http://www.boloji.com Boloji is the world's biggest Articles Database. en-us Sat, 09 May 2026 12:49:46 -0500 Sat, 09 May 2026 12:49:46 -0500 http://www.boloji.com/feed/travelogues-rss.xml Boloji rk@boloji.net (Boloji) ideas@ekant.com (Ekant Solutions)https://www.boloji.com/articles/55206/anantagiri-hills-telanganas-tranquil-hill-retreatThe Anantagiri Hills are known for their lush green forests, rolling hills and scenic views. It remains home to ancient temples including the Lord Shiva which attracts the devotees. As one undertakes the journey to Anantagiri Hills, one can plan to do a trekking on the hills. The breath-taking views of the surrounding landscape offer a special treat to the visitors. They can set up camps on the hills and enjoy stargazing and bonfires. A leisurely walk through the forests is an experience to be felt and lived in. The scenic views and sunsets make Anantagiri Hills a photographic paradise.Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/55206/anantagiri-hills-telanganas-tranquil-hill-retreathttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54948/sights-that-enrich-mind-body-and-soul-...Heritage Walks attract people, both young and old, who are interested in understanding local history, traditions, culture, architecture, and life in general. This awareness helps foster empathy and tolerance toward people, places, and the environment.Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54948/sights-that-enrich-mind-body-and-soul-...https://www.boloji.com/articles/54815/a-summer-sojourn-in-nagpur-22-to-25-may-2025Our Nagpur trip (22nd to 25th May 2025) was a memorable blend of spiritual, cultural, and wildlife experiences. We visited temples, museums, and Ambedkar memorials in the city. A thrilling Tadoba safari let us witness a leopard and a tigress with cubs. We also explored Ramteks mythological significance and nearby villages. The journey was enriched by local cuisine, vibrant heritage, and natural beauty.Sat, 31 May 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54815/a-summer-sojourn-in-nagpur-22-to-25-may-2025https://www.boloji.com/articles/54802/a-visit-to-the-niagara-fallsThe first time I visited Niagara Falls, years back in 2010, it did ‘Fall’ short of my expectations as a serene holiday trip. No offence to the ‘Fall’ though. I was a bundle of nerves ready to swoon at the slightest provocation. I viewed it as a Monster of all Nature’s creation challenging Man to a War of Might. I saw that as a preposterous, intimidating structure with a monstrous set of teeth waiting to pounce on any intruder to its domain.Sat, 24 May 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54802/a-visit-to-the-niagara-fallshttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54789/baku-amp-beyondIn Baku & Beyond: A Journey Through Flame, Faith, and Forest, Renu Dhotre explores the heart of Azerbaijan”from Bakus ancient Old City and sacred fire temples to wildflower meadows and hidden mountain towns. Blending history, faith, and natural beauty, this travelogue captures a soulful journey across a land where cultures meet, legends burn bright, and every meal tells a storySat, 17 May 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54789/baku-amp-beyondhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54741/vancouver--a-scenic-gemWhen I told my U.S. returned friends that I would be accompanying my husband who was going to Vancouver for a conference, they wished to know whether a visit to the U.S. was on our itinerary. Learning that it wasn’t, their reaction ranged from one of surprise to disbelief. “How can you be so foolish as not to include The U.S. which is not far from Canada? You don’t know what you are missing.Sat, 12 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54741/vancouver--a-scenic-gemhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54725/paradise-down-underAustralia is a prime tourist attraction, after the US and Europe, with its pristine rainforests, magnificent coral reefs, expansive national parks besides its unique flora and fauna. This was evident from the number of hands that went up when the driver of our coach heading to the Great Ocean Road in Melbourne asked us to which part of the world we belonged. Out of the 41 of us, the majority seemed to come from Singapore and the others were from Japan, the UK, other parts of Australia, Europe, the USA, India and Africa respectively.Sat, 05 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54725/paradise-down-underhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54589/london-beckons-againI enjoy traveling for two reasons – for seeing places and meeting people through which one tends to learn a lot. At the same time, call it an idiosyncrasy or foolishness, I am against visiting the same place, be it in India or abroad, twice. In spite of my resolve, I found myself along with my husband jetting to London during June-end. The vegetarian lunch served onboard was quite good except for the parathas which required an extra effort to chew.Sat, 14 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54589/london-beckons-againhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54537/rajasthan-unveiled-a-journey-through-culture-and-wildernessThis travelogue recounts an unforgettable journey through Rajasthan, beginning with an overnight train ride from Mumbai to Ranthambore. After arriving at a luxurious resort near the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, the adventure kicks off with an exhilarating safari where diverse wildlife, including deer, antelope, monkeys, and a bear, is observed. The journey continues in Jaipur, exploring iconic landmarks such as Amber Fort, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, and Jal Mahal. Cultural experiences abound at Gulab Gari, complete with Rajasthani cuisine and lively dance performances. The trip concludes with a serene visit to Birla Temple before returning home, leaving behind cherished memories of Rajasthans rich heritage and breathtaking landscapes.Sat, 02 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54537/rajasthan-unveiled-a-journey-through-culture-and-wildernesshttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54464/mount-pilatusMount