Ila Reddy's guest appearances

Ila Reddy

The Musafir Stories - India Travel Podcast

Jono Lineen

Lakshmi Sharath

Ayush Khanna

Subhadip Mukherjee

Shivya Nath

Meenakshi Arvind

Kaushal Karkhanis

Riverside Goa

Johann Kuruvilla

Chandroma Ray

Siddharth Keswani

Reshma Narasing

Satyarup Siddhanta

Renuka Walter

Explore Spiti

OwlTail

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Ila Reddy, a returning guest and listener as she takes us to the ancient kingdoms of Newar.  Today's destination: Nepal Nearest Airport: Tribhuvan International Airport, KTM Nearest Railway Station: N/A Prerequisites:  N/A Packing: Pack according to the season Time of the year:  September - Feb Length of the itinerary: 9 days Itinerary Highlights:   Ila takes us overseas as we discover the Newari capitals of Nepal - Patan, Bhaktapur along with other places like Panauti and Bharatpur! Historically, the Nepal valley and adjoining areas made up a confederation known as the Nepal Mandala. Until the 15th century, Bhaktapur was its capital, when two other capitals, Kathmandu and Lalitpur (Patan), were established.  The trip was done with the Community Homestay Network (CHN). The Community Homestay Network (CHN) is a social enterprise that supports a network of homestays run by local women and families across Nepal. Their homestay model provides hosts with an additional source of income and the opportunity to meet travelers from around the world, while travelers get a taste of the local way of life.  The best part is that 80% of the revenue goes directly to the community and is used for family and household expenses, education, personal development, community activities, and community development We begin the journey by flying into Kathmandu and making our way to Patan/Lalitpur, one of the ancient cities of the Newari kingdom.  The Durbar Square is one of the iconic locations of Patan that is made up of a number of temples and provides a view into the wonderful architecture of the region.  The prominent temples of Patan Durbar Square include:: Krishna Temple, Royal Palace Patan, Jagannarayan Temple, Keshav Narayan Temple, Char Naarayan Temple, Golden Temple and others.  On the east side of the square looms the impressive Ancient Royal Palace, which dates back to the late 1600s. With its red-brick walls, tiered rooftop pavilions and latticed window screens, the palace is a shining example of traditional Nepalese architecture. The next stop is the Golden Temple Also known as Kwa Bahal and Hiranyavarna Mahavihara, this Buddhist monastery takes its English name from the beautiful golden metalwork which adorns its façade. We also speak of the rich traditional food from Nepal - including local candy, thalis, daal and sabzi.  The next pitstop is Bharatpur - to experience the life of the Tharu community that lives around the Chitwan national park. Besides the rhinos and mustard fields, the experience is all about the time spent with the community, sampling their way of life, food and celebrations!  Ila makes a short trip back to Patan again, which they used as their base camp. In this leg, Ila covers the Paubha painting workshop which she was a part of. The painting is native to Nepal and is similar to the Tibetan Thangka paintings and involves detailing of Hindu mythological figures and deities and Mandalas. Paubha painting is treated as a form of meditation by its practitioners, and mastering the pattern of even a single leaf, wave, or cloud can take weeks. The next stop from Patan is Bhaktapur, another of the capitals of the Valley. Bhaktapur, the "City of Devotees," is also known for Newar traditions, food, and artisans, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nepal The Bhaktapur Durbar Square - is similar to the one in Patan, except that the temples are more massive. There are several smaller squares or chowks and the one with pottery shops was particularly beautiful. Like Patan, the area is best explored on foot and the local mitho doi (similar to Bengali mishti doi, or sweet curd) is a must-try! Ila moves to Panuati after spending time in Bhaktapur -  Panauti is a historical city in Nepal, originally it was a small state given by King Bhupatindra Malla as a dowry to his sister.  Ila explores a few temples, walked around the market and alleys, and even made a day trip to Namobuddha Monastery, located atop a hill and offering exceptional views of the snow peaks. The final stop is a quick return to Patan where Ila takes part in a Ranjana lippi workshop, the traditional script of the Newari people as well as a quick visit to Kathmandu to visit the Pashupatinath temple and a sound bath meditation!                                                                              Links: Link to Ila’s substack: https://ilareddy.substack.com/ Link to blog posts:  https://ilareddy.substack.com/p/nepal-part1 https://ilareddy.substack.com/p/nepal-part2 Link to Community Homestay network: https://www.communityhomestay.com/ Link to Ila’s episode on Nagaland:  Ep. 110: Headhunters of Nagaland with Ila Reddy The ...Applehttps://podcasts.apple.com › podcast › ep-110-headhu... Photo by binaya_photography on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories on: Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media. We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, &amp; Instagram.  Follow the show across platforms: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon Music Do share the word with your folks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Ila Reddy, a returning guest and listener as she takes us to the ancient kingdoms of Newar.  Today's destination: Nepal Nearest Airport: Tribhuvan International Airport, KTM Nearest Railway Station: N/A Prerequisites:  N/A Packing: Pack according to the season Time of the year:  September - Feb Length of the itinerary: 9 days Itinerary Highlights:  <ul> <li>Ila takes us overseas as we discover the Newari capitals of Nepal - Patan, Bhaktapur along with other places like Panauti and Bharatpur! Historically, the Nepal valley and adjoining areas made up a confederation known as the<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal_Mandala" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Nepal Mandala</a>. Until the 15th century,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaktapur" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Bhaktapur</a> was its capital, when two other capitals,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathmandu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Kathmandu</a> and<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patan,_Nepal" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Lalitpur (Patan)</a>, were established. </li> <li>The trip was done with the Community Homestay Network (CHN). The<a