When I travelled to Jabalpur enroute to Bandhavgarh for a holiday, I thought it would be just another stopover and nothing more. However, as we jingled along the sun-drenched roads of Jabalapur on cycle rickshaws, the omnipresent indigenous mode of transport consisting of a carriage like seating area attached to a bicycle, towards our hotel , I realised that the place was already casting its spell on me. Having been born and brought up in a big city, I was naturally unaware of the charm of a small town like…
Year: 2014
Day 9: Oh India My Homeland
No matter how fast your rivers dry up or how quick your wealth drains Still today the peacock dances whenever it rains Still today hopes of a few billions find place in their prayer With renewed spirits they shrug off their pain and despair Photo courtesy: www.hdwallpapers.in
Day 8: Historic Hampi
One of the best ways to enjoy life is to visit great places. Travel helps to widen your perspective on life. You realise the value of every moment and start savouring them so that they can last you a lifetime. However, a lifetime may seem too less particularly when you behold something as magnificent and magical as the Hampi ruins. Ensconced between the roaring Tungabhadra and several small hills, Hampi in Hospet in Northern Karnataka has always been an alluring escapade for me. Being a student of history, ruins of…
Day 6: Those Green Days of Geonkhali
It was nearing noon and the sun was at its highest point in the sky. There were only two enthusiasts, me and my husband, braving the scorching sun touring the paddy fields of Geonkhali. The van rickshaw driver was amazed at our persistence. He had never witnessed such resilience from city people before. The Van rickshaw, a unique contraption consisting of a plank of wood attached to a bicycle, is the only means of transport while you are savouring the natural beauties of Geonkhali. The plank is where you are…
Day 7: FalakNuma – A Mirror of the Sky
Nawabs and Nizams have trod the glorious soils of India and left behind their gilded footprints in the form of palaces and forts. The Falaknuma Palace is one such remnant that reminds us of the days when grandeur adorned India’ skylines. When I visited this historical masterpiece, I was as intrigued by its illustrious history as by the amazing frescoes and gilded relief crowning its ceilings. Whenever I looked up I realised I was staring at a massive expanse of sculptured art as huge as the sky above it. It…
Day 5: Ecstasy
As the morning sun pours in through my window, sending a welcome message for the start of a new day I enjoy living life in my own special way I enjoy the joys of holding hands with glee I enjoy the ecstasy of being just Me
Day 4: Dhuandhar – The Smoky Cascade
‘Dhuan’ the Indian terminology for smoke is quintessentially associated with mysticism and mystic is what you become when you step into the misty haze of the Dhuandhar Falls. Located in the Central Indian State of Madhya Pradesh, the Dhuandhar essentially draws its name from the white smoky mist that is formed from its frothy waters gushing out from a height of 10 meters. I visited the Dhuandhar twice in my life. The first time was as a young, curious adolescent and the second time as a matured, experienced tourist. On…
Day 3: Charming Chinar – The Sanctuary That Enthralls
It was around 3 0’clock in the afternoon when we entered the Chinar Wild Life sanctuary. By the time we left all three of us had fallen – our daughter on the rocks and we for the place. As a result of the fall our daughter bruised her leg and we bruised our hearts for not visiting the place earlier. The gods must surely have gone crazy when they crafted the Southern Indian state of Kerala. They so fell in love with it that they liberally scattered the place with…
Day 2: Borong – A Walk to Remember
When life gets too full with everyday monotony, and your heart seeks the right salve to rise above mediocrity, the splendid nothingness of Borong helps to act as the right balm. This quaint little hill station lying snuggled in the mountains of West Sikkim has nothing much to offer other than the long, meandering roads leading you to step into the clouds. This is the best opportunity for you to get lost in the surrounding woods bordering the long roads. That was my idea of an ideal escape. Silence…
Day 1: Architectural Marvels of India – Ajanta and Ellora Caves
The best part about living in India is that you can enjoy life in all its facets. You can be dishevelled and harried by the continuing chaos and the omnipresent pollution while at the same time you can be mesmerised and awestruck by the beauties and marvels created by man and nature. This unique paradox that defines India has been the single most crucial factor which has led travellers and trespassers cross its shores time and again. My earliest memories of travelling in India is distinctly marked by serpentine queues…
