Winter Getaways from Kolkata

With the arrival of October, most residents of Kolkata start planning their winter holiday. After Durga Puja, Christmas holidays are the most cherished events in every Bengali traveller’s household. Here are some recommendations for idyllic escapes from the city of joy Tagore’s Shantiniketan Only 212 kms away from Kolkata, lies the scenic village of Shantiniketan….

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A Guide to Bawali, Bengal

I drove a short 40 kilometres away from Kolkata, towards Joka, into the rustic Bengal villages. The narrow roads lined with coconut trees, the chaotic market junctions and clear ponds made the drive scenic. My destination was the 265-year old Rajbari Bawali. Rajbari or palatial homes of Zamindars have been a part of Bengal’s history….

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A Cocktail Journey at The Fatty Bao Kolkata

On a winter evening in Kolkata, I set out to try the signature cocktails of The Fatty Bao, Olive group’s Asian dining. By the end of my meal, I found myself comfortably seated in a corner of its cosy decor, satiated by the comforting flavours of its food and drinks. Cocktail #1 Risky Whiskey Base:…

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Photo Story: Could Winter be the Most Beautiful Season?

Many versus in poetry and references in literature had led me to believe that winter is probably the most desolate and monochromatic season. Between Virginia Woolf’s ‘Melancholy were the sounds on a winter’s night’ and PB Shelley’s ‘If winter comes, can spring be far behind?’ I was convinced that winter was made of sorrow and…

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Travelling with my Wildcraft Rucksack

My travel gear is an important aspect of all my travels. It has to be simple, ready for mountain weather and durable, apart from being resourceful. Whether it be a rucksack, a pair of shoes, walking stick, jackets, travel towel or even my headlight, I invest time and money in it. I have been using…

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#DoorsofIndia— Building Perspective and Glorifying India’s History

Why do we travel? Primarily I travel to add perspective. Perhaps this is why every time I repeat a destination, each experience is different from the other. The #DoorsofIndia campaign, by Tata Pravesh, multiplied my perspective to very many things. Architecture has always been a defining subject in all my travels. But narrowing it down to doors was…

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