I know people who think travelling is pointless. People who think it would be a waste of time and money to travel halfway across the world to see things that can be looked up within seconds on the internet. And I passionately disagree. Maybe you can see the Colosseum on Google. But can you experience it? Can you walk within its massive structure, feel the crumbling bricks, close your eyes and hear the clashes of swords and cries of the gladiators who once filled the place? Maybe you can see the Eiffel Tower in pictures. But unless you go there, will you be able to crane your neck and marvel at it? Climb the steps and admire buildings, people and problems getting smaller, be encased in the glittering lighting? Have dinner at the top as you observe the Paris nightlife come alive?

All of us know it is the journey that matters more than the destination. The harder the journey is, the sweeter the experience of your destination. I trekked seven kilometres to see the Thajiwas glacier in Kashmir, along the lushest greenery I have ever seen, which masked the deadliness of the steep and narrow paths. But everything was worth it when I glimpsed the breathtaking view in front of me — a pure sheet of snow on the side of a mountain in the middle of May, and a crystal-clear river flowing beneath it. Unless you have trekked those treacherous paths, lost your footing and your way, and finally reached the place, out of breath, your throat parched and face dripping with perspiration, you will be unable to experience and internalise the beauty around you fully.

Cheating will get you good marks. But it cannot give you the satisfaction and pride that hard work can give. Travelling is just like that. You can see the entire world on your computer screen. But you cannot live it.

So pack your bags, get out of the house, and explore. Go, experience what it feels like to be part of something bigger than yourself.

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I pursued my Master’s in English literature at Gujarat University. But I don’t know what to do now. I was interested in designing but couldn’t do that for some reason. And now I am interested in tourism. I have always wanted to see different places, I have always wanted to travel. Please guide me as to what to do and what not to do.
Qureshi Atiya (22) / Gujarat University, Ahmedabad

Since you’re interested in travel and have a degree in English, you may opt for becoming a tourist guide. The job of a tourist guide is very challenging and needs preparation with personality development. A course in tourism will provide you all the knowledge about sites, historical monuments and destinations with the facts the places hold.

The Tourism Office of the Government of India conducts a tour guide training programme. Students who have completed their graduation can apply for this course. The Ministry of Tourism (tourism.gov.in) provides licenses to the tourist guides and also organizes regional-level tourist guide training programmes.
Apart from this, IITTM (Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management) (iittm.ac.in) imparts short-term courses. Many private/public colleges also offer direct admission into tour guide programme in various disciplines.

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There are very few places in the world which have something to offer for every kind of traveller. On what has only been my second visit to the holy land of Rishikesh, I am pretty convinced that this is surely one of those places. It is quite an interesting mélange of spirituality and adventure. But after having spent a few days here as a solo traveller, I believe there is a lot more to the city. I like to call it “The blissful abode”.

The beautiful sound of the flowing Ganga is the best welcome you can get as you set foot here. That will in fact also be one of the most prominent views everywhere you go from that point on. Aside from that, you will read the words like yoga, meditation or river rafting everywhere you look. You will most definitely be convinced that you will either leave the place with a tranquil mind or an adrenaline pumped-up heart. But if you are someone like me who likes to experience everything a place has to offer, you might just leave with a mix of both.

There are many reasons why I say this place is for everyone. First, it has a range of options for accommodation. From budget hostels (costing only about Rs 600 a day) to one of the most expensive properties of Taj (costing about Rs 45k a night), there is no dearth of options if you choose to stay here for a few days. This is one of the many reasons Rishikesh is on the top of the list for solo travellers, students travelling on budget, as well as foreign nationals looking to stay here for a longer duration.

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Kashmir, a picturesque valley nestled in the Himalayas, is also referred to as “heaven on earth”. The stunning landscapes, snow-capped mountains, serene lakes and lush green valleys have attracted tourists for centuries. As an avid traveller, I had always been intrigued by the beauty of this place, and so I decided to embark on a trip to Kashmir to experience its magic first-hand. Little did I know that my journey would turn out to be an experience of a lifetime, full of adventure and life lessons.

My trip to Kashmir started with a flight to Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. As the plane descended, I caught my first glimpse of the snow-capped mountains. The view was awe-inspiring, with snow-capped mountains standing tall against a backdrop of blue skies. I felt a sense of calm and tranquillity that I had never experienced before.