Pilatus is located in the heart of Switzerland, overlooking the city of Lucerne (Luzern). There is a myth surrounding this nature’s charm, that in the summer of 1421 an enormous dragon flew to Mt. Pilatus only to crash to the ground so close next to the farmer Stempflin, that he fainted. When he revived back, he found a lump of clotted blood and the Dragon Stone, which was legally declared as having healing powers in 1509. This majestically soaring Mount to the height of 7000 ft provides stunning views of the city, along with Lake Lucerne from its lofty heights.Sat, 07 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54464/mount-pilatushttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54383/literary-tour-englandLondon is specifically important for live theatrical performances, dating back to William Shakespeare and even earlier than that. Royal Drury it is one of the oldest theatres of London. It is majestically preserved. Many great play wrights like Dryden, Sheridan, Congreve and others have had their plays performed in this theatre. The backstage preparations and underground tunnels were of particular interest to me.Sat, 13 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54383/literary-tour-englandhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54358/some-changing-and-unchanging-faces-of-bengaluruVisiting Bengaluru is always a pleasure for me. I have come a long way from the days when I stayed in a rickety lodge near the bus stand to attend some vague interview or stupid test to the present visits just to relax in a good hotel and spend hours with a friend in a bar with a few drinks. Sat, 22 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54358/some-changing-and-unchanging-faces-of-bengaluruhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54290/oaxaca--a-mexican-cultural-iconAs our bus pulled close to the hotel, we were told that we would be disembarking from the bus at the intersection a block away from the hotel as the road was not wide enough for the bus. The road being so narrow that the bus could not go through it, was a big surprise. But this was just a beginning as we were going to encounter a few more surprises.Sat, 27 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54290/oaxaca--a-mexican-cultural-iconhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54237/a-visit-to-pondicherry-and-aurovilleA long-awaited visit to Pondicherry or Puducherry could be materialized immediately after the pandemic got nearly over when I was fed up with the city life of Delhi. The city in the Puducherry district on the southeast coast of India, surrounded by the charm of the Bay of Bengal to the east and the state of Tamil Nadu, with which it shares magnificent culture, heritage, and language that welcomed me with all its serenity and waves, but the fear of Corona loomed large, and the weather was also too humid.Sun, 17 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54237/a-visit-to-pondicherry-and-aurovillehttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54200/olympias-washington-state-capitolA summer holiday in Seattle offers a plethora of joys. Seattle, the most populous city in the State of Washington in the Pacific Northwest region, has grown in leaps and bounds since the 80s when the technological giants began setting up strong bases here. Well connected through air, water, and land, it is a melting pot of cultures, with people from diverse ethnicities moving here in search of greener pastures literally and otherwise. There is no dearth of entertainment for nature lovers in this evergreen State, with innumerable daylong trips to the nearby places – Portland, Olympic Peninsula, Idaho, Spokane, Wenatchee, Tacoma, Everett, Bremerton, and more; magnificent views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, the Cascades ranges, and the Olympic Mountains can be viewed from various spots while on the move.Sat, 24 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54200/olympias-washington-state-capitolhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54180/the-big-ben-londonSun, 11 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54180/the-big-ben-londonhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54132/transcendent-beauty-of-mystical-oahuAs the mist clears and a cool breeze sweeps in, we head out to the North Shore driving from Honolulu and stop at the quaint town of Haleiwa to take in the sights and sounds.  We then follow the scenic route along the endless coastline of Oahu on the Kamehameha highway that hugs the northern and eastern coasts! Majestic mountains filled with ridges formed from volcanic eruptions make up the contiguous Koolua range which are covered in misty clouds that hang on dreamily and time appears to slow down!Sat, 06 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54132/transcendent-beauty-of-mystical-oahuhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54060/a-journey-to-self-discovery--haridwar--rishikesh--jim-corbett--nainitalEmbarking on a soul-stirring expedition across Haridwar, Rishikesh, Jim Corbett, and Nainital, the journey unfolded from November 2nd to 9th, 2023. Each destination offered a unique blend of spirituality, adventure, and tranquility. From the Ganga Aarti in Haridwar to the solitary exploration of Jim Corbett's wilderness, and the serene lakes of Nainital, the expedition became a profound journey of self-discovery. Guided by cultural nuances, safety-focused adventures, and moments of introspection, the odyssey concluded with a deep sense of gratitude for the transformative experiences encountered on this remarkable solo expedition.Sun, 12 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54060/a-journey-to-self-discovery--haridwar--rishikesh--jim-corbett--nainitalhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54054/a-day-in-kurukshetraA diversion from the mundane was long overdue. To avoid further unpleasant situation in the family till the next summers or its thereabouts, I agreed to a proposal by my wife to take a break for a day or two and visit a place in the vicinity to unwind from the routine. After much discussion, it was decided that we would visit Kurukshetra.Sat, 04 