Delhi

Delhi The first city on the Golden Triangle is Delhi, the capital of India. Delhi is a vibrant and bustling city that has been the center of power for many dynasties throughout history. The city is home to many monuments, museums, and parks that showcase its rich history and culture. Some of the must-visit attractions in Delhi include the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, India Gate, and Lotus Temple. The city also has a rich food culture, and travelers should try out the famous street food of Delhi, such as chaat, parathas, and kebabs.

Jaipur

The second city on the Golden Triangle is Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Jaipur is known as the Pink City due to the pink-colored walls that surround the old city. The city is famous for its palaces, forts, and vibrant markets. Some of the must-visit attractions in Jaipur include the Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace, and Jantar Mantar. The city is also famous for its handicrafts, such as block-printed textiles, blue pottery, and jewelry. Travelers should also try out the famous Rajasthani cuisine, such as dal-bati-churma, laal maas, and ghevar.

Agra

The final city on the Golden Triangle is Agra, home to the iconic Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monument was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is a stunning example of Mughal architecture and is made of white marble with intricate inlay work. Other must-visit attractions in Agra include the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

Overall, the Golden Triangle is an excellent choice for travelers looking to experience the diversity of India in a short period. The circuit includes the vibrant and bustling city of Delhi, the colorful and historic city of Jaipur, and the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra. Each city has its unique attractions, culture, and food, making the Golden Triangle a memorable and fulfilling journey for any traveler.

How much will the trip cost?

The cost of visiting India’s Golden Triangle can vary depending on several factors, such as the duration of your trip, the level of accommodation you choose, the mode of transportation you use, the activities you participate in, and your personal spending habits.

On average, a 7-10 day trip to India’s Golden Triangle can cost between $800 to $1500 per person. This estimate includes accommodation, food, transportation, sightseeing tours, and other activities.

However, keep in mind that this is just a rough estimate, and the actual cost of your trip can vary depending on your individual preferences and choices. It is always a good idea to do some research, plan ahead, and consult with a travel agent or tour operator to get a more accurate estimate of the cost of your trip.

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One of the most striking aspects of the film is its stunning cinematography. Gonsalves and her team beautifully capture the lush landscapes and the magnificent animals in their natural habitat. The camera work is truly breathtaking, and it immerses the audience in the world of elephants.

The documentary follows the story of a group of elephant whisperers, or mahouts, who live in the jungles of southern India. These mahouts have a unique understanding of elephants and are able to communicate with them in a way that few others can. They are able to establish a deep bond with these animals and understand their behaviours, needs, and desires.

The film explores the complex relationship between the mahouts and the elephants they care for. It is clear that the mahouts have a deep respect for these animals and that they see their work as a calling. They live and work with the elephants, often spending years developing a relationship with them. The mahouts also have an impressive knowledge of traditional herbal medicine, which they use to treat elephants when they are sick or injured.

The Elephant Whisperers also delves into the challenges that are being faced by these elephants and their mahouts in modern India. The elephants’ natural habitats are being destroyed by human encroachment, and the animals are increasingly coming into conflict with people. The film shows how the mahouts are working to protect these animals and preserve their way of life.

One of the most moving moments in the film comes when one of the mahouts, named Raza, speaks about his relationship with the elephants. He says that he sees the elephants as his family and that his work as a mahout is not just a job, but a way of life. His passion and dedication to these creatures are truly inspiring.

While the film is a beautiful tribute to the elephants and their mahouts, it is not without its flaws. At times, the pacing feels slow, and some viewers may find themselves losing interest. Additionally, the film does not offer much in the way of solutions to the problems facing these animals and their caregivers. It is clear that the filmmakers are passionate about their subject matter, but they do not offer any concrete ways for viewers to get involved or make a difference.

