At the first glimpse, it felt as if I were standing in front of the renowned Windsor Castle. The high turrets and the stained glass apertures definitely made it appear so… Except that this wasn’t UK. It was my own city in India and what I was standing before was the Wadiyar Palace Bengaluru – … Read more
One dip in the Keerimalai pond was all it took To convert the princess’ disfigured face to a stunning look. It wasn’t the first magic in this place And it certainly wasn’t the last of that divine grace. These are the stories of miracles that have always taken place at the Keerimalai Naguleswaram Kovil – … Read more
Her body severed into 51 pieces. Each of these fell on to the earth, sanctifying the spot and turning it into a powerful Shakthi Peetha. It was her anklet that dropped onto a remote Naga island off the coast of present day Jaffna. It was that which gave birth to the holy Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman … Read more
His calm demeanour forced them into a powerful silence His soothing voice rendered them both speechless The Words of Wisdom slowly turned their frowns upside down Their moist eyes indicated the mindful turn around. The differences lay forgotten and the unity was sealed for the better At the Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya – they lie hidden … Read more
Holland, Zeeland, Gelderland, Utrecht and Friesland faced away from each other in five unique directions. One offered the view of the snapping crocodiles while the other two faced the calm Jaffna Lagoon. The remaining had the guards vigilant of breaches that could emerge from the city. Not one could enter without being seen but many … Read more
It was that hour of the day when the magic took place She ran towards the window of her beloved palace of clouds – her favorite space. Her eyes lit up as she saw the sunlight diffuse across the swirling mist Spreading an orange glow to all that it touched and kissed. These were those … Read more
Where I stop on the hills, create your fort entrance Make my last stop my final one. Let the place where my head rolls be the site of a temple And the place my body lies, the mighty walls that none can penetrate. What followed has created history as the second longest wall in the … Read more
She traced the flowers with her fingers as she recalled her beloved. With tear-filled eyes, she sought the blessings of the Lord etched on the walls. Murmuring a silent prayer, she completed the circumambulation of the new Adalaj ni Vav And then without hesitation, she plunged in to the very dream she had completed. Adalaj … Read more
The innocuous door opened to reveal a secret passage that led to a square with four homes facing each other. Where one showed a colonial touch, another showcased the local art. The third displayed a touch of Persia and the fourth stood vibrant with its Maratha designs. Distinct cultures intertwined, differences merged. Such was the … Read more
It wasn’t the first time that we had stopped at the same spot for breakfast Nor was it the first time that we had heard the foot-tapping music near the grand gate next door. However – it was the first time I saw those dancers perform to the beat of the drum And it was … Read more
Pretty landscapes cruised past my window Causing my gasps to be caught in my throat. Then came those Basgo monastery ruins Replacing those gasps with a racing pulse – like an antidote. I stared at the pretty landscapes as our van tackled the curves to Alchi Monastery in Ladakh. My gasps at the stunning scenery … Read more
“It is not just a myth that the Bet Dwarka temple was actually Krishna’s home. There is evidence pointing to it – like the recent discovery of the Bet Dwarka underwater city and the various historical digs on the island itself. The is definitely plenty more to the Bet Dwarka story” I have been digging … Read more
