Chilpik Dakhma, in Uzbekistan, is one of the most unusual places to visit in Uzbekistan. Located between the cities Nukus and Khiva, this ancient tower of silence stands on an isolated hilltop overlooking desert plains. Its circular mud-brick structure was built for burials following the Zoroastrian principle that earth, fire, and water should remain unpolluted. Visiting Chilpik Dakhma gave me an insight about ancient Zoroastrian funerary practices in Central Asia and how the

Khiva, in Uzbekistan, is one of the best-preserved ancient Silk Road cities in Central Asia. In this travel guide to Itchan Kala I explore the monuments, Silk Road trade routes, and slave trade legacy of Khiva, Uzbekistan’s walled city. Itchan Kala is the ancient inner town in Khiva city (‘kala’ means ‘fortress’ in Uzbek). Walking into Itchan Kala, you feel as though you are stepping back into the era of the khanate. Narrow streets wind between mud-brick buildings, and heavy

This blog post chronicles a 2-day trek from Kumbakarai Falls to Kodaikanal, in the Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. Kodaikanal reminds me of my college years. Memories of field trips to the hill town come rushing in—endless conversations with friends, walks along winding paths, and bicycle rides around the lake. During those years, I dreamed of trekking from Kumbakarai to Kodaikanal along the old mountain trail. This steep footpath was the main route to Kodaikanal before the arriva