India – VAGABOND IMAGES

A big shout-out to all those who help strangers on road

Upendra SwamiApril 5, 2022748 Views2

My bike has always been a trustworthy partner on my road trips. It has taken me to numerous solo trips including trips to Leh and Kaza. There had been challenges from weather, roads and other things, but my Royal Enfield Thunderbird always carried me through on tough roads. Solo rides are always risky, there can’t be any doubt about it. However one might prepare oneself for everything, you never know the unseen. Worst things is, if you are struck in middle of road, you have to look for some help, when the problem is beyond your capacity. My bike has always been trustworthy travel partner for a decade now! I have had my shares of mishaps, falls et al but never the serious ones. On the other side, I have met many others stranded on the way for one reason or another. I rememb...

AdventureIndia

When nature has the last laugh

Upendra SwamiDecember 7, 20211541 Views2

I had wished for long to travel to Darma Valley in Uttarakhand, ever since one of our senior photographer friend Jaimitra Singh Bisht from Almora had written about it in my travel magazine Awara Musafir. (You can read the article here.) Planned it a few times earlier, but couldn’t materialise. Two years of COVID only complicated the travel plans. But this year, I finally managed to put together an itinerary. And yes, on my favourite way to travel- my Royal Enfield Thunderbird bike! Majestic view of Darma valley with Panchachuli peaks in background. Photo: Jaimitra Singh Bisht Total trip was going to be long, almost 12 to 13 days, almost same as my bike trip to Ladakh. Well, I am not writing about the different destinations or the route or the biking here, as I will be doing so in co...

AdventureIndia

Corbett beyond Tigers and safaris

Upendra SwamiOctober 6, 20211424 Views3

A butterfly trail inside the forest can be equally interesting It wasn’t quite far inside from the main road leading to Haldwani from Ramnagar. We had taken the jungle road from the Chunakhan Forest Rest House. Forest check post is just about a kilometre from here. From the check post you start a 20-25 minutes trek to Barati Rau Waterfall. The forest personnel in-charge of the beat post was initially reluctant to let our group go towards the fall, citing the COVID restrictions. He relented, only after charging the tourist fees, for which I never got the receipt. He insisted on taking a local guide along with us, his argument being that there were bear cubs in a cave close to waterfalls. A local guide will help us in knowing the direction as well as save us from any untoward incident...

IndiaNews

Kerala goes big on Caravan Tourism

Upendra SwamiSeptember 16, 20213632 Views2

Next big thing for Kerala Tourism in three decades since houseboats After Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand, now it is Kerala’s turn to promote Caravan Tourism in state. But it does this in a bigger and proper way, by bringing out a dedicated comprehensive policy, thus becoming the only state to have a comprehensive Caravan Tourism policy. This policy encompasses everything from approvals to vehicles and parks.With its diverse but accessible landscape, Kerala is one of the best places worth exploring in a caravan. Last two years have changed the way we perceive leisure travel, Now, rising to the demands and preferences of tourists in the post-pandemic world, Kerala has announced a comprehensive, stakeholder-friendly Caravan Tourism Policy, promising the visitors safe, customized ...

IndiaReviews

Where the Wilderness keeps whispering in your ears every moment

Upendra SwamiSeptember 5, 20211121 Views0

I was having a stroll just outside my room after dinner, when the caretaker at the property came to clear the utensils from the room. We started having a chat, and then he all of a sudden started focusing on a sound piercing the calmness of the night, coming from some distance, down the hill. He said, it is a ‘call’ for a leopard, and it is probably looking for a hunt. Being a wildlife enthusiast myself, I could easily get it. It wasn’t coming from somewhere very close, but it still sent a chill down my spine. A rugged drive is needed to reach here! It was the thrill of living right inside an uncharted territory. What also thrilled me that I was daily arriving quite late on my bike, alone to the property in pitched dark through this jungle on a rough, rocky mountain path. T...

