Going For The Ram Mandir Darshan In Ayodhya

If you are in or around Ayodhya, literally all conversations and roads lead to the Ram Mandir. It doesn’t matter that the said temple is under construction. It is a magnet for everyone visiting the city. We want to see it and the locals know it too. Flower Power I must have been accosted by…

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Finding Peace In Ayodhya

I first visited Ayodhya, land of Rama, in December 2021. It was a city doused in the colour yellow. The golden haze of the winter sun enveloped the walls and the building by the side of the road which lead to the city center. Coincidentally all of them seemed to be painted in a cheery…

Birthday Babble

Ah! December. I’m already missing the buttery soft sunshine, fluffy blankets to burrow myself in and scalding mugs of coffee. To feel myself thaw is literally the best feeling in the world. Yup! I’m like an X-Men character, siphoning off warmth with just a light touch. Absolute bliss. Also December is the month I add…

Doors Of Ayodhya, India.

I'm presently in Ayodhya, the city famous for temples and a particular one under construction. Judging by the massive crowds of pilgrims I see, I'd say it is growing as a major religious destination. Doorway to salvation, perhaps. Going beyond the obvious temples, Ayodhya is a treasure trove of interesting architecture, particularly doors. After all,…

Strolling In Sarnath, India.

Sarnath was never on top of my list of places to visit. I was mildly curious though. Gautam Buddha had preached his first sermon there and it was home to the Ashoka Lion Capital (India’s national emblem). Honestly, I had no idea what I would see other than perhaps it would be a huge thing…

In Varanasi, Travel Taught Me

“That’s the thing about time, isn’t it? It’s not all the same. Some days, some years, some decades are empty. There is nothing to them. It’s just flat water. And then you come across a year, or even a day, or an afternoon. And it is everything. It is the whole thing.”Matt Haig When did…

From Dusk To Dawn

The Festival of Lights, Diwali 2021. India is a place where colour is doubly bright. Pinks that scald your eyes, blues you could drown in. Kiran Milwood Hargrove Circles in the sand A colour wheel that spins like crazy. Orange crush Festive decorations become a time machine. Everglow Hand painted aipan mark Goddess Lakshmi’s entry.…

It’s All About The Light And The Way A Gurkha Fights.

"If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or a Gurkha."-Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw A legendary statement made by a legendary man. I had my light bulb moment when I first heard of the Battle of Nalapani. It was fought between the Gurkhas and the British right here in…

Memories Of The Golden Temple, Amritsar.

Have you ever been to a place, saw the things you knew were there, then have your mind completely blown away by something you see unexpectedly? “Travel is about the gorgeous feeling of teetering in the unknown." Anthony Bourdain Perhaps Anthony Bourdain knew best. I was in Shri Harminder Sahib, aka the Golden Temple in…

Spots And Dots Of A Kumaoni Pichora

The last time we wore our ‘Kumaoni pichora’, or 'leopard spotted stoles' as my youngest insisted on calling, was for my cousin’s wedding two years ago. I took this picture of my mother around that time. She was among the few ladies who glowed in her distinctive Kumaoni nose ring. Draped on her was the…