Topping the charts of India Currents’ most-read travel stories this year is Swati (Sudha) Vijayakumar’s hair-raising adventure to the summit of Half Dome while caught in sudden rains. India Currents’ CFO, Vijay Rajvaidya has been on an incredibly arduous pilgrimage on foot to the revered 12 Jyotirlinga temples in India. Landscape photographer Kalpana Menon’s story of her kayaking journey into the Texas-Louisiana Bayou in the dark of night caught the imagination of many readers, as did Kaushani Dasgupta and Indrajit Das’ travels in Transylvania. Suman Bajpai’s story on the stone carvings of Gujarat and the architectural traditions of the Solanki empire and the Sultanate of Ahmed Shah was also well-loved.
How I Almost Died Climbing Yosemite’s Half Dome
In ‘How I Almost Died Climbing Yosemite’s Half Dome,‘ Swati (Sudha) Vijayakumar narrates her experience of first training to hike Yosemite’s Half Dome and the day of the actual climb in this thrilling account. Rain struck on the slippery granite slopes leading to a petrifying climb down. As she put it, “I started to descend, taking one step at a time; I was doing okay until the granite became wet and extremely slippery. None of my physical training in the past had prepared me for this moment.”
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A Pilgrimage On Foot To 12 Jyotirlinga Temples
Embarking on a ‘Pilgrimage On Foot To India’s 12 Jyotirlinga Temples‘ in May had Vijay Rajvaidya brave extreme conditions in the scorching Indian heat where temperatures often reached “a blistering 116 degrees.” Walking along some of the arterial highways in the absence of walking paths also meant navigating highway traffic. But it was a dream that could not be put aside. As Rajvaidya says, “For years, the idea of making a pilgrimage on foot to all twelve of the Jyotirlinga Temples has fascinated me. This journey would not only allow me to connect with the locals and hear their stories, but it would also give me a chance to experience the sanctity of the temples and the transformative power of spirituality.”
Into The Bayou In The Darkness Of Night
Landscape photographer Kalpana Menon writes about her kayaking journey photographing the Texas-Louisiana bayou in ‘Into The Bayou In The Darkness Of Night.‘ It was a mystical and exhilarating experience and also a time to reflect. “Moments like these, where we step out of our comfort zones and embrace change and new experiences, are invaluable,” writes Menon. “Overcoming my fear was ultimately what allowed me to witness this, and that was very empowering. This journey as a photographer was absolutely exhilarating!”
Transylvania: In Search Of The Legend Of Count Dracula
Last Christmas, intrepid travelers Indrajit Das and Kaushani Dasgupta traveled over 2000 miles spanning Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia, and “witnessed a multitude of cultures, behaviors, cuisine.” In this story, they zoom in on Romania – ‘Transylvania: In Search Of The Legend Of Count Dracula.’
In Gujarat, Stone Carvings Reveal Secrets From The Past
Suman Bajpai explores the rich history of stone carvings which flourished for several centuries in ‘Gujarat, Stone Carvings Reveal Secrets From The Past‘. She writes, “The tradition of stonework in Gujarat evolved dramatically during two major periods: under Solanki rule (942-1304) and during the Sultanate reign (1403-1573). The Solanki bolstered Gujarat’s golden era and defined an epoch when temple architecture climaxed.”