Rakhee Ghelani

Category: Uncategorized

  • The Doors of Ladakh

    The Doors of Ladakh

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    Soma Gompa Temisgang Monastery        

  • India: My Favourites

    India: My Favourites

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    I have been in India for almost a year now, and in that time I have seen and experienced so much that this amazing country has to offer.  I am asked often about what are my most memorable experiences, so I thought I would share some of them.  My list is by no means complete,…

  • Medicine at what cost?

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    After 11 months in India, it finally managed to make me sick…. really sick.  Over the course of four weeks I have managed to spend three weeks debilitated by various stomach bugs.  It hasn’t been fun, and now that we are in the thick of monsoon, I am not entirely sure that it’s over yet.…

  • A Verdant Escape: Sikkim

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    When I was invited to a conference in Sikkim I jumped at the chance.  Whilst I was excited and interested in the topic to be discussed, travel, I just wanted to experience this place for myself.  I had heard so many things about Sikkim, most people who had described it to me looked longingly as…

  • Class or crass: India’s Middle Class

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    One of the biggest culture shocks I am now experiencing relates to what is considered to be “class” or behaviour that represents economic and social status.  It isn’t something I saw much of when I was backpacking, but now that I am settled into a rather middle class life in Mumbai, I am really struggling…

  • Is it time for the Girl in India?: Satya Mev Jayate

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    A few weeks ago I wrote about how India had turned me into a feminist after seeing and learning about the treatment of women here.  Many people have spoken to me about this post since in person, via Twitter and on Facebook.  One comment that came up a few times was that my tone was…

  • Morning Walks in Bandra: Pictorial Post

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    I have settled into the bayside suburb of Bandra, otherwise known as the Queen of Suburbs. It is home to Shah Rukh Khan and other lesser known but glamorous people and lots of fabulous restaurants and cafes. It is also home to poor fishing communities, some beautiful churches and lots of street side stalls. Whilst…

  • Enter Maximum City: Mumbai

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    I landed in Mumbai late at night, but even through the darkness and steamed up windows of my taxi, it felt like a world away from the rest of India. Cramped high rise buildings, bright lights and glamorous billboards lined the expressway, I could have been in one of many large cities of the world.…

  • A Slice of Luxury: Jaipur

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    In my nine months backpacking across India I have lived on a relatively small budget of between Rs 1,000 – 1,500 per day ($20-$30).  Its not insanely cheap for India, but coming from my very comfortable middle class existence in Australia, it certainly got me out and into the real India.  I have loved discovering…

  • How India Turned Me Into a Feminist

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    I have a confession to make, I am a feminist. Nine months travelling through India has turned me into a feminist and this is me coming out of the closet. I have always considered myself to be egalitarian, striving for equality rather than subjugation of one gender over another. Then I spent 9 months backpacking…

  • Adventures in the Desert Part 2: Pabu ki Dhani

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    This was my home for 24 hours when I visited this small, isolated village in the Thar desert. To call it a village is probably too big a word, it is a simple home which has 4 small huts for visitors, this is Pabu ki Dhani.  Pabu welcomed us into his home so we could…

  • Adventures in the Desert: Jaisalmer

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    I  visited Jaisalmer over 10 years ago with my father and remember it fondly as my favourite place on our 4 week trip together, so I couldn’t wait to return here.  This filled me with apprehension as our train neared Jaisalmer, so rarely is a place as wonderful as your memory of it. Thankfully I…

  • Pictorial Post: Taj Mahal

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    The Taj Mahal requires no words, it’s beauty speaks for itself.

  • Holi Varanasi!

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    I am not a big fan of Varanasi as I have mentioned in my post the last time I visited. I didn’t really want to go back but it is one of the holiest and unique cities in India and my dear friend wanted to visit, and I think it does need to be seen…

  • Following the Ramayana: Adam’s Bridge

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    Rameswaram is a town in the south east of Tamil Nadu with a spectacular temple and an important place in the ancient epic story the Ramayana. It is at the end of this island where it is written that a bridge was built by the ape army so that Lord Rama could go to Sri…

  • My European Mini-Break: Pondicherry and Auroville

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    Pondicherry (now correctly known as Puducherry) is what I would describe as the perfect little European mini-break within India.  Don’t get me wrong its not the same as being in Paris, but after 8 months of thalis, crowds and narrow streets,  Puducherry was just enough for me to imagine I had changed continents for a…

  • The Temples of Tamil Nadu: Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Thanjavur, Madurai, Rameswaram

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    Tamil Nadu is famous for its many temples and architecture.  I was fortunate to see several of them in various towns, namely Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram, Thanjavur, Madurai and Rameswaram.  Whilst the architecture is similar, each temple had its own unique features.  Here are some photos of my favourites of each. Kanchipuram A quiet town with not…

  • The Joy and Curse of Solo-Travel

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    I love traveling on my own, I have been a solo-traveler for about 14 years now and thrive on the freedom and exhilaration of it.  I guess you could say I have a strong independent streak and am comfortable in my own company, after all I have lived alone for 13 years. I have now…

  • Beauty, Nature and Solitude – Chilika Lake

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    I chose to travel down the East coast of India, on my way to Chennai, to experience the road less traveled.  Odisha is certainly a place I loved, but I discovered quite quickly that the less worn path also comes with its challenges, especially for someone with limited linguistic skills.  Whilst my rudimentary Hindi was…

  • In the Path of Buddha – Bodhgaya

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    I left Delhi feeling the need for a bit of calm and zen; not two words that readily come to mind when thinking about India.  Visiting some of the famous Buddhist sites seemed like a good place to start. I still have such beautiful memories of trekking in the Nepalese Himalayas and the calming effect…