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Amish On travel and holiday ideas

The author of the Shiva Trilogy'The Immortals of Meluha, The Secret of the Nagas and The Oath of the Vayuputras'rarely revisits a place

Kavita Devgan

OT Did you travel much as a child
Amish
Although I was born in Mumbai, my early years were spent in Odisha. And because my parents loved to travel, we went all over the state. I remember this one trip in particular a visit to Chilika Lake. Surprisingly, even though I&rsquove been to Odisha several times since, I have never managed to go back to Chilika.

OT A destination you wouldn&rsquot mind visiting frequently...
Amish
The Dalai Lama says travel to at least one new destination every year to make life exciting. So I rarely revisit places, and look for someplace new to explore every year.

OT What are your family holidays like
Amish
Fortunately, both Preeti (my wife) and our son love travelling. But while I like places of historical significance, she prefers the naturally beautiful, and my son loves wildlife. So we usually alternate. If I get Hampi, she gets Goa, and if we go to Italy, we also plan a trip to Switzerland. We recently visited Pench National Park, where our son thoroughly enjoyed himself.

OT Any destinations on your wish list
Amish
Angkor Wat and Machu Picchu are on my list for sure. And in India, Khajuraho, which, unfortunately, I haven&rsquot been able to visit yet.

OT What kind of a holiday helps you unwind
Amish
Goa holidays are completely unwinding. We were there less than a year ago.

OT Any travel disasters
Amish
We were on one of my kind of holidays in Greece eight years ago. Unfortunately for us, it was one of the hottest summers. The fun really goes out of a trip when temperatures hover around 45&ndash50° Celsius.

OT Two must-visit destinations in India...
Amish
Well, I&rsquod say Baan Ganga, where, apparently, Lord Ram shot an arrow into the ground for the Ganga to emerge, and the Elephanta caves.

OT Is there anything you hate about travelling
Amish
I hate checking in and out of hotels. When Preeti and I travel, we usually visit one country at a time, travelling from city to city, taking in everything it has to offer. Checking in and out wastes a lot of time. This is one reason why I like cruise holidays so much.

OT As a seasoned traveller, your best travel advice...
Amish
Use a guidebook. It helps you plan your trip better.

OT Five things you always carry while on vacation...
Amish
Definitely a guidebook...everything else depends on where I&rsquom going.

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