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The much famed cleanest village in Asia - Mawlynnong (Pronouned - Maw-leen-ong, Maw rhymes with Law, Leen rhymes with Keen, Ong as in Song) is a must stop for travelers visiting Meghalaya, a state in north east India. Most tourists are curious to see what the cleanest village looks like and how clean is it? While we too were curious, to be frank our curiosity was driven by staying at Mawlynnong for a night and experience the village life. We had already been to capital city of Shillong and another major town, Cherrapunjee in Meghalaya. Villages of India are always a fascinating experience and we were eager to explore the hinterlands of Meghalaya, talk to locals and understand their lifestyle. In this photo blog we show you what a day in Mawlynnong and some nearby villages such as Nohwet and Riwai looks like. This photo blog on Mawlynnong is part of the travel blog series on Meghalaya, India. You can read other blogs in the series here - The Meghalaya Odyssey You can find articles helping you to plan your trip to Meghalaya, or find travel guides to Shillong, Mawphlang, Cherrapunjee and Mawlynnong. 'The Meghalaya Odyssey' is a series of 10 travel blogs and 2 photo blogs. Check out other blogs in the series by clicking on the below mentioned links or photographs: 1. Introduction to Meghalaya 2. Plan your trip to Meghalaya 3. ​Shillong Travel guide 4. Mawphlang Travel guide 5. Sohra (Cherrapunjee) Travel guide 6. Sa-I-Mika Resort @ Cherrapunjee 7. Mawlynnong - A Photostory - This article 8. Mawlynnong (Asia's cleanest village) Travel guide 9. Experience Dawki, Shnongpdeng and adventure sports on Umngot river 10. Amazing Dawki, Shnongpdeng and the river Umngot in Meghalaya - A Photo blog 11. A Complete Travel Guide to Jaintia Hills 12. Mawsynram & Mawlyngbna Let us first just walk around these villages and see what they look like. Mawlynnong has a big central area from where narrow meandering walkways emerge in all directions. This central area is currently also used for parking vehicles but since the number of tourist vehicles coming to the village are increasing, they have started building another parking area before entering the village which will be operational soon. The paved walkways around this central area are extremely clean and are lined by shrubs and trees. The walkways takes one to the residential parts of Mawlynnong. The houses in Mawlynnong are very interesting. There are more of Khasi style bamboo houses but over the years the villagers have started using concrete and metal too. Due to heavy rainfall in monsoon, all the houses are designed in a peculiar fashion with a conical thatched roof. The verandah of the houses are filled with grass, colorful flowering plants and orchids. The house owners have an obligation to keep the surrounding pavements clean and well maintained and hence everything is spic and span. Agriculture is the main occupation of the people in Mawlynnong, with betelnut and bamboo as their principal crop. Bamboo is used to make the conical waste bins, to construct houses and many artistic souvenirs. The most unusual and remarkable thing that the villagers construct out of bamboo are the sky walks or the sky-viewpoints. These are extremely sturdy and strong to easily carry 4-8 people. One can climb the sky walks and enjoy the spectacular views of the plains of neighboring country, Bangladesh at a nominal fee. The love and respect for nature amongst people of Meghalaya is best seen in living root bridges. Riwai, the neighboring village of Mawlynnong is famous for its living root bridge. It is supposed to be 180 years old and is frequented by tourists throughout the year. Rubber trees are planted on both the sides of the river and their roots are guided and tied together as they grow and become sturdy to be used as a bridge to cross the river which is truly very fascinating! Like any other village in Meghalaya, Mawlynnong too has a football ground. The village also houses a 100 year old 'Church of the Epiphany' surrounded by orange and palm trees. As explained in our earlier blog - Introduction to Meghalaya, majority of the people in Meghalaya are Christians and so are the residents of Mawlynnong. This church brightens up every Sunday with choirs singing carols. Various tree houses constructed of bamboo are found on the roads and the playgrounds, where one can climb and view the entire village. The village also houses a post-office in the central village area. Watching the people of Mawlynnong go about their daily chores is amusing, especially kids. The best part is since the villagers are used to tourists, they do not mind you clicking them or even having a chat. They are very welcoming. And for children of Mawlynnong, it is now part of their daily life to come across somewhat differently looking strangers. Rise in tourism has helped the people of Mawlynnong in generating extra money apart from their agricultural produce by setting up souvenir and handicrafts shops. The kids do their bit helping out their parents in these shops. While taking a stroll in the village of Mawlynnong, we came across number of small yet memorable tales. We spotted two lovely sisters, the elder one helping her younger sister ride on the swing. And later, the younger one made way for the older sibling. These kids carelessly playing and laughing made our day! Another group of children young and old were busy fixing their bicycle. We wish Mawlynnong had cycles on rent for us to roam around this beautiful village. We then found bunch of kids having fun, playing. They took us to times when we used to leave house in the morning, roam freely and used to return only when called for lunch. It's hard to find such playfulness in children these days, with televisions and video games killing the outdoor play time in cities. Football sprouts everywhere in the North East. Across the wide green spaces of Meghalaya, around the slopes in Manipur and street corners in Assam. So it was rather intriguing to watch these kids enjoy playing cricket in the narrow pavements of Mawlynnong village. Mawlynnong boasts of 100% literacy. Every kid understands and speaks English and Hindi. A school near the church brims with kids' laughter and mischiefs each morning. We were fortunate to witness their morning assembly with the typical ringing of school bell, students shouting 'Good morning teacher' in chorus and singing morning prayers to the loudest volumes. These two toddlers in Riwai, neighbouring village of Mawlynnong, wearing saffron and green T-shirts seemed like sporting an Indian flag. Shying away initially, they opened up to us when we showed them these photographs in our DSLR. They waved us good bye with utter innocence and we are going to remember their cute smiles forever. Not everyone is cheerful. Kids face their own childhood problems. We saw a kid hiding behind a wall away from his group of friends who were happily playing. Not sure what had happened but he was still for a long long time. Another kid was sitting besides a fireplace feeling not so good. He was probably hungry waiting for food to be cooked. We couldn't stop being fascinated by all these kids busy in their own little worlds. We can sit and watch them for hours without getting bored. Lastly, one cannot leave Asia's cleanest village without the sight of people cleaning. The village head of Mawlynnong has assigned tasks to every villager to maintain the status of being the 'Cleanest village in Asia'. On a rotational basis these people are given task of sweeping the pavements, lanes and the common areas two times each day. They collect all the garbage and dead leaves in the conical waste bins. They are also responsible to empty all the waste bins that are placed across the village and separate organic waste from the non-biodegradable waste. Cleanliness is a culture and a habit that is home-schooled to each child when they are young. If you would like to plan a trip to Mawlynnong in Meghalaya, India; you can read our complete travel guide to Mawlynnong. How did you find this photo blog on life in Mawlynnong? We would love to know your thoughts in comment section below. PIN THESE IMAGES #India #EastIndia #Meghalaya #Photoblog

All of us generate data in all walks of our life. Be it files, folders, photos, audios or videos, data is present in each gadget we possess - laptop, desktop, hard drives, memory cards, mobile phones, iPod, etc. With advancements in technology, there are several ways we can use to store and secure the data. But no storage device is 100% reliable. It's threatening to lose our data either by accidentally deleting or by corruption or damage of the gadgets. While we always knew the importance of backing up our data, we recently learnt the need to have data recovery software. In this article we walk you through our experience of losing important data, finding a saviour in a data recovery software named Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery Software and how easily it restored our data and peace of mind. Being travel bloggers and photographers, you already know that we travel extensively and make a lot of memories in each place. These memories are captured in the videos and photographs that we click. It is completely normal for us to come back from a week-long trip with more than 100 GB of photographs and videos in our several memory cards. We, in fact, always travel with at least three 64 GB memory cards and few smaller sized ones that go into our DSLR and GoPro. We also ensure our mobiles have enough free space before travelling. We also have a thorough backing up process which we can share in a detailed article separately. To give you a brief idea, once we have edited and shortlisted all photos and videos which we would like to store, we keep 2 copies of originals in 2 separate hard drives and one copy on cloud. If you have been following our work, you would have read our recently concluded travel blog series about North Eastern state of India - The Meghalaya Odyssey. What you would not know that after a 9-day tour of Meghalaya, we were devastated to find out that we lost most of the data as two of our memory cards went corrupt. To a traveller, nothing can be more maddening than this. 8-9 days of our efforts in clicking precious memories, beautiful landscapes, information collection, interviewing people, delving in the culture – all went in vain in just a matter of few minutes when we discovered that we had lost all our data. To us, it was like losing all the money that we had spent on the trip. As you would realize, all of this happened before we could even transfer any of the data to our laptops and back it up. We have previously experienced corruption of a 1TB hard disk, but that just had movies which we could download again. This time we were completely shattered. After an extensive study of all the tip and tricks to bring back our data, we realized a few important things that we hardly knew before. Data loss can be due to lots of reasons like accidental deletion, virus attack, hard drive failure, system crash, careless formatting, dropping the storage device & damaging it and many more. The more you fiddle with your crashed hard drive or corrupted memory cards, less are the chances of the data recovery. We soon realized that we needed some professional help. There are several data recovery softwares that are available out there in the market that claim to restore our lost data. We often assume that our data is gone once we have deleted files from our operating system, hard drives, pen-drives or memory cards and then emptied the recycle bin of its contents. Surprisingly, that is not the case. If any of your files are accidentally deleted, you can just scan your drive by a data recovery software, identify the files that you want to restore and undelete it. Isn’t that amazing!!? Any storage device stores data in different sectors. Various reasons could lead to un-usability of specific sector eventually resulting in the creation of bad sectors causing the storage device to crash, corrupt or get damaged. In such cases, you can securely use a data recovery tool that can remove the bad sectors and restore most of the data. Another problem was identifying the right data recovery software. After a lot of research, we finally zeroed down on one - Stellar data recovery software. Stellar is a pretty experienced data recovery service provider serving its customers to recover their lost data since the past 25 years. It is India’s first data recovery service company founded in 1993 and is the only ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 27001:2013 certified organisation in India. We were satisfied after reading all the fabulous reviews of the Stellar data recovery software by people and companies across the globe and we decided to give it a shot. No matter what type of data is lost, Stellar data recovery software claims to recover lost data in simple steps. This particular software can recover data from corrupted hard drives (internal/ external), memory cards, pen drives, SD cards, SSD cards etc. Also print magazines such as PC magazine, Techradar, PC Quest had already rated the software highly pushing us to go for it. Our only apprehension was that we had no idea of how the Stellar data recovery software worked and so we reached out to one of the customer care executives to help us out. Our further doubts cleared when a professional from Stellar promised us – ‘No recovery, no charge’ – that means if we do not recover our data there’s a 100% money payback. We were now assured that we wouldn't lose anything by trying out this method and all our files, audios, videos, photos etc. can be restored if this works out; that too in a process that’s not only simple but super-fast as well. How to use Stellar Data Recovery Software: We first downloaded the trial version of Stellar data recovery software as suggested by the customer care executive. It can help recover data in 3 simple steps - select media, scan and recover. Up to 1 GB of data can be recovered using the free trial version with a max file size limit for each file being 25 MB. We thought it was a good idea by starting with the free version, scan our memory cards, see what all can be recovered and then upgrade to a paid version if chances of recovery is promising. Once we installed the free version of the Stellar data recovery software in our Windows laptop, we realised that it is easy to navigate and self-explanatory. The following are the steps that we followed: 1. Firstly, we downloaded, installed and ran the Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery- Free Edition. 2. Now, we selected the type of file that we wanted to recover under ‘Select What to Recover’ option. It could be a photo, an audio, a video, a complete folder, a specific file or an e-mail as you can see in the screenshot below 3. Next, we chose the desired location under ‘Select Location’ from where we wanted to recover our deleted data. We inserted our memory card in the slot of our laptop and selected its location in the drive section. (Snapshot below is an example) 4. The scan started once we clicked the ‘Scan Button’. Soon a list of files that can be recovered were shown under ‘File Type'. Here, we were glad to see all our photos and videos on the list. We jumped with joy (Snapshot below is an example) 5. We then selected some of the files that we wanted to recover and clicked 'Recover Button' 6. A pop-up window appeared asking for the 'Destination Location'. We chose to restore everything in our laptop's hard drive and clicked 'Next'. And voila, our photos and videos started getting restored in the destination that we chose. We knew that the trial version can only recover data up to 1GB and our lost files were more than 100GB. Without further delay, we upgraded to Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery – Home that allows recovering unlimited data. We recovered all our seemingly lost photos and videos from both the corrupted memory cards. We could easily tag Stellar data recovery software as a ‘Do It Yourself’ to recover lost data. We are highly indebted to them for bringing back our lost memories. The professional service offered by the customer care executive of Stellar was exceptional. We highly recommend using Stellar Windows data recovery software to restore or undelete lost data. The best feature of this software is that it is 100% secure. On downloading software, we allow complete access of our device (laptop/ desktop) to the software. There’s always a threat that the data might be misused or a virus might invade the computer. Stellar data recovery software works best as it provides complete privacy and guaranteed security. Another great feature of Stellar we learnt is that it has 15 offices across India with Class 100 Clean room labs. In layman terms, Class 100 clean room basically means an extremely clean room with very little dust particle and controlled humidity and temperature. This ensures no further damage to the crashed hard drive and ensures maximum possible data recovery. One can just remove the damaged/ corrupted hard drive from their laptop/ desktop by following instructions of the tutorial that Stellar Data recovery company provides, safely package it and courier it to one of the nearest Stellar labs for data recovery. Having been through a near ordeal, we are now rest assured that any untoward happening with our storage devices will be well taken care of by Stellar. Even you can benefit by using this software to recover your lost data with ease. You can check out the Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery Software here. Have you at any point of time lost your data? What did you do to recover it? What are your thoughts on the Stellar data recovery software? Do let us know in the comment section below. #ProductReviews #Softwares

DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras are becoming more common these days. While Smartphones continue to evolve rapidly and give better results, their smaller sensor size will always be a limiting factor due to which they will never come closer to the amount of control a DSLR can give. With rising purchasing power, lot of people want to buy a DSLR. A lot of our readers ask us questions around which DSLR camera should they purchase? Or should they buy a Canon or a Nikon DSLR? Or they are confused with all the specifications mentioned in different DSLR models on e-commerce sites. If you are one of these, this article is for you. Suggested read - Best entry level DSLR cameras in India - Complete buying guide In this article we will answer all these questions and equip you with basic information on what criteria to keep in mind and how to choose your first DSLR camera. These are points you should know and keep in mind before buying your first DSLR. Note that we are not giving you a specific answer to which DSLR model to buy. We are showing how you can take your own decision and choose the right DSLR. So let us see different specifications you would come across while browsing DSLR cameras on e-commerce sites. What these specifications mean? Should they matter to you and what decision you should take? Let see all these points in detail below - MEGAPIXEL The minimum megapixel we have seen in DSLRs is 18 MP. Now we all know that this is less than some smartphones but that doesn't mean you need more megapixel. Megapixel is not a metric to measure quality of image, it is a metric to measure size of image. With a 24 MP DSLR you will be able to print bigger images but 18 MP is just fine for printing even A2 size images. And we assume since you are a beginner in photography, you would have no plans of printing anything bigger than this. Verdict - Megapixel should not be a criteria while choosing a DSLR as you do not plan to professionally sell your photographs or print hoardings. 18 megapixel is just fine for you. Anything higher is better but not really necessary. SENSOR In all beginner level DSLRs you would come across terms such APS-C CMOS sensor. What do they mean? Sensor size - APS-C refers to size of sensor. Sensor size is very important deciding factor in a camera. Bigger the size, more light it can capture. APS-C means a specific size which tends to vary slightly across different manufacturers. This size is much bigger than smartphone cameras and point and shoot cameras but smaller than full frame cameras. Full frame cameras are professional cameras which cost much higher. APS-H and Four thirds are some other smaller sizes some manufacturers use. Type of Sensor - This refers to CMOS or CCD or similar such terms. These are technologies used to manufacture sensor chips and the way they work. They do affect the image quality but are not in your control. Most cameras you will find these days will be CMOS. Verdict - While both sensor size and type play a major role in image quality, a beginner's DSLR would usually have APS-C CMOS sensor and you have to go with it. When you upgrade someday, you can plan to move to Full frame. IMAGE PROCESSOR You must have seen terms like DIGIC 4+ or Expeed 4 processor in specifications of cameras. What do they mean? These are integrated circuit chips and keep evolving just like Pentium and AMD chips. An image processor does tremendous amount of work after you click and before the image gets stored in internal memory. Canon calls its image processor DIGIC while Nikon calls it Expeed. Number is used to show improvement over a previous version which means 5 is better than 4 and 4+ is better than 4. ​​Verdict - Image processor plays an important role in how your images get processed. A higher version is obviously better so choose as advanced image processor as you can within your budget. AF POINTS AF points refer to auto focus points. Ever wondered how auto focus works? To simplify, there are pre-decided points in your camera where it will check things like contrast, light, color or infrared rays and if the object is in focus. So more the number of such points, more accurate, easy and faster your auto focus will be. This is especially important if you shoot moving objects like birds, children, cars or sports. Also note that a focus point can be single point or a cross type point. A cross type point is better than single point. Beginner's DSLRs usually have one cross type point in center while advanced DSLRs will have many cross type points. ​​​​ Verdict - Number of autofocus points is an important criteria. More the number of autofocus points, better it is. 11 AF points is better than 9. Also more the cross type autofocus points, better it is. ISO ISO as you might already know is sensitivity of sensor to light. More the sensitivity of sensor, more you can see even in dim lights. However you would see noise at higher ISO levels too. Beginner's DSLR usually have ISO range 100 to 6400. A DSLR model that gives you a broader range say upto 128000 is better suited to click pictures in low light. ​​Verdict - Higher the ISO range of your camera, better photos you will get in lower light. So choose a camera with higher ISO range that falls within your budget. FPS FPS stands for Frames per second. What this means in photography is, if you are shooting in burst mode, how many images will your camera be able to click in a second. If you shoot moving objects like birds, wildlife, sports etc. it is difficult to click an image at the exact time. Shooting number of images in burst mode and then selecting the best one makes it much easier. But the processing time of each camera varies and thus number of images you can shoot in a second varies. Beginner's DSLR usually has 3 to 5 FPS and it increases as you go to higher models. Verdict - Higher the FPS, better it is to shoot objects in motion. So choose a camera with higher FPS that falls within your budget. VIDEO You might be surprised to know that there are commercial movies shot on DSLRs which are released in theaters. Specifications to keep in mind are resolution and FPS. Full HD is the norm of the day so 1080p is necessary. 720p and 480p would usually come with all DSLRs. Also important is frames per second for videos. 24 or 30 FPS is what our eye perceives as normal but higher FPS can be used creatively to create slow motion or time-lapse; so they are always an added advantage. Verdict - A minimum of Full HD should be the specification if you plan to shoot lots of videos with your DSLR. Various options to adjust FPS can be a bonus. LCD SCREEN LCD screens of DSLR camera are usually used to see clicked image or video and sometimes used to frame the shot and click. Their specifications usually tell you about the size and resolution of the screen. Though a bigger size and higher resolution of screen is beneficial, this should not be the criteria for choosing a DSLR. What can matter is if the LCD screen is touch screen. Since a lot of people graduate from Smartphones to DSLRs, they are used to touching the screen to focus and keep pinching the screen to zoom-in. Many beginner level DSLRs have started adding such touch screen which you can opt for. What also helps is a tilt screen which lets you place cameras in awkward positions and allows you to see through the LCD screen. Verdict - Having a touchscreen on your DSLR camera can be useful especially for beginners. Screen size and resolution is not something you need to be too fussy about. CONNECTIVITY A lot of DSLR cameras these days come with NFC, Bluetooth or Wifi capabilities. NFC stands for Near field communication which allows you to transfer images to your NFC enabled smartphone by placing both close to each other. You obviously understand the benefits of bluetooth and Wifi. Not limited to sharing images, you can even see what the camera is seeing and shoot images through a smartphone app. This eliminates the need to have a tilt screen mentioned in earlier point. These are definitely useful features you should look for. Verdict - Having a DSLR camera which can connect to your smartphone through app is highly beneficial so ensure you get these features. BRAND Which brand of DSLR camera should you choose? While there are number of options such as Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic, Pentax etc.; we would recommend going with either Canon or Nikon. The main reason for this is that both of these brands are widely available, have number of service centers across India, have wide variety of lenses for you to choose, have various models at every step for you to upgrade and have right price points. Note that investment in a DSLR camera is a long term commitment. Once you buy, say, a Canon, you would most likely be a canon customer for rest of your life unless say Sony comes and sponsors all your gear. The reason for this is that each manufacturer designs proprietary products. Though overarching technology and features might remain same, once you have learnt the controls of one brand, you will find it difficult to adjust to any other manufacturer. Also lenses of one manufacturer do not fit directly into camera body of another manufacturer. You can use an adaptor to fit them but they have their own limitations. Considering this, a Canon or a Nikon seems to be a safer option compared to the rest. As far as Canon vs Nikon is concerned, there is no absolute answer to this. Experts supporting each brand can easily be found and there is no clear winner here. Both have some pros and cons and as a beginner if you blindly pick up any one, you will not be disappointed. PURPOSE OF BUYING A DSLR Now that you know quite a bit about how to choose your first DSLR camera, we hope you plan to buy it for the right reasons. 'My friends own a DSLR so I want one' or 'I can afford it so I want one' are not the right reasons to buy a DSLR. If you plan to shoot photos with a DSLR just like you do with a mobile or point and shoot, you do not need a DSLR camera. If you plan to shoot in auto mode, then it is better to continue using a point and shoot or mobile phone. A DSLR camera needs you to be serious about learning photography. The major advantage a DSLR camera gives is the ability to control various aspects of photography and the wide range of control it gives. Buy a DSLR camera only if you plan to use the power it gives you. To compare it to cricket, you do not need to buy a costly season ball cricket bat, pads and gloves if you plan to play cricket with a tennis ball on a street. You only buy those cricketing gears if you are serious about being a better cricketer. Same applies to photography gears. If you would like to get serious and learn photography, get in touch with us for personal tutoring sessions and regular review of your work. BUDGET Photography is a relatively costly hobby. DSLR is not the only thing you will have to buy. You will need lenses, camera bags, probably lens filters, lens hoods, tripod, remote control, extra batteries etc. and then one day you would want to upgrade it all. It is often that photographers get into GAS - Gear Acquisition Syndrome. As a beginner you need something like Rs.25,000 to get started with the most basic DSLR + one lens and you can build on top of this gradually. Of course if you can afford to spend more, buying a higher end beginner's DSLR at around Rs.75,000. There are other models between this range too which can suit your budget. PIN THIS IMAGE Hope you are in a better position to understand the features you need to keep in mind before buying your first DSLR. Do you think there are any other points one should keep in mind? Do let us know your thoughts in comment section below. Also read our next article which talks about different entry level DSLR camera models and a detailed comparison of them helping you finalize the specific DSLR camera you should buy. #LearnPhotography #Photographygear

Hoping you have already read the criterias one should consider before buying your first DSLR Camera, in this article we show you which specific entry level DSLR camera models should be on your radar and how can you finalize one specific model that suits all your requirements and budget. You must have seen official websites of Canon and Nikon and seen a list of infinite features containing technical jargon which you have no idea, or seen contradicting features mentioned in different articles making the whole idea of buying a DSLR highly confusing and complicated. In this article, we list down entry level DSLR camera models by major brands Canon and Nikon which are suitable for all beginners. We will show a detailed comparison of these models and help you buy the best entry level DSLR camera that fits your budget. Recommended Pre-read - How to choose your first DSLR Camera Options to buy in DSLRs You would most probably already know that one of the basic difference between DSLR camera and Point and Shoot or Bridge cameras is that you can change lens of the camera as per your need. Any DSLR camera comes with following options to buy - Body only (You will not get any lens with the camera) Since you are a beginner, you would not have any lenses separately. Hence it is not recommended to go with this option. You will anyway have to buy lenses and if you buy them separately, you would end up paying much higher. Body + one lens only (You will get one lens along with body of camera) You can go with this option of buying camera body with only one lens which is usually 18-55 mm lens in case of beginner's DSLR cameras. However you would very likely feel handicapped in capturing faraway subjects like birds and wild animals or while capturing only finer details like an eye of a person. You would feel the need to zoom in more during such situations and may want to buy a zoom lens separately. Body + two lenses (You will get 2 lenses along with body of camera) We would recommend buying two lens combo packages. These packages are useful as you get a long focal length lens usually 55-250 mm lens (in Canon) or 70-300 mm lens (in Nikon) along with a basic 18-55 mm lens. This extra lens would not only be useful in situations where you want to zoom in, cost of buying combo package of 2 lenses is definitely lower than buying a separate lens. However for uniformity in comparison, in this article we are showing approximate costs of single lens DSLR cameras only i.e. 18-55mm lens. In our previous article, we had listed various criterias you might consider before buying your DSLR camera. In case you do not fully understand any of these features, we recommend reading the previous article which explains them in detail. Megapixel Sensor Size Image Processor AF Points ISO FPS Video LCD Screen Connectivity Brand Other features Budget In last article we discussed why Megapixel should not be a criteria while buying your DSLR camera. All beginner's DSLR camera models start with 18 MP which is more than enough for your needs. In terms of sensors, all beginner's DSLR camera models will have APS-C CMOS sensor. So no choices there. In terms of Brand, we recommend either Canon or Nikon cameras due to 3 primary reasons - Both Canon and Nikon have number of models in different price ranges which mean they would have some solution that fits your budget. This may not be the case with other camera manufacturers like Sony, Panasonic, Fujifilm etc. Also choosing a camera manufacturer is a long term commitment. Once you go with a manufacturer, most likely you would not change it because your lenses from one manufacturer would not fit with other manufacturer's model without a lens converter. And lens converters tend to have their own issues such as speed of autofocus. Both Canon and Nikon have wide variety of lens options which means whenever you plan to buy more lenses for different purposes, you would have options that will fulfill your requirement and budget. This is again not the case with other manufacturers. Both Canon and Nikon have better servicing network than other brands through India which is useful Now let us dive into rest of the 9 technicalities of specific models and see different beginner's DSLR cameras offered by Canon and Nikon. We will talk commonalities and differences in various models offered by Canon & Nikon. We will show a detailed comparison of major characteristics of these DSLR cameras which should play a role in your final decision. Note that apart from these major characteristics, there would be other subtle differences between each of these models. But none of these differences should play a role in deciding the camera you need to buy. Also these differences would not play any significant role in your experience of shooting photographs. Canon's beginners DSLR cameras in India We would classify Canon's beginner level DSLR cameras in 3 categories - 1. Basic beginner level DSLRs (Around Rs.30,000) - Canon 3000D, Canon 1300D and Canon 1500D 2. Intermediate beginner level DSLRs (Around Rs.45,000) - Canon 200D and Canon 750D 3. Premium beginner level DSLRs (Around Rs.60,000) - Canon 800D, Canon 77D and Canon 80D Let us understand each of these categories in detail and see various features offered by models in these categories. 