href="https://substack.com/redirect/045a1f2d-da24-4e14-9b56-b63ab3dd062a?j=eyJ1IjoiMmhyMGIifQ.7eAkRzHIZUl0TTXKywcjC-XMlkN22-UVSjpxLrsjke4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Community Homestay Network</a> (CHN) is a social enterprise that supports a network of homestays run by local women and families across Nepal. Their homestay model provides hosts with an additional source of income and the opportunity to meet travelers from around the world, while travelers get a taste of the local way of life. </li> <li>The best part is that 80% of the revenue goes directly to the community and is used for family and household expenses, education, personal development, community activities, and community development</li> <li>We begin the journey by flying into Kathmandu and making our way to Patan/Lalitpur, one of the ancient cities of the Newari kingdom. </li> <li>The Durbar Square is one of the iconic locations of Patan that is made up of a number of temples and provides a view into the wonderful architecture of the region. </li> <li>The prominent temples of Patan Durbar Square include:: Krishna Temple, Royal Palace Patan, Jagannarayan Temple, Keshav Narayan Temple, Char Naarayan Temple, Golden Temple and others. </li> <li>On the east side of the square looms the impressive Ancient Royal Palace, which dates back to the late 1600s. With its red-brick walls, tiered rooftop pavilions and latticed window screens, the palace is a shining example of traditional Nepalese architecture.</li> <li>The next stop is the Golden Temple Also known as Kwa Bahal and Hiranyavarna Mahavihara, this Buddhist monastery takes its English name from the beautiful golden metalwork which adorns its façade. We also speak of the rich traditional food from Nepal - including local candy, thalis, daal and sabzi. </li> <li>The next pitstop is Bharatpur - to experience the life of the Tharu community that lives around the Chitwan national park. Besides the rhinos and mustard fields, the experience is all about the time spent with the community, sampling their way of life, food and celebrations! </li> <li>Ila makes a short trip back to Patan again, which they used as their base camp. In this leg, Ila covers the Paubha painting workshop which she was a part of. The painting is native to Nepal and is similar to the Tibetan Thangka paintings and involves detailing of Hindu mythological figures and deities and Mandalas. Paubha painting is treated as a form of meditation by its practitioners, and mastering the pattern of even a single leaf, wave, or cloud can take weeks.</li> <li>The next stop from Patan is Bhaktapur, another of the capitals of the Valley. Bhaktapur, the "City of Devotees," is also known for Newar traditions, food, and artisans, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nepal</li> <li>The Bhaktapur Durbar Square - is similar to the one in Patan, except that the temples are more massive. There are several smaller squares or chowks and the one with pottery shops was particularly beautiful. Like Patan, the area is best explored on foot and the local mitho doi (similar to Bengali mishti doi, or sweet curd) is a must-try!</li> <li>Ila moves to Panuati after spending time in Bhaktapur -  Panauti is a historical city in Nepal, originally it was a small state given by<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhupatindra_Malla" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> King Bhupatindra Malla</a> as a dowry to his sister. </li> <li>Ila explores a few temples, walked around the market and alleys, and even made a day trip to Namobuddha Monastery, located atop a hill and offering exceptional views of the snow peaks.</li> <li>The final stop is a quick return to Patan where Ila takes part in a Ranjana lippi workshop, the traditional script of the Newari people as well as a quick visit to Kathmandu to visit the Pashupatinath temple and a sound bath meditation!                                                                            </li> </ul> Links: Link to Ila’s substack: <a href="https://ilareddy.substack.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://ilareddy.substack.com/</a> Link to blog posts:  <a href="https://ilareddy.substack.com/p/nepal-part1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://ilareddy.substack.com/p/nepal-part1</a> <a href="https://ilareddy.substack.com/p/nepal-part2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://ilareddy.substack.com/p/nepal-part2</a> Link to Community Homestay network: <a href="https://www.communityhomestay.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.communityhomestay.com/</a> Link to Ila’s episode on Nagaland:  <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-110-headhunters-of-nagaland-with-ila-reddy/id1209849464?i=1000531034063" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ep. 110: Headhunters of Nagaland with Ila Reddy The ...Applehttps://podcasts.apple.com › podcast › ep-110-headhu...</a> Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@binaya_photography?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">binaya_photography</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/Patan-Durbar-Square%2C-Patan%2C-Nepal?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Unsplash</a> Follow the Musafir stories on: Twitter : <a href="https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en</a> Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/</a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en</a> website: <a href="http://www.themusafirstories.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.themusafirstories.com</a> email: <a href="mailto:themusafirstories@gmail.com">themusafirstories@gmail.com</a> Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media. We are @IVMPodcasts on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, &amp; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.  Follow the show across platforms: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4ytbUFtxrLqYODt3xGd0Wq?si=98625b9c69674364" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9zdGF0aWMuYWRvcmlsYWJzLmNvbS9mZWVkL3RoZS1tdXNhZmlyLXN0b3JpZXMtLS1pbmRpYS10cmF2ZWwtcG9kY2FzdC54bWw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-musafir-stories-india-travel-podcast/id1209849464" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.jiosaavn.com/shows/the-musafir-stories---india-travel-podcast/1/569fZUAaSWg_" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">JioSaavn</a>, <a href="https://gaana.com/podcast/the-musafir-stories-india-travel-podcast-season-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gaana</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3d448915-0250-4a8e-8eab-d716dddf3342/the-musafir-stories---india-travel-podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon Music</a> Do share the word with your folks!See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Nepal with Ila Reddy

