Author: Archana
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Pathila Thoran: Kerala’s Healing Greens on a Plate for Monsoon Wellness
Karkkidakam, the month of heavy rains and seasonal shifts, brings with it the age-old tradition of Pathila Thoran—a nourishing stir-fry made from ten medicinally rich leaves. These backyard greens, harvested with care, provide a natural boost to immunity and well-being. But gathering them requires mindfulness—correct identification, safe harvesting practices, and proper cleaning ensure both health…
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Portulaca quadrifida – Wild Purslane
You may not find this greens/keerai in city or town markets. Or even in villages these days! While I have seen and consumed the Common Purslane, this little one seemed to be a rare find for me. My friends in the Forgotten Greens group used to share this plant from various parts of India but…
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Portulaca oleracea – Common Purslane
Purslane is found worldwide and is often considered a weed. Despite its humble status, it has been valued as a food source in many cultures for centuries. Purslane was used by ancient Greeks and Romans for its medicinal properties and as a food source. It was also known to be used in ancient Egyptian cuisine…
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Explore Ramadevara Betta/Hill
Ramadevara Betta is a special place because it’s the first vulture sanctuary in India.It’s also great for hiking and watching different kinds of birds. Plus, it’s famous for being in the movie Sholay. People who love history, hiking, or just enjoying nature like to visit here. It is also known in another name – Ramagiri…
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Blooming Delights: A Guide to Edible Flowers in India
Last Updated on 01-Oct-2025 India is a treasure trove of diverse flora, showcasing a stunning variety of edible flowers that are as flavorful as they are beautiful. Picture this: from the majestic Himalayan foothills to the lush tropical forests of the south, our country’s landscapes are bursting with blossoms that have been cherished in traditional…
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Spiti Valley Trip – Local cuisine and what we had
Discovering Authentic Spiti Cuisine: A Real Experience During our 8-day Spiti Valley trip, we tried to explore traditional foods based on blogs and social media posts. However, many locals we met were unfamiliar with some of these foods. This made us wonder if these dishes were forgotten over time or if a new food culture…
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Spiti Valley Trip – Things to Take Care Of
Essential Tips for a Memorable Spiti Valley Trip We recently spent 8 days exploring the Spiti Valley with two ladies and two kids, arranged through a travel agency with our choice of accommodations. Here are some key points based on our experience: Check Road Conditions: We couldn’t complete the Spiti circuit as the Manali side…
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Journey to the Mountains: A travelogue: Day 11 & 12
Narkanda – Chandigarh – Bangalore I got to enjoy a moonlit night yesterday too just like the last nights at Kalpa and Lhalung. And I enjoyed the last morning of this trip in the mountains. We had a quick breakfast and continued our return journey to Chandigarh. We didn’t get much traffic delays at Shimla…
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Journey to the Mountains: A travelogue: Day 10
Kalpa – Narkanda Waking up with the morning sun in the mountains is a mesmerizing experience, and today’s sunrise was no exception. The sight of Kinnaur Kailash and other peaks bathed in the first light was breathtaking. I captured a timelapse video to relive this moment later. Gratitude filled my heart as I marveled at…
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Journey to the Mountains: A travelogue: Day 9
Lhalung – Kalpa At 2:30 AM, the room was filled with moonlight from the full moon. I enjoyed the sight but couldn’t stay up long due to the cold. By 5:30 AM, I was up again. The first rays of the sun on the mountains were spectacular. I set my phone for a timelapse video…
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Journey to the Mountains:A travelogue: Day 8
Kaza – Chicham – Ki – Lhalung After two days in Kaza, we said our goodbyes. Our original plan included a trek to Dhankar Lake and a visit to Lhalung today, but the kids were not keen on trekking. This allowed us to visit the remaining places from yesterday. Vikram, our driver, told us to…
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Journey to the Mountains : A travelogue : Day 7
Day 7: Kaza – Langza – Komik – Hikkim – Kaza Kaza Yesterday, our driver Vikram informed us that we could start late today since our destinations were nearby. Despite my body clock waking me at 5:30 AM, the cold kept me in bed until 7. Little N was up by 7.30 AM and busy…
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