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You have done a wonderful job of bringing out some of the subtleties of India. My last couple of trips to India have given me a tremendous insight into the diversity of this country. So much so, that I have decided to spend my next vacations travelling within India. Being Indian, and having missed out 99% of this vast country is a shame! But I would love to see readers/travelers share their experiences through your site. I would be more than happy to volunteer my time and effort in any manner in bringing about a positive change to tourism in India. Thanks and do keep up the good efforts.

Sriram Ramakrishnan, USA/Netherlands


This is in response to YR Radhika;s article "The Sapphire God of Kolnapaku, Andhra Pradesh". I am from Aleru and Kolanupaka is on the way to Rajapet where my father worked in the Health Department. This (Rajapet) again is an interesting place with an old Fort surrounding the village. But the irony is we never stopped at Kolanupaka, I never knew that the idol was carved out of Sapphire until I read this article. The article makes me view my native place with a different angle and makes me nostalgic. Though I am from Aleru. I did not live there much. I used to visit Aleru during every vacation. I used to wonder about these horse drawn carts. Now, I think I will certainly visit Kolanupaka riding on one of these horse carts.

G. Ramesh, India


I was just surfing the Internet on a dull Friday afternoon when I came across your site. I was greatly impressed by the way you have described Calcutta. Keep up the good work.

Three years back, in May 1995, after completing my engineering from BIT Mesra, I started my career from Calcutta. Initially I used to dislike the place very much as it was very dirty with so many people. Moreover, my mother tongue is Hindi and I did not know Bengali, a virtual must for the place.

BUT, BUT, BUT things started changing when I saw and analysed the place well. I felt that here still people care about each other and can easily live even if they earn a mere Rs. 10 per day. College street and the coffee house there, the underground Metro, the trams, Dharamtalla, Ganguram's Mistis, Misthi Doi ...etc. I started liking it all.

With the passage of time, I also felt that this is still a place where people will help you (sometimes they will even leave their work to accompany you). I also I learnt Bengali and started speaking it fluently. Some times I used to listen Rabindra Sangeet (for curosity). Regarding Bengali, I felt that it is even sweeter than my mother tongue. Bengali plays and movies make sense and touch you.

Another important aspect of Calcutta that I noticed was the respect accorded to a Woman. They are given a special status. One of my Bengali friends told me that is because in Bengal the female aspect of divinity is very important, and is represented by the many godesses that are worshipped. Well, I liked it all. Afterwards, I came to believe that all great people always have some Bengal/Calcutta connection !

Unfortunately, because of the nature of my work as a Software Engineer, I moved to London,England, and thereafter USA and left Calcutta (physically, but not emotionally). After 3 years, when I now look back I still feel the connection with Amar Sonar Bangla. Calcutta, I believe is still the place where you must live if you really want to know the meaning of life.

Neeraj Gupta, Texas, USA


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Thank you Savita Rao for the lively Travelogue on Jaisalmer. I'm an Indian and since I saw Ray's "Shonar Kella" I wanted to see the "Kella" (castle) with my mortal eyes. Rajasthan has always been a dreamland, of chilling desert nights and folklore, for me. I've never been there, but one does not pay any tax for dreaming of riding Satayajit Ray's camel and chasing the train with Feluda and Topse (I've seen the movie God knows how many times)....

I'm actually fond of trekking and I've spent some time in the Himalayas at 15,000 ft - it's tough breathing..so you have to come down after a while.

But, I'm sure I'll experience your article on Rajasthan through my own senses someday. For the time being it was good roaming through the Havelis with you.

Nam Erehwon


The article written by Manjula Rao is an excellent piece of work depicting the apprehensions of people new to commuting in Mumbai.Minor things which tend to irritate us no longer seem relevant after a period of time. Commuting by Mumbai trains definitely increases one's level of tolerance and also is a test of patience. I feel you start looking at things in a lighter vein as Manjula did. Unless you do so you cannot enjoy travelling in such a tense and chaotic atmosphere. The article has rightly brought about scenes from a typical ladies compartment.Finally I would like to say that unless you have a cool head backed by a good sense of humour you cannot sail through the ocean of Mumbai locals.

