goa – VAGABOND IMAGES

Lockdown reads: INDIA among most photogenic spiritual destinations in the World!

Upendra SwamiMarch 27, 20205472 Views4

Well, during this almost global lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic, all type of travels are suspended. Instagrammers who are used to post daily for their accounts are either digging photos from past travels or posting ‘stay safe’ messages. Until when the travels resume, that’s what they have to be content with. Afterall, what’s Instagram without daily dose of photographs from exotic locations around the world! So, while we wait anxiously to travel again, let’s look on some other interesting details about posts on Instagram. Ibiza Do you know, the tags on Instagram posts speak a lot about popularity of places and inclination of posts. Since these tags make your Insta posts searchable on Google, they also gives researchers some very interesting insights. For example, have you ever a...

IndiaNews

Serendipity of art, culture & music fests this month

Upendra SwamiDecember 8, 20171224 Views0

Last month of the year brings most of the enjoyment. One of India’s Best dance festivals ended on 5th at Konark in Odisha and alongwith it, also concluded the Sand Art festival held simultaneously at Chandrabhaga beach. Both festivals are organised every year from 1st to 5th December. Similarly, another festival held every year on same dates is about to conclude- Hornbill festival at Dimapur which showcases stunning natural beauty of Nagaland and its great cultural traditions from 1st to 10th December every year. So, I might seem like already late in suggesting few events, but actually some of the best of the month are yet to come and you have enough time to plan a trip. I can also definitely say that some of the events left in the month are few of the biggest and most outstandi...

India

Jump in the well… all for a bottle of feni!

Upendra SwamiJune 3, 20172477 Views7

Its Ganga Dussehra today (also tomorrow!). Many of us would be already in Varanasi or may be in Haridwar or Rishikesh to take part in one of the most important festival attached to River Ganges. People will be taking dip in the river and will be part of Ganga Arti in the evening. Well, quite straightforward in terms of rituals. But ever imagined a festival in India where men jump in wells to bring out, just a bottle of feni! Looks bizarre but that happens in Goa. Looks like a chill-out fun for scorching summers of June. But June has a lot more to offer. Summer is at its peak in the north while monsoon has already struck in the south. It is still the vacation time for the most parts of India and hill stations will be packed of vacationers. Lot more to do then routine ‘queen of the hills’ t...

India

Lot outside Kerala too to enjoy in March

Upendra SwamiFebruary 28, 20171466 Views6

I talked about Kerala yesterday but there is lot more happening outside Kerala too in terms of events and festivals. With spring in its full bloom, it is riot of colours everywhere- in nature as well on faces! Actually, this is one of the most awaited months of the year because of its festivities- festival of colours- Holi undoubtedly. It is also last of the months of the pleasant weather before the summer strikes. Its already getting hot this time of the year. Don't spare a chance to be around at any one of these places! As a matter of fact, there are so many happenings this month that instead of usual ten, I couldn't stop myself from listing eleven this time. Here they go- Festival of colours in Brij Though there are many festivals around the world where people throw colours, water

IndiaPhotogallery

Vagabond in monsoon at Gokarna & Om beach!

Upendra SwamiAugust 17, 20161960 Views4

Konkan region is one of the best places in India to enjoy monsoon. Ancient temple town of Gokarna comes into this region and it is a perfect place for soaking into some quiet, relaxing moments. While talking about Gokarna, I am talking about not just Gokarna, but also about some nearby beaches, which largely fall into Gokarna as a destination. Gokarna is a temple town in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka and is very close to Goa. Gokarna is a small and remote holy town, with four of India's most secluded and pristine beaches nestled nearby. It draws both pious pilgrims and hedonistic holiday makers with equal enthusiasm. There are many temples in this town and main one among them is the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Gokarna town has its own beach, but that's not as tempting as ...

Just Me

Where would you like to go this June!

Upendra SwamiJune 2, 20161212 Views2

This post is couple of days or more late, but still worth perhaps. Its the Monsoon time. Kerala will be receiving it in a few days, although it is already late by a week. Rest of India will be patiently waiting for its turn sweltering in humid heat until then. But it is still the vacation time for the most parts of India and hill stations will be packed of tourists. Besides the routine trips, have a look at the some of the other ideas for travel this month that I can recollect. 1. Boat race season kicks off at Champakkulam The snake boat race of Kerala or the vallamkali (boat race) is not just an event that lasts for a few hours or a day. Rather, it is a phenomenon the impact of which will last for a lifetime. In Kerala, the season of boat races starts with the famous Champakkulam Mo

India

Top 10 ideas for travel in March in India

Upendra SwamiMarch 1, 20161644 Views10

Spring in its full bloom and it is riot of colours everywhere- in nature as well on faces! one of the most awaited months of the year because of its festivities- festival of colours- Holi undoubtedly. It is also last of the months of the pleasant weather before the summer strikes. Its already getting hot this time of the year. Besides, months of March and April are also the times of the most popular elephant festivals in Kerala. Don't spare a chance to be around at any one of these places! 1. Festival of colours in Brij Though there are many festivals around the world where people throw colours, waters, flowers, mud, tomatoes, oranges and what not on each other, but no celebration can be compared to the fervour of celebrating Holi in mythical land of Krishna. Though Holi is celebrate

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

Goa Through Air

Upendra SwamiJanuary 5, 20165069 Views8

One might be a frequent flier but it is always a new sight whenever you are up in the air- looking down. Whether you are above the concrete jungles of NCR or Pir-Panjal mountains of Kashmir or over Arabian Sea in Goa- its fascinating everytime. Actually lure of capturing images from window seat during flight pre-occupies my mind so much that I make all effort to choose a window seat during web check-in. Do you do that? Not just that, I always keep in mind the time and direction of the flight (northwards, southwards or whatever) as well so that I am aware of the fact that whether sun will be shining towards my window during the flight and also that to which side of the flight will be anything worth taking a photo falling. That means, while going to Lucknow fro Delhi, I will always lik

IndiaPhotogallery

Divas, Alila and the Goa

Upendra SwamiDecember 27, 20151682 Views11

Goa is always fun and fascinating. It charms you everytime. So has been my second trip to Majorda beach in South Goa, albeit a short one. This time around, it was to test drive ZICA from Tata Motors on the streets of South Goa from Majorda to Verna, in an event put together by Indiblogger for 60 bloggers from across India. Although couldn't get any time on beach at sunset or sunrise, but still had some lasting impressions. Few of them put here together- Beach of fun-filled activities Flying high in seas of Goa Waiting for the tourists Under watchful eyes! Man in Red! This is no way to patrol! Some sort of playing fun on beach! Catching everything in the frame! When in Goa, don't hurry for a curry! Our host in Majorda was beautiful Alila Diwa Goa, a luxury

AdventureIndiaReviews

This ZICA is confident and agile

Upendra SwamiDecember 15, 20151342 Views8

The whole ZICA experience was put together by Indiblogger who took 60 bloggers from the country for a ride (not literally), a drive actually. So, that Sunday morning there were more than 20 brand new ZICA cars (10 petrol and 10 diesel) were trolling up & down the streets of Goa with a team of three bloggers per car for an ultimate driving experience. Fortunate were those (like yours truly) who had two non-driver bloggers in their car, as then they got to drive the test-vehicle for the full distance. So, now we continue with my experience with the car. In the last post, we talked about interiors. This time around, I will discuss some of the performance features, which were easily graspable for a novice like me. I got to drive the diesel variant of ZICA. And almost immediately all