Adventure – Page 2 – VAGABOND IMAGES

Chaukhamba : A peak on four pillars and it is not our democracy!

Upendra SwamiJune 5, 20201670 Views2

I couldn’t have missed the satire in the present context as all the four pillars of our democracy are currently on terribly shaky ground. Having said that, this post is definitely not about our democracy but about one of the most beautiful peaks on Uttarakhand Himalayas. It is the World Environment day and what else can we talk about than the most precious gift our nature has given to us! Sunrise on Chaukhamba peak as seen from Almora town in Kumaon The inspiration for this post came from an impromptu comment on one of my Facebook post couple of days back by a renowned photographer friend Jaimitra Singh Bisht, based in Almora. Post was a photo of sunrise on Chaukhamba peak, which I captured a few years ago from Almora. While appreciating the photograph, Jaimitra said that, “Chaukham...

AdventureIndia

Two valleys where flowers missed you this lockdown

Upendra SwamiMay 29, 2020306 Views2

India has big number of exceptionally stunning valleys of flowers across its peninsular region, and top among them is definitely the ‘valley of flowers’ in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district inside the Nanda Devi Biosphere reserve. It is so popular that whenever you talk about Valley of Flowers, it is presumed that you are talking about it. But there are many other valleys of flowers and a handful of them are in the Himalayan region itself. They might not be as popular as the Valley of Flowers in the Nanda Devi Biosphere reserve but they are equally beautiful and worth a visit. Yumthang in North Sikkim Har Ki Doon valley in Uttarakhand Well, here I am not talking about all the valleys of flowers. That isn’t the purpose of the post. I am loking at what we have missed this season due t...

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

Lockdown effect | A yatra without yatris!

Upendra SwamiMay 25, 2020396 Views2

Chardham yatra is one of the India’s major pilgrimage and it is second time in last eight years that it has to be shelved. Last time in 2013, it was due to an altogether different reason as Yatra has to suspended and finally called off due to devastating floods in Uttarakhand. But that year, Yatra started in usual manner with all customs and rituals, but met a catastrophe on 16th & 17th June when extremely heavy rainfall and sudden melting of glaciers created a havoc like never before. Thousands of lives were lost and villages after villages were washed away. So, that year Yatra didn’t resume. Now this year again Yatra has been suspended because of lockdown due to Corona pandemic. The temples have been opened but routes are closed for yatris as no travel is allowed for this purp...

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

Missing Ladakh : Let’s go for a photo journey!

Upendra SwamiMay 21, 2020343 Views5

May is about to end and many of us like me will be getting restless as Ladakh season gets closer. For many, Ladakh is an annual ritual, for many others it is an ambition of lifetime and you definitely can't doubt the feelings of all of them who are terrified with the prospect of the season getting a corona wash-out. Although, limited transportation seem to be resuming but actual travel doesn't seem to be happening in the near future. Good, if it happens this season at any point of time. I am sure many will rush with their bikes. But till then, lets go on a photo tour of Leh, a glimpse of it. Flying over Ladakh is an experience in itself But honestly speaking, covering Ladakh in a single feature or a post or a gallery is not justified. It is so vast and vivid, that you need umpteen ...

AdventureInternational

Dining at the world’s best Michelin-starred restaurant to staying in a luxurious 11th century castle!

Upendra SwamiFebruary 23, 2020255 Views0

Costa Brava is a coastal region of Catalonia in northeastern Spain known for its virgin beaches and bays against the scenic backdrop of heavily wooded hills. One of the most stunning coastlines in the country, this hidden gem is only a two-hour drive from Barcelona and offers several experiences for couples looking for offbeat romantic vacations in Europe. V.R. Costa Brava, a destination management firm has curated a series of dreamy things for couples and honeymooners on their holiday to Costa Brava. Cap de Creus, Costa Brava Picnic on the hidden beaches of Costa Brava When it comes to laid-back romance, the region has plenty of options like the beach cove of Cala Jugadora on the Cap de Creus coastline or the sandy beaches of Cala Portaló. These secluded spots allow couples to b...