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54054/a-day-in-kurukshetrahttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53798/ladakh-trip-may-2023We spent lovely 7 days in Ladakh visiting various places. We visited Leh, Nubra Valley, Turtuk, Thang (LOC), Pangong Lake and various places in between. Sat, 17 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53798/ladakh-trip-may-2023https://www.boloji.com/articles/53770/istanbul-a-visitors-turkish-delightIstanbul is the city that has the unique distinction of being split between 2 continents of Asia and Europe, earning the epithet of being a Transcontinental. Bosphorus Strait is that narrow body of water that divides it between continents. Besides its geographical uniqueness, it also had another uniqueness of being an amalgamation of European and the Middle Eastern cultures, while being steeped deeply in colorful history. All these confluences, currents, and counter currents along with cultural and political influences make it an interesting tourist destination. Sat, 03 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53770/istanbul-a-visitors-turkish-delighthttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53745/toyota-kaikan-museumToyota Kaikan Museum, in Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, near Nagoya, Japan is not just a tourist destination for engineers and auto enthusiasts, but also a must to visit place for people of all ages from children to old, men and women. In fact, the children taking a day school trip probably is the largest segment of the visitors to the museum. In todays world automobiles have become the center of our lives, as a result, most of the people have set foot in an automobile dealership and the showroom. But visiting this museum is like taking the experience of visiting a car dealership into the stratosphere.Sat, 20 May 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53745/toyota-kaikan-museumhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53598/corridor-of-blissThe two-day trip to Rameswaram offered a plethora of invigorating thoughts and experiences. One of the 12 jothirlingam shrines, the island of Rameswaram attracts crores of people not only for its historical significance but also for its religious importance, which includes performance of obsequies to departed kith and kin. Any spiritual aspirant who has had several dips in the Dhanushkodi remains in bliss for a long time.Sat, 04 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/53598/corridor-of-blisshttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53477/my-memorable-cruisesSat, 19 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/53477/my-memorable-cruiseshttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53446/visit-to-a-pet-shop--columbus-ohioWhile driving down Columbus - Ohio, I came across a few pet shops enroute. My curiosity made me stop at one of these shops. On entering the shop, I found it to be very spacious. On the left side were neatly arranged glass kennels, with good lighting and ventilation. There were over dozen breeds of puppies and they were housed breed wise, in the kennels.Sun, 30 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53446/visit-to-a-pet-shop--columbus-ohiohttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53435/drive-to-downtown--columbus-ohioWith time waiting for me, I planned to take the public transport to reach Downtown in Columbus, Ohio. While waiting for the bus, I casually looked round and was welcomed by a neat cabin like shelter at the bus stand. Few foldable seats were available, which were neatly placed. On one side of the shelter, the bus route was very clearly depicted while the other areas were lined with local pictures of the town.Sat, 22 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53435/drive-to-downtown--columbus-ohiohttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53378/bat-city--austin-txI had the pleasure of meeting my school mates, in Austin, USA, after forty-five years, that brought nostalgic memories of our school days. It was evening and we decided to take a trek along the 'Lady Bird Lake', chatting happily. On our return, I was surprised to see people gathering in groups on the banks of the lake and a crowd was assembling on the bridge over the Colorado River, expectantly peering across the waters. Seeing my surprise, one of my friends, a resident of Austin, informed me that such evenings are a very regular feature between March and October every year, when people gather in large numbers at sunset to watch the bats fly out of their roost. It also draws a large number of tourists to witness this spectacle.Sat, 10 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53378/bat-city--austin-txhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53329/hymns-in-an-archipelagoCivilizations and places fall into ruins within decades or in a few centuries, while others gain prominence even after several decades have passed. Places of spiritual importance are often restored by devoted followers, and continue to attract seekers from far and near. What makes this place so charged with positivity and heavenly bliss - I wonder, as I gaze at the pictures of the Vivekananda Cottage and Vivekananda Rock on the Thousand Islands Park, reliving the moments of the previous weekend. How blessed the island and the visitors who come there for a spiritual retreat are!Sat, 06 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53329/hymns-in-an-archipelagohttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53279/day-trip-to-the-american-alpsSummers in Seattle where we are currently holidaying, is usually warm with long hours of sunshine. That is, when summer appears! This year, winter extended until June, after a brief exit in May. ‘June Gloom’ lasted for almost the whole of June; it was ‘Juneuary’ for a rather long time in the west coast, owing to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Technically, summer solstice begins on June 21; peak summer in Seattle begins mostly in July.Fri, 01 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53279/day-trip-to-the-american-alpshttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53164/city-of-rosesSummers