As I stepped out of the airport, I was greeted by the fresh mountain air and the warm hospitality of the locals. I had a local guide pick me up from the airport; he introduced me to the local culture and traditions, and I got a taste of the famous Kashmiri cuisine.

The next few days were spent exploring the city and its surroundings. I visited the iconic Dal Lake, which is surrounded by the beautiful Mughal Gardens and houseboats.

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I went to Norway in November 2022 to swim with orcas (meaninglessly called “killer whales”). Orcas are intelligent creatures that have a varied diet of fish, whales, seals and dolphins, but there is no history of them attacking humans in the wild. Some orcas would follow their prey, herring, to the Norwegian coast in winter.

Skjervøy, the base for the trip, is at 70°N, north of the Arctic Circle. In the six days that I spent on the boat in or near Skjervøy, the daily daylight hours dramatically decreased from two and a half hours to zero. There would be no sunrise from my last day in Skjervøy for another 51 days. Most of our water activities would be conducted in twilight. I spotted the sun exactly once while at sea.

Nine guests, including myself, boarded the M/S Mårøy (pronounced “maw-ray”), our transportation and residence for the trip. I figured out my gear for cold weather snorkelling on the first night. Woollen underclothing plus socks would cover most of the body. Over this would go an additional onesie. I would put on a waterproof drysuit, which would trap an insulating pocket of air next to the body, over these. The holes in the drysuit, for my palms and head, had tight elastic bands to keep them sealed next to my skin. Finally, gloves and hoods would cover my palms and head.

On the first morning, the Mårøy set off from Skjervøy. The seascape and the skies were the most colourful that I had ever seen. From the horizon, the sky lit up in rainbow colours. Mountains rose around us, lit in a gentle glow. Someone spotted the first tall, black dorsal fin of an orca rising above the water, along with a spray of water as the animal exhaled.

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She has proved herself to be a passionate and gutsy explorer who gained a reputation for being a tough adventurer, surviving war zones, coup attempts, and life-threatening bouts with malaria and cholera. Called a ‘real-life Lara Croft’ by the New York Times, she has travelled to almost every continent, visiting some of the world’s most remote and unfriendly places, that too all alone! She is Kira Salak, a contemporary American explorer.

Salak was born on 4 September 1971 in a western suburb of Chicago. Her father was a repairer of mainframe computers and her mother was a waitress. At 14, Salak was sent to a boarding school in Wisconsin. She obtained her B.F.A from Emerson College and M.F.A in writing from the University of Arizona.

Travelling was Salak’s passion, and she followed it seriously. She backpacked through eastern and central Africa when she was 20.

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The splendid Kashmir region is a heaven on earth for its beautiful landscapes, lush green valleys, stunning multi-coloured tulip gardens, dazzling lakes, and for its uncanny resemblance with the Garden of Eden described in religious books. Therefore it acquired the name ‘Paradise on Earth’. It is resplendent with white beauty in winter and the glorious colours of nature in autumn, fall, spring and summer.

People

Although Kashmiri people live in different parts of India they are mainly settled in the Valley of Kashmir, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban thasils of Jammu Division. Their language is highly influenced by the Sanskrit language and mostly spoken by Kashmiri Muslims and Kashmiri Hindus.

Culture

The culture of Kashmir is a blend of multiple customs and came from Northern India, Northern Pakistan and the Chinese territory of Aksai Chin. The state enjoys a mix of religions and that’s why Kashmir is famous for its cultural heritage. It merges Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Buddhist religions which make Kashmir more beautiful by adopting their culture.

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Google recently launched a new version of Google Earth on the web in Chrome, and on Android. Fly through landmarks and cities like London, Tokyo and Rome in stunning 3D, then dive in to experience them firsthand with Street View. Google has teamed up with some of the world’s leading storytellers, scientists and non-profits to bring the planet to life with Voyager, a showcase of interactive guided tours. E.g. with Natural Treasures from BBC Earth, journey to six habitats—from islands to mountains to jungles—and learn about the unique and thrilling wildlife in each. Uncover hidden gems the world over with “I’m feeling lucky,” a new feature that takes you somewhere unexpected. Once you’ve landed on a point of interest, open a Knowledge Card to learn history and facts about that place and see more pictures of it.

