Discovering Kalsi: A Tiny Hamlet in the Himalayas

There are many places in India which have never managed to come to the media limelight but are historically significant nevertheless. One such place, as I discovered last spring, is the cozy little mountain settlement of Kalsi. This village sits in the foothills of the Shivalik Mountains in the lap of the Himalayan plains, just an hour from Dehradun town. It was a completely unplanned trip which just fell into my itinerary out of nowhere. Some cousins and I were exploring the entire Dehradun-Mussoorie-Dhanolti belt when our minivan had a major breakdown. It was taking hours to get it fixed so we decided to do a little detour. We asked around where we could go in the vicinity and were recommended Kalsi. After managing to hire a cheap and comfortable Dehradun car we headed towards this almost obscure village.

A dreamland called Kalsi

Perched atop 780 meters from the sea level, this destination is a meeting point of the Yamuna and the Tons Rivers. But what defines Kalsi is its ancient monuments and sites of historic significance.

Spring had brought about a more saturated shade of green, complemented by the sparkling blue sky and the yellow mustard flowers dotting the fields. The sleepy hamlet appeared to move slower than time, resting against the misty mountains and verdant fields. We walked through the fields and woods, crossed the stream on foot, and landed at the bamboo bridge, literally dangling on the gurgling mountain river. It was quite a challenge to cross the wobbly bridge. But the view on both sides was spectacular. The crystal clear spring sky was like the perfect contrast to the bright green foliage bathed in sunlight. And it was complemented with a serenity that one yearns for. We finally managed to cross over after pausing multiple times to take photos of the landscape from every possible angle. Exhausted from all the hiking, we later took a little break on the other side. Sitting on the banks looking over the sparkling waters of the river as the crisp alpine breeze brushed our faces, felt no less than a dream; an experience one can only cherish and cannot explain in the most articulated words.

A trip down history

The only existing site of the historical significance of Kalsi, as we learned, was the Ashoka Rock Edict. And perhaps the most popular tourist attraction of the village. The Edict is a huge rock of 10 feet long and 8 feet wide with inscriptions by none other than the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, somewhere between 273 and 232 BC. There are 14 inscriptions which are a compilation of reforms and advice written in Prakrit and Brahmi script which laid down the core philosophies and principles of Buddhism. It is said (and believed) that Ashoka’s empire extended till this village and he created this edict when he adopted Buddhism.

The Ashoka Rock Edict sits in corner of a lush meadow, surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens. The red brick dome-like structure was a colorful contrast to the greens and blues. We had to walk down a hilly slope to reach the premise. I had never seen a historic site so peaceful, without a single human soul in sight. Surrounded by the fragrance of fresh grass and alpine flowers and the symphony of the wind with the rustling water of the Yamuna, this place took me back in time and put me in a place which was beyond this world.

Overall, it was an experience that seldom happened with me and I truly relished every moment of the magical little land called Kalsi. After all, the best things come by when we don’t plan them, isn’t it?

Pro Tips

Book an affordable Dehradun airport taxi service for a better traveling experience through the hills.

There’s no place to eat or lodge in this village. So, if you are trekking, hiking, or just roaming around, stack up some food and water before you leave for Kalsi.

Holi - Festival of Colors

Holi is the festival of colours, one of the most awaited festivals in the country and celebrated by Hindus all over the country. The festival is celebrated with much joy and vigour all across the country especially in North India. Holi is not just a festival; it’s a tradition which dates back millenniums. It’s one of those festivals that brings out the child in everyone.

The colourful festival of Holi spans over two days and marks the beginning of spring. On the first day, known as day of “Holika Dahan”, fire is lit marking the victory of truth over evil. The second day is “Phag”, when the actual Holi is celebrated with vibrant colours and water. The festival bridges gap between people of different communities and age groups and people hug each other while smearing each other’s face with paint.

The Legend of Holi

Hiranyakashyap’s who was a mighty demon who beat the gods and became the master of the universe. He had a son named Prahalad. Prahalad was hated by his father as Prahalad was a devotee of Lord Vishnu, one of the most worshipped gods among Hindus.

