The Musafir Stories - India Travel Podcast

GIVEAWAY ALERT: Listen to the episode and answer 3 simple questions on our Instagram  ( @musafirstoriespodcast  ) https://forms.gle/aP35sfqcDkFLgczo7  to win some cool Madras Inherited Merch! 

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Trustee and Head of Operations at Madras Inherited (https://www.madrasinherited.in)

Today's destination: George Town, Chennai!

Nearest Airport: Chennai International Airport (MAA)

Nearest Railway Station: Chennai Central Railway station (MAS)

Prerequisites -  Wake up early!

Packing - Good walking shoes, water to stay hydrated, umbrella, shades

Time of the year - Round the year

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 hours

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Ashmitha Athreya is Trustee and Head of Operations at Madras Inherited - The vision for Madras Inherited streams from a larger vision for Heritage Awareness, Preservation and Conservation in the city. 
• The walk focuses on getting to the origins of George Town, the first British colonial settlement that was set up around Fort St. George. The walk includes pit stops at various historically and architecturally significant landmarks. 
• The first stop is at Parry’s corner, also known as Dare House - Ashmitha shares the history of the welshman after whom this building is named and some interesting insights on the architecture style known as Artdeco. 
• The next turn is on to the NSC Bose road or Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose road that was also called China Bazaar road in the past. Some important buildings include TNSC bank, LIC building, SBI building that are built in the art deco style of architecture. 
• If one is interested, they could venture out further to check out some of the narrow market lanes of George Town - for paper/stationery, textiles, fireworks, flowers etc. 
• Our next pit stop is Armenian St where one can find the historic Armenian church and discuss its importance. 
• We next stop at what was formerly the Binny & Co headquarters. The building no longer remains and all that is left is a humongous parking lot which is used for shooting movies including the likes of Hey Ram and Guru. 
• Other important structures include YMIA - Young Mens Indian Assn and Gokhale hall. 
• Ashmitha talks of the two Beach Roads of George Town - Rajaji Salai and Kamaraj Salai - or North beach road and South beach road. The North Beach road has no longer access to the beach as the sea has receded. 
• We make a stop at the General Post office - one of the most beautiful structures in the city and we discuss the social implications of the GPO and its Indo Saracenic architectural style
• You can check out other walks offered by Madras Inherited on their website - (https://www.madrasinherited.in)

Links:

Link to the website:

https://www.madrasinherited.in

Link to Madras Inherited’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madrasinherited/

Link to Madras Inherited’s Twitter:https://twitter.com/MInherited 

Photo by Febin Roy on Unsplash

Follow the Musafir stories on:

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: [email protected]

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with lawyer and a hobbyist blogger - Juhi Gupta who blogs at www.forumhopping.wordpress.com

Today's destination: Meghalaya, the abode of clouds!

Nearest Airport: Shillong (SHL)

Nearest Railway Station: Guwahati Railway station (GHY)

Prerequisites -  Inner line permit may be required, pls check with relevant authorities.

Packing - Good walking shoes, rain gear, waterproof gear, trekking/hiking gear

Time of the year - All year round

Length of the itinerary: 8 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• Juhi starts by sharing some insights into the state of Meghalaya, what it is known for and why she decided to visit.

• An overview of Chalo Hoppo and their USP - https://chalohoppo.com/

• Juhi starts her journey from Guwahati and makes the first stop at Shillong. A quick overview of preparation, group size as well as other requirements

• The first stop is the popular Umiam lake, a man made lake that offers serene views as well as opportunities for boating. The team also make a quick stop at the Dylan café, dedicated to American artist Bob Dylan

• Below are the places covered over the next few days

• Mawlyngbna

• Mawsynram

• Umkhakoi lake

• Split Rock

• Laitlum canyons

• Pynter village

• Shnompdeng village

• Umngot river

• Bangladesh border

• Root bridges - Mawkyrnot, the longest root bridge

• Cherrapunji/ Sohra

• Wei sodong waterfall

• Arwah caves

• Mawphlang sacred forests

• Other places to visit - Nongriat root bridge, Nokhalakhai waterfalls, David Scott trail

Links:

Link to the blog:

https://forumhopping.wordpress.com/

Link to blogpost:

https://forumhopping.wordpress.com/2023/02/19/meghalaya-part-i/

https://forumhopping.wordpress.com/2023/03/18/meghalaya-part-2/

Link to Forumhopping’s’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forumhopping/