‘The Elephant Whisperers’ wins Oscar for ‘Best Documentary Short’

Recently, ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ won the Academy Award for the best documentary short film. The award was well-deserved, as the film is a masterpiece in both storytelling and cinematography. The Oscar’s recognition brought more attention to the film and its important message of conservation and cultural preservation. The Elephant Whisperers is a film that will leave a lasting impact on its audience, and its Oscars win cemented its place as a powerful and important documentary.

Overall, it is a beautiful, thought-provoking film that offers a unique perspective on the lives of elephants and the people who care for them. Despite its flaws, it is a must-watch for anyone interested in animal conservation or the relationship between humans and animals. It showcases the deep bond between the mahouts and their elephants and highlights the importance of cultural preservation and animal conservation.

‘The Elephant Whisperers’: Cast and crew

Director: Kartiki Gonsalves

Producers: Guneet Monga, Achin Jain, Doug Blush, Kartiki Gonsalves

Nominations: Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film

Language: Tamil

Distributed by: Netflix

Cinematography: Karan Thapliyal; Krish Makhija; Anand Bansal; Kartiki Gonsalves

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Christmas markets in Delhi: Sadar Bazaar

Delhiites always head to Sadar Bazaar when they want affordable options in large quantities. So why not do the same for Christmas too? Just like during Diwali, Sadar Bazaar has a lot of shops that sell only Christmas items during this season. There is a huge variety of trees, from small ones for your table to huge ones that can take up entire lobbies. If you search for it, you might even find one with lights, or perhaps a tree you can rent!

Christmas markets in Delhi: INA Market

Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year at INA Market. The entire market opposite Dilli Haat becomes abuzz with loads of people coming here to buy their Christmas decorations. Many roadside stalls also pop up during this time of the year. Whether you need Xmas trees, cute little baubles, or tinsel garlands, you will get it all here.

Christmas markets in Delhi: Lajpat Nagar

True Delhiites know the real value of the Lajpat Nagar market. This market not only has clothes for literally every occasion, but you will find a whole range of other stuff here as well. Party supplies, wedding stuff, instruments….name it and you will get it. That is why, obviously, Lajpat Nagar is the go-to for all your Christmas needs too. Whether you need Santa hats or costumes, fairy lights, or little decorations for your Christmas tree, you will get everything here. The trick is just to find the correct street where the vendors are selling Christmas décor.

Christmas markets in Delhi: German Market

This is more of an annual event that takes place at Sunder Nursery every year. Delhi’s German Christmas Market is one of the most popular in India. The vibe here will give you a little glimpse of what a European Christmas market is like. German food, shopping, Christmas décor, and delicious Christmas desserts are available here. More than shopping, you can make a day out of it with family or friends. There is an entry ticket for this market.

P.S. Pro tip: After you visit any of the Christmas markets in Delhi, go to Wenger’s in Connaught Place for some delicious rum cake.

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Qala’s music

I think the Hindi film industry was long due for a truly amazing album. After a string of remixes of hit Punjabi numbers, I was starting to feel that there is a certain vacuum. But Amit Trivedi has filled up that gap so well and reminded us that he is still very much in the game, and going strong. Heart-touching melodies with lyrics that will leave you wanting more is what this film’s soundtrack is all about.

Amitabh Bhattacharya, Swanand Kirkire, Kausar Munir, Anvita Dutt herself, and Varun Grover (who also has a small role in the film) have all written the lyrics to the various songs. Coupled with Trivedi’s skilful compositions, each of the songs contribute to the overall mood and emotions that the film is trying to depict.

My personal favourite is Shauq, which I have been obsessed with. Shahid Mallya’s vocals are the cherry on top of the cake.

The performances

First off, I would like to appreciate Babil Khan’s smart choice in choosing this role as his first. The film is clearly all about the lead character portrayed by Triptii Dimri. But Babil still manages to leave a deep impression with his toned-down, nuanced performance without the pressure of carrying the entire movie on his inexperienced shoulders. He is very much reminiscent of his father Irrfan Khan early in his career (think Salaam Bombay).

