7 Durga Puja Pandals in Kolkata That Will Leave You Spellbound

Kolkata turns into a giant open-air art gallery during Durga Puja with neighbourhoods competing to create pandals that amaze inspire and make people think From a ship-inspired tribute to Bengal s maritime past to an installation made with thousands of kilograms of coconut rope the city s celebrations offer something far beyond traditional decoration Here are seven pandals worth exploring for their distinctive themes and creative significance Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha A Ship Through Bengal s Trading HistoryWhat if a Durga Puja pandal could take visitors back to the age of merchant ships and spice voyages Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha s Biniya Katha does just that Conceptualised by artist Anirban Das the installation celebrates Bengal s maritime trade heritage drawing inspiration from historical voyages ancient commerce and the shipping business of Dwarkanath Tagore Its ship-inspired design and terracotta-style idol make history an integral part of the festive experience

16 Oct 2026

Wanderlust

Nashik Village Udmal Moves Closer to Becoming Maharashtra’s First Dark Sky Community

What if a village could turn its star-filled skies into a source of scientific discovery community pride and livelihood In Maharashtra s Nashik district Udmal is working towards making this dream a reality At the heart of this initiative is -year-old Vipul Khiradi a local student whose fascination with the night sky has grown into a community-wide movement What began as a personal passion for stargazing soon became a mission to protect Udmal s naturally dark skies Khiradi took his vision from door to door persuading villagers who were initially sceptical that preserving the night sky could bring recognition and new opportunities to their village His efforts gradually won community support putting Udmal on the path to becoming Maharashtra s first Dark Sky Community Rs Lakh Boost for Dark Sky ConservationThe initiative has received administrative approval from Nashik District Collector Ayush Prasad with Rs lakh sanctioned under the Tribal Sub-Plan

14 Oct 2026

Wanderlust

A Valley of Flowers in a Mall? Surat Is Making It Happen

Imagine walking into a mall and finding yourself surrounded by lush greenery colourful flowers and the refreshing feel of a mountain valley In Surat Gujarat this vision is taking shape at Ashirwad High Street in the Citylight area Instead of placing a garden inside a shopping mall the project has turned the concept around by creating a mall within a garden Dubbed Gujarat s first Mall in Garden this unusual development aims to bring nature into the heart of a busy urban neighbourhood With concrete buildings dominating modern cities the project offers a refreshing alternative where greenery is as much an attraction as shopping and entertainment Four Lakh Plants and Flowers From JapanThe most striking feature of Ashirwad High Street is its collection of more than four lakh plants The project also features a Valley of Flowers with colourful flowering plants specially sourced from Japan The six-storey complex includes step

9 Oct 2026

Wanderlust

You’ve Heard of Konark. But Have You Heard of This Offbeat Odisha Village?

Deep in Odisha s Mayurbhanj district near Bishoi lies a village that quietly challenges the way we think about cleanliness Bobeijoda home to around families has maintained a remarkably disciplined cleanliness routine for more than years Its streets are swept three times a day plastic use is banned and residents follow waste segregation and composting practices But what makes this village truly special is that cleanliness here is not simply a government programme It is a community culture The movement began with local teacher Madhusudan Marandi who dreamed of turning his village into a model village His idea soon grew into a collective effort with residents forming a club to take responsibility for keeping Bobeijoda clean Where the Village Runs on Community SpiritThe villagers have installed dustbins CCTV cameras and solar panels through their own community efforts Littering spitting smoking and tobacco use are discouraged and those who break the

25 Sep 2026

Wanderlust

India’s First Immersive Language Museum Is Bringing Words to Life in Kolkata

Words are usually read on a page or heard in conversation But what if you could see them hear them touch them and even experience them through your senses That is the idea behind Kolkata s new Museum of Word also known as Shabdalok India s first immersive language museum was inaugurated on July at the historic Belvedere House inside the National Library campus The first phase was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah nbsp The museum has been created as an experiential celebration of India s vast multilingual literary and oral heritage From Omkar to Artificial IntelligenceThe Museum of Word does not simply tell the story of language It attempts to make that story an experience Its galleries trace the evolution of Indian languages through oral traditions scripts manuscripts inscriptions printing traditions and contemporary forms of communication The journey stretches from Omkar grammar and the Shruti-Smriti traditions to

