Varanasi – VAGABOND IMAGES

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

Upendra SwamiMarch 27, 20205388 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...

India

13 states, 20 festivals… you just can’t beat this November month!

Upendra SwamiNovember 4, 20171218 Views0

You just can't beat month of November, not just because it is the month of my birth (just kidding!), actually because this is one of the most happening month of the year. Just imagine, every other Indian state has some kind of a festival this month. And, what a range... from music to dance to nature, flowers, cattle, fairs, religion, mythology, culture... and what not. This month has every aspect to relate with. Hence for all those with a penchant to travel just for any reason, here are plentiful to do that. Even weather generally remains clear and winter is yet to make some ground. Many people even like to travel to hills during this month to have some good views of snow-clad peaks in blue skies. So the month had events and festivals lined up from states as far as and as diverse ...

India

Onam to Bathukamma via Ladakh Festival!

Upendra SwamiSeptember 2, 20172008 Views2

It is one of those months, which have festivities right from start till end and that too almost in every corner of the country and with many shades. How wonderful to have all these occasions to supplement the usual zest for travel! And, what a diversity we have, it can be envious for any other country on the planet. Just consider this- the nine days before Vijayadashmi are celebrated as Durga Puja in Bengal, Garba in Gujarat, Ramlila in north and as Bathukamma in Telangana. All these festivals celebrated on same days of calendar have different myths, different customs, different performances, different food but same gusto. Even the ramlilas are different in different parts and so is Vijayadashami. Festival of prosperity & joy - Onam Festivities for the month start with Onam in Ke

India

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

Upendra SwamiJune 3, 20172409 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

Malwa Utsav starts in Indore but lot more to do this month!

Upendra SwamiMay 3, 20172371 Views6

Malwa Utsav started last night at Indore's Lalbagh palace. There are still five more days to go and you can certainly catch some action. So has India’s most awaited yearly pilgrimage- Char Dham Yatra, which commenced on 28th April with opening of doors of Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines. But there are host of other events which can prompt you to some quick travel plans. With soaring temperatures, hill stations like Mount Abu and Ooty try to chill out with their annual festivals. Then there are a few church festivals also in Kerala, besides the all famous Thrissur Pooram. Here are some quick ideas for the month of May- first of India’s traditional two months of summer vacations. Time to pack! Malwa Festival, Indore Celebrated with great enthusiasm, Malwa Utsav is one of the biggest and

IndiaNews

Hurry up! Tulips in Kashmir are calling!!

Upendra SwamiApril 6, 20171808 Views4

Its getting hotter day by day. Though the forecast for the summer aren’t very pleasing, but still we have some more time to celebrate spring. Everywhere, it is also the time to celebrate the good harvest and rejoice while getting ready for the next season. Many colourful festivals around to give an occasion to travel. Two prominent festivals of the north-east Aoling festival of Konyaks in Nagaland and Mopin festival of Galo tribes of Arunachal Pradesh have just concluded. But there is lot more to do still this month. Here are some ways to celebrate this month in India. Tulips of Kashmir Asia's largest tulip garden on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar has been thrown open to visitors on 2nd April. Though last few days were tough for Kashmir due to sudden snow & rainfall caused by

India

A full moon and a month full of festivals

Upendra SwamiNovember 2, 20162602 Views9

It is one of the most beautiful moons of the year. Correspondingly, this is one of the holiest month of the year- Kartik. Rich in festivals- including some world-famous ones on and around Kartik Purnima (full moon day). Interestingly these festivals are spread throughout the country. That also makes it one of the best months to travel. Weather generally remains clear and winter is yet to make some ground. Many people even like to travel to hills during this month to have some good views of snow-clad peaks in blue skies. For those who want a pretext, here is a list of top 10 travel moments of the month of November The charm of Pushkar The Pushkar Cattle Fair is one of the largest in India and the only one of its kind in the entire world. During the fair, Lakhs of people from rural Ind

India

October is all devotion & music!

Upendra SwamiOctober 2, 20162222 Views8

India’s festive season officially underway and will continue for more than a couple of months. This is time for one big festival which is celebrated in various parts of India in various ways- from Bengal to Gujarat and Kullu to Mysore. Time for some devotional travel. Actually this also brings to start season of India’ some well-known music festivals. Let’s have a look at some of the top events for travel in this month. Ramlila of Ramnagar at Varanasi This is one of the holiest of Indian cities as per hindu mythology. Varanasi has always been a magnet for the spiritual, the religious, for holy seers and for the hippies. During the ten days of the Dussehra, the city becomes famous for its Ramlila, often considered to be the one of the oldest and perhaps grandest ramlila in world. Fift

Just Me

Where would you like to go this June!

Upendra SwamiJune 2, 20161188 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

Some cool travel ideas for this hot May!

Upendra SwamiMay 1, 20161564 Views7

Summer in the northern part of India seems to be peaking a bit early. Such a weather instigates desperate search for cooler vistas. With annual summer vacations just round the corner, we bring you our choice of top ten ideas for the month of May- first of India’s traditional two months of summer vacations. Many festivals around and a few adventures to calm you down. Go ahead. 1. Malwa Festival, Indore, Ujjain Celebrated with great enthusiasm, Malwa Utsav is one of the biggest and most spectacular events of Madhya Pradesh. The festival restores the age old culture and the tradition of India through its various classical dance performances and traditional music. Performers and entertainers from different parts of India charm the cities of Indore and Ujjain for a remarkable five day cel