Black Swan - ArtHub: A photography exhibition conducted at Grubshup ArtHub from the 11th - 20th September 2011.
Black Swan, a new travel venture - an attempt to connect tourists with local communities and their history, way of life, and culture. Interacting with the local community and getting an insight into their way of life is something which we feel is sorely missing. We hope to address this in our offerings.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Black Swan - ArtHub
Black Swan - ArtHub: A photography exhibition conducted at Grubshup ArtHub from the 11th - 20th September 2011.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The Black Swan Traveler!
Travel along with respecting & benefiting local people
& the environment - For those who've had enough of mass tourism.
It's about respecting and benefiting local
people and the environment – but it's about far more than that.
If you travel for relaxation, fulfillment,
discovery, adventure and to learn – rather than simply to tick off 'places and
things' – then Black Swan is the right partner for you.
Our travel philosophy is about bringing you closer to local cultures and environments by involving local people in tourism. It's about doing this in a fair way that helps ensure that they will give you an even warmer welcome. For example, a local guide from the destination will open your eyes to their cultures and ways of life far better than an expat guide could ever do – they will also earn a much needed income from you.
The Black Swan traveler prefers smaller groups, and to meet some local people (as well as fellow travelers) rather than be surrounded by 1000's of people from back home. They don't like being herded about in a large crowd like nameless faces and understand that traveling in smaller groups makes local people and cultures more accessible.
The Black Swan traveler values authenticity – experiences integral to local people's traditions, cultures and rituals - rather than those created for tourism, or those whose existing meanings and uses have become lost as they have been packaged up for tourism.
At the same time the traveler understands that some cultural experiences are best kept private, and that their visit would be an intrusion. They believe that traveling with respect earns them respect.
Rediscovering nature
Black Swan travel is about re-discovering how to experience nature and to be in it, feeling it, smelling it and learning about it rather than just looking at it. The Black Swan traveler would rather get out on foot than sit in a big bus, and are determined to leave no physical evidence of their visit but their footprints.
The Black Swan traveler understands local peoples relationship with environments, and that income from tourism can be a powerful incentive for conservation. The Black Swan traveler values diversity – diversity of people, cultures and environments.
Above all else the Black Swan traveler wants to cut loose and experience their world. The experienced responsible traveler knows how difficult it can be to do the right thing – and is humble and learns from their mistakes.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Art and Heritage Tour – Wai - krishnabai utsav
Art and Heritage Tour – Wai - krishnabai utsav
black-swan, along with
renowned archeologist, historian and miniature artist Dr Shrikant Pradhan, had
organized a one day trip to the temple town of Wai, visiting its heritage buildings, temples and
witnessing the proceedings of the festival that is Krishnabai Utsav.
Wai is also known for its collection of 150 odd year old miniatuare paintings, each one detailed better than the next, we wanted to make sure you get to see the paintings thru the eyes of an artist, a historian and your own thunderstruck eyes when they come out on display once a year. Wai is also known as 'a town of temples', with 7 ghats and brilliant temples on each of them. Some of them in ruins, but most of them intact and tell the long and inspiring tales of a great kingdom.
"krishnabai
utsav" is the main festival in Wai. When Afzal Khan set
out from Wai to kill Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj, Shende Shāstri from wai had prayed to the Krishna river for Shivaji's
victory.
The festival is a
tribute to the blessings of the river goddess and the victory!
Date: Sunday, 5th Feb
2012
Art and Heritage Tour – Rockstars - Ajanta - Ellora - Pitalkhora
Art and Heritage Tour – Rockstars - Ajanta - Ellora - Pitalkhora
more like
cavestars.
Ajanta - Ellora -
Pitalkhora
as three of the best
examples of rock cut architecture and art, Ajanta, Ellora and Pitalkhora stand
tall deep and beautiful in our neighborhood.
as promised,
black-swan yet again, to bring you to the stories from the proverbial horses
mouth, along with Dr. Pradhan, noted artist and archeologist and an expert on
Ajanta paintings, we took you on a journey like none before.
these caves, cut and
detailed within the rock that forms them, are truly level onerockstars!
on the 10/11/12
february 2012, we traveled, to learn, absorb and frankly, ogle at these massive
testimonials to human endeavor and dedication.
Brunchcast - Riding Solo
Film - Riding Solo... a film about filmmaker Gaurav Jani's solo motorcycle
journey from Mumbai to one of the remotest places in the world, the Changthang
Plateau in Ladakh, bordering China. As a one-man film unit, he astonishes you,
filming the landscape he passes by and the people he interacts with, capturing
moments of beauty, pain, love, hardship, self-doubt and spiritual triumphs.
