Six Scenic Road Trips You Must Take In India

Road Trips In India

credits Vikas Sawant

Road trips are classic adventure travel. Depending on how long the trip is and the altitude, the road trips can differ quite a bit but one thing is for sure, you will thoroughly enjoy yourself as long as you have some good company, good food, music, and a bed to sleep in at night. A lot of small guest house and hotels along highways can come to your rescue when you need to crash for a few hours before continuing your journey. Whether you take your road trips via car or by bikes, they will let the traveler inside you explore thoroughly as you will be at the liberty of stopping anywhere your heart desires and just take in the landscape around you. India has beautiful road trip worthy roads with breath-taking views and scenery to offer along the way. 

Six Scenic Road Trips You Must Take In India

1. Manali to Leh Ladakh

This is the most sought after road trip by travelers and hence the first one on this list. The distance between Manali to Leh is around 470 kilometers but with the twists and turns of the roads and the climate condition, it is best to take this one slow and enjoy the breath-taking view on the way. The high altitude terrain, beautiful open roads with snow-capped mountains and the valleys provide beautiful picturesque scenery at every other point along the way. 

Manali to Leh credits Holidify

Whether you take the trip in a car/bus or by the most famous biker style you will not be disappointed. It has also been featured in many movies like in the famous 3 Idiots and Jab We Met to name a few. Make stops on the way and check off all the attraction sites along the way to get the best out of this one. Oh and don’t forget to dress in heavy winter wear. It is best to make this trip after summers somewhere around August or September but extreme winter sets in.

2. Mumbai To Goa

This is another favorite of travelers whether it is for the famous Goa trips in cars straight after college exams or by bike. There are two routes one via Pune which takes around 10 hours and the 12-hour route via Ratnagiri. 

Mumbai to Goa credits Holidify

Both offer beautiful mountains and views of the lush green Western Ghats that stretch all the way from Maharashtra into Karnataka. With the right music and some excellent company, this can be a memorable road trip which will take you through paddy fields, mountains, tunnels, plantations and satisfy all your Goa trip desires. The best time to go for this trip would be just at the start or end of Monsoon. As Goa is best known for its sunny beaches and beach activities, monsoon is not desirable for this road trip. Once in Goa obviously you will be hitting the beaches and the night clubs as well as getting a chance to look at Old Goa and its famous Church. If you are planning a Goa Trip after college then have a look at my blog post where my friends and I visited Goa after graduation.

3. Chennai to Pondicherry

Both of these are sought after tourist destinations in the great Tamil Nadu. Chennai with its idli, dosa and filter coffee offering the correct city buzz with its beaches to the beautiful French Colony in Pondicherry. A mere 200 kilometre road trip can be covered in about half a day with the sea by your side as you make your journey. Noteworthy tourist points come on this route like Alambara Fort and Mahabalipuram. Be sure to take a break and check these out for yourselves as you go. Don’t miss out on cute little cafes in Pondicherry and take photos with the famous yellow wall as your background.

4. Ahmedabad to Kutch

The Rann of Kutch is celebrated for its desert festivals. The white salt desert is about seven to eight hours away from Ahmedabad. The panoramic views of the sunrise, sunset and the moon in the desert are to die for. Gujarati food is to die for and you can enjoy all the delicacies on your way to Kutch, getting some ripe mangoes especially if you go summer. Before leaving from Ahmedabad you can even check out the historical and architectural monuments in the city and while in Kutch do not miss out of the bird watching as well as visiting the Wild Ass Sanctuary.

5. Bangalore To Ooty

This is around 200 kilometers but as Ooty is located up in the Nilgiris, it takes many twists and turns before you finally get up to the beautiful town. 

Bangalore to Ooty credits Thrillophillia

You will be passing through the city of Mysore where you can make a quick stop to see the majestic Mysore Palace and the famous Brindavan Gardens. Then taking the Bandipur forest route where you can spot even elephants and tigers sometimes make your way to the beautiful town of Ooty. Famous for its homemade chocolates, Ooty Lake and many gardens and parks, Ooty wil be extremely pleasant. You can go further up to Connor's army base camp and see the Dodabetta peak from where the whole of Ooty town is visible. The entire road offers small shops and restaurants where you can enjoy some hot tea and pakodas on the way. 