1. Basic beginner level DSLRs (Around Rs.30,000) Canon 3000D, Canon 1300D and Canon 1500D All these 3 cameras are sub Rs.30,000 models when you choose a 18-55 mm lens with body. The prices might be pushed up by Rs.7,000-10,000 if you choose a combo package with two lenses - 18-55mm and 55-250 mm lens. These 3 models are similar to each other in terms of features as well a prices. Canon 1300D has been around since 2016 while 3000D and 1500D were launched together in 2018. * Pictures may not represent accurate comparison of size Similarities between Canon 3000D, Canon 1300D and Canon 1500D are - The main difference between Canon 3000D, Canon 1300D and Canon 1500D is - VERDICT - So if your budget is around Rs.30,000 - Canon 3000D, 1300D and 1500D are the models for you. Bigger LCD screen size with better resolution helps during travel when you want to see on the go if your shot is satisfactory. So Canon 1300D or 1500D are definitely better options with minor increase in price compared to Canon 3000D. Out of Canon 1300D and 1500D, we would recommend Canon 1300D as there is not much benefit of extra 6 megapixel that you get by buying Canon 1500D. Why pay more for something that you do not need? Despite being a new camera, the incremental advantage you get in 1500D is minor compared to 1300D. If the price difference between Canon 1300D and 1500D is nominal, you should go for Canon 1500D. If your budget is higher, read on to understand what you get by spending little more in higher category models. 2. Intermediate beginner level DSLRs (Around Rs.45,000) Canon 200D and Canon 750D Canon 200D would cost you closer to Rs.40,000 while Canon 750D would cost you around Rs.45,000 when you buy them with a 18-55mm lens. Canon 750D is a 2015 model while 200D was announced in 2017. Note that both these models are from different series of DSLR Cameras by Canon but included here in same category due to closeness in pricing range. Being a relatively new model, Canon has packed in some attractive features in 200D and is clearly a winner between the two. * Pictures may not represent accurate comparison of size Similarities between Canon 200D and 750D are - The main difference between Canon 200D and 750D is - VERDICT - So if your budget is around Rs.45,000 - Canon 200D and Canon 750D are the options for you. Canon 200D is definitely a winner here with much better features and lower cost compared to 750D. Also 750D should soon be phased out given a newer version 800D is available. Note that 200D is much smaller in size and lightweight. This could be a boon for some who prefer lighter camera while traveling while it can be a problem for those who have longer fingers and bigger palms. If you are wondering what more features and capabilities can you get if you spend some more money, read on to see the best beginner level DSLR cameras from Canon. 3. Premium beginner level DSLRs (Around Rs.60,000) Canon 800D, Canon 77D and Canon 80D Canon 800D and Canon 77D are very similar in configuration and were launched together in 2017. The main difference lies in their ergonomic design as 77D tends towards professional DSLRs. Canon 80D is one year older launched in 2016 and edges slightly ahead of Canon 77D despite having inferior key specifications. Canon 800D with a single lens would fall in Rs.50,000-60,000 range while 77D would be closer to Rs.60,000. Canon 80D as mentioned demands little more premium and would cost closer to Rs.75,000. * Pictures may not represent accurate comparison of size Similarities between Canon 800D, 77D and 80D are - The main difference between Canon 800D, 77D and 80D is - VERDICT- So if your budget is around Rs.60,000 - Canon 800D, Canon 77D and Canon 80D are the options for you. We would recommend Canon 77D out of the three. While 77D is very similar to 800D, the ergonomics, design and controls of 77D are one notch advanced closer to professional DSLRs. Spending some extra money for this is worth it. Secondly, the advantages Canon 80D has over Canon 77D such as weather proofing, better live view coverage, higher max shutter speed and increased continuous shooting speed does not seem adequate enough and does not seem worth the extra cost. Also its inferior digital processor and ISO capabilities are a deal breaker. Canon 80D is a great DSLR if you plan to build a career in sports photography as 1/8000 secs shutter speed and 7 FPS continuous shots might make a difference. For everyone else, Canon 77D is just perfectly fine. Nikon's beginners DSLR cameras in India We would classify Nikon's beginner level DSLR cameras in 2 categories - 1. Basic & Intermediate beginner level DSLRs (Rs.30,000 - Rs.50,000) - Nikon D3400, Nikon D3500, Nikon D5300 and Nikon D5600 2. Premium beginner level DSLRs (Upwards of Rs.60,000) - Nikon D7200 and D7500 In Nikon, you will note 2 models of the same series, one older while other new and upgraded; both offered simultaneously. With the advent of the new model, you would see a price drop in older models. Another thing you would notice is that Nikon costs a bit more than Canon mainly because it offers superior autofocus points and sometimes better video taking capabilities compared to Canon. Let us understand each of these categories in detail and see various features offered by models in these categories. 1. Basic & Intermediate beginner level DSLRs (Rs.30,000 - Rs.50,000) Nikon D3400, Nikon D3500, Nikon D5300 and Nikon D5600 We have classified both Basic & Intermediate level models together because as such only D5600 would qualify as intermediate and is an upgradation of D5300. Nikon D5600 (launched in 2016) is an upgraded version of Nikon D5300 (launched in 2013) and D5500 (launched in 2015). Since Nikon D5500 is no longer manufactured, but D5300 is, we have included this model here. Similarly Nikon D3500 (launched in 2018) is an upgraded version of Nikon D3400 (launched in 2016) and Nikon D3300 (launched in 2014). Nikon D3300 is no longer manufactured but you might come across old stock while browsing ecommerce sites. You should ignore such models. Both Nikon D3400 & D3500 cost around Rs.30,000-35,000 when you choose a 18-55 mm lens. It would cost Rs.7,000 - 10,000 more if you buy the combo package with another lens usually 70-300 mm. Cost of Nikon D5300 has reduced due to launch of Nikon D5600 and is available at prices similar to Nikon D3400 & D3500. We expect Nikon D5300 to be phased out soon but is a catch at current prices. * Pictures may not represent accurate comparison of size Similarities between Nikon D3400 and D3500 as well as between Nikon D5300 and D5600 - The main difference between Nikon D3400, D3500, D5300 and D5600 - VERDICT - So if your budget is around Rs.33,000, you have 3 options - Nikon D3400, D3500 and D5300 . Despite being an old model, we feel D5300 is a better option than D3400 or D3500. Apart from the useful Wifi connectivity and LCD screen that can flip, one of the key reasons for suggesting D5300 is the highly superior number of autofocus points. Despite having poorer ISO, we feel the pros outweigh the cons. But if shooting in low light is a major criteria for you, Nikon D3500 would be a better choice in this range. Also it goes without saying that D5600 is the best of all these 4 models provided it fits your budget. If your budget is higher, read on to understand what you get by spending little more in higher category models. 2. Premium beginner level DSLRs (Upwards of Rs.60,000) Nikon D7200 and Nikon D7500 Nikon D7100, launched in 2013 was replaced by Nikon D7200 which is still an older version launched in 2015. D7500 is an upgraded version launched in 2017. You should not consider Nikon D7100 anymore though they are still available on ecommerce sites. These models come with a superior 18-105 mm lens and not 18-55mm lens. The price range we have used here is only for body. Nikon D7500 is clearly a winner here but it comes with a considerably higher cost. In fact, D7500 is one step ahead of D7200 in almost every department. There are very few commonalities between the two. * Pictures may not represent accurate comparison of size Similarities between Nikon D7200 and Nikon D7500 are - Differences between Nikon D7200 and Nikon D7500 are - VERDICT - So if your budget is upwards of Rs.60,000, you can consider - Nikon D7200 and D7500. As it is very clear, Nikon D7500 is better in almost all aspects but you will have to spend considerably more. So based on your budget, you can make a choice out of these two higher end beginner's DSLRs from Nikon. Which entry level DSLR camera should you buy? Now that you have a fairly good idea of various entry level DSLR camera models offered both by Canon and Nikon, you should be in a position to finalize the right camera for you that fits your budget. If you are still confused between a specific model between Canon and Nikon, let us make it easier for you. Given below is a comparison chart of all entry level models of Canon and Nikon based on our perception of models. How to read Canon - Nikon comparison chart On X axis is cost, one of the major criteria that will drive your final decision. On Y axis is features in DSLR. The higher you go, more features you get. The chart clearly shows where each model stands in this feature vs cost comparison summarizing what you have already read in detail above. For example, you hardly get any extra feature between Canon 1300D and 1500D, but Canon 1500D is little more costly. Now if cost is a major criteria, go for Canon 1300D. Similarly you clearly see how Canon 200D is a winner when compared to Canon 750D both in terms of features and cost. If price is a major criteria - Define your budget and decide which model gives you maximum features If you are little flexible with price - Identify what are the minimum features you need? For example, if you would shoot a lot in lower light conditions, choose what is the minimum ISO you need. If you plan to shoot a lot of birds and wildlife, what is the minimum continuous shooting speed you need? Is Flip screen or touch screen necessary to you? If you are going to shoot a lot of videos, would you need 4K or would Full HD at 60 FPS be needed? Once you satisfy your basic features, see if you can go higher (and get more features) without moving too much sideways (and increasing cost). Your objective should be to get more features without paying much incremental cost. If you would like to get serious and learn photography, get in touch with us for personal tutoring sessions and regular review of your work. PIN THIS IMAGE Hope this guide helped you choose and buy the right entry level DSLR camera. If you feel we have missed any points worth mentioning or have made an honest mistake in our evaluation, feel free to let us know so that we can improvise the article. #Photographygear

Landscape photography is one of the few forms of photography that everyone loves. It doesn’t matter whether you are a wedding photographer or a street photographer. It doesn’t matter whether you use a beginners DSLR or a high-end DSLR. When it comes to spellbinding views and captivating vistas, who can dare resist the need to try their hand at landscape photography? But do your photographs offer justice to those amazing views and vistas? Let’s see how you can do a better job of capturing those stunning landscapes with your DSLR. I assume you would already know some of the elementary aspects of landscape photography. Using a wide angle lens, shooting during the golden hours and post-processing your images are commonly known practices. I have not included them in the list here. The first five tips of the ten listed here are basic tips applicable to most forms of photography but very important for landscapes. If you are a beginner, start with these – 1. Research the location and plan your shots You must always do an in-depth research of the location you are going to visit. By research, I don’t mean the itinerary or hotels. I am talking about specific sites that you plan to visit which has the potential to give you some amazing shots. Research the best time of the year to visit, the best time of the day to visit and the best shots of that location clicked by others. It is perfectly fine to study what other photographers were able to capture in that location. It will only give you a better perspective of the place and the possibilities. Though many times the best shots come from the most unexpected places or times, being well informed and prepared is always a good thing. 2. Always carry a tripod to make the most of all situations Most budding photographers tend to carry right lenses needed for landscape photography. But many of them believe that they need a tripod only if they are going to shoot in the night. So why carry a tripod during the day? Well, a tripod is one of the most important piece of equipment even during day time. Being able to set your camera on a tripod helps you to be flexible with your shutter speed. There are situations when you might want to use slow shutter speeds for landscapes. Which situations? I will come to that in a bit. 3. Learn to be patient and capture the right moment Another myth that many budding photographers have is that only wildlife and bird photographers need to be patient. It is true that animals may move unexpectedly and birds may fly off, so one needs to be very patient. So why be patient in landscape photography when mountains, rivers and other such commonly shot natural elements are still? That is because there are factors such as light, wind, clouds or even unposed person which are dynamic. Photographers who shoot great landscapes often wait for the right moment to ensure every element in the frame is perfect. This photographer would be very different without the lady walking near this pond. I could see I would get a great reflection here but had to wait for quite some time in this isolated village of Himalayas for someone to pass by this pond. 4. Maximize Depth of field to have most elements in focus Now that you know what to do before you start clicking, let’s move to what you should do when you are actually shooting. In most circumstances during landscape photography, one needs all elements in the frame to be sharp. The most basic way to achieve this is by keeping a high depth of field. So, test the maximum depth of field that your lenses allow you to set and shoot images with most subjects of your frame in focus. Maximum depth of field means the aperture size of the lens becomes small. This means there will be less light coming in and this is where a tripod would come in handy. Since you brought your tripod, you are now in a position to set slow shutter speeds. This is not a strict rule and you can use shallow depth of field creatively in landscapes. This is a guiding principle for most of the situations you might come across. 