Category: Travel

Gurugram: In the glittering sprawl of Gurugram, where glass-and-steel towers pierce the Haryana sky and IT professionals chase relentless corporate deadlines, a quieter cultural revolution hums beneath the surface. Jazz—once a niche luxury associated with smoky New York basements or colonial-era Bombay ballrooms—has found an unlikely, thriving home in Delhi National Capital Region’s premier satellite city. What began as sporadic performances in sterile hotel lounges has blossomed into a vibrant, dedicated circuit anchored by world-class venues, recurring music festivals, and a rapidly growing community of musicians and aficionados. Gurugram is…

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By Special Correspondent In the heart of Rajasthan’s vast Thar Desert rises a city unlike any other in India. Bathed in shades of gold from dawn to dusk, Jaisalmer appears almost like a mirage emerging from the sands. Its towering fort, intricately carved mansions, bustling bazaars, and rolling dunes create a landscape that seems suspended between history and legend. Known as the Golden City, Jaisalmer is one of India’s most enchanting travel destinations, offering visitors a remarkable blend of medieval heritage, desert adventure, and vibrant Rajasthani culture. Whether exploring centuries-old…

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By Special Correspondent India’s cultural richness extends far beyond its famous monuments, bustling cities, and iconic landscapes. Hidden among forests, mountains, river valleys, and remote highlands are hundreds of indigenous communities whose traditions, languages, art forms, and lifestyles have survived for centuries. Together, these communities form one of the world’s most diverse tribal populations, offering travelers an extraordinary opportunity to experience a lesser-known dimension of India. Home to more than 700 officially recognized Scheduled Tribes, India’s tribal population represents approximately 8.6 percent of the country’s people. These communities, often referred…

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By Special Correspondent Guwahati: Nestled along the floodplains of the mighty Brahmaputra River, Kaziranga National Park stands as one of India’s most celebrated wildlife destinations and a shining example of successful conservation. Renowned worldwide as the stronghold of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros, the park offers an extraordinary blend of biodiversity, dramatic landscapes, and ecological resilience that continues to attract wildlife enthusiasts, researchers, and nature lovers from across the globe. Spread across the districts of Golaghat, Nagaon, Biswanath, and Sonitpur in Assam, Kaziranga covers a vast expanse of grasslands, wetlands, forests,…

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Kolkata: As dusk settles over Kolkata, the city begins its nightly transformation. Tram bells ring in the distance, tea stalls buzz with conversation, and the aroma of street food drifts through crowded avenues. Amid this familiar urban symphony, another sound has endured for nearly a century—the unmistakable language of jazz. Improvisational, expressive, and endlessly adaptable, jazz has long occupied a unique place in Kolkata’s cultural identity. While Mumbai often receives recognition as the birthplace of Indian jazz, Kolkata’s contribution is equally profound. The city, then known as Calcutta, was one…

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Tibet: Towering above the rest of Asia, Tibet has long captivated travelers with its breathtaking landscapes, spiritual heritage, and unique cultural identity. Often referred to as the “Roof of the World,” the region combines dramatic mountain scenery, sacred lakes, ancient monasteries, and centuries-old traditions that continue to thrive amid a rapidly changing world. Situated on the vast Tibetan Plateau, Tibet offers an experience unlike any other destination. Snow-capped peaks stretch across the horizon, crystal-clear skies dominate the landscape, and spirituality remains deeply woven into everyday life. Lhasa: The Spiritual Heart…

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Imphal: The Northeast of India is often described through its landscapes — mist-covered mountains, rolling valleys, dense forests, and winding rivers. Yet beyond its extraordinary natural beauty lies another powerful identity: music. Across the eight states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura, music is not simply entertainment. It is memory, resistance, celebration, spirituality, and identity woven into everyday life. For decades, the region has quietly nurtured one of India’s most dynamic and original music cultures. From tribal folk traditions and church choirs to metal, blues,…

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Amritsar: In the northwestern state of Punjab lies Amritsar, a city that carries the soul of Sikh spirituality and the emotional weight of India’s history. Known around the world for the magnificent Golden Temple, Amritsar is far more than a pilgrimage destination. It is a place where devotion, resilience, memory, and celebration exist side by side. The city welcomes millions of visitors every year—pilgrims seeking spiritual peace, travellers exploring history, and food lovers drawn by Punjab’s legendary cuisine. Yet beyond its bustling streets and crowded bazaars lies a deeper essence:…

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Jaipur: In the heart of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert, the quiet town of Pushkar transforms each year into one of India’s most extraordinary cultural gatherings. Known globally as the Pushkar Camel Fair, or Pushkar Mela, this annual event is far more than a livestock market. It is a living canvas of colour, tradition, devotion, and desert life unfolding against golden sands and endless skies. For a few days every year, Pushkar becomes a meeting point for herders, traders, pilgrims, artists, travellers, and photographers. What emerges is a rare blend of commerce…

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McLeod Ganj: Perched at an altitude of around 2,000 meters in the Dhauladhar range of Himachal Pradesh, McLeod Ganj is a hill town that feels suspended between earth and sky. Known widely as “Little Lhasa,” it is not just a scenic destination but a living cultural landscape where Tibetan spirituality, colonial legacy, and Himalayan geography come together in a seamless blend. Today, McLeod Ganj is globally recognized as the seat of the Central Tibetan Administration, and the residence of the Dalai Lama, giving the town a significance that extends far…

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