and long weekends in the USA is synonymous with travel. It is a pleasant sight watching families (that includes their canines) in an assortment of vehicles, carrying canoes, paddle boats, camping tents, barbecue grills, bicycles and foodstuffs and driving off to the waterfronts and other open spaces to get that dose of Vitamin D and some tan. With an appreciative eye, I have watched men, women and children dexterously offloading from and uploading the contents atop their vehicles. When in America, do as the Americans do!Sat, 30 Apr 2022 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53164/city-of-roseshttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53144/holidaying-at-the-finger-lakes-and-the-niagaraThe aha moment at the first glimpse of the Niagara from the American side around dusk was an experience of a lifetime. From the American side, the three parts of the Niagara- Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and the American Falls cast their spell upon all. Sat, 16 Apr 2022 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53144/holidaying-at-the-finger-lakes-and-the-niagarahttps://www.boloji.com/articles/52411/sea-viewsI just cannot forget two islands I have visited; one Lakshadweep when in service to do a Risk Study of IOC storage at the island. A special permission had to be taken in Kochi to visit Lakshadweep. I flew to Kochi and from there flight to Agatti. The landscapes one could see while reaching Agatti and from there by boat to Kavaratti either by boat or helicopter are really awesome.Sat, 13 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/52411/sea-viewshttps://www.boloji.com/articles/52194/malana-the-quarantine-villageMalana, the village practicing social distancing from ages is itself the world of mysteries. When we heard the term ‘quarantine’ for the first time, Malana was already practicing it. The village has been known worldwide for its hashish. Even today, its hashish popularly known as ‘Malana Cream’ is sold at the costliest rates in the world. But when the world knows about Malana, then what’s so mysterious about it? To find my answers I started my trek to Malana from district Kullu in Himachal Pradesh, India.Thu, 10 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/52194/malana-the-quarantine-villagehttps://www.boloji.com/articles/52061/river-viewsRivers always create a sense of awe in me. When I say ‘awe ’ it includes ‘admiration ’ as well as ‘fright ’. I feel they are as beautiful as they are treacherous. They are as whimsical as dependable. While watching the river flow silently it also creates fear when it is forceful. It is a legendary that civilization started on the banks of the river. Wed, 14 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/52061/river-viewshttps://www.boloji.com/articles/51761/view-from-the-topI haven’t enjoyed the pleasure of traveling across the world frequently; yet, I was destined to see some important monuments or icons of the world. My first international travel itself was to USA in 1992.Sat, 13 Jun 2020 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/51761/view-from-the-tophttps://www.boloji.com/articles/51705/memories-of-a-receding-past-47Named after Murshid Quli Khan, Murshidabad was the capital of Bengal before Kolkata was made its capital. It was an aggressive act by the British East India Company that deprived the local Nawab the powers to collect taxes. Murshid Quli khan had brought the capital to Murshidabadl from Dhaka where it had been taken by Bangla Sultanate. The region was very affluent and the local Nawab used to provide handsome tributes to the Mughal court in Delhi.Sat, 30 May 2020 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/51705/memories-of-a-receding-past-47https://www.boloji.com/articles/51697/memories-of-a-receding-past-45A brief write-up on GourSat, 23 May 2020 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/51697/memories-of-a-receding-past-45https://www.boloji.com/articles/51696/covid-19-times-this-too-shall-passSat, 23 May 2020 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/51696/covid-19-times-this-too-shall-passhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/51683/memories-of-a-receding-past-44A travel write-up on BishnupurSat, 23 May 2020 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/51683/memories-of-a-receding-past-44https://www.boloji.com/articles/51620/destinations-manali-1993In 1993, having slogged quite a bit in the Personnel Wing of the department, we decided to take a break and a holiday. We had covered most of the hill stations by the 1990s but we had not been to Manali. I had heard about Kulu and Manali when I was still in the College.Sat, 25 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/51620/destinations-manali-1993https://www.boloji.com/articles/51590/destinations-dar-es-salam-1992A brief account of my 14-day stay in TanzaniaSun, 12 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/51590/destinations-dar-es-salam-1992https://www.boloji.com/articles/51586/a-trip-to-dubaiPlaning to Trip to Dubai? Check Out Best Things to do and see in Dubai.Wed, 08 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/51586/a-trip-to-dubaihttps://www.boloji.com/articles/51585/destinations-nairobi-1992--mombasaAn account of my journey to MombasaWed, 08 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/51585/destinations-nairobi-1992--mombasahttps://www.boloji.com/articles/51578/destinations-nairobi--1992-part-iAbout a couple of hours of flying brought us to Nairobi from Addis Ababa. The Nairobi airport was bigger, more business-like and free of clutter. This was the second time I was using the airport. Earlier, about three years ago, I had passed through Nairobi on my way up to Manzini in Swaziland as also on my way back from there to India. Here the first thing that strikes you is that everybody is very smartly dressed – men in suits, generally, in shades of grey and women, too, in skirts and top of more or less the same colour.Sun, 05 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/51578/destinations-nairobi--1992-part-ihttps://www.boloji.com/articles/51552/destinations-addis-ababa-1992I was picked up by the Universal Postal Union for