Prasanta Behera Blog

The moment I decided to visit New Zealand, I knew I had to find a trail that lived up to the country's legendary reputation. While many recommended the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, I was drawn to something more immersive: the Milford Track . Known as 'the finest walk in the world,' it promised a 33.5-mile journey through rainforests, over mountain passes, and past some of the most spectacular waterfalls on Earth. A 33.5-mile (54 km) journey through dramatic rainforests, towering waterfalls, and the iconic MacKinnon Pass. It was perfect. I recruited my friend and "big brother," Niranjan Tripathy, to join me for the adventure. This hike is incredibly popular and operates on a strict booking system with a limited season. To secure our spot, we booked nearly a year in advance (April 2025) for our trek in March 2026 with Ultimate Hikes . Day 1: The Gateway to the Wilderness We met our group at the Ultimate Hikes office in Queenstown before boarding a bus to Te Anau. Aft...

Recently, I found myself drawn into the stories of two great ancient places of learning: Alexandria in Egypt and Nalanda in India. One book told of a city that tried to gather all knowledge under one roof; the other described a place where knowledge was lived—where students stayed, debated, meditated, and grew together. In a curious turn of hi story, Alexander the Great has connections to both cities. In 331 BCE, after conquering Egypt, Alexander chose a modest coastal settlement and imagined something far larger— a cosmopolitan capital that would bind cultures together. Under Ptolemy I and especially his son, Ptolemy II , the Library of Alexandria became a bold experiment: to collect the world’s scrolls, to translate them, to preserve them, to expand them. At its height, it contained 400,000-700,000 scrolls. Scholars from distant lands arrived to study, translate, and exchange ideas.   In 48 BCE, during the military campaign of Julius Caesar , fire swept parts of the city and de...