Menu

Skip to content

I have been to
- Asia
  - Hong Kong
  - India
    - Goa
    - Hyderabad
    - Karnataka
      - Bandipur
      - Bangalore
      - Coorg
      - Mysore
    - Kerala
    - Kolkata
    - Maharashtra
      - Karjat
      - Kolad
      - Lavasa
      - Mumbai
      - Nashik
      - Purushwadi
      - Tungarli
    - New Delhi
    - Rajasthan
      - Bishnoi
      - Jaipur
      - Udaipur
    - Satpura
    - Union Territories
      - Daman
      - Diu
      - Pondicherry
      - Silvassa
    - Uttarakhand
      - Rishikesh
  - Russia
  - Sri Lanka
  - The Maldives
  - UAE
    - Sharjah
- Europe
  - Hungary
  - Italy
  - Latvia
  - Lithuania
  - Poland
  - Spain
- North America
  - United States of America
Awards, Interviews and Published work
Want to meet Oindrila?
- Privacy Policy

Oindrila Goes Footloose

Travel Blog by Oindrila Soni

Nothing Found

It seems we can’t find what you’re looking for. Perhaps searching can help.

Search

Subscribe to my blog via email

Join 3,519 other subscribers.

Email Address

oindrilade

Formerly Oindrila De
.
Travel Writer ⛺ Epicure 🍴 Marathoner 👣
.
🌏 Latest: Travel Writing & Mental Health During COVID19👇

Finally, hotels are starting to reopen in Mumbai!

Finally, hotels are starting to reopen in Mumbai! 🤩

.

.

While you may not be able to fully travel outside of your city just yet, use this time to staycation. We often don't realize how amazing resorts, homestays and hostels can be in our backyard (read 'own city').

.

.

This is your golden opportunity to book a weekend stay at your favourite 5-star property which otherwise usually seems to be fully booked or overpriced. Most of the top hotels are running deep discounts now. Also, the government mandates that they keep the occupancy rate low. This means, better service, personalized attention and no crowding at the breakfast buffet. Yay!!

.

.

(Photo from our first night after the wedding reception last year. Thank you, @martinrsoni for the lovely surprise!😘)

.

.

#leelamumbai #theleela #theleelamumbai #5starhotel #hotelpool #swimmingpool #poolbed #palmtrees #mumbaihotels #tophotels #staycation #staycationideas #staycationing #couplevacation #romantichotels #luxurystay #luxurytravel #guardiancities #mumbaiunlocked

You know you are in paradise when the beach looks

You know you are in paradise when the beach looks like this! 😍

.

.

Caught this sight just before sunset, when the white sands turned golden and our private ocean backwater, a bright shade of sapphire.

.

.

#oindrilainmaldives #Maldives #privatebeach #beachesofinstagram #exploretheworld #maldivianblues #sandybeaches #goldensands #whitesands #oceanbackwaters #paradiseisland #paradiseislandresortmaldives #paradiseislandresort #privateisland #luxuryvacations #luxurytravel #sunsets_captures #asianbeaches #beachvacation #beachsunsets #maldivesparadise #maldivesphotography #cntgiveitashot

Is it even possible to get over the charm of empty

Is it even possible to get over the charm of empty beaches and cloud-filled skies?

.

.

One of the best trips you can take is to an island that tourists rarely visit. You are sure to get a glimpse of the authentic local lifestyle of that village if you do so. This picture from Maafushi's Velana Beach brings back all the lovely memories of The Maldives.

.

.

#maafushi #maafushiisland #kaafuatoll #kaafuatollmaldives #velanabeach #velanabeachmaldives #velana #Maldives #visitmaldives #oindrilainmaldives #beachlife #beachvibes #beach #maldivestrip #sandybeaches #localisland #localislandmaldives #publicisland #naturegram #travelideas #traveltips #cleanbeaches

I had my first ever snorkeling experience in no ot

I had my first ever snorkeling experience in no other place than The Maldives. A country so rich in marine biodiversity, the destination has certainly set the bar very high for any future underwater explorations that I might do.

.

.

I strongly recommend every traveler to do at least one underwater dive in their lifetime. The complex barrier reef ecosystem, the variety of hard and soft corals, bioluminescent phytoplanktons, coordinated schools of pelagic fish, patterned turtles and a plethora of other undersea creatures will change the way you see this world. You will admit that the Earth is indescribably beautiful!

.

.

#Maldives #oindrilainmaldives #diving #divinglife #divingtrip #divinginthemaldives #maldivesdiving #snorkeling #bananareef #bananareefmaldives #bioluminescence #bioluminescent #bioluminescentwaves #bioluminescentplankton #maldivessnorkelling #snorkelinginmaldives #snorkelingsafari #earthpics #traveldeeper #deepseadiving #visitmaldives #divingphotography

The Maldivian archipelago has more than a thousand

The Maldivian archipelago has more than a thousand little islands. If you ever feel like you need some time alone, you can get an entire island to yourself.