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Ila Reddy, as she takes us on a trip to the land of the Headhunters, Nagaland!GIVEAWAY ALERT: https://forms.gle/QTLBNgZEy26CEzFQ9Answer 3 simple questions and stand a chance to win a copy of the book “The Konyaks: Last of the tattooed Headhunters”Today's destination: NagalandNearest Airport: Dimapur Airport, DMUNearest Railway Station: Dimapur Railway Station, DMVPrerequisites -  Inner line permit is required. Can be applied at https://ilp.nagaland.gov.in/Packing - Pack according to the weather. Time of the year - First week of AprilLength of the itinerary: 6 daysItinerary Highlights: Ila talks about the planning for this trip and more about her larger itinerary that included Kaziranga National Park, Majuli island and finishing off at Mon district in Nagaland to celebrate the Aoleng festival of the konyaks. We discuss more about the Konyaks and their unique tradition and culture including the tradition of body tattoos, large ear piercings and headhunting. The headhunting tradition, where warring factions would kill and carry the heads of opponents as it was believed to bring good luck, prosperity and fertility to the village. The practice started to decline after Christianity was brought to the area by the British, and stopped in the 1970’s. The Konyaks are one of the biggest of the tribes of Nagaland and are mostly situated in the Mon district of Nagaland. The last surviving head-hunters of Nagaland are in their 80s and 90s. The group planned to spend time interacting with the Konyaks during their Aoling festival that is celebrated before the harvest season to welcome spring and the new year. The festival is celebrated in the first week of April. The week-long festival includes music, dancing, feasting, sacrifices and traditional rituals. The preparation includes new clothes, food, rice beer, dressing up with the traditional clothes and headgear. Ila and the group spend time across three different villages participating in the celebrations. The trip starts off at the Shiyong, spending time at the tea estate of Phejin Konyak, a great granddaughter of a popular headhunter and author of “The Konyaks: Last of the tattooed headhunters”, among the views and the welcoming locals. After Shiong, the group spent time at Hongphoi &amp; Wanchin - two smaller villages. Most of the octogenarian headhunters were in Hongphoi. The celebrations were more intimate and on a smaller scale. Ila also has the opportunity to engage in playing the traditional log drums during the festival. The next stop was at Longwa, which is at the Indo-Burmese borders. The celebration appears to be a bit more aggressive with gun totting Nagas who set off celebratory fire shots. The village was also unique given it was bordering Myanmar, giving access to some local delicacies. The Anghs or the chieftain’s house is half in India and half in Myanmar, and the locals are free to move about to the neighbouring village to visit relatives. Ila also spends some time visiting the local gunsmiths and craftsmen, who are popular for wooden products. We also discuss the effect of opium addiction as a part of the Naga lifestyle. We wrap up by discussing the Naga kitchen and its importance as being the centre of the Naga household where the family members spend most time in. The delicacies include non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes along with the local rice beer. Links:Ila’s blog: https://ilareddy.comLink to blogpost: https://ilareddy.com/2018/05/05/celebrating-aoleang-with-the-tattooed-headhunters-of-nagaland/IG: https://www.instagram.com/ilareddy/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ilareddyLink to the book - The Konyaks: Last of the tattooed Headhunters: https://www.amazon.in/Konyaks-Last-Tattooed-Headhunters/dp/9351941124/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&amp;qid=1627938608&amp;refinements=p_27%3APhejin+Konyak&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-1Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Ila Reddy, as she takes us on a trip to the land of the Headhunters, Nagaland!GIVEAWAY ALERT: <a href="https://forms.gle/QTLBNgZEy26CEzFQ9" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://forms.gle/QTLBNgZEy26CEzFQ9</a>Answer 3 simple questions and stand a chance to win a copy of the book “The Konyaks: Last of the tattooed Headhunters”Today's destination: NagalandNearest Airport: Dimapur Airport, DMUNearest Railway Station: Dimapur Railway Station, DMVPrerequisites -  Inner line permit is required. Can be applied at <a href="https://ilp.nagaland.gov.in/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://ilp.nagaland.gov.in/</a>Packing - Pack according to the weather. Time of the year - First week of AprilLength of the itinerary: 6 daysItinerary Highlights: Ila