Eventours Journeys July 2020

EVENTOURS

JOURNEYS

stories that changes the way we travel JULY 2020
ISSUE NO. 18

GETTING
LEH'D IN
LADAKH

What makes Leh
stay with you forever?

EVENTOURS

JOURNEYS

stories of travel that changes the way we travel

3 COVER STORY

Getting Leh'd in Ladakh

20 GUEST POST: Aalo- Where

the Siyom Flows quietly

14 INTERVIEW 30 FEATURED TRIP: Yoga

UPAMA BORKAR : Nuances of Yoga Cruise on the Brahmaputra
from a working professional
37 PHOTO FEATURE:

Ambubachi Mela in Guwahati

24 FROM OUR BLOG 2 EDITORIAL - Time to be

Overdone Dzukou Valley careful now : Amitabh Sarma

PAGE 1 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

EDITORIAL

I like the night. Without the dark, we'd never
see the stars.”
― Stephenie Meyer, Twilight

TIME TO BE CAREFUL NOW

A lot of things might seem distant now, but this darkness was necessary so that we see that
light tomorrow we appreciate it more.  The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has laid out
its new guidelines Safe & Seamless Travel including testing and tracing, following medical
evidence, to ensure people can enjoy Safe Travels in
the ‘new normal’. 

The guidelines will ensure that the travel sector is provided with an extensive framework to help
governments and private businesses work in collaboration to create aligned testing and
contact tracing programs. The initiative is part of the WTTC’s Safe and Seamless Traveller
Journey (SSTJ) which aims to enable a seamless, safe, and secure
end-to-end traveler experience including flights and non-air travel.

It includes systematic biometric verified identification during the journey, for the long haul and
international travel, replacing manual verifications and is contained within a new WTTC report,
published today.
 
Travelers and those who work in the Travel & Tourism sector can be assured of a more secure
and safe environment, thanks to a leap in the use of contactless technology.
 
This includes biometrics, faster clearance for inbound and outbound passengers, and offsite
processing as part of enhanced SSTJ capabilities which helps to reduce transmission.
 
The detection and isolation of those people with the virus has proved to be an effective
mechanism to curb previous outbreaks. This has enabled them to travel again without a
vaccine, as in previous outbreaks such as Ebola, SARS, and MERS. Since 80 % of COVID-19
carriers are asymptomatic according to medical experts, testing and tracing becomes crucial
to control and reduce the transmission.

PAGE 2 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

PAGE 3 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

GETTING LEH'D IN
LADAKH

COVER STORY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROALD SIEBERATH

COVER STORY

PHOTOGRAPH @ Marlon Treffers So here I am, this morning at the end of
September, at the Kusok Bakula Rimpochee Airport
It was a beautiful morning in Kathmandu. I had an in Leh. At 3256 meters, this airport overlooks the
afternoon Air India flight to New Delhi from where I Spituk Monastery. The airport is named after Kusok
fly to Leh the next morning. I was staying at the Bakula Rimpoche, who was an ambassador for
Oasis Kathmandu Hotel, which was a kind of India in Mongolia and happened to be a monk in
lifestyle upgrade to me in Nepal. I had spent Spituk. Every time I check-in and out of this airport
almost two months in this country in 2005 taking a I usually am extra cautious. The airport security is
sabbatical from my exhaustive corporate life in very tight due to its strategic location and
New Delhi. I was, back then a new generation somehow hand luggage is not allowed here. It is a
hippie in Kathmandu. That is altogether a different pilot’s skill test zone. Due to the altitude of the
story and perhaps I will be able to write a story airport, it faces a lot of head and tailwinds in the
someday on that. I decided to take a walk out of afternoon, and hence all flights land and take off
the hotel. The familiar buzz of morning traffic, in the morning. It is always a happy feeling in Leh.
fumes mixed with incense, the business of souvenir There is something very holy about these
shops and touts rushing to my eyes through a maze mountains.
of prayer flags. Kathmandu as I knew was
presenting itself to me. I had intended to spend ten days in Ladakh this
time, which technically means eight days. The first
After toying with the idea of breakfast on the two days have to be complete rest days, as one
streets and deciding against it, I headed back to need to acclimatize to the reduced oxygen levels
my hotel for my usual continental buffet breakfast. in Ladakh. Of late, I heard of many Ladakh
Leh was on my mind now. Time to catch a flight. stalwarts perish to Acute Mountain Sickness on
arrival. So I am not taking any chances, I am going
PAGE 4 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS to sleep away to glory today. It is an amazing
feeling to take yourself under a blanket without
even a fan to cool you. It is late September and
the wind especially after sunset can take the chill
to your bones.

This helps them forgive easily.  Odpal Dejor

George, the owner of Saboo Resorts, forgave my

resoluteness in the blink of an eye and our casual

welcome note progressed with practiced

familiarity. George happens to be a line producer

and is a regular in Mumbai. Any production house

needing local logistic support in Ladakh, George

was the go-to man.

So after an early lunch at Saboo Resort, I slept
away till dinner only to sleep again. The last week
was rush hour for me and somehow I made peace
with my sleep here in Ladakh.

Although I had another time off day, I intended to
take a small drive to meet my friend Rupankar
Chaliha. He is from Guwahati and had opened up
a backpacker’s hostel in Leh. I needed his interview
for my current assignment. Ladakh in a month
would be declared a union territory and the mood
was upbeat. Strange though, a substantial amount
of tourism and allied business originates from
Kashmiris staying in Srinagar and of course all
across the country wherever they are.

photograph @ Alessandro Barbieri Eventours Travels LLP conducts
special interest tours in India
Ever since I started my business travel to Ladakh, I only through its channel
go through Himalayan Crossroads, a travel agency partners. To be a channel
run by Tsetan Angchuk in Leh. Tsetan also happens partner with Eventours Travels
to be the current president of All Ladakh Tour start a conversation on
Operators(ALTO) and my good friend. He gets the possibilities at
complicated things done for me in Ladakh. This [email protected] or
time the complication started with securing [email protected]
accommodation for me at Saboo Resort. A film
crew from Mumbai with trendy names had booked
the entire resort and I was intransigent. I have to
stay in Saboo, if not for anything else, but for the
food. Angchuk managed to get me a cottage
there at Saboo resort, though not on my favorite
piece of land on the property, but with all the
usual works. And lo behold! The familiarity of
places and faces began. Ladakhis had a great
quality – their faith in humanity and God.

