Mridula Dwivedi

About Mridula Dwivedi

I am Mridula Dwivedi and I started blogging on 'Travel Tales from India' in June 2005. I renamed it Travel Tales from India & Abroad in 2016. Within a few months of the launch my travel blog found a mention on both the BBC and The Guardian. I also featured in a National Geographic Skoda Yeti Video. I was recently featured on Via.com I quit my job as a professor in May 2015. I am having a blast ever since. I do not miss my work but sometime I do miss my salary! Somewhere along the journey I ended up acquiring a Ph.D. from IIT Kanpur! I now wonder why?

Posts by Mridula Dwivedi:

India: Romancing the Chandratal Lake

Visiting Chandratal Lake in India: Love at First Sight By Mridula Dwivedi It was love at first sight. I didn’t even see her in person, it was just a picture of the Chandratal Lake on the internet! At the height […]

India: Viewing Tigers Up Close

Meeting Tigers in Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India by Mridula Dwivedi I met a Jeep full of school children, their eyes shining with awe. They were waving their cell phones to me mouthing, “we saw the tiger, we saw […]

Kipling’s Bundi: Peacocks and Palaces in Rajasthan

Bindi: Where the Mowgli Writer Stayed By Mridula Dwivedi When my nephew Sunil and I visited the Sukh Mahal (Palace of Comfort would be the rough translation) at Bundi, the caretaker who opened the room filled with paintings told me […]

Goa on Foot: A Trek to Remember

Mridula Dwivedi says Goa in December is magnificent, and shares her hiking experiences there.

Suryagarh at Jaisalmer: Modern with Old World Charm

Mridula Dwivedi visits the fort at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, takes a ride on the back of a camel, and explores an abandoned village in the desert.

Lonavala, India: A Trip to Della Adventure

Mridula Dwivedi takes a trip to Della Adventure in Lonavala, India, where she goes bungee jumping, takes a ride on an ATV and tries a totally new hairstyle.

Exciting India: Rafting on the Ganges

Mridula Dwivedi goes rafting on the Ganges from Kaudiyala to Devprayag, and tries rock climbing, cliff jumping and body surfing as well.

India: A Magical Trip to the Andaman Islands

Andaman Islands India: A spur-of-the-moment trip to the Andaman Islands where she goes scuba diving and visits the infamous Cellular Jail at Point Blair.

Sky Waltzing Over Beautiful Jaipur, India in a Hot Air Balloon

Embark on a thrilling hot air balloon adventure above Jaipur, India. Discover stunning views, cultural charm, and unexpected encounters in this unforgettable travel experience.

Naldehra, Himachal Pradesh: Peace and Quiet In the Misty Mountains

Mridula Dwivedi spends a couple of days in Naldehra, a sleepy little town in Himachal Pradesh, India, where she goes hiking in the misty mountains.

Bhimtal, India: Away from the Maddening Crowd

Mridula Dwivedi visits Bhimtal, where she takes a trek to Tarkota temple, bikes around the countryside and joins a village elder for tea.

The Kalka Shimla Railway, Himachal Pradesh, India

Mridula Dwivedi visits the Barog Station on the Kalka Shimla Railway in Himachal Pradesh, India, with her nephews Dilip and Sunil.

India: Trekking from McLeod Ganj to Triund and Beyond

Trekking the Himalayas from McLeod Ganj to Triund India. Chai and friendship and meditation.

Kanha National Park: Quest for the Tiger

A visit to Taj’s Safari Lodge, Banjaar Tola, India, to explore jungle wildlife in Kanha National Park.

SHOW NOTES

In this episode, we head to Lower Manhattan to explore the layers of history hidden beneath the skyscrapers of Wall Street. Longtime GoNOMAD contributor Susmita Sengupta, a New Yorker with a sharp eye for the city’s past, takes us on a walking journey through the Financial District — revealing the colonial streets, early American landmarks, and sacred spaces that shaped the beginnings of the United States.

We begin at the New York Stock Exchange, but instead of watching the crowds, Susmita leads us to the Federal Hall National Memorial, the “Birthplace of American Government,” where George Washington took the oath of office in 1789. The Doric columns, the bronze Washington statue, and the preserved balcony inside all bring the early republic vividly to life.

Just steps away stands Trinity Church Wall Street, a Gothic masterpiece and the oldest public building still in use in Manhattan. Inside, its stained glass windows glow above the grave of Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s most influential Founding Fathers.

We continue to St. Paul’s Chapel, the Georgian-era sanctuary where Washington prayed after his inauguration, before wandering toward Stone Street, a cobblestone lane dating back to the Dutch colonial era — built by enslaved Africans and now lined with lively restaurants.

Susmita then guides us to Fraunces Tavern Museum, a Revolutionary War landmark where patriots gathered and history unfolded. Across the street, she discovers the preserved remains of 17th‑century New Amsterdam, including the 1667 foundations of the Lovelace Tavern, visible beneath glass panels in the sidewalk.

The journey concludes at the powerful and moving African Burial Ground National Monument, the largest colonial-era burial site for enslaved and free Africans in North America. Rediscovered in 1991, it now stands as a solemn memorial and educational center honoring more than 400 individuals whose labor helped build New York City.

This episode is a thoughtful walk through the origins of the city — a reminder that beneath the financial capital of the world lies a deep, complex, and essential American story.

Written by GoNOMAD contributor Susmita Sengupta.

Mridula Dwivedi

About Mridula Dwivedi

Posts by Mridula Dwivedi:

SHOW NOTES

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