My unforgettable holiday in Ibiza

If crisp air and panoramic sunset, crystal clear water with secluded beaches, miles of pine forests and mouth-watering sea foods what make for a perfect holiday destination, then the lovely Ibiza and the rest of Balearic islands situated in Spain can race to the top purely on these merits only. But when we are talking about Ibiza holidays, there is something more! These breathtakingly beautiful Mediterranean islands are also known for world’s best night clubs. Together, these make Balearic islands one the most happening places on the planet to be for night-time revelers, Hippies, free spirits and nature lovers.

We checked into a fine hotel in Ibiza town. As there are various categories of standard hotels in and around Ibiza, finding a suitable accommodation shouldn't be a problem. Those who prefer lively atmosphere may like to stay in San Antanio or perhaps Playa d’en Bossa areas that are close to bars and clubs. Others looking for solitude may head off to resorts of Santa Eulalia, San Rafael or San Jose. Beside these, Ibiza has some stunning boutique hotels that come with personalized services with gourmet cuisine, gazebo and likewise. So, if you are planning to live life king-size, even if it is only for a few days, there may not be a better place than Ibiza.

Since Ibiza is famous for sea foods, we decided to taste some of their local delicacies like Paella (sea food with rice and saffron), Parrillada de Pescado and even Dorada – a typical white meat fish that tasted like lobster, washed down with ‘Sangria’. While gorging on the delicious spread, our local guide regaled us with interesting anecdotes about life in Ibiza. For deserts, our guide-turned-friend took us to a place called Calle Del Mar located in Ibiza town. The shop is called Ibirosa where we had the most interesting time eating some stunning ice creams we have ever had in our life. My ice cream looked like a rose and I had the most difficult time deciding whether to eat it or just marvel at the amazing piece of art!

After having such a heavy meal, it was time for some action, and action it was! Since the entire stretch of coastline in Ibiza is dotted with beaches and coves, we spend some wonderful time exploring new beach everyday. We indulged in our favorite water sports and cooled off in beach bars, restaurants and cafes with aromatic Frigola or Sangria. For a gorgeous view of the setting sun, we went to the cove of San Antanio. We also went to the Salinas beach, considered among the best European beaches. But if diving or walking hand in hand is what you have in mind, I would suggest you to take a twenty minutes bus journey from San Antonio to secluded Cala Tarida.

Nightlife in Ibiza
I heard someone saying – “What Vegas is for gamblers, Ibiza is for party lovers!” Rightly so; we saw Hippies and revelers making merry all through the night full of rum and beer. The atmosphere is electrifying with cool music, DJs, crowd and interesting locations. You never even realize when you are sucked into it, and such is the magic of the place!

Conclusion: Lastly, what makes my Ibiza holiday in Spain stands out? It is the scintillating mix of luxury and culture, stunning beaches and landscapes, brilliant weather and mouth-watering sea food and, of course, vibrant nightlife. The place just doesn’t let you forget in a hurry; it grows on you.

-    Nina Ghosh Konar

Gandikota – the Grand Canyon of India

Though we have yet to see the original Grand Canyon in Arizona, nothing prepared us for the awesome visual treat that was awaiting us in Gandikota. From where we were standing, we got a spectacular view of the sparkling aqua-blue Pennar River snaking its way through a 90-metre deep gorge in the Erramalai hill range of Gandikota. Although the place holds a close resemblance with the Grand Canyon of Arizona, it has its own special charm in my memory. The huge red granite boulders blending in with the wilderness of the valley only added to its raw appeal.

My hubby and I soon settled ourselves on one of the rocks soaking in the serene atmosphere of the valley, while my shutter-happy brother lost no time in doing what he loves doing the most – clicking pics! Sometime later, after gorging on Idlis and coffee ( my bro wisely picked from Jammalamadugu) at a popular picnic spot near the Mylavaram Dam, we decided to discover the place more intimately…

The overnight bus journey last evening from Hyderabad has been uneventful. We dosed on and off on the way. So by the time we reached Jammalamadugu/Kadapa about 8 hours later, the perfect winter-blue sky and the crisp early-morning breeze set our mood for the day on a happier note. From Jammalamdugu, it is another hour and a half’s drive by taxi to the picturesque village of Gandikota in Andhra Pradesh.