5. Choose a focus point in your frame It is easier to focus on a specific subject in many other types of photography. For example in Portrait photography, you will surely focus on the person you are clicking a portrait of. But in landscape photography, due to the vastness of space or relatively smaller size of the subject, one might not focus on anything specific. Though you might shoot at a high depth of field with an intent of keeping everything in your frame in focus, it is important to identify your point of focus and allow viewer’s eyes to rest on a specific point. Focus points in landscape photography could be anything that stands out relative to rest of the elements of your composition. A tree in a plain field or a hut on a hill are common examples. Hope these 5 basic tips were useful to shoot stunning landscape photographs. Let us now move to some tips useful for those treading advanced stages of their photography learning curve. As a beginner, if you are able to use these tips, great! 6. Control the light using appropriate filters Polaroid or Neutral density filters are useful accessories for outdoor photography including landscapes. Polaroid filters cancel out polarized light resulting in the removal of glare and reflections. This increases color saturation. If used in the right manner, they would make the colors in your photograph, especially blue of sky and green of trees, pop out. Neutral density filters reduces the amount of light reaching the sensor. What this means is it helps you control the exposure by darkening the image. Now to allow more light in, you might want to click at slower shutter speeds again while using your tripod. This is extremely useful for shooting waterfalls where you want the milky flow of water. 7. Read histograms to identify incorrectly exposed images Despite all your efforts, you might often find yourself in a situation where some elements of your frame are too bright or dark. If you are unable to identify such specific areas while viewing images on the LCD panel of your DSLRs, you can check histograms. Histograms are frequency distribution charts of your image which show tonal ranges on the X-axis and number of pixels on the Y-axis. If more number of pixels are darker in tone, the chart would show higher lines on the left. In a similar way if more number of pixels are too bright in tone, the chart will align towards the right. So by looking at a histogram, you can identify over-exposed and under-exposed areas in your image. This gives you a chance to change some settings and shoot again. 8. Choose the right vantage point before shooting Imagine you are driving when you suddenly see a gorgeous view. What do you do? Park the car, get out and shoot? Please don’t. While your instinctive reaction might be to shoot, you must first analyse the situation. Is this point the best position to shoot? Should you move a few steps ahead or backwards? What would be better - holding the camera way higher above you and angling downwards or lying on the ground and shooting through the grass? Should you walk across the road and capture the car as well or should you click a panoramic shot? In short, you need to analyse the situation and identify the best vantage point from which you should shoot. Of course, if the view is dynamic that lasts for a few seconds or minutes, you might want to shoot from whatever vantage point you were lucky to be in. But in other situations, the first rule of composing an image should be selection of the right vantage point. 9. Use complimentary elements in foreground and background This is a compositional tip useful for landscape photography where you might have natural elements such as mountain, river or waterfall. Having only these in the frame may not look appealing enough. But the moment you add a different complimentary subject in the foreground, the impact of the photograph changes. Such objects not only bring a lot more depth to the image but also balances the visual weight of the photograph. You can see in the photograph below how the slightly pinkish shades of flowers in front complement the whites and browns in the background. Also the tenderness of these flowers in foreground complements with the raw strength of textures of backdrop. 10. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication What I imply by this famous quote is - in landscape photography, it is perfectly fine to be minimalistic. The contents of an image need not be the only subjects of your photograph; empty space too can be a key subject and play a powerful role in your photograph. So don't fear emptiness. You need not always include subjects, you can exclude them too. Take the below photograph for instance. Despite having many more subjects in this lake, I have excluded them and used empty space effectively. Note that in any form of art, it is always okay to break the rules and explore your own style. These tips are only meant to be a guideline that might help you. Hope you found these 10 tips useful and are able to use them on the field. It is important to keep in mind above listed points before and while shooting landscape photographs. Implementing these tips will result in stark difference in the kind of images you are able to click. #TipsNTricks

The village of Purushwadi in the Maharashtra state of India is small and rustic. The main occupation of the villagers is farming. Recently, some of the villagers have also started earning some money with a boom in eco-tourism and rural tourism. Though primarily known for fireflies festival, we loved the entire experience of staying in a village where everyone welcomes you as a guest. Seeing their lives and knowing their thoughts first hand was enlightening. You can know more about fireflies festival, how to plan a trip to Purushwadi and what to expect in our previous article. In this article, we take you on a photo journey of this little village and its ever smiling people. Read our other articles on Purushwadi village & the Fireflies Festival, Things to do in and around Purushwadi and Harishchandragad fort trek by clicking on the images below Before we reached the village, it is the journey to Purushwadi which enthralled us. The road to Purushwadi from Mumbai is full of small villages with lots of greenery. The landscape is incredibly scenic and we stopped to click photographs more often than we thought we would. As we reached Purushwadi village, we were welcomed by sign 'Fireflies' painted on the road announcing that we have reached the village. The village home that we stayed at was rustic but charming. The house had 3 rooms, a cowshed and was partly made of mud and partly out of brick and concrete. A few years ago, open defecation was practised in the village. With the advent of the Swachh Bharat campaign, toilets were constructed for each family by the government. The toilets were in fact outside the houses near the farms. The villagers receive government supply of water only twice a day - once in the morning and in the evening. There is a long line near the tap during these times to fetch water. Purushwadi is supplied with electricity but there are frequent cut-offs. There is no market or ATM or bank in the village. Newspaper and milk are not delivered to Purushwadi village; hence they rely on radio for news updates and drink black tea. The village has a temple and a school that teaches up to 5th class. Post that the students have to travel to Rajur or Nashik for further education. The school also provides nutritious meals to the children. We were amazed to see the digital classroom in the school where the students are taught computers. Though the amenities in the village is less, the villagers live in peace and harmony. Their houses are small but their hearts are big. Most of the women are involved in housework while the men work in the fields. They work really hard to bring food to their family's dinner table. It's good to see children playing in the open spaces instead of lying in front of the TV. The villagers are very kind. They sleep on the bare floor but provide mattresses to their guests. The villagers are kind to street animals and feed them occasionally. They grow trees and flowering plants in front of their houses. The villagers also offer their field produce to their guests - like during our stay we had an unlimited supply of mangoes and roasted groundnuts. The meals that they cook for themselves are offered to guests as well. Though gas bottles are available, they mainly cook on chulha (fireplace). The refilling of gas bottles is expensive they say. Even the installation of taps in the houses is expensive, hence they only have water bucket, pots and mugs. Everyone we passed by in Purushwadi village welcomed us with a smile. They invited us to their houses and offered us tea. Most villagers understand Hindi and are easy to converse with. At all times during our stay, we never felt like guests - they treated us like their family. All in all, it was refreshing to see the villagers being so content and happy with whatever they have. Most important of all, they have fewer expectations and things to worry about which keeps them relatively happy. We hope that someday we are able to spend a carefree and productive life as they do. Checkout the other articles - Purushwadi Fireflies Festival, Things to do in and around Purushwadi and Harishchandragad fort trek. Did you like our photoblog on Purushwadi village and the ordinary life of the villagers? Do let us know in the comment section below. Feel free to share this photoblog on your social media handles. PIN THESE IMAGES Suggested reads - Fontainhas of Goa - A photo journey Dawki, Shnongpdeng & river Umngot - A photo blog Gandikota - The Grand Canyon of India Places to see around Gandikota The Turtle Festival in Velas Velas: Life in a Village Places to see around Velas Mawlynnong in Meghalaya - Cleanest village of Asia Mawlynnong - A Photoblog #India #WestIndia #Maharashtra #MumbaiWeekendOutings #PuneWeekendOutings #Photoblog

Often regarded as the Last Shangri La, Bhutan or Druk Gyul is blessed with abundant forests, pristine valleys and spectacular mountains, Bhutan is a magical land that will amaze you in a number of unimaginable ways. While you may have heard about the breathtaking landscapes, Bhutan is much more than that. To us, Bhutan is probably mankind's most successful attempt to bring harmony between tradition and development. It draws a unique balance between major forces of human nature - our nature that makes us cling to our history, culture and tradition; and our nature that pushes us to evolve embracing change, modernization and development. You have to see it, to believe it. In our previous blog ‘Introduction to Bhutan’ of the series ‘The Bhutan Odyssey’, we introduced you to the people, politics, religion and interesting facts of Bhutan. We also wrote about the location, geography and climate of Bhutan. In this second blog of the series, we will help you to plan your trip to Bhutan with recommendations on places to visit and the ideal itinerary to follow. We have also highlighted procedure to obtain permits and restricted area permits. Read other blogs of the series - 'The Bhutan Odyssey', by clicking on the links or the photos below: 1. Introduction to Bhutan and why you should visit it 2. Plan your trip to Bhutan (This article) 3. Places to visit in Thimphu 4. Travel to Phobjikha (Gangtey) Valley of black-necked cranes 5. Punakha - Sightseeing places in the winter capital of Bhutan 6. Paro Taktsang (Tiger's nest monastery) – A complete travel guide 7. Places to visit in Paro 8. 20 Best places to visit in Bhutan 9. Photoblog: People and culture of Bhutan Best time to visit Bhutan The best seasons to visit Bhutan are spring and autumn i.e. March to May (Spring) and late-September to November (Autumn). The weather during these times is warm, dry and sunny. Many flowering plants bloom during the spring season adding a variety of colours to the beautiful landscapes making spring one of the most popular season to visit Bhutan. Autumn is the another best time to visit Bhutan mainly due to various festivals that happen during this time.‘Tshechus’ (district festivals) happen separately for each district. Thimphu tsechu and Paro tsechu are the biggest tsechu celebration in Bhutan in terms of audience and participation. While Paro tsechu takes place in the month of March/ April, Thimphu tsechu is celebrated in September according to lunar Tibetan calendar. Places to visit in Bhutan Best places to visit in Bhutan are: 1. Paro The city of Paro lies in the district also named as Paro. Paro hosts Bhutan's only international airport and is the second largest city in Bhutan. Paro is located at an altitude of 2200 meters from the sea level. The most popular place to visit in Paro is Taktsang monastery also famous as Tiger's Nest monastery and Rinpung Dzong or Paro Dzong, which is a monastic fortress that overlooks the Paro valley. Paro also has a few lovely historic temples and museums worth visiting. You can read more about Places to visit in Paro in our dedicated article on Paro. 2. Thimphu The city of Thimphu lies in the district also named as Thimphu. Thimphu is the modern capital of Bhutan and is located in the central western part of the country on the banks of Wang Chhu River. It is the political and economic centre of the Kingdom of Bhutan. Thimphu is located at an altitude of 2334 meters from the sea level and is 50 kilometres away from Paro. The statue of Buddha Dordenma, Thimphu Dzong, Memorial Chorten and the Takin Nature Preserve are the most visited places in Thimphu beside museums, temples and the market. If you are a trek lover, then Tango and Cheri monastery in north Thimphu are worth visiting. You can read more about Thimpu in our detailed article. 3. Punakha The city of Punakha lies in the district also named as Punakha. Punakha was the capital city of Bhutan until it was moved to Thimphu. Today, Punakha remains the administrative centre of the Kingdom of Bhutan. It is located at an altitude of 1242 meter from the sea level. Two major rivers named Mo Chhu and Po Chhu flow through the district of Punakha. Punakha Dzong, Chimi Lhakhang and the Punakha Suspension bridge are the most visited places in Punakha. You can read more about Punakha in our separate detailed article. 4. Phobjikha The town of Phobjikha lies in the district named as Wangdue Phodrang. Phobjikha lies at an altitude of 3000 meters from the sea level. It is located in central Bhutan. The main attractions in Phobjikha are the Phobjikha valley popular for the black-necked crane festival and Gangtey monastery. Phobjikha valley is also worth a visit as it provides a unique experience staying in smaller villages compared to other tourist spots which are mainly cities. You can read more about Phobjikha in our separate dedicated article. 