
Mandarmoni – Kolkata’s Sea Watch (Part II)
Standing on the shores he said, ‘O Great Sea! Ye conveyed me across the eons, from nothingness to fullness, across the origin of all…
Read MoreStanding on the shores he said, ‘O Great Sea! Ye conveyed me across the eons, from nothingness to fullness, across the origin of all…
Read MoreIt was a plan – conceived (craftily) & debated (doggedly) & executed (expeditiously) at the shortest notice. During the summer holidays, while we suffered…
Read MorePart I covered our journey from New Delhi to Uttarkashi, during May 10. Our first night halt was at Rishikesh (220 kms from New…
Read MoreSummer days are here again – with bagful of fantastical to-do’s in the oncoming vacations. I suppose we, who are on the wrong end/side…
Read MoreNainital trip during December last year was more enjoyable since our gang of three was in company of Adityo (Sharmi’s brother) and their Ma….
Read MoreKalpa (2960 mtrs ASL) is a sleepy Himalayan outpost, with abounding greens, offering a vantage view of snow clad Kinner (derivative is the newer…
Read MoreKalpa/Sangla/Chitkul (Mar 2010) We managed a full week break (09 days in effect, Saturday to next Sunday) thanks to the rare confluence of three…
Read More…Stay at Giza allowed us to spy on the Great Pyramid in its beguiling kaleidoscopic formats throughout the day. We were mesmerized watching it beholden to the dawn sky as the sunrays crept in; we saw it when the sun protectively lingered overhead, as also when the pyramid hid the falling sun behind its shadowed visage.
Read MoreIn the beginning, there was nothing! No this or that, no something or nothing, no light or dark and of course neither Ghumakkar nor Ghumakkari. Aeons upon incalculable aeons passed, then there was a big bang within the millionth of a second……..Cut, Cut, Cut.
Read MoreNothing much has changed since; the lovely people continue to offer charming smiles and warmth. Mouth watering food scene remains intact. Ah! One not-so-good change has been the (ex)change value of our Bhartiya Rupaye – it is 1.9 INR to a Thai Bhat /THB (almost double or half, depending on which end you are on – the selfie or the main!). And it pinches alright either way.
Read MoreThe king with his entourage was passing through jungles of Kumaon, when a saint crossed his path. The vain king was offended and soon the saint was brought before him. The saffron clad saint, annoyed with King’s heckles, plucked a leafy branch from a wayside bush and swiped it across the King’s bare arms – it sent the king writhing and groaning in pain, as if a million needles were inserted in his arm. This is how the hymns of Ranikhet started.
Read MoreRoads till Beawar are in reasonable condition; wide and smooth. There are two issues here, though. First, there are at least three (if I remember correctly) railway crossings which tend to create bottlenecks and hold up the infinite traffic when the gates are closed (and also when gates are open! thanks to long, narrow passages leading into and away from the railway phatak). Second, this stretch passes through industrialised areas including the marble quarries of Kishangarh.
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