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The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
Lying at the foothill of a hill at Altino, in the capital city of Panaji, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church is among the oldest churches in Goa.
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A serene haven renowned for its spirituality and tranquility
In a city where skyscrapers dominate the skyline, and people rush about with life at their own frenetic pace, it is nice to take a moment, or few, to stop and discover a serene haven right there in the middle of the city. Like the beautiful Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya temple in Singapore, renowned as much for its welcome tranquility as it is for its spirituality. Views of the temple pagoda with a skyscraper in the background. One does not get a true sense of the feel of a city unless one discovers it through the eyes of a local. Do not get me wrong. In all the times that…
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The fish market by the jetty
The Panjim-Betim jetty fish market in Goa is where you can soak in the sights of a regular day at the market, while haggling for the day's freshest catch.
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Majorda Beach Goa
The next time you are in Goa, with visions of yourself relaxing on an easy chair, sipping on a chilled beer, and enjoying scenic views of the sun setting over the Arabian sea, then head to Majorda Beach. This picturesque beach, far from the madding crowd, is worth your time.
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Shri Vinayaka Shankaranarayana Durgamba Temple
Dedicated to Lord Vinayaka Shankara Narayana, this historic Shri Vinayaka Shankaranarayana Durgamba Temple is set right on the banks of the Netravati River in Nandavara, Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada.
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Mahatobhaara Shree Mahalingeshwara Temple
It is the main temple in Puttur, around 50 km from Mangalore, Karnataka. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. And is, after Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the only temple to have a cremation ground opposite it. This is the Mahatobhaara Shree Mahalingeshwara Temple. The sun setting over Mahalingeshwara Temple, and Puttur. According to popular legend, three wise old men, ardent devotees of Shiva, were traveling through Southern India, carrying a Shivling from Kshetra of Kashi. View of the temple ground. While they were in Puttur, under the patronage of the King of Banga, they set aside the Shivling on the ground to offer their prayers. Once done with their prayers, they…
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Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
Maximum City was, on and off, home to me for more than 15 years. And in those years, while I have passed it many times, never have I as much as ventured past its gates. It was formerly known as the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India. Until, about a year and a half ago, just before the virus struck. On one of those lazy Sundays, with nothing better to do, my good old friend, philosopher, and expert in all things nefarious and dark decided to give me a crash course on the history of the city. And what better place to start than a whirlwind tour of South…
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The track
Back in the old days, it used to be a meter gauge track, with steam engines pulling the carriages with a huff and a puff. Close-up of a railway track. And then, it lay disused for many years, until it was converted to a broad gauge. The Puttur-Mangaluru shuttle before its departure in the morning. Today, it is diesel engines that pull carriages on these tracks. However, there is still a charm about Kabaka Puttur railway station that evokes fond memories of childhood, and evening walks to try and see off the train as it made its slow journey from Puttur to Mangalore. Dusk at Kabaka Puttur railway station. Some…
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Oh Calcutta
It’s a city that elicits various responses. Some swear by it, while others swear at it. This is Kolkata. A smile can brighten up anyone’s day I had first visited Kolkata in October of 2011, having just finished a week’s stay in Shillong. The idea was to meet with a friend, have a few drinks, and try see a city I’d wanted to visit for many years. As luck would have it, it was pouring. There were parts of the city that were no-go zones, including where my friend lived. So my time was spent at another friend’s home, close to the airport, on Park Street, which is as close…
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In praise of train travel
What’s it about long-distance train journeys that brings out the little child in me. A sense of happiness each time I take my seat, listening to the train as it whistles past towns and the countryside. Hurtling through tunnels or racing with the setting sun. There is something that is magical and wonderful about train travel, letting me be the little kid that I always will be. Whizzing through a tunnel between Mostar and Sarajevo Hours spent watching from a window or door of a moving train, as scene after scene unfold. Striking up conversations with complete strangers as they get in at different stations, heading to places near and…
