Ajay Chaturvedi
I love travelling to Himalayas, especially in Garhwal and Kumaon. I think they are the best thing nature has given to us. I live and work in New Delhi. I want to settle down at some hill station to "Read & write". Lonely Wanderer
I love to read a lot. I am crazy for Literary, Travel & Culture magazines. My favorite books are Butter Chicken in Ludhiana, The Romantics and An End To Suffering (All Three by Pankaj Mishra), Disgrace (J M Coetzee), Nanda Devi Affair (Bill Aitken), From Heaven’s Lake (Vikram Seth) and The Best of Ruskin Bond (Ruskin Bond) are some of my favorite books. Canadian writer Alice Munro is my favorite short story writer. She is simply amazing.
Travel Blog Posts
August 10th 2008
While Delhi experienced its hottest days, we - my companion and me - decided to go on a short weekend to a place called Dakpathar, which is off the main tourist route but could be a nice getaway if you are looking for some quiet moments. You can also avoid the “tourists” heading toward “hill stations” to cool their tempers. My first encounter with such “tourists” took place at a mid-way eating joint. It was so crowded that we gave up any idea we had of washing down mix veg pakoras with garam chai and had to make do with a fruit cake and a mango drink. Certainly, not a very good combo for breakfast. But we were helpless. As we approached Shivalik hills, I could feel the excitement I usually get when I enter the ... read more
Soak in the mountain air while doing nothing-Part 2
Published: February 25th 2007Asia » India » Himachal Pradesh » KasauliFebruary 25th 2007
After trying couple of hotels I knew names of I finally settled for a guesthouse situated at the end of the road near old Kasauli overlooking the valley below. The owner proudly told me that when sky is clear I could see Chandigarh from the terrace! Around 5 PM Kasauli was enveloped by the monsoon mist. It was pretty beautiful sight watching mist trapped in pine trees. I rested for sometime before I got out again and just walked on the roads checking them out where did they lead. I resisted going full hog because it was getting dark and I was not sure where I would end up. At night I did some journaling, watched some masala flicks on cable TV and finally fall asleep around midnight. I got up around 6.30 am and went ... read more
Soak in the mountain air while doing nothing
Published: January 13th 2005Asia » India » Himachal Pradesh » Kasauli
January 13th 2005
It was that moment again. After working for couple of months at an IT magazines group I finally decided to quit because it was not giving me anything remotely close to what I call creative satisfaction. When I am in such a state of mind, I usually head for some hill station to rejuvenate myself and indulge in some chintan (thinking) about my future in my yet-to-take-off writing career. My usual cottage in Mussoorrie was full so I decided to try this time a place known for its peace and ‘doing nothing’ feeling: Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh. After e-mailing my resignation letter the previous night I set out on my journey early morning, reaching railway station at 5.30 AM to catch the Himalayan Queen Express train. As usual, the auto driver quoted higher fare and then ... read more
Healing natural water and White House
Published: September 26th 2004Asia » India » Uttarakhand » Dehradun
September 26th 2004
In May this year I decided to visit Kedarnath and Badrinath. On the way, I had to stay for a day in Dehradun because a friend who had promised to give me ride up to Rudraprayag – the place from where one gets vehicles for Kedarnath -- had some work there. Since I had a full day to roam around I decided to visit Sahastradhara, a popular picnic spot some six kilometers away from the city. Dehradun is capital of the newly-created hill state Uttaranchal. The city is known for its education institutes especially Doon School and Indian Military Academy. It used to be a cool city a few years ago. But since it became capital, its lungs seems to have got choked. The area around Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower) is full of pollution created by ... read more
Green Valley, Horse Riding and Yaks
Published: September 18th 2004Asia » India » Himachal Pradesh » Shimla
September 18th 2004