PAGE 5 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

Photography @ Adam Romanowski

Namgyal Tsemo
Monastery

The royal city of Leh
(altitude of 3524 meters)
used to be the capitol of
the Himalayan kingdom
of Ladakh and important
stop on the trade routes
between Tibet and
Kashmir as well as China
and India.

The next day after breakfast, I took a taxi to Leh. Saboo resort is fifteen minutes away from Leh market, on the

Leh –Keylong Road in Saboo village. Rupankar Chaliha had set up his hostel on the fringes of SNM hospital in

Leh. It is called the Happy Drifter’s Leh and is quite popular. We set the conversation going on and here is the

full interview:

Rupankar
Chaliha on his
stepping into
Ladakh

There is not much about me to be shared or to
be divulged. Being born in the hills perhaps
has done the trick for me I guess, my love for
the mountains. I am from the Northeastern
state of Assam: but have been away from home
for more than a decade now, making me a bit
of an urban nomad. Evolution has changed the
way human beings live. Over the centuries we
have migrated from one place to the other for
survival, for a better life but the quench has
never been and will never be fulfilled as our
evil desires are perpetual.

Living amidst the concrete jungle I always
have the strong yearning to run away from
human habitation in search of something I
liked to call “inner peace”. The wanderlust in
me has taken me to a few places across this
incredible country and the globe and yet there
is still a long way to go. The urge for travel has
led me to quit my corporate career after 16
years and start my venture Happy Drifter’s in
2018.  Ladakh happened by chance.

BTS: What kind of destination do you think is Ladakh?

Rupankar Chaliha: Ladakh is more often called an adventure destination. But I guess it has more to offer

tourists then only adventure. It’s a place where one can reconnect with nature.

BTS: Why did you choose Ladakh as your place of business?

Rupankar Chaliha: As I said Ladakh happened by chance. I had never been to Ladakh before HD started. It was

Arpan who gave me Ladakh as an option, and rest, as they say, is history. The moment I landed in Ladakh, this

place seemed like my second home. From a business point of view, if you look at India in the world map, there

are only a few places that will come to your mind- Goa or Kerala or Ladakh. The influx of tourists both national

and international has been very high in Ladakh in recent years. As it’s a tourist place, the travel and tourism

sector get very good support from the government.

BTS: Do you think we are pushing Ladakh towards a mass tourism destination?

Rupankar Chaliha: Yes, I strongly agree with this and we as travel agents have to play a very important role to

help Ladakh maintain its ecology which over the years has been hugely affected.BTS:

PAGE 7 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

EXPLORING BTS: What is Happy Drifter’s and how
is it like “drifting” in Ladakh?
THE TOPS Rupankar Chaliha: Happy Drifters is
a chain of budget-friendly traveler
OF THE hostels providing food/
lodging/tours to solo and budget
WORLD travelers.

Over the centuries we have BTS: Why is Ladakh “a point of
migrated from one place to arrival” for most Indian adventure
the other for survival, for a seekers?
better life but the quench Rupankar Chaliha: Actually it is Leh
has never been and will to be precise. Ladakh is a UT now
never be fulfilled as our evil and Leh is one of its major towns.
desires are perpetual. It’s the arrival point because all the
other destinations are easily
accessible from Leh and the only
airport of Ladakh is in Ladakh.

After leaving Happy Drifter’s I
headed to the main bazaar in Leh. A
cup of coffee is necessary in any of
the rooftop restaurants in Leh. Leh
has tons of restaurants and café
catering to all sorts of preferences.
Although one of my favorite hangout
zones had been the Gesmo
Restaurant in Tall Fort Road,
opposite to Hotel Yak, I decided to
try something else
today. Gesmos was slow in service
but very good with food. Since I was
not hungry, I was not in the mood for
bad service and it is not a rooftop
one that I was keen on today. I
walked down the Main Bazaar road,
which was under construction last
time I was here. The markets were
thin as most of the Kashmiris who
owned shops here moved to Goa
where the season has started.
Ladakh end in Goa start. It was the
last week of September and the
tourists were fading out in Ladakh. It
is mostly complex travelers like me
to visit Ladakh during this time.
Some for business, some to save
money.

SABOO RESORT

SABOO VILLAGE, LEH

I eyed a new café – Lehvenda Café on the A toddler walked with his mother to an
second floor of Megon Complex and Automatic Teller Machine booth. This
decided to park myself there for some street is lined with quite a number of
time. The ambiance looked well, the girl in these ATMs. I am glad most of my
the counter pleasant and some friendly favorite cafes here like the Lamayuru
locals inside. It was opposite to Brasil Restaurant, Chopsticks and the Tibetan
Café, another of my favorite places in Kitchen accept cards. I hate to carry
Leh. As I waited for my coffee and cash, I tend to lose track of my
sandwich, a string of thoughts ran through expenditures. Using a card is healthy for
my mind and my eyes swayed from places me, the shock is just once a month.
to people down below on the street. The
charity was running behind schedule and And the next day my driver takes me to
although some of our overseas fundraisers Lamdon School, where I had to meet
achieved their purpose, our main fund- some locals and discuss on my current
raising events in Australia battled with assignment. Afternoon, I would be
volume. We were in the process of building meeting Arpan Kalita for a late lunch.
a new school in Rangdum in Zanskar Arpan is conducting a night photography
Valley. Zanskar Valley is in the east of workshop in Nubra Valley and is arriving
Ladakh. In a couple of days, I will assess in Leh today. Well if Khardung La pass is
the fund requirements in Leh before I kind to him and allows him a snow-free
proceed to Nubra valley. Life is slightly passage, lunch awaits him or else he has
complicated when you have work in your to go hungry till dinner. Well, fortunately,
mind in Ladakh. Well, sipping my coffee, for everyone Khardung La was tamed and
which was quickly turning cold, I saw a seemed to be in a happy mood today.
group of school children on a cleanliness Arpan arrived on time.
mission on the street. They were carrying
brooms and garbage bags and of course a PAGE 9 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS
banner. The white clouds laced the hills
beyond the villages, as far as I can see
them. A worn-out foreigner with a guitar
and a backpack seemed a little lost.

GETTING
LEH'D IN
LADAKH

EVENTOURS JOURNEYS
COVER STORY

I NEVER THOUGHT THE
MOUNTAINS CAN CHANGE
THE WAY I SAW LIFE.