6. The Golden Triangle

The classic Delhi-Agra-Jaipur route which offers the tourists to enjoy the historical and architectural cities is a road trip one must take while in India. From the red fort in Delhi to Taj Mahal in Agra and the famous and picturesque Hawa Mahal of Jaipur, this route can be covered in about two to three days while enjoying all the tourist attraction points in each city while on the road trip. The Yamuna express highway is picturesque and will offer plenty of Instagram worthy stops on the way. And you can stop worrying about food as there are numerous restaurants and dhabas along this golden triangle route.

These six are some of the best road trips in India. Of course, a traveler must go in search for the less wandered route. Are there any road trips that you have taken which have been memorable? Let me know where did you go in the comments below!

If you liked my blog post, stay subscribed to my blog and follow me on my Instagram @timetravellingshutterbug

Signing off,

Nishma Khetia.

January Product Reviews | New Year Brings New Experiments!

Hi guys and welcome back to Time Travelling Shutterbug!

Its been a long time since my last blog post and if you are following me on my very active Instagram account then you must have been updated on my life. This new year brings a lot of changes to my life but I will be discussing all of that on my Instagram Live scheduled for this Sunday (27th December 2019)

This blog post is to talk about some of the products which I received in January. So let's dig right in:

1. Earings from PreciousYou 

I loved the stonework in these earrings as well as the vibrant choice of color. The golden finishing on the outer area could have been better. They retail for 1300 rupees which makes them on the expensive side for the average daily consumer. Their website does have really unique necklaces and earrings, designs of which cannot be found elsewhere in the market. If you are looking for something unique then you must check out Precious You.







2. Products from Euphoria Box

I received a Gel Eyeliner and Eyeshadow duo and Hairmask from them. Both were extremely good. The eyeliner and eyeshadow is compact and chic and retails for 300 while the hair mask is for about 450 rupees. The subscription box seems promising and offers good products. You can give it a try!





3. Soaps from Organic Harvest

These are the best soaps I have ever used. I have replaced my shower gel with the soap! Their light and natural fragrance, natural oils, and a chemical-free formula are great and I love all the three variants Lily Of The Valley, Rose, and Lavender. They retail for 99 rupees each.






I hope you guys enjoyed that mini January product review. If you loved any products this month let me know in the comments below. I have a whole IGTV video reviewing these products so you can head over to my Instagram and check it out.

Thank you to all the brands for sending these!

Signing off,
Nishma Khetia.

Global Biotech Revolution: GapSummit Leaders Of Tomorrow | Cambridge

As someone who spends good chunk of a day in the lab running gels and looking at tiny things in fancy microscopes, I am one of those biomedical/life science graduate students who justifies spending weekends in the lab by saying that my research will one day help advance human health (Joke! I am struggling to get that damn marker to write on my tubes!). Anyway, one good lesson I learned during that time is what you know matters less than who you know in the professional circle (to some extent).

Most of the graduate students spend a good five to six years doing amazing research and learning cutting-edge techniques. Unfortunately, in this world, it’s not the best ideas but the ideas that have the best reach which wins. Presenting their work, knowing the potential of their respective fields go a long way in helping one advance their career. This is where all those conferences, interdisciplinary meets, and other scientific events come into the picture. I was lucky enough to be selected for one such conference called GapSummit which turned out to be one of the best experiences I have ever had.

GapSummit is the Global Biotech Revolution’s flagship program. One of the biggest biotech conferences in the world conducted annually. It is an intergenerational leadership development conference that brought together biotech leaders from all over the world to engage with students like me. It is aptly named as they discuss the major gaps in the biotech and pharma field. The summit was joined by phenomenal speakers like Paul Stoffels, Chief Scientific officer of Johnsons and Johnsons, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw of Biocon limited, Dr.Yusuf Hamied of Cipla, representatives from WHO and United Nations. Apart from the talks, there were interactive panels conducted on the gaps in the industry ranging from drug affordability, innovation to sustainable energy. I learned a lot about the plateau phase of R&D pipelines, the struggle to get a generic drug in developing countries, the public policy aspect of bringing out a healthcare reform through dinner conversations and casual chats.

GapSummit did indeed provide me a better picture of the biotech and pharma space which I have learned is complicated with multiple players and unpredictable market. However, I learned from the digital healthcare panel experts that AI and other high-end computational tools will be a major game changer in the future.

