Aaditya Nair is our Wellington correspondent, covering New Zealand politics and the country's Indian-origin community, which has grown to become a distinctive civic presence. He reports on a small country whose decisions travel further than many imagine.
Recent work
Charminar: Where Four Minarets Hold a Civilisation's Memory
Charminar, the magnificent four-towered mosque and monument built by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591, stands at the heart of Hyderabad as one of India's most enduring architectural icons. Far more than a tourist landmark, it is the beating pulse of a city where Persian, Telugu, Urdu, and Hindu traditions have woven themselves into a singular, irreplaceable culture. To visit Charminar is to step into a civilisational conversation that has never paused.
Hampi: Where Myth, Empire, and Stone Speak Together
Hampi, the UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled along the Tungabhadra River in Karnataka, was once the resplendent capital of the Vijayanagara Empire — a city where mythology and history share the same boulder-strewn earth. Today, its temples, chariot sculptures, elephant stables, and sacred ghats draw travellers into a living encounter with India's past, not as spectators at a ruin, but as participants in a story still being told. From the mythic terrain of the Ramayana to the architectural ambition of medieval empire-builders, Hampi is a destination that reframes what heritage truly means.
Kaziranga: Where Ancient India Still Breathes in the Wild
Kaziranga National Park in Assam is one of India's most extraordinary natural sanctuaries, home to the world's largest population of the one-horned rhinoceros and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Far more than a wildlife reserve, Kaziranga is a living testament to India's ancient ethic of coexistence with the natural world — a relationship woven into the subcontinent's cultural and spiritual fabric for thousands of years. This article explores Kaziranga's history, its cultural resonance, what visitors experience on the ground, and why every Indian should make the journey at least once.
Munnar: Where Mist, Tea, and Timeless Kerala Breathe Together
Munnar, perched in the verdant Idukki district of Kerala, is one of India's most celebrated hill destinations, famed for its mist-clad mountains, sprawling tea estates, and extraordinary biodiversity. Its history stretches from indigenous tribal settlements to British colonial tea cultivation, and today it stands as a testament to the enduring relationship between Indian communities and their natural environment. For the thoughtful traveller, Munnar is not merely a scenic retreat — it is a place where India's civilisational bond with the land remains vivid and alive.