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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
On 29 November 1618, 5 ships and 500 men set sail from Copenhagen in Denmark and headed for Ceylon (Sri Lanka). It was an expedition fraught with anxiety and some excitement. King Christian IV had invested an enormous sum of money to equip the fleet for this long and arduous journey. The Dutch, English and … Continue reading The Village Lashed by the Waves
Kinara is a lovely film about love, loss and longing; just right for a lazy Sunday afternoon. It released in 1977, which makes it close to 50 years old. The film is written and directed by Gulzar, who also wrote the lyrics, and has music by R. D Burman. Does a film need better credentials … Continue reading Kinara @ Mandu
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