The part I enjoyed and learned the most was the Voices of tomorrow competition where we all worked for three months in groups on an idea that addressed one of the gaps. Coming from a purely scientific background, getting the first-hand experience in executing an idea in the real world was an exhilarating experience. Although we didn’t make it to the finals, we had fun writing the business proposal which I have never done in my life!!

Since I had such an amazing time at the Summit I thought I could share some of my pre-conference hacks which might be helpful for you for the GapSummit 2019. I will be providing more details about the summit at the end.

Here are my two cents worth!

APPLICATION:

Spend a good amount of time writing the motivational essay. Remember, this is a fully sponsored conference, they take the application stuff seriously. It really pays off to do some homework about the summit, the speakers and the main agenda.

INTERVIEW:
The second round is a video interview with the core team of the GapSummit where they ask you in-depth questions about the application. Again! It really helps to prepare and succinctly talk about your achievements and future plans.


NETWORKING:
Like it or not, the world is not a fair place. That’s good and bad news. You might bump into the CEO of a startup who is looking for someone with your profile and might get hired on the spot. That is why it is extremely important to prepare for it. What do I mean by that? You need not read in detail about every single panelist or guest speakers but one you are interested in talking to, know their work in the back of your head. Read about their company, their published papers, know what they are looking for. I can’t emphasize this enough, nobody can just wing it.

GapSummit 2019:
Yay! This time it is in the United States. It is happening at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, between June 16th -20th. You can learn more about it here. If you have more questions about the summit, the logistics or if you want your institute to know about the event, you can contact me for an official invite.

Good luck with the application and hoping to see you guys at Gap Summit 2019!

Read another Article written by Anjana on TRAVEL+ACADEMICS: INTERNSHIP IN JAPAN

About The Author:

Anjana Sundarrajan is a true Tamilian who will not shut up about Chennai and curd rice. She is currently pursuing her final year of Masters in Biotechnology at UPenn in the US. She completed her B Pharm from Manipal University. She is passionate about research and innovation.

You can contact her on her Facebook or Linked In

Thank you for sharing your experience and tips with us. We hope you continue to support this blog and write for us in the future. We wish you all the best.

Mind Over Monsoons: How To Be Productive When It's Raining

Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet

-Roger Miller

Its that time of the year again when the sunlight has been tuned down to a minimum and the sky is overcast with clouds, rain, thunder, and lightning. Every time you look out of your window it gets harder to tell what time of the day it is and you can't help but feel sleepy, lazy and oh, did I mention hungry? It doesn't help that it is almost holiday season so you are stuck at home, with nothing to do, or at least that's what you think. 

As the rains have started in many parts of South India and will now be moving up north, I thought this was the best time to write a blog post on Mind Over Monsoons. I had been feeling gloomy and unproductive in this weather but I find myself having a lot of free time and I am here to tell you how to be productive when it's raining outside. Your ultimate guide to monsoon productivity is here, so make yourself a cup of hot tea or coffee and settle down, take notes and spend the rest of your summer and monsoon break at maximum productivity level!

Top Ten Ways To

Planning You Way To Monsoon Productivity 

      1. Organize/Plan/ Make a To-do list
This is a no-brainer and applicable for all year round productivity but the reason why this is the number one point in my guide is that during the holidays we feel entitled to 'do nothing'. I myself have been guilty of this several times. Even if you do not have a day to day list of items that you want to do at least have a general idea of the goals you want to complete in this one or one and half month break. This will help you stay on track and god, oh god, the satisfaction of ticking that thing off after you have finished it is something your inner nerd will thank you for later.

      2. Get Creative
Okay, so you can't go outdoors, big deal. There are hundreds of interesting things to do from the comfort of your home. 

• Have you always been wanting to decorate your room, put up photos or fairy lights? You can do that now!
• Paint pictures or glass painting on old used bottles
• Make that scrapbook which you have eyeing on Pinterest.
• Start a photo journal
• Play some music, write blog posts, make your website, make YouTube videos!!!

    3. Hello, Endorphins!
It's raining outside and it's not drizzling. No. It's pouring sideways and the roads are jammed and you cant make it to your gym. You can't go out jogging in the park. So what do you do? Watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S on repeat? Yes, you could do that. But you could do that while exercising from the comfort of your own home!