5. Bumthang The town of Bumthang lies in the district also named as Bumthang. Bumthang is located in central Bhutan and is considered to be the religious heartland of Bhutan. It is located at an altitude of 2800 meters from the sea level. Bumthang has the most number of temples and historic site than any other city/ town in Bhutan. Bumthang valley and several temples and monasteries form the places to visit in Bumthang. Bumthang also has a domestic airport connecting it to Paro. 6. Phuentsholing The city of Phuentsholing lies in the district named as Chukha. Phuentsholing is regarded as the trading, financial and industrial capital of Bhutan. It lies on the border of Indian town named Jaigaon and is the main entry point from the Indian side. It is located in the south western part of Bhutan. Phuentsholing is a low-lying town and lies at an altitude of 293 meters from the sea level. Bhutan Gate, Karbandi monastery and a couple of temples are the famous places to visit in Phuentsholing. Apart from the above mentioned major attractions passes like Dochula Pass (Thimphu district) and Chelela Pass (Haa district), valleys like Haa Valley (Haa district) and Trongsa valley (Trongsa district) and forts like Wangue Phodrang Dzong (Wangdue Phodrang district) and Trongsa Dzong (Trongsa district) are popular places of visit. Eastern Bhutan is less frequented by tourists and is relatively underdeveloped with little facilities. However it also means it is raw and pure in terms of its natural and cultural beauty. One can also plan on trekking to various Himalayan mountains in Bhutan. Snow treks and camping on mountains is becoming more and more popular in Bhutan. How to reach Bhutan Note that Bhutan does not have a railway track. So you can either reach Bhutan by air or by road - Reach Bhutan by air: One can directly fly to Paro International Airport however connectivity to Paro is limited to few Indian cities and few Southeast Asian countries like Thailand (from Bangkok), Singapore, Nepal (from Kathmandu) and Bangladesh (from Dhaka). Bhutan Airlines and Druk Air are the only carriers that have flights to Paro. Tickets to Bhutan cannot be booked from any travel portals like Skyscanner, Makemytrip etc. One can book flight tickets to Paro, Bhutan only from official websites of Bhutan Airlines or Druk Air. Book your flight tickets well in advance to save money if you opt to fly. If you are travelling from India; New Delhi, Kolkata and Bagdogra in West Bengal, Guwahati in Assam and Gaya in Bihar have direct flights to Paro. Flying to the international airport in Paro, Bhutan is quicker but a relatively expensive way to reach Bhutan especially if you are travelling in a group. Reach Bhutan by road: Entering Bhutan by road is the cheapest way to reach Bhutan but it would mean having one more day in your itinerary. Phuentsholing (south-western Bhutan), Gelephu (south-central Bhutan) and Samdrup (south-eastern Bhutan) are the only three land border areas open to enter Bhutan. However, Gelephu and Samdrup border gates can be used to enter Bhutan only for trading and commercial purposes. Tourists visiting Bhutan for a vacation can only enter through Phuentsholing border gate. How to reach Phuentsholing (border town of Bhutan) or Jaigaon (border town of India): Note that Phuentsholing in Bhutan and Jaigaon in India are border towns of both countries separated only by a gate. To reach Phuentsholing from India, one would have to reach Jaigaon. There are number of ways to reach Jaigaon - Reach Phuentsholing by air + road: Bagdogra/ Siliguri in West Bengal is the nearest airport from the border town of Jaigaon. You can fly to Bagdogra from your location as Bagdogra is well connected to major Indian cities via air. You can also take a train or drive to Bagdogra based on your convenience. You can then reach Jaigaon by road or rail. Jaigaon is 160 kilometres (around 5 hours) away from Bagdogra airport The quickest way to reach Jaigaon from Bagdogra would be via private taxi or For a cheaper way, you can hop onto a bus to Jaigaon or hire a shared taxi/ jeep You can even take an auto, shared taxi or prepaid taxi to New Jalpaiguri railway station and buy tickets for Hasimara, the nearest railway station to Jaigaon Reach Phuentsholing by rail: Hasimara station is the nearest railway station from the border town of Jaigaon. You can reach Hasimara in train and then can travel by road to Jaigaon. Jaigaon is around 17 kilometres away from Hasimara railway station. You can hop onto a bus to Jaigaon or hire a shared taxi/ jeep or a prepaid taxi to reach Jaigaon. How to get permits to enter Bhutan - For citizens of India, Bangladesh & Maldives Citizens of India, Bangladesh and Maldives do not need a visa to enter Bhutan but a permit is required. A valid Indian passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Bhutan is a requisite to enter Bhutan. Permit for Bhutan if you fly to Paro: If you fly to Bhutan, the permit formalities are done at Paro airport immigration office. At the airport immigration office, you will get a permit to visit Paro and Thimphu only. If you wish to travel outside Thimphu or Paro i.e. to Punakha, Trongsa, Bumthang or Haa valley, you will need to get an additional inner-line restricted area permit from Thimphu immigration office before you travel to these places. Thimphu immigration office is open from 9AM to 5PM BTT (Bhutan standard time). The office is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Bhutanese public holidays. Permit for Bhutan if you enter by road from Phuentsholing: The Bhutanese immigration office is located in Phuentsholing very near to Bhutan Gate. The permits to enter Bhutan are issued here. Please note that you can roam about in Phuentsholing, visit the sight-seeing places and stay in hotels in Phuentsholing (only up to 3 kilometres range) without a permit. The immigration office in Phuentsholing remains open from 9AM to 5PM BTT (Bhutan standard time). The office remains closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Bhutanese Public Holidays. Note: Bhutan consulate offices in New Delhi and Kolkata used to issue permits for Bhutan previously, but that has been stopped now. The permit that you will get from Phuentsholing immigration office is valid for visiting Thimphu and Paro only. If you wish to travel outside Thimphu or Paro i.e. to Punakha, Trongsa, Bumthang or Haa valley, you will need to get an additional inner-line restricted area permit from Thimphu immigration office before you travel to these places. Online regional permit system: The easiest way to get permits to Bhutan is through a Bhutanese tour operator. There is an online regional permit system that facilitates online processing of permits for citizens of India, Bangladesh and Maldives through registered Bhutanese tour operators. If you use this system, you can get permits much before you reach Bhutan. Read more about our experience and how easy the process was for us in the PDF version of this article. How to reach Bhutan for Foreign Tourists Foreign tourists of all countries other than India, Bangladesh and Maldives have to apply for a visa to visit Bhutan. These tourists have to mandatorily book their trip to Bhutan through a Bhutanese tour operator. These tour operators arrange for their visas and permits and book a complete holiday for them. A fee amounting to USD 250 per person per day is charged from the foreign tourists during peak season months of Spring (March, April, May) and Autumn (September, October & November). For rest of the months which are considered lean tourist season, the fee is USD 200. This fee includes permit approvals, twin sharing accommodation in a 3 star hotel, food, a vehicle for internal transportation and a certified tour guide. The daily fee does not include one time Bhutan visa fee of USD 40 and any airfares. Independent travel by foreigners is prohibited in Bhutan and they have to pay the daily fee of USD 250/200. A part of this fee goes to the Bhutan government who then uses it in various ways such as providing free education and healthcare in Bhutan. Bhutan Itinerary Itinerary for your Bhutan trip would be purely based on the amount of time you have. A total of 12 nights, 13 days is required to cover most popular attractions if you fly in and out of Paro. If you travel by road via Phuentsholing, another 2 days might be required. 12 Nights 13 Days itinerary for Bhutan: Day 1 – Arrive Paro, drive to Thimphu and sightseeing in Thimphu. Night stay in Thimphu Day 2 – Full day sightseeing in Thimphu. Night stay in Thimphu Day 3 – Thimphu to Phobjikha and sightseeing in Phobjikha. Night stay in Phobjikha Day 4 – Phobjikha to Trongsa and sightseeing in Trongsa. Night stay in Trongsa Day 5 – Trongsa to Bumthang. Night stay in Bumthang Day 6 – Full day sightseeing in Bumthang. Night stay in Bumthang Day 7 – Bumthang to Wangdue to Punakha. Night stay in Punakha Day 8 – Full day sightseeing in Punakha. Night stay in Punakha Day 9 – Punakha to Paro. Night stay in Paro Day 10 – Full day sightseeing in Paro. Night stay in Paro Day 11 – Trek to Tiger’s Nest Monastery. Night stay in Paro Day 12 – Full day Excursion to Haa Valley. Night stay in Paro Day 13 – Fly out of Paro +1 day - To arrive at Phuentsholing (Night stay at Phuentsholing) and reach Thimpu +1 day - To leave via Phuentsholing Please note that if you are entering Bhutan via road through the town of Phuentsholing, it is advisable that you book the first night stay in Phuentsholing to obtain your permits. Next day, you can drive to Thimphu from Phuentsholing and follow the rest of the above itinerary. In that case, you will have to add one more day to your trip to Bhutan. Also, carefully plan your trip such that you are in Phuentsholing during weekdays to obtain the permit and also in Thimphu during a weekday if you wish to travel to restricted area zone, for which you will have to get an inner-line restricted area permit from Thimphu. Of course, if you are going through a Bhutanese tour operator like Nature Tourism Bhutan, you won't have to worry about the day. Also, add a few more days to your itinerary if you are a trekking enthusiast. For example – You will need one full day if you wish to trek to Tango-Cheri monastery in Thimphu. If you have more time in hand, adding eastern Bhutan to your itinerary would be worth it. The above itinerary can of course be shortened based on how many days you have in hand. You can read our recommended itinerary for Bhutan for shorter duration in the PDF version of this article. We have incorporated recommended itineraries starting from 2N3D to 12N13D in the PDF version that could help you plan your trip with as many days as you have. Nature Tourism - Bhutan As you may have noticed, planning a trip to Bhutan is not very easy. The flight tickets are expensive and travelling by road requires an additional night in Phuentsholing for acquiring permits – that too during the weekdays. Even obtaining restricted area permits from Thimphu immigration office mandates you to be present there during the weekdays only. So, for a hassle-free trip, we booked our tour through Nature Tourism – Bhutan. Nature Tourism – Bhutan is a tour operator that offers customized itineraries based on your budget. Their itineraries have more focus on Bhutanese character and culture and in this way you get to know more about their fundamental beliefs, spiritual beliefs, practices and architectural traditions. They also took care of our accommodation and food at all the places and we did not have a single complaint with their arrangements. We were in constant touch with Mr. Karma Jamtsho, the founder of Nature Tourism – Bhutan and he ensured that the trip is designed as per our requirements and pace. He promptly replied to all our queries and kept us updated on the permit and booking arrangements. Karma, our driver and Dorji, our guide were humble and kind and treated us like their family. All in all, we had a great trip with Nature Tourism – Bhutan without any regrets or glitches. We highly recommend booking your trip with them. You can book your tour to Bhutan with Nature Tourism through their official website. Important things to know while travelling to Bhutan Bhutan language: Dzongkha (Dzong=district, kha=language) or Bhutanese is the sole official and national language of the Kingdom of Bhutan. Bhutan Currency: Ngultrum is Bhutan's currency and its value is fixed equal to the Indian rupee. Indian rupee is freely used in Bhutan. You can pay in Indian rupees and you might be handed over Ngultrum as change back. Get more information regarding Bhutan currency (Nu) in the PDF version of this article. Food in Bhutan: Bhutanese cuisine involves a lot of chillies, red rice and cheese. Rice is often accompanied by meat or vegetables. Cheese is made from cow's milk is called 'datshi' and is used to prepare a variety of sauces. Ema datshi is the national dish of Bhutan which is a curry that involves a spicy mix of chillies with cheese. Get more information regarding the food in Bhutan in the PDF version of this article. Bhutan time zone: Bhutan standard time (BTT) is the time zone of Bhutan. BTT is 30 minutes ahead of IST (Indian standard time) and is +6 hours ahead of the UTC (Universal Time Coordinated). To avoid confusion, always ask your guide and driver if they are following IST or BTT time zone. Get more information regarding Bhutan time zone in the PDF version of this article. Bhutan telecommunication/ SIM Card: Even though your mobile phones will get good network and internet connectivity in most of Bhutan, it is advisable to put them on airplane mode the moment you enter Bhutan. Data and call charges on international roaming are exorbitantly priced. We highly recommend that you buy a Bhutanese SIM card from Phuentsholing or Thimphu. This will help you to stay connected with your guide and driver. Get more information regarding telecommunication in Bhutan and our tips from our personal experience in the PDF version of this article. Download full PDF version of this article There are so many other interesting places to visit and things to know about Bhutan that can help you plan your trip. If you are interested in knowing more, you can sign up for our newsletter and download full PDF version of this article ​ PIN THESE IMAGES Hope this article was able to help you plan your trip to Bhutan. Do you need any information which we have not covered? Or is there any tip you would like us to add in this guide? Do let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. #Bhutan #TravelPlanning

Bhutan? Isn’t that the place they call the Land of Thunder Dragon? Bhutan? Isn’t it considered the last Shangri La? Bhutan? Isn’t it the happiest nation in the world? We got to hear so many such questions before our trip to Bhutan this spring. But after our visit, we are short of words to describe the beauty of Bhutan. To us, Bhutan is like no other place in the world! We are awed by its spectacular natural beauty, its living spiritual culture, its pristine environment and most importantly by its wise Kings who measure the country’s progress and development not by ‘Gross Domestic Product’ (GDP) but by it's Gross National Happiness’ (GNH). Bhutan is a fairytale mystical kingdom that has striked the right balance between tradition and modernization. It is a Himalayan land where Buddhism strives and happiness grows. Returning back to the plains of India, our souls still seek the Bhutanese hills and mountains, and pine for the colorful Bhutanese flags fluttering at the hairpin road bends. Our hearts ache for being so far from the people who are complete strangers to dishonesty and falsehood and our eyes itch to see the beautiful rhododendrons and jacaranda flowers in bloom. In this blog – ‘Introduction to Bhutan’, we introduce you to the magical kingdom of Bhutan, the country’s making and some interesting facts. In this travel series – ‘The Bhutan Odyssey' we give you a glimpse of the people, the culture and the ways of life in Bhutan in detail. This series should serve as a one-stop travel guide which gives you all the information required along with recommendations on stay, activities and itinerary so that you can plan your own trip to Bhutan. The first article in the series – ‘Introduction to Bhutan’ is where we introduce Bhutan to you and give you a basic understanding of this beautiful country, people and culture of this state. At the end of this article you would be convinced that Bhutan is worth travelling to and can move on to the next article where we show how you can plan your trip to Bhutan. Read other blogs of the series - 'The Bhutan Odyssey', by clicking on the links or the photos below: 1. Introduction to Bhutan and why you should visit it (This article) 2. Plan your trip to Bhutan 3. Places to visit in Thimphu 4. Travel to Phobjikha (Gangtey) Valley of black-necked cranes 5. Punakha - Sightseeing places in the winter capital of Bhutan 6. Paro Taktsang (Tiger's nest monastery) – A complete travel guide 7. Places to visit in Paro 8. 