GoNOMAD Writer Profiles: Mridula Dwivedi: Travel Blogger Extraordinaire

Mridula with a Chinese soldier in Sikkim

GoNOMAD Writer Profiles

Mridula Dwivedi: Travel Blogger Extraordinaire

Mridula Dwivedi is known around the world for her blog Travel Tales From India which was named best travel Indiblog at the India Weblog Awards in 2007. Her blog has also been praised by the BBC and the Guardian.

She also maintains a photoblog, a blog about her PhD Days and a very interesting miscellaneous blog called Everything Else.

In 2007, Mridula joined the ranks of the GoNOMAD bloggers when we began hosting Travel Tales From India on our network.

Mirdula, who works as an assistant professor of Human Resource Management at Gurgaon, also writes stories for GoNOMAD. The first was about trekking in Goa:

Goa on Foot: A Trek to Remember

Goa in December is magnificent. The weather is heavenly and the beaches majestic. But there is a heavy tourist inflow too, which means crowded beaches, premium prices for everything and not a single hotel room vacant. But when we got an opportunity to trek in Goa, through Youth Hostel Association of India (YHAI), we took it.

The Tambdi Surla Temple

Four of us, my husband and I and my two teenaged nephews, arrived at the base camp in Campall, Goa, at night, tired and dirty. I could not make out much of my surroundings apart from a few tents pitched on flat ground, enclosed by coconut trees. I could also hear some faint music in the distance. But after dinner, I just hit the ground and went to sleep in the ladies' tent.

The Blue, Endless Sea

On waking up the next morning, I was greeted by a fabulous view of the blue, endless sea, just hundred meters away from our campsite. That day after breakfast, we went for an acclimatization walk to the Miramar beach. Though it is not the most spectacular beach in Goa, my nephews were really excited about it, as it was their first visit to a beach. They got half soaked within minutes.

Later, when we returned to the campsite, I discovered the source of the music I could hear the previous night. There were boats on the sea, with fancy names like ‘Santa Monica’ and ‘Paradise’, blaring loud music and serving food and drinks. I guess this must be the party scene in Goa. I was happy to look at them from a distance... Read More

The auithor and her husband are shown with the Himalayas in the background. Photos by Mridula Dwivedi

The author and her husband Sesha are
shown with the Himalayas in the
background. Photos by Mridula Dwivedi

Hiking India's Kuari Pass

"Itne pathron per tou mein jindagi mein kabhi nahin chali hun."
(I've never walked on so many stones in my whole life.)

When we travel, we never book a hotel in advance or decide on a trekking agency to use. While we were walking to a hotel with huge rucksacks (and shoes tied to them), a young guy asked us if we were here to trek?

He pointed out Grand Adventures to us and we were sold on their punch line: 'Where you come from is not nearly as important as where you are going!' We liked their philosophy and decided to give them a try. They gave us good rates and ultimately we trekked with them.

Our guide's name was Sohan Singh Bisht (Sonu and I recommend him highly as a guide) and not only is he an excellent guide but an excellent cook too, a much appreciated quality by both of us! He along with our two horsemen (young lads really, of 18-19 years of age) told us many fascinating stories. And by the time we reached Joshimath, the rains had completely disappeared. We really had a sunny trek this time.

The ropeway to Auli

The Ropeway To Auli from Joshimath

The starting point of our trek was Auli, and one can take a jeep to Auli from Joshimath, but that would have meant Avomine and being zonked again. So, we decided to take the ropeway along with Sonu.

We were quite scared that the state government authorities would not let us take so much of luggage on the ropeway but they were really nice and helpful. I have high praise for them for treating us with a lot of consideration. Our horses were waiting for us in Auli. We started quite late on the first day but it really did not matter, as we covered a very short distance... Read More

Visit Mridula's Kuari Pass Photo Gallery.

The pass at Nathu-La

Visiting Sikkim: India's Newest State

I wanted to take the day trip to Nathu-La (India-China border, altitude 14,420 feet) after Yumthang but Sesha did not, too many days of continuous Avomine, he said. We finally decided that I would take the day trip without him in a shared jeep.

The border is a cheerful place now, teeming with Indian tourists like me. The jeep seat cost me 600 rupees (13 dollars). It was a little strange not to have Sesha sitting next to me and cribbing all the time about the tuneless songs playing that hurt his musically sensitive ears. I have no quarrel with the songs as I guess I am tone deaf.

Our driver Shanker, was careful (another strange thing about Sikkim, 3.5 drivers out of 5, an unusually high number, were not trying to imitate [Formula One racecar driver] Michael Schumaker. 3.5 because one of them did try F1 driving for part of the way) and it took us a little more than three hours to reach Nathu-La.

At many places Indian army personnel control the flow of the traffic. On the way is Changu, a high altitude lake with a small market next to it... Read More

Visit Mridula's Sikkim Photo Gallery

More Stories and Photos by Mridula Dwivedi: