Detours with Anuradha Goyal

The 10th Century was probably the golden period of India when the best of surviving architecture was built when the invasions that would change the culture and map of the sub-continent were yet to begin. We know very little about ancient Kashmir while it has dominated our news channels all our lives. Ashish Kaul takes us back to 10th CE Kashmir and talks about its landscape, geography, history, an...

Bhutan is a mystical land living in the folds of snow-clad Himalayas. In conversation with Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj who takes us through the history, heritage, landscape, and culture of Bhutan. She is the person best placed to talk about India Bhutan relationships and how that has been nurtured by various leaders during different times. Read More  Bhutan for first-time visitors - https://www...

Samit Garg is the co-founder of E Factor, a leading event management company talks about the potential of adventure tourism in India. They also specialize in setting up temporary camp cities in places that are otherwise inaccessible like a river island on Krishna River or on the hills of Mandu.  Read More Hot Air Ballooning over River Krishna https://www.inditales.com/adventure-activities-ama...

Most of us know Bengal from the colonial times, though this place has been mentioned in Indian scriptures as Banga Desh for a long time.  Anita Bose takes us through the journey of ancient Bengal starting with Gangaridai, with an impressive maritime trade from its ancient ports like Chandraketugarh and Satgaon that connected it with all of Asia including South East Asia. There are stone and t...

A naturalist is a perfect career option for those who love to not just live amidst nature but also those who love to share their knowledge of nature with others. We speak to Manav Khanduja of Pugdundee Safaris who have pioneered this concept of resident naturalists who learn and study about the nature in their surroundings and then regale their guests with the amazing stories of the jungles. Liste...

S Vijay Kumar, author of 'The Idol Thief' and co-founder of India Pride Project talks about the journey of Gods from the temples of India to the art market, museum through the route of smuggling and illegal trade. His project reversed this journey by talking about the stolen idols and making ways to bring them back. It all started with a blog for documenting the idols in remote villages of India....

Have you ever thought of looking at the world through the lens of Poetry? Have you read poems written outside your mother tongue or the few languages you know? Well, Diplomat Poet Abhay Kumar has not only read but compiled poetry books that have poems from all countries in the world and from all Indian languages. He also writes one poetry book on each of the countries he is posted to. Listen to hi...

What is common between Good Governance and Travel? Well, you can travel to learn the best practices in Good Governance.  Listen to Kumar Subham of Vision India Foundation speak about taking promising young professionals on a 9 day Yatra across the country to meet inspiring entrepreneurs, achievers, innovators, educators, and bureaucrats. The rigorous Yatra aims to connect the future changemak...

How To Visit an Indian Temple? - Few Simple Steps that you can follow. Detours E10 - How to Visit Indian Temples with Ramakrishna Kongalla Indian temples are architectural marvels, aesthetic wonders, spiritual homes,  have storytelling walls and have so many elements that we sometimes wonder where and how to visit them.  Which are the most important parts of a temple that one should not...

Water Heritage of Rajasthan Detours E09 - Water is an integral part of human life. Civilizations settled on the banks of perennial rivers. Have you ever thought about how did life flourish in the Thar desert of India? How did they manage water with almost no rains? Neeraj Doshi takes us through the water bodies, water technologies, and more importantly, through the lovely culture that exists aroun...

Detours E08 - Doot Kavyas or Messenger Poetry in Sanskrit Literature Detours 08 - Doot Kavyas is a genre of Sanskrit poetry where a messenger carries a message from one place to another. While traveling it talks about the route, usually aerial route, it tells you all that it sees below. Poets have used clouds, swans, language, and many other messengers. The message takes the backseat, the route be...

Temple Trail of Mumbai DeTours E07 - Mumbai is named after Mumbai Devi - the presiding Goddess of the city that never sleeps. Bharat Gothoskar of Khaki Tours takes us through the temple trail in South Mumbai touching upon the ancient Walkeshwar Temple and some of the caves spread across Mumbai. In a fascinating conversation, Bharath - one of the best heritage experts on Mumbai, takes us through th...

Detours E06 - Kampilya - The Birthplace of Draupadi with Neera Misra. Draupadi - the chief protagonist of epic Mahabharata was the daughter of the Panchal kingdom with its capital at Kampilya, near the modern-day Farukhabad in Uttar Pradesh. Neera Misra ji has been working on reviving the heritage of Kampliya, documenting its ancient temples, ponds, and culture. She talks about the city of Draupad...

The journey of 12 most famous diamonds from India to the World. Detours E05 - 12 Most prestigious diamonds in the world trace their origin to India, let's hear about them from an author who has researched on their journeys and written a fictional account of their travels.  Buy 'Diamond in my Palm' by Sanjay Dharwadker - https://amzn.to/3hcTSkU Read our travel stories at - https://www.inditale...

Anuradha Goyal in conversation with Pradeep Chakravarthy on the ancient past of the city of Chennai. Detours E04 - Anuradha Goyal in conversation with Pradeep Chakravarthy on the ancient past of the city of Chennai.  He talks about the ancient villages that make the metropolis of Chennai today, the ancient living temples, and the stories that have for us. Do check out books of our guest - Tha...

Conversation between Anuradha Goyal and Jai Bharathi - a leading woman biker from Hyderabad. Detours E03 - Conversation between your host Anuradha Goyal and Jai Bharathi - a woman biker from Hyderabad, India who has biked across India from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, from Hyderabad to the Mekong in South East and then a solo biking trip across the United States. She started a Mowo foundation to help w...

A walk through the pre-historic Goa. Detours - E02 Detours - E02 - In a conversation with your host Anuradha Goyal, Prof Prajal Sakhardande takes us through the ancient Goa when its valleys settled on the banks of Madhei, Zuari and Kushavati rivers, through its oldest aboriginal culture, petroglyphs, and ancient temples.  Prajal is the author of Goa Gold Goa Silver - covering the history of G...

'Travel in Ancient India' - A Conversation between Anuradha Goyal and Sumedha Verma Ojha - Detours E01 Detours 01 - Conversation between Anuradha Goyal and Sumedha Verma Ojha on the 'Travel in Ancient India' covering the; Purpose of Travel Modes of travel Places to Stay Roadways & Waterways Sources of information Book Recommendation on Travels in Ancient India: Trade and Trade Routes by Moti C...