Link to other episodes on Meghalaya

Lost in the Caves of Meghalaya: https://open.spotify.com/episode/509JER1Ulg7ZbtZWp72HKM?si=nIh8kQqyQDCivOPaaOtqNw

A ride to Meghalaya:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1pTqG2aejXX5TJdolpD7Kr?si=zr9LmjKTT06goHlqtu81Qw

Photo by Amit Jain on Unsplash

Follow the Musafir stories on:

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: [email protected]

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Anuj Haribhakti, a long time listener and avid traveller as we speak about the only place in the world where Asiatic lions live, Gir National Park!

Today's destination: Gir National Park, Gujarat

Nearest Airport: Rajkot Airport (RAJ)

Nearest Railway Station: Junagadh Railway Station (JND)

Prerequisites -  Book for permits to safaris 2-3 months in advance and lodging.

Packing - According to the weather, sunscreen, hats, bug repellent

Time of the year - September - Feb

Length of the itinerary: 4-5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• Anuj talks about the USP of the Gir national park, home to the world’s only Asiatic lion population.

• We discuss how excessive hunting by the Royal families and British officers  and human movement had made this a critically endangered species in the early 1900s. We also discuss how the State government and other stakeholders have been able to turn the situation around in the early 2000s.

• Anuj discusses the importance of booking the safaris and lodging in advance (2-3 months before the trip) as well as the best times for sighting.

• Finally Anuj shares his experience sighting over 20 lions in his 4 days at the Gir National park. This ranges from fully grown males, to a young couple and mother and cubs. He also discusses the nearby Devaliya sanctuary where lions and leopards are kept in closed environment.

• We also touch upon places in the vicinity that one could include as a part of an extended itinerary - including Sasan Gir, Swaminath temple, Diu and Junagadh.

Link to Anuj’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/anujph/

Photo by Lenstravelier on Unsplash

Follow the Musafir stories on:

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: http://www.themusafirstories.com

email: [email protected]

Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media.

We are @‌IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.

Follow the show across platforms:

Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon Music

Do share the word with your folks!

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Sahana Kulur, an educator, architect, traveler and blogger at http://www.vacaywork.com as she takes us to the erstwhile capital of the Adil Shahi sultanate - Bijapur!

Today's destination: Bijapur or Vijayapura, Karnataka

Nearest Airport: Goa International Airport (GOI)

Nearest Railway Station: Vijayapura/Bijapur Station (BJP)

Prerequisites -  N/A

Packing - Good walking shoes, carry extra water as it can get hot during the day, sunglasses and caps/hats

Time of the year - September - Feb

Length of the itinerary: 2 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• We start the conversation with a quick chat about the very diverse and interesting history and backstory of the Adil Shahi sultanate and its origins - on how a young prince from Turkey was sold to a merchant and eventually ended up in the Deccan region after growing up in Persia.

• Set up by Yusuf Adil Shah, the Adil Shahi sultanate broke away from the Bahamani Sultanate after constant conflicts with the Vijayanagara empire. Bijapur served as the capital of the Adil Shahi sultanate.

• The Gol Gumbaz is the most prominent landmark of the capital and is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah who ruled in the 17th century. It is also the second largest dome in the world without any reinforcement, second only to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It is also the biggest domed structure in India and is currently on the tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites.

• Sahana shares her experience of visiting the Gol Gumbaz at sunrise, the views from the terrace, the optical illusion and the famous whispering gallery.

• Next up, we make a pitstop at Jama masjid, one of mosques in the vicinity with quaint architecture and interesting stories from the siege of Aurangazeb in 1686.

• One of the other interesting monuments is the unfinished Baara Kaman or the 12 arches. It was kicked off by the son of Ali Adil Shah II, but was never completed as he was killed before its completion. It is believed that the construction was stopped by his father fearing that the structure could eclipse the Gol Gumbaz.

• Another monument of interest is the Ibrahim Rouza built as a mausoleum for Ibrahim Adil Shah and his wife. It consists of a beautiful structure along with a mosque.

• One of the more recent hindu structures of Bijapur or Vijaypura is the Shiva statue at the Shivagiri park. It is one of the largest Shiva statues in India and was inaugurated in 2006.

