City

The five-day annual revelry that engulfs Kolkata come October is upon us—Durga Puja, when the City of Joy shakes itself out of sweet slumber and embraces cultural frenzy. Folks have begun to wake up to the sound of dhaak and in some…
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Puja eshe gechhe. Puja is here. Even in a year marked by the ravages of pandemic, some tell-tale signs of the Bengalis’ annual autumnal revelry have survived. The fleeting whiff of urban shiuli (night-flowering jasmine) had long…
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There’s fresh air, and then there’s the pristine whiff of the Dhauladhar mountain range overlooking Dharamshala: so crisp and cool that each breath feels more rejuvenating than the last. It might seem peculiar to think of fresh air as an…
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Ever wondered why Kerala, a small but graceful state in South-India, often known as ‘God’s Own Country?’ The rich culture, historical and natural beauties, and all things serene have earned the state this title. One such instance which the…
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As the weather turns chilly and wanderlust kicks in, one can almost hear the road calling. Be it along challenging mountain roads or easier stretches by the sea, a road trip always spells adventure—and no one knows that better than our…
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Seventy-three years seems like a long time. Yet for those who lived through the euphoria of August 15, 1947, it possibly seems like yesterday when thousands huddled close to the radio, listening in amazed disbelief as Pandit Jawaharlal…
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During an interview with music composer Shantanu Moitra, strains of afternoon azan filter in through the phone. Minutes later, he talks about the beauty and power of everyday sounds, and how they give a place its defining character. After…
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Gushing waterfalls, prehistoric caves, fragrant spice plantations, rejuvenating treks, as well as diverse flora and fauna are some of the many things that define Wayanad in Kerala. In addition, Wayanad is home to some of Kerala’s top-notch…
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On a Sunday morning, I normally would have taken the ‘fast’ train down to South Bombay, but today I wanted to drive through the city. Lin Baba, Gregory David Roberts’s semi-autobiographical character from the 2003 novel Shantaram, wove…
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