He walked to the pile of discarded wares and picked up the artistic brass lock. To the family, it was an old worthless piece of an instrument used to bolt heavy doors – one that had no relevance in their contemporary mansion. To him – it was a priceless relic of his culture – one … Read more
He arranged the yellow dhoti and then opened the jewelry box. The gold chain with red stones seemed perfect to compliment the Lord’s yellow garbs and so, he chose that for the evening. With that, the Lord was ready to see his devotees. The other man in the room slowly opened the door as his … Read more
He picked a sharp stone and went to work. He scraped deeper and deeper till he had represented himself. “A mark that I was here” – he thought as he threw his chisel away and made his way out of the caves. Centuries later, the mark was rediscovered along with many others made by the … Read more
The golden walls shimmered in the bright sun, Was it a mirage? Probably so… for with a blink of eye It had disappeared in the sandy landscape of Thar. For those visiting the desert city of Jaisalmer, the golden fort does appear like a mirage. As I got closer, I realized it was more than … Read more
“We don’t have the time. We will get late to our next destination. Besides, it can’t be more elaborate than the Jaisalmer palace….also, the road is narrow, the driver is reluctant…..” … The tussle continued but my pleading finally won. With a strict deadline of one hour, I set off to explore the “Mansion of … Read more
Speeding away on the Leh-Manali road, my curiosity score kept going up. Whitewashed chortens dotted the green fields and lone wooden structures on the mountains made it obvious that this area used to be quite populated. A lone signboard is what doused some of my curiosity. However, it was my visit to Shey Monastery and … Read more
The trumpeting elephants added their melody to the beating drums, The brilliance of the mighty beasts was enhanced by the golden howdah Upon which sat the handsome Maharaja, acknowledging the cheering crowd As he made his way to his abode – the brilliantly lit Mysore Palace! Not just a scene from yesteryears, but one that … Read more
The stunning architecture of the famous Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur ignited a new thirst in me. Its surreal carvings and the advanced construction techniques made me wonder what the other Great Living Chola Temples would be like. My trip to Karaikudi gave me the perfect opportunity to quench this thirst – partially. Though the plan … Read more
When it comes to visiting the best places in Tamil Nadu, I have to put this region on the top. For no other reason but the fact that Chettinad tourism is a sensory delight. The bright Chettinad architecture, tasty Chettinad food and intriguing heritage of its mansions and Chettinad temples are bound to delight any … Read more
I have always said this – “If you want to understand the local culture of a place, you must visit the local markets”. I absolutely insist on this for Karaikudi and the Chettinad region. In fact, let me rephrase this – “If you want to find the treasures that were a part of the opulent … Read more
You have experienced the colorful Chettinad culture through the various mansions of Karaikudi. How about, a quick trip to the various Karaikudi temples while in the region. Trust me when I say that these are a must-visit even for the atheists for they present a different facet of the culture of Chettinad. The temples of … Read more
The wealthy zamindar pointed his fingers towards the hero saying – “You, a mere farmer – cannot marry my beautiful daughter. His suitor – Sir James, can provide 10 times more comfort than your simple hut.” . Totally filmy, right? Well, this was the scene that ran through my head as I stepped into the … Read more