The meeting in the school was as expected
resourceful and I explained to our team in Leh
how things were materializing. We were on one
page when it comes to prioritizing the Zanskar
project. The direction of my conversation was
simple. We needed to utilize resources
whatever was available to people who needed
most. And anyone who came out of the needy
curve had to give way to the more needy ones.
We were going to make future efforts to enlist
more sponsors but that will take some time.
We were ready to share. ‘Thousand of candles
can be lighted from a single candle.
Happiness never decreases by being shared.’At
lunch, I met Arpan Kalita at a relatively new
place called the Tingmo at Thongsal. It is in
Changspa Road, near the Shanti Stupa in Leh.

PAGE 10 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

EVENTOURS No matter how many times you visit Leh, it never
ceases to awe you. It is the people for sure and the
TRAVELS landscape. The mountain breed smile from a
stranger who ‘Julleys’ you the old lady circling the
After saying bye to Arpan Kalita and confirming that prayer wheels, the cold wind dancing with the
we will re-group again in Guwahati to discuss our prayer flags and the smell of yak butter, you cannot
proposed project ‘Alternative Experience’, I decided be nut happy in Ladakh. I then decide to visit the
to take a stroll of the market. Leh can be an Leh Palace, This old monument in Leh seems to be in
interesting place when it comes to shopping. I have a battered state but the views of the town are very
a deep penchant for Buddhist artifacts and junk assertive. It is believed that the Leh palace was
memorabilia. Moreover, I wanted to check out designed to replicate the Potala Palace in Lhasa.
stores available for buying or renting adventure History says that the Ladakhi royal family
equipment in Leh. abandoned the palace when the Dogra army invade
it in 1836 and moved to Stok, One particular place
I found a very interesting outdoors gear shop on the within the place that fascinates me is the Royal
first floor of Mitsik Building, near Chowklang Gate in Shrine. It is on the third floor beside a small
the main Bazaar called the Neo Leh. They practically courtyard.
had everything you needed for a trek or a bicycle or
a motorcycle trip. While there are sprawling flea Hall of Fame , Leh
markets in pockets of Leh, the Tibetan Market is one
place I would not like to miss. Mostly managed by If you are in Leh you must not miss the Hall of Fame
the womenfolk, it is a good idea to first look around. museum. It is a museum run by the Indian Army,
Usually, they make a lot of fuss if you happen to be located on the Leh-Kargil road, about 5 km from
their first or last customer of the day and do not buy Leh. Dedicated to Indian soldiers who lost their lives
anything. However, a good gossip can earn you a in Indo-Pak wars, the museum is full of pictures of
good bargain. I had been mentally playing with the the wars. There is an entry fee of 25 INR per person
idea of taking home some metal statues, but since and an additional 50 INR for photography.
my exit flights out of Leh were never directly to
home, I could not do much.

The next day I decided to be a tourist in Leh for the
eleventh time! It was a day I had no ‘paycheck’ work
and had the car all to myself with a driver. I started
with a visit to the  Shanti Stupa. It is Japan’s gift to
Ladakh. Built-in 1991,  Shanti Stupa  is best visited in
the afternoon and probably the day before you fly
out of Leh. Now that is not a law but more a
traveler’s logic. You will get a stunning panoramic
view of the valley and it helps you keep alive the
emotional connect you might have accrued with
Ladakh.  Shanti Stupa  was built to promote world
peace commemorating 2500 years of Buddhism as
a religion.

Shanti Stupa ,Leh

PAGE 11 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

The next stop was Spituk Monastery. There was
something that always escaped me in Leh. The
masked  (Chham)  dances  of the New Year in Spituk
Monastery. Spituk is an 11th-century architecture
dedicated to goddess Tara. Although I had been
lucky to witness masked dances elsewhere, I heard
the one in Spituk has its own charm of authenticity.
The masked dances provide a link between popular
and mystical, hard to attain, Buddhism.

Leh Palace, Leh Spituk , Monastery

Well we had time today and my driver was Well, the day ended quite well. I asked Mehtab, my
enthusiastic, so we decided to stray away to Shey. driver, who hails from Kargil, how he was doing.
Shey Palace and monastery is at an altitude of Always smiling he said, ‘Thik Hain Saab’, meaning all is
11204 feet and is on the way to Thiksey and Hemis well. Yes, indeed all is well that ends well. So sitting
monasteries. Usually, there is a crowd in Shey but next to him, we started our drive back to Saboo
this time since it was beyond the tourist season. I village. The internet was strong surprisingly, so I
was left alone and my pictures were devoid of decided to play some blues from my playlist on my
tourist subjects. One thing about the monasteries in Amazon Prime application.
Ladakh is the stunning views they offer of the
adjoining villages, mountains, valleys and towns or “Everybody clap your hands
all of them. I guess no wonder I find the And don’t you just love the way he sings?
word  ‘panoramic view”  exhaustively used to Don’t you know we’re riding with the King?”
describe Ladakh visually.
Eric Clapton sang ‘Ridin’ with the King’ on the car’s
music system. We reached Saboo on time to wind up
the day.  I don’t know how many more times Ladakh
will keep on calling me back. Sometimes I feel I
needed to take a few years before I visit that place
again. But fortuitously, Ladakh keeps bringing me back
in. No wonder I revel in getting Leh’d in Ladakh so
much. Not everyone gets what he wants. His Holiness,
The Dalai Lama once said ” Remember that sometimes
not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of
luck.” 

Until we meet again Leh, Julley!.

Shey Monastery , Ladakh

PAGE 12 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

YINOTGERANDAATIYONAL

JUNE 21

FEATURED
INTERVIEW WITH
a vibrant Yogini

FEATURED INTERVIEW

UPAMA
BORKAR

INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY TRIBUTE

PAGE 14 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

UPAMA BORKAR In her own words “I was always inclined
towards anything and everything creative
How yoga keeps her sane so it was quite natural for me working as
an architect ever since graduation. I like
A professional architect, a mother, a wife, a designing spaces, turning them into living
daughter, a sister, and an urban dweller of breathing homes, and growing offices.
Mumbai- so many roles in one person, the That’s the professional side of me.
last one taking its highest toll.
Besides that, I am an avid traveler who
Upama Borkar, born and raised in Guwahati, gets inspiration to paint from all the
now settled in Mumbai, is a graduate from adventures. I love to do oil paintings,
Sir J.J. College of architecture and a YOGA mostly landscapes. I also enjoy doing
addict. sculptures. My travel stories also include
trying out different cuisines. I think the
INTERVIEWED BY best way to get to try local food(with the
'Bearded Traveling Soul' authentic flavor)is when you try out street
food of that place.
Amitabh Sarma
My trips are always off the mainstream
tourist spots, I enjoy the beaten tracks as I
love walking (don’t you think a new place
is best explored by foot then be driven
around ?) I am a firm believer in being fit,
both physically and mentally. I started
inculcating fitness as a routine in my daily
life after I graduated. I never thought
Yoga would help me fill up those gaps in
my routine which I otherwise thought
were complete to keep me going. Yoga
helped to complete my self-development
process.”

