While looking around for places to stay in and around Bhuj, I chanced upon Devpur Homestay in Darbargadh a heritage property around 40 kms away. After poring over the map and distances with my geographer friend, it appeared that this would…
Where Embroidery is Wealth for the Rabari Tribe
My road trip through Kutch in Gujarat was an eye opener in more than way. I have been overwhelmed by the love and affection of the people I met at every stop. We visited the village around the Heritage Home…
Mastery on Fabric- Rogan Art
I stopped by at Nirona Village while travelling through Kutch in Gujarat. Nirona is about 100 kms away from Bhuj, near Nakhtarana. We walked down through the village lanes to the home of National Award Winning Artistes (Khatri Ghafoor Bhai…
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…
Lord Buddha lies in Eternal Sleep in Kushinagar
“Sleep” brings to my mind the reclined statue of Lord Buddha in Kushinagar, India where he is believed to have attained Nirvana and left his physical body. Kushinagar is an important stop in a Buddhist Pilgrimage. Lord Buddha attained…
Festival of Lights in Jetavana, Shravasti
I was in Jetavana, Shravasti on a cool February evening. Jetavana is the second monastery donated to Lord Buddha. Currently, the ruins of the erstwile monastery is preserved in a huge garden in Sravasti, a district town located about 150kms…
Mud Mirror Art from India
We traveled through the Kutch area of Gujarat stopping intermittently at different villages and towns to explore the wild, history and more often than not the rich art heritage. While passing through stretches of barren land sans any form of…
Boat Ride on the Ganga during Sunrise in Varanasi
Varanasi, the oldest city in the world, teeming with activity in every lane and by lane, has its own special charm. When I stepped out of Varanasi airport on a surprisingly warm February evening, I was looking forward to exploring…
Morchang ~ Melodious Tunes of Metal
Walking around a dusty hamlet (Nirona) in the heartland of Kutch in Gujarat, India, in search of hand made bells, I chanced upon a musician who crafts bells for a living. Neighbours pointed out to a house where they made bells…
Sunshine in the Tea Cup from Coonoor Tea Gardens
We were walking around the Coonoor Tea Gardens, soaking in the warm sunshine when I heard a hum and the sound of something scissor like alternating to create a musical rhythm. On the trail to seek the origin, we soon found…