Blogs

Standing on the banks of the meandering Yamuna River in Agra (Uttar Pradesh) since 1644, the Taj Mahal witnessed dynasties rise and fall. Conceived in 1622 by the Moghul Emperor Shah Jehan, it took all of 22 years and 20,000 artisans, masons, laborers, host of skilled workers to build this enchanting monument to commemorate love. Brilliantly built...

Dassehra in Mysore in Karnataka are inevitably interlinked to each other. The ten day festival celebrating the victory of good over evil is celebrated with pomp, glamor & gaiety with a number of fascinating events and exhibitions including the brilliant illumination of the Mysore City Palace at night, display of the magnificent Golden Howdah...

With its origins going back to the 10th century - the extremely well preserved UNESCO world heritage Brihadeswara Temple at Thanjavur reflects the skills of imperial Cholas who ruled peninsular India in the medieval period. Standing within a fort whose walls were added four centuries later, the `Vimana' (tower built over the main sanctum) is 200...

Wholesome in size & architecture the Brihadiswara Temple built at Gangaikondachalam by the Chola King Rajendra in the 11th century was meant to upstage the Brihadiswara Temple built by his father Raja Raj II at Thanjavur. The temple is noteworthy for the design of its 185 feet recessed tower with an upward curving movement as compared to straight &...

Lying close to Kumbakonam the Airavateshwar Temple at Darasuram is one among three of the Great Living Temples built by the Raja Raj II of the Chola Dynasty in the 11th century C.E. Though smaller in size, this temple is named after the legendary white elephant of Lord Shiva - Airavateshwara. Cursed by a `rishi,' the elephant prayed at the...

Currently managed by the fourth generation, the `Original Nagapattinam Sweet Shop' was opened by K S Vishwanath Iyer in the temple town of Madurai in 1901 with a grand amount of Rs 1/- Armed with the recipe of a sweet called `Halwa' Vishwanatha set up a 10 feet by 8 feet sweet shop, which was later shifted to opposite the...

What does India mean to me? Is it just a country I live & wander in? Is it a land that offers me endless opportunities to eke out an acceptable lifestyle? Or is it an astounding land that draws the best out of me? Is it because I feel there is a great connect between me & one of the...

Ever wondered why are elephants found at entrances of major temples in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Be it the Srirangam or Sarangpani Temple, bedecked young female elephants gaze & greet visitors, bemusing devotees. Brought from the forests of NorthEastern India or the reserves of Kerala at an early age, they are often used during temple...

Built over 156 acres of land, Srirangam Temple is the largest temple in India, housing a town within its complex. Though built during the Chola Dynasty in the ninth century C.E, it was expanded by several kingdoms ranging from the Hoysalas, Pandyas, the rulers of Vijaynagar & finally the Nayaks. It has the reputation of having the maximum number...