• Try yoga at home. You can find many YouTube videos and follow along.
• Do a quick skipping session with your simple jump rope
• Put on loud music and dance like no one's watching
• Pilates! Just you, your body weight and a yoga mat. 
• Clean your house. It's going to help you stretch and get in a good work out.

     4. Online Courses.

School or college is closed but you can still learn a lot through online courses and this can be in any field of your interest. Websites like Coursera and Udemy offer many online certificate courses for you to choose from and it will not only give you a new skill but also add to your resume.

    5. Online Internships

I am not asking you to fly across the country here. From the comfort of your home, apply for Work From Home internships and do freelance work for companies. If you start looking you will be surprised at how many companies need an intern to help them out. Internshala and Twenty19 can help you there. 

     6. Cooking experiments

All those dishes you said you would cook but never did because you did not have 'enough time' well guess what, now you are free and I am hungry. So cook some delicious food because we tend to get more hungry in this weather. Bake some delicious food too and don't forget to take photos and tag #TimeTravellinShutterbug on Instagram if you want them to be featured on my account.

Photo credit ITC Hotels

   7. Pamper Yourself With At Home Spa Day

You finally have some time for yourself so while you watch that movie for the 15th time, you can simultaneously pamper your skin and hair. Please remember that all the rain and dirt in the monsoon is going to leave your feet dirty and they will need some extra care.

• Scrub your face, arms and legs do de tan with some potato, tomato or even homemade besan and channa flour scrub.
• Put on some hair oil after a good hair and head massage or put on a hair mask
• Put on a face pack/ Multani mitti/ yoghurt-honey-turmeric etc
• Clean your nails and give yourself a mini meni-pedi, soak your limbs in some hot water with salts
• Take a long hot shower, shampoo, and condition
• Moisturize and finish off with fresh nail paint

Viola, you are a whole new person!

Photo from Google Images

   8. Indoor games

Be it board games or other small in-door games, the time to play them is now when it is raining. Try monopoly, snake and ladders, housie, card games, hide and seek, dumb charades etc. Growing up, I used to have my neighbor girls and friends over all the time during holidays and we would play these all day long. It's time to bring back some of that childhood memories to our grown up-adult self- summer/monsoon breaks.

   9. Reading & Writing

I am guilty of buying or borrowing novels and never getting around to finishing them as I get caught up in academic work. Monsoon holidays can be the perfect time to catch up on reading and hey if you are that broody writer type then start writing now! Stay motivated with hot drinks like green tea, coffee, hot chocolate or tea! It will instantly give you a boost.

  10. Time Off

Monsoons many time come with power cuts and this is the perfect excuse to get off technology, internet, and social media. Make some tea and pakodas, play games with your friends and family read a book, make your arts and crafts and just take a social media detox.

Are there any other things that you love to do in monsoons which I have not mentioned in this ultimate guide to monsoons? Leave them down in the comments below. Suggestions, comments, and questions are always welcome.

Share this blog post with your friends who have complained of being bored in the holidays or feeling lazy due to the gloomy weather and you can thank me later!

Like what you see and want more travel blog post, inspiration, travel style and budget travel ideas then go follow my Instagram account @timetravellingshutterbug

Acknowledgement: To my sister, Sonali Khetia for taking my photos for this blog post.

Links To Get You Going:

Exercise: Pilates Videos

Online Courses: Coursera, Udemy

Internships: Internshala, Twenty 19

Signing off,

Nishma Khetia.

How To: Kill It At The Beach In Indian Summers

We all love a good beach vacay. Am I right or am I right?! Whether it is a boys day out playing ball and getting dirty and sweaty with no shirts on or a girls gang going out on the beach to enjoy some suntan or a couple’s lazy day out, beach vacations are the best. A lot of people who face long winters many times seek out beach vacations to get away from the cold and I can absolutely see why. Having fresh coconut, building sandcastles by the sea, enjoying seafood and the sun, seems just perfect recipe for a vacation to relax and unwind. 

