Travel With Lakshmi

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Travel With Lakshmi

Traveller , storyteller , blogger , writer . Lakshmisharath.com I was a media professional and I quit 15 years of corporate life to travel and write.

I am a travel writer, blogger, travel photographer and my articles have been published in several leading publications. This page is a leaf out of my travel experiences. You can read more about me on my website and blog www.lakshmisharath.com

24/02/2026

Sattvam in Sadashivanagar now has a curated à la carte dinner — and it’s a flavoursome addition to their signature buffet.

At Sattvam, I’ve always associated the experience with its generous sattvik buffet — rooted in philosophy, anchored in purity.

But dinner now unfolds differently.

It starts with an Amuse Bouche.
Small. Playful. Thoughtfully plated.

Followed by a warm, comforting sweet corn soup but with a Sattvam touch — layered, balanced and beautifully presented.

And then you have Crisp & Crafted salsa and toasts with starters that surprise

Thai Mango Guava Mélange.
Avocado Tostada
Betel Leaf Tartare
Jhol Dumplings in a spiced broth
Cheriya – mini appam with thoran & coconut relish

All Rooted flavours. Elevated expression . Global, the Sattvik Way

Zucchini-Wrapped Ravioli
Firangi Nimona with mozzarella

Pan Asian and Beyond

Mie Goreng.
Butterfly Rice Bowl.
Stir Fry with sweet chili basil sauce.
Signature Naanza.

Indian, Continental and Asian influences — seamlessly coming together.

And The Sweet Finish

Elevated Rasmalai with chocolate soil & foam.
Basant — their take on Kunafa with kataifi crisps and pista.

Dessert, but plated like art.

At Sattvam, it’s not just vegetarian dining.

It’s elevated.
It’s curated.
It’s an experience.

Bangalore — don’t miss this.

21/02/2026

You don’t want to miss this vegetarian fine dining experience in Bangalore

At Sattvam, you are treated to an elevated dinner that still honours its sattvik soul.

Long known for its abundant buffet, Sattvam now offers a curated à la carte experience that feels intimate and intentional.

The evening opens with an Amuse Bouche — delicate and playful — before moving across Indian, Continental and Pan Asian influences, all interpreted through a sattvik lens.

Every dish has its own story .

A Betel Leaf Tartare that reimagines chaat.
Zucchini-wrapped ravioli that feels light yet indulgent.
Jhol dumplings in a spiced broth.
Firangi Nimona with mozzarella.
Cheriya — a mini appam with thoran and coconut relish — rooted and nostalgic.
An Elevated Rasmalai with chocolate soil and foam.

Just a few dishes from the array of over twenty of them

In conversation,with he shared that the refined plating and thoughtful packaging are a conscious nod to a younger, Gen Z diner — making the cuisine visually compelling and contemporary, without losing its essence.

Fifteen years on, the philosophy remains untouched.

Only the expression has evolved.

BengaluruFoodies

05/02/2026

“Wellness doesn’t begin at a spa. It lives in walkable streets, nourishing food, deep sleep, and unhurried journeys.”

Set against the ancient land of the UNESCO-listed Shore Temples of Mamallapuram, the Tamil Nadu Global Tourism Summit unfolded as a meeting of scale and intent. With over 50 Changemakers, storytellers, industry leaders, and investors who came together to reimagine tourism and positioning Tamil Nadu as both a cultural custodian and a global voice shaping the future of tourism.

I was honoured to moderate a panel on “From Home to Holiday: Everyday Wellness in Travel Experiences”, with Dr Shikha Sharma (RANFORT Wellness), SENTHILKUMARAN B (National Institute of Siddha), and Abishek Ramesh(Kairali Ayurveda Group), exploring a simple but powerful shift: wellness is not something we turn to on vacation, but a rhythm that travels with us going far beyond spas and indulgence.

Our dialogue explored how wellness is experienced on the road not as a destination, but in the texture of travel itself. In nourishing meals, walkable towns, forest bathing, restorative sleep, mindful movement, and moments of stillness between journeys. Rooted in Ayurveda and Siddha, the discussion highlighted how ancient systems already frame wellness as lived practices.

My takeaway: the most meaningful travel experiences don’t add more they ask less. Less rush. Less noise. More presence. More balance. More being. When journeys create space for the body to reset, the mind to soften, and the senses to slow down, wellness becomes experiential, intuitive, and deeply human.

A huge thanks to Tamil Nadu Tourism Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., Guidance Tamil Nadu Outlook Traveller

05/01/2026

Starting the new year in a picturesque boutique wellness retreat with Raju and Aishu .

Here is the birthday photo dump with a lovely tryst with nature , lost amidst the call of birds , in a pristine garden with pretty flowers, sustainable food that is farm to table .

Do visit .in this year for some R&R

31/12/2025

Thank you 2025 .. you have been amazing and have taken me places

Goodbye 2025 - here’s to more travels

Wishing everyone a Very Happy New Year .

30/12/2025

Gratitude fills my heart as I type this . 2025 has been a milestone year for me in more than one way and this wholesome chapter comes full circle, both personally and professionally.

As a traveller, the journeys have been transformational. The year opened on a spiritual high in Uttar Pradesh, at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj purged by Maa Ganga . From Uttar Pradesh the journey flowed into Uttarakhand, where the Ganga became a recurring motif .

Swept away by the vibrant pageant of the Ramman Utsav, Rural Uttarakhand revealed another layer altogether with culture held in villages, rituals unfolding without spectacle, faith woven into everyday life.

From the spiritual, the road led naturally into craft and creativity. Rajasthan unfolded through its artisanal traditions, where colour, history, and skill sit side by side. Andhra Pradesh followed with a different rhythm kalamkari, village visits, time spent with artisans whose hands carry generations of knowledge. Moving from meenakari to kalamkari, from workshops to homes, the real traveller in me came alive again. These were not just curated experiences, but honest encounters rural, human, and deeply rooted.