Rajyalakshmi, Mumbai,
India

Impressions: Mumbai: City of Hope by Manjula Rao


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Hi Shyamala,

Read your fantastic article on "The Island of Suns - Andamans" by Shyamala Gomathinayagam.I had been trying to find information on the Andaman Islands, but was unable to do so and finally I have some on hand. I'm planning to visit Andamans.

Thanks & Regards,
Viraj


Manohar, your Mt. Abu article brought back fond memories of my adolescent life when my friends and I visited Abu quite often. You forgot to mention the delightful sunlight of the place in winter. The wonderful sights and sounds that surround you transport you to another world. During monsoons the place has a different flavour all together!

Thank you for a delightful article.

Rupal Vyas

Travelogue : Mount Abu - A Honeymooners' Paradise! by Manohar V Rakhe


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Dear Mr. Rakhe, I just read your article on Honeymoon in Mount Abu, and found it very evocative. Though it's been a decade since I went to Mount Abu, and I've heard that a lot of the forest cover has disappeared in the interim, your article took me back to the last time I was there.

I went to school in Mount Abu too. Do you mind my asking which school you went to?

In any case, thank you for stirring those wonderful memories!

Sincerely,

Matthai Philipose
USA


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The article, The Land of The Rising Sun - an Indian Perspective was well written. Ms Anuradha wrote it in such a manner that I felt as if I was there myself.

Mahantesh


Hi Anuradha. I have learnt a lot from your detailed and enlightened writing on the trip you made to Japan. Thanks for sharing the experience.

Ajoy Majumder


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It is raining here as well in Australia, but it is winter and the sound of thunder and the pitter patter of rain drops falling on the roof do not evoke the same feelings as they do in the dusty planes of Northern India where I come from. Yes, who can forget the aroma of earth when the first monsoon drops fall!

Thanks for refreshing our memory.

Prem Mathur
Australia

Trekking: Sahayadri in the Monsoons by Somit Doshi


Your web site about Travelogues is great and quite informative.

Congratulations. You have done a good job. Will it be possible to give email id's of authors like Sumanta Roy Chowdhury, for people like me who want to know more about Himalayas first hand.

Mrs.Ramana Chennareddy
Canada

Editors Note: Dear Ramana,
Thanks for your letter, which I am forwarding to Sumanta. If you want to get in touch with specific writers, we will be happy to forward your letter, but respecting their privacy we do not publish their e-mail ids on the site.

If you need any further help, do feel free to revert to me.

Romola Butalia


The article on Mahaseers by Amar Dev (angler & sports fisherman) provokes me to write. Why are people killing the Mahaseer - which is not an edible fish.

There should be a ban on using explosives - another form of terrorism. Anyway, thank you very much for the article. I would like to receive some information on Mahaseer fishing. I would like to fish for Mahaseer during this August in India. Which are the good fishing locations for this season and how do I reach those parts? Is there any good saltwater fishing location in India? I will appreciate your reply. Wish you good fishing and tight lines.

D Shanmugasundaram


Hi,

I took great delight in reading the travelogue by Shyamala Gomathinayagam on the Andaman Islands. I spent more than 3 years there as a child. Your story brings back pleasant memories of the wonderful times I had while I was in India.

Paul Bhambra
Country: USA


Congratulations!!!

This is a wonderful site. I liked it very much .The access speed was terrific. The travelogues were wonderful. I read about the visit to Bhutan & that of the Dutch couple, Hans and Mirjam Damen, all around India. Good job, keep it up.

Manik
Country: India

Dear Romola,

I have thoroughly enjoyed getting an overview of your site. It's beautiful! It's very comprehensive and at the same time, full of interesting articles with nice pictures. I haven't yet visited all the sections.

After reading your article on Deo-Tibba, I am thoroughly tempted to attempt a Himalayan trek the next time I visit India. I also loved your pieces on Lucknow and Calcutta.

I am off to read some more!

