners, bring your pets! RTC does no discrimination about who you want to bring, only objective is to have a fun drive on four wheels! The costs of the drive are equally shared amongst participants, there are no service fees, no management fees, no hidden costs - only additional cost is the GST! You also get to enjoy great deals, discounts and the perks of traveling as a group! So the odds are you are getting a better deal with RTC than if you travel by yourself! Not only do you enjoy driving with a group, you also have a safety net to fall back on in case of mishaps - The RTC community rides with you through rain and shine! You also get to learn how to be a responsible driver while driving with RTC. Learn simple techniques like engine braking, changing a flat, dealing with switchbacks and hairpin bends, how to navigate in a ghat section and more, all while you enjoy a raodtrip! Also stand a chance to be a part of special courses like the Women's day offroading event - Shifting gears, where a group of women had the chance to be a part of a certificate course on offroading! RTC believes in making a change on the ground, on the road and off it! Interested in starting an RTC chapter in your city? All you have to do is reach out to the founders on the RTC website. New chapters coming up soon, follow the Roadtrippers club on their social media for more updates Links: www.roadtrippersclub.com www.scoutmytrip.com Subscribe to the Writer & Geek show here: https://writerandgeek.com/ Link to the latest episode: https://writerandgeek.com/045-pioneer-10/ Social media: Twitter: @roadtripperclub facebook: @roadtrippersclub instagram: @roadtrippersclub Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://goo.gl/peC2Jv android - voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast", listen, subscribe and save a shortcut on your home screen! Saavn - https://goo.gl/6qp2mF web/audioBoom - http://bit.ly/2oZZowS pocketcasts - https://goo.gl/rGipJb castbox - https://goo.gl/spUCdY Overcast - https://goo.gl/fM9Som Stitcher Radio - https://goo.gl/ihL4Gr TuneIn - http://tun.in/pilOI RadioPublic - https://goo.gl/Dy2VPv See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	Namma Bangalore with Shoba Narayan	23 Nov 2023	00:46:30
GIVEAWAY ALERT: Answer 3 simple questions in the linked google form and stand a chance to win a copy of Shoba’s book on Bangalore! https://forms.gle/3AYKXjBpULeXUJSP7 This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with a author, columnist and podcaster Shoba Narayan as we talk about her latest book, Namma Bangalore: The soul of a metropolis Today's destination: Bengaluru! Nearest Airport: Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) Nearest Railway Station: KSR Railway station (SBC) Prerequisites: NA Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions Time of the year: NA Length of the itinerary: NA Itinerary Highlights: Shoba opens the episode with an overview of the book, her connection to Bangalore and how the book came about. We talk about the history of Bangalore, including the recent discoveries of hero stones that date the city back to 750-500 BC. We also talk about the myths and legends as well as Bangalore’s earliest trade connections. We dive into the transformation of Bangalore of the 90s from pensioner’s paradise to the pub city of the 00s, some of the iconic drinks and breweries, the drinking culture of Bangalore, as well as the earliest connections to liquor. We talk about the monsoon delicacies and snacks and take a quick stroll down memory lane. Next we cover some iconic neighbourhoods of Bangalore, including Malleshwaram, Shivajinagar and VV Puram. We cap off the episode by talking about the green lungs of Bangalore and closing comments. Links: Link to buy “Namma Bangalore: The soul of a metropolis”: https://www.amazon.in/NAMMA-BANGALORE-Metropolis-SHOBA-NARAYAN/dp/9357024662 Link to Shoba’s website: https://shobanarayan.com/books-main-page/namma-bangalore/ Link to Shoba’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shobanarayan/ Link to Shoba’s podcast: https://birdpodcast.com/ Photo Credit: Namma Bangalore: The soul of a metropolis, published by Rupa Publications 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.