Although in the recent years, the rocky terrain of Gandikota is making trekkers trickling in from far and distant corners of the country, the quiet solitude of the place is a natural balm for city dwellers like us. Yet, that’s not all, for the place which calls itself the ‘Gorge citadel’; Gandi for ‘gorge’ and Kota for ‘fort or citadel’ in Telegu, is also generating interest because of its historical fort and temples.

Where to stay in Gandikota
Gandikota is yet to develop into a full-fledged tourist destination. Staying accommodations (hotels, lodge, resorts etc.) and restaurants are very basic and limited to nearby towns at Kadapa, Kadiri and Jammalamudugu.

Although, you would find most of the structures inside the fort in ruin, but Madhavarayaswamy temple and the ruins of Ranganathaswamy temple housed inside the fort are definitely worth a visit. Both these temples are believed to be built somewhere between 15th to16th century. We spend some wonderful time looking at the timeless temple carvings and sculptures of animals and Gods of the Vijayanagar era. We also made a quick visit to the impressive Jumma Masjid and its massive granary-turned-tourism office. But as dusk was setting in quickly, it was time to wind up our trip and settle for the night in one of the few hotels at Jammalamadugu before returning back to Hyderabad.

How to reach Gandikota
Gandikota is easily accessible by rail and road from Bangalore and Hyderabad. Nearest railway station is at Kadapa and Yerraguntla. Apart from these, Gandikota is also connected by air from Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Tirupati.

Photo credit: Swarat Ghosh

Top 10 places to visit in Kolkata

As the seat of British power between the 18^th – 19^th century, Calcutta has long enthralled travelers from far-flung countries all over the world. Centuries later, and armed with a new name, ‘Kolkata’ is busy and bustling. But if you care to look beyond the cacophony of noise and heat, this enigmatic city could give you a whole gamut of experience unlike anywhere in India. For, this is the place of the first Episcopal Church (St. Paul’s cathedral) and the largest science hub (Science city) in Asia. It is where the world renowned Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore was born. Two of the holiest Kali temples in India (Kalighat and Dakhineswar) and the famous Belur Math find pride of place here. Not to mention the magnificent Marble palace or the Kolkata Race Course which evokes ‘the Raj’ nostalgia. Yet this is not all. As a growing city, Kolkata also boasts of some of the coolest hang-out destinations for the young and the young-at-heart. Interested? Join me as we begin our journey through this interesting city we know as the “City of Joy” …

Top 10 places to visit in Kolkata

Whether you are into history and culture or just interested in sight-seeing, you may find your true call in Kolkata. But, Kolkata is more than its oldest and finest European architectures, its famous temples or heritage spots. In the past 300 years of its history, Kolkata has been through some of its bleakest phases, yet it has managed to survive them. It is this unfailing hope for a better tomorrow which makes Kolkata so unique, that makes it worth visiting.

St. Paul’s Cathedral: Situated at the southern tip of the Maidan adjacent to Victoria Memorial on the Cathedral Road is the first Episcopal church of Asia. Built in 1839, the majestic St. Paul’s Cathedral stands witness to a time full of European artistic splendor and supremacy. The St. Paul’s Cathedral is perhaps one of the finest examples of Indo-Gothic architecture in India, with its large stained-glass windows, pointed arches and two Florentine frescoes. Set on a vast tract of land and surrounded by well manicured lawns and ancient trees, the largest cathedral in Kolkata is an oasis of peace in this otherwise busy world. The inside is just as awesome with some exquisite mural paintings based on the life and work of the great Saint. It bathes in holy glow as thousands attend to the midnight mass every year before the X’mas and the New Year.

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Belur Math: Founded by Swami Vivekananda in the memory of Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Belur Math is one of the finest examples of modern temple architecture (which is a perfect blend of temple, church and mosque) in India. It’s inspired on Swamiji’s philosophy of universal brotherhood. The place has great historical significance – Vivekananda spent his last years over here. Add to this, the tranquility of its surroundings with the view of the river Ganges gently caressing the temple garden in the early morning sun. One can easily imagine Vivekananda in deep meditation under one of the ancient trees in the beautiful monastery.

