INDIA Archives - STREETTROTTER

Category: INDIA

February 15, 2021

Untangling the threads of the Toda Tribe

Historically an ancient tribal community of the upper Nilgiri plateau, today the Todas may be popularly associated with their art of creating distinctive, geometric red and black embroideries of the Poothukuli craft. But the more we probe into understanding their culture, the less we are led to stereotyping them as only expert craft weavers from the South of India. What makes them truly distinguishable is their unique outlook, customs and age-old traditions - all of which have gone down the books of history as a fascinating subject.

January 25, 2021

A Day trip to Mysore: City Guide

Nestled in the heart of the southwestern state of Karnataka, at the foothills of the Chamundi Hills, India's City of Palaces sits quietly. Mysore, or Mysuru, is one of India's most beautiful and culturally rich cities with a whiff of history wherever one turns to. One of the best ways to plan a trip to Mysore is to make a round trip from Bangalore. At a distance of 140 km from Bangalore, a road trip would be ideal for making certain stops and visiting the most important and beautiful places that this place has to offer. If we had to make an itinerary for a day, we recommend 4 must-see places that everyone should visit.

January 3, 2021

Ghazipur Phool Mandi: A morning with flowers

“The lone porter snakes through a few winding lanes while it is still dark. The first flush of sunlight appears, but it is still some time before dawn. If someone watches closely, there are bright red roses and bundles of yellow daisies that are peeking out on either side of the load he is carrying over his head. He finds his way through the crowded marketplace, making his way in between vans and rickshaws pulling in with similar sacks, filled with colors and smells that are spreading throughout the area.” - It's 4 AM, and the day has begun at the Ghazipur Phool Mandi.

December 16, 2020

The Masjid-i Jehan Numa: The Mosque that displays the world

With its imposing structure, tall minarets, and sprawling courtyard, the Masjid-i Jehan Numa (translated: world-displaying mosque) is one of the most beautiful mosques in India. More popularly known as the Jama Masjid, this monument is an architectural marvel from the Mughal era. From the pages of our history textbooks, we have come to know about Emperor Shah Jahan and his love for building breathtaking monuments. As a spectator to four centuries of history, this mosque has become an important tourist spot and a center of cultural heritage in India.

September 8, 2020

KERALA Unseen: The offbeat city of Thrissur

June. It’s the month of eternal bliss for us Malayalees who are surviving farther north from where our parents learned to walk. The very air changes flavor as soon as the train enters Kerala borders. The tourist version of Kerala is something all have seen or read about. The Kerala my childhood had been to, is not for those who spend money just to get fancy pictures of their feet in the sea.

October 16, 2019

Stories from KUTCH: The people & their legends

India is known for its rich and vivid craft culture. 'Kutch', a district of Gujarat state in western India proudly tops the list of the craft development of the country with its world famous embroideries and patchwork. Boasting of an aesthetic between traditional and the modern hippie, this post talks about the people of Kutch and the legends that are attached to their communities.

July 28, 2019

DURGA IDOL Making: The craft and its legends

The craft of idol making is being practiced in Bengal for almost three hundred years now. A visit to the 'City of Joy' during the Durga Pooja festivities is a treat to the eyes because of the exquisite and intricate idols and pandals that the city is covered with. Not just Kolkata but most of India, witnesses the magic crafted out by the hands of the potters from Bengal who go around the country to make and meet the demand for the Durga Idols that are the signature feature of this elaborate five day Indian festival, around the month of October every year.

July 9, 2019

PATNA: Exploring the eclectic charms of the city in 7 places to visit

The capital of Bihar - 'Patna' is a historic city with a glorious past that has few parallels. Founded back in the 5th century by the Magadha monarch, the city was called Pataliputra, and it emerged as a center of learning and Buddhism. Once the abode of the eminent scholars like Aryabhata and Chanaynka, this city has undergone many upheavals, over the centuries. The present Patna will seem an eclectic amalgamation of the bygone past and modern civilization to your eyes.

May 29, 2019

Five OFFBEAT WEEKEND GETAWAYS from MUMBAI

Living in the city of dreams is both exciting and exhausting. Mumbai is not just a city full of possibilities and opportunities; it is also a city that brings your life up to its unmatched speed. To live up to the hustle that is the life of this city, one needs a break to cool off in between. Thankfully the city has numerous spots around it where you can unplug, relax and rejuvenate yourself over a weekend. We have picked five of the best offbeat weekend getaways from Mumbai and put together everything you need to know about them in this quick listicle.

INDIA

May 18, 2019

INDIA: Is the largest democracy in the world really a control free democracy?

With community gaps widening, concerned defence lines and the lower strata being the ones caught up in the economic jargon, while the rich escape with the bare minimum makes one ponder - if the nation actually holds true to equality of all its citizens? India, the largest democracy in the world really a control free democracy?

April 3, 2019

Traveling SOLO in KUMARAKOM, Kerala

After a lot of plan cancellations and rescheduling, I finally managed to take some time out to go on a trip on a much awaited long weekend. And Kerala being the nearest destination - I did not have to look out for anything else. I just got out a local Kerala map instead, and dramatically threw a dart at it, and picked 'Kumarakom' as my solo holiday destination.

