Upendra Swami

A full moon day with hand full of festivities!

Upendra SwamiNovember 17, 20183022 Views5

It is indeed the most eventful day of the yearly calendar, also one of the most auspicious. Kartik Purnima is day to travel and relish the different cultures, this day has to offer. It is the full moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik, and most likely it falls in calendar month of November. I am not in praise of this day just because my b’day falls on this day every year as per the Hindu calendar, it is revered for many other reasons as well (just kidding!). Devotees taking holy bath in Ganges on the occasion of Kartik Purnima at Dashaswamedh ghat, in Varanasi. Photo: PTI It is considered as most auspicious of all 12 full moon days in the year. There are many mythological legends associated with this day. In India, it is celebrated across cultures. Interestingly, full moon h...

CruiseNewsPromotions

Norwegian Jewel ready after Bow-to-Stern renovation

Upendra SwamiNovember 15, 20182761 Views3

Norwegian Cruise Line, the innovator in cruising, announced the completion of the refurbishment of Norwegian Jewel as part of The Norwegian Edgeprogram, reaffirming the company’s commitment to elevating the standard of excellence across the fleet. Following a two week dry dock in Singapore for the company’s most extensive enhancement project in 2018, Norwegian Jewel will debut in Sydney, Australia on Saturday, Dec. 1, showcasing refreshed venues, updated spaces, premiere entertainment and redesigned staterooms. Offering seven to 19-day itineraries to some of the region’s most exotic destinations, she’ll spend her winter 2018 and spring 2019 seasons cruising from Sydney, Hong Kong and Singapo...

InternationalNews

Celebrating coffee where it all started- Ethiopia

Upendra SwamiNovember 13, 20181316 Views0

The ‘Horn of Africa’ is taking baby steps amidst chaos to transform itself from decades of authoritarian rule, but there is lot more about this nation. You might not think of it as your favourite tourist destination, but Ethiopia is one place you must visit to truly taste an exquisite blend. It is widely considered the birthplace of coffee. Witnessing the process of how the coffee is brewed is in itself something one would appreciate before they even enjoy their first cup of coffee. Pic credit: georgehowellcoffee.com It is said that coffee was discovered in Ethiopia as long as the 9th century. The aroma of the beans roasting in the fire fills the air… Its delicious. The Ethiopian coffee ceremony is central to the communities of many Ethiopian locations. Coffee remains a...

InternationalNews

Experiencing a Winter Village in Oman

Upendra SwamiNovember 12, 20181450 Views6

Its like experiencing winter at most unlikely of places. One would hardly think to go to Gulf to enjoy some winter fun, but you can actually do so. Having already developed a panache for niche tourism in Gulf region, Oman is now also creating space for some winter fun. One of the performances at Winter village Winter Village is one-of-a-kind family event that will take place at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) in Muscat from 22nd November to 1st December 2018. The event which was curated last year by Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN), the government’s executive arm for the development of the tourism sector, has now emerged into an annual event for families to experience a vibrant kaleidoscope of non-stop entertainment, unique experiences and unforgettabl...

International

The spirit of Christmas at a mountain of surprise

Upendra SwamiNovember 10, 20181185 Views3

Stuttgart is said to be a very green city with a lot of forest and vineyards, even downtown in the centre of the city are vineyards located, this is a very unique, and typical Stuttgart, situation. Stuttgart offers a various and multifaceted cultural scene with a tremendous amount of events every day and a lot of museums like Mercedes Benz Museum, Porsche Museum the State Art Gallery or the Art Gallery of the City of Stuttgart and new library a very unique building. With the Beer festivals in spring (Frühlingsfest) and autumn (Cannstatter Wasen), both belong to the biggest in Germany and Europe there is another attractive reason to visit Stuttgart! Best Christmas markets Nowhere has more romantic Christmas markets than South West Germany, with medieval and Baroque palaces and ...

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

Spectacular views from the Station at the Top

Upendra SwamiNovember 8, 20181435 Views2

It had started raining when we reached the parking area of Top station. Weather in Kerala have been a unpredictable lot these days and every rain reminded of the floods that traumatised the state just a couple of months back. However Munnar region is generally unpredictable about its weather, than the other parts of Kerala, with more likelihood of rains, as the Neelgiris form the first mountain wall in the way of clouds coming from the Indian Ocean. Even the day before, it started raining in the second half, although it wasn’t heavy. That day, it was clear, when we left Munnar, and after a couple of mini halts, we thought that it was better to go to farthest place first and see other things on the way back to Munnar. Hence we drove to Top Station. Clouds kept gathering as we moved close...

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

Everything you need to know for planning a trip to Eravikulam National Park

Upendra SwamiOctober 29, 20185388 Views1

Earlier, I had planned to include all this vital information in my previous post about Neelakurinji trail in Eravikulam National Park. But then I stopped myself, as it would have made the post very long. I would have to either reduce the number of images from that post or cut short on the information. I didn’t want to do any of these. Hence, I decided to do a separate post and try to give every layman information possible to plan a trip to Eravikulam National Park. Read: On the Neelakurinji trail at Eravikulam National Park Landscape around Eravikulam National Park Reaching: Eravikulam National Park is 12 kilometres from Munnar town on the Munnar-Udumalpet road. It takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes to reach there on the winding hilly road. Road is good and safe. You can travel by ...

IndiaPhotogallery

On the Neelakurinji trail at Eravikulam National Park

Upendra SwamiOctober 28, 20182097 Views2

It was heartening to see the long queues even if it meant long waiting for us to board the bus that takes you inside the Eravikulam National Park. It was after all good to witness tourists returning in large numbers to Kerala just weeks after devastating floods, said to be most fierce in last almost hundred years. Indeed, most of the tourists might be locals or from nearby places as that was the long weekend because of Dussehra falling on Friday. Initially, I had planned this visit for August. As, the only motive was to document the blooming of Neelakurinji flowers, hence the visit was timed as per their expected blooming. Strobilanthus kunthiana, commonly known as Neelakkurinji (Blue Kurinji), grows in colonies stretching to acres and acres across the Neelgiris – a name ascribed...

IndiaPhotogallery

Vilasini Natyam – Dance of the Devadasis

Upendra SwamiOctober 25, 20184828 Views2

Purvadhanashree performing Vilasini Natyam (all images) Devadasis has been a long debated issue- as a temple ritual as well as a dance form, although it has been into existence for centuries and perhaps older than many other classical dance forms. As a social ritual it was discredited a long ago and even many laws were brought to abolish the system. Even the dance form went into oblivion, until it was researched and revived in last few decades. Vilasini Natyam is said to be the dance of Telugu Devadasis. It was traditionally performed in temples as a ritual, in courts for the royalties and in the chambers for intellectuals for their aesthetic experience. It was also performed for the general public at dance theatres for their infotainment, to educate them, to ent...

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

Silver sand dunes and a double humpy ride

Upendra SwamiOctober 15, 20181191 Views0

Silver coloured sand dunes of Hunder in Nubra valley of Ladakh have gradually become a part of the must-see itinerary for tourists to Ladakh. Its a very unusual landscape, no doubt about it. In a single frame, you can see sand dunes, river, forest as well as snow clad peaks. You even have camels for desert safari, albeit double humped ones. Its a rugged landscape all around, but Hunder seems like out of world for this region. It has got so many colours and textures in one place, that you can't stop admiring. https://www.instagram.com/p/BoeBAPYHXwH/?taken-by=swamiupendra Colours of nature! These sunsets never fail to amaze you whether it is in hot deserts of Thar or cold deserts of Ladakh. You can see the Karakoram ranges in the background, behind whichnot too far is located the hi...