I like designing spaces,
turning them into
living breathing homes
and growing offices.

PAGE 15 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

-   FEATURED INTERVIEW   -

The Essence of Yoga

BTS: Hi Upama, thanks for taking the time to do this interview. Could
you give our readers a bit of information about you, where you’re
from, and tell us a bit about the kind of yoga that you do?

Upama: Thank you, BTS for giving me this opportunity to bring Yoga to this
platform.I live in Bombay now but I was born and raised in Guwahati,
Assam. I am an architect by profession and I firmly believe that I am
a  Yogini  at heart. I was always a disciplined person but I never really
thought Yoga was something I would venture into. Like most people, I too
believed yoga is all about spreading the mat, stretching, and meditating. I
never thought Yoga was for me as I was always a very active person. It
was by chance I entered The Yoga Institute, and that changed my life
forever. Yoga has been my way of living ever since.

I am a certified yoga teacher now from The Yoga Institute. I was extremely
fortunate to get trained under Dr.Jayadev Yogendra and Smt.Hansaji
Yogendra (President of the international board of yoga and vice-president
of Indian yoga association).The Yoga we practice in The Yoga Institute
is Ashtanga Yoga or the yoga of eight limbs.

It is the classical yoga of  Patanjali.The yoga sutras by Patanjali were PHOTOGRAPHS
UPAMA BORKAR
written around 2000 BC or even earlier. These sutras are built on

a Samkhaya philosophy and Bhagwad Gita.

Yoga practice and
philosophy go hand in hand.
If you can steady your mind,
you can steady your
balance.

BTS: How long have you been practicing yoga? What have you learned from yoga?

Upama:  I have been practicing Yoga for several years now. When I started practicing Yoga years back I thought it was
only about  asana(like most people do in the world). Those days I used  asana  only for stretching after a workout or
meditate to cool and quiet my mind. I never took it as a subject to be studied at every level of human personality.Yoga
can be understood only through practice. This practice will take you further into yoga. Yoga is the teacher if you have
faith in it. Follow it wholeheartedly, experience it, and achieve a resulting change of consciousness. That is the whole
story of Yoga.

PAGE 16 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

-   FEATURED INTERVIEW   -

BTS: Do you stay active in other ways
besides yoga?

Upama: I have always been a disciplined
child but like any true  Axomiya, our love
for good food is always overruling all
other conversations in any gathering. I
got into fitness after graduation. It
started as a long walk along the
coastline after work to clear up my
thoughts. Gradually it turned into a run
and soon I started to get mindful about
my regime. I started to look forward to
my daily run at the end of each day. One
thing added to another soon I started
practicing Yoga. I kept trying a little
every day. The advantage is once you
follow anything sincerely, it gives results
and that strengthens you to go further.

BTS: Your current Instagram tagline
reads "peripatetic". How do you think
yoga can be carried out in vivid
locations?

  THE
PHILOSOPHY OF
Upama: I believe if we have feet we are YOGA

meant to travel, otherwise we would After all, if you still need to connect with other yogis to practice just
speak up! The beauty of travel is that you can always find a yoga class
have had roots, isn’t it?The Vedic form of to practice it anywhere in the world, be it in your hotel or nearby…as to
meditate we just need our own self seated in any corner of the world
Yoga talks about a sedentary lifestyle. and activate our life energy(Prana).

The modern world will never let us know BTS: What has yoga done for you as a person?

what it was like to be seated under a Upama: “I am all that my mind is- all that occupies my mind at that
particular moment”Yoga has changed me by changing my way of
tree for years.The best part about yoga thinking and looking at things. We miss out on most elementary things in
our daily life. We do not take even a moment in the day to sit quietly
is that you need nothing more than and reflect. Our minds are constantly working on something or the
other. We never listen to our consciousness due to all these noises in
yourself to practice it all the while you our heads. Just sit in peace and tranquility, quiet your mind (that sounds
easy but the hardest task in the world). Practice it daily, you will get it
can be traveling around the sometime. Yoga practice and philosophy go hand in hand. If you can
steady your mind, you can steady your balance. For me, Yoga has
world.Different people like to wear bought that tranquility in my mind that I can be at peace in any adverse
situation. In the chaotic world we live in there’s nothing more beautiful
different outfits for yoga but the then attaining a blissful state of mind. It has shown me the path to my
inward journey.
consensus seems to be that they all

choose comfortable clothing. So you can

just choose to wear whatever you feel

comfortable in to practice it anywhere.

The secret is, yoga can be practiced in

nude too! You forgot your yoga mat no

worries, you can do yoga on the grass or

the warm sand .. barrier not necessary.

Any hotel room will provide you with

towels, pillows, books that all can be

used a prop for asana practice. If you

can’t practice without a class then there JULY 2020 I ISSUE NO 18

are a plethora of podcasts outlining

classes. You can even download a ton of

episodes before departure and refresh

while on local wifi. You can even

substitute yoga straps for scarves,

socks(knee length), and books for blocks.