But, here's the Indian Summer twist to the Vitamin Sea dream. Indian Summers are hot! Very, very hot. I was just reading a thread on a travel group where someone asked if Goa in May was a good idea. Let's rewind to exactly one year ago around 26-27th May. That is exactly where I was! Right out of B Pharm, planned the perfect mandatory Goa trip after graduation. So, yes, sometimes it is inevitable that you find yourself planning a beach vacation in this scorching heat. But that's where I got your back. I have got a few essentials, tips and tricks to help you plan a smooth and hassle-free beach day trip or an entire weekend.

Top Ten Essentials For A Beach Vacation

1. Sun Screen.

This is the most essential item you absolutely must carry with you while you head out to the beach. Ignoring sunscreen on a daily basis is one thing (not good, but okay :/) while not wearing sunscreen on the beach is totally bad for your skin. Find a good waterproof sunscreen of SPF 50 with UVA and UVB protection to ensure maximum protection. Make sure to apply it liberally on all exposed parts and reapply after a few hours if necessary. I have a sunburn that is of a cold shoulder top shape and is going to last about three months so I absolutely know what I am talking about.

2. Beach Wear

Bikini, shorts, speedos, swimsuit whatever is your style do not forget to carry it to your beach trip. You might not want to swim but even the toughest of decisions are changed once seeing beautiful beach waters. So just carry it as a back-up. Try it out at home first in case it has been a while since you last wore it to ensure it is okay and fits right in all places. Another mandatory must is a plastic bag to store your wet clothes after swimming so it does not drench the rest of your bag. Flip flops are recommended instead of other shoes which might get spoiled in the sand.

3. Lounge Mat/Bedsheet/Towel

Depending on the beach you decided to go to you may or may not have beach beds/chairs etc. It is best to carry a bed sheet or a lounge mat to the beach. You can use your towel too if you have an extra one in hand. Anything you can use to lie down/sit on the beach will work. Get something larger if you are meant to share it with your partner for a date.

4. Beach Hat and Sunglasses

Admit it or not, selfies on the beach need sunglasses in them.  Period. To have this in check and also for the more important reason of protecting your eyes, carry your sunglasses with you to the beach. A beach hat is also recommended to protect your hair from the heat and keep your head cool.

5.Music/Speakers/ Earphones.

Soft music or party music, the choice is yours but music is essential while you are chilling on the beach. If you are in a group, carry a speaker or if you are on a private beach carry your earphones and blast in some tunes to match the rhythm of the beach waves. In fact, you could make a beach playlist right now after reading this article and get ready for your next beach vacation! This one down here is on amaizing discount and was voted a bestseller!

 6. Beach Ball

If your beach vacation happens to be with a group, carry a beach ball with you. You could play football, volleyball, cricket or even play with the plastic ball in the ocean. The options are endless and all you need to make that happen is a good beach ball. You can carry other games like a pack of cards. 

7. Food/ Picnic Bag

As this article is written for the masses, we need to address the fact that not everyone will be going to a commercial beach with shacks and restaurants. If your vacation happens to be a secret getaway on a remote beach in the middle of nowhere you definitely need food and drinks with you on the go. Easy options include sandwiches of all kinds, chips, biscuits, fresh fruits, sodas, beers etc

8. Summer Reads

The ride to the beach or any time during your beach vacation you may come across a situation where you just want to hang out on your own and read a book. Easy summer reads or even an audiobook can come in handy. Carry a book with you at all times! 

9. Camera

It can be your mobile camera or something advanced like a DSLR, but you will want to take back memories from your beautiful beach vacation and you absolutely must have some form of camera on you in order to make that happen. If you plan to go on a long vacation carry additional memory cards for your camera with you too so you do not run out of space while you capture the beautiful beach photos.

10. Batteries/Chargers

Carry some extra mobile battery or a backup charger/battery with you while on the go. You will be using your phone a lot, for music, photos, directions and what not. Having a backup battery option while saving you in time of need and give you the peace of mind! Do not rely on someone else having a charger or battery to match your phone. With the technology variety in the market, everyone has a different pin/plug on their phones. It is crazy out there!

PRO TIP:

You can easily get dehydrated so drink lots of water and coconut water too. That is one thing people forget to do. Remember, having water around you does not mean that you drink less water!

