The Eurasian Hoopoe is my Proustian madeleine. I do not see enough Hoopoes nowadays, that whenever I spot one, I am taken back to childhood sunny gardens, chasing them away on aimless afternoons. Their fleeting presence evokes a warm nostalgia, stirring an innocent joy that’s hard to recapture. Mike Unwin, in his evocative book "Around... Continue Reading →
In the eminently watchable movie The Mummy, dashing adventurers Rick (Brendan Fraser) and Evelyn (Rachel Weisz) go in search of the mythical Egyptian City of the Dead, Hamunaptra. They journey across the arid Sahara, reaching the location, but they still cannot locate the town. "It is here," reassures Rick, even as the posse waits in... Continue Reading →
The Airavateswara Temple in Darasuram, the final stop in my journey through the three UNESCO Great Living Chola Temples, left an indelible mark on my soul. Having earlier marveled at the grandeur of the Periya Koil in Tanjavur and the Brihadeesvara Temple in Gangai Konda Cholapuram, I found Darasuram to be a distinct yet equally... Continue Reading →
"Twenty-five thousand rupees, sir," the voice on the phone announced. "Actually, twenty-five thousand nine hundred, but I’ve given you a discount." The bill was for my Baleno, my trusty maroon hatchback, now seven years old. Just last month, I took it on a longish drive. It climbed the steep hairpin bends of the Dhimmam ghats... Continue Reading →
Sithannavasal was not on my list when I started out from Mysore. My plan had been to spend as much time as possible in the three Chola Temples at Tanjavur. Mira wanted to spend time at the farm with her grandparents. Neha was travelling for business. I realised I had 4 days to myself. Usually,... Continue Reading →
Anuradhapura. The Ancient Buddhist City The first thing that struck me in Anuradhapura - Sri Lanka’s ancient capital (4th century BCE–11th century CE) - was the lotus-covered ponds flanking the roads. Lilies and lotuses bobbed gently in the still waters, their delicate petals a vivid contrast to the earthy surroundings. In Theravada Buddhism, the lotus... Continue Reading →
The decline of Indian architecture over recent centuries demands scrutiny. Bangalore, for instance, is plagued by uninspired, poorly executed buildings crammed into chaotic urban landscapes. Even well-funded government projects in prime locations often result in contractor-driven monstrosities. The recently opened Terminal 2 at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport shows glimmers of ambition with its vaulted ceilings,... Continue Reading →
Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Rajendra Cholan’s 11th-century masterpiece. Its stone guardians and shadowed sanctum evoke a millennium’s weight, humbling all who enter. This temple, woven of stone and time, endures eternally.
In Wilpattu’s shadowed jungle, a snake plummets from the sky, igniting primal fear. Night whispers of nagas and unseen beasts. By dawn, eerie bird omens and elephant tracks haunt the dewy paths. This chilling trip probes the wild’s dark heart, where ancient spirits stir and modernity falters.
We just returned from Trincomalee yesterday. A short 45-minute flight south over Tamil countries and the Palk Strait takes one to Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport. Trincomalee is located on the east coast of Sri Lanka. The road from Colombo to Trincomalee starts off winding through lush green squares of paddy, tall evergreen trees, and red-tiled,... Continue Reading →
The Cricket Pages
I am taking notes
Life in Kana-text (er... CONtext)
Travelling with Fabulosity
Author
This is about my trips and adventures.
The Reluctant Book Worm 
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