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 ponderings.
The writing here is purposeful and slow. Some pieces grow out of reporting assignments, others from time spent walking through alleys and neighbourhoods, sitting in traditional kitchens, revisiting archives, or returning to places I have known for decades. What links them is my interest in how people live, cook, build and catalogue memories.
This is not a writing, and reading space… driven by trends or quick takes. Most stories here are shaped by time spent on the ground, observing people, surroundings and experiences.
On PolkaJunction, you will find:
- Travel stories that delve into the history, people and experiences that make a place what it is.
- Guides that go beyond the obvious, with a fair bit of research and on-ground exploration thrown in.
- Food stories that take you on a journey through local flavours, culinary traditions and the occasional trip down memory lane.
- Stories about architecture, crafts, heritage and cultural traditions — and the people who keep them alive.
This is not a blog of lists and quick itineraries. I like to take my time exploring a place, follow my curiosity, ask questions and look beyond the usual tourist trail. Some stories take me down unexpected paths; others send me back to places I thought I already knew. And that is the joy of it, isn’t it?
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 is ready.
Thank you for reading.