There were pauses too, and they mattered. A Greek odyssey offered distance and delight mythology blending seamlessly with moments straight out of Mamma Mia, watching sunsets dissolve into the sea, sipping ouzo, and letting time slow down.

Running alongside this was a clear shift in my professional journey. Travel this year carried a new lens. I found myself engaging as a speaker, jury member, and participant at conferences and events that shaped conversations around culture, storytelling, tourism, and experiences. Platforms like IIGC and WAVES in Mumbai, ICRT in Delhi, and the Grand Indian Travel Bazaar in Rajasthan became spaces where ideas met action. Each city offered not just events, but people, thoughtful, passionate, and shaping narratives in their own ways.

Ending the year with gratitude for the journeys, the work, the conversations, and the many paths that crossed mine.

Wishing you all a very happy new year, and a year ahead filled with meaning, curiosity, and quiet growth.

20/12/2025

My happy place - My Balcony Garden

There is something special about December mornings.. the play of light and shadow , saturated and muted colours , fresh flowers and emerald greens .
Soak in the natural beauty , the vibes and mood
Nature is already feeling festive
Seasons greetings

06/10/2025

September photo dump - what a month !

Grateful to September for being one of the most energetic ,colourful, fulfilling and exciting months with several travels and experiences

From the Pink City of Jaipur to the Crafts Capital Vijayawada , the experiences have been amazing , be it learning more about Meenakari from an award winning maestro or trying my hand at weaving in Mangalgiri.

It’s been unusually raining sarees galore - from work and events at Jaipur and Delhi and Golu celebrations at home in Bangalore .

A great month of meeting friends , neighbours colleagues , strangers and industry stalwarts and am feeling quite overwhelmed and grateful

The month ended with my favourite festival - Navaratri Dussehra and Golu and though I was travelling most of the time , had some amazing people over at home

September whizzed past and with it I finish a year in my current corporate avatar and as October begins , i head out on my first international holiday in what feels like years .

Looking forward to my vacation in country no 52

Which of these vibrant experiences are your favourites ?

27/09/2025

On , sharing a glimpse of what I love doing best as a traveller and what travel actually means to me .

From the village of Pedana in Machilipatnam near Vijaywada , the heart of Kalamkari black printing , a legacy that has flourished for centuries , influenced and patronised by the Mughal era and the Golkonda rulers as well.

Travel to me is more than just people or places , experiences or even stories . It’s about connecting to the cultures , reaching out to the roots and enriching myself with learning . It grounds me , teaches me and helps me to give back something to the people who build the very foundation .

Is travel more than just a holiday for me embedded with a sense of purpose and passion ?

24/06/2025

There’s a fine line between discovery and disruption.
Travel, so often, dances on that delicate thread.

I’ve wandered through postcard-perfect villages in the Alps, stood quietly in the shadow of Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece in Barcelona, and shared meals in quiet Spanish towns where stories still linger around the table.

Each moment has taught me that travel is not just about the places we visit—but how we choose to be there.

A recent piece in The Economic Times reminded me again: Europe is preparing for another wave of summer tourists. The numbers thrill the economy, yes—but beneath the excitement lies an undercurrent of fatigue.

Venice now charges an entry fee. Amsterdam has issued a bold “stay away” campaign. Barcelona is pushing back too—its residents overwhelmed by rising rents, vanishing neighbourhood charm, and daily crowds.

Because here’s the truth: tourism is a gift—and a responsibility.
When done right, it uplifts communities, preserves culture, and fosters connection.
But unchecked, it erodes identity, overwhelms infrastructure, and turns living, breathing cities into theme parks. Because overtourism is real .

As a storyteller, I often reflect:
What is our role as travellers?
Are we seeking to truly understand a place—or simply consume it?
Are we collecting stories—or just ticking boxes and taking selfies?

The future of travel lies in presence, not proof. In slowing down, choosing homestays, speaking a few local words, respecting customs, and leaving no trace but kind memories.

So I ask again—Are we seeking to truly understand a place—or simply consume it?

05/06/2025

Saloor-Dungra, Uttarakhand
Here, stories don’t live on pages.
They live in masks. In chants. In the feet of dancers who’ve learned the steps from their ancestors.

Ramman Utsav isn’t just a festival, it’s a sacred memory being kept alive by the community, year after year. Recognised by UNESCO, yet unknown to many.

A festival that wasn’t just an event but a living tradition passed down through rhythm, ritual, and memory

As I stand amidst the gathering, watching the masked dancers come alive in choreographed precision, it feels like stepping into a vivid tableau of a religious and cultural pageant .

Drenched in colour and layered with symbolism, Ramman Utsav is a tradition that has been practised for over 500 years and brings alive Ram Katha and hence probably the name Ramman .

In a time when festivals are often reduced to photo ops, Ramman Utsav reminded me of what true cultural storytelling feels - a sacred spectacle, part ritual, part theatre, and wholly entrancing.

This is what I travel for.
To witness not just a place, but its pulse.
Its people. Its spirit.

Save this post if you believe in culture beyond the checklist .

Tag someone who needs to know about India beyond the mainstream.

Read more on the blog -www.lakshmisharath.com

13/05/2025

Uttarakhand - Divine and Dramatic

Between the river’s quiet hymn and the mountain’s mighty voice, a blend of the sacred and the poetic, the divine spells and the temple bells - a carousel of moments captured from Rishikesh to Jothimath in Uttarakhand.

Travel with me .chand.37819 not.just.a.grandma , .jain and as we explore the spiritual realm of Devbhoomi .

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