I watched a Kathputli performance in Udaipur almost by accident. I wandered past a small courtyard where a crowd had gathered, and I stayed far longer than I’d planned to. Wooden puppets on strings sound simple enough on paper. What […]
Theyyam: The Kerala Ritual Where a Man Becomes a God, Briefly
I’d heard the word Theyyam thrown around a few times before I actually understood what it meant. It’s not a dance, and it’s not quite a performance either. The people watching genuinely believe it’s a temporary transformation, a human performer […]
A Letter From the Tirupati Queue
Hey, You asked me what your Tirupati trip from Pune should actually look like, and every time I try to answer that in a normal message it turns into a list of tips that doesn’t really capture what the day […]
Harishchandragad: The Trek That Actually Earns the Word Adventure
A lot of treks near Pune get called adventurous when what they really mean is a nice walk with a good view at the end. Harishchandragad isn’t that. This is the one that actually makes you work for it, and […]
Solo Trip Planning: Your First Trip Sorted
The first time I thought about traveling alone, I almost talked myself out of it. Who’s going to take my photos. What if something goes wrong. What if I get bored of my own company by day two. Turns out […]