HuffPost. Nov 2024. I clearly remember that morning. I was only 4 years old. For some reason, the nursery class was let out early. I ran through the front door of my home, into my grandma’s bedroom, which is the first thing I always did when I returned from school. But instead of seeing her […]

Marriott Bonvoy. July 2024. Need some inspiration on where to travel with your Marriott Bonvoy points? These exciting resorts around Asia and the Pacific are some of the finest to engage your senses, rekindle romance and make memories with the family.  

Khabar Magazine. April 2024 PRINT. Or Samosa Day? Chai Day? National Curry Week? A short primer on how we can be ambassadors of desi delicacies in the U.S. I am guilty of waiting in line for a free Krispy Kreme doughnut on National Doughnut Day. My personal favorite is the original glazed, always served hot. […]

Khabar Magazine. October 2023 print cover story. If the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning is reach out for a cup of tea and biscuits, if you reminisce about having friendly banter with college friends by a tea stall on a street corner, if you crave hot masala tea and […]

HuffPost. December 2022. While many familiar Christmas traditions originated in Western countries, people from all around the world and from different cultural backgrounds celebrate the holiday with the same spirit of gratitude and togetherness. No matter where, recipes passed on through generations are central to family gatherings. From callaloo to chicken tikka masala, find out […]

Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Oct 2022 I wake up at 4 a.m. to the sound of an imam chanting the Muslim call to prayer from the loudspeaker of a nearby mosque in Srinagar, India. At this early hour, darkness still envelops the city, the largest in India’s northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir. Normally, I am […]

Khabar Magazine. August 2022. For the longest time, one of the pet peeves of Indians has been that our cuisine does not get its due credit in the American dining scene. Well, that has changed in 2022, and how! In June, the Asheville, North Carolina-based Chai Pani (which also has a location in Decatur, Georgia) […]

Paperless Post. Feb 2022. Play, laughter, and love are the essence of Holi, the Indian festival that marks the end of the dark and dreary winter and welcomes the bursting colors of spring. Each year, Holi kicks off the beginning of the spring growing season, and the festival is a chance to let loose and […]

Paperless Post. December 2021. For Hindus all around the world, Diwali (Divali or Deepavali) is the biggest festival on the calendar each year. During the days leading up to Diwali, friends and coworkers exchange gifts of dry fruits, sweets and precious metals. Children enjoy the festive atmosphere and anticipate spending quality time with cousins and […]

The Infatuation. May 2021. Upscale Indian restaurants are moving past white tablecloths and spinning their own version of Indian food as a sincere, personal experience. For more than a century, the traditional American understanding of “fine dining” meant white tablecloths and French (or at least European) cuisine and modes of service. Fine dining might have […]

For Chowhound. March 2020. If you’ve never tried roti (or chapati), it’s a delicious flatbread that’s fairly easy to make at home—there’s no yeast involved. And you can make it with gluten-free flour too. Roti is an unleavened flatbread commonly found in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, as well as parts of Africa and the Caribbean. Roll it […]

Tulip Gardens, Autumn Colors and Winter Sports – Kashmir is a Year-Round Travel Destination

For Khabar Magazine. November 2018 print issue.  The “Welcome to Kashmir” sign at the modest Sheikh ul-Alam Airport was draped by posters of a scene from a popular 1981 Bollywood movie, Silsila, where the romantic couple Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha sing a duet at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden of Srinagar (the largest tulip garden […]

For Khabar Magazine print edition. February 2018. Warm humid air, the smell of roasting curry leaves, voices sounding singsong Malayalam, coconut trees as far as I can see—I had arrived in Kerala, also known as God’s Own Country. As soon as I landed at Kochi International Airport, I felt like I was no longer in […]

For CheapOAir Miles Away Blog. December 2017.  The lush state of Kerala, located in the southern peninsula of India, is touted as “God’s own Country.” With such a bold tourism slogan, you can expect the bar to be set pretty high. Well, Kerala does not disappoint. It’s filled with pristine beaches, houseboats floating in clear […]

For Khabar Magazine print edition. June 2017.  Kaala Pani is such a storied place in the narrative of India’s independence struggle. Visiting that infamous jail was a humbling experience. The iconic pagodas of Myanmar, on the other hand, inspired awe. Growing up in northern India, I did not have much of a chance to explore […]

For The Huffington Post. February 2017.  I call myself a restless traveler – one that always likes be on the move. I like to wander and get lost, not necessarily be bused around the main attractions. I prefer to taste the local cuisine, even if it means getting out of my dietary comfort zone. I […]

For Creative Loafing Atlanta, December 2016.  Amara is easy to spot, thanks to its electric blue and white sign. A Persian rug welcomes diners into the spacious, modern-industrial interior with pendant lights dangling from a high vaulted ceiling. A glass-backed bar with yellow chairs is central to the space, where one can watch people stopping […]

For Creative Loafing Atlanta, October 2016.  For South Asians living in metro Atlanta, fall is a nostalgic time of the year. It is when Hindus from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and many Caribbean islands celebrate the festival of Diwali. This auspicious event not only holds a religious significance; it’s a cultural practice. Known as the […]

For CheapOAir.com. June 2016. I love to travel, but I grew tired of the same “stay in a hotel, eat at a tourist trap restaurant” routine. After traveling to dozens of countries as a regular tourist, I found that my experience was getting rather repetitive. I wanted to return with amazing stories instead of bringing back cookie […]

Many Americans who see veganism as downright unappetizing may be in for a surprise to learn of the richly flavorful Indian vegan dishes. Exotic aromas and finger-licking flavor may not be the first associations that come to mind when most people think of vegan food. But forays into Indian cuisine, especially through a cookbook like […]

If you are planning a vacation to the mystical and colorful country of India, my first piece of advice is to plan multiple trips! Geographically, India is not a very large country (about one-third the size of the U.S.) but it is so diverse that each of the twenty-eight states offers an entirely different experience. […]

  How, why, and where we like to give of our money and time Cover Story in Khabar Magazine (May 2011 issue) The world’s five wealthiest people, according to Forbes magazine, include two Indians—Mukesh Ambani and Lakshmi Mittal. Bain & Company, a global management consulting firm, found that India currently has 115,000 high-net-worth individuals. This elite […]