	36: A Day in Lucknow with Siddharth Keswani	17 May 2018	00:38:31
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Siddharth Keswani, an up and coming Youtuber who makes lifestyle, travel and food vlogs. Sit back and enjoy as Siddharth takes us on a speed date with Lucknow - the land of Nawabs and Kababs! Today's destination: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh! Nearest Airport: Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, LKO Nearest Railway Station: Lucknow Charbagh railway station Prerequisites - An empty stomach! Packing - N/A, just warm clothes if you visit in winter Length of the itinerary: One day! Itinerary Highlights: Kick start the day early with a visit to Sharmaji's tea stall to savour some bun makkhan with Sharmaji's Kullad vali Chai! If you are up for it, grab a bite of the samosas as well! If that didn't kick start your day, you can freshen things up by a visit to the Janeshwar Mishra park in Gomti Nagar - a vast expanse of 376 acres of green spread in the heart of Lucknow! One of Asia's biggest parks that boasts of water bodies, cycle tracks, jogging tracks, children's play areas and a wide variety of plant species! After spending time in the vast expanse of green, it's time to head over to the heart of Lucknow - the old city! Rumi Darwaza, a grand old gate built in 1784 during the time of Asaf-ud-daula, is inspired by Roman architecture offers a great photo op! Within walking distance from the Rumi Darwaza is the Bada Imambara and Chota Imambara - two beautiful congregation halls built in the 18th century. The Bada Imambara boasts of the Bhul Bhulaiya, a huge maze or three-dimensional labyrinth where one can get lost in! The imambara also has other structures like a popular step-well and some beautiful mosques nearby like the Asfi mosque. A quick ride away from the Imambaras is the Kudiya ghat situated on the banks of the Gomti River. The ghat, albeit not as popular as the ghats of Varanasi or Banaras, offers a great view of the early morning pilgrims, diyas and artis offering pooja and sadhus taking a holy dip in the river. The ghat is open from dawn to dusk. You don't have to break a sweat to get about Lucknow either - there are plenty of options with public transport, buses, rickshaws or tuk tuks and ofcourse for the uber cool, the Ubers and Olas! And oh, did I mention about the ever expanding Metro/subway trains and e-ricks? Yep, it's a thing! It's finally time for a brunch! And where better to be than Old Lucknow! Try out Rahim ki Nihari in the old city where you can sample Buffalo foot stew and SHirmal - piping hot broth also called as Paaya in parts of the country! Finish off the meal by drinking some Sulaimani chai and some makkhan malai on the side - a milk/cream based savory dish! After this sumptous brunch, it's time to walk around a bit in another of the city's green patches called eco-garden on VIP road. It's best to spend an evening in the cool confines of th eco-garden that boasts of a kid's friendly artificial zoo, a lot of water shows and green houses. After cooling down in the eco-garden, it's finally time to hit Hazrath Ganj, where the cool crowds hang out! Get introduced to Ganjing - Walking, shopping and eating around Hazrath Ganj. Siddharth also educates us and our listeners with some uber cool words like Bhowkal, Rangbazi and Rowla! Try saying that one more time! Now it's time to binge again - Try out the basket chaat or katori chaat at a chain called Royal Cafe! A sovoury food served with friend potatoes, vada, curd, and a lot of masalas! If you are up for some shopping, try out the chikan kari embroidered suits and kurtas that are synonymous with Lucknow! once you are done shopping, it's time to finish the day on a high by eating Galauti kebab at Tunday Kababi - one of the most popular kabab joints of Lucknow. If you still have more room in your tummy, also sample the chicken Biryani. And if there is still room, then go for a lucknowi paan! Links: Link to Siddharth's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEFCi3n8SE6q3p_lsv2CQ Links to siddharth's Social media: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/siddharthk121/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/siddharthk121/ Snapchat Siddharthk121 Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://goo.gl/peC2Jv android - voice or google search "The Musafir stories podcast", listen, subscribe and save a shortcut on your home screen! web/audioBoom - http://bit.ly/2oZZowS Saavn - https://goo.gl/6qp2mF pocketcasts - https://goo.gl/rGipJb castbox - https://goo.gl/spUCdY Overcast - https://goo.gl/fM9Som Stitcher Radio - https://goo.gl/ihL4Gr TuneIn - http://tun.in/pilOI RadioPublic - https://goo.gl/Dy2VPv See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	35: Slow Travel in Bir with Reshma Narasing	05 May 2018	00:34:00