20 Best places to visit in Bhutan 9. Photoblog: People and culture of Bhutan Location of Bhutan Bhutan is a landlocked country in South-East Asia. It is bordered by China’s Tibet Autonomous Region in the north, and India in the west (Sikkim), east (Arunachal Pradesh) and south (Assam and West Bengal). Bhutan is the second least populated country in Asia after the Maldives. It has an area of 38,394 square kilometers – about that of Switzerland - and stretches 306 kilometers from east to west and 145 kilometers from north to south. Geography of Bhutan Bhutan is a small country located in the south-eastern slopes of the Himalayas. The Kingdom of Bhutan is mostly covered by steep and high mountains with rivers flowing in between forming plains and deep valleys. The area of Bhutan is like a steep staircase, which rises from 100 meters above sea level in Southern Bhutan to snow peaks of 7500+ meters in Northern Bhutan. Within a distance of only 145 kilometers, one can pass from semi-tropical to temperate to freezing alpine areas. Bhutan has 20 districts which are called as Dzongkhag. Every district of Bhutan has a dzong – an enormous fortress – which houses the official monk body, administrative offices and several temples. Dzongs are also one of the main tourist attractions in Bhutan apart from monasteries and temples. The main cities that the tourists visit lie in the districts of Thimphu, Chukha (Phuentsholing), Paro, Punakha, Wangdue Phodrang (Phobjikha) and Bumthang. Bhutan can be divided horizontally into three geographic zones: Foothills of the south – This area rises from the plains to an altitude of 1500 meters. It has high population density, evergreen forests and fertile farmland. The financial and trading capital town of Phuentsholing lies in this area. Central, temperate zone – This area consists of the higher ranges of the Inner Himalayas with altitude ranging from 1500 meters to 3500 meters. The hills are thickly forested and several valleys can be seen dotted here and there. The capital city Thimphu and most major towns like Paro, Punakha, Phobjikha and Trongsa lie in this area. As a tourist, you would be spending most of your time in Bhutan in this zone. Subalpine and alpine highlands – This area’s altitude ranges from 3500 meters to 5500 meters and above. The northernmost part is covered by year-round snow. The towering snow-clad peaks of Mount Chomolhari (7300 meters) and Mount Gangkar Puensum (7541 meters) lies in this area. Weather and Climate of Bhutan The climate in Bhutan depends upon the altitude. Perennial snow is found in the northernmost part of Bhutan where mountains rise up to 7000 meters. Here the weather condition is similar to the Arctic. Western and Southern Bhutan which are closer to India has hot and humid summers, cool winters and heavy rains. The Central and Eastern Bhutan has warm summers, cold winters and fewer rains. Bhutan experiences five different seasons: Summer (June, July) Monsoon (July, August) Autumn (September, October, November) Winter (December, January, February) Spring (March, April, May) Read about the best time to visit Bhutan in our next article in the series. Brief history of Bhutan At the beginning of the first millennium, Bhutan was inhabited by semi-nomadic herdsmen who followed the Bon religion (worshiped trees, lakes and mountains). In the 7th century, a Tibetan Buddhist King built first temples in Paro and Bumthang region by subduing monsters that terrorized the region. In the 8th century, Guru Padmasambhava popular as Guru Rinpoche came to Bhutan and started spreading Buddhism. He is revered as the second Buddha by the Bhutanese and one can find his picture or statue in all the monasteries across the country. From the 9th century to the 15th century, many people from Tibet fled their country and settled in Bhutan. Among them was Drukpa Kinley, also known as ‘The Divine Madman’ who further spread Buddhist teachings. In the 17th century, Zahbdrung Ngawang Namgyel (commonly known as The Beard Man) came to Bhutan and changed the course of their history. He is regarded as the founder of the Bhutanese state and was the one who unified the country. He built Dzongs (fortresses), introduced laws and cultural and religious traditions. By 19th century, Bhutan fought several battles with the British. During this time, the Bhutanese army fought fiercely and ousted the Britishers. In these troubled times, a new leader emerged in Bhutan – Jigme Namgyel – who reinstated peace and stability in the country. His family, the Wangchuk family has since ruled Bhutan and the current King of Bhutan is from family's 5th generation. This brief history will make it easier for you to understand and connect what you see in Bhutan. These are revered figures you will find in almost every tourist destination across Bhutan. Government of Bhutan Monarchy prevailed in Bhutan since more than a century till democracy was enacted in the year 2008. Today, the kingdom of Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of Government. The King of Bhutan or Druk Gyalpo remains the head of the state of the Kingdom of Bhutan; whereas the Prime Minister of Bhutan acts as the head of the government in a parliamentary democracy. The current King of Bhutan (5th King) is Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk who ascended the throne in 2008. Khesar married Jetsun Pema in 2011 during which he formally proclaimed Jetsun Pema as the Queen of the Kingdom of Bhutan. Every Bhutanese has utmost respect for their Kings and Queens. You would find their pictures everywhere from school classrooms, shops, hotels, public places and houses. Interesting things to know about Bhutan How was Bhutan named: The legend goes that when a great Tibetan saint was building a new monastery in Tibet, he heard a loud thunder in his dreams, which he believed to be the voice of a dragon (druk) proclaiming Buddha’s teachings. He named that monastery ‘Druk'. When his school of Mahayana Buddhism was introduced as Bhutan’s state religion in the 17th century, the country was named as Druk Yul (The Land of Thunder Dragon). It is said that the Land of Thunder Dragon – Druk Yul was named as ‘Bhoo Uthan’ which means High Land. But slowly the pronunciation changed and the Kingdom is finally called ‘Bhutan’ today. Health and Education in Bhutan: Both health and education are the government's highest priorities in the Kingdom of Bhutan. Since the 1970s, free health care facilities are provided to not just the citizens but also visitors and foreigners who reside in the country. The government provides free schooling to all children until Grade 10. It also provides scholarships to students who meet the requirements for higher studies. English is the language of instruction in schools and institutions. Environment Conservation in Bhutan: A unique aspect about Bhutanese Constitution is its pledge to have a minimum of 60% of Bhutan's total land under forest cover at all times. The government itself pledges to protect, conserve and improve the environment and biodiversity of the country. The Constitution states that every Bhutanese is a custodian of the nation's natural resources and environment for the benefit of the present and future generations. It mandates the adoption and support of environment-friendly practices and policies. It declares that it is the fundamental duty of every Bhutanese citizen to conserve, protect and prevent all forms of visual, physical and noise pollution. As a result of this law, today 71% of the total land of Bhutan remains under forest cover. Owing to so much of forest cover, Bhutan is the only carbon-negative country in the world ie. it absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits. Bhutan is highly environment conscious. The government has even banned tobacco and prohibited the use of plastic in the country. National Animal of Bhutan: Takin is the national animal of Bhutan. It is also associated with Bhutanese history and mythology. Takin seems to be a breed of cattle and goat. It is a mammal having short muscular legs and thick neck. Takins are dark-black to reddish-brown in color and feed on bamboo. National Sport of Bhutan: Archery is the national sport of Bhutan. The bow and the arrow play a significant role in the Bhutanese myths and legends. Even the images of Gods holding bows and arrows are considered auspicious. Bhutan also has an Olympic archery team. Archery tournaments are held throughout the country during local festivals and religious holidays. National Dress of Bhutan: 'Gho' is the national dress of the Bhutanese men whereas 'Kira' is the national dress for Bhutanese women. Gho is a knee-length, robe-like cloth which is wrapped around the body and is secured with a belt. The attire forms a pouch-like area in the upper part which men use as pockets to store things like wallets and mobile phones. 'Kira' is an apron like long ankle-length dress accompanied by an outer jacket known as a Tyoko and the inner layer known as Wonju. Bhutanese accompany these attires with a scarf when visiting Dzongs (fortress) and other administrative centers. The scarves vary in color depending on the status or rank of the wearer. It is mandatory for a Bhutanese to wear the national dress by law in Buddhist religious buildings, government offices, schools, official functions and public ceremonies. To know about the national bird, national tree, national flower, national flag and national emblem of Bhutan click here to sign up for our newsletter (3-4 mails per month) and you will be able to download a PDF version consisting of all these details. Capital of Bhutan: Thimphu is the largest city and the capital of Bhutan. It is situated in the western part of the country. Thimphu was declared Bhutan's capital in the year 1961. Prior to that Punakha was the capital of Bhutan. Phuentsholing remains the second largest city in Bhutan and a major financial center. Thimphu is the only capital city in Asia (after Pyongyang, North Korea) having no traffic lights. You can read more about Thimphu in our future articles. Religion in Bhutan: In Bhutan, the law provides for freedom of religion and the country ensures that religion remains separate from politics. People in Bhutan are mainly descendants of Tibet and Nepal. The ethnic Tibetan ie. 75% of the population in Bhutan, practice Buddhism. Bhutan is the only country in the world with Mahayana Buddhism as its official religion. The Nepalese ie. 22% of the population, practice Hinduism. A limited number of Bhutanese also practice Christianity and Islam. Some isolated pockets of the country follow Bon religion (worshipping trees, mountains and lakes) with its shamanistic practices. Women in Bhutanese society: Women are treated equally as men in Bhutan. Women have the right to education, to choose their partners, to enter politics, to govern, to work and to become a leader. No discrimination exists based on gender and women are respected throughout the country. In fact, women in Bhutan enjoy more social freedom and equality compared to many other countries. Dowry customs do not exist. Inheritance is matrilineal ie. the property and titles are inherited by the daughter after parents pass away. Rural lands are registered in a woman's name. Also, a daughter does not have to add her father's name at birth and a wife does not have to add her husband's name upon marriage. After marriage, the groom moves to the bride's house (matrilocality). Quite often, the groom comes to the bride's family to work to earn the right to marry her. Bhutan's Gross National Happiness: The Kingdom of Bhutan is one of the happiest countries in the world. In 1972, Bhutan's 4th King - Jigme Singye Wangchuck declared 'Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross Domestic Product'. Since then, the idea of Gross National Happiness (GNH) has shaped Bhutan's economy and social policy. The country has a systematic method of finding of the GNH index that focuses on its nine domains. The nine domains are: Health (physical health, days of wellbeing, disability, mental health) Psychological Wellbeing (the satisfactory level of life, positive and negative emotions, intelligence) Education (literacy, knowledge, value system) Living Standards (family income, equity and assets, housing situation) Community Vitality (social support, social relationships, family, crime) Ecological Diversity and Resilience (pollution, environmental responsibility, wildlife, city and urbanization) Time Use (working time, sleeping time) Cultural Diversity and Resilience (language, skills and artery, social culture and participation, harmony) Good Governance (political participation, political freedom, services, government achievements) It’s so unique that measures like ecological balance go hand in hand with education and good governance. And 'time use' is defined so wonderfully. Every few years a countrywide survey is conducted to measure GNH index where each family has to fill out the survey and submit it to the government. Through GNH Index, people are segregated into four categories - unhappy, narrowly happy, extensively happy, and deeply happy. Is Bhutan truly a happier place because of GNH? There are many ways to look at it, but whatever way one may choose, a visit to Bhutan will surely prompt you to think more on the idea of happiness, refining or even redefining our understanding of the word 'Happiness'. Nature Tourism, Bhutan How did we get most of the above information? We booked our trip to Bhutan with Nature Tourism based in Thimphu, Bhutan. Nature Tourism - Bhutan is a ecological and cultural tour operator that offers tailor made itineraries to meet individual agendas - from birdwatching to botanical tours, mountain biking to cultural tours, art to architectural tours. Our customised tour was led by a highly qualified Bhutanese guide who helped us understand Bhutan in a unique way. Nature Tourism - Bhutan is a tour company that operates since 1999 and we highly recommend booking a tour with them to make your trip most worthwhile and affordable. We are indebted to Mr. Karma Jamtsho, the founder of Nature Tourism - Bhutan and Dorji, our tour guide to offer us a chance to get closer to local people and know more about their ways of life, their places and their history, art and architecture. You can book your tour with Nature Tourism through their official website. There are so many other interesting facts to know about Bhutan like their national how do get a citizenship as a Bhutanese or how to marriages happen in Bhutan or facts behind the design of national flag of Bhutan and many more. If you are interested in knowing more, you can sign up for our newsletter and download full PDF version of this article ​Download the full PDF version of this article PIN THESE IMAGES In the next article - Plan your trip to Bhutan, we will be giving you a good idea of places to visit in Bhutan and how to go about planning your trip to Bhutan. Did you find our article on 'Introduction to Bhutan' interesting? Have you visited Bhutan or is it in your travel bucket list? Do let us know in the comment section below. #Bhutan