Triptii Dimri gives another stellar performance as the struggling singer in the 1940s, dealing with a whole range of mental health issues. The film is not too full of dialogues. But Dimri’s facial expressions, coupled with the foreboding background music and the stellar cinematography by Siddharth Divan, is what carries this film through. She captures very well the struggles that Qala is facing, and manages to portray the ‘shor’ that is going on inside her head.

Swastika Mukherjee as the hardened mother and taskmaster always leaves us sympathising with Qala. And Varun Grover as the under-appreciated lyricist named Majrooh (an ode to Majrooh Sultanpuri) has some of the most poignant lines in the film, according to me. His line, ‘Daur badlega, daur ki ye purani aadat hai,’ is definitely my favourite.

Qala’s plot

The film explores the deeply complex relationship that Qala has with her mother, and also with her art. But it has so many more nuances. Like Bulbbul, it also touches upon feminist themes. Mental health (especially women’s), sexism in the entertainment industry, and how far an artist is willing to go to achieve validation are some of the other important themes in the film.

I would not like to limit the genre of Qala by calling it a psychological thriller, because it is so much more emotional and deeper. The plot has a number of twists and turns, that will definitely leave you shocked or stunned.

Every frame has been designed like a work of art, a painting of sorts. And the entire art design is a reflection of what is going through Qala’s mind at that moment.

The only thing I felt that is missing is perhaps the other characters could have been explored a little more. Swastika Mukherjee’s Urmila is underused, and we never really get a clear picture of why she is the way she is. I wish the movie was a bit longer!

The verdict

Definitely, a must-watch. As the title says, I do believe that this is a masterpiece that comes once in every 10-15 years. Just when I thought the Hindi film industry has all but given up, it pulled me back in!

Anvita Dutt is almost creating a new genre of fantastical feminist plots, but totally backed by amazing performances, music, art direction, and cinematography. I am looking forward to her next film now.

Cast: Triptii Dimri, Swastika Mukherjee, Babil Khan, Amit Sial and Varun Grover

Director: Anvita Dutt

Music: Amit Trivedi

Qala is now streaming on Netflix.

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Why choose this city?

This medieval city is not just about history. There are plenty more reasons why you should visit.

• A day is enough! You probably won’t do everything that York has to offer. That’s why you can easily take a day trip and make the most of it.
• Easily accessible: There are plenty of buses and trains that go to York. We took an early bus from Leeds and it took us just about an hour to read York’s city centre. You could even choose to drive.
• You can walk around: The streets are very pedestrian-friendly. Whether you arrive at the train station or by bus, you can easily walk around the city and visit all the sights.

A day in York

We suggest that you begin your day early. This will give you a chance to enjoy the city without the crowds descending.

Walking through Shambles

Shambles is perhaps the most famous street in York. The legendary Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter films was modelled on Shambles.

You will find many Harry Potter-themed shops here, some with very clever names. Walking through Shambles will take you back to the Harry Potter universe. The open market area in Shambles is also a place where you can grab a quick coffee and breakfast before you go on to explore the rest of the city.

Visit York Minster

One of the most prominent buildings here is the York Minster Cathedral. The ‘Minster’ is the epitome of England’s incredible Gothic architecture. You can purchase a ticket to see the cathedral from the inside and also catch panoramic views of the city from the tower at York Minster.

We choose to admire it from the outside only and spent a lot of time in the cathedral’s garden.

Enjoy the buskers

Busking is big in England, but simply huge in this medieval city. You can see entire bands performing mini-concerts on the beautiful streets of York. The city’s vibe, coupled with the music everywhere, will make you just want to be outdoors to enjoy the weather and do nothing in particular.

Explore the museum gardens

York has many great museums to choose from.

• The Jorvik Viking Centre is all about the city’s rich Viking history. It is the must-visit place for anyone who is obsessed with all things Vikings.
• York’s Chocolate Story is a museum dedicated entirely to chocolate, its history, and its story.
• One of the free museums to visit is the National Railway Museum. It is a must-visit for all train aficionados.   
• York Art Gallery is another museum that you can choose to visit.