Click the new 3D button to see any place from any angle and share a Postcard of your exact view with your friends and family. It’s an incredible way to virtually travel the world.

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Explore by destinations and things to see and do, such as museums, art, nature, architecture, beaches, urban life, markets and epic views. Are you a foodie? Check out the Eat and Drink category. Sign up to become part of the community and upload your own videos and boards. You can also check out featured video creators and interact with them regarding the hidden gems they have discovered.

Free on iOS.

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From its location in the middle of the Brahmaputra River to travelling in an Aerei da Trasporto Regionale aircraft, a trip to Majuli is as unique as travel experiences can be. VERUS FERREIRA shares notes from his escapade to this river island.

When it comes to exploring a new location, there’s nothing better than having a friend or relative who lives in the region that you are visiting. As I discovered on my trip to Majuli, a river island in north-east Assam, a local contact can do you wonders — not only with the nitty gritties of your itinerary, but also with unmasking rare and unknown facets of your destination.

To travel to Majuli, my family and I first reached Jorhat airport in an ATR (Aerei da Trasporto Regionale) from Kolkata, where I was received by my friend, Fr Joseph Pallikunnel. An hour’s drive later, we were on the river bank at the Nimatighat Jetty, from where ferries go to Majuli Island.

As you set sail from Nimatighat, you will cross a cluster of sun-kissed islands, the largest and most populated of which is Majuli. As our boat steadily hummed its way to the island over calm waters, it was hard to imagine that this peaceful river is the same Brahmaputra that turns into an unruly watercourse, which floods and often results in loss of life and property in Majuli during the monsoon.

Landing on the island shore is like stepping into a dream. From the picture-perfect visuals to the natural environs of this largely unexplored island, Majuli is just what you dream an island would look like. Unfortunately, even though the locale may be romantic, it can’t really be classified as a honeymooner’s paradise — unless of course, you’re willing to rough it out in nature. This is because the island lacks hotels and lodging facilities.

Understanding the culture

A storehouse of art and culture, Majuli is derived from two words — Ma which stands for Laxmi, the goddess of prosperity, and Juli, which denotes a granary. The island treats you to a pollution-free green carpet of the kind that is impossible to experience in any urban centre. The population of the island consists of tribals from communities such as Mising, Deuri and Kachari.

Remember the heavy floods I was talking about? Were you wondering how people manage to live on this island? Well, on my hour-long drive to Jengraimukh, I came across the answer. In order to prevent their homes from being flooded the Mising people, who are the majority here, build their houses about three feet above the ground, on either concrete or bamboo stilts.

The Mising are of the Mongoloid race and are the second largest tribe in Assam. Majuli has no liquor shops, but visit a Mising home and you’ll be treated to an alcoholic welcome drink of rice beer, which is known as Apong. The drink is served to everyone, irrespective of their age or gender. Along with it, the family will also serve you a chicken or pork dish. A great way to taste the local cuisine.

The treasures of Majuli

Majuli is the principal seat of the Vaishnavite faith, its culture and its practice. The treasures of Majuli are undoubtedly its satras, which aren’t just monasteries, but centres of traditional performing arts. The first satra was founded during the 15th century and since then, 65 satras have been built on the island. But, considering the battering that the island takes every monsoon, several of the satras have been moved to the mainland. Only 22 satras remain, the most prominent of which are Auiati, Dakshinpath, Garamur and Kamalabari. We visited Garamur and Kamalabari as well as a museum that exhibits old vessels and precious relics.

Living life the Majuli way

The island has plenty of activities that keep the inhabitants busy and which will provide you with a unique glimpse into rural life on an island. While the most common industry here is agriculture, with paddy being the main crop, fishing, pottery, handloom and boat making are other activities that the drive economy on this island. A trip to Garamur will treat you to a sight of the locals making cane baskets, while at Dakshinapat; you will get to see the ancient craft of mask making. Today only the devotees of Chamoguri satra practice this in Majuli. Silk weaving is another trade that is popular in Majuli — but it is not as apparent as other trades.

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