24 OFFBEAT EXPERIENCES in INDIA
NORTH
1 RIDE TO INDIA’S HIGHEST OBSERVATORY
Nobody ever talked about Hanle. Until some physicists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics decided in 1996 that this remote village in Ladakh was the perfect site for setting up an observatory in the Indian Himalayas. The prime reason: over 260 spotless night skies in a year! By the turn of the century, the country’s highest astronomical observatory—at a height of 4,511 metres—was ready to roll. Currently the 10th highest of its kind in the world, the Indian Astronomical Observatory is run by 25 people, including Dorjey Angchuk, the engineer-in-charge who is happy to talk to you about cosmic matters. Base yourself in Leh, where you can rent a motorcycle, get the required area permits, and make the six-hour road trip to the observatory. With or without a telescope, Hanle’s night skies make for an experience of a lifetime. iiap.res.in/centers/iao
2 LEARN THE STROKES OF MADHUBANI PAINTING
Mythology, folklore, and snapshots of pastoral life painted in bold colours—a Madhubani painting stands out easily in a sea of traditional Indian artworks. Commonly practised on the walls of mudhouses by the women of Mithila, a small village in Bihar, Madhubani paintings have fans across the world today. The art sources its dye from natural material like flowers, herbs, lampblack, ochre, etc., and contemporary brushes are replaced by twigs, matchsticks, and fingers. The act of learning to paint is known to alleviate stress. Enrol yourself into a specialisation course of two months by MITHILAsmita Art & Craft Gallery in Delhi, which takes you on a learning journey that covers everything from sketching, freehand drawing, colour blending, and element studies, to creating complete artworks on wood, handcrafted paper, canvas, and fabric. mithilasmita.com
3 MAKE CHEESE WITH THE BAKARWALS
Think of cheese and your mind immediately wanders away to Europe, conjuring images of the creamy camembert from France, the crumbly feta from Greece, or the very Italian parmigiano-reggiano! Few cheese connoisseurs know that Bakarwal shepherds in the breathtaking valley of , Jammu & Kashmir, make their own wheels of cheese. Himalayan Cheese, a popularly known as the mozzarella.