But the icing on the cake was the visit to the Museum Gardens outside the Art Gallery. We spent a considerable amount of time exploring the ruins around the gardens. If you are lucky to visit York on a sunny day, you can even have a picnic lunch in the beautiful gardens and easily spend a few hours here.

Walk on the city walls

The city walls are another major attraction. This activity is free and offers some amazing views of the city from various vantage points. You can access the wall from one of the access points and just take a stroll along the walls of the ancient city.

We would love to hear about your adventures in York in the comments section below. You can also read more about our life in England here.

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We were apprehensive about a lot of things. This would be the first time either of us would stay away from family, from our country, from all things that were familiar. Going so far away from home to a strange country is not quite as easy as it sounds.

Should you do it?

I think, yes. I am starting to realise that an experience like this can be life-changing not just for us as individuals, but also us as a couple. When you have pretty much no one to count on but yourself and your partner, you learn a lot of things about not just each other but also yourself. The others we have met who are here alone always tell us how lucky we are to have each other.

On days we feel homesick, we spend longer than usual on video calls back home. Sometimes, food makes up for the gap and we spend the day making biryani.

On other days, we feel greatly energised and motivated to go out and get things done! But as the English winter takes over us, I am spending this Saturday morning wrapped up in my blanket, unwilling to step out in the rain and wind.

The first few weeks of our England Days

So, what all actually happened in the last few weeks? Time is definitely flying by! The days go by very fast, and we remain busy with school, work, or errands. And suddenly, the next week is upon us.

We are still trying to find the time to travel and explore more. But we definitely love the city of Leeds, where we are currently based out of. On our days off, we walk around the city, try new food and be awed by the its beauty.

The leaves are turning and soon winter will be upon us. For now, we are greatly looking forward to spending Christmas and New Year’s here. We are certain that Leeds is going to blow away our minds!

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I chanced upon it by coincidence while I was surfing YouTube to watch something. The first episode gripped my attention and then it was only a matter of time before I binge-watched the entire season in one go and am now eagerly waiting for the next.

Thumbs Down

Let me get the negative comments out of the way first. Yes, the series is very blatant in advertising its sponsors. You are reminded again and again about who has put money in the show. However, given that NCR Days is available on YouTube to watch for free, that much product placement is understandable. So, I am quite willing to overlook that.

What works

Now, let me talk about what I actually liked about it. It has been a while since I saw a show or a movie about people from different walks of life and backgrounds becoming unlikely friends. Belonging to the NCR (or National Capital Region of India) myself, I have actually gone through that experience during my college days. People from all over the country come to NCR to study or to work. But like me, the characters in the show also formed lasting friendships among their diverse groups.

We are first introduced to Monu (portrayed by Nikhil Vijay). It was actually the first time that I saw Vijay on screen. But I am happy to say that his acting in NCR Days is as good as his writing in Gullak (which is also one of my current favourite shows).

Next to be mentioned has to be Ambrish Verma. Verma is also the show’s writer and he definitely leaves his mark in your memory as Naveen, the young gun from HR 26 (which stands for Gurgaon).

For me, these are the two main characters, supported by some excellent actors such as Chote Miyan (Arun Kushwaha), who provides the lighter moments of the show. Monu and Naveen are both dealing with their inner demons and conflicts as they try to navigate the world of an MBA college in NCR. However, their issues could not be more different than each other. Despite this, they manage to find common ground and emerge as friends, and this is essentially what the show is about.

Ambrish Verma deserves a special mention here. He is portraying a character with more shades of grey than white. But his presence on the screen is so calming that when I finished watching NCR Days I found myself looking for his other shows.

Verdict

The show aptly captures the conflict between ‘bada sheher, chhota sheher’ and ‘badi soch, chhoti soch’. What dreams do people bring when they come to NCR, the land of opportunities? How do they navigate the darker side of bigger cities like Delhi and Gurgaon?

