urvijabanerji's User Profile - Atlas Obscura

Urvija Banerji

2016
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Is Maine Our Most Unusual State?

8 offbeat gems to visit in Maine this summer.

Sex Tips I Learned at the New York Public Library

The Berg Collection of English and American Literature has some fascinating erotica.

Go For a Virtual Swim in a Beautiful Finnish Pond

Who knew a humble puddle could be so pretty beneath the surface?

Watch a Japanese Chef Turn Slicing a Cucumber into a Fine Art

Who knew you could get so creative with the gourd family.

imaginary world

Navigating the Confusing Terrain of Love With a 350-Year-Old Map

This French map was a feminist take on the path to a woman's heart.

Unsightly Dogs Compete to Be the World's Ugliest in California

It's a surprisingly competitive contest that began in the '70s.

How to Take Care of Your Hair, 1950s Edition

"Wash your hair frequently," an instructional video advises, "once every two weeks."

Watch a Street Food Master Flip Buns in China

His manual dexterity is mesmerizing.

Biryani is Better Than Americans Know

The authentic version is South Asia’s best kept secret.

Watch Humans Work Together to Rescue a Canine Friend

A spark of human kindness to brighten your Friday.

Portuguese Slave Traders Were No Match for Angolan Queen Nzinga Mbandi

The warrior queen fought colonizers for decades.

Watch Muhammad Ali Doing Magic Tricks in an Airport

One of the world's most celebrated boxers could also make a handkerchief disappear with ease.

Watch a Hypnotizing Machine Sort River Rocks by Age

The Jller uses a method that is just as much art as it is science.

The TSA's Instagram Features Highly Bizarre Confiscated Items

Weird and wonderful attempts to sneak illicit objects on board are documented on the TSA's official account with a healthy dose of dry humor.

Watch a Man Play a Flamethrowing Guitar on His Roof

Just like in Mad Max, but with less... war.

How One Man's Desire to Flaunt His Wealth Became a Book of Psalms

It provides a searing glimpse of the toils of medieval laborers.

See The Bosch Parade's Bizarre, Buoyant Works of Art

Each year, the Netherlands' festival features outlandish exhibits on floats that actually float.

An Indian Village Plants 111 Trees Every Time a Girl Is Born

The initiative aims to promote gender equality and has boosted the village's economy.

Identify Any Tree in New York City With this Map

What kind of trees grow in your neighborhood?

Watch a Sea Snail Swallow a Fish Whole

The seemingly innocuous Conus is in fact a venomous killing machine.

These Unique Wails Piercing Indian Streets are a Genius Form of Advertising

The repeated calls signal the kind of wares that street vendors have on offer.

Watch a Man Tightrope Walk Across the Moon

A perfectly timed video shows a free climber "walking" across the moon as it rises over Yosemite.

The First Restaurants Only Served Soup

The meat-based broths they served were intended to "restore life" to patrons.

Experience a Wild Indian Train Ride With This Awe-Inspiring Time Lapse

As a bonus, the video is soundtracked by an excellent tabla piece.