Founded nearly 500 years ago, Indore is the gateway to the famous tourist destinations in Western Madhya Pradesh. The city lives up to its reputation of being the trading hub between the Deccan Kingdoms and Delhi Sultanate from the time…
Temples appear like Rosary Beads; 108 Shiva Temples in Kalna
My earliest recollection for the name Kalna was from a poem by Rabindra Nath Tagore elucidating the wacky lifestyle of an old lady and her grand mother-in-law’s sisters. These ladies used to store their pots and pans in the clothes…
10 Must Do’s on a Kashmir Sightseeing Trip
Srinagar is the capital of Kashmir defined by its large lakes and flowery gardens. The first stop during any trip to Kashmir valley is Srinagar. While the Mughal gardens bloom ushering in spring with all its colors; Dal Lake and…
Quiet Haven ~ Om Beach Resort in Gokarna
There was something in the air when I stepped out of the KSRTC Bus in Gokarna. After an 11 hour drive, I was anything but tired. The trees were green, the air was fresh and light and the sounds of temple…
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…
Impermanence as experienced in Kudle Beach, Gokarna
Sometimes we forget, we are here on earth with an expiry date, nothing is permanent; this body, the successes, the joys, the sadness, the feelings of emptiness and everything around us. I have been fortunate to have attended institutions of…
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,…
Weekend Trip to Badami-Hampi-Bijapur Circuit
I have been planning a weekend trip to Badami and beyond for a while and finally managed to do it recently. I covered Bijapur, Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal and Mahakuta in 2 days. Incase, you have not been to Hampi, add…
Aihole – Cradle of Chalukyan Architecture
I first heard of Aihole in high school when my teacher passionately described a temple from the picture in our text book. It had a different shape, like the back of an elephant and looked absolutely gorgeous and unique. While,…
Pattadakal ~ Masterpieces of Chalukyan Architecture
After crossing the quiet Malaprabha river, the auto rolled by sunflower fields and bullock carts I asked the auto driver if we were indeed headed to Pattadakal or if he lost his way. It appeared that we were far away…