Compass: India
“Time spent in India has an extraordinary effect on one. It acts as a barrier that makes the rest of the world seem unreal.”
– Tahir Shah
India is a Southeast Asian country that is known for many things–the birthplace of yoga, a diverse landscape, natural beauty, food, culture, it’s dense population, classic dances, Bollywood, elusive catfish like the goonch and so much more. As the world’s second most populous country India offers something for everyone.
Incredible India is a land of mystery and intrigue. It is a transformative experience.
Enjoy the warm hospitality of Indian citizens and travel vicariously through the stories that will take you from the beach to the mountains, from the desert to urban areas, from farmland to churning rivers and architectural wonders. We promise that you’ll be inspired, transformed and eager to experience the potpourri of Incredible India on your own.
The Food that Keeps Kashmir Warm
By Sugato MukherjeeMehman nawazi (hospitality) is etched in the ethos of Kashmir and her people, a centuries-old legacy of this Northwestern Indian state. Every time I land myself in Srinagar, my friend Mushtaq would pick me up late in the evening, and a half-an-hour bumpy ride through the Srinagar-Ganderbal highway would take … Read more Read more
India Food & Drink
Jehan Numa Retreat – A Serene Gateway to Bhopal – The City Of Queens
By Bandita MukherjeeThe expanse of the Bhopal sky slowly turns scarlet as we settle into the serene world of Jehan Numa Retreat. A short 30 minute drive from the Bhopal airport has us approaching the 12.5 acres boutique property of the erstwhile Nawabs of Bhopal in the Malwa plateau of Central India. Read more
India
Exploring Kangra Valley from Rakkh Resort
By Sugato MukherjeeA mountainous land in the Northwestern part of India, the state of Himachal Pradesh has long been a paradise for travelers. Colonial-era hill stations, idyllic rural settlements and verdant valleys dot the expanse of this North Indian state that was once a part of undivided Punjab. However, Kangra Valley, in … Read more Read more
India Off the Beaten Path
Ri Kynjai — The Abode of Clouds in Misty Meghalaya
By Bandita MukherjeeBlessed with rich biodiversity and dramatic terrains, this North-Eastern state of India with Assam to its north and Bangladesh to its south is a paradise for nature lovers. The matrilineal state has decked herself up wonderfully for adventure seekers and laid back travelers across the globe. Read more
India Adventure Architecture
A Walking Tour Highlighting a Mumbai Slum’s Innovative Industry
By Bianca CaruanaDharavi, in central Mumbai, is considered one of the largest slums in Asia, but deep within this neighborhood, below the shanty grey roofs, loosely comprised of scavenged, upcycled metal, lives a resourceful and innovative community that plays an imperative role in Mumbai’s city-wide waste management. Read more
India Off the Beaten Path Social Responsibility
Mahabaleshwar: A Tranquil Getaway in the Western Ghats of India
By Tania BanerjeeSunlight streamed in as I parted the window curtains of the double-decker luxury bus my husband and I were taking from Mumbai to the popular summer destination of Mahabaleshwar, 264 kilometers East of India’s biggest city. Outside, low-hanging tufts of clouds touched the opulent carpet of green that rolled down … Read more Read more
India Agritourism Off the Beaten Path History
When Calcutta Housed These Retail Powerhouses
By Sugato MukherjeeIn his sleek and self-illustrated volume ‘Jakhan Choto Chilam’ (When I Was a Child), the great Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray vividly portrays kaleidoscopic cameos of Calcutta (now Kolkata) of the interwar years, a city where he grew up. Read more
India History
Ging: Tea Trails in the Himalayan Foothills
By Bandita MukherjeeLeaving behind the tourist-filled streets of Darjeeling and the lingering whistle of the steam engine of the Heritage Himalayan Railway, our car enters the Lebong Valley. It is a different world altogether. Read more
India Food & Drink History
Escape from India during COVID-19 (Part 3 Final)
The conclusion of Escape from India during COVID-19 continues with Anietra sharing more of the roller coaster ordeal that took her and Ian from hope to hopelessness and back. Now she is confronted with the memories of the traumatic experience. Read more
India Experiences
Escape from India during COVID-19 (Part 2)
In Episode One of Escape from India during COVID-19, we introduced you to veteran journalist Anietra Hamper who was trying to escape from India after COVID-19 derailed her fishing assignment trip. Anietra and her fishing guide, Ian Henderson, were left stranded in India with only a narrow window to get … Read more Read more
India Experiences
Escape from India during COVID-19 (Part 1)
What was meant to be a four-week writing assignment to Nepal and India for veteran journalist Anietra Hamper, turned out to be an absolute nightmare for her and her traveling companion, Ian Henderson. Read more
India Experiences
Lucknow: A Melting Pot of Architecture, Culture and Cuisine
By Bandita MukherjeeLocated by the Gomti river, a major tributary of River Ganga, Lucknow is a paradise for explorers with its time-honored architecture, lip-smacking dishes, lyrical zubaan (style of conversation), and world-famous garments. Read more
India Food & Drink History
When River Ganga Flows by Europe
By Sugato MukherjeeUpstream along the quiet banks of the Ganga, not far from the bustle of Calcutta, lies a string of towns, where a slice of Europe came to roost long before the British did. Read more
India History
Offbeat India: A Pilgrimage to the Source of the Ganges
By Trixie PacisIndia cradles an ancient and spiritual culture that draws visitors from around the globe. Spiritual experiences in the country range from temple visits and yoga retreats to 10-day silent Vipassana meditations. While India is best known by tourists for wonders like the Taj Mahal, our six-month sojourn brought us to … Read more Read more
India Off the Beaten Path Religious Travel History
College Street Coffee House: Where Kolkata Meets the World
By Sugato MukherjeeI have come to College Street Coffee House, an iconic café in Kolkata, India, after many years. The small but cavernous entrance of this 19th-century building and its dank staircase has remained just the same. Read more
India Food & Drink