Prinsep Ghat has always been a charming and relaxing place for me since my college days. Sitting by the riverfront, chatting with friends or family, or grab some snacks from the nearby vendors, it is a perfect place to spend a Saturday evening. It’s simple, romantic, and artistic. The place is as much for young couples as it is for the solitary wanderers. Catch one of the best sunsets in Kolkata, in the backdrop of Hooghly and the Vidyasagar Setu, or on a boat ride in the Hooghly river. A memory you will cherish for a lifetime.

Emotions. Homecoming. Togetherness. Durga Puja is synonymous with all these and more. For the first time in recent memory, there will be a gap of an unprecedented 35 days between the Mahalaya and Durga Puja. Also in for the first time ever, no one will be allowed to go inside the pandals this year to reduce the crowds and tackle the widespread Coronavirus. So we ended up having loads of home cooked feasts and enjoying pujo from inside majorly.

Chikmagalur is a traveler's paradise. The area has many places to offer from hill stations like Kemmanagundi and Kudremukh and waterfalls like Manikyadhara, Hebbe, Kallathigiri. Wildlife enthusiasts would be interested in the Kudremukh National Park and Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. You can add Belur and Halebidu to the itinerary on the way back to Bangalore. There are two beautiful temples to spend some time over here.

Gudibande fort is a short drive from Bangalore (100kms). The fort, which is small compared to other forts in Karnataka, was inspired by the Madhugiri fortress. It is a multi-level edifice that was built about 400 years ago, in the 17th century, by Byre Gowda, a local chieftain of Gudibande who ruled the place for only three years. Take a break to enjoy the sight of birds taking dips at the Bhairasagara lake. Which looks the map of India from the top of the fort.

Bheemeshwari, about 100 km away from Bangalore, is an ideal day trip for the weekend. Add Makedettu Sangam to your itinerary to enjoy a splendid drive and some boating! This is a perfect place for the nature lover. The quiet moments on the secluded bank, in the company of silently flowing Cauvery, tall trees, the distant jungle, and the azure sky filled my heart with peace and serenity. It appeared to give a message of living every season, taking the time as it comes, tasting all the flavors with a resigned equanimity to all outside influences yet moving on.

I always wanted to travel to the North eastern part of India. Having travelled almost across the whole country, the North east remained a corner which I could not get the opportunity to touch till date. But this year, coincidentally I was jobless and a couple of friends were headed to one of the seven sisters – the abode of clouds, Meghalaya.

2017 was filled with travel plans, visiting new places and new stories to share. I got to visit the Philippines too! A short summary of the 2017 that went by! Completed around 8 trips, a couple of them were quite long ones. The last one of the year, a 3000 km long road trip for 10 days from Srinagar to Kolkata covering the breadth of North India, was one of my finest.

Durga Puja, the most important festival of Bengal is coming soon. Christmas in New York, Rio Carnival in Brazil, and the La Tomatina Festival in Spain summed up cannot beat the magnitude of the Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata, India. Pujo spans 10 days filled with packed elaborate rituals, great food and a stunning display of creativity and art in the form of innovative themed pandals and idols. People deck up in new clothes, flock to the pandals and soak themselves in the festive spirit. The whole city transforms to a festive mood, work comes to a halt as the Pujo spirit hits Kolkata.

Are you one of those people who lives in Bangalore and bored with working from home amidst the pandemic. With almost half the year gone, and many travel plans busted, I thought let’s rather write it out. The monsoons are here and soon the weather’s at its best for that quick outing nearby. Grab a breakfast while starting and finish with hearty lunch on the way back.