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Reshma Narasing from the blog thesologlobetrotter.com. Reshma is an avid traveler and backpacker who has traversed the country solo and enjoys traveling to offbeat destinations. So sit back as Reshma takes us backbacking to Bir, Himachal Pradesh! Today's destination: Bir, Himachal Pradesh Nearest Airport: Kangra Airport Nearest Railway Station: Pathankot Railway station (and rest of the journey by bus) Prerequisities - N/A Packing - Warm clothes, hiking gear, hiking shoes, camping gear Time of the year - March Length of the itinerary: 6-7 weeks Itinerary Highlights: Reshma starts the trip to Bir after completing her Nepal leg of the journey where she was on a press trip. In Bir, she was volunteering for about 6-7 weeks with Zostel, a pan India hostel chain Reshma volunteered at Zostel in terms of helping with social media marketing, customized tours, managing the reception among other things. As this was a long term volunteering opportunity Reshma had a chance to slow travel in Bir in her free time. One of the first activities she indulges in is a trek to Rajgundha. This is an overnight trek organized by Zostel where one gets to trek from Zostel, Bir and goes through a 360 degree scenic trail passing through the banks of Uhl river and virgin views of snow capped peaks culminating in take off from one of the world’s best paragliding sites. The trek also takes one through the Barot valley, home to India's first hydroelectric dam. Reshma and her friends make a stop at the quaint little village of Rajgundha where they cook together and spend the night star gazing around the bonfire. One can either spend the night at Zostel, Rajgundha or camp in the village. The trek continues and culminates at the Billing paragliding take off site. One can choose to fly down to Bir on a glider! Ride back to Zostel on a jeep. Another trek that Reshma did during the volunteering was to Gunehar river pool. Gunehar is a quaint village tucked away in the hills of the Kangra Valley. A short day hike will lead you to a waterfall, which is at a height of 100ft. Walking amidst the lush terraced fields and getting a glimpse of the village life are the best parts of this hike, apart from the gorgeous waterfalls itself. Monastery hopping is something that one can indulge in while at Bir.Palpung Monastery in Bhattu, Dzongsar Khyentse Monastery in Chauntra and Chokling Monastery in Chaugan are some of the popular ones. Reshma also enjoys playing holi with the locals of Bir and gets to try out the local Kangdi Chai as well as the traditional Himachali attire! For those interested in adventure sport, Bir is ofcourse the capital of Paragliding and was home to the 2015 Paragliding world cup. One can not just paraglide but also get certified to glide tandem and solo! Bir is also popular for cycling marathons. One can participate in a half or full marathon during the peak season. For the ones who are looking for more volunteering places like the Dharmalaya and the Deer Park institute offer some great opportunities. The Deer Park institute has played an instrumental role in teaching ancient Indian wisdom traditions. They conduct workshops and activities throughout the year ranging from Yoga to well-being, and there are also a few volunteering opportunities open for everyone. The Dharmalaya Institute has been promoting a productive and a positive living, where they conduct workshops on sustainable living. Here you learn to make use of natural resources to adopt minimalism. For the romantic ones, there are innumerable places to catch beautiful sunsets by just walking a few minutes! Links: Link to Reshma's blog : http://thesologlobetrotter.com/ Links to the blog post: http://thesologlobetrotter.com/10-things-to-do-in-bir-himachal/ http://thesologlobetrotter.com/escape-trails-raj-gundha/ http://thesologlobetrotter.com/volunteering-zostel-himachal/ http://thesologlobetrotter.com/zostel-bir-himachal/ http://thesologlobetrotter.com/bir-billing-himachal/ Other links: http://dharmalaya.in/ https://www.tripadvisor.in/AttractionReview-g1986662-d2733114-Reviews-DeerParkInstitute-BirKangraDistrictHimachal_Pradesh.html Follow Reshma on: facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesologlobetrotter/ twitter: @reshmanarasing instagram: @thesologlobetrotter Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://goo.gl/peC2Jv Saavn - https://goo.gl/6qp2mF pocketcasts - https://goo.gl/rGipJb castbox - https://goo.gl/spUCdY audioBoom - http://bit.ly/2oZZowS Overcast - https://goo.gl/fM9Som Stitcher Radio - https://goo.gl/ihL4Gr TuneIn - http://tun.in/pilOI RadioPublic - https://goo.gl/Dy2VPv See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
