Here are links to our stories from India.
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Kashmir Valley
Stories and pictures from our visit to Srinagar and the Kashmir Valley.
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Kashmir’s Great Lakes Trek
Spectacular mountain lakes, large, green valleys and impressive rocky peaks made the Great Lakes trek in Kashmir one of the most beautiful treks we’ve done. Every day of this 7-day trek in the Indian Himalayas gave stunning views.
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Ladakh’s Colourful Markha Valley
Wide valleys with colourful, rugged mountains and rushing rivers made for incredible views on Ladakh’s Markha Valley trek. Ladakh is a region in the far north of India in the state of Jammu-Kashmir in the Indian Himalayas.
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Ancient sites in the Indus and Nubra Valleys
Pictures and stories from Leh and surrounding villages including the Nubra Valley.
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Ladakh’s Incredible Hidden and Zanskar Valleys
Our time in the Hidden and Zanskar Valleys in Ladakh involved crossing steep mountain passes, rafting on wild rivers and seeing pre-Tibetan architecture. These valleys are less visited than other parts of Ladakh and we’re glad we included them in our visit.
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Ladakh’s Monasteries, Palaces and Fortresses
Pictures of Monasteries, Palaces and Fortresses in Ladakh, India.
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Glittering Temples and Spicy Food in Punjab
Pictures and stories from our travels in Punjab, India.
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A Puja with the Dalai Lama
Our story of a puja and teachings with the Dalai Lama, and other sites around McLeod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh.
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Stranded in a Blizzard… in India
After travelling throughout much of northern India, we didn’t think our transportation options could get any worse, but we were wrong. A massive blizzard in India stranded us in the small mountain town of Khoksar. To get to safety, we were forced us to use our feet, a jeep, dump and cargo trucks. Here’s our…
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The Beautiful Hampta Pass
The green valleys of the upper Kullu Valley are surrounded by steep rock walls, waterfalls and snowcapped peaks. It is a gorgeous part of Himachal Pradesh.
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Spiti Valley – India’s Little Tibet
Despite its barren landscape, there is so much to love about Spiti: the warmth of the people, the magnificent monasteries and the incredible mountain landscapes make it a special place to visit. Here’s an overview of what you can see and do in Spiti Valley.
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The Strange and Unique Parvati Valley
Stories and pictures from the Parvati Valley.
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The Foothill Towns Of Rewalsar and Shimla
At the southern end of Himachal Pradesh, are two hillside towns with very different histories and architecture. Rewalsar is steeped in legends from 3 religions and Shimla is full of British colonial architecture. Let us take you to both.
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The Incredible Views On The Kuari Pass Trek
After 6 days of hiking up and down hills and over mountain passes we arrived at one of the most spectacular Himalayan views. The panoramic view from Kuari Pass was a wonderful surprise.
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The Ganges: Source of Ganges Hike & Rishikesh
The Ganges is one of the most sacred rivers in India. People come from all over the country to give offerings and to wash away their sins. In this post we’ll take you on a hike to the Source of the Ganges as well as the vibrant city of Rishikesh.
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The Ganges: Experience The Lights of Ganga Aarti and Dewali in Haridwar and Varanasi
After visiting the source of the Ganges River at Gaumukh Glacier and seeing pilgrims bathe in it in Rishikesh, we went further south along the Ganges to the holy cities of Haridwar and Varanasi. The rich culture and fascinating customs make the area exciting to visit. We’ll show you how to best experience these pilgrimage…
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What To See In Delhi
We came to Delhi expecting a hectic, polluted city with crazy traffic and over population. We found all of that, but also found green parks and amazing historical buildings. There’s a lot to see in Delhi, and it’s worth spending a few days to see all this city has to offer.
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The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is touted as being one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. After seeing it in person, we have to agree. It’s awe-inspiring. Come with us as we show you the beauty of The Taj Mahal as well as other historic buildings in Agra.
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Mughal Architecture Around Agra
Mughals and Sultans ruled much of northern India in the 16th and 17th centuries leaving behind beautiful architecture. Some of these are located a short distance from Agra, but are not often visited by tourists. Let us show you the fabulous historical sites in Fatehpur Sikri, Gwalior, Orchha.
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Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Parasnath Hills: Pilgrimage sites
In northern India, not far from the border with Nepal, we found 3 very important pilgrimage sites for the ancient religions of Buddhism and Jainism. Their origins are similar and so are many of their beliefs, but the traditions and customs of these two religions demonstrate their differences.
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Top 15 Pictures From The Indian Himalayas
Our favourite pictures from our time in the Indian Himalayas.
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Oh Calcutta & Konark’s Sun Temple
We expected the worst from Kolkata (Calcutta). We thought it was full of slums and abject poverty but were surprised to find nice, treed neighbourhoods, organized traffic and clean sidewalks. There is actually a lot to see. Here’s a sampling of what you kind find when you visit Calcutta.
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Southeast India’s French Connection – Vizag and Puducherry
Vizag and Puducherry in Southern India provide visitors with a different side to the country. With clean, organized streets and wonderful French colonial architecture, we think you’ll enjoy visiting both Vizag and Puducherry, India.
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Fascinating Architecture in Hyderabad
Hyderabad, in southern India, is a large metropolis with two contrasting sides, old and new. It has modern, cosmopolitan suburbs that contrast the historical buildings of Old Town. We enjoyed exploring both and think you will also enjoy seeing the fascinating architecture in Hyderabad.
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Diving in the Andaman Islands
The idyllic Andaman Islands are a popular tourists destination for their beautiful beaches and fantastic scuba diving. One of the most popular vacation spots is Havelock Island. With sandy beaches on its shore and easy access to dive sites, Havelock Island is the perfect beach getaway from India’s hectic cities.