AdventureCruiseInternational

A ‘Spike’ for Space Cruiser on Global Dream

Upendra SwamiJanuary 10, 2020457 Views0

Cruise vacations are the one of the most sought after travel journeys. World over, all cruise lines therefore try to make this journey more and more adventurous, more and more memorable, either with bigger, luxurious ships or till now unthinkable adventures on sea. Going a step ahead, Genting Cruise Lines have introduced the future of cruising with Global Dream, Dream Cruises’ first global class ship arriving in Asia in 2021, at this year’s South Asia Tourism and Travel Exchange (SATTE) trade expo in Delhi. Catering to India’s growing multi-generation travellers who are seeking new travel options, the 20-deck Global Dream will be the largest cruise ship in the world by passenger capacity, accommodating over 9,000 passengers across 2,350 cabins. The largest cruise ship to be built in Germa...

AdventureInternational

Missing GOT already! Come, relive it at Girona in Spain

Upendra SwamiJanuary 5, 2020203 Views0

Missing GOT already! It’s certainly not easy to forget a series, as legendary as Game of Thrones. But, you still have chance to relive it and keep some of the memories intact. And, that too at the place which was the centre of all the action. Girona in Costa Brava’s Catalonia region of Spain is a city with rich history, culture and heritage that is evident through its vintage buildings, streets and squares in the old city centre. Located barely two hours from Barcelona, the stunning city of Girona was one of the chosen locations that hosted the filming of one of the most legendary series of all time, The Game of Thrones! Cathedral of Girona In the series, GOT fans were transported to Girona’s medieval old town which served as the major setting for the city of Braavos while Gir...

AdventureInternational

When Mount Masada becomes screen for the show

Upendra SwamiDecember 30, 2019218 Views4

Sound and light shows around historical and architectural monuments are not new. Monuments make a marvellous backdrop for such shows. We have many sound and light shows in India of this nature at almost most of our historical palaces, temples, etc. But Israel has taken this effort a bit ahead in more bigger way, where a mountain itself has become a canvas for the audio-visual show. And, it has also added many more features to this concept to make it an adventure and outing in itself, something quite unique in nature. Photo credit: Meno Greenspan The Israel Nature and Parks Authority offers a new nocturnal 45 minutes show ‘From Dusk to Dawn’ at the Masada National Park, its’ flagship site. Ranked as Israel’s most popular national park with 1 million visitors a year, the site has crea...

AdventureIndia

GOING SOLO: More Indians now travelling alone!

Upendra SwamiDecember 23, 2019192 Views2

Each time, I went for three of my most ambitious trips in last seven years, I went alone. I not only enjoyed it but I also was aware that I was just the part of a growing trend. It only gets more and more confirmed now. 40% of travellers based in India intend to “go solo” when they travel, as compared to 25% of Asia Pacific travelers, reveals a recent study by Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest loyalty program of global travel and hospitality company Hilton. The research – surveying close to 1,120 avid travellers aged between 20-45 in India and segmented by life stage – explored the travel motivations, aspirations and expectations of the country’s most active travellers. The primary motivation for 66% of these intrepid travellers is to experience “life-changing moments” that pu...

AdventureInternational

Golfing in the Paradise with Thai Golf Pass!

Upendra SwamiDecember 5, 2019154 Views0

Golf is an amazing sport, unlike most of other competitive sports. It is played at different golf courses and each course is so different from the other so much so that not just the outcome of the event might well be decided by the structure of the course, but the course itself becomes the most fascinating part. Golfers will vie for getting some shots at admired golf courses. Thus the golf courses become the destination in themselves. Now, that is the phenomenon we are increasingly seeing around. Golf tourism has become a dedicated offshoot of tourism in general and sports tourism in particular. A golf course needs large area, big greens and an excellent topography. Since south east Asia has all of this in abundance, therefore many south Asian countries are more and more showcasing...