Prahlad was confronted many times by his father for worshipping Vishnu. The king decided to kill Prahlad. Prahlad was thrown off a cliff, attacked by the king’s soldiers, crushed by elephants and many such antics were used by Hiranyakashyap but all these attempts failed. After many failing attempts, Hiranyakashyap thought of a master plan and called his sister Holika. Holika was blessed by gods in a way that she was immune to fire, that she wouldn’t get burned. Hiranyakashyap asked her to kill his child. Holika initially hesitated to kill Prahlad but agreed when forced. Holika held Prahlad in her lap and sat in the middle of fire.

As Holika was immune to fire, they thought it would be a perfect plan, and their motive would be fulfilled. But something unexpected unfolded. As Holika was using her power for evil, her power was taken away by the gods and she was burnt to ashes. Prahalad as always was unharmed who kept chanting the name of Vishnu. Vishnu protected his greatest devotee and Prahalad escaped unhurt.

Later, Vishnu killed Hiranyakashyap by appearing as Narsingh avatar and Prahlad was crowned as the king. Narsingh was half human and half Lion. Lord Vishnu had to appear in a Narsingh avatar as Hiranyakashyap was blessed by powers that he could not be killed by any human or animal or be killed in the sky or on land.

Celebrating Holi

Holi is celebrated in March, every year. Though Holi is a Hindu festival, not much religious practices are attached with the festival. To celebrate the victory of good over evil, bonfires are lit on the first day of festival and a dummy of Holika is burnt.

The festival is welcomed by everyone in great spirits with a lot of singing and dancing involved. Holi is celebrated with much joy in North India and the Holi of Mathura is extremely famous. It starts a week before the actual festival and attracts enthusiastic people from far off places.

The morning of Holi is awaited by much anticipation especially by kids. They throw coloured water with water guns on their friends and family and some almost anyone. You will find youths (their face and hair drenched in colour and in almost unidentifiable state) on their bikes and open jeeps zooming around the cities. In the noon when everyone is done with colours, comes the time of food that has been specially prepared. People on this day usually have sweets and many even drink bhang (marijuana).

The festival of Holi is usually held around March. And the best place to visit during Holi is in Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna and Vrindavan where he spent this childhood, all of which can easily reached from Delhi. Holi is not particularly celebrated in South India.

Those travelling to India will find Holi very interesting. It’s one of its kind! Due to large numbers of Indians living in the USA and Europe, Holi and Diwali have also become popular in the West. The date of the festival changes year after so you need to check if you wish to travel to India during Holi. This year’s Holi (2013) is on the Wednesday, March 27.

Video of people playing the festival of colour, in Delhi, India

Open your heart and enjoy. You will love Holi…

This year in 2019 Holi will be celebrated on March 20 and March 21.

Pictures of Barcelona Spain

Barcelona (Spain) is the capital of Catalonia and is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, architectural works and is a major economic centre of South West Europe. Barcelona happens to be a huge tourist destination for people around the world. Some of the places to visit in Barcelona include Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Cathedral, Montserrat, Park Güell, Palau Güell, Arc de Triomf, Gothic Quarter and Parc de la Ciutadella.

A friend of mine was in Barcelona recently and took some photos of the various places he visited. He visited some of the famous landmarks, areas and attractions Barcelona has to offer. Here are a few pictures of Barcelona taken by my friend. See for yourself how beautiful Barcelona is!

Hindi food words and phrases with audio

Although English is spoken in most restaurants and most people will understand English; it’s nice to use a few Hindi words and phrases every now and then especially if you are in a restaurant or buying food at a food stall. So let’s take a look at some of the Hindi food words and common phrases that might come in handy in India.

You might also want to read about street foods here.

Hindi food words:

Food – Khana

Breakfast – Nasta

Lunch – Dopahar ka bhojan

Dinner – Raat ka khana

Water – Paani

Tea – Chai

Cheese – Paneer

Chapatti – Roti

Milk – Dudh

Rice – Chawal

Fruit – Phal

Banana – Kela

Apple – Seb

Knife and fork – Kaata aur chaku (or churi kaata)

Delicious – Swadist

Egg – Aanda

Potato – Aaloo

Lentil – Daal

Pappadums – Papad

Plate – Thali

As a traveller to India you will be eating a lot of Indian food. Here are some Hindi food related phrases that might come in handy.

