Instagram story viewer> @storiesbysoumya> Posts

Soumya Gayatri

@storiesbysoumya

2.1K

followers

1574

following

History Nerd | Travel Writer | Culture Buff | Foodie
Words in @bbc_travel @smithsonianmagazine @newlinesmagazine @archdigest @travelandleisureindia

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

For @bbc_travel , I write about Pakhala, a traditional dish of rice and tangy fermented water that has been cooling people for centuries.

This one’s is special because it’s my first piece from my home state Odisha, displaying its beautiful culinary history that’s deeply rooted in Jagannath culture. The fact that it was published on the auspicious day of Ratha Yatra makes it so much more special.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250625-indias-cooling-summer-dish-that-costs-less-than-a-dollar

A million thanks to @abimilano @samrit213 @alkajena @balaramadass for providing their rich insights into the story. And thanks to all the amazing people who helped me find the right sources for this story.

Photos by my talented sister @ramya_kitchen @ramyamaitreyee taken in Bhubaneswar, India by @storiesbysoumya

130

26

a year ago

In my latest for @bbc_travel, I write about the meteoric rise of Dubai chocolate and how it went on to become a global craze from a simple chocolate bar.

An excerpt from the story: "Beyond its viral fame, Dubai chocolate's resonance also lies in its deep Middle Eastern roots—tapping into family traditions of sharing sweets, gifting edible treats and the nostalgic flavours of knafeh and pistachios woven into daily life across the region."

Read the full story here
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250502-how-dubai-chocolate-conquered-the-world by @storiesbysoumya

36

6

a year ago

In my debut piece for @malaysiaairlines , I write about Phuket, a vibrant beach destination with some of the world’s best luxury resorts, chic restaurants and trendy beach clubs, as well as its lesser-known old town with colourful Sino-Portuguese shophouses, mining museums and fascinating Hokkien heritage.

Find me in your seat pocket aboard your Malaysia Airlines flight in May-June. Or read online here. https://lnkd.in/djwEi7V8

#byline #malaysiaairlines #phuket #thailandtravel taken in Phuket, Thailand by @storiesbysoumya

28

22

5 months ago

Golden beaches, lantern-lit avenues, colourful markets and a thriving café culture – Da Nang
is the perfect gateway to the treasures of central Vietnam.

Find me in your seat pocket aboard your next Malaysia Airlines flight @goingplacesmagazine ✈️

#danang #vietnam #malaysiaairlines #goingplacesmagazine taken in Da Nang, Vietnam by @storiesbysoumya

34

13

11 days ago

“In Cairo, history is not confined to ancient monuments but lives on in bustling markets, family kitchens and age-old recipes, offering travellers a delicious way to taste the city’s past.” In my latest for the @newindianexpress, I write about Cairo’s Bazaar of Flavours.

Read the complete story here. https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/food/2026/Sep/06/the-bazaar-of-flavours

Thank you @belliesenroute and Moustafa Omran for sharing your thoughts for the story.
And thank you @primidutt for giving me this opportunity and for being such a wonderful editor.

#cairo #egyptianfood #cairofood #cairostreets #egypttravel taken in Cairo, Egypt by @storiesbysoumya

36

16

a month ago

In my latest for @goingplacesmagazine, I write about Mumbai, a city that has been shaped by centuries of migration. People have come, stayed and made Mumbai their home. And somehow, Mumbai has always had space for everyone.

I came to Mumbai in 2008 for my first job, fresh out of college with dreams in my eyes. This is where I really found myself, understood what I wanted out of life and had the courage to pursue it. The city became home for 12 long years. Even now, it is a place I keep going back to for friends, family, food, doctors, and sometimes just for the vibe. And every single time, even today, Mumbai feels like home.

Thank you @lizsoong for giving me the space and opportunity to tell this story. It means a lot.

Thank you @abbyshearth and @divsigupta for sharing with me your love and passion for the city.

Read the full story aboard your Malaysia Airlines flight in Sept-October. Or read it online here. https://lnkd.in/dAxyzfdx

#mumbaidiaries #mumbaimerijaan #mumbaicity #mumbai #bombay taken in Mumbai - मुंबई by @storiesbysoumya

36

15

a month ago

The beautiful fruit ladies, also known as Las Palenqueras, of Cartagena, Colombia.

#cartagenadeindias #laspalenquerasdecartagena #colombia #cartagenacolombia🇨🇴 #colombiatravel taken in Cartagena De Indias, Colombia by @storiesbysoumya

46

13

2 months ago

A beautiful coffee story is brewing in the highlands of Koraput, Odisha. Have you heard of it yet?? Visited here? Tastes the layered notes of chocolate and nuts in a Koraput cuppa?

Writing for @travelandleisureindia is always special and when it is a story (also my first print piece) from my home state, I cannot help but feel ecstatic. 🤩

Thank you @aparnadwibedy, @jeeta.mona from @kruticoffee and Susanto Panda from @dreamhillcoffee for sharing such amazing insights for the article.
And many thanks to @travellingslacker for these beautiful photos.

#coffeelover #koraputcoffee #odishatourism #odishacoffee #koraput taken in Koraput Odisha by @storiesbysoumya

37

14

2 months ago

Loving the street art of Guatemala and how beautifully it reflects the different faces and moods of womanhood.

#streetart #guatemala #murals #atitlan #travelforart taken in Lake Atitlán, Guatemala by @storiesbysoumya

51

6

3 months ago

Awestruck by the splendour of this neo-Renaissance beauty in Prague - The National Museum ❤️❤️

#prague #praguetips #praguephoto #praguetravel #praguenationalmuseum taken in Prague, Czech Republic by @storiesbysoumya

98

32

a year ago

Thrilled to share my first byline for @smithsonianmagazine.

On a recent trip to @wuppertal, I discovered the Schwebebahn, the world’s oldest, still-operating, suspension railway. Also known as Germany’s Flying Train, the Schwebebahn, which just turned 125 years old, still carries over 80,000 passengers every single day.

An excerpt from my story:
“As the train leaves the station, I look out of the window to see the Wupper snaking away below me. Roads and buildings zoom past while cyclists and pedestrians occasionally stop to wave. For a moment, it feels like I’m on the fictional Japanese manga Galaxy Express 999, bound not for another station but for the stars.”

Read the full story here because the story of how and why it came to be is too interesting to miss.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/when-germany-built-a-flying-train-125-years-ago-a-city-coalesced-beneath-it-it-has-moved-royalty-commuters-and-touristsand-one-elephantever-since-180989072/

#wuppertal #schwebebahn #germany #schwebebahninwuppertal #traintravel taken in Wuppertal, Germany by @storiesbysoumya

33

12

3 months ago

Memories from Trakai, Lithuania. Summer of 2025. ❤️❤️❤️

#trakai #lithuania_places #lithuaniatravel #travellithuania #vilnius taken in Trakai by @storiesbysoumya

75

20

4 months ago