PAGE 17 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

BTS: Is yoga a way of life or a way to exercise and BTS: What do you think of famous people,
meditate? like Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna, getting into
yoga?  Is it good for yoga or does it make it a fad?
Upama: Yoga is a way of life. The true purpose of yoga
cannot be other than a spiritual one. When I say that I UPAMA: Yes, a lot of people all over the world are
mean yoga is about integrating certain daily functions following Yoga nowadays. Yoga was always meant to
and habits into our routines. Yoga needs discipline. be propagated. Yoga is not a fad it is a journey. It is a
Daily activities like eating, sleeping, exercise, journey that every young and old person can join in as
recreation, etc everything is monitored against a larger no prior skill is required.
comprehensive outlook. Perseverance in our daily Yoga is simply what it is. Yoga is more concerned with
attitude ( removing  kleshas  like anger, hatred, ego, the psychological aspects of the mind than the purely
attachment, fear, etc)has to be a continuous effort and physical aspects. Reaching the highest level of
with sincerity. This can be achieved only when you take consciousness is the true essence of yoga. You can
yoga as a way of life and not just a tool to meditate or practice it anywhere-with a tribe or alone, in your
exercise to reduce weight. backyard or a studio in fancy legging or in the nude.
For example,  asanas  are never aggressive, fast, That is the beauty of Yoga.
repetitive, and mechanical. You are meant to be Of course, there are many fads out there in the name
mindful while practicing each step. When you control of yoga-like diets, exercise programs, style of clothing,
your breathing, you can focus your mind and become etc. All you need to do yoga is an open mind,
aware of your muscle movement. Every breath is commitment, and just enough vulnerability to believe in
connected to every movement. yourself.

For me, Yoga has bought that
tranquility in my mind that I can be at

peace in any adverse situation.

-   FEATURED INTERVIEW   -

PAGE 18 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

-   FEATURED INTERVIEW   - Yoga is not a therapy but
practicing yoga creates a balanced
nervous and endocrine system
that directly influences all other
organs of the body.

BTS: Do you think practicing yoga and following an aligned
diet is important?

UPAMA: To a yogi preserving and improving one health is the
primary duty as health affects one's personality at all levels. Yoga
believes that we behave as the food we eat. Food is related to
our mental state like emotions and passions, which in turn have
effects upon our health. These emotions if indulged in induces a
peculiar form of diseases and these become chronic in time if we
don't heal it at the mental level. It is an ongoing circle. A sattvik
diet is necessary for ensuring a positive outlook and which in turn
is essential for our overall well-being.

 
 
BTS: Do you believe it is an alternative form of healing and
medicine?

UPAMA :Yes, I believe that yoga is an alternative form of healing.
Yoga works best at prevention than cure. Total health is a natural
byproduct of Yoga. Yoga is not a therapy but practicing yoga
creates a balanced nervous and endocrine system that directly
influences all other organs of the body. This belief has further
strengthened as many people suffering from lifestyle disorders of
constitutional nature are cured as a result of yoga practice.

 
  
BTS: Finally, what are you looking forward to over the next
year?

UPAMA: I am an eternal optimist. I am sure we will be moving
ahead from this Virus scare shortly. This lockdown time will heal
and reboot nature as well as human beings. We have a wonderful
time to reconnect with our inner selves. I hope the human race
respects life more, remain grateful to nature, and learn to remain
in harmony. I am waiting patiently to travel again. Some beautiful
paths cannot be discovered without getting lost. On a personal
level, I need to get a better grip over a few emotional aspects of
life. Learn to accept that nothing is permanent. I need to work on
Viragya (detachment) and travel a long way to find my Samadhi.
Never stop your wanderlust!

PAGE 19 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

photography by Giacomo Bettoni/Eventours Journeys

AALO
Where the Siyom flows quietly
SIMANTA BARMAN

July 2020 / Volume 18 / eventours journeys

NEXOPRLTOHREIANSGT INDIA

From food, to monumental structures, we learn more
about the culture of the middle east

ARTICLE BY

SIMANTA
BARMAN

Simanta Barman is a Post
Gradute in Mass
Communication & Journalism
from Tezpur University,
Assam

What comes to your mind when you think of going to the He is a travel blogger
mountains? The yellow paddy fields stretching over vast lands who writes at
vanishing into the horizon and the rural retreats, with its therandomtrotters.com.
humble citizens and a social life where everyone knows When he is not
everybody else. scampering around for
food, people stories and
places, you will find him
riding his bicycle,
chasing sunsets on rural
routes.

On my first solo trip to the West Siang district of Arunachal Reach him at
Pradesh, I chanced to experience these and many more. It was [email protected]
the end of September in 2019, I boarded the Lachit Express
train from North Rangapara station in Assam to the town of
Silapathar, bordering Arunachal Pradesh. This was my starting
point to travel north to Aalo or Along as it is known.

PAGE 21 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

I boarded the train at 12:35 AM mid-night and reached
Silapathar, a little past 6: 30 AM in the morning. It was
a few minutes of walk to the taxi counter. With the rain
slashing from all sides, the umbrella did not offer me
much help. The shared taxis take you to Aalo from
Silaphathar. The shared taxis had a much known
commercial ritual of queuing up one after the other and
waiting until almost all the seats are occupied with
people and luggage.

The one that I had booked myself into, started at around
10 AM and we were doing a good time on the road. The
transition from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh happened in
a whiz, the sights outside kept me occupied. The whole
journey feels like a progression in delightful sights.
Straight on to your face mountains, thick green jungles
and water bodies made the journey a delightful
project. The scenery changed from cattle grazing in the
meadows to thatched huts in the mountain top jungles
to terraced paddy fields. Only one thing remained
constant, the vast blue sky with occasional patches of
grey and white clouds.

The shared taxis made a pit stop at Pasighat and that’s
when you realize you have entered Arunachal Pradesh.
There are plenty of eateries where they serve you
traditional cuisines. It would always be a good idea to
use the restrooms here as these taxis do not make many
stops on the way.

As we drove up the mountain from Pasighat to Aalo, the landscape gradually changes. The houses change shape
and the vegetation gets thicker. The occasional orange orchard laces the road and you can see water flowing
through small streams out of the mountains. The entire journey to Aalo is in itself an adventure. Narrow roads cut
through the mountains and the majestic valley hidden behind a soufflé of clouds will make your heart skip a beat.

The journey from Silapather to Aalo took us almost five and a half hours. The taxi stand in Aalo is opposite to the
Circuit House, adjoining the bus station. Aalo is a quaint little mountain town with shops and small restaurants
stacking up the main road.

Aalo or Along as it was known earlier is a headquarter town of the West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The
Siyom river, rising from the Pari mountains in the Mechuka area, now acts as a demarcating line between the Siang
and the West Siang districts.

