About PolkaJunction
PolkaJunction began in 2016 as a space for writing and reading, and has gradually taken the form of a long-running journal of travel, food and everyday observations.
The writing here moves slowly. Some pieces grow out of reporting assignments, others from time spent walking through neighbourhoods, sitting in kitchens, revisiting archives, or returning to places I have known for decades. What links them is an attention to how people live, cook, build and remember.
This is not a space driven by trends or quick takes. Most stories here are shaped by time spent on the ground, and by looking closely rather than moving quickly.
What you will find here
On PolkaJunction, you will find:
- long-form travel writing rooted in history and lived experience
- reported guides shaped by research and fieldwork
- food stories that trace memory and place
- writing on architecture, craft traditions and cultural landscapes
This is not a blog of lists or quick itineraries. Most pieces here are meant to be read slowly, and revisited.
Why the name PolkaJunction
The name PolkaJunction reflects the way this space came together — from varied interests meeting at one point.
Over time, it has grown into a journal that brings together writing on travel, food and everyday observation.
However, the name has stayed, even as the writing has changed.
Who writes this
I am Meenakshi, a writer and journalist based in India.
PolkaJunction is where I publish work that sits outside the pace of newsroom deadlines — essays, notes
and longer pieces that do not always fit neatly into commissioned formats.
It is also where I return to subjects that continue to interest me, sometimes over years.
The writing here often focuses on small details like everyday routines, ordinary conversations, overlooked spaces — and
how these shape a sense of place.
A note on my journalism
Alongside this journal, I write reported features for international publications.
PolkaJunction gives me space to work more independently, and to publish stories that do not always fit within commissioned briefs.
Over the years, PolkaJunction has also been a space for commissioned and collaborative work with cultural organisations,
tourism bodies and publishers, alongside independent writing.
If you are interested in my journalism beyond this space, you can find it in my separate portfolio.
If you are new here, you might want to begin with a few selected pieces from the archive.
New writing appears as and when it’s ready.
Thank you for reading.