22 Sep 2026

Wanderlust

Varanasi Set for Its First-Ever Air Show: Rafale, Tejas & Surya Kiran to Roar Over the Ganges

The ancient ghats of Varanasi are used to spectacular sights but this October the action will move from the riverfront to the skies For the first time the holy city will host a major air show over the river bringing together more than three dozen aircraft for a three-day aerial spectacle The performances are scheduled for October and stretching from Namo Ghat to Assi Ghat With millions of spectators expected the event is set to become a major visual spectacle for both residents and visitors Rafale Tejas and Surya Kiran Take to the SkyThe aircraft line-up promises plenty of action Among the highlights will be the Indian Air Force s Rafale and Tejas fighter jets along with Rudra helicopters C- aircraft and Dakota aircraft The much-loved Surya Kiran aerobatic team will also take to the skies adding precision formations and high-speed manoeuvres to the show Performances will take place between

21 Sep 2026

Wanderlust

India’s First Permanent Immersive Event Dome Is Coming Up in Jaipur

Jaipur is known for its grand forts royal palaces and timeless heritage Soon the Pink City could have a very different kind of attraction on its tourism map SkyDome described by its developers as India s first and largest permanent immersive event dome is scheduled to open in late October in Kukas a prominent hospitality and destination-wedding corridor on the outskirts of Jaipur Located next to ITC Mementoes the venue is designed to turn events into immersive experiences combining cutting-edge visual technology with large-scale event infrastructure A Dome Built for Big ExperiencesStanding metres high with a diameter of metres SkyDome will offer around sq ft of indoor space and accommodate more than guests The venue will be equipped for a wide variety of events including destination weddings concerts live entertainment corporate conferences exhibitions cultural performances and large celebrations Its indoor and outdoor facilities are designed to give organisers flexibility allowing

19 Sep 2026

Wanderlust

Ladakh Puts on a Spectacular Show as World’s Highest Twin Flower Fields Open at 10,600 Feet

Ladakh is known for its stark mountains barren landscapes and extreme weather But now a splash of colour is blooming high in the Himalayas Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Thursday inaugurated the world s highest and India s largest twin flower fields in Leh located at an altitude of feet Spread across acres at Choglamsar and Stakna the ambitious project features more than lakh high-value flowers including lakh Lilium and one lakh Gladiolus The initiative is part of the Ladakh administration s efforts to diversify agriculture develop new skills and create additional livelihood opportunities for local communities From Rocky Terrain to a Sea of FlowersThe Choglamsar flower field is already showcasing what is possible at such an altitude Developed in just two months plantation began on July with the first blooms appearing in the first week of September At Stakna nearly lakh lilies were planted in August with the

18 Sep 2026

Wanderlust

Munnar Turns Purple! The Flower That Blooms Once Every 12 Years Has Everyone Talking

There is something magical about a flower that refuses to hurry For nearly years the Neelakurinji grows quietly across the highlands of the Western Ghats Then almost as if following nature s own calendar it bursts into bloom and transforms the hills into a breathtaking carpet of blue-violet That rare spectacle is now unfolding around Munnar Large stretches of the Korandakkad and Chokramudi hills near Mattupetty have begun flowering with the season starting in August The Chokramudi area was opened to visitors on August according to an ANI report And as September progresses forest officials expect the bloom to spread further across the higher slopes including parts of Meesapulimala But What About The sight has sparked an intriguing question If Neelakurinji is blooming in has the famous bloom arrived four years early Not quite The answer lies in the flower s remarkable biology and the fact that different Neelakurinji populations

9 Sep 2026

Wanderlust