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Temples of Kashi - The Kardameshwar temple

The absence of ancient Hindu structures in Kashi is something I have always lamented about. The shrines are certainly ancient, and that is something that has always attracted me to the city. However, I miss the beauty of the ancient structures that we see at other sites. This feeling is intensified when I see marble and concrete and tiles in temples that once would have been beautifully adorned with evocative sculptures, and worn by the passage of time, touched by the hands of seekers who came before. This time , this desire to see some remnants of an ancient Hindu structure in Kashi came true when I managed to visit the Kardameshwar Temple. The Kardameshwar temple is not one of the main temples in the city. It is part of the temples on the Pancha Kroshi yatra, a pilgrimage which takes one on a circumambulatory tour of the whole city. The temple is located on the outskirts of the city, on the western bank of a tank called the Kardama Kund. The Kardameshwar temple is one of the...
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Snake art in Coorg

Nestled amidst the Western Ghats , filled with coffee estates and dense forests, Coorg is home to snakes of many kinds. I honestly don't know what I would do if I faced one in the wild, but on this trip, we had a different encounter with the slithering reptiles.... Through depictions in art! 
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On Tipu's trail - Six Sights in Srirangapatna

He was called ‘The Tiger of Mysore’ , but it is Srirangapatna that stands a silent witness to his exploits. The town might be named for the reclining Lord, Sri Ranganatha, but it is Tipu Sultan, who made this small town his capital and the focal point of his multiple wars against the British, who is most remembered here. All over the town are scattered reminders of those momentous years, when the town and its fort bore the brunt of the British might, and survived, over and over again, till it finally fell, with its bravest king. Tipu’s life began near Bangalore, and took him across Southern India in his bid for freedom, and following his trail is not an easy task. However, a walk through Srirangapatna allows us to follow his footsteps to a small extent. Join me as I try to follow his trail, visiting 6 monuments connected to his memory.
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Skywatch Friday - Sunset at Virajpet, Coorg

I am at Coorg now , enjoying a much needed break, taking a long overdue vacation with both Shankar and Samhith. It was a wonderful day, filled with the kind of stuff that makes our day! A lovely morning spent in peace, watching birds, then a bit of heritage at the Nalknad Palace, and an afternoon spent on the plantation,walking around, spotting spiders, and finally kiddo trying a bit of adventure sports. What better way to end the day than with such a beautiful sunset!  For more beautiful skies from around the world, visit the Skywatch Page .
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Hello from Coorg!

Good morning from Coorg! We arrived here yesterday, expecting the sharp summer heat, but were welcomed by rains instead!
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Summer Holidays are here!

Summer Holidays are here , and finally, I can get away from this city. I am off for a whole month this time, but before you start envying me, I will be with relatives most of the time, registering my attendance at family events. Yes, of course, there is a little bit of touring thrown in too... I am first headed to Coorg, for two short days, just to get some much needed R&R! Later, I am spending a day in Fort Kochi and another couple of days at Cherai Beach.  I will try to show you bits of my holiday, if the internet gods smile down on me, but please follow me on Facebook ,  Twitter , and Instagram where I shall try to post regular updates during this month. 
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Birds from my Window - Black Kites

I see them all the time , soaring above the trees, their screech audible as I sit typing... or trying to type :) This is that time of the year when their screeches become shriller, and they build their nests atop the coconut trees. These are the Black Kites which nest in our colony, year after year...
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Stories of Bombay - St. Thomas' Cathedral

I passed this church often , but was always too busy to enter. When I did enter, after years of wondering what it would be like on the inside, I stood transfixed, by the sheer beauty of its elaborate stained glasses and the multitudes of marble memorials. This is the St. Thomas’ Cathedral in Fort, Mumbai, the first Anglican Church of Bombay, built in 1718. seen on the first step of the church.
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