Hampi, India – The Echoes of Glory
Hampi, India, and its temples and rock studded landscape make it one of the most atmospheric UNESCO Heritage Sites in the country.
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BEST OF THE BLOG
A small collection of personal favourites from the blog archives.
Not necessarily all from my favourite destinations.
Jodhpur – Marwar Meets Andalucia In Mehrangarh
The fusion of traditions at the Jodhpur Flamenco and Gypsy Festival is a visual and emotive exploration of rhythm. Of the passion and pathos of the Cante with the joyous, raucous melodies of the Thar desert. The mellow tones of the acoustic guitar with the shrill keening of the Kamaicha and the Sindhi Sarangi. The power and […]
Read MoreThe Gnu & Its Wanderlust – The Great Wildebeest Migration In The Serengeti
Photo essay on wildebeest migration in the Serengeti: the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth. Don’t miss the video of a memorable road crossing.
Read MoreThe Presence Of Absence
The Armenian church is in Georgetown, the chaotic trading quarter of Chennai that I don’t ordinarily frequent. The last time I ventured into the area was in search of a particular shade and texture of hand made paper for invites to my stone furniture sale! That, I am ashamed to admit, was over a decade […]
Read MoreLucknow – An Ode To Urbanity
Let’s face it, we are not the most considerate or well mannered of people. If there is a rule to be broken, a line to be cut, or a traffic light to be jumped, you will likely find an Indian elbowing his way to pole position. Any indignant readers quick to rush to the defense of fellow citizens, are […]
Read MoreTen Thousand Shades Of Green…..
I had forgotten the smell of the hills. The fresh clean smell of rarefied mountain air mingled with the spicy fragrance of eucalyptus and the aroma of crushed tea leaves. But as we negotiated each tricky hairpin bend on our drive up the Coonoor ghat, it was the colours that opened the flood gates of my memory. The lush verdancy […]
Read MoreArt Inspired By Faith
From dust to dust. Or in this case from the clay dredged from the bottom of the holy Ganges, and back to its murky depths. The journey of Goddess Durga, believed to be her annual sojourn in her maternal home, is a metaphor for impermanence and temporality. Of all life. But also, in the sacred ritual that […]
Read MoreThe Incredible Destiny Of Mirza Ghiyas Beg!
R & I have had many turning points in our lives. Those serendipitous moments when things could so easily have gone the other way. And we have often argued over whether these were mere co-incidences or karmic interventions. R believes in hard work and sagacity. I do too. I really do. But I am too much of a romantic to […]
Read MoreTaj Mahal, India – The Simplicity Of Perfection!
Taj Mahal, India, travel guide. Find inspiring Taj Mahal photography and travel tips to optimise your visit to the exquisite UNESCO monument.
Read MoreThe Magnificent Mausoleum Of Humayun
On the couple of sublimely solitary hours we got to spend revelling in the magnificence of this necropolis and the serene silence of its pink stones.
Read MoreThe Light Of Faith
The crowded, choreographed, almost Bollywoodesque obeisance to the Ganga in Varanasi, is more spectacle than religious ritual. Performed daily at sunrise and sunset, the Ganga aarti was conceived by the savvy pujari (temple priest) Babu Maharaj in 1992, and it’s popularity has spawned more such spectacles in other cities along the banks of India’s holiest […]
Read MoreGiving Delhi Its Due
Granted my earlier visits had been limited to meetings with modular furniture makers and interior contractors, but charm was still the last thing I expected to find in Delhi! An insidious allure that gets under your skin, even as you wilt in the heat and the pollution smothers your lungs. “Do tourists really get to know […]
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