Sitting in Beijing, China’s capitol, and arguably one of the most polluted cities in the world, is an artfully constructed tower that was made to address the city’s legendary smog problem. The city recently had to issue its first red alert for the quality of its air, but it turns out the odd tower might actually be working. Though some claimed that the pagoda-like tower was simply no match for […]

One of the most popular tourist destinations in India visited by people from across the globe – Gujarat – is indeed a traveller’s paradise. The western state of the country, which has been endowed with nature’s bounty besides man-made wonders, embraces visitors throughout the year. A brand new video published by Gujarat Tourism highlights key features and the distinctive appeal of the land of lions. From the remains of the […]

At a time when India was grappling with the evils of colonialism, an enlightened ruler placed himself proudly on a cosy cushioned throne under the shelter of morpankh (peacock feather) in a palatial abode in the city of Vadodara (or Baroda as it was called back then). Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III was on good terms with the British and never revolted against them, violently or non-violently. However, the silent guardian […]

In a setback to India, the Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, has withdrawn the visa-free facility for Indian travellers Now, they will have to complete a pre-arrival registration from January. Hong Kong immigration department’s statement “The Pre-arrival Registration for Indian Nationals will be implemented on January 23, 2017. The online service for ‘Pre-arrival Registration for Indian Nationals’ is now opened,” the Hong Kong immigration department said in […]

There are few more refreshing Andhra moments than boarding a bus in the heat-soaked plains and disembarking in the sharp pinch of a Lambasingi night or morning. This misty hill station, located at an altitude of 1025 meters above sea level in the Chintapalli region of Arakku Valley, has experienced winter snowfall in the past. That’s right. Temperature does not go below 0° C every year, but when it does, […]

On International Tea Day, we speak to the popular tea cafes to find out how the trend is catching up in the city. Yes, there’s a day dedicated to tea! International Tea Day has been celebrated on December 15 for more than a decade in tea producing countries like India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal among others. Hyderabad, known for its Irani chai, has been witness to a steady flow […]

It has not rained in Chennai since about 4 pm, a little after Cyclone Vardah hit the Tamil Nadu coast on Monday afternoon making landfall about 15 km away from the capital. But after a one-hour lull, strong winds have started to blow again. The cyclone struck land with a wind speed of 120 and 130 kmph, bringing with it heavy rain that lashed the coast in Tamil Nadu and […]

The 204-year-old Madras Literary Society in Chennai is getting a new lease of life, thanks to youthful volunteers and a social media campaign. Karthik Subramanian finds out more. The sight takes your breath away. As you step in, you encounter bookshelf after bookshelf rising up from the floor to the ceiling. It is as though you have stumbled upon a waterfall of books. The Madras Literary Society library located in the […]

If you like living life on the edge, where you want to experience thrill, ride on rough roads and let the adrenaline flow, this is for you. For many, riding on tough terrains is a passion and India has a lot of places where you can experience difficult terrains. There are many deadliest roads in India that are challenging and the scenic beauty draws you to such places. There are […]

“A city is a living, throbbing organism with a soul of its own and, it would often seem, a thinking mind,” TJS George writes in Askew, a delightful “short biography of Bangalore”, published by Aleph Book Company this month as part of its series of monographs on Indian cities. Like all the volumes so far — on Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Calcutta and Patna respectively — this book is a combination […]