RAJASTHAN

In March 2016, I had been accorded the privilege of covering Krishna Ras Times Passion Trail by The Time of India. A much-abridged version...

My article on Kumbhalgarh has appeared in July 2016 issue of JetWings, the in-flight magazine of Jet Airways. SURROUNDED BY THE MIGHTY ARAVALLI MOUNTAINS SITS...

It isn't about taking a photograph but making a photograph. And capturing the decisive moment is critical. Travel Photography Tip - Moments - Travelure ©

From the moment I set my eyes on it, its unmistakably royal aura engulfed me. As I entered the property, it gave me a satisfying sense of space and luxury. The lobby was well appointed with choicest artefacts and comfortable seating. The walls were tastefully decorated with ethnic displays.

This post is likely to be useful for my magazine editorial friends as it arms them with a possibility of myriad stories I could share. 8 countries, many cities and countless tales. - Travelure Travels in 2017 - An 8-Country Photo Roundup

As we climbed and entered the gap, the sight left us spellbound. We found ourselves on a small hillock that curved the way golfers would call 'dog-leg right'. On both sides of this mound, there lay a grey-ish amoeboid water body. The banks farther away from us were carpeted with thousands of birds constantly buzzing around in a slow Brownian motion! - Flying Through The Sands - Travelure ©

This is my second Instagram series on Rajasthan. I did this second series as it is not possible to do justice to this state that offers culture, heritage, wildlife, landscapes, slice-of-colourful-life, and more in just one series. #Rajasthan #India #culture #travel #travelure #traveler #desert #colours #Instagram #incredibleindia - Instagram Roundup - Rural Rajasthan Rhapsody - Travelure ©

After cruising a few kilometres on a newly laid concrete highway, we soon found ourselves on a disastrous stretch that was still being built. To boot, it passed through a locality inhabited by people with negligible traffic or civic sense. That is when, somewhere near Suket, a small town just 16 kms from Jhalawar, we spotted a dhaba.

As a living fort, it has seen a huge influx of tourists savouring pre-modernist lifestyle. They come to live like locals but seldom stay true to the cause. - Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan - Travelure ©

Mehrangarh also seems like an island that rose 400 feet from the plain below. The city beneath, like the waters in the sea, are all painted blue to honour a royal decree, giving Jodhpur the epithet of the blue city. - Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan - Travelure ©

The bulwark skirts the hilltop and has slots for cannons to fire. Little wonder as it earned the reputation of being the foremost cannon foundry near the Mughal Sultanate capital, Delhi. In fact, Jaivana, the largest cannon on wheels of its times, is still displayed here. - Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur - Travelure ©

Around sunset, the sky has intense light. Even more so in a desert. In a photograph, it looks washed out and too bright. As a result, we lose these magnificent colours. The challenge? Get them right in the shot. - Capturing the sunset colours and silhouettes - Camels at Pushkar - Travelure ©

Over the years, the platform has evolved. It has become a veritable menu of places to see as you finalise your itinerary. And I decided to further bolster this menu. - My 1503-Day Journey on Instagram - Travelure ©

Today, it may be the crowning glory of Jaipur, but let us not forget that Sawai Jai Singh founded Jaipur only in the early 18th century, while Amber existed since the latter half of the 9th century! - Amber (Amer) Fort, Jaipur - Travelure ©

Besides being a UNESCO Creative City, Jaipur boasts two more UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Jantar Mantar, and the Amber (Amer) Fort. But summing up Jaipur heritage as just these two attractions would be like treating the tip of the iceberg as the entire iceberg. - Jaipur - The Pink City - Travelure ©

All the wow elements are there. But the feel is missing. You find the images flat and boring. What went wrong? Before we come to that, let’s just understand that capturing that feel is the biggest challenge when you shoot a landscape. - Capturing a landscape - Travelure ©

We like our shots and feel they will look good in Black & White. But not every shot may stand out after conversion. The challenge is ascertaining which shot will look good in Black & White! And thereby choosing the right ones to convert. - Black & White vs. Colour - How to Choose - Travelure ©

Calling it City Palace is misleading as it houses 11 different palaces. Those splendid palaces, though built by different rulers, bear a remarkable similarity. Many towers, domes, and arches embellish this complex. - Udaipur City Palace - Travelure ©

Remember Panna Dhai - the legendary nanny of Mewar royals? She had sacrificed her child when Banbir, an illegitimate son of Prithviraj, came calling to kill the royal child? But for her, Udaipur would have not existed today. - Udaipur City – An Oasis of Calm Grandeur - Travelure ©