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…

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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,…

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.…

Make A Wish At The Aeroplane Gurudwara in Punjab, India

So what connects a miniature airplane to a gurudwara (a place of worship for the Sikhs) in Jalandhar ? This particular gurudwara goes by the name of Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh Gurudwara except it is also referred to as the ‘Hawai Jahaz (aeroplane) Gurudwara’. Intriguing, right? A bit of online research and ...voila! So there…

Skills I May Need Tomorrow-Hairdressing

If you are ever stuck at home with an exacting teenager whose idea of beauty is perfectly coiffed hair, you are in trouble . It begins innocently enough. "Don't these honey - blonde high lights against dark hair looks fine mummy? We can do it at home. One box is enough and it's easy too.…

Loud Conversations And A Quiet One

Last week we went to Santala Devi's temple. Ms Teen had experienced the divine power of the goddess, 'an impossible wish that came true'. Hence she wanted a darshan. Was it another favour or just an excuse to get out of the house, she wouldn't say. The Government had unrolled  Unlock 5 Guidelines but home…

Most Instagrammable Metro Stations of Stockholm

If I had to pick the most instagrammable spot in Stockholm, I would say, "Go underground." Yes! That's right. Skip the azure sky and descend into the bowels of the Earth. That's where the Tunnelbana, Stockholm Metro Stations are. Incidentally, it also happens to be the most effective way of travelling across the city. Anyway,…

Surviving Sheru

He arrived in a cardboard box, all the way from Kashmir, India seven years ago, a pup no one wanted, with a desi name Sheru that no one liked. In a household with two established fur balls, he was already the outsider. He made the adults apprehensive but the kids were ecstatic; he with the…

The Water Trail Of Kumalda Village

Nestling among the mountains, Kumalda Village beckoned me like a siren's song. People spoke of its breathtaking beauty during the rains, the nearby River Song would swell in size and water cascade down in sheets. Well, I missed my chance during the monsoon but when my favourite walking group Been There Doon That announced another…

October Bytes#4: Cave walk At The Thousand-Fold Spring

We call it Sahasradhara, the Thousand Fold Spring. With a name so lyrical, the place is famous for its natural beauty and the sulphur springs. I remember it from my childhood, a quiet picnic spot, surrounded by tall limestone hills, a sparkling stream, the sun shining, birds chirping and the gleeful shouts of the local…