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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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