I have always been in awe of the Chola Empire. I credit this admiration to my high school history teacher who weaved stories around art and architecture of years gone by and she ensured all of us fell in love…
Home Style Sumptuous Meal in UBM, Kongunadu
From the breakfast pit stop On the Highway to Kongunadu, we drove deeper into Kongu land passing by Salem of Steel fame and Erode the textile heartland. A few shops and educational institutes showed up on the side with Kongu…
On the Highway to Kongunadu ~ Local Delights at Mangala Vilas
I must sheepishly admit that for a long time, I was ignorant about the culinary delights from the southern state of Tamil Nadu beyond the stand Idly-Dosa-Sambhar fare. I did have the opportunity to sample Chettinad ( district within Tamil…
Manipur to Chettinad ; The aroma of Black Rice Kheer
What is the connection between Manipur in the North East to Chettinad in Tamil Nadu in the South of India ? Most Indians will scratch their head since there is hardly any historical connection. Anyone aware of evolution of the…
Floor Legacy ~ Athangudi Tiles from Chettinad
I was reading up on the net to finalize my itinerary for Chettinad and one thing that intrigued me was Athangudi Tiles, indigenous and unique to the region. I had seen the fragile ceramic tiles, the red roofed Mangalore Tiles,…
Rameshwaram in a Day ~ Solo Travel Journey
A few months ago, I visited Rameshwaram, a small island off the eastern coast of India. This temple town named after the famous mythological hero Lord Rama is connected to mainland by a nearly 100 year old (1914) railway link…
Sign to Remember in Wellington Club
Travel is all about a place, the people, the tastes but more often than not the sign boards around reveal a lot more and add to the fun and laughter. During a recent trip to green Coonoor up in the…
Ruins speak volumes in Dhanushkodi
A trip to Rameshwaram may complete the pilgrimage of the devout but is incomplete without a trip to Dhanushkodi for the ones who are in search of Ramayana (the mythological epic that most Indian children grow up reading). True to its name, it…
Green Therapy in Coonoor ~ A Photo Story
Coonoor is a quiet little hill station, about 280 kms from Bangalore and 20 kms from Ooty. Its a beautiful place for green therapy, idling around and watching the world go by. I spent a weekend staying at the cosy Tea Nest property…
Tea Themed Dishes from Tea Nest in Coonoor
I have never taken to tea as a beverage apart from the occasional Iced Tea, the oxidant rich White Tea or the warm Jasmine Tea. During a quiet weekend trip to Coonoor , I was presented with a 7 course…