March 25, 2019

A peek inside The Land of Enlightenment ‘BODHGAYA’

On a recent trip to Sri Lanka, every Buddhist temple had the mention of a place called "Bodhgaya" as one of the most holy Buddhists sites across the globe. Such a revered place happens to be India itself, in the state of Bihar. And while most of us stereotype Bihar for its corruption and crime - we often fail to see that it is also home to "Bodhgaya" - where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, and most scholars visit only to study Buddhism.

March 20, 2019

10 Lesser known FOODS OF INDIA

We are well aware of the famous "aloo ka paratha" of the North, "dosas" of the South, varieties of "fish curries" of the East and "dhoklas" of the West; but what about the other dishes which are delicious too but are obscured by the unmatched popularity of the common Indian dishes? Here is the glimpse of some rather not-so-popular native dishes from various parts of the Indian subcontinent, that we bet not much, but are true to the food culture of India.

March 16, 2019

How to explore KASHMIR in a day?

Kashmir is heaven on earth - you have heard and read this sentence in various movies, travel magazines and forums. But you will never really know how true it is till you visit this heaven. Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir, is one of India’s most celebrated hill stations. It has found a place in literature, songs and movies, and has captivated many by its abundant beauty. Replete with natural wonders, it is also referred to as the ‘Land of Lakes and Gardens’ or the ‘Switzerland of India’.

February 24, 2019

Top reasons to visit TIMES LITFEST ’19

The Times Litfest is in its sixth year in Bangalore, and it is bigger and better with a line-up of authors of every vintage and persuasion. It will be organized at the Jayamahal Palace this weekend. The festival's central theme is “Aseem: Beyond Boundaries”, which reflect the universality of good literature. The event promises to introduce literature lovers and bibliophiles in and around the Garden City to over 100 writers who have regional, national, or international presence. So we recommend you to be a part of this #SweetLiteraryTreat on February 23 and 24 and bond with your favorite authors.

I made a career switch in my 30s. Turned out to be the best decision of my life.

But first, let me start from exactly where I left. I quit my job at 31 to take a break without a plan B? - But that was back in 2019 - SO WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Fast Forward to today: I am currently a UX Manager and Design Lead in a tech+design agency in Toronto, and it took me a while to find this career that I have really started to enjoy. It did not happen by chance, and I didn’t just fall into it. In fact, I chose it.

DESIGN

A UX/UI Analysis of TLP:MAP (Toronto Public Library)

First of my series of "Midnight Brainstorms". A rough digital diary of my UX/UI observations of everyday things. This entry focuses on the new "online" museum pass reservation system introduced by the Toronto Public Library. 📚

Deconstructing the Ravana Effigy Making Craft of Tatarpur, Delhi and meeting the Ravanwalas

A line of effigies shaped in bamboo in the form of humongous heads, giant mustaches, and fearsome eyes, lie around on an open road. Some are ready to be painted, some are getting their finishing touches, while others are all decked up to be assembled. Besides the heads are huge structures of limbs and torsos that range from a few feet to about three or four storeys high. These effigy parts lying around are of the mythical demon king of Lanka, ‘Ravana’ in Hindu mythology. And the place we are describing is popularly known as the “Lanka of Delhi'', ‘Tatarpur’.

Why you should rent a car for a road trip in Oahu, Hawaii

Oahu is the third largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago and home to some of the most beautiful beaches, lush forests, and volcanic landscapes in the world. It's a place where ancient culture meets modern-day luxury, where visitors can experience authentic Hawaiian traditions and immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the island. Oahu offers something for everyone, whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or a little bit of both. So pack your bags, rent a car, and get ready to experience the magic of Oahu, Hawaii.

There is NO Planet B.

How can a Travel Blogger Reinvent Content during the Age of Coronavirus?

Amid this chaotic age of coronavirus, is also the "travel blogger" who will face halts in travel plans and will have to relook at content differently. No more can you run a blog on itineraries published post travel; be on the road for sponsored trips; and earn through collaborations without travel. It is obvious that generating content will slow down too. But on the brighter side, as a community we ask, can we finally reinvent through "quality over quantity"?

Sustainability is NOT Sustainable. So what does it really mean?

Let’s start simple. You thought you packed a bag of old clothes for goodwill. But did you know that “only 20% of what you donated, are actually reused or recycled". The rest 80% that ends up in landfills can sit there for 200-plus years, and as it decomposes, it emits methane - a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon”. That is the sorry state of our sustainable actions today. And in reality, sustainability is NOT really sustainable.

CLIMATE CHANGE

The case of rapidly DYING BEES in the NILGIRIS in INDIA. And how is Amsterdam saving its bees?

The last one year that I lived in Bangalore, I have seen multiple hives of honey bees growing wild on high rise buildings, and then being subsequently destroyed by the maintenance authorities. At first I didn't notice the pattern here, but later when I saw honey bees dying around the college campus too where I work, it suddenly struck me. Honey bees dying in the Nilgiris is not a coincidence. Infact it is an issue we all need to know about and take action on. This post is just an attempt to educate you about the crisis of our honey bees dying in the Nilgiris, and how we can save them studying the successful case of Amsterdam.

CLIMATE CHANGE

HONEY BEES are DYING faster than we imagined. Why should we care?

Honey Bees have been a source of honey, wax and trade for human beings from times immemorial. They are an extremely social and cooperative species of insects that are also our key pollinators. The last one decade has however been challenging for the bees. They are disappearing at an alarming rate and have entered the category of endangered species. Here is everything there is to know about the bee apocalypse and how we can stop it.

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