• The other pit stops include a visit to the popular Khaanavali restaurants of North Karnataka that are prominent in the Jowar belt of the state. Sahana talks about Jowar rottis, brinjal curries as well as a variety of other mouth watering dishes from the state.

• Finally we end the trip with a visit to the Shastri market for pulses and spices, one of the biggest markets in Bijapur and some of its popular offerings.

• Some other monuments that could not be covered on the podcast include Asar Mahal, Gagan Mahal to name a few. For a detailed travel guide, please check out Sahana’s article on the blog - https://vacaywork.com/bijapur-travel-guide/

Links:

Link to Sahana’’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/sahana.kulur

Link to blog post:

https://vacaywork.com/bijapur-travel-guide/

Link to website:

https://vacaywork.com/

Photo by Sahana Kulur

Follow the Musafir stories on:

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: http://www.themusafirstories.com

email: [email protected]

Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media.

We are @‌IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.

Follow the show across platforms:

Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon Music

Do share the word with your folks!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Krishan Insan, a traveller and clean energy professional as he takes us to this lesser known gem of the North East - Tripura!

Today's destination: Tripura

Nearest Airport: Agartala Airport (IXA)

Nearest Railway Station: Udaipur Tripura Train station (UDPU)

Prerequisites -  N/A

Packing - Good walking shoes for pandal hopping!

Time of the year - Durga Pujo (October)

Length of the itinerary: 5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• We start off the episode starting with the premise of Krishan’s trip, the geographical orientation as well as access to the third smallest  state in India.

• Krishan talks about the background of Durga Pujo, the 10 days of celebration, the significant Bengali influence as well as the variety of pandals that one could visit. The stops during the 5 day itinerary include

• Ujjainta palace and museum

• Heritage park

• Albert Ikka memorial

• Integrated Agartala checkpost (Bangladesh border)

• More pandal hopping in the evenings

• Bengali cuisine, sweets, and pushkas!

• Jampui hills, Betlingchip

• Tripura’s cleanest village, Vanghmun

• Unakoti

• Madarhaat

• Chabimura

• Neer mahal

• Celebrating dashami and pandal hopping

Links:

Link to Krishan’s instagram

https://www.instagram.com/insankg/

Link to Krishan’s Twitter:

https://twitter.com/InsanKG

Photo by PREYAS PATEL on Unsplash

Follow the Musafir stories on:

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: http://www.themusafirstories.com

email: [email protected]

Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media.

We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. 

Follow the show across platforms:

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Do share the word with your folks!

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Saloni Prasad, curator at the Surat Heritage Project as she talks about the story of Surat, through a fascinating heritage walk!

Today's destination: Surat

Nearest Airport: Surat International Airport (STV)

Nearest Railway Station: Surat Station (ST)

Prerequisites:  N/A

Packing: Good walking shoes, carry extra water as it can get hot during the day in the summers

Time of the year: Round the year, check Instagram for details

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 hours

Itinerary Highlights: 

• We start off the walk by talking about the history and golden era of Surat - a port town on the banks of river Tapi or Tapti. Although Surat has existed for a long time, the documented history seems to suggest important structures being built around the 14th century. 
• The first stop of the walk is the Surat castle or Surat fort, indicating that Surat was once a walled city and is believed to have been built during the time of Gujarat Sultanate in the 16th century by a Turkish governor/general turned associate of the ruler, Khudavand Khan. The remaining structure is now a museum and has several interesting galleries, including a gallery of archives, textiles, pictures, and woodwork among others. 
• From the Surat fort, we move to Andrew’s library, built over 200 years ago during the British rule of the city and is a functional library. Close to the library is the CNI church or Anglican church, one of the oldest churches in the city built in the 1800s. 
• The banks of the river Tapi are in the vicinity and one can walk here to experience the ghats of Surat. We also speak of the first warehouse of the British in India that was built in this region, although the warehouse/factory doesn’t exist anymore but is a marker of an important landmark in Indian history. 
• We also talk briefly about the battle of Swally which is not too far away from here - one of the first battles between the Portuguese and the British forces fighting on the side of the Moguls. Another iconic event that perhaps does have long-lasting repercussions similar to the battle of Plassey. 
• We speak about the Ghanta ovara, custom house and mint house and how a day in the ancient port city would’ve looked like. 
• The next stop is the Mughalsarai, which is currently the office of the SMC or Surat Municipal Corporation. The original building was built as a travel lodge or musafir khana - primarily used as a hostel for pilgrims who would board ships to Mecca. This was built by Jahanara, the eldest daughter of Shah Jahan.  
• The final stop is the tomb of Khudavand Khan, the man who built the Surat Fort - we talk about his origins in Turkey, how he ended up in Surat and what one can see at the tomb. 
• We also discuss the unmissable local street food of Surat as well as the various communities that have made Surat so cosmopolitan. 
• We end the episode discussing some other interesting walks offered by the Surat Heritage project, including walks in Rander, Swally, Dumas, and British and Dutch cemeteries among others.                                                                    

