When we tell friends that we have visited all 63 U.S. National Parks, one of the first questions they ask is which parks we enjoyed the most. Having visited all 63 parks over several years, we wanted to answer this question thoughtfully rather than rely on memory or personal bias. To approach this objectively, we… Continue reading
In September 2025, we undertook a four-day journey through southern Tamil Nadu, tracing places associated with the Ramayana while also visiting several other ancient temples en route. Day 1: Madurai to Rameswaram We travelled by Vande Bharat to Madurai, and from there we hired a cab for the entire trip, ending at Nagercoil. In Madurai,… Continue reading
In September 2025, we went on a four-day pilgrimage covering Gokul, Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, and Govardhan. Walking through the very places associated with Lord Krishna’s childhood was a deeply moving experience that blended devotion, history, culture, and faith. Day 1 – Journey from Delhi to Mathura Our pilgrimage began with a train journey from Delhi… Continue reading
A Scenic Journey Through Zagreb, Plitvice Lakes, Split, and Dubrovnik In recent years, we have made it a tradition to include a short European stopover on our trips between the U.S. and India. Last year, our journey led us to Croatia. Arrival in Europe – Frankfurt to Zagreb We landed in Frankfurt on August 26… Continue reading
In October 2022, we undertook one of the most sacred pilgrimages in India — the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand. The tour was arranged by SOTC with Heli Yatra being the local operator. Nestled amidst the majestic Himalayas, the Char Dham circuit includes Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, each carrying immense spiritual significance in Hindu… Continue reading
We visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park twice—first in July 2021 during the Independence Day weekend and again in April 2022, this time accompanied by family members from all three generations. Across these visits, we explored scenic drives, waterfalls, peaceful forest trails, and historic areas within the park. The park’s easy accessibility and variety of… Continue reading
We visited Yosemite National Park over a 2-day Memorial Day weekend trip in May 2022, staying at Yosemite Gatekeeper’s Lodge in El Portal, a convenient place just a few miles from the park. Day 1 We started early from San Francisco and drove to Yosemite. Our first stop was Bridalveil Fall near Tunnel View. The… Continue reading
Anchored by the sacred Arunachaleswarar Temple and the timeless presence of Arunachala Hill, our 3-day pilgrimage to Tiruvannamalai in January 2024 was a deeply spiritual experience. Day 1 – Arrival, Darshan, and the Sacred Girivalam We arrived in Tiruvannamalai on a January afternoon after a 4-hour drive from Chennai. The town was vibrant, with the… Continue reading
Undertaking the sacred pilgrimage to Amarnath Cave (12,756 ft) had long been on our spiritual bucket list. In the second week of July, 2019, we finally embarked on this divine journey from Chennai, with the tour arranged by SOTC Travel Limited (Chennai). This journey turned out to be especially significant in hindsight. Within a couple… Continue reading
Between September and December 2022, we undertook one of the most spiritually fulfilling journeys, visiting all 12 Jyotirlingas across India. We completed the yatra in phases, using Chennai as our base and covering different states over multiple trips. Each destination was not just a temple visit, but often combined with nearby cultural and historical landmarks… Continue reading