Open on all days: 6:30 am-11 am and then 3:30 am-7:00 pm; Photography prohibited

Victoria Memorial: The stately monument is as much part of Kolkata as Taj mahal is to Delhi (Agra). Its closeness with the Taj made Victoria Memorial known as the “Taj of the Raj.” Surrounded by acres of lush garden, Victorial Memorial with its Italian Renaissance style architecture is still mesmerizing, especially on moon-lit nights. If you are interested in royal portraits (Queen Victoria and others), the Royal Gallery housed inside the monument is where you should head for. But the gallery which draws the most footfalls is a recent addition – the Calcutta Gallery. It has some beautiful paintings that give glimpses of life in British era –‘White Town’ and ‘Black town.’

Memorial: Sound and Light show (in English) Oct to Feb (7:15 pm-8pm); March to June (7:45pm-8:30pm)

Kolkata Race Course: Since 1819, Kolkata Race Course at Hastings has been one of the largest and prime destinations for horse racing in India. Maintained by the Royal Turf Club, it includes five racing tracks, polo grounds, a golf course and a lake. During racing season, the atmosphere in the 30,000 capacity galleries crackles with excitement as members and non-members from all walks of life (from dressed-up celebrities and industrialists to college students in their jeans and tees) rub shoulders with each other and bet on their favorite horses. Though it’s open on all days, visiting on any racing day is all that more fun. Undoubtedly, December is considered as the best time to visit the race course, not just for the cool climate but also for the sheer number of racing events geared up for the season.

Racing season: Nov till March and July till Sept

Jorasanko Thakurbari: Located in Dwarakanath Tagore Lane, off Rabindra Sarani (formerly, Chitpur road), is the famous ‘Thakurbari’ where India’s most revered poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore was born. If you want to find out about the great poet and his work, there couldn’t be a better place than Rabindra Bharati museum located inside the Thakurbari except for Shantiniketan (built by Kabi Guru himself) at Birbhum district in West Bengal. The museum has three galleries – one solely dedicated to Tagore and his extraordinary range of work, while the other two focuses on Tagore family and the stalwarts of Bengal Renaissance. Best time to visit Thakurbari is on May 7^th when the place gets all decked up every year to celebrate the poet’s birthday.

Museum: Sound & Light Show (English): Feb to June (8pm-8:40pm) ; Nov to Jan (7 pm-7:40pm); Closed on Mondays and Thursdays; Entry Fee is applicable

Science City: Situated along the Eastern Bypass, is the Science City– Kolkata, hailed as the largest science hub of the Indian subcontinent. But you don’t need to be a science buff to enjoy this place! The ambiance is cool and attractive with well maintained flower beds and lawns. But the biggest crowd-puller is the Space Odessey which houses a sprawling space theatre. But don’t forget to drop in at the other attractions – Maritime Centre (an impressive two-storied building that replicates a ship), Dynamotion Hall or taking a theme tour of the evolution park. You would be surprised just how fast time flies by when you are in this amazing place.

Science City: All days: 9 AM to 9 PM; For details: http://www.sciencecitykolkata.org.in/

Nandan: Strategically located behind Rabindra Sadan (prominent Bengali cultural center and auditorium), is the state-of-the art cine complex where movie lovers in Eastern India celebrate the biggest movie festival – the Kolkata Film Festival. What you may not know is, Nandan is also a popular hang-out zone for budding artists, intellectuals, lovers or just anyone who has an opinion about something! For students of film and media studies, checking out the Satyajit Ray Film Archive or browsing through the well stocked library at the Ritwik Memorial Library (for cinematic research) could be very rewarding.

Nicco Park: If you are planning a day out with your family or friends, Nicco Park would be your best choice. While variety of rides (Cave ride, Water Coaster, Flying Saucer, Pirate Ship, etc.) ensure that children remain engaged, adults can spend a relaxing day stretching out on its vast green or just strolling around. There is also a food park to satiate your hunger with delicious South Indian, North Indian, Bengali or Chinese fast food options.

Kalighat Temple: The age-old Kalighat temple might have been in Kolkata since the Gupta period, though there is nothing to substantiate it. But the fact that it is one of the 51^st Peeths of the Goddess Kali makes it one of the holiest places and evokes the deepest devotion from pilgrims across India. For those who want to make a special offering to the mother Goddess, Thursdays and Saturdays are the days to visit. Otherwise the temple is open on all days.

