Am fascinated by local cultures of various places I visit and of course within India where I live.
After a day spent in the hills checking out the route for our OxFam trail, while driving back to Mumbai I got a call from good friend Rakesh Bakshi asking if I was interested in cycling to the docks early … Read more →
This weekend three of the “Walking Souls” team – myself, Gautam and Swati – went to recce the trail that we are to follow during the 100km OxFam walkathon in November. We drove down to the starting point via Kolad, … Read more →
While walking through Mumbai during my practice for OxFam Trailwalker 100 km walkathon next month, I saw Mumbai in a different light – at the pace of walking, you get to see many things that are normally not visible when … Read more →
4,691 feet above sea-level, with ruined fortifications and ancient caves tracing back to the Microlithic age, Harishchandragad fort is a perfect trekking destination in the Sahyadris. There are several different paths up to the fort. There two routes to reach … Read more →
After visiting Sewri Fort on the east coast and Sion Fort to the north or the erstwhile Bombay Island, I wanted to visit the other three forts on the west coast. Worli Fort and Mahim Fort were on the British … Read more →
Sion Fort is situated on a hill within a non-descript garden in the middle of the bustling suburb of Sion, that you would normally pass by without noticing. But in the 18th century, Sion Fort was one of the most … Read more →
Mandapeshwar Caves is cut out of a hill in the quiet suburb of Borivali, hidden in a nook behind an open plot of ground just behind the “Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church”. It was built around 550 AD, around the … Read more →
In the heart of the city at the junction of the Western Express Highway and the Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), among the shanties of Prabhat Nagar lies an ancient and forgotten cave. This is one of the oldest known … Read more →
Last week, I had a business visit to Bangalore for a day and it happened to be a Friday. I took the opportunity to stay back for an extra half day and used it to cycle to Nandi Hills, the … Read more →
Last month, some cyclists had visited Lonad to do tree planting, and I could not join them. But ever since, Lonad was on my mind due to the caves that are found there. This weekend, I got a chance to … Read more →
After a break of three weeks with no trekking or cycling, I was really looking forward to a nice trek. When Sameer proposed a trek to Kangorigad, I jumped at the opportunity! Kangorigad, also known as Mangaldad, is one of … Read more →
As part of the Mumbai Historical Sites Cycling Association project to promote cycling to historical sites in and around Mumbai, it was evident that many of the historical sites – especially forts – are in a bad shape, with no conservation … Read more →
Located just next to JVLR near SEEPZ, Mahakali or Kondivite caves are a set of 19 Buddhist caves around the top of the Mahakali hill. Great for a cycling visit! Read more →
What happens when a bunch of 50 year olds (or thereabout) who have known each other for over half their lives, get together at a beautiful place in the mountains? They magically transform into their 25 year old versions! That’s … Read more →
Having embarked upon a project to visit various historical sites especially forts in and around Mumbai, I found to my dismay that many of the forts I visited were highly neglected, and there was no effort for conservation, let alone … Read more →
With a trek planned on Sunday, I still wanted to do a cycling trip somewhere so as to not lose steam in my quest to cover all the forts in Mumbai and Thane region. Also, with a knee that I … Read more →
After spending my last weekend mountain biking in Germany, I wanted to get on my cycle and experience the rains in Mumbai. My original plan was to join a gang of cyclists who were heading to Lonad, and was planning … Read more →
As an extension of a business trip to Germany, I took the opportunity to go to Mannheim. We have a bunch of close friends who stay there, and I never lose a chance to visit them. And this time was … Read more →
Having created a map of the forts in Mumbai and Thane, I wanted to add one more fort to the list I have already cycled to. For I had to fly to Germany on Sunday, I decided to cycle on … Read more →
A map of historical forts and caves in the Mumbai and Thane area. Also contains links to photographs and route maps. Read more →
When it gets to Saturday evening, I usually start feeling the itch to figure out a route to ride on Sunday. Last night was no different, and with the current theme of riding to all the forts in and around … Read more →
Isaac Asimov, my favorite science fiction writer and thinker introduced a concept called Psychohistory in his famous “Foundation” novel series. Psychohistory is the science of predicting the behavior of large groups of people using a statistical model of the psychology … Read more →
We started a discussion on FB to plan a biking trip around Dahanu and Bordi, and ended up with 4 bikers with their respective Royal Enfield Bullets. We all met at Dahisar Check Naka at 7 am, and then rode … Read more →
I was fascinated by the Tabla very early in my life… the hypnotic tones caught my attention when I heard it being played at a religious function, and I pestered my parents to get me a tutor to teach me … Read more →