Talk - Sujatha Padmanabhan has been a member of Kalpavriksh since 1984. She is a trained special educator, her main engagement at Kalpavriksh has been in the field of environment education for children. Sujatha has been collaborating with the Snow Leopard Conservancy-India Trust, Leh for the last few years to help develop an environment education programme focused on Ladakh’s wildlife for children. A resource kit for teachers titled “Ri Gyancha” was recently published based on the work that she was involved in. This was released by His Holiness The Dalai Lama in July 2010 in Sumur village in Nubra valley. Sujatha has also authored two story books for children which includes “Ghost of the Mountains” published by Kalpavriksh.
Cause - The money raised during and after screening was used to disseminate the programme to newer areas through teacher training. This was undertaken in both Kargil and Leh districts of Ladakh with an effort to reach out to government school teachers as well as teachers of private schools. It is our desire to be able to extend this to as many children in high cold desert regions in our country.
Talk - Sujatha Padmanabhan has been a member of Kalpavriksh since 1984. She is a trained special educator, her main engagement at Kalpavriksh has been in the field of environment education for children. Sujatha has been collaborating with the Snow Leopard Conservancy-India Trust, Leh for the last few years to help develop an environment education programme focused on Ladakh’s wildlife for children. A resource kit for teachers titled “Ri Gyancha” was recently published based on the work that she was involved in. This was released by His Holiness The Dalai Lama in July 2010 in Sumur village in Nubra valley. Sujatha has also authored two story books for children which includes “Ghost of the Mountains” published by Kalpavriksh.
Cause - The money raised during and after screening was used to disseminate the programme to newer areas through teacher training. This was undertaken in both Kargil and Leh districts of Ladakh with an effort to reach out to government school teachers as well as teachers of private schools. It is our desire to be able to extend this to as many children in high cold desert regions in our country.
Date: 6th Feb 2011
Weekend Walk - The Bengaluru pete walk
The Bengaluru pete walk
Kempegowda was the founder of modern
Bangalore. Which Kempegowda – first, second or third? How did he look like? If
he was Yelahanka Nada Prabhu, why did he create Bengaluru? How was Bengaluru
back then? What were the city limits? What kind of people lived there? If it
was a trading town, who traded with them? How can a city in the 15th century
sustain without agriculture?
We learnt more about this medieval fort city built by Kempegowda, one of the
vassals of the Vijayanagara Kingdom. Learn more about him and the city of his
times that passed through several hands before the British made it their home.
The walk ended with a
sumptuous breakfast!
This walk was organised under the guidance of Poornima Dasharathi - a writer, blogger and a travel enthusiast.
This walk was organised under the guidance of Poornima Dasharathi - a writer, blogger and a travel enthusiast.
Date: Saturday, 20th August 2011
FestiHoliday - Muharram - Hampi and Anegundi
Some of the best days of Anegundi and Hampi! ?
Anegundi is believed to be Kishkinda, the vanar (monkey) kingdom of Ramayana. Anegundi was the capital of the Vijayanagar kingdom before it was shifted to Hampi. A place where it is difficult to tell where the legend ends and the history begins!
The week of Muharram, Anegundi turns into this magical place, where people of all walks and religion come together in a procession that is a travellers treat. Come visit Anegundi, the ancient land of Vali & Sugreev. Visit this historic village during Muharram, where the entire village comes together to celebrate this festival in a unique way - all-night bonfires, fire-walkers, drums, dance and a mix of Muslim & Hindu traditions.
Engage with the local community to get a glimpse into their lives. Witness folk dance performances - watch, learn & dance along! Cycle. Shop. Meander down the Tungabhadra river in a coracle. Dinner on the river banks under the starry skies. Trek to the top of the Anjaneyadri Hill and watch the setting sun paint the sky with glorious resplendent colours. Visit pre-historic rock painting & burial sites.
Visit the fascinating ruins of the 15th-century city of Vijayanagar/Hampi and explore the rich mélange of temples, architectural splendours of its glorious past. The ruins – stark and silent reminders of a once great kingdom!
Anegundi is believed to be Kishkinda, the vanar (monkey) kingdom of Ramayana. Anegundi was the capital of the Vijayanagar kingdom before it was shifted to Hampi. A place where it is difficult to tell where the legend ends and the history begins!
The week of Muharram, Anegundi turns into this magical place, where people of all walks and religion come together in a procession that is a travellers treat. Come visit Anegundi, the ancient land of Vali & Sugreev. Visit this historic village during Muharram, where the entire village comes together to celebrate this festival in a unique way - all-night bonfires, fire-walkers, drums, dance and a mix of Muslim & Hindu traditions.
Engage with the local community to get a glimpse into their lives. Witness folk dance performances - watch, learn & dance along! Cycle. Shop. Meander down the Tungabhadra river in a coracle. Dinner on the river banks under the starry skies. Trek to the top of the Anjaneyadri Hill and watch the setting sun paint the sky with glorious resplendent colours. Visit pre-historic rock painting & burial sites.
Visit the fascinating ruins of the 15th-century city of Vijayanagar/Hampi and explore the rich mélange of temples, architectural splendours of its glorious past. The ruins – stark and silent reminders of a once great kingdom!
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