talks about the planning for this trip and more about her larger itinerary that included Kaziranga National Park, Majuli island and finishing off at Mon district in Nagaland to celebrate the Aoleng festival of the konyaks. We discuss more about the Konyaks and their unique tradition and culture including the tradition of body tattoos, large ear piercings and headhunting. The headhunting tradition, where warring factions would kill and carry the heads of opponents as it was believed to bring good luck, prosperity and fertility to the village. The practice started to decline after Christianity was brought to the area by the British, and stopped in the 1970’s. The Konyaks are one of the biggest of the tribes of Nagaland and are mostly situated in the Mon district of Nagaland. The last surviving head-hunters of Nagaland are in their 80s and 90s. The group planned to spend time interacting with the Konyaks during their Aoling festival that is celebrated before the harvest season to welcome spring and the new year. The festival is celebrated in the first week of April. The week-long festival includes music, dancing, feasting, sacrifices and traditional rituals. The preparation includes new clothes, food, rice beer, dressing up with the traditional clothes and headgear. Ila and the group spend time across three different villages participating in the celebrations. The trip starts off at the Shiyong, spending time at the tea estate of Phejin Konyak, a great granddaughter of a popular headhunter and author of “The Konyaks: Last of the tattooed headhunters”, among the views and the welcoming locals. After Shiong, the group spent time at Hongphoi &amp; Wanchin - two smaller villages. Most of the octogenarian headhunters were in Hongphoi. The celebrations were more intimate and on a smaller scale. Ila also has the opportunity to engage in playing the traditional log drums during the festival. The next stop was at Longwa, which is at the Indo-Burmese borders. The celebration appears to be a bit more aggressive with gun totting Nagas who set off celebratory fire shots. The village was also unique given it was bordering Myanmar, giving access to some local delicacies. The Anghs or the chieftain’s house is half in India and half in Myanmar, and the locals are free to move about to the neighbouring village to visit relatives. Ila also spends some time visiting the local gunsmiths and craftsmen, who are popular for wooden products. We also discuss the effect of opium addiction as a part of the Naga lifestyle. We wrap up by discussing the Naga kitchen and its importance as being the centre of the Naga household where the family members spend most time in. The delicacies include non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes along with the local rice beer. Links:Ila’s blog: <a href="https://ilareddy.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://ilareddy.com</a>Link to blogpost: <a href="https://ilareddy.com/2018/05/05/celebrating-aoleang-with-the-tattooed-headhunters-of-nagaland/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://ilareddy.com/2018/05/05/celebrating-aoleang-with-the-tattooed-headhunters-of-nagaland/</a>IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ilareddy/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/ilareddy/</a>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/ilareddy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/ilareddy</a>Link to the book - The Konyaks: Last of the tattooed Headhunters: <a href="https://www.amazon.in/Konyaks-Last-Tattooed-Headhunters/dp/9351941124/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&amp;qid=1627938608&amp;refinements=p_27%3APhejin+Konyak&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-1" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.in/Konyaks-Last-Tattooed-Headhunters/dp/9351941124/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&amp;qid=1627938608&amp;refinements=p_27%3APhejin+Konyak&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-1</a>Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : <a href="https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en</a>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/</a>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en</a>website: <a href="http://www.themusafirstories.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">www.themusafirstories.com</a>email: themusafirstories@gmail.comYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: <a href="https://ivm.today/android" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://ivm.today/android</a> or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at <a href="http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/</a>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Ep. 110: Headhunters of Nagaland with Ila Reddy