Marble Palace: It is truly extraordinary of Raja Rajendralal Mullick, a zamindar in Bengal, to build such a jaw-dropping marble architecture way back in 1840 and, that too, dedicate it to arts! Located at Muktaram Babu Street on C.R. Avenue, Marble Palace is believed to preserve some original works of world renowned painters like Peter Paul Rubens and Sir Joshua Reynolds. But the biggest USP is its fluted columns and sculptures of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, the Buddha and Hindu Gods all in one place.

Timing: 10am-4PM; Mondays and Thurdays closed; Photography prohibited

As you see, there are many places that have not made it to the list. But that doesn’t make them any less deserving, just the scope of the article doesn’t allow them this time. When you next visit Kolkata, don’t be surprised if you find a whole new list to begin with! Leaving you on that promise till the next time…

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Getting There

Kolkata is well connected with major Indian cities like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow or Mumbai by air, road and rail. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is at Dum Dum, just 17 kms away from the city heart. Kolkata has two main railway stations – Sealdah station and Howrah station. The main bus station is Esplanade Terminus in the city heart.

Where to Stay

Kolkata offers a wide range of options in hotels:

Best Inn Hotel (Tel- 91-033-2454-9101/2454-9190);
email-thebestinn@gmail.com

Swissotel Kolkata ( Tel-91-033- 6626 6666/6626 6626;
email- reservations.kolkata@swissotel.com) or a decent option on limited budget like

Hotel Trimoorti (Tel- 91-033-2486 8572 or +91 90513 26104; email: booking@hoteltrimoorti.com)

Visiting Sikkim— The Garden State of India

“LOOK at the Teesta, flowing so peacefully. You should see her in a rainy season when she becomes so voluminous that it is very difficult to compare with her now”, our driver Nandu alias Nandalal told us. All eight pairs of eyes turned in the direction where some people were doing river rafting. I remembered reading somewhere that Teesta has been graded on the International scale at Grade 4 for Safe River rafting.



Last year when we visited Sikkim, the road leading to the Gangtok was being reconstructed. We could see people working with heavy yellow land movers and other constructional machineries; but that does not mean the road looked any less pretty.


We were gaining heights with each successive tortuous turn of the hilly road, and suddenly we started feeling the presence of pristine cool breeze caressing our hot cheeks. On our way, we got panoramic view of tiny villages with houses looking like brown droplets with colorful prayer flags flattering in the wind amidst the greens of tall tress and the river Teesta flowing down fortified by the lofty mountainous range.

We had taken a hired car from New Jalpaiguri station on our way to Gangtok (capital of Sikkim). Though there are buses available from the New Jalpaiguri Station and the closest Airport is at Bagdorgra, we preferred the hired arrangement because we were going with our family, plus it gave us more freedom to explore the surroundings while we were gradually ascending the hill.

My husband, my brother, and sister-in-law were virtually competing with the digital camera to capture the best shot asking Nandu to stop now and then. I wonder how our camera survived the ordeal!

Because of the off-season, we got a fine accommodation in Gangtok at a discounted rate. There were plenty of hotels and resorts to choose from, starting from the most economical to the luxury types.

On our first day in Gangtok, after having devoured some delicious lunch with a huge pizza, plateful of momos (a very light and tasty local dish) and Sikkimese tea, we were ready for a quick local sight-seeing because there was less time left of the day. We visited the nearby Enchey monastry about 3 kms from the town and Tashi View Point from where we got the most amazing view of Khangchendzonga.

We also did some window shopping at the MG Marg and saw Lepcha weave bags, and some other special brass-iron pieces from a curio shop there. Here, I must tell you that Gangtok is a place with frequent rainfalls throughout the year and in our first evening in Gangtok we encountered quite a heavy shower! So, don’t forget to carry umbrella with you.

We also made some prior arrangements with one of the many tour operators in Gangtok for our journey to Nathula-Pass for the next day. We were told that tourists are allowed to visit Nathula only on specific days of the week. There is restriction on the number of vehicles that can visit Nathula on a day.



For tourists, prior reservation for Nathula is always advisable. Foreign tourists are not allowed to visit Nathula but they can visit upto Tsomgo Lake.