Overall, this short web series is a must-watch and I would highly recommend it.

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For working professionals and students, eating at least one meal out is customary. However, if one were to go to the corporate hubs in Delhi, Noida, or Gurgaon, they would find very few places that are affordable for those who want to eat out almost every day.

It seems that some Indians, who are passionate about bringing good quality yet affordable food, have been inspired by the western show Eat Street and have started with their food trucks in India. One may argue that food trucks always existed, the ones that sold desi-Chinese food.

But these new-age trucks are the real deal as they don’t remain stationary and can even be tracked using GPS, in some cases. Also, their food counters are manned by professional chefs and not your local halwai.

While the trend has been picking up everywhere, it’s very popular in Gurgaon and Noida and is coming up in a big way in Delhi too. And with hotels and restaurants like The Lalit, Punjab Grill, and Kylin also coming up with their trucks, they are becoming much more acceptable to the customers as well.

The prime attraction of eating at a food truck is that it serves restaurant-quality hygienic food at a fast speed and at prices that are much lower than when you go to a sit-down restaurant for a meal.

Ankur Gupta, co-owner of Drifter’s Café, which is usually seen in Gurgaon’s Sector 29, says: “If you look at Zomato reviews, our food ranks higher than restaurants around here. Moreover, it isn’t too expensive and you get such a wide range to choose from.”

The truck serves Southeast Asian food from various countries and is also stationed at various events and festivals around Gurgaon. Gupta says that he has parked his truck in Gurgaon because the crowd is well-traveled and more receptive to the food truck concept as seen in the Hollywood film, Chef.

The food trucks around

The secret behind the cheap yet great food at food trucks is revealed by Yadu Virendra Yadav, co-owner of the three Oh Buoy food trucks which operate in various areas of Noida and Gurgaon.

“Our food is in the range of Rs 80 to Rs150. In spite of serving Mexican and Italian food, which are generally more expensive, we can sell our food cheap as we sell out of a truck and not a restaurant. And people from the offices and universities around want that kind of good yet affordable food,” Yadav says.

Most of these trucks have been operational for not more than two years. And even in such a short span, these trucks have come forward with various different kinds of food. For instance, there is Eggjacktly, which serves a variety of dishes with egg in it. They also own Sushi House Mafia. Then there is Dosa Inc which serves South Indian fare. Frugurpop is another one and it stands out because it isn’t a food truck but an ice-cream truck.

Co-owner Pallavi Kuchroo tells you: “We have a GPS-enabled van that one can track to find our location. We serve about 10 flavours of popsicles right now and it’s great to see that they are really being appreciated. I started this truck because I knew that this is something that’s coming up and also because no one is doing anything in the natural ice-cream segment yet.”

Is it profitable?

Not only are these food trucks very much in vogue, but they are also quite profitable. Pankaj Mallik, guest service associate, at The Lalit Food Truck Company, says that they have many regulars and the business runs very well. At a food festival, they can even serve up to 30,000 people in one day while on regular days, they can earn almost Rs20,000 for each of their two trucks. Yadav also says that on average, each of his trucks generates 100-150 bills and there may be four-five people buying food on the same bill.

However, owning and managing a food truck is no easy feat. Gupta tells you that in terms of licensing, there are no laws — it’s a grey area for food trucks. “The food truck concept is very new for the Government. As there is no separate food truck category, I acquired licenses for a commercial truck and a restaurant. Moreover, parking is not regulated for food trucks. Many more trucks will come up if the government regulates it,” he says.

The problems

Other owners agree. “Parking and licensing is definitely a problem. Since The Lalit Hotel takes care of those things for us, we get permission from NDMC to park on the roadside or we just park outside our hotel,” Mallik says.

Though the clientele usually consists of young working professionals or students, families are also often seen. It helps that a lot of people have started eating out more than once a week and are, therefore, looking for the cheapest and best options considering eating in a restaurant has become expensive.

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