Samir


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Thanks to www.indiatravelogue.com for putting up that fascinating commentary on Sikkim by Sanjoy Sengupta. His article made me realise how precious is our natural wealth amidst reckless pollution and general disregard for protecting the environment. Those far reaching hills and mountain ranges are now probably the only untouched and pristine natural wealth we have in India. I hope our Government wakes up and makes an effort in protecting our natural resources and also tries to inculcate in people a respect for this God given wealth.

Thanks to India Travelogue for putting this up and to Mr. Sengupta for his love of nature and sharing it.

Amit Roy
Boston, USA


Hi Romola,

I really enjoyed your articles about impressions of Lucknow and Calcutta at India Travelogue. The descriptions are really nice and I found the two particularly heart warming since I was born in Lucknow and raised mostly in Calcutta.

Regards
Naveen Ashish


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It is a great site and I love reading about people's experiences as they travel. I also love to see a place and read about how others felt about it.

Nikita
U.S.A.


A Childhood Dream Relived by Anupama Punita is quite a refreshing article. It took me back to my childhood days as well. Quite informative too.

Wish you keep writing many more....

Anil


Dear Sir,

For once there is something on the net which touches my heart - descriptions of this hallowed land where we have been fortunate to have been born.

I am an ex-serviceman and have been privileged to have seen many places in India. Some of the most memorable experiences have been while serving in Rajastan as the Commanding Officer of a mobile unit.

Rajastan is a riot of colours. The beauty and the vastness of the Thar desert is something to be experienced. The gateway to the Thar desert is Jodhpur (the Sun City), the second largest city in Rajastan. The Meherangarh fort built in 1459 A.D. stands as a sentinel of the Marwar (literally meaning "The Region of Death") region. A bustling city with a mixture of old world charm and modern living. The people are honest and the crime rate is zero. Jodhpur has a huge army cantonment and a huge Indian Air Force base (the largest in South Asia).

One can see sand dunes on both sides of the road starting off at a place called Balesar which is about 70 km from Jodhpur. The national highway has very very little traffic. In fact army convoys dominate the traffic. Driving is a real pleasure on this road. One can see a variety of wildlife including Chinkaras, Nilgais, foxes and rabbits darting past the road.

Jaisalmer is about 310 km from Jodhpur by road. One can go to Jaisalmer by train also. However it is better to go by road as one can experience the desert. About 180 km from Jodhpur is Pokhran. A firing range about 80 km in length starts off at Pokhran. In addition to having the distinction of being near the site of India's nuclear testing project; it is also famous for its sweets - the "Chum Chum".

Despite the sand dunes, there is a fair bit of farming being done on both sides of the highway - thanks to the Israeli system of drip-agriculture.

On approaching Jaisalmer (the Golden City), one can see the Golden fort dominating the town. This fort is the only 'living' fort in the world.

More than 2,000 families live here. There are plenty of 'Havelis' like Salim Khan ki Haveli etc which are in a remarkable state of preservation. The whole of Jaisalmer town is built around the fort. One can visit the famous Sam desert which is 52 km from Jaisalmer at dusk to see the sunset over the sand-dunes and enjoy camel rides.

Rajastan Tourism conducts the Desert Festival in the last week of Jan or in the first two weeks of Feb.

About 180 km from Jaisalmer and around 200 km from Jodhpur is the town of Barmer. The road from Jaisalmer to Barmer is a long and isolated one. Maybe one truck or vehicle passes once in 10 minutes or so. The huge desert streches from horizon to horizon. Barmer is famous for its handicrafts (especially woodwork) and it's fabrics (Barmer prints). A place called Chotan which is about 70 km from Barmer is also famous for its unique woodwork.

On the way back from Barmer to Jodhpur, one can see vast stretches of sand-dunes near a village called Dudhwa. One can take a diversion at Pachpadra (midway between Barmer and Jodhpur) to a place called Balotra (12 km away). Balotra is famous for its fabrics. There is also a place of pilgrimage for Jains at Nakoda which is about 20 km away. It is a beautiful, neat and clean temple. All along the highways there are roadside dhabas where one can sample simple Rajasthani food.

DB Hyderabad


Rajasthan factfile
Three Magnets of Rajasthan by K.Sreenivas Rajan
Jaisalmer by Savita Rao



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Editor: Romola Butalia       (c) India Travelogue. All rights reserved.