Michelangelo
How could I have not catalogued Michelangelo? Re-reading my Italy by train series reminded me of my intense admiration for him.
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Shivneri (Malshej Ghat Region)
7th Feb 2005 The stopover hike When Aravind & his family, amma, appa visited us in Pune, we went on a short holiday to Bhimashankar. As we were driving back to Pune, Rohit spotted the sign – Shivneri, just off the route. Birthplace of Shivaji. We looked at each other, and that was that: we…
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Sinhagad, the anchor trek (Pune Region)
We went up Sinhagad countless times. Being the closest non-trivial trek to Pune city, it was the go-to trek, not only for us, but for the whole Puneri trekking community. Pune, being an industrial city, had Thursdays off – so Thursday morning was a popular time for the hardcore trekkers to be there. The more…
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Trek the Sahyadris
From a 1993 internship in Pune to a lifetime love of the Sahyadris – the Western Ghats that ring the city. Treks in all seasons, all weathers, with an inner circle of friends who had rules, standards, and strong opinions about what counted as a real trek.
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Epilogue (Mar 2026)
Mar 2026 Reading through this letter full of memories from ~30 years ago, it’s been great reconnecting with my younger self. Some felt like discoveries, and some had stuck with me through the years and came back enhanced in full color detail. Note to myself now – revisit Italy! Venice without a romantic partner had…
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Valencia – a soft beginning
(1.5 days) Quick links to main sights If you’d like to jump ahead to planning your own visit, check out the practical notes section for train bookings. Plus, here are quick external links to the main sights: Turia Gardens | Plaza del Carmen | Centro del Carmen (modern art gallery) | Torres del Serranos |…
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Impressions of Moorish Andalusia
An unhurried rail journey through layers of history 18th – 31st Dec, 2025 Moorish Andalusia had long been on my wish list, ever since I came across an itinerary in an adventure travel company’s brochure. I found the name so evocative that, for that reason alone, I wanted to go. Once there, the region’s distinctive…
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Day 5: Dodi Tal – Agoda (2200 m)
6 Nov 2025 My hike captured on Garmin Despite being tired, did not sleep well. And heard from a couple of the others that they didn’t either. We all heard a symphony of barking in the middle of the night, and speculated that maybe a bear had come too close. Once a dog walked past…
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Day 4: Dodi Tal – Dharwa Pass (~4000 m)
5 Nov 2025 I’d slept fitfully the night before. The thunderstorm and pelting rain kept me awake, haunted by the worry that the tent might take off in the night. But at some point I must have actually slept, because I remember waking. 6-ish. The weather had calmed, it wasn’t raining. Pawan had warned us…
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Day 3: Manjhi – Dodi Tal (3050 m)
4 Nov 2025 An easy day with a small ascent and only 5 kms to walk. It was the most enjoyable day of the whole trek. I had enough bandwidth to notice and photograph tiny wild flowers. It wasn’t the flowering season, so only a few inconspicuous blooms were around – but there were plenty…
