My Weekend Odysseys

Travelling - It leaves you speechless and then it turns you into a storyteller. By Ibn Battuta  How true this quote is when I write my experience of a hike to a small village on outskirts of Manali which left us speechless with our walk in woods and through heart of Apple Orchards near old Manali. It all started with culmination of our Leh Ladakh journey and a day to spare in Manali. After a week of travelling by car in Leh Ladakh and ending the trip in Manali, It was a relaxing day for our group, We decided to spent our day by visiting Hidimba temple and do a stroll in old Manali. Old Manali is around 3 kms from New Manali which is separated by bridge over gushing waters of Beas river. A complete uphill climb, Old Manali lane is flanked by restaurants and cafes serving wide varieties of International cuisines from Israel to Korea. More frequented by foreigners, We can find shopkeepers and cafe owners talking fluently in Hebrew or Italian or French. The last stretch of old Manali l...

Mumbai the mega metropolitan city was once a group of seven islands is something that we all know about. The seven islands which constitute Mumbai were home to communities of fishing villages and little hamlets scattered all over. They are chapters of a glorious history that endowed us with such rich heritage and architecture. Mazgaon or Mazagon - part of South Mumbai is one of the oldest suburbs of Mumbai. The original inhabitants were Agari (salt workers) & Koli (fisherman) tribes. Mazgaon has a rich history. It influenced several communities which makes it even more interesting. In heart of this sprawling suburb of Mumbai lies this quaint village called Matharpacady or Mathar-Pakhadi which was originally a colony of East Indian Catholics but over a period of time came to include many Goan and other families. The village is self contained with artistic wrought iron and wood bungalows, art decor, sprawling porches, verandas and altars. It boast of some of the city's old...