history

Nostalgia

Every couple of years, I get pangs of nostalgia for India, and the yearning to visit my home town and see family increases. The cold days of winter, when work slows down, serves as an excellent opportunity to go back home, especially with its mild weather and pleasant temperatures.

I also use this time to indulge in the rich history of this country. This has been something I took for granted while growing up as I never had the appreciation for it. Now, my travels over the past decade have wisened my world view, and has provided me a better appreciation for the rich history and cultural heritage.

On one such visit, I got to explore the richly decorated cave complexes of Ajanta and Ellora, a UNESCO world heritage site located in western India. With sculptures and paintings dating to 480 - 1000CE, these cave complexes were an in-depth study of the ancient Indian art forms. I couldn't get enough of this destination, and I hope to go there again when times are better

Ajanta and Ellora Caves

Maharashtra India

Travel Memories

It seems so strange of travel as a past-time that allowed us immerse in the community of the world, open our minds and enrich our souls. But the lack thereof is the new norm now.


A few years ago, I got the opportunity to spend a couple of days in Luxembourg. Having established that there wasn't anything worthwhile to do in this city, I decided to wander around the old town. I came across a small grassy lawn while exploring the historic ruins of the Casemates du Bock, an area of Luxembourg that had been inhabited for over a millennia. The warm afternoon sun shining on a daisy-filled meadow provided the perfect ambiance for a relaxing siesta.

Luxembourg City

Mittelrheintal

When I learnt that I was going to be staying in the heart of the Rhine valley a few years ago, I imagined watching fairytale castles and medieval forts go by as I passed tiny villages and towns meticulously preserved for centuries. I envisaged sampling wines from the very vineyards lining the gentle slopes of the Rhine and Moselle.

It almost seemed too good to be true. But when I did visit this region, it was everything I described and much more. Staying in a tiny village with houses that dated to the 12th century lining cobblestone streets that exuded a German charm, I spent hours tramping up and down the nearby hills, and discovered many a hidden gem. I learnt how to distinguish between trocken, halbtrocken, and süss wien from the numerous visits to the many wine cellars, sample delicious sherry, and savor dozens of varieties of German bread.

Someday, I hope to retire in such a village, enjoying a simple life surrounded by the beautiful Rhine Valley

Mittelrhein
Germany

Fragility

It is a tragedy that has befallen this mighty building.

The Notre Dame captured my heart the very moment I saw pictures of it while looking at the Paris guidebooks. And when I visited this impressive piece of history 10 years ago, I couldn't contain my excitement.

Even from afar, the Notre Dame Cathedral is an imposing structure: two tall towers rising 70m above the mass of low-rise buildings that dominate the center of Paris, behind which the lie the cross of the 73m long nave and 46m wide transept, each rising 4 stories, and supported by the massive bulwarks of the flying buttresses. Even the spindly spire that collapsed was large from up-close.

It took 100 years to build, and it stood through 800 years of tumultuous history, through both the World Wars. And yet, even such a mighty structure can be fragile. I do hope they rebuild it to its former glory.

Paris

France

Lighting the madrasah

Registan: one of the most beautifully restored triad of madrasahs: an imposing darwazah (door) lined with intricate tilework, beautiful wall paintings, swirling pillars and gracefully arched doorways. And while the structures look spartan under the mid-day heat, the well-executed lighting adds a unique shine to these imposing structures.

Walking under the eaves of these tall monuments is walking over centuries of history, the oldest one more than 6 centuries old, and breathing the very same air of piety that has permeated this region for millenia.

I for one, am glad to have visited and experienced this amazing wonder of the world.

Samarkand

Uzbekistan