a three-country assignment in Africa. This was in 1992 and, for a change, I was asked to proceed first to Addis Ababa via Berne, Switzerland. On previous two occasions I was asked to proceed directly to the country where I was supposed to operate. Wed, 01 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/51552/destinations-addis-ababa-1992https://www.boloji.com/articles/51411/bundelkhand-romance-rock-cut-narasimha-of-dudhaiOur next destination was Dudhai, to visit the Rock-cut Narasimha and Jain relics. Google map showed a distance of 12.3 km from Nilkantheshwar Trimurti. The Rock-cut Narasimha is numbered N-UP-L224 in the ASI List of Monuments of National Importance in Lalitpur district. I had read about this unique relief on net but did not find any research paper or article. Given that Lalitpur and surroundings are rich fields of archeological treasures bearing history of Gupta Age, and that Vishnu worship was common in the area, (as evident, for example, from the famous Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh), the dating of the Rock-cut Narasimha could well be anywhere between 4th-7th century CE.Sun, 12 Jan 2020 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/51411/bundelkhand-romance-rock-cut-narasimha-of-dudhaihttps://www.boloji.com/articles/51410/bundelkhand-romance-neelkantheshwar-trimurtiBundelkhand. The very name of romance. War, love, mystery, history… and Nature … Though Gwalior, Jhansi and Chanderi are the most popular and tourist-frequented destinations of Bundelkhand, there are more to it, and mostly off the tourist map. It is that ‘off’ that puts us ‘on.’Sun, 12 Jan 2020 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/51410/bundelkhand-romance-neelkantheshwar-trimurtihttps://www.boloji.com/articles/51141/aditya-and-neha-in-goa'I won! I won!' six-year old Neha was excitedly jumping up and down in the fast moving train. She and her elder brother Aditya were playing the game of snakes and ladders in the train. They were going to Goa with their parents this summer. Aditya was ten years old. They had boarded the train the previous night at Mumbai, which was fast approaching Goa. It was early morning now. Through the window of the train they could see the green hills dotted with tiny beautiful houses with tiled roofs.Sun, 29 Sep 2019 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/51141/aditya-and-neha-in-goahttps://www.boloji.com/articles/51119/destinations-prague-2004Having come so close it seemed it would be a pity if we did not take a shot at Praha (Prague), now capital of Czech Republic. Czech Republic was established in 1993 before which it was federated with Slovakia. Many would have heard of Bohemia. Well, it was virtually the original name of the current Czech Republic having been known as the Kingdom of Bohemia for about 900 years since the 12th Century. Praha is known to be cultural, economic and political centre of Central Europe.Thu, 26 Sep 2019 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/51119/destinations-prague-2004https://www.boloji.com/articles/51083/destinations-budapest-2004We were in Vienna for a fortnight taking in its sights and sounds. Of the neighbouring towns, we had already visited Baden – a city that is accessible by tram from Vienna. After a brief respite of a couple of days we planned a day-long trip to Budapest which was only around 200 kilometres away. Austria and Hungary are neighbours and, in fact, during the times of Austro-Hungarian Empire they were one and the same country. Wed, 11 Sep 2019 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/51083/destinations-budapest-2004https://www.boloji.com/articles/51071/in-the-natures-lap-yercaudSat, 07 Sep 2019 08:35:07 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/51071/in-the-natures-lap-yercaudhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50982/destinations-baden-2004I had a faint recollection that there was a small town by the name of Baden near Vienna. There was another one which was known as Baden Baden which was a health resort and situated in Germany. This is now known as Baden-Wurttemberg. Both are spa towns known for their health-giving properties. Spa, in fact, is a place for baths in waters that have curative properties. Baden also means baths. So both the Badens – Baden near Vienna and Baden Wurrtemberg – are resort towns known for the healthy waters they have.Wed, 31 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50982/destinations-baden-2004https://www.boloji.com/articles/50981/destinations-vienna-2004-2-ah-soniaThe impression that went around abroad abou Sonia Gandhi in 2004 is reflected in this pieceMon, 29 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50981/destinations-vienna-2004-2-ah-soniahttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50972/enchanting-chinaI had always been fascinated by this great country called China, right from my early childhood. I studied with great admiration the great Chinese traveler and Philosopher Hieun Tsang who visited India and lived in India from 627 AD to 643 AD. Ever since, I had this urge of visiting this great country. Both my wife and I have a penchant for traveling and we have a group of friends who share the same. So, while we strive to travel to one or the other location, this time, we zeroed in on China. Wed, 24 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50972/enchanting-chinahttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50927/destinations-vienna-2004My wife and I had visited Vienna for just about three days once earlier, around a couple of decades ago on a shoestring budget. We rushed around doing the sights, visited palaces and museums, went around in circles on the trams of Ring-kai-Ring, and wandered through the maze of narrow cobbled streets in the Old Quarter, flanked by quaint centuries-old baroque structures. We came away not quite satiated; always had that compelling desire to go back and experience it more fully.Sun, 30 Jun 2019 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50927/destinations-vienna-2004https://www.boloji.com/articles/50925/anaikatti-resort-great-greeneryFor my parched eyes, the greenery everywhere was a pleasant surprise in the Anaikattai