After completing our visit to Hampi, we boarded a train to Mysore, from where our four-day road trip through Coorg (Kodagu) began. Covering nearly 350 km by road, this journey offered a delightful blend of spirituality, scenic landscapes, waterfalls, wildlife, and the rich coffee country of Karnataka. Our itinerary included the Golden Temple at Bylakuppe,… Continue reading
My spouse and I began our journey to visit twelve ashrams across India more like a themed vacation. What we received instead were quiet teachings. Simple but powerful lessons that arrived subtly. Each ashram revealed something different, yet together they formed a map of gentle truths that continue to guide us. Our journey began at… Continue reading
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
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 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
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
Our journey began early in the morning from Pune, setting out on a two-day pilgrimage through the sacred destinations of Maharashtra. We drove toward Nashik, one of the most revered cities associated with Lord Rama’s years in exile. Taked Jatayu Temple After a five-hour drive, our first stop was the historic Taked Jatayu Temple, dedicated… Continue reading