Links:

Link to Surat Heritage Project’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/surat.heritage.project/

Link to Saloni’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/the.turquoise.ink

Link to website: 

https://www.suratheritage.com/

Photo by VD Photography on Unsplash

Follow the Musafir stories on:

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: [email protected]

Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media.

We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. 

Follow the show across platforms:

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Do share the word with your folks!

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Ila Reddy, a returning guest and listener as she takes us to the ancient kingdoms of Newar. 

Today's destination: Nepal

Nearest Airport: Tribhuvan International Airport, KTM

Nearest Railway Station: N/A

Prerequisites:  N/A

Packing: Pack according to the season

Time of the year:  September - Feb

Length of the itinerary: 9 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• Ila takes us overseas as we discover the Newari capitals of Nepal - Patan, Bhaktapur along with other places like Panauti and Bharatpur! Historically, the Nepal valley and adjoining areas made up a confederation known as the Nepal Mandala. Until the 15th century, Bhaktapur was its capital, when two other capitals, Kathmandu and Lalitpur (Patan), were established. 
• The trip was done with the Community Homestay Network (CHN). The Community Homestay Network (CHN) is a social enterprise that supports a network of homestays run by local women and families across Nepal. Their homestay model provides hosts with an additional source of income and the opportunity to meet travelers from around the world, while travelers get a taste of the local way of life. 
• The best part is that 80% of the revenue goes directly to the community and is used for family and household expenses, education, personal development, community activities, and community development
• We begin the journey by flying into Kathmandu and making our way to Patan/Lalitpur, one of the ancient cities of the Newari kingdom. 
• The Durbar Square is one of the iconic locations of Patan that is made up of a number of temples and provides a view into the wonderful architecture of the region. 
• The prominent temples of Patan Durbar Square include:: Krishna Temple, Royal Palace Patan, Jagannarayan Temple, Keshav Narayan Temple, Char Naarayan Temple, Golden Temple and others. 
• On the east side of the square looms the impressive Ancient Royal Palace, which dates back to the late 1600s. With its red-brick walls, tiered rooftop pavilions and latticed window screens, the palace is a shining example of traditional Nepalese architecture.
• The next stop is the Golden Temple Also known as Kwa Bahal and Hiranyavarna Mahavihara, this Buddhist monastery takes its English name from the beautiful golden metalwork which adorns its façade. We also speak of the rich traditional food from Nepal - including local candy, thalis, daal and sabzi. 
• The next pitstop is Bharatpur - to experience the life of the Tharu community that lives around the Chitwan national park. Besides the rhinos and mustard fields, the experience is all about the time spent with the community, sampling their way of life, food and celebrations! 
• Ila makes a short trip back to Patan again, which they used as their base camp. In this leg, Ila covers the Paubha painting workshop which she was a part of. The painting is native to Nepal and is similar to the Tibetan Thangka paintings and involves detailing of Hindu mythological figures and deities and Mandalas. Paubha painting is treated as a form of meditation by its practitioners, and mastering the pattern of even a single leaf, wave, or cloud can take weeks.
• The next stop from Patan is Bhaktapur, another of the capitals of the Valley. Bhaktapur, the "City of Devotees," is also known for Newar traditions, food, and artisans, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nepal
• The Bhaktapur Durbar Square - is similar to the one in Patan, except that the temples are more massive. There are several smaller squares or chowks and the one with pottery shops was particularly beautiful. Like Patan, the area is best explored on foot and the local mitho doi (similar to Bengali mishti doi, or sweet curd) is a must-try!
• Ila moves to Panuati after spending time in Bhaktapur -  Panauti is a historical city in Nepal, originally it was a small state given by King Bhupatindra Malla as a dowry to his sister. 
• Ila explores a few temples, walked around the market and alleys, and even made a day trip to Namobuddha Monastery, located atop a hill and offering exceptional views of the snow peaks.
• The final stop is a quick return to Patan where Ila takes part in a Ranjana lippi workshop, the traditional script of the Newari people as well as a quick visit to Kathmandu to visit the Pashupatinath temple and a sound bath meditation!                                                                            