Resort. Apart from the exceptionally lush interiors, there is a view of the river Siruvani flowing rather solemnly at the backyard of the resort. I just wandered around the not so spacious resort and lazily sleeping in the room and enjoying the tasty a la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner.Sat, 29 Jun 2019 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50925/anaikatti-resort-great-greeneryhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50829/gurudwara-janam-asthan-a-sikh-yearning-to-visitThis year the 550th Parkash Purab of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is being celebrated by all the Sikhs worldwide with great enthusiasm and reverence. As homage to Guru Ji blessed birth place, we decided to visit the Gurudwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, now in PakistanSat, 27 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50829/gurudwara-janam-asthan-a-sikh-yearning-to-visithttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50800/destinations-oxford-and-stratford-upon-avonBrief travel write-ups on Oxford and Stratford-upon-AvonSat, 20 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50800/destinations-oxford-and-stratford-upon-avonhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50788/destinations-edinburghTue, 26 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50788/destinations-edinburghhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50735/destinations-margate-ukHaving come so close to England we had to have a shot at it even if only for a few days. A friend of more than fifty years, Dr. Pratap Desai, had retired from the National Health Service of the UK and was residing at Margate, in Kent, virtually across the North Sea. He had been asking me to visit him. He had even rung me up at Brussels.Fri, 01 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/50735/destinations-margate-ukhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50733/angkor-wat-cambodiaAngkor Wat means "Temple City" or "City of Temples" in Khmer; Angkor means "city" or "capital city", and is a vernacular form of the word nokor, which comes from the Sanskrit word nagara. Wat derives from Sanskrit Vaat meaning "enclosure" and is the Khmer word for "temple grounds".The original name of the temple was Vrah Vishnuloka or Parama Vishnuloka which means the sacred dwelling of Vishnu.Sun, 24 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/50733/angkor-wat-cambodiahttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50716/goa-getawayI know it is difficult to get away from din and dust in India. Yet, I ventured into a trip to Goa for a brief getaway. I had been to Goa first time in 1989 with the students and later in 1998 for official work; nearly two decades back. Well, I know about Goa and its places with names like Dabolim, Vasco, Panaji (Panjim), Mapuasa, Margoa, Dona Paula and the place is known more for its beaches Calangute, Miramar, Colva, Baga etc. Thanks to Tamizh writer Rajam Krishnan who had written two novels and several short stories centered on Goa and its suburbs.Sat, 16 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/50716/goa-getawayhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50708/srimukhalingam--the-less-known-temple-gem-of-indiaFrom Vizag we reached Shrikakulam by train and checked in at hotel Nagavali beside the Nagavali River. On the first day, we visited Shalihundam and Kalingapattanam from Shrikakulam, and Arsavali Sun Temple and Kurmaswami Temple in Shrikakulam.Sat, 09 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/50708/srimukhalingam--the-less-known-temple-gem-of-indiahttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50684/kashmir-50-years-ago-enchanting-north-kashmirA write up on my visit ti North Kashmir half a century agoSun, 27 Jan 2019 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/50684/kashmir-50-years-ago-enchanting-north-kashmirhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50681/destinations-ghent-amp-brugge-belgiumThis is about visits to two heritage cities of BelgiumSun, 27 Jan 2019 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/50681/destinations-ghent-amp-brugge-belgiumhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50628/destinations-amsterdamOn our way back from Paris we again got into a TGV train for Brussels where we changed into another high speed train for Amsterdam. It took us around two hours to be there. But unexpectedly, the railway station was very crowded. We waded through the crowd to go to to the AAA office, the outlet at the station of Amsterdam Tourism. When our turn came to ask for a hotel room the first question the man behind the counter put to us was whether we were Pakistanis. Sat, 15 Dec 2018 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/50628/destinations-amsterdamhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50625/salihundam-and-kalingapattanam--ancient-globalized-bharatavarshaSalihundam is a village in GaraMandal of Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh, and our destination lies on top of a hill on the south bank of the Vamsadhara River. It is about 23 km from the hotel where we stayed at Srikakulam. Kalingapatnam beach is 5 kms from Salihundam. Salihundam is a historic hotspot on many counts.Sat, 08 Dec 2018 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/50625/salihundam-and-kalingapattanam--ancient-globalized-bharatavarshahttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50611/destinations-paris-a-repeat-visitA write-up on a second visit to ParisWed, 28 Nov 2018 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/50611/destinations-paris-a-repeat-visithttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50610/prambanan-candi-rara-jonggrangMon, 26 Nov 2018 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/50610/prambanan-candi-rara-jonggranghttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50582/destinations-brusselsAfter qualifying for the Indian Foreign Service my nephew was posted in Brussels as one of his first foreign postings. What was important for us was that he had been allotted a two bed-roomed furnished apartment that was located in the area known as Churchill. It was