September 14, 2017

Roojoom Backpackers Guesthouse- Review


Surrounded by mountains and glaciers, Sangla valley is probably the prettiest region in Kinnaur and is absolutely gorgeous after the monsoons when the valley spreads an array of colours, apples turn red and the climate is pleasant. Amidst all this landscape is Roojoom Backpackers Guesthouse, one of the best places to stay in Sangla. Located a kilometer away from Sangla bazaar on the way to Chitkul, the guest house is a lovely colourful place with fluttering prayer flags, apple orchards in its backyard, a rooftop café and spectacular views all around. They have five rooms, all with attached baths, basic amenities and face the mountains. What more can you ask for?.






What I loved:

Location: The views from the guest house are breathtakingly beautiful. It is surrounded by mountains on all sides with the Baspa river flowing way below.

Comfortable rooms: The rooms are spacious and well maintained with comfortable beds and quilts.

Clean baths: All rooms come with clean attached baths. They also provide hot water on request.

Café and common dining area: The roof top café might well be a place you wouldn’t want to leave as the views are surreal. The café is open to outsiders too. The common dining space on the ground floor is a nice place to meet likeminded people and share travel experiences.

Joey and his staff: Joey from USA runs the guest house and both he and his staff are very friendly and helpful.

Tariff: This is a good budget option in Sangla and is priced at INR 600 per night for single occupancy and INR 700 per night for double occupancy.


What I did not like:

Wifi: There is no wifi provided, however, most data networks function well here.

Payment: They accept only cash.


Verdict: Excellent

Address:
Sangla Chitkul road, Sangla, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Ph: 9805897887 (Joey) 


P.S.- This is NOT a sponsored post.

September 13, 2017

Riding through the Mountains- A Photo Essay









All the above frames were captured during my ride from Solan till Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh. September 2017.

September 9, 2017

Frames from an Indian Train Journey

Indian train journeys are always special and sometimes inexplicable. While frames one after the other pass by your window as you gaze through them, some moments get frozen forever. They just don't seem to move out and remain in front of your eyes for long. The lone guard at a deserted station waving the green flag until the last bogie disappears is my all time favourite frame. It tempts me to get off at such stations. The cry of the tea seller, the long whistle from the engine and the numerous short eats that you relish en-route gives you a sense of nostalgia and takes you back to the days when you took that long train journey to your grandparent's house during summer holidays. Indian train journeys are and will always remain nostalgic for many of us.

Below are a few frames from my 53 hour train journey from Bangalore to Chandigarh. Kindly excuse the clarity as most of them were taken while the train was in motion.


  







September 5, 2017

Beaches of Madh Island

Home to a few quaint fishing villages, Madh island is a nice getaway from the crowds of Mumbai. Located very much within the city limits, this island has a line of secluded beaches. Due to the strong presence of the Naval command, access to Madh fort and a couple of beaches such as Hamla and Marve have been restricted. However, beaches such as Aksa, Dana Pani and Erangal are quite popular. 

View of Global Vipassana Pagoda from Marve jetty

Fresh catches at Marve jetty

Aksa beach

Aksa beach

Stalls at Aksa beach

Dana Pani beach

Rocky outcrops at Dana Pani beach

St. Bonaventure church at Erangal beach is a few centuries old

Erangal beach

Erangal beach

Drying fishes are commonly seen across the island 

September 4, 2017

Frames from Bandra, Mumbai

City skyline and Bandra- Worli sea link

Bandra- Worli sea link

The 17th century Bandra fort was built by the Portuguese

View from Bandra fort

The 18th century Basilica of Our Mary of the Mount

Bandra railway station has a quaint charm with its tiled roof and archaic architecture

Bandra is one of the popular neighbourhoods of Mumbai and it houses an upscale society apart from being home to many bollywood stars. 

September 3, 2017

Unending Love for Juhu Beach



The people of Mumbai have a special love for Juhu beach, a prominent beach in the city. They throng there in large numbers every evening and if it is a weekend it turns out to be a sea of crowd. However, Juhu keeps charming despite all the odds and people keep going back to her.
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