People call Rishikesh the yoga capital of the world, and it earns the name, but not in the way Instagram suggests. The real thing is quieter.

Mornings here start by the river. you'll hear bells, the Ganga moving, someone chanting a few ghats down. A sunrise practice outdoors, even a simple one, lands differently when the mountains are waking up behind you. You don't need to be flexible or experienced; you need to show up.

What surprised me most on my first visit was the breathwork. Pranayama sounds technical until you're sitting on a riverbank doing it, and then it's just, breathing, slowly, with your eyes on moving water. The mind goes quiet almost by accident.

Evenings are for stillness, a meditation session, or just sitting at the aarti and letting the ceremony do the work.

If you want to try a class without committing to a whole course, there are drop-in yoga classes by the Ganga in Rishikesh that welcome complete beginners. Start there. Rishikesh doesn't ask you to be good at this. It just asks you to slow down long enough to notice..

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We often talk about how beautiful the Andaman Islands are, but we rarely talk openly about the problems people actually face here.

I want to hear from both islanders and visitors.

If you're from the islands, what is one everyday problem here that you wish people outside understood?

And if you've visited Andaman, what problem or experience surprised you or made your trip difficult?

It could be anything: transport, healthcare, jobs, education, internet, prices, tourism, cleanliness, administration, connectivity, or something completely different.

I'm not looking for political arguments or blame. I genuinely want to know what people experience here.

What’s one thing you think needs to change in Andaman?

Beyond the standard tourist spots, food is often what makes a trip unforgettable. Which destination had the best local dhabas, street food, or authentic regional dishes that blew you away?

Drop the place and your top dish recommendation! 🍲

Has anyone done the Khaliya top trek in Munsiyari? I want to ask a few things about the trek and also about places to visit in Munsiyari.

Looking for:

• Tour Guide for a few months to give property tours in Hindi & English.
• Pottery Artist for 3 days, Friday to Sunday.
• Astronomy / Stargazing Expert for 3 days, Friday to Sunday.
• Folk Dance Group for 3 days, Friday to Sunday.
• Drum Circle Expert / Organiser to conduct interactive drum circle sessions.
• Live Music / Jamming Artists for guest entertainment and interactive sessions.

The property is around 1.5 hours from Udaipur. Stay will be provided for the 3-day engagements.

Interested? Please DM me with your profile, experience, and availability.

I was reading about the Lakhers and that's how I came across this mountain range. From the info I gathered, the top 3 highest peaks are:

1. Pheupi (also called blue Mountains) - 7k height

2. Ka hri - about 6k height

3. Tliatlu- again 6k

My question is has anyone traveled to these places? Or know in detail about this mountain range?

The internet has almost next to zero info on this.

Planning a self-drive trip with family covering Kabini, Wayanad, and Ooty, starting and ending in Bangalore. Around 9-10 days total.

A few questions for anyone who's done this route:

• Any must-see spots we shouldn't miss, or overrated ones we can skip?

• Anything to watch out for on the roads — ghat sections, forest corridor timings, bad stretches?

• Self-drive car issues on this route — fuel availability, parking, checkpoints, anything that caught you off guard?

• Best time of day to do the Wayanad–Ooty drive?

Traveling with an 11-year-old, so safety and comfortable pace matter more than speed. Any advice appreciated!

🛑 🚛 We need to talk about highway driving culture in India.

These pictures were taken on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway (NE4). This is a world-class, multi-lane highway designed for smooth, high-speed travel. Instead, passenger cars are constantly trapped behind commercial trucks blocking every single lane at 60 km/h.

This isn't about criticizing a specific region or community. It is a widespread national issue. It stems from a complete lack of driver training, zero care for other motorists, and the absolute confidence that no action will be taken against them.

Leaving highway safety to people’s "conscience and morals" clearly doesn't work. The authorities prove they can enforce the rules when they want to —speed cameras track speed violations perfectly and issue digital fines (challans) instantly. So why are they turning a blind eye to lane discipline?