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Palaces, Mansions and Temples in Southern India, Part 1 – Madurai, Chettinadu and Trichy
The Southern Indian centres of Madurai, Chettinadu and Trichy have a variety of Palaces, Mansions and Temples that are worth exploring. Here is a description of what you can see when you visit Southern India.
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Palaces, Mansions and Temples in Southern India, Part 2 – Thanjavur and Mamallapuram
Thanjavan and Mamallapuram offer the visitor wonderful Palaces and Temples to explore. Here is a description of what you can see when you visit these spots in Southern India.
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The Backwaters in Kerala, India
Kerala, on India’s southwest coast, has a unique landscape with an extensive network of natural and man-made canals and lakes. We travelled on these canals on a ferry and a houseboat. Here are scenes from the backwater canals of Kerala.
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Explore Kerala, The Land of Tea and Spice
The state of Kerala has many sides. From the historical sites of the spice-trade city Kochi to breathtaking views in the highlands, there is a lot to see in this charming state. Here are a few ideas when you Explore Kochi and Munnar in Kerala.
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Mysore – The City of Palaces
Picture and stories from Mysore, the City of Palaces.
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Hampi – Ancient Stone City
The historic town of Hampi hosts one of the most impressive sites in India. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has ruins from the medieval city of Vijayanangar. Hundreds of ancient-looking stone buildings are scattered between huge granite boulders on small barren hills. Here are the top sites to see in Hampi, the Ancient Stone City.
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Goa – The Portuguese Connection
Goa is famous for its white sand beaches, tourist-friendly culture and party atmosphere. We found all of this, but also found great historical neighbourhoods with old buildings from its days as a Portuguese trading centre. Here is an idea of the sites to see in Palolem and Panaji, Goa.
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The Rock-Cut Temples of Ajanta and Ellora
What could you do with a crudely made hammer and chisel? As early as the 3rd century BC, masons and sculptors were creating massive temples by carving caves into solid basalt rock walls. These works of art are the rock-cut temples of Ajanta and Ellora and are fascinating to visit.
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Visit Mumbai
Hectic, crowded and loud but clean, friendly and picturesque. Mumbai is the biggest city in India with a population of over 21 million. You are constantly surrounded by people and noise, but It’s worth it to see the lovely historical buildings. Here are some of the reasons to visit Mumbai.
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Udaipur – A Palace Fit For A Maharaja
Udaipur is Rajasthan’s Lake City, but it could also be called Palace City for its many charming, historical palaces and Havelis within Old Town. It’s a great place to spend a few days, soaking in the history. Let’s explore Udaipur together.
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Jaisalmer – A Sandcastle In The Desert
The tall walls of Jaisalmer Fort seem to emerge directly out of the Thar Desert. Located on the border of Rajasthan and Pakistan, its Old Town is still a vibrant part of the larger city. Jaisalmer looks like a sandcastle in the desert and is waiting for you to explore.
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Jodhpur – The Blue City
The Blue city of Jodhpur is a magical place. From the impenetrable Mehrangarh Fort, high on a rocky outcrop to the colourful Brahmin blue homes, Jodhpur never ceases to amaze. Here are some of the site you will see when you visit India’s Blue City, Jodhpur.
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Jaipur – The Pink City
Jaipur is famous for its pink buildings and wall that surrounds it historic centre. Visitors also love to visit its hillside forts with colourful doorways. We visited all of those and more. Come with us as we show you the sites in the Pink City of Jaipur, India
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Darjeeling and Sikkim’s Buddhist Villages Gangtok and Yuksom
The steep foothills of India’s Eastern Himalayas are covered in tea plantations, alpine forests and mountain towns which appear to be clinging to the sides of steep mountain slopes. Darjeeling is the most famous city here, but the Buddhist village of Gangtok and Yuksom have even more charm.
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Trekking Goecha La and Mt. Kanchenjunga
Tucked up in India’s far northeast, the Himalayan state of Sikkim is a unique area with Tibetan villages set below the snow-capped Himalayas. The world’s 3rd highest peak, Mt. Kanchenjunga (8586m), lies on the border between Sikkim and Nepal. We trekked to Goecha La (Pass) for a look at this mighty giant.
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Trekking Guide for Goecha La, Sikkim
This is a detailed guide of the trek to Goecha La. It is a relatively easy 8 day trek that culminates in a sunrise view of Kanchenjunga, the 3rd highest mountain in the world.
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Our Top 20 Pictures From India
India is a diverse country with amazing scenery, architecture and people. We had a difficult time choosing, but here are our top 20 pictures from India.
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Trekking Guide for Source of the Ganges & Tapovan, India
An easy trek that takes you to Tapovan meadow and one of the most beautiful views in India. This guide describes the trek that follows the Bhagirathi River to its beginning at the toe of Gaumukh Glacier.
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Impressions Of India – Our 8-Month Adventure
After traveling in India for 8 ½ months, we thought we’d try to sum up our experiences, impressions and lessons learned.
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Travel Tips India
Planning a trip to India? Here are specific travel tips to make it easier to navigate. After spending over 8 months traveling through much of India, we wanted to share our insights with others who are planning on visiting. For our broader views of the country visit Impressions of India.
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Beautiful Chortens in the Himalayas
Chortens (stupas) are one of the most recognizable Buddhist structures and can be found in many areas in the Himalayas. They add an interesting texture to the stunning mountain scenery. During our travels we have visited many regions in the Himalayas and have seen hundreds of chortens. Here is a selection of our favourites.