Gangtok became the capital of Sikkim only in the mid 1800s. The local crowds are quite an interesting mix with Nepalese, Bhutanese, Lepchas (“the raven folks”, original inhabitants of Sikkim), and Limbos. Here it is easy to spot young girls sporting trendy dresses and short flowing hair talking animatedly with elderly women in their traditional ‘bakus’, so are the smiling faces of lamas in their maroon and mustard robes walking sedately beside- a perfect blend of modern with tradition.

On our stay we found the local people conversing in English and Hindi besides their local languages.

Early morning, we visited the Baker’s café at MG Marg road and had some delicious breakfast with coffee, pastries, and again with some more momos before leaving for Nathula Pass (‘Nathu-la’ means whistling). Nathula Pass is on the International border between India and China and is situated at a height of 14,200 feet above sea-level and is 55 Kms from Gangtok, and it passes through the serene Tsomgo/Changu Lake, abode of brahminy ducks.

Nathula is quite an experience- the freezing temperature and the sweeping wind passing through our ears made a ‘whistling sound’ and bedimmed our eyes.

At Nathula, we also got the chance to chit chat with one of our Indian soldiers. We also saw smiling faces of Chinese soldiers through a distance. We could not take any photos of Nathula Pass as taking photos is prohibited in Nathula. On our return journey, we made a stop over at Changu Lake to relish our packed lunch that we had carried from Gangtok. Finally, we started for our descent to Gangtok.

The best time to visit Sikkim is between March-May when the state plays host to the International Flower Festival every year when most of the state’s 600 species of orchids, trees, about 150 species of gladioli, rhododendrons, magnolias, and other foliages are in full bloom.

Next day, early morning, we started for Gurudongma Lake located at the highest altitude of 17,100 feet. The view of the lake was breathtakingly beautiful and the temperature was freezing at sub-zero. The journey to the lake was through a very treacherous terrain, but looking back, it was completely worth. We managed to savour the majestic sight of the lake for extra few seconds because of our acclimatization previous night at Lachen. Moreover, we knew that we were witnessing a once-in-a- lifetime experience of this beautiful dream-like lake in the early morning misty hours, looking sublime with fogs surrounding it.

Local people advised us to chew popcorn throughout our ascent to Gurudongma to beat breathlessness.

On our return to Lachen, we had our lunch and started for Lachung, a picturesque Tibetan village situated at an altitude of 9000 feet. We spotted some refreshing views of waterfalls. The sky was azure and bright and the breeze was clean and cool and we also had the opportunity to see some different species of Rhododendrons at the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary.

The next day, we visited Yumthang Valley or the valley of flowers. Situated at an altitude of 11800 ft. above see level, the valley offered us a breathtaking landscape of alpine meadows, rhododendron forests and snow peaks of Himalayas with Lachung river cutting across it. The entire valley cut out an ethereal view of amalgamation of colors with hundreds of species of Rhododendron, primula, and magnolia, dancing in the soft breeze against the vast field of snow as the backdrop.

On the last league of our journey, we spent some blissful 3 days in Pelling (West Sikkim). We stayed at the Upper Pelling because it had the best hotels and offered the best views to the Khangchendzonga in all its glory. The last night in Pelling, we also got the chance to see the beautiful Pelling in the full moon lit night! Try to conjure up a beautiful picture of milky-white mountainous range changing its hue to golden bright at the touch of the magical moon with an invisible magic wand! That ethereal sight made us feel so tranquil as if there was nothing left to conquer anymore; we got ourselves everything at that single moment.

The only difficulty that we felt in Pelling was when we did not locate a single ATM counter and most hotels did not offer to accept credit cards.

The next day we finally made our descent away from the beautiful and blessed Sikkim back towards the urban civilization. Sikkim has changed me forever—I felt myself a new person, a better and a very privileged person with so many priceless memories imprinted and cherished forever –the places that we had visited together, the changing colors of the snow-clad peaks in the moonlight, and also when the streaks of sunlight caresses it , the clouds and rains, the clear sounds of the chirruping birds, sight of wild orchids, dancing rhododendrons and magnolias against the cool soft breeze, the taste of levity that I felt inhaling the air, the smiling people... I can feel it, can you?