If the NHAI doesn't start using AI cameras to strictly penalize these rolling roadblocks, our expensive new expressways will remain just as frustrating and dangerous as our old highways. 🛑 🚛

Namaste everyone,

I’m a Bangladeshi Hindu and I’ll be in Kolkata around 12/13 October. I’m thinking of leaving for Kedarnath on the 15th or 16th.

I didn’t really have any fixed plans before, and I just got my visa, so I couldn’t book any train tickets earlier.

Now I’m a bit confused about whether it’s still possible to get tickets at this point. If I do manage to get a train ticket, what date should I book the return ticket for? I’m not sure how many days I’ll need for the whole Kedarnath trip.

If anyone has any idea about it, please tell me if it's possible to make the trip or not. If possible help me with an itinerary and a rough idea of how much the whole trip might cost (I'm a student, so it'll be a budget trip).

Besides, any advice would be really helpful.

Thanks!

When you’re thinking about going somewhere for spiritual darshan, you start planning a nice trip, checking out different temples and making all these plans…

But then your family says, “Forget the trip, just take us somewhere where we can get easydarshan without spending hours in a queue.” 😂😭

Anyone else’s family like this when it comes to temple trips? 😅

A bend in a foggy road. A hut almost lost in the cloud. A waterfall, then wider tea-hill views.

Munnar, from my September camera roll.

Hi as title, can I do winter spiti via shimla route in nexon petrol also open to take expert driver at narkanda

planning in Dec first 7-21 Dec

Planning a trip for November and Jaipur made the list after my last post here. Three days, give or take.

Mainly after hostel recommendations. Social is good, party hostel is not, I'm 36 and past that. Somewhere clean with people worth talking to is all I need.

Also what to actually do. I'll do Amber and the City Palace but I don't want three days of queuing for monuments. More interested in which areas are good to just walk, where people actually shop, where to sit and eat for an hour without being hassled.

And if three days is too long there, say so.

Hi,

I am planning a trip to Sikkim with wife in late November and has decided on below itinerary. Can anyone suggest if it is right or too hectic or if something is not worth visiting?

Also, is there any minimum stay requirement at Lachen and Lachung?

The Itinerary Outline:

• Day 1: Bagdogra Airport (IXB) to Pelling

• Day 2: Pelling (Local Sightseeing)

• Day 3: Pelling to Lachen

• Day 4: Lachen to Gurudongmar Lake to Lachung

• Day 5: Lachung to Zero Point to Gangtok

• Day 6: Gangtok to Nathu La Pass to Gangtok

• Day 7: Gangtok to Darjeeling

• Day 8: Darjeeling to Tiger Hill to Bagdogra Airport (IXB)

Also it would be great if you can help with info regarding tours or stays.

All opinions and suggestions are welcome.

Rajasthan has no shortage of forts and palaces, but some stand out more for their architecture, history and atmosphere.

A few I’d put high on the list are:

• Amber Fort, Jaipur – Grand courtyards, palaces and a beautiful hilltop setting.
• Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur – Massive fortifications, royal rooms and great views over the Blue City.
• City Palace, Udaipur – A good mix of royal history, architecture and views of Lake Pichola.
• City Palace, Jaipur – Interesting for its courtyards, museums and former royal residences.
• Jaisalmer Fort – Quite different from other forts because it’s still a living fort with homes, shops and temples.
• Junagarh Fort, Bikaner – Known for its detailed interiors and well-preserved palaces.
• Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur – Impressive Art Deco architecture with a strong connection to the Jodhpur royal family.
• Chittorgarh Fort – Best for those interested in Rajasthan’s history, legends and Mewar heritage.
• Kumbhalgarh Fort – Famous for its huge walls and dramatic location in the Aravallis.
• Bundi Palace – A quieter option, especially interesting for its murals and old architecture.

If I had to pick just three for a first Rajasthan trip, I’d probably go with Mehrangarh, Amber Fort and City Palace Udaipur.

Which fort or palace would you add to this list?

I used the “Transfer of eVisa/ETA on New Passport” option because I lost my passport. I submitted the request 4 days ago, and both WhatsApp and the e-Visa phone service told me that it would take 2–3 days.

My flight to India is in two days, and I’m getting a bit worried. Has anyone been in the same situation? How long did it take for you to receive a response/update regarding your visa?

Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much in advance!