PAGE 22 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

The real beauty, though, which I have realized in this
trip is in the villages adjoining Aalo. The prominent
villages are Logum Jini , Eyi, and Biru , and they have a
well-protected zone. The beautiful gates just before
you enter these villages with traditional motifs are
quite a sight. The Aalo villages are close-knit societies,
lingering on to their traditional way of life amidst
modernity. The stilt houses in the villages make good
use of readily available wood and bamboos. The
bridges in the nearby rivers are made of iron structures
that hang by strong mild steel ropes. Patum bridge in
Aalo is a more popular one and another one in Kabu
Village. Kabu village is accessible by road, which
seems to be a fairly good one, because most of the
village roads are spotty and severe.

Siyom river was tamed, as it was September and
represented a gentle outlook. I have heard it to be
rough during the monsoon months. One thing that kept
me glued to Aalo and perhaps will stay with me once I
leave, is the generosity and humbleness of the people.
If the rural life is scenic, the hospitality of the villagers
is more inviting.

I decided to stay at the Circuit House guesthouse in The three days that I spent in Aalo had me thinking
Aalo. Aalo has several hotels and homestays. The Siyom about the wrapped up urban life I belong to. The
river flows through the heart of Aalo town and it’s a thukpa (a Tibetan noodle soup dish)  and the momos  (
photographer’s canvas with the mountains lining the dumplings)  tasted different here in Aalo. The
river early in the morning. interactions with the locals, the stories that they told,
and the whole landscape will remain in my memory
long after I leave Aalo.

photographs by Simanta Barman

The old market of Aalo is filled with shops selling clothes for a feature in our blog or e-
to traditional things. The locals from the nearby villages magazine do write to us at
bring in their wares, mostly agricultural products and [email protected]
bamboo crafts to be sold in the local markets in Aalo. I
had a good time strolling in the markets and munching
on local snacks. 

The Indian Army has a base camp in Aalo and civilians
an go to their wet canteens. The delectable dumplings
are the town’s favorite there and civilians can also
watch movies in the small Army movie hall.

PAGE 23 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

OPINION ARTICLE

ODVVZEAURLDKLEOOYUNE

DTRZEUKKOU VALLEY

Remember how we overloaded ourselves in Kheer Ganga? The National yhNtaTaoodrhaaruusivgisvrteabiahtsnleralfttecufnuiokolndrrtemiIarstnesenhdakedeaieapiondp.kofooipnlmiuangltetaesrotfic
Green Tribunal (NGT) through the High Court had to ban tourism in
Kheer Ganga. Personally, it was a big relief for me. I was tired of these
'adventure companies' promoting the Kheer Ganga trek in Parvati Valley
for as low as 4000 Indian rupees.  Himachal Pradesh had witnessed a
toxic tourism growth that was killing the whole region steadily. For
heaven's sake, the very purpose of a mountain trek is to seek solace and
take a break from the chaos. Why would you want to take your plastics,
your loud hip-hop music, and your faked hopeless hippie imagery up
there and spoil it all?

PAGE 24 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

CAMELBAK FOR YOURTNHEEXNT EOWUETSDTOOTERCAHD&VEGNETAURRSE

the Dzukou Valley Trek

In November 2018. A massive forest fire Maintained by the Southern Angami Youth Organization
erupted in the scenic Dzukou Valley in (SAYO) in Kohima, the Dzukou valley trek is nature's
Nagaland. It took more than 60 volunteers craftsmanship done without stray thoughts. The valley
especially from the local organization called spreads across the states of Nagaland and Manipur and is
Southern Angami Youth Organization (SAYO) at an altitude of 2452 m. The Dzukou valley trek has two
to contain the fire in a dawn to dusk, do or flavors – the summer and winter. While the summer trek
burn away operation. Although there was zero takes you through colorful flowers woven on a green
human causality, the flora and fauna took a canvas, the winter one is on a frostbitten green canvas.
massive hit. The volunteers have to use sack Each has its peril and sweetness. Strangely as per Angami
clothes and machetes in a close encounter myth, Dzukou is considered a soulless dull region, a place
with the fire. Some trekkers from Manipur where the dead rest before departing. The Dzukou valley is
have camped in the southwestern area of the one of the most sought after experiences by the living,
Dzukou valley and had left a fire for cooking modern backpacker from mainland India. It is said, a river
unattended. This might be a one-off incident existed with water that heals and a white elephant roams
in Dzukou Valley that exhibited a peril in the the valley. I once remember, in my first trip to this valley,
making for an impending course of action. before it was mapped into the commercial tourist circuit,
running into a village headman, whose approval was
In 2014 January, a forest fire in the nearby needed to get water from a nearby river. The water was
Mt.Japfu was almost at loggerheads to salty.
annihilate Dzukou valley. The army had to use
choppers to contain the spread of the fire.
The source remains a mystery, as most of the
terrain was not accessible on foot.

PAGE 25 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

perils of mass
tourism

Mass tourism is never a bright idea and does not make a
long-term good business sense. Now the whole term of
'sustainability' is very-broad based and occasionally
confusing and conflicting in nature. Nagaland's history with
the process of conservation is a very sad story. The
Tragopan Wildlife Sanctuary is a namesake piece of land,
no hornbills fly in Nagaland even though a massive annual
festival is staged in its name, you still see young kids
roaming with wooden catapults and adults hugging around
with homemade rifles – I am sure no one is going on a war.
While taking some guests to see the annual migration of
Amur falcons making a pit stop in the Doyang Valley in
Nagaland, ironically I saw people waving flocks of dead
birds as passing cars hoping to make a quick sale.

Everyone loves a cheap deal, and customers as well as
regulators have become addicted to the gratification of
cheap travel options, that a form of 'intentional blindness'
has infected us all. Dzukou valley is a beautiful place and
people have every right to be here. Nevertheless, the whole
idea should be to bring in nothing and take away nothing. I
am certainly not in favor of censorship in tourism. However,
I have seen destinations succumb to mass tourism.
Remember Shimla, Mussoorie, Dharmashala, Manali, Leh
and our very own Shillong and Tawang, I can go on and on.
The problem with mountain treks is that it does not look
good overloaded with people. Moreover, to top it all, there
is a time limit on how long someone can keep cleaning
other people's mess.

No matter how much the bureaucrats scream on India's
focus with 'up-market, high value' tourism, what they lack is
a road map to tap the domestic market. There is a need to
sensitize the domestic tourist and equip the locals with a
conservation module. One thing we have to understand is
the commercial mathematics behind mass tourism. More
tourism often means fewer benefits to the local
communities as the cost price of commodities and
infrastructure increases. I am also not very convinced with
the current breed of tourism consumers, especially us
Indians. We think cheap travel is a right and not a perk of
advanced technological opportunity.