AdventureIndia

Uttarakhand’s spring up in the flames

Upendra SwamiApril 14, 20213232 Views6

When I planned a quick relieving biking trip to Almora, I had hoped it to be refreshing as it was spring once again. The year before Coronavirus shattered our lives, my last trip to Kumaon was on bike too and almost on the same dates during the spring time. I still had some good reflections of that. I was expecting nothing short of that this time as well and because of all those expectations, this time around, I had planned a slightly longer trip with a plan to go further towards Dharchula or Narayan Ashram. Fire raging right along the main road from Bhowali to Ramgarh in March 2021 But all went up in flames… literally! Spring season this year came and was gone in a flash this year in hills. I was expecting, as earlier, hills turned red with rhododendrons in the Mukteshwar region...

AdventureIndia

Hope from despair while moving in 2021

Upendra SwamiJanuary 1, 20211943 Views6

इन काली सदियों के सर से जब रात का आंचल ढलकेगा जब दुख के बादल पिघलेंगे जब सुख का सागर झलकेगा जब अम्बर झूम के नाचेगा जब धरती नग़मे गाएगी वो सुब्ह कभी तो आएगी जिस सुब्ह की ख़ातिर जुग जुग से हम सब मर-मर के जीते हैं जिस सुब्ह के अमृत की धुन में हम ज़हर के प्याले पीते हैं इन भूखी प्यासी रूहों पर इक दिन तो करम फ़रमाएगी वो सुब्ह कभी तो आएगी This song written by Sahir Ludhianvi more than 62 years ag...

IndiaPhotogallery

Paint and glitter in Himalayas at Roerich Art Gallery

Upendra SwamiDecember 26, 20201253 Views0

First time I passed through Naggar was way back in summer of 1990, while returning from Manali during my first ever trip to Kullu-Manali region. Barely I had any idea at that time that it was just the start of my fascination and association with this magical place. Since then, there have been number of trips for trekking, camping, biking, leisure, et al. Each of them have been unique in its experience. While pursuing a career as a full-time journalist, I had started trekking as a serious passion in 1992. It was in January 1993 when I came across the news of death of Svetoslav Roerich. News of his death was associated with follow-up news of his wife legendary Devika Rani, grandniece of Rabindranath Tagore, and their Tataguni estate on the outskirts of Bangalore. The view from Ro...

AdventureIndia

Ranthambore Fort: Red lake, langurs and a Ganesha with three eyes

Upendra SwamiOctober 25, 20201827 Views11

It is said to be one of the strongest forts in India. It isn’t a surprise as a fort sitting on a hilltop with deep trenches on three sides, surrounded by many other hills covered by severely dense tiger infested forests could have been nothing else but a very formidable one. Currently the fort is right in the middle of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and National Park. It is said that this region was part of the Chahamana Kingdom of Shakambhari. Shakambhari is where present day Sambhar is. Those who have visited Sambhar Lake will know that there is a very famous and revered Shakambhari temple at Sambhar. The kingdom ruled the many parts of the present day Rajasthan for many centuries until the 12th century. Some historical references say that Chauhans were derived from Chahamanas. Th...

AdventureIndia

Flying like a bird in a paraglider

Upendra SwamiOctober 12, 20201624 Views14

A complete guide to paragliding at Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh We were being driven to Billing from Bir for the paragliding session. They combine to make it Bir-Billing, India’s paragliding hotspot. And, if you seriously think that paragliding at Bir-Billing is a thrilling experience, then hold on- travelling to Billing from Bir itself is by no means less thrilling, more so if you are travelling in a vehicle provided by your paragliding operator to carry you to the take-off site. You will always find a few gliders in the sky at Bir Billing To take the paraglider down this magnificently picturesque valley, you need to reach the Billing hill first, or it is a small table top over the hill, overlooking majestic landscape. It’s a steep uphill drive of around 16 kilometres o...