Links:

Link to Ila’s substack:

https://ilareddy.substack.com/

Link to blog posts: 

https://ilareddy.substack.com/p/nepal-part1

https://ilareddy.substack.com/p/nepal-part2

Link to Community Homestay network:

https://www.communityhomestay.com/

Link to Ila’s episode on Nagaland: 

Ep. 110: Headhunters of Nagaland with Ila Reddy The ...Applehttps://podcasts.apple.com › podcast › ep-110-headhu...

Photo by binaya_photography on Unsplash

Follow the Musafir stories on:

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website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: [email protected]

Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media.

We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. 

Follow the show across platforms:

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GIVEAWAY ALERT: Listen to the episode and answer 3 simple questions on the Google form - ​​https://forms.gle/T3dj6SN9fnEBiF1H9 and stand a chance to win access to virtual self-guided walks on the Wandr app (https://linktr.ee/wnderapp)

TRIGGER WARNING: Some ambient sounds are used to depict War sounds. 

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Tathagata Neogi, co-founder and CXO at Immersive Trails (https://www.immersivetrails.com) - a purpose-driven company that converts ethical, in-depth research into immersive experiences. 

Today's destination: Calcutta

Nearest Airport: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)

Nearest Railway Station: Howrah Railway Station (HWH)

Prerequisites:  N/A

Packing: Pack light and carry extra water as it can get hot during the day in the summers

Time of the year: Round the year on weekends, check the website for details

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 hours

Itinerary Highlights: 

• We start off the walk by setting context around the period during world war 2, important events around the world and in Southeast Asia and how Calcutta became a vantage point for both sides. 
• The first pitstop of the trail is at the New Market area, one of the busy hubs for locals to shop for their daily needs, and how this area was bustling with activity even in the 1940s. Tathagata also speaks of the ongoing air raid drills and sirens and how people didn't take them seriously. 
• We also discuss the Bengal famine and the lack of preparedness and empathy shown by the British government, how this was triggered and some last remaining silos with connections to the famine. 
• We also discuss the role of the local politicians during the famine and their vested personal interests, protests by students and mill workers. Some important pit stops include the Calcutta Municipality headquarters, Victoria Memorial, Mango Lane, Grand Hotel, Metro cinema, and Statesman House among others. 
• We also discuss the cultural influence the American troops brought to Calcutta including Coca-cola, the movies and ice cream! Tathagata also mentions the Calcutta key, the pocket-sized guide provided by the troops on tips to navigate Calcutta including cultural nuances.                                                                       

Links:

Link to Immersive Trail’s social media: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/immersivetrails/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/immersivetrails

Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/company/immersivetrails

Link to website: 

https://www.immersivetrails.com/

Link to Wndr self-guided experiences app:

https://linktr.ee/wnderapp

Photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash

Follow the Musafir stories on:

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: [email protected]

Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media:

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Follow the show across platforms:

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Do share the word with your folks!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with a very dear listener - Geo Sebastian, a rural development professional who takes us to the quaint town of Diu

Today's destination: Diu, Union territory 

 Nearest Airport: Diu Airport, DIU

Nearest Railway Station: Veraval Railway Stn, VRL

Prerequisites:  N/A

Packing: Pack light and carry extra liquids as it can get hot during the day in the summers

Time of the year: October to February is the best time to visit

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 days

Itinerary Highlights: 