	34: Majuli River Island with Saakshi	19 Apr 2018	00:36:13
This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Saakshi, from the blog My Travel Recitals. Sit back and enjoy as Saakshi takes us to an offbeat island that is a unique marvel of nature! Today's destination: Majuli River island, Assam - the biggest river island in the world, it is a tranquil piece of land located in the Brahmaputra river in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti is joined by the Subansiri River in the north! Nearest Airport: Jorhat Nearest Railway Station: Jorhat Prerequisities - n/a Packing - Nothing special! Time of the year - January Length of the itinerary: 2 days Itinerary Highlights: Saakshi headed off to Majuli as a part of a blogger group that toured the island with Koyeli travels. One needs to head to Jorhat, the biggest city from where one can head off to Majuli on a boat or ferry! Enjoy the expansive views of the Brahmaputra river as you head off from the Nemati ghat towards Majuli in just over an hour. Make sure you catch a spot on the top floor of the ferry to enjoy the awesome photo ops along the way! The views of the Brahmaputra slowly give way to tranquil islands, pure with lush green farms and thatched roof houses that takes you back in time. The first stop on the itinerary is the Dakhin Pat Satra. A Satra is essentially a Hindu monastery whose origin dates to around 500 years when a Hindu saint Sri Sankardev settled in Majuli and preached a form of Neo Vaishnavism. Although the satra has a lot of similarities with its Buddhist counterpart in terms of the monks and the hierarchy, they are nothing close in terms of the architecture which is influenced primarily by Assamese culture. The next pit stop is the Samaguri Satra or the mask making Satra - an art form that is unique and popular in this region. Saakshi also has a chance to interact with Mr. Goswami, one of the drivers of the mask making culture who also happens to be a descendant of Sankardev! Later in the day, Saakshi has a chance to experience the bhaona performances to enact Ramayana and other epics making use of the lovely masks prepared in the Satra. Saakshi's satra trail is completed with a visit to the Kamalabari Satra which is popular for the Krishna bhakti bhaona performance by young monks of the Satra. All the dance moves and postures are connected to the maati (ground) and are performed in front of the Bhagvad Gita, the holy book. Saakshi and the group retired for the day at the Dekasang Resort, a model resort based on the traditional Mishing tribe house. The resort is on the banks of the Luit river and one has the opportunity for birding as well as a canoe ride! Saakshi then visits a traditional Mishing family, the prominent tribe in Majuli and has a chance to interact with the locals and experience first hand culture and architecture of their homes! Cap off this wonderful trip by sampling the traditional rice or Porag aapin and the aromatic Mishing rice beer called Apong! Links: Links to Saakshi's blog: https://saakshirajat.com/ Link to the blog post: https://saakshirajat.com/2018/04/04/majuli-island-offbeat-experience/ Link to the accomodation in Majuli: https://www.facebook.com/Deka-Sang-Majuli-464374083739543/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mytravelrecitals/ twitter: @mytravelrecital instagram: @mytravelrecitals Follow The Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://goo.gl/peC2Jv Saavn - https://goo.gl/6qp2mF pocketcasts - https://goo.gl/rGipJb castbox - https://goo.gl/spUCdY audioBoom - http://bit.ly/2oZZowS Overcast - https://goo.gl/fM9Som Stitcher Radio - https://goo.gl/ihL4Gr TuneIn - http://tun.in/pilOI RadioPublic - https://goo.gl/Dy2VPv See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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