Star Holiday

Star Holiday

A day inside the Forbidden City

The moment I stepped into the Forbidden City, the noise of the modern world seemed to fade away.

1w ago

Star Holiday / Langtang valley trek

Land of endless beauty, simple living

3w ago

Shakil’s Mission Impossible

The mountains’ call -- sometimes in silence, sometimes in the rustle of dry leaves, sometimes in the babble of waterfalls, and sometimes in the roar of glaciers. Once someone hears that call, they can no longer remain confined within walls. My “Sea to Summit Everest Expedition” was just such a j

1m ago

The Great Wall of China

The morning mist clung to the hills of northern China, softening the sharp lines of the mountains. Then, through the shifting veil, I saw it -- the Great Wall of China.

2m ago

Machu Picchu Whispers of the Incas

I was in the ancient city of Cuzco, Peru -- once the capital of the Inca Empire -- standing at the train station with the Andes rising like ancient guardians all around me. My next destination was Aguas Calientes, better known as Machu Picchu town.

2m ago

Sri Lanka: A story of resilience & beauty

Not long ago, the country was on the brink of collapse. Now, it has turned around

3m ago

The Kingdom of Magyars

Once the heart of a vast empire and now a crossroads between East and West, Hungary stands as a testament to Europe’s layered history. At the centre of it lies Budapest — a city where Gothic grandeur meets post-imperial nostalgia, and the echoes of Roman legions, Ottoman rule, Habsburg royalty, and Soviet tanks still whisper through cobblestone streets.

4m ago

ALASKA a sanctuary of the soul

Would you go somewhere today, far, far away? A place so remote and isolated, so vast that the only thing left to focus on is the wilderness and its untouched beauty. A place where time feels irrelevant, and the horizon stretches forever. That place, for us, is Alaska.

4m ago

Nordic summer bliss

The Nordic summer stretches time -- golden evenings linger, and under the glow of the Midnight Sun, every moment feels both eternal and fleeting.

Himba village: An oasis of peace in Kalahari

However, one of the most unforgettable experiences of this journey was our visit to a Himba village in northern Namibia, where time seemed to slow down.

Scaling Mount Whitney

“My God! How can a mountain change so much in just a month?”

Khiva: a Central Asian gem on Silk Road

The destination was Khiva, one of Uzbekistan’s most well-preserved ancient cities on the Silk Road.

1y ago

A couple’s Eurotrip in 20 days

This little blue bubble that we call our home is enormous. It is not humanely possible to get a sense of how big and diverse this world is by travelling in a lifetime.

1y ago

Iguazu Falls: Largest waterfall system on Earth

Diego Maradona. As we tread upon its soil for the first time, the richness and intricacy of its history unfolded before us.

1y ago

Irresistable Antarctica

Mohua Rouf is one of the few Bangladeshis who have ever set foot on the world’s southernmost continent, Antarctica. She spent six days in the icy abode of penguins, seals and whales which is arguably the least-trodden place on earth by humans.

1y ago

Marvellous Madrid

After the lifting of the Covid-19 lockdown, in September 2021, my husband and I visited Madrid, a city pulsating with history, art and energy.

1y ago

Thailand’s highlands: A place for adventure and fun

In January of this year, my husband and I decided to embark on a trip to the Kanchanaburi and Phitsanulok provinces of Thailand. When you hear of Thailand,

1y ago

Al Ula: A hidden gem in Saudi Arabia

When we think of Saudi Arabia, we often imagine Makkah, Medina, and the annual pilgrimage. But beyond these, there are plenty of amazing spots that have been attracting travellers since the kingdom opened up to foreign visitors in 2019.

1y ago

Skywalk on Dhampus

As the clock struck 4:00pm, I caught sight of two tiny figures descending from the rocky slopes of the Tukuche massif. With each passing minute, the figures gradually grew more recognizable: Samiur and Arif were returning after scaling Little Tukuche (5879m), one of the formidable peaks of the Dhaulagiri range.

1y ago

Pondicherry: A charming former French colony

I boarded the Koromondol Express from Kolkata to Chennai at 3.20pm for a long journey. On my way, I met Anupam, an old friend from the Sandakfu-Phalut trek. It had been ten years since we last met.

1y ago

Rema-kalenga wildlife forest: A sanctuary of souls

Recently, I went on a trip to the Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary: a hidden gem often overlooked even by seasoned travellers. This is the story of my solo trip there.

1y ago