• We start off by locating Diu on the map, a union territory on the western coast of India close to Gujarat. Diu is a part of the Daman, Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli - one of the union territories in India. 
• Geo also talks about the historical context and significance of Geo, the history with the Mauryas, Chavdas, Mughals and Portuguese. The Portuguese ruled Diu for over 400 years and established Diu as one of the strongholds of its operations in India. We also discuss the iconic battle of Diu and the siege of Diu fort that established the Portuguese as the undisputed rulers of the Diu. 
• Diu is popular for its beaches given its strategic location and also offers a welcome destination to crowds from Gujarat who seek to get away from the dry state. 
• Important beaches in Diu include 
• Nagoa beach: most popular and commercial, adventure activities like parasailing, speed boats, water-ski; Hokka trees; close to hotels 
• Ghoghla Beach: watersports, dolphins
• Jallandhar Beach: Jallandhar shrine - a demon slain by Krishna, On a hillock stood the shrine of Jallandhar, a water demon slayed by Vishnu’s discus, lending its name to the Chakratirth beach
• Chakratirth Beach: more like a lagoon, watch tower
• Gomatimata Beach: western most corner, gulls, birdwatching
•  Besides the beach, one should also make a visit to the Diu fort and learn about the history of this iconic fort, including the battle of Diu. While here, don’t forget to check out the massive Paanikotha fort that served as a first line of defence. 
• There are also important churches, temples and Parsi places of worship  in Diu with notable mentions for St. Thomas Church, St. Paul’s church, Gangeshwar temple, Tower of slience of the Parsis
• Other places of interest include the Naida caves - natural rock formations; old city, Zampa gateway, Fudam bird sanctuary
•  We also spend some time discussing some popularly available foods of the region including Farsan and seafood.                                                                       

Links:

Link to Geo’s Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/asocialscientist/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/khanabadoshtraveliving/?hl=en

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This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with a very dear listener - Amruta Dhalkar, a museologist and archivist, who takes us to a beautiful yet underrated part of Maharashtra! 

Today's destination: Sawantwadi, Maharashtra

Nearest Airport: Dabolim Airport, GOI

Nearest Railway Station: Sawantwadi Railway Stn, SWV

Prerequisites: N/A

Packing:  Pack light and carry extra liquids as it can get hot during the day in the summers

Time of the year: September to February is the best time to visit

Length of the itinerary: 3-5 days

Itinerary Highlights:

• We start off our conversation with a quick peek into the history of the Sawantwadi royal family and the contribution of the women rulers of the region in maintaining its sovereignty. Amruta explains the strategic location of Sawantwadi and how it was a significant location in the ancient trade routes. 
• We begin by visiting the Sawantwadi Rajwada or the royal palace, its architectural structure, use of locally available colours and raw materials as well as the rich artifacts and interiors of the Sawantwadi palace. 
• Amruta talks about the Ganjifa art form and the origins of Ganjifa, how it came to India from Persia and was Indianized to adopt the Dashavathar form of playing cards and artistic box. 
• We visit the museum in the second wing of the palace, the paintings from the royal family as well as the beautiful interiors. 
• From the royal palace, we move towards the beautiful views of the Moti Talav and Narendra hills. Further down is the popular Ubha bazaar which is iconic for its wooden toys, lacquerware and handicrafts. The fruit plate or the fruit basket is especially popular among locals and visitors alike. 
• Moving away from the city, we start exploring the neighbouring towns and points of interest - the key amongst them being Pinguli village for Chitrakathi, Vetoba temple famous for offerings of kolhapuri chappals, beaches like Tarkarli, Devbagh, Nivati and Vengurla which is famous for beaches, dutch factory and Ganapati temple. 
• Also on the agenda are the popular forts in the vicinity including Nivati fort, Sindhudurg fort, Vijaydurg fort and its connection to Mercury!
• Another unique point of interest is the Dhamapur lake - a 400-year-old manmade reservoir that is a UNESCO-recognized world heritage irrigation structure. One of the earliest examples of a sustainable irrigation system in the world.                                                           
• We wrap up the conversation with an overview of the iconic Sawantwadi and Malvani cuisine, the popular mangoes and drinks like solkadhi!                                                                                                                                              

Links:

Link to Amruta’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amrutadhalkar/

Link to Amruta’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/amruta_dhalkar

Link to the Kolhapur episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SHkw6h3NVYWcqoEA07bMv?si=oBL-7i0FRhKeg94MgkG5Ow

Photo by Makarand Sawant on Unsplash

Follow the Musafir stories on:

Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en

website: www.themusafirstories.com

email: [email protected]

Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media.

We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.

Follow the show across platforms:

Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon Music

Do share the word with your folks!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.