Before you go, be sure to follow my super active self on Instagram where I share all my trips on Insta Stories

@timetravellingshutterbug

So there you have it, the top ten items you need while going for a beach vacation. Which item do you swear by? Is there something I missed on this list? Be sure to let me know in the comments section below. Get that head start on your summer beach body and stick to those new year resolutions. You will be beach ready in no time. And oh, don’t forget to get all your beach essentials on your vacation. 

That's all for this blog post. Be sure to leave your comments and feedback down below. Are you going to any exciting beaches this summer, if so where?

Signing off,

Nishma Khetia.

Birthday By The Beach

"One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things"

-Henry Miller.

The birthday girl wished for a birthday by the beach and I being the travel-granting fairy took matters into my own hands. As I many times say all I need to make things happen is the name of my next destination. I had two beach resorts near Mangalore which were begging to be explored. I honestly can't even remember where I came across the Turtle Beach Bay in Trasi. Much like the infamous Goa trip, our beach trip was almost over before it begun. After celebrating my friend Fatema's birthday at midnight it was almost impossible for our group of five to be up and ready at seven in the morning. I obviously ironed my clothes in the middle of the night and had my beach wardrobe all set but this day was not about me. And so I went back to sleep when no one woke up at seven in the morning thinking of all the chores I could accomplish that Sunday *Inner Monica rejoicing* The heavens had other plans however and who was I to deny them :p Over breakfast at the mess it was decided to go to the beach anyway. Like they say better late than never! We quickly grabbed our bags and begun our journey to the beach.

It took us around one and a half hour to reach the beach resort. We had the beach to ourselves. Yes, that's right! Just the five of us. There were a few guests staying in the rooms at the resort but they did not swim. After admiring the beautiful beach and taking a few photos we changed into our swimsuits and jumped right into the water. It was the perfect temperature at around one in the afternoon. As it was a rather sunny day, we applied generous amounts of sunscreen. After some swimming where we played piggyback water fight we took a break for some well-deserved lunch. The resort has a restaurant with a decent menu.

Post-lunch we went swimming one more time. Turtle Beach also had beach volleyball and other activities. As we were on a tight schedule due to some pending nursing assignments we had to leave before the sunset. But here's the secret scoop only for my readers. The direction of this beach does offer a sunset at the beach! So in case, you plan to follow my lead and go check out this place for yourself you must stay back for sunset and send me those photos!

The beach has showers and changing facilities so one can easily freshen up after swimming. I luckily carried my shampoo and managed to wash my hair saving me from doing it later at night when I would be exhausted.We made our return journey while listening to tunes and chatting away. At one point we even stopped to buy fruits from the bus stop for the week ahead. Before parting ways we enjoyed some hot ginger tea and then said our goodbyes. This trip was over but the memories we had collected were going to last us a lifetime. Also, I am certain that I will be going back to Turtle Bay Beach Resort.

Seeing Is Believing

Travel Vlog: Birthday By The Beach

If you see what you like please like, comment, share and subscribe!

Everything You Want To Know About Turtle Bay Beach Resort

How to reach?

Take a bus/train to Kundapur in Karnataka. From Manipal a bus to Udupi and a connecting bus to Kundapur. From Kundapur take a bus to Trasi. If you have a private vehicle you are sorted!

How much cash to carry?
I would say about 1000 rupees.
Food: 200-300
Entrance: 250
Transport to and fro by bus: 150
It's always good to have extra cash in hand. Also in case you want to try out any water sports, you may need extra cash.

How long to stay?A day trip would be recommended. The shower facility is sufficient for all your daytime needs.The rooms available are expensive from a budget travel point of view costing around 2500+ per night.

What to carry?
You can carry your own food if you wish!
1) Sunscreen
2) Towel
3) Sunglasses/Hat
4) Swimwear
5) Extra pair of clothes
6) Cards, beach ball or other games.
7) Sunglasses
8) Music and speakers
9) Shampoo and toiletries.
10) A plastic bag for your wet clothes!

For other Beach Destination ideas you can check my other blog posts:
1. Goa After Graduation

2. St.Mary's Island

3. Beach Therapy: Murudeshwara

4. Gokarna Girls Trip

You can stay up to date with all my travel stories and photos by following me on my very active My Instagram Account
That's all for this blog post. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I loved experiencing it. But don't stop there go ahead and see it for yourself! Thank you for reading. All comments and feedback is appreciated in the comments section below.

Signing off,

Nishma Khetia.