good and well connected. More importantly, to have a place to stay without shelling out foreign exchange in a foreign land and that too in Europe was something great. We made use of that opportunity to roam around a bit in and around Brussels.Thu, 15 Nov 2018 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/50582/destinations-brusselshttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50506/destinations-north-east-aizawl-1990To go to Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, I had once again to take the same wretched road that had earlier taken me to Silchar on way to Agartala. The only consolation was the food on the way at Sonapur and those deadly dried red chilies that were crisply fried with their sting intact. Curiously, these fried chilies have become kind of part of a meal. As far as I know, Bengalis could eat an entire helping of rice with these with ghee and salt added to the mix.Sat, 13 Oct 2018 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50506/destinations-north-east-aizawl-1990https://www.boloji.com/articles/50483/destinations-tripura-agartala-1988To go to Agartala, the capital of Tripura, we had to go through the Jaintia Hills. That meant we went east from Shillong into the Jaintias and then after negotiating several ranges turned south to hit Assam in the plains in its Barak Valley. The road from Shillong was horrible. One cannot imagine why it was left in such a terrible condition when there was so much of commerce riding over it. It was bumpy and back-breaking; at some places the road had disappeared and that too at hairpin bends where it should have been mended as fast as possibleThu, 11 Oct 2018 06:01:06 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50483/destinations-tripura-agartala-1988https://www.boloji.com/articles/50455/destinations-arunachal-itanagar-amp-ziroA brieg travel write-up on Itanagar & ZiroSat, 15 Sep 2018 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50455/destinations-arunachal-itanagar-amp-zirohttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50443/a-genting-getawayWe had read a lot about Genting Highlands from the travel brochures and the internet but nothing had prepared us for the actual sight when we landed there in the afternoon of 22 Aug 2011. My daughter Neha and I were on a week long holiday to Malaysia and Singapore and after staying at the elegant Novotel Hotel at Kualalumpur for 2 nights we took a cab and drove to Genting.Fri, 14 Sep 2018 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50443/a-genting-getawayhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50419/destinations-north-east-bomdila-1988a travel write-up on Bomdila Sat, 01 Sep 2018 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50419/destinations-north-east-bomdila-1988https://www.boloji.com/articles/50413/destinations-north-east-churachandpur-1989A travel write-up on Churachandpur, ManipurSat, 01 Sep 2018 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50413/destinations-north-east-churachandpur-1989https://www.boloji.com/articles/50412/destinations-kohima-amp-manipur-1989We had two options to approach Imphal from Guwahati. One was to go via Silchar and the other was to go via Guwahati and Kohima in Nagaland. The driver was reluctant to take the route via Silchar as, he said, it had the disturbed area of Tamenglong on the way. It is the westernmost district of Manipur with Assam on its western flank. True, that area of Manipur had been disturbed for quite some time with rebel activities and they did not quite like outsiders. We naturally chose to take the other option and travel via Guwahati.Tue, 28 Aug 2018 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50412/destinations-kohima-amp-manipur-1989https://www.boloji.com/articles/50378/destinarions-north-east-kazi-ranga-1990One morning we drove out of Shillong for Kazi Ranga. Kazi Ranga is in Assam and has extensive grasslands which host the famous Indian one-horn Rhino. It also hosts wild elephants, tigers, wild buffalos and assorted wildlife including a variety of antelopes.Sun, 29 Jul 2018 08:27:22 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50378/destinarions-north-east-kazi-ranga-1990https://www.boloji.com/articles/50346/destinations-north-east-tura-1989A write-up based on a visit to West Garo HillsSun, 08 Jul 2018 10:31:22 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50346/destinations-north-east-tura-1989https://www.boloji.com/articles/50331/destinations-north-east-shillong-1988-90A travel write-up on ShillongSun, 24 Jun 2018 08:41:05 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50331/destinations-north-east-shillong-1988-90https://www.boloji.com/articles/50266/destinations-mount-abu-2010A travel write-up on Mount Abu, RajasthanSun, 29 Apr 2018 17:13:59 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50266/destinations-mount-abu-2010https://www.boloji.com/articles/50249/destinations-ajmer-amp-pushkarWe had come out to visit Mount Abu sometime in March 2010 but stopped over for two or three days at Ajmer. Ajmer was deeply ingrained in our consciousness as all my siblings had to clear matriculation examinations conducted by the Ajmer Board of Secondary Education.Sat, 14 Apr 2018 16:22:39 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50249/destinations-ajmer-amp-pushkarhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/50206/destinations-jaisalmer-1994travel write-up on JaisalmerSun, 25 Mar 2018 10:11:30 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50206/destinations-jaisalmer-1994https://www.boloji.com/articles/50192/destinations-jodhpur-1994A travel write-up on JodhpurSun, 18 Mar 2018 10:00:07 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/50192/destinations-jodhpur-1994https://www.boloji.com/articles/50149/destinations-new-york-1998Besides being called Big Apple New York has many other sobriquets. But, that is beside the point. During our stay of more than two months in the US we somehow happened to only transit through it. Having come to America and not visiting New York would seem to be denying oneself something quintessentially American. It is a great melting pot of various nationalities and sub-nationalities which live and work