Featured

Rajasthan - the land of shifting sands, heritage structures, cenotaphs and vibrant handicrafts - has always fascinated me and I was quick to grab the first opportunity to visit Jodhpur, the state’s second-largest city punctuated with palaces where Rajas and Maharajas still reside. The city is a bit of...

It’s an interesting question that experts, psychologists, and spiritual gurus are perpetually giving us answers to. Everyone is seeking happiness - some find it in a stable career while others find it in the pursuit of more wealth. Some find it in close-knit relationships and familial ties while others...

I made another trip to Delhi recently, sepia-tinted memories of which are framed in the imaginary photo frames of my mind, waiting to be pulled out of those recesses and recounted. The trip was memorable as almost all my trips to Delhi are. I did try a couple of...

A visit to the world’s famous sculpture temples of Khajuraho was long on my wish list. Khajuraho, the UNESCO World Heritage site in Madhya Pradesh, was once under the reign of the Chandela Rajputs. Devoted to Lord Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma, Sun, and Moon Gods, Khajuraho, the city capital of...

Three regions, different religions, different landscapes are all connected by one singular fact: beauty. Jammu & Kashmir is one of the most strikingly gorgeous places you will ever see. Territorial conflict may dissuade some from venturing to this northern Indian state, but it’s done little to diminish its alpine...

Jaisalmer, the golden city of Rajasthan, exudes an air of regality that is unrivalled. Yet, to truly unravel its opulence, one must approach the exploration of this majestic city with thoughtful planning. Here, where the dunes whisper tales of bygone eras, and the forts stand as stoic guardians of...

The door's adorned with mango leaves, doorstep with rangoli... The main doorstep of the house is being adorned with fresh mango leaves. A garland of yellow and orange flowers are also being made for the doorway. Rangoli, or muggu as it is locally known is being drawn at the gate....

The Siddhivinayak temple on Akshay Tritya is decorated with yellow and orange marigold flowers.

Blessed to have attended this utsav last year, here is a photo blog on the Kaartik Poornima Paalki Utsav at Shirali    

Delhi means so many things to so many people. For people living in Delhi, no other place compares to it. Having spent my childhood in Delhi, having worked there in later years, and having close familial ties there, I have a fondness for the city that ensures I keep...

The Vrindavan chandan yatra is a famous way of celebrating the Akshay Tritya there. The place flocks with devotees on this day as they come from all over to witness the fanfare and celebrations. All the deities in all the temple on this day are anointed with chandan, which...

Bengali literature or Bangla Shahitto represents the corpus of literary works in the Bengali language. The Bengali language has evolved over a period of thousand and three hundred years. One of the earliest surviving works in Bengali literature is the Charyapada, which is a collection of Buddhist mystic songs,...

Alibaug (Arunima Takiar, 2019) Cracked seashells, your pointed edges lucidly reveal intact sand grains wrapping fervently around your body parts, twisted in unfamiliar time zones fast-forwarded from a past of splinters that defied permanence, trodden by unknowing feet on happy sojourns, (broken) not lost, vestiges in shining  specks of beach shimmer that defy impermanence. When yours truly wanted to escape for the weekend and was looking for inspiration to write a poem, a...

India Beckons wishes its readers a very Happy Gudi Padwa! Gudi Padwa (the first day after the new moon day or amavasya in the month of Chaitra) is celebrated as the New Year day in Maharashtra, while it also is commemorated in different parts of the country as Ugadi (Telugu...

Once upon a time, there was a town that was frequented by adventurous travelers who did not mind driving over bumpy, narrow roads for four hours. After all, it was the only way to get to the Scotland of the East. Today, this picturesque town can be reached in...