Goa is synonymous to 'Beach' and 'Booze' for a majority of tourists. The beaches of Goa are highly visited and are thronged by the tourists almost throughout the year. But there are small clusters of Goa that remain unexplored and rarely visited. These areas, though being in the vicinity of most-visited places of Goa, have managed to remain isolated and keep a distance from crowds even in this era of commercialization. Located just 9 kilometres from Panjim (that is swarmed by hundreds of tourists each day), is Divar Island that is still uninfluenced and unscathed by tourism. In our desire to see and experience the hidden whereabouts of Goa, Divar Island was amongst one of the top places to visit. Read on to know more about our visit to this sleepy yet picturesque, serene and peaceful island. Read other blogs of the series ‘Offbeat Goa’ by clicking on the link or photos below: Dudhsagar Falls Tambdi Surla Temple and Waterfall Stay at Dudhsagar Plantation and Farmstay – A review Stay at Vivenda dos Palhacos – A review Hidden Gems of Veling – A walk with Soul Travelling Stay at WelcomHeritage Panjim Inn – A review Fontainhas of Goa Fontainhas – A photojourney Places to visit in Panjim Divar Island - This article Divar Island and its villages According to one legend, the name 'Divar' is derived from 'Devallem' or 'Devola', meaning Hindu temples. Another says that it comes from 'Dipavatti' meaning a village (vatti) of lights (dipa). Yet, another version maintains that the name comes from 'Devipavatti', a place (vatti) surrounded by many islands (devippa). Initially, there were 3 villages in Divar: Piedade, Malar and Naroa. The Piedade village was later subdivided into two namely Goltim and Navelim. History of Divar Island, Goa The inhabitants of Divar Island were mainly of Konkani descent. It is believed that Divar Island was once a very popular site of Hindu pilgrimage and housed temples of Shree Saptkoteshwar, Shree Ganesh, Shree Mahamaya and Shree Dwarkeshwar. Its very name 'Divar' indicates of it being a centre of pilgrimage in the Konkan area. These temples were destroyed by the Portuguese in the year 1540 during religious persecution. The idols of a few temples were shifted to other locations. The Inquisition and the plaque that broke out years ago led to the abandonment of the Divar Island resulting in it falling into ruins. How to reach Divar Island, Goa Divar Island is surrounded by River Mandovi and the only way to reach it is by using government ferry services. There are four ferry terminals on Divar Island. Three of these ferry terminals connect Divar Island to other parts of Goa and one of them connects it to another island, Vanxim. 1. Terminal at the south-east side connects Divar Island to Old Goa. It is also known as Piedade/ Goltim ferry terminal 2. Terminal at the south-west side connects Divar Island to Ribandar. It is also known as Navelim/ St. Pedro ferry terminal 3. Terminal at the north side connects Divar Island to Narve. It is also known as Naroa ferry terminal 4. Terminal at the north-west side connects Divar Island to Vanxim Island. It is also known as Amboi ferry terminal Even the Konkan railway line passes through Divar Island without any station located on the island. Hence, even the islanders have to catch trains from the mainland; the nearest station being at Carambolim. No bridge or direct motorable road links the island to the mainland. Many islanders feel that this very handicap is a blessing in disguise, as it has helped Divar maintain, to a large extent, its traditional Goan ambience and culture. Ferry timings and Ferry charges to Divar Island, Goa: The timings of the ferry terminals connecting Divar Island to the mainland Goa are as follows: The ferries run at an interval of every 30 minutes. There is no ferry charge or ticket for passengers and two-wheelers. However, for every four-wheeler, one has to pay INR 10. Things to do OR Places to visit in Divar Island, Goa: 1. Our Lady of Compassion OR Our Lady of Piety Church, Piedade on Divar Island This church is located on a hilltop in Piedade village of Divar Island. It is believed that the church is located at the site of an ancient Hindu temple which was destroyed by the Muslim invaders in the 15th century. Our Lady of Piety church was then built at the site in 1700. The church was the first Christian structure erected in Divar Island and was designed by a Goan priest. It has an impressive white facade with lots of empty space in the front to sit and relax. The church bell has an interesting history- the original bell of the church caused glasses to break when it rang, hence it was exchanged for the bell of Se Cathedral located in Velha, Goa. Its location provides a panoramic view of the entire Divar Island and is best visited early morning or in the evening. Very fewer tourists happen to visit the church, therefore one can get the whole place to themselves with a lot of peace. Towards the south of the church is a cemetery which is believed to be the resting place for the rulers of grand Kadamba dynasty. A small chapel in the cemetery was once an ancient Ganesha temple believed to have been destroyed by the Portuguese. The deity of the temple was later shifted to a new temple in Candola. 2. Saint Mathias Church, Malar on Divar Island The church is named after the Apostle of Jesus, Mathias. It was built between 1591 and 1597 when Dom Mathias de Albuquerque was the Governor of Goa. The church has eight altars. The main altar is dedicated to St. Mathias - the Patron of the Parish. The architecture of the church is beautiful with a white and blue exterior facade. There is ground right in front of the church where one can relax in peace. Saint Mathias church has calm surroundings and hardly any tourist visits it. The church is a part of the annual Bonderam festival in Divar Island. 3. Saptkoteshwar Temple site, Naroa on Divar Island Lord Saptkoteshwar was the family deity of the Kadamba rulers. The Saptkoteshwar temple was built by the Kadamba queen in 12th Century. The rock-cut tank of the temple was known as 'Koti-Tirth'. Thousands of people visit Saptkoteshwar temple and considered it as a pilgrimage centre. The temple was destroyed by Muslim rulers in the middle of the 14th Century and again reconstructed at the same location by the end of 14th Century. When the Portuguese began inquisition over Hindus, the deity of the temple was moved across the river to Bicholim, Goa. The bustling village of Naroa lost its importance after the temple shrine was shifted and since then the remains of the temple are left over in ruins. One can still visit the site of the temple and see the rock-cut tank intact. There is nothing much to do here but is a site of historic significance. 4. Visit the neighbouring Vanxim Island Vanxim Island is still a smaller island located just a 5-minute ferry ride from Divar Island. The ferries to Vanxim Island start from the Amboi ferry terminal at Divar Island. Not measuring more than a few square kilometres, Vanxim Island is home to less than 500 people. The locals are mainly into farming and fishing. Hindus and Christians live in harmony on this beautiful island. The places to visit are the Church of Santo Christo and the Chapel of the Miraculous Cross which is believed to fulfil all your wishes. There are no shops, no schools, no clinics/hospitals on the island and it has stayed away from modernization for years. Owing to this, there is a lot of peace and tranquillity on the island that breathes nature and purity. The locals are ever smiling, welcoming and invite you to their house to have a chat. 5. Explore the Divar island on a two-wheeler or walk around the Old Portuguese houses The condition of roads in Divar Island is good. Though narrow, the roads are surrounded by vast green agricultural fields, mostly paddy. Oddly 2000 people are residents of the island currently. The locals are welcoming and go about doing their daily chores without being bothered. They try to keep their traditional culture alive and their style of living hasn't been much affected by modernization. Divar Island is basically a Goan countryside with lots of Portuguese influence in its architecture. Plenty Portuguese villas can be seen dotting the island, some well maintained and some in a dilapidated condition. Many dignified families of Goa have residencies in Divar Island who visit the island annually. A walk in the narrow lanes of the island is picturesque and takes one back to the bygone colonial era. The villages are scenic with hills entwining the roadways. One can also find ample bird watching opportunities on the island. It doesn't take much time to walk or drive throughout the length and breadth of the island. The island has some of the most beautiful and Instagrammable sites to see. Divar Island gave us the true feeling of 'susegad'. 6. Visit Old Goa churches near Divar Island If you have some more time in Divar Island, you can hop on a ferry to the Old Goan mainland from Piedade terminal and visit the famous churches there. The Basilica of Bom Jesus, Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Se Cathedral, Church of Our Lady of the Mount are just a 5-10 minute ferry ride away. Our favourite was the Church of Our Lady of the Mount which is located on a hilltop. We got a spectacular panoramic view of the Divar Island and Mandovi river from atop. The Church is covered in greenery and there's nothing but gentle air of calmness that one could experience here. We visited this church in the evening and saw one of the most beautiful sunsets of our life. Best time to visit Divar Island, Goa Very few tourists visit Divar Island. Though the island can be visited throughout the year, if you wish to make your way to the island, plan your trip around the time of festivals. The two most popular festivals celebrated by Divar locals are Bonderam and Potekar. Bonderam occurs annually on the last Saturday of August when the villagers get involved in mock fights and flag parades. Live bands entertain the onlookers throughout the day. The Potekar festival is celebrated three days before the Lent in March where locals wear home painted masks, bells and costumes just like Halloween and roam about in the village demanding for food and drinks. Even monsoons are magical in Divar Island as the entire island comes alive with greenery. Where to stay in Divar Island, Goa In Divar Island, travellers can choose to stay in one of the many quaint home stays (read charming Portuguese villas) and BnB options like Island house goa or Moradia dos Quadros. You can also check out Mercure Goa The Devaaya Retreat if you are looking for more luxury. Check the current prices of Mercure Goa Devraaya Retreat, Divar Island by clicking the below links - Check the current prices of Moradia dos Quadros, Divar Island, Goa by clicking the below links - Check the current prices of Island House, Divar Island, Goa by clicking the below links - Where to eat in Divar Island, Goa If you opt to stay in Divar Island, choose a homestay or BnB that provides meals as the very few good restaurants here may be closed anytime. We went during the Ganesha festival and we had to ride to the mainland for dinner as everything was closed on the island. The few popular restaurants are Rock Inn bar and restaurant, Bradlee bar and restaurant and Island bar and restaurant. The restaurants serve thalis and fresh seafood along with urak (local cashew feni). PIN THESE IMAGES We highly recommend spending a night or two at Divar Island to soak in the essence of its simple living and susegad way of life. If you are someone who is looking to enjoy a day or two away from Goa's hustle and bustle, then Divar Island is the place for you. Did you like our article on Divar Island? Would you like to visit it sometime? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. #India #WestIndia #Goa #BengaluruWeekendOutings #MumbaiWeekendOutings #HyderabadWeekendOutings#PuneWeekendOutings

Fontainhas of Goa are without a doubt a photographer's paradise. While there are many beautiful places in Goa worth drooling over, Fontainhas stands out as a unique experience like no other. There are a few areas in India that would take you back to the colonial world, but Fontainhas in our experience would beat them all. Located in the heart of capital city of Panjim, Fontainhas will take you back to the Portuguese world. In this photoblog, we take you on a walk through the narrow winding lanes of Fontainhas of Goa and see some interesting alleys, colorful buildings, projecting balconies and oyster windows, all in the Latin Quarters of Panjim, Goa. Read other blogs of the series ‘Offbeat Goa’ by clicking on the link or photos below: Dudhsagar Falls Tambdi Surla Temple and Waterfall Stay at Dudhsagar Plantation and Farmstay – A review Stay at Vivenda dos Palhacos – A review Hidden Gems of Veling – A walk with Soul Travelling Stay at WelcomHeritage Panjim Inn – A review Fontainhas of Goa Fontainhas – A photojourney - This article Places to visit in Panjim Divar Island Houses in Fontainhas The old buildings of Latin quarters of Fontainhas have been converted into hotels, shops, restaurants or are still used for residential purposes. First thing you would notice while walking through these winding lanes is Colors - Greens, Reds, Blues, Yellows, Creamish and all combinations of these. Despite the lack of space there is lot of greenery. It seems during Portuguese reign, there were two rules every resident of Fontainhas had to abide by. One, paint the exterior of the houses every year and two, maintain a beautiful garden in the front porch of the house. The rules are still obeyed by most of the locals. Hence the colors and the greenery. Planters and pots will be seen hanging in the small verandah of almost all the houses. The architecture of buildings and houses in Fontainhas is highly influenced by Portuguese culture. The roosters on top of the building symbolises honesty, trust and integrity and is the national symbol of Portugal. The doors and windows are intricately carved wooden structures with sleek look. Statues of soldiers can be seen on both sides of windows or balconies on first floor signifying that the house belongs/ belonged to a freedom fighter. Large colorful windows open out in the streets and lanes; some of which are made of oyster shells collected from the beach. The high porches of the houses signify a higher status. Each house have azulejo tile on the front door side acting as a designer name plate. Cute lamps hang on side of the doors illuminating the alleys during the night. A close look at each house will give you an insight into many such different designs. The churches in Fontainhas are white-washed - only the churches are reserved to be painted in white here. All the houses are painted in red, green, blue and yellow. The St. Sebastian Chapel and the church of Our Lady of conception Immaculate are the two churches one should not miss out on visiting. The zig-zag stairs leading to the church of Our Lady of Immaculate, which is believed to be housing second largest bell in Asia, is every Instagrammer's photo spot. St. Sebastian's church is famous for Jesus with open eyes on the crucifix. Though Altinho Hill is not a part of Fontainhas, it's houses and buildings are similar in architecture to those of Fontainhas. Antinho Hill divides Old Panjim from New Panjim and is like a hill station. Taking a walk in the winding lanes of Altinho Hill is very calming and soothing. The major attraction of Altinho Hill has to be The High Court of Bombay in Goa. The High Court is painted in bright yellow and white and is surrounded by lots of greenery and canopy of trees all around. Goa's Chief Minister's House and Archbishop's palace are also located in Altinho Hill. A heritage walk in Fontainhas is highly recommended to truly understand the culture and architecture of these Latin quarters. Read more about Fontainhas and our experience of an heritage walk here. Did you like our photographs of Fontainhas? Would you like to visit these Latin quarters in Panjim? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below. PIN THESE IMAGES #India #WestIndia #Goa #BengaluruWeekendOutings #MumbaiWeekendOutings #HyderabadWeekendOutings#PuneWeekendOutings #Photoblog

oa in India is an extremely diverse state with varied landforms including mountains, hills, plateaus and plains. Very few people know that there is much more to Goa than beaches and booze. Several offbeat and picturesque places lie in this magical land. We recently explored ‘Goa beyond beaches’ and found that this state has power to amaze us at every turn with display of superb natural marvels. Dudhsagar Falls was one such offbeat spot that we trekked to. Tambdi Surla temple and waterfall were other such destinations that lie in a secluded spot, unexplored and offbeat. Read on to know more about them. Read other blogs of the series ‘Offbeat Goa’ by clicking on the link or photos below: Dudhsagar Falls Tambdi Surla Temple and Waterfall - This article Stay at Dudhsagar Plantation and Farmstay – A review Stay at Vivenda dos Palhacos – A review Hidden Gems of Veling – A walk with Soul Travelling Stay at WelcomHeritage Panjim Inn – A review Fontainhas of Goa Fontainhas – A photojourney Places to visit in Panjim Divar Island Location of Tambdi Surla Temple and Waterfall: Surla is a place located 65 kilometres to the east of Panaji, the capital city of Goa. It houses the oldest temple of Goa dedicated to Lord Shiva or Mahadev. This ancient temple is surrounded by dense forest of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary. It is located at the foothills of Anmod Ghat which connects Goa and neighbouring state of Karnataka. A small trek from the temple takes you to the majestic Tambdi Surla waterfall. Both the temple and waterfall are a perfect balance between nature and beauty. How to Reach / Directions to Tambdi Surla Temple: It may take some perseverance to find Tambdi Surla temple. It is 45 kilometres east of Ponda district in Goa and can be easily reached by a car. We hired a two wheeler to visit the temple and waterfall. You will have to drive to Mollem crossroads, turn left northwards and a bare right to Surla after 2 kilometres. Without losing heart follow this road right till the end. The road passes through lush green forest and you will barely see another vehicle or person on the way. The drive, however, is picturesque with trees on both the sides of road making a canopy. At the end of the road lies the Tambdi Surla Mahadev temple in the clearing. It is a bit off the beaten track like a worn out page of an old history book. You will find a couple of food stalls near the parking. The road is in excellent condition throughout. You will have to walk the paved bridge over the Surla River to reach the temple. The trek to Tambdi Surla waterfalls