As International Yoga Day approaches on June 21, I find myself reflecting on a lifelong relationship with yoga, a journey that began when I was seven years old and continues today, more than six decades later. First Encounters Like many children growing up in India, I was exposed to yoga at an early age. My… Continue reading
Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, is truly a paradise for history lovers. Nestled amidst boulder-strewn landscapes along the banks of the Tungabhadra River, Hampi was once the magnificent capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, which flourished between the 14th and 16th centuries and was one of the most powerful kingdoms in South… Continue reading
Honest reflections after seven decades of mistakes. I spent nearly five decades building a career across three regions of the world. The first half of my professional life was in India, where I learned the value of hard work and perseverance. A brief chapter in the Middle East exposed me to a truly international work… Continue reading
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