‘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…
The Holy Nexus
For quite some time I have been feeling this pressing need to describe my innermost emotions about my first ever experience with a Tab. Though it’s been sometime now that we purchased the Tab, but somehow I never got close enough physically to it to recount my experiences effusively. A lot of it is however attributed to my 6 year old daughter who seems to have acquired an authority on it and believes that it has been bought for the sole purpose of loading her own apps. In fact she…
The Hills are Alive
I believe even if one is not a medical student and has been a poor student of biology, the impact of DNA is not difficult to comprehend. I belong to the former group and yet I realized my daughter carried our genes alright when she started pestering us for a trip just before her vacations were about to end. We just needed the right motivation and our browsers and travel guides flipped open. We could just about afford a day trip and we decided on Nandi Hills. One of the…
Youth Comes Calling
What is it that makes you wish to tune in to Raag malhar on a Monday morning? It must be a special feeling that inspires such joy to liven up the usually evil Monday. Well, I believe in my case it must have been my Sunday evening movie. I went for Yeh Jawaani Hain Diwaani and came out with a chirpy, light and blissful feeling in my heart. In short, I felt happy. In the midst of all the struggles and strife that life forces us to deal with, Dharma…
Let’s Talk
Speech or the human ability to speak is the most favorite asset of our species. However, so far as communication is concerned speech will very soon probably take a back seat. Social media along with its tools will render speech a good to have asset and not the only prerequisite to have a conversation. I however believe in the old world charm of holding prolonged conversations over the telephone. The latter which was once considered man’s most ingenious inventions is now passé. We no longer get to hear the shrill…
IPL Cricket – The Passion Slayer
Cricket , traditionally considered to be a gentleman’s game has always brought out ungentlemanly emotions in most men and women. I have seen men swear and shout indecencies and women salivating at the sight of handsome players on the field. My earliest association with the game also invoked a very strong emotion – irritation. My brother an ardent cricket fan tried his best to draw me into the spirit of the sport with no effect; my father was stunned to know he had fathered a non-sports lover like me; my…
Hungry for More
What do you do when you finish reading a good novel? You know it’s over and you can no longer remain drenched in its satiating outpour and yet you are left thirsting for more. That is exactly the feeling Amitava Ghosh’s “The Hungry Tide” left me with. Yes for those of you who are dropping jaws at my late rising. I finally ended up reading the book. I have probably realized the true meaning of the adage “Better late than never” now. The mesmerizing strength of his prose, the seductive…
