Orchha: The Land Of Gods and Kings

It was only February but the days were already getting warm, making the tall glass of cool, sweet pomegranate juice I was greedily gulping down, all the more refreshing. We were in the market square of Orchha chatting with Deendayal, who runs a local guesthouse and sweet shop, about getting a taxi to Chanderi, which…

Chanderi: Beyond the Sari

Chanderi is known for its famous ‘tana-bana’ style of weaving, and while the Saris are stunning, this ancient trading town offers so much more.

Punjab’s Princely Past, Part II: A Moorish Mosque in Punjab

Over a century ago a young flamenco dancer caught the eye of a well traveled and intellectual young Indian prince and against all odds ended up marrying him. The fascinating story of Anita Delgado, a barely literate Spaniard and daughter of a cafe owner, is well documented, and is the stuff that fairy tales are…

Khuldabad, Aurangzeb and the Ethiopian who tormented the Mughals

Our driving trip around Maharashtra found us exploring the UNESCO world heritage caves of Ajanta and Ellora, along with the towering Daulatabad Fort, one of the few forts in Maharashtra not attributed to the Marathas. Having climbed Daulatabad, we headed in search of Aurangzeb’s tomb, which was en route to the Ellora Caves. Tucked away…

A guide to the amazing Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya

Meghalaya, a state in the North East of India, bordering Bangladesh, is one of the most stunningly beautiful places in India. Living up to its name, which means “Abode of Clouds” Meghalaya is home to the Cherrapunji region, famous for being the wettest place on earth (the average rainfall is 11,777mm), and sustains a unique…

The Dance of the Fireflies

About 4 hours from Bombay is a lovely little village that sits by the Pravara River, around 780 m above sea level. The region is a cornucopia of natural beauty, with several waterfalls, deep valleys, scenic vistas, and a lake surrounded by towering ridges and peaks of the Western Ghats. The village and surrounding valley…

Sultans of the South; The Deccan Sultanates of Bidar & Bijapur

Beautiful old monuments and ruins inhabit street corners and stand forlornly in the middle of overgrown fields, many forgotten in the bustle of everyday life. Questions as to their origins elicit vague responses and disinterested shrugs, the locals having lived besides these relics all their lives, simply consider them to be part of the topography of their little town. This however, only serves to enhance their wonder and mystery, and we can’t help but feel that we are exploring lost history, off the beaten path.

Storytelling in Stone

Whatever your religious leaning, if any at all even, a visit to these two towns is not the run of the mill ‘temple’ visit. It is journey to time long past and the chance to experience and appreciate what some would consider to be amongst the greatest artistic achievement in South India.