It was my first morning in Shimla. I woke up with the sound of tap dance being performed by a family of monkeys on the tin roof of my hotel room. When I got morning sunrays into my room in Delhi, I always pulled the curtains because I can never sleep with so much light. But here it was different. Who wanted to sleep when a beautiful morning was prodding me to get out of my bed? So, first rays of winter morning sun acted as a catalyst to fire me up. After a hot shower I ordered breakfast. Sipping hot tea with morning newspapers is one of my favorite activities. After reading the news headlines I was ready for the day ahead. My programme for the day included a visit to the resort of Kufri, ... read more
It’s crumbling but still has some old charm
Published: September 10th 2004Asia » India » Himachal Pradesh » Shimla
September 10th 2004
Shimla has been called the Honeymooner’s Paradise in north India and is the biggest hill station in India. I had never been to Shimla until last year when I finally decided to visit the summer capital of British India. I took Kalka Mail train from Delhi to Kalka. After an overnight journey I reached the sleepy little station of Kalka around 5.30 AM in morning. From Kalka I had one of the most beautiful train journeys one can have. The journey, some 90-KM long, was done in a toy train. It was November 8, just a day before that railway line was about to complete its 100 years. We were travelling in the same train, which was supposed to make the historic journey next day, marking the hundred years of this wonderful gift of British India. ... read more
August 29th 2004
I was staying at a beautiful cottage in Jeolikot near Nainital when my hostess suggested that I must visit Mukteshwar if wanted to enjoy the true Kumaoni mountain air. So, on my second day in Kumaon, I planned to visit the place, which was made famous by the legendary shikari Jim Corbett who killed a man-eating tigress in 1929, responsible for hundreds of killings there. He truly loved this place. "There was no place more beautiful than this and no climate anymore salubrious", remarked Corbett about this little Himalayan village. The guesthouse in which he stayed is still there. If you visit this beautiful and calm little hamlet, you too will fall in love with it. Yes, this place has that kind of pull which makes you not want to leave. Its snow viewpoint is as ... read more
August 25th 2004
I live in Indian capital New Delhi, which is known for it’s historic monuments. Yet, I could not find time or urge to visit them for so long. When I finally got chance to visit one of the monuments, Humayun’s Tomb in connection to a story I was doing, I was floored by the marvelous marble structure. I visited it again with my friend from USA. Here, I am sharing my impression of this monument with travelblog readers. When you first come face to face with the majestic Humayun’s Tomb, you can’t help but say: "Oh, I’ve seen that somewhere! It looks like the Taj Mahal, that famous monument to love." Well, before you stretch your brain too far, let the truth be told. It’s the Taj Mahal that looks like Humayun’s Tomb. The red and ... read more
August 22nd 2004
They call it India’s Lake District. And it’s really not an unfair reference because Nainital district of the Kumaon region in Uttaranchal is dotted with beautiful big and small lakes. Nainital city itself is situated around a beautiful lake called Naini jheel. It’s this pretty setting which makes Nainital a hot tourist spot especially for honeymooners who enjoy the view of the lovely lake and also try their hands at boating (There are plenty of them, of all colours and sizes), get themselves snapped to take sweet memories back home. Once you are done with sight seeing how about some shopping at the Mall Road. That specialty of all the hill stations established by the Britishers during their rule in India. Besides Naini jheel there is another lake near Nainital, Khurpatal. An excursion to this lake ... read more
August 15th 2004
As the mercury begins to shoot up in the plains of the north India, Paharon Ki Rani (Queen of the hills) Mussoorie becomes the favorite cooling place for the people who want a break from the scorching heat. This popular hill station was established by an Irishman by the name of Captain Young little over 169 years ago. This growing town has changed over the last decade due to the overload of ‘tourism’ but it still has some of it’s old charm if you are ready to look beyond the Mall Road, the Gun Hill and the Kempty Fall – the three most famous and commercialized places here. The resort, situated at a height of more than 7,000 feet from sea level, has been immortalized by its most famous resident -- Ruskin Bond in his various ... read more
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