Food related phrases for a restaurant conversation in Hindi:

Table for 2 please – Do aadmi ke liye table chahiye

Where is the restaurant – Restaurant kidhar hai

Please take me to the restaurant – Kripya restaurant ley chaliye

I need water – Mujhe paani chahiye

Please bring water – Paani le aayiye

I want bottled water – Mujhe bottled water chahiye (Guide to drinking water in India)

I want mineral water – Mujhe mineral water chahiye

Food is nice – Khana bahut accha hai

Food is bad – Khaan bahut kharab haI want water – Mujhe paani chahiye

Can I have some food – Kya khana milega

Please bring my food – Mera khana laa do

How much is this – Yeh kitne ka hai

Bill Please – Bill le aayiye

Where is the toilet – Toilet kidhar hai

I hope these Hindi food words and phrases will come in handy while you are in India. If you are going to India then you will need some more Hindi for your travels. Here’s a comprehensive list of greeting Hindi words and phrases (with audio) that might come in handy.

Visiting Kolkata? Travel Tips

Kolkata, often called the City of Joy, was the first capital of British India and was one of the first parts of India to fall under the British rule as well. Though, the city is not old enough with 1690 to be the official birth year, it has compensated it in full by being one of the most culturally advanced and intellectual cities of India. Why, Presidency College was called the Oxford of the East! If it is your first time in Kolkata, let me tell you a few things.

Season to Explore: Go to any travel site, and it will tell you that the best time to visit Kolkata would be October onwards. As an insider, I would request you to make it October itself. The reasons are simple, while October to March, the weather in Kolkata is great (which means less heat and much less humidity), October is the festive month for Bengalis. You should not miss Durga Puja, the 5-6 day long celebrations of Bengalis which are back to back followed by Kali Puja, Laxmi Puja and other smaller deities. This is when you find the Bengalis, one of the most amicable and welcoming people of India at their best. The celebrations are huge and the pandal is hopping would be a lifelong experience.

Skip Continental/Chinese: Why would you even touch those when Kolkata offers the best Biriyani in India (along with Hyderabad) and the famous Bengali cuisines. You must try the local foods as a wise man once said, “Nothing teaches you more about the culture of a place than the foods”. In Kolkata, food is very, very affordable and you simply cannot forget the taste of rice, fish fry (skip if vegetarian), luchi, alur dam and to finish on a sweet note, rosogolla (Bengalis invented it. Really! Even Bengali Polao (pulao) is a thing to lick your fingers.

Hotels in Kolkata: You might get tempted to book with any of the hotels near Kolkata airport or Howrah rail station. While the airport hotels are really good as they cater to international tourists frequently, the budget hotels of Kolkata are mostly on Marquis Street. This is where you will find loads of foreigner backpackers, haggling over the room rent (yes, every cost/price is negotiable in Kolkata) and drinking tea at roadside vendors as well. Make use of online travel websites like Yatra to book a hotel in Kolkata and save both your time and money.

No fancy clothes: Why do Bengalis always wear cotton shirts? Come to Kolkata and you will realise that every inch of your body is Gangotri (the origination of Ganga, you knew that, right?) and only Cotton shirts with undergarment can keep you somewhat comfortable in this extremely humid condition. Go for comfort over looks.

Shopping only at New Market: If you want a centralised shopping experience, skip the malls. You might have heard of New Market from your ‘bong’ friends and that is where you should go. Like we Indians say, “from pin to elephant” or like the Bengalis say, “even tiger’s milk” is available in this rather maze of a market. You can find every modern clothes and accessory and also turkey meats, all at one place. The outer circumference of New Market offers extremely good shopping experience as well. However, haggle, haggle and haggle. For a starter, whatever the shopkeeper says, start with half of that, even if it’s a big shop and written “NO bargaining”. Here’s how to bargain in India.

I could go on to a novel’s length but let me get some breath back as this wonderful city always excites me. Kolkata is a very welcoming city and people are hearty. You can speak Hindi and English and most of the time you will have no problem in interacting with them. Here’s Hindi words and phrases for your travels in India.