Breathe easy this winter

Don’t wait for the government to solve the problem of air pollution – be aware of the risks and try to minimise damage to your health According to WHO, air pollution has become the world’s single biggest environmental health risk for disease and premature death. In 2015, it was linked to one in six deaths […]

The Tiger man

Raghu Chundawat, who tracked tigers for eight years in Panna National Park, writes a book on his tryst with the big cat and the forest department. It’s a story of hope, passion, dedication and triumph over adversity For the first time in India, an expert who has worked with tigers in the field for more […]

Confluence of cultures

Once a thriving trading port and now a heritage site, Kerala’s Muziris is a confluence of cultures housing over 25 museums and places of worship. The Hop-on Hop-off boats are a bonanza for tourists Not a single soul can be seen in Paravur Synagogue. It is a strange feeling to be in a place of […]

Prayers amid camels and roses

The little town of Pushkar, with its annual camel fair and the only Brahma temple in the world, is laced with folklore and mythology Sand dunes stretch into the infinite sky as the sun lowers into the Aravalli ranges. The camel cart sways through the narrow alleys. The decked up camel, colourful cart with its […]

AnniHILLation

This is not the usual travel piece. It points out the ongoing mindless destruction of the Himalayan hills many city-dwellers love The hills are alive with the sound of destruction/With songs, they have sung being cut for wider roads/The hills fill my heart with the bleakness of development/My heart wants to turn and go home. […]

Pulsating Paharganj

Narrow alleys, crammed shops, horns and bullock carts, a walk in the bustling area is a baffling experience but this is what colonials and foreigners find so exotic Screaming rickshaw wallahs, the din of horns and grey sky greet me as I cross the road in front of New Delhi Railway Station to find myself […]

Our Metro, their Metro

DMRC can draw upon the experience of European public transport systems to serve commuters better. Our network is much cheaper but last mile connectivity is still a problem Recently there was a report by Centre for Science and Environment that Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is the second most-unaffordable metro system when it comes to […]

Bastion of Dutch Ceylon

Over the years, the Dutch Hospital in Colombo has come to have several purposeful roles while retaining its colonial charm In the early 17th century, Sri Lanka was ruled partly by the Portuguese and partly by the indigenous kingdoms. To rid the land of overbearing Portuguese rule, the King of Kandy called on the Dutch […]