From ‘gadibidi’ to ‘gadbad’

Mangaloreans clearly love ice-cream. And not just any ice-cream, they love their own indigenous, home-grown brands of ice-cream. During our recent visit to this city we saw several ice -cream parlours, each serving their own flavours and varieties. To sample them all would have taken more than the couple of days we spent there, but … Continue reading From ‘gadibidi’ to ‘gadbad’

Burri Nazar Waale…

We saw this picture while driving past the paddy fields that lined the narrow roads as they wound their way through the villages of Gokarna; in the region of Uttara Kannada in Karnataka. It was also put up on the outer walls of some houses and near the entrance. The driver of our cab explained … Continue reading Burri Nazar Waale…

The Rebels and The Residency

The Year: 1857 The place: Lucknow Residency The Players: Rebels (or Natives) The rebel forces were made up of troops who had gathered from all over the province of Awadh. they were joined by local landlords, villagers and even peasants. They numbered around 36,000. v/s The British. There were British soldiers, Indian soldiers loyal to … Continue reading The Rebels and The Residency

The Weaver’s Talim

These mysterious looking squiggles on yellowed paper were pasted on the wall of our resort in Pahalgam. At first glance, I thought they were the usual post-its that so many places have on their walls- with comments and messages from guests who have stayed there. But a closer look revealed that this was not the … Continue reading The Weaver’s Talim

Of Pine Cones and Chinars

"Take only memories" they say, "Leave only footprints" they say. Being the obedient and responsible tourist that I am, I willingly follow both instructions. I take loads of photographs as memories and leave behind nothing except a prayer of gratitude for the opportunity to see the place. And sometimes a hope that I may revisit. … Continue reading Of Pine Cones and Chinars

The beauty of Pir Panjal

Let's start at the very beginning- where exactly is the Pir Panjal mountain range located? To make the location a bit more specific, here's another: Right. So much for geography and maps. Although I find maps very interesting, here's a better view of the Pir Panjal mountain range, as seen from the window of the … Continue reading The beauty of Pir Panjal

Jisko Na De Maula….Usko De Asaf-ud-Daula

Awadh! That region in Northern India (now a part of Uttar Pradesh) which was carved out of the Mughal Empire and governed by a long line of Nawabs. The region of Awadh-in Uttar Pradash Awadh! The region known for it's unique blend of Indian and Persian influences- a cultural richness that encompassed art, music, poetry, … Continue reading Jisko Na De Maula….Usko De Asaf-ud-Daula

The Danda March

Ahhh...Goa...! The land of Good Times! Of sunny beaches, seaside shacks serving yummy seafood and quantities of beer or pheni, of leisurely drives along picturesque landscapes adorned with gently swaying coconut trees...Ok, let me stop you right there. We were on a tour called 'Secrets of Goa' and the objective was to introduce us to … Continue reading The Danda March

A Palette of Food

The warm, vibrant colours of Tamil Nadu are reflected in its food. But the food has to be served on a banana leaf and eaten by hand- that's the best way to savour each morsel and each mouthful. Licking each finger at the end of a meal is a must- it's like giving closure to … Continue reading A Palette of Food

The Temple Without A Shadow

They are remembered as one of the longest ruling dynasties of South India Their vast empire extended at one time from the banks of the Ganga, down to the shores of the Indian Ocean. Their influence stretched over the seas from the Maldives to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and from Myanmar to Sumatra. Their kingdom exerted … Continue reading The Temple Without A Shadow