PAGE 26 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

Conservation in Dzukou Valley

Lately, SAYO- Southern Angami Youth Organization has done an excellent job of keeping the Dzukou valley.
They have managed to formulate their own set of rules for people to embark on the trek and thereby bringing
a process to the whole endeavor. Dzukou is a youthful destination and it suffers from low barriers of entry and
lack of regulations. This is encouraging rapid growth and conjecture. And Nagaland's administrative tussle
with Manipur on ownership of the Dzukou Valley trek is making things worse.
The role of SAYO, who has taken the onus single-handedly to preserve Dzukou Valley has increased. Regular
trainings are conducted to volunteers of SAYO on biological conservation, tourism, and cultural subjects.

How to reach Kohima

Kohima, the state capital of Nagaland is connected by a road network with all the major airports in Northeast
India. The nearest airports are the Dimapur Airport (DMU) and the Bir Tikendrajit International Airport (IMF) in
Imphal. From Dimapur Airport it is a 3 hours drive to Kohima and from Imphal Airport it is a four and half hours
drive. If you are doing things on your own, you have local taxis and buses that will take you from Dimapur to
Kohima. Alternatively, you can take a train from Guwahati to Dimapur. I prefer the Jan Shatabdi Express train
that leaves Guwahati at 6: 30 AM and reaches Dimapur at 10:40 AM. And then, take one of those black and
yellow shared taxis to Kohima. Some great overnight buses take you from Guwahati to either Kohima or
Dimapur.

PAGE 27 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

Accommodations in
Kohima:

Hotel Blue Bayou: Modern hotel just
opposite to the Kohima War Cemetery.
Hotel Vivor: Hotel Vivor has 29 charming
rooms which are categorized into
Standard, Premium, Deluxe, Deluxe Suite,
and Executive Suite & Niathu Presidential
Suite.

Hotel De Oriental: Situated on the
highway and easy to access modern hotel

Hotel Razhu Pru: Quirkily poised between
a heritage and boutique hotel, Razhu Pru
was originally a family home built in the
post-world war II winter of 1946

Touphema Tourist Village: The
accommodation is a series of huts in
Naga style at Touphema village

Dovopie Inn: With soothing traditional Dzukou is a youthful
decor, this inn at Khonoma village, has six destination and it
rooms and perhaps the café, known as suffers from low
Zievo Coffee Café is one of the best barriers of entry and
located in Nagaland. lack of regulations.

Dimori Cove: Next to the Hornbill Festival
site, an interesting boutique
accommodation.

Alder Retreat: Located 10 minutes away
from the city, Alder Retreat is the ideal
place for travelers who want to get away
from the rush and pollution of the
town.

Medom's B&B: A homestay run by Dr.
Kenny is in one of the most picturesque
locations in Kohima, Nagaland.

Morung Lodge: A bed and breakfast
homestay located in the heart of Kohima

PAGE 28 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

Reaching Dzukou Valley

The Dzukou valley trek can be taken from two Best time to visit Dzukou Valley
points – either Jakhama Village, 20 km from
Kohima or Viswema village, 25 km from Kohima. The best time to do the Dzukou valley trek is from
There are local taxis that will take you to either of June to the end of September. The valley is
the villages. The trek from Jakhama is steeper but covered with flowers although the rains can be a
takes less time while the Viswema trek is loftier dampener. After September, the winter trek
but takes longer. The beauty is of course the starts. Although with less romance in the valley,
same. The recommended option is to go in the winter experience is very different.   
through Viswema and come out through Jakhama.
Either way, depending on your physical conditions "Away, away, from men and towns,
and the time you spend on photography, it will To the wildwood and the downs
take 2 – 3 hours to reach the rest house once you To the silent wilderness,
reach the valley. Where the soul need not repress its music."
 
Stay in Dzukou Valley Percy Bysshe Shelley
 
The last time I did the trek in 2017, the entry fees The Corona Virus pandemic has taught us a lot of
were 20 INR for people from neighboring villages, things and although immediate future to tourism
50 INR for Indians and 100 INR for foreign looks shaky, the future looks bright. Nature has
nationals, to be paid once. The dormitory charges taken time to heal itself. And once things brighten
in the rest house were 50 INR per head and up, we should be careful not to rush into things.
something called the VIP room was for 300 INR We would not want the cycle to repeat, would
per room. Additionally, you can pay for foam we?
mattresses, blankets, and even firewood, which
ranged approximately 50 INR for each item. A
basic dinner and breakfast are provided on
additional payments. You can also camp in the
valley. But again I am reiterating the fact that you
have to be a responsible camper. Dzukou is a
plastic-free zone and you have to pay a security
fee if you are taking in plastic bags. The security
fee is refunded once you give enough proof to the
volunteers of SAYO that you came back with
those bags. One can carry camping gear or you
can hire camping gear in Kohima.

Dzukou is a plastic-free zone and you have to pay a
security fee if you are taking in plastic bags. The
security fee is refunded once you give enough proof to
the volunteers of SAYO that you came back with those
bags.

PAGE 29 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

Photograph @ Roger Jackson

YOGA

CRUISE

BRAHMAPUTRA

BY EVENTOURS TRAVELS

FEATURED ITINERARY

YOGA CRUISE

in the Brahmaputra

EVENTOURS
TRAVELS
LLP

PAGE 31 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

PAGE 32 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS Written by EVENTOURS TRAVELS  Photo by Aakash Suresh

ASSAM

Assam boasts two out of India’s five UNESCO environmental World Heritage sites, and we have devised
this 8-night package to provide visits to both these sites, Manas and Kaziranga National Parks, together
with a short cruise on the mighty Brahmaputra River and exploration of villages and the Pobitora
Wildlife Sanctuary.

Day 1 Meet at Guwahati airport or at Samdrup Jonghkar (Bhutan border) and drive for 4 hours/3 hours to Manas
National Park, on the border with Bhutan, checking in at Musa Retreat. This Project Tiger reserve is now
recovering well from earlier unrest – the tiger count is now estimated at around 30, and wild elephant
number some 500.