.

.

With nobody to weary you, such secluded places are ideal for a peaceful nap or hours of introspection. The gentle ocean breeze is potent enough to lull even an insomniac into sleep.

.

.

The adventurous ones can always carry their own snorkeling mask and jump into the lagoon to explore the house reef. And that's what travelers like me generally do. I can't wait to share my underwater experiences with all of you!

.

.

#oindrilainmaldives #velanabeach #velanabeachmaldives #maafushi #maafushiisland #kaafuatoll #kaafuatollmaldives #Maldives #maldivestourism #maldivestravel #maldivestrip #visitmaldives #publicisland #localisland #localislandmaldives #indianocean #maldivesislands #asiandestinations #travelthrowback

Did you know that architecture does not only compr

Did you know that architecture does not only comprise the exterior building structure but also the interior layout and floor plan? In fact, 'architecture' is an overarching term that includes landscaping and designs of the open spaces too.

.

.

I promised you yesterday that I would show you what British influence in the Indo-Saracenic architecture looks like, especially in the context of the Vijay Vilas Palace in Mandvi. Chequered flooring, wood framed windows that open out to a garden view, and colonial-style cane chairs are small examples of the British style. There are several others, especially spiral stairways, ceiling partitions in the same room and towers, which are also present in this palace.

.

.

Wouldn't it be lovely to sip on some Earl Gray here in the lazy afternoons?

.

.

#vijayvilaspalace #teatable #canefurniture #kutchnahidekhatohkuchnahidekha #palacesofinstagram #palaceinteriors #indosaracenicstyle #indosaracenicarchitecture #britisharchitectureinindia #britisharchitecture #colonialarchitecture #heritageproperties #mandvipalace #architecturelovers #architecturedigest #gujarattourism #palacesofindia #palacesofgujarat

Bringing you a famous architectural aspect of Vija

Bringing you a famous architectural aspect of Vijay Vilas Palace - the Indo-Saracenic style. This style of architecture is heavily influenced by Mughal designs. You can see the latticed, net-like patterns on the walls of this open courtyard inside this Kutchhi mansion.

.

.

Also noticeable is the traditional Indian style of spire endings and intricate motifs and murals on the walls. Indo-Saracenic architecture has hints of British and Western European styles too, samples of which we will see tomorrow.

.

.

P.S. Today is my husband @martinrsoni's birthday, and I'm taking this time to reflect on our last vacation which we took in March, just before the pandemic-led lockdown was imposed in India.

.

.

#indosaracenicarchitecture #indosaracenicstyle #indosaracenic #vijayvilaspalace #travelingcouple #coupleswhotravel #indianarchitecture #mughalarchitecture #kutchnahidekhatohkuchnahidekha #rajasthaniarchitecture #incredibleindia #gujarattourism #kutchtourism #travelmemories #travelhistory #mandvi #mandvipalace #oindrilagoesfootloose

(in continuation to the previous post) The narrow

(in continuation to the previous post) The narrow path opened out to this ancient mansion known as the Vijay Vilas Palace. This seemingly obscure summer palace of a Kutchhi royal family came into the limelight after the Bollywood movie 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' was filmed here.

.

.

Sprawling courtyards, intricate window frames and vintage upholstery define the regal character of this mansion. There's a blend of Indian tradition and Western influence in almost everything here, from the architecture and landscaping to the paintings and furniture on display inside the palace museum.

.

.

Coming up next: a tour of the interiors of Vijay Vilas Palace!

.

.

#vijayvilaspalace #humdildechukesanam #palacesofindia #palacesofinstagram #mandvipalace #mandvi #mandviphotography #mandvikutch #kutchnahidekhatohkuchnahidekha #kutchtourism #gujarattourism #palacesofgujarat #travelhistory

This unpaved, tree-lined road in the Kutchhi town

This unpaved, tree-lined road in the Kutchhi town of Mandvi leads to a regal beauty.

.

.

The rickety ride in a Saurashtrian chhakda with the sun beating down on us was soon forgotten when we stepped off the vehicle to enter an era of its own. (More about this tomorrow.)

.

.

#oindrilagoesfootloose #Kutch #mandvi #ruraltourism #ruralindia #kutchtourism #gujarattourism #incredibleindia #saurashtra #Gujarat

Load More… Follow me on Instagram

Popular Reads

Sustaining a Career in Travel Writing When COVID-19 Has Disrupted Tourism: Tips on Balancing Work & Mental Health
10 Things You MUST do in Pondicherry
Flying with Air Arabia
7 Gorgeous Pre-Wedding Photoshoot Destinations to Rock Your D-Day Countdown

My Next Trip

The un-touristy side of KutchFebruary 29, 2020

Uncovering the rustic villages which are beyond tourism.

Archives

Archives

Search my blog

Search