facebook
CRAFT YOUR JOURNEY
NARRATIVES

OF VIRGINIA WOOLF, CEREAL AND KAMALAN


North India

Always interested in exploring the fluid relationship between art, literature and travel, we were instantly drawn to the aesthetics and writings of Cereal. After exchanging a few emails about the story, we found ourselves talking to Rosa Park, the editor of the magazine, about organising Cereal’s first ever journey to India. It turned out that both Rosa and Rich Stapleton (the creative director of the magazine) had always harboured a deep curiosity to explore the country but just never got around to it till now. Over the next few months, numerous Skype conversations ensued with Rosa and Rich regarding their travel preferences and the style of content to be produced from the collaboration. Keeping in mind their personalities, the visual style of Cereal and their interest in architecture and art, we zeroed in on the regions to visit, the activities to undertake, and the schedule of travel.

The entire journey was made up of many memorable vignettes and experiences. For instance, at Gokarna, the Cereal team attended an art therapy workshop led by our creative director Rosenda Arcioni Meer while at Mihirgarh, they spent a day with a magnificent stable of Marwari horses. In Jodhpur, the sunset and sunrise often became our allies to get the perfect architectural shots of the blue city. The spectacular Mehrangarh Fort played host to us multiple times as we captured its minute architectural details and took in the views under different hues of light. In Jaipur, like the “pink” city that stood in opposition to the “blue” city of Jodhpur, we spent early mornings exploring the sandstone covered walls and monuments of the old city. Jantar Mantar, with its intricate geometry of shadows, was an alluring subject in itself while the Nahargarh Fort gave way to various expansive views of the city from a vantage point.

 

While our focal point in Agra was the inimitable Taj Mahal, Delhi gave us the perfect backdrop to explore the diverse traditional and contemporary sides of India. Our itinerary for the capital city included a few handpicked heritage sites like Qutub Minar and many contemporary cultural spaces. At the behest of an indie filmmaker at Lodhi Gardens – one of our last stops– Rich posed like a yogi for a few minutes, while the rest of us enjoyed a good laugh.

In retrospect, everything about the journey turned out to be what we had envisioned together. It was a journey where different streams of writing, photography, art, architecture and travel converged like a dream. For now, this particular journey has culminated in the most recent issue of Cereal magazine which has a section dedicated to Rajasthan, India. 

As Virginia Woolf said in To the Lighthouse, “It is only by putting it into words that I make it whole…”

Explore More

Up in the Himalayan Abode
Up in the Himalayan Abode

Somehow, after a journey through India, my perception of humanity becomes clearer; my enthusiasm for life feels renewed. The more...

Narrative North India
Secret Life of Threads featured image
The Secret Life of Threads

Entering the hushed, almost religious concentration, a myriad of colours pluck the cords of my emotions. An indefinable smell...

Narrative South India
Facets of a Culture
Facets of a Culture

Get a glimpse into the travelling photography workshop we executed with Gentl & Hyers in North India, spanning seven cities...

Behind-The-Scenes North India
Into the Dravidian Heartland
Into the Dravidian Heartland

This journey allows one to experience the many cultures that exist across the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala...

Bespoke Journey South India
SwaSwara
SwaSwara

Waves wash down the parched shores of the beach as the sands glisten under the warm sun...

Hotel Guide South India
Easter Celebrations at a Palace
Easter Celebrations at a Palace

It is a joyous and beautiful day, the children of the Tushita Foundation have been invited by the owner of Samode Hotels...

Narrative North India