starts just before the bridge towards the left into the forest. Tambdi Surla Mahadev Temple: The earth in the village of Surla as well as the land surrounding Tambdi Surla mahadev temple is red in color, but the temple is black; which means that the stone from which it is built is brought from some place else. The actual origin of the temple is still debatable. The temple is supposed to be built in 12th century and is the only significant building to have survived the Kadamba Empire of Karnataka probably because it is on this isolated and certainly very sacred spot. The small yet perfectly proportioned temple building is constructed from black basalt stone which is cut crisp and deep surrounded by beautiful garden. Tambdi Surla temple is declared as a protected historical monument by the Archaeological Survey of India. The temple is dedicated to Hindu Lord Shiva who is considered as the creator, preserver and destructor of everything that exists in this universe. The Shiv Linga in the inner sanctum is always decorated with local flowers. A headless Nandi (Lord Shiva’s vehicle) adorns the outer sanctum. A trip to Tambdi Surla temple is essential to anyone who is in love with south Indian or Jain temples. The black basalt temple and the green grass garden perfectly complement each other. The surroundings are extremely peaceful and you can sit here in the garden for as long as you want and soak in the beauty of this man-made marvel. Note: The Tambdi Surla mahadev temple timings are from morning 6 AM to evening 5 PM. Tambdi Surla Waterfall: The Tambdi Surla waterfall can be reached by crossing the jungle route via a 2 hour trek. Our very hospitable hosts, Ashok and his son Alex, from Dudhsagar Plantation accompanied us for the trek. Ashok guided us through the trail within the forest. The trek starts just before the bridge over Surla River towards the left. The trail to waterfall runs parallel to Surla River for most of the part. The forest trek is moderately easy with not too many ascents or descents. We made way through many bamboo thickets, creepers and climbers, and the mushy potholes. Amid the serenity of the deciduous forest we met and greeted the raw nature filled with wildlife. We suddenly lost the track of time amongst the melodious chirping of birds and crickets, croaking of frogs and various sound of other insects. Alex, a 4 year old was brave enough to run after all the reptiles and insects that he saw which made our trek more fun and interesting. After navigating through numerous small river streams and fallen trees, and after experiencing the stings of leeches and thorny branches, we finally reached the majestic Tambdi Surla waterfall. The very first view of the Tambdi Surla waterfall is a sight to behold and made us forget all the tiredness and difficulties we went through the trek. The waterfall cascades down with full energy and creates a loud roar. We descended down to the base of the waterfall where the water current was too intense. Ashok advised us not to swim, however we have heard that it is safe to swim in summer when the water flow is not intense. We sat there for a while, photographing. On the way back we decided to carry all the plastic that we saw lying on the forest floor throughout our trail. We also stopped by the Surla river stream, resting on the rocks alongside the flowing stream and soaking in the essence of the beautiful scenery. The rain decided to accompany us now and then and we happily embraced the showers. It took us a total of 5 hours to complete the trek and return back to the parking lot. Note: The trek distance to Tambdi Surla waterfall is approximately 6 kilometres in total. We advise you to hire a guide for the trek to Tambdi Surla waterfall. The trail is slightly tricky especially in the beginning with some turns and you wouldn’t want to get lost in the jungle. We did not come across anybody throughout the trek which can be scary if you do not have a guide. Also we came across few small snakes. Though they are harmless unless you bother them, it is advisable to be careful where you step and have a guide. There are no shops or stalls on the trail – Carry your own water and eatables. You would find stalls at the starting point near the entrance of the temple and also ask around for a guide here. Have a joyful time and carry all the waste back. Do not litter the forest. Recommended stay near Tambdi Surla Temple and Waterfall: The most important piece of advice that we can give to you all is stay closer to Mollem. Some travelers prefer to drive from their beachside accommodations to Mollem for a day-trip to Tambdi Surla. This is not advisable as you would be somewhat tired after a trek to travel all the way to the beach-side end of Goa. Staying around Mollem would also make it easier to cover few other nearby attractions like Dudhsagar waterfall. We had a wonderful stay at Dudhsagar Plantation which is very close to Mollem. Dudhsagar Plantation is a spice farmstay owned by Ashok and his family. They can arrange sightseeing transportation as well as guides for waterfalls around this area. You can read more about our experience of staying at Dudhsagar Plantation. Tambdi Surla temple and waterfall are less visited, less touristy and less heard of; and hence they are so beautiful, secluded and divine. We recommend everyone visiting Goa to ditch a few beaches and try to visit Tambdi Surla. They offer a wonderful not so difficult forest trek and can be covered in 6 hours or so if you are staying at Dudhsagar plantation. We recommend a minimum 3 day trip around this area where you can cover Tamdi Surla on a day and Dudhsagar Falls on 2nd day. You can read our guide to the amazing Dudhsagar falls. PIN THESE IMAGES Have you ever been to Goa? Did you know about Tambdi Surla? Let us know how you find our article on Tambdi Surla temple and waterfall. Do you have any doubts on how to reach Tambdi Surla? Please shoot your questions in the comments section below. We would love to help you out. #India #WestIndia #Goa #BengaluruWeekendOutings #MumbaiWeekendOutings #HyderabadWeekendOutings#PuneWeekendOutings

Gone are the days when travel was just about ticking off names from the bucket list, comfortable accommodations and many photographs as trip souvenirs. Today travelling is more about making memories, seeking out with a curious mind and taking pleasure in the journey towards the destination. The definition of comfortable accommodation too has evolved beyond 5-star resorts. Travelers now welcome the richness of authentic experiences, and an opportunity to delve into new cultures. Our thirst to dive into one such experience took us to Vivenda dos Palhacos in Goa, India. In this article, part of the series Offbeat Goa, we review this amazing colonial styled property with a modern artistic panache. Read other blogs of the series ‘Offbeat Goa’ by clicking on the link or photos below: Dudhsagar Falls Tambdi Surla Temple and Waterfall Stay at Dudhsagar Plantation and Farmstay – A review Stay at Vivenda dos Palhacos – A review - This article Hidden Gems of Veling – A walk with Soul Travelling Stay at WelcomHeritage Panjim Inn – A review Fontainhas of Goa Fontainhas – A photojourney Places to visit in Panjim Divar Island Vivenda dos Palhacos is a 100-year-old villa beautifully restored into a boutique hotel by the brother-sister duo – Simon and Charlotte Hayward. Does the name ring any bell? Well, well! These lovely hosts to the property are children of the owners of Hayward family. Still no? We are sure you must have heard of Haywards 5000 beer. Gotcha! Simon and Charlotte, being the fourth generation to the Hayward family, were born and brought up in India. Their love for India made them buy an old Portuguese house in early 2000s and refurbish it into a 8-bedroom mansion. Location of Vivenda dos Palhacos Vivenda dos Palhacos is hidden among the coconut grooves in Majorda village of South Goa, India. Vivenda is little over a kilometer from the pristine Majorda beach and around 30 minutes from Goa International airport. It is a paradise tucked in a quiet and peaceful surrounding. One can easily walk to the beach in 15 minutes or take a cycle from Vivenda and reach the beach in 5 minutes. They also provide you a map with places to visit, eat and path to beach making it very easy to wander around. Tour of Vivenda dos Palhacos Upon arrival at Vivenda dos Palhacos, basset hounds Toby and Gigolo greeted us. The very first look of the heritage property and we were sold! The Portuguese style front porch was lovely with pretty sit outs. We later learnt that the mansion was initially a Hindu house and the Portuguese style facade was added in the 1920’s when the house was sold to Catholics. Each of the 8 rooms at Vivenda is different and innovatively designed. Space utilization is fantastic and nothing feels out of place. Each room has a different theme and is uniquely named after the places in India that Simon and Charlotte have lived in and have loved. The living room is designed with one of the most comfortable sofa sets, antique furniture and a TV set. The balcony in the living room opens towards the front courtyard overlooking the veranda and is decorated with the high seating iron chairs like those found in barber shops, which we really found unique. The windows/ doors run from the ceiling to the floor allowing ample light to come in. A 16-seater antique wooden dining table adorns the dining room at Vivenda dos Palhacos. The room is further decorated with huge mirrors and paintings on the walls. Morning breakfast is served here. What you cannot miss here are the various photographs from the family's past and book shelves. KONNAGAR: This bedroom is named after a posh locality in West Bengal, India. This master bedroom has an old and high four-poster bed with an attached balcony and a huge bathroom. The bathroom is tastefully decorated with a bathtub from the Royal Bombay Yacht Club. This room is for ones who love open spaces and wants to get extremely pampered. ALIPORE: This bedroom is named after another posh locality of Kolkata city, West Bengal. This room has a seater window overlooking coconut plantation and a cosy bed with a large mirror behind. This room felt like the most peaceful room for me and is definitely for poets and writers, or anyone who wants to be one with quietness. OOTY: This bedroom is named after a popular hill station in Tamil Nadu. The room is all-white with mirrored bathroom and opens into a private courtyard. We later learnt that Ooty was previously the kitchen of the Hindu house. Ooty is for couples who are romantically in love. The paintings in the room are sensual and alluring. Though compact, the complete white interiors of Ooty made us fall in love with it. MADRAS: This bedroom is named after the capital city of Tamil Nadu, India. Madras has an open airy bathroom and twin beds. This room is for the ones who love nature and freedom. BALLYGUNGE: Bedroom named after another wealthy locality in Kolkata city, West Bengal. This is one of the smallest rooms with queen size bed and a Gujarati style bathroom. This room is for anyone who falls in love with its charming layout and quirky furnishing. The backyard of Vivenda dos Palhacos consists of: CHUMMERY: This bedroom is named after the luxurious building during the British Raj. It is a large cottage room with huge veranda. Chummery is for people who seek a luxurious long-term vacation. CHANPARA: This tented accommodation beside the pool operates only when weather supports. Chanpara is a luxurious tent with a double bed and an attached bathroom. It is for one who wishes to camp but without sacrificing on comfortable amenities. Besides the house is DARJEELING: This bedroom is named after the famous hill station in West Bengal, India. Darjeeling was once a garage where Simon used to live. The garage is beautifully restored into a duplex whose walls are covered with tin sheets and bathroom curtains are made of iron chains. The duplex has a mezzanine floor consisting of extra beds on top for a family to stay comfortably. It opens to a private garden as well where kids can play. Pool at Vivenda dos Palhacos The large swimming pool at Vivenda is in the backyard and surrounded by garden and lounge chairs. The pool is cleaned with ozone and not with chlorine, which is fantastic! We always found the water very clean and inviting. Spending hours near the pool lazing in the soft green grass felt like bliss. Cafe and Bar at Vivenda dos Palhacos The kitchen, cafe and bar are uniquely constructed out of the back of a truck. It is full of vibrant colours and offers a variety of alcoholic/ non-alcoholic drinks. The bar is stocked with bottles of Haywards 5000 beer – the family’s pride. The space is well utilized to provide charming sit-outs. All in all, each room is uniquely designed and furnished with antiquities and furniture picked from Singapore and Chor Bazaar in India. Every nook and corner of the villa is converted into a cosy sit-out giving the overall look-out a modern yet colonial appearance. The walls of the house are lined with old photographs of Hayward’s family and their time spent vacationing in various different places. Even the guest bathroom walls are covered with typical English styled matrimonial papers and old photographs which gives a unique reading. What we loved most about staying at Vivenda dos Palhacos is browsing through in-numerous albums, books and magazines. Every room, every shelf, every table, even the bathroom of the villa is piled with a variety of books ready to be opened and read. The place is no less than a library where one can find a book of each genre. One is allowed to borrow a book from any part of the house, anytime and enjoy reading it anywhere they want. The house is a paradise for book lovers! Lobbies of Vivenda dos Palhacos are also converted into a mini store selling a beautiful collection of handpicked antique jewelry, apparel, accessories and unique textile including scarves, stoles, bags and mats. Walls adorned with large beautiful paintings are also for sale. The meals at Vivenda dos Palhacos are uniquely centered around communal eating where everyone gathers at the 16-seater dining table, sharing food, interacting and exchanging travel stories. The chef could also set up a romantic meal table elsewhere on request – be it near the pool, in the courtyard or in the garden. The menu is limited but is spread across multiple cuisines. The meals are made hot and fresh and taste delicious. Vivenda dos Palhacos is more than just a place to stay. One could happily spend few days in the villa without an urge to wander outside. The ever smiling staff are always eager to serve you and the dogs give you good company following you around. You can immerse yourself in any type of book and a good wi-fi connectivity completes the desire to be connected with the world. It is a place to relax, unwind, read, interact, introspect, learn and laugh. Maybe that’s why the name of the villa translates to ‘House of Clowns’ as it is as amusing and charming as the hosts and staff are. Charlotte who personally takes care of guests was traveling when we visited Vivenda while Simon was visiting UK. We met John Gracias, the manager, who is an excellent host to this wonderful Goan property. He has been with Simon and Charlotte since the beginning of Vivenda dos Palhacos and plays an instrumental role supporting them. He showed us around the house and we loved having detailed conversations with him about the Goan way of living. He suggested some offbeat places to visit in Goa and helped us in planning the day. He smoothly manages the fifteen plus staff members that work in Vivenda dos Palhacos and treats everyone with respect just like his family. PIN THESE IMAGES If you want to be away from the herd of tourists visiting Goa each day or want a homely feel and yet want luxuries of a hotel, Vivenda dos Palhacos is the place for you. You can book Vivenda from their official website or online portals below. Check out the current prices of Vivenda Dos Palhacos, Goa by clicking the below links - How did you find our review of Vivenda dos Palhacos? Would you love visiting it? Do you know any other such offbeat beautiful place you would like us to review? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. Note: All opinions expressed in this blog are our own and not influenced by Vivenda dos Palhacos #India #WestIndia #Goa #BengaluruWeekendOutings #MumbaiWeekendOutings #HyderabadWeekendOutings#PuneWeekendOutings #Accommodation