INDIA

While I have shared the various tales and described the festivities for you, the most interesting story regarding the origin of Kullu Dussehra I heard was from a visitor. Of course, there is no truth in it. According to him, after Lord Rama killed Ravana, all the gods came over to congratulate him and then proceeded to have a party! Whatever be the true reason for the celebration, it certainly is one of the most colourful events I have witnessed till now. Kullu Dussehra - Gods' Own Get-Together

Any local from hilly area tells you the trek is just 40 minutes, multiply it by 3 to get a more realistic estimate - Bijli Mahadev Trek – Kullu Attraction

These images are not about moments, but about the epicness of a majestic region. While going through these, it is likely you may feel the gentle rustling of the prayer flags, the violent gushing of glacial rivers, the evocative notes of quaint local instruments, the faith and belief of the humble people of Ladakh, and its stark, rugged terrain. You may even feel the devotion and meditation of monks, see the browns, blues, greens, and reds of this colourful desert and hear the folklore of this region.

While we waited with a collective baited breath, he announced that we had created not one, but two records - the first-ever bloggers meet in Khardung La, as well as the Highest Blogger meet at an altitude of 17,562 ft.

During my recent passage through the city while we were on our way to Ladakh to set the record for the #HighestBloggerMeet (courtesy #ScoutMyTrip and #OYORooms), I was shocked to see Dal bereft of tourists, shrouded in a pall of ghostly silence (scroll down to the last photograph, if you don't believe me!).

With Onam around the corner, I am sharing this article - Discovering Kochi During Onam - that was carried in December 2013 issue of Smart Photography. While the article is about my discovery of Kochi during the Onam festivities of 2013, the action stays relevant even today.

In 2012-13, Commander Abhilash Tomy went around the globe in a sailboat, solo and non-stop. He undertook that voyage in INSV Mhadei – a 17-mt sloop. It took him 151 days to battle the seas, cold fronts, cyclones, and more from the spectrum of nature's fury to complete that feat.

Some unusual UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Natural, Architectural, Prehistoric, etc. Photo essay World Heritage Sites: Heritage Unplugged. Read more.