together to create a community as diverse as it could be, yet each exuding its unique cultural flavour.Sat, 24 Feb 2018 12:07:56 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/50149/destinations-new-york-1998https://www.boloji.com/articles/50109/destinations-niagara-falls-1998A travel write-up on Niagara Falls, USSun, 28 Jan 2018 10:03:28 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/50109/destinations-niagara-falls-1998https://www.boloji.com/articles/50105/destinations-washington-dc-1998A travel write-up on Washington DCSun, 28 Jan 2018 10:04:32 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/50105/destinations-washington-dc-1998https://www.boloji.com/articles/50067/destinations-san-francisco-1998Mon, 25 Dec 2017 09:41:06 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/50067/destinations-san-francisco-1998https://www.boloji.com/articles/49986/destinations-chicago-1998A write-up on Chicago that was visited around twenty years agoSun, 05 Nov 2017 10:24:23 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/49986/destinations-chicago-1998https://www.boloji.com/articles/49945/destinations-edwardsville-illinois-1998As my sister and a nephew were insisting on us to visit them in the US we travelled there in 1998. Pre-travel formalities take a lot of time, especially those relating to the US visa. Thankfully those days were different and Donald Trump was yet to ride on the back of Uncle Sam. Having had the visa we bought US Air tickets under VUSA that make flying to distant destinations in the vast country much cheaper.Sat, 07 Oct 2017 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/49945/destinations-edwardsville-illinois-1998https://www.boloji.com/articles/49920/destinations-mandu-1994Mandu is another historical town of Madhya Pradesh. Located on the Vindhya Hills it falls in the Malwa Region of the State. It is one historical place that is not inhabited. It is only a tourist site and the nearest town is Dhar, 30-odd kilometers away. It is basically a fort the remnants of which one can see and savour. The place at one time was the capital of Mandu principality. While the rest of the city has disappeared leaving hardly any trace, the ruins in the fort around 700 years old, now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, are interesting for visitors.Sun, 17 Sep 2017 08:42:36 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/49920/destinations-mandu-1994https://www.boloji.com/articles/49894/destinations-khajuraho-1986A write-up on Khajuraho that my wife and I visited in 1986Sun, 03 Sep 2017 09:22:09 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/49894/destinations-khajuraho-1986https://www.boloji.com/articles/49868/destinations-orchha-2009Only 18 kilometres from Jhansi, a major railway junction of the Central Railways on its trunk route between New Delhi and Mumbai, there is a magical place called Orchha. The place is in the Bundelkhand region of the central Indian province of Madhya Pradesh and confines within its folds some remarkable specimens of medieval central Indian architecture.Sat, 19 Aug 2017 07:51:58 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/49868/destinations-orchha-2009https://www.boloji.com/articles/49855/destinations-pachmarhi-1983The lilting tunes played by the massed bands on Vijay Chowk at New Delhi every year as part of the Beating the Retreat ceremony during the Republic Day Celebrations have deep and, shall we say, enduring connections with Pachmarhi. All the players are from the military band school of the Army Education Corps (AEC) located at Pachmarhi. Not only does the school effortlessly make vibrant as well as sombre music it also impeccably trains its pupils for the demands of various formal and non-formal occasions. Sat, 12 Aug 2017 10:07:05 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/49855/destinations-pachmarhi-1983https://www.boloji.com/articles/49821/destinations-sikkim-1981On way to Gangtok via Kalimpong from Darjeeling our taxi drove through tea gardens. As we were going through Lopchu garden the driver suddenly applied the brakes and as we looked up at the road in front a leopard crossed the road at near-supersonic speed. Yes, there was wildlife there on those hills around thirty five years ago.Sun, 23 Jul 2017 08:55:28 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/49821/destinations-sikkim-1981https://www.boloji.com/articles/49793/destinations-darjeeling-1981Darjeeling is back in the news and not for the right reasons. This time the reason is alleged imposition of Bengali in the primary schools of Darjeeling. After all, being a part of the state of Bengal where the official language is Bengali and English its districts necessarily have to follow suit. But the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha which runs autonomously the district administration has made an issue of it. As a consequence peace has again been disrupted in one of the places of great tourist interest.Sun, 09 Jul 2017 09:54:50 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/49793/destinations-darjeeling-1981https://www.boloji.com/articles/49739/destinations-jaipur-1980destinations,jaipurSun, 11 Jun 2017 10:11:50 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/49739/destinations-jaipur-1980https://www.boloji.com/articles/49716/destinations-udaipur-1980In the winter of 1980 we at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) were required under the Advanced Professional programme in Public Administration to conduct a field study for the dissertation that had to be submitted before the end of the Programme. I was asked to study the problem of rural indebtedness in the district of Udaipur in Rajasthan.Sun, 28 May 2017 09:49:38 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/49716/destinations-udaipur-1980https://www.boloji.com/articles/49660/destinations-nainital-1980Sun, 23 Apr 2017 19:13:59 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/49660/destinations-nainital-1980https://www.boloji.com/articles/49633/destinations-goa-1979A write-up on Goa that I visited with my wife in 1979 for the first timeSun, 09 Apr 2017 09:47:37 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/49633/destinations-goa-1979