Day 2 We take an early morning jeep ride through grassland and evergreen forest, hopefully seeing several
different species of deer and monkeys, as well as some of the park’s 380 different species of birds, to arrive at
Mothanguri on the banks of Manas River with scenic Bhutan hills at the background. Our first lesson on Yoga
under your Guru will take place next to the river. This will be followed by breakfast at Mothanguri Forest Lodge.
We return to our lodge through a different route through the jungle; watch out for wild elephants and water
buffalos etc. Lunch will be at the retreat. Afternoon we walk through a tribal village. Before the sunsets
you will have a second lesson on Yoga. Evening we will witness a Bodo tribal dance.
Overnight in the retreat.

Written by EVENTOURS TRAVELS LLP Day 3 Morning we will take a short drive to the bank of Beki River, where you will have your Yoga class
for about an hour. After breakfast at the retreat, we drive 4 hrs to Guwahati to embark on the cruise
mid-afternoon close to the great Saraighat Bridge. Cruise downstream to an overnight stop close to the
south bank village of Vijaynagar. Before the sun sets attend another hour-long Yoga class on board
followed by a short lecture on Yoga.  
Day 4 This morning you will have your Yoga class on the bank of the mighty Brahmaputra. Breakfast will
be on board, disembark and explore a riverside village on foot. Cruise upstream to the little town of
Sualkuchi, loud with the clatter of looms and visit on foot its silk weaving workshops. We shall see the
whole process of silk manufacture, from cocoon to spinning to dyeing and finally to hand-weaving into
exquisite saris and dress lengths. We then drive on to Hajo, a place sacred to Hindus, Muslims and
Buddhists. We visit a hilltop Muslim shrine with far-reaching views over the surrounding rural landscape,
as well as the simple Hindu temple with its frieze of elephants and its sacred tank full of great carp,
catfish and turtles. Later we re-board and cruise to an overnight mooring near the Saraighat War
Memorial. Evening learn new lessons of Yoga on board with a sunset on the Brahmaputra.

PAGE 33 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

FEATURED TRIP

eventours travels cruise journeys

Manas enjoys stunning scenery, backed by the jungle-covered
hills of Bhutan, while Kaziranga boasts a wide range of easily
seen wildlife, the many rhinoceros being the outstanding
feature. On the river and the sand islands which dot it one can
often see great flocks of migrating waterfowl, and there is also a
good chance of seeing the rare Gangetic Dolphin.

Day 5 We will have our Yoga class on the sundeck Day 6 Cruise upstream past jungle-covered hills,
while cruising upstream. We disembark at Pandu and turn into the Kolong River. We cruise up in our
docks and are taken on a short sightseeing tour country boat for a kilometer or two to the road
of the city of Guwahati. Drive up Nilachal Hill to head from where we drive to the Pobitora Wildlife
see the holy Kamakhya temple. With its tantric Sanctuary. This small park has a dense population
rites and animal sacrifice, the more squeamish of the Asian One-Horned Rhinoceros, and we
may prefer to content themselves with the shall be unlucky if we do not spot some of these
exterior. Visit the poignant Commonwealth War amazing armoured beasts on a jeep safari
Graves cemetery as well as a high-class shop around the park. Afterward guests are driven c.4
selling local crafts. Cross by country boat to the
mid-stream Peacock Island with its population of ½ hrs to Kaziranga National Park, where we stay
Golden Langur monkeys before re-embarking and
cruising for about an hour and a half upstream to at the superbly situated and very comfortable
Kurua on the north bank.  Today evening your jungle Lodge, looking across into the park.
venue of Yoga class will be on the sundeck for Kaziranga is a World Heritage site and with a
about an hour to be followed by lecture about population of well over 1500 rhinoceros and is the
the “Origin of Yoga in India”. best place in the world to see these beasts.
There are also good populations of tiger, wild
elephant, sambar deer, swamp deer, hog deer,
wild boar and many other species.

PAGE 34 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

NO PLACE IS EVER AS
BAD AS THEY TELL YOU

IT’S GOING TO BE.

JUNGLE STORY

photograph @Amitabh Sarma

Day 7 At dawn we will have an Yoga class on the Yoga Cruise on the
bank of River Diphlu and after breakfast drive for Brahmaputra is a travel
a few minutes to Kaziranga’s Central Range for a program by EVENTOURS
Jeep safari. After breakfast drive to a Mising TRAVELS LLP and is available
tribal village, with their distinctive houses raised for booking for the year 2022
on piles. After lunch we take another jeep safari and beyond through its
in the Western Range, and scan the wilderness channel partners
from an observation tower. Before dusk we will
have another Yoga class at the resort. Details: [email protected]
[email protected]
Day 8 An early start for the 4 1/2 hour drive back

½to Guwahati airport, or 2 hr transfer to Jorhat

airport. Alternatively prolong your stay at

Kaziranga, subject to availability.

PAGE 35 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

The Nature Conservancy works with local
communities, businesses, and individuals to
protect over 100 million acres of land around
the globe.

PAGE 36 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

AMBUBACHI MELA

THE FESTIVAL OF THE BLEEDING GODDESS IN PICTURES

Every year in mid-June, thousands of devotees flock to the Nilachal hills to Northeastern India's biggest
city, Guwahati  to witness the Ambubachi festival. 'Ambubachi Mela' as it is popularly called, 'Mela'
translating to a carnival, is an annual fair celebrated for four days in the famed tantric temple of

Kamakhya. Our August issue's COVER STORY

ISSUE 18 . JULY 2020 . EVENTOURS JOURNEYS 37

PICTURE STORY

KAMAKHYA
TEMPLE

The first Koch King, Biswa
Singha rebuilt the
temple over the ruins of an
earlier temple. A lot of old
literature suggested
that these rulers had great
faith in 'tantrism' and
hence this temple evolved
as a center of learning
tantras and ritual sacrifices

PAGE 38 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

previous issues

GUEST POSTS
We are accepting guest posts in our blog
www.beardedtravelingsoul.com and our
E-magazine EVENTOURS JOURNEYS.
The minimum requirement is 500 words
and more for our E-Magazine and 1000

words or more for our blog.
Do write to us at

[email protected]

PAGE 39 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS

TRAVEL STORIES

MONTHLY
DIGITAL
PUBLICATION

@COPYRIGHT 2020
EVENTOURSTRAVELS

WWW.EVENTOURS.IN

front COVER PHOTO @marcus
fornell
JUNE 2020 EVENTOURS JOURNEYS