Yesterday, I was at the Chandigarh Secretariat of the Government of Punjab. The structure, an iconic landmark of the city, is also one of the best representations of Brutalism - the minimalist architectural style emphasizing functional designs employing raw materials like exposed concrete. While much of the interior has been redesigned and repurposed, the staircase … Continue reading A ‘Brutal’ pic
The coastal districts of Odisha are often the Ground Zero of the ferocious cyclones that originate in the Bay of Bengal. But what was once a destructive phenomenon has now been tamed by the state thanks to a comprehensive, community-centric cyclone preparedness initiative that began twenty-five years ago. Last week, I spent a few days … Continue reading Balasore, Bhadrak Notes
The Tughlaqs are seen as a relatively minor dynasty that ruled India from Delhi. But when you think of it, their 90-year reign from 1320 was greater than the age of the modern Indian Republic. Today, all that reminds us of their grandeur are their monuments still standing in various corners of Delhi and of … Continue reading Tughlaqabad
After visiting Sanchi, my next stop was Bhimbetka. Since I don’t own a car in Delhi, road trips aren’t a common feature of my life. So the two-hour drive from Sanchi to Bhimbetka was relished. The paddy fields, village roads leading to hamlets tucked away from the highway, India’s vaunted toll roads, Dusshera celebrations with … Continue reading Bhimbetka Notes
The Sanchi stupa is a spectacular Buddhist monument. It’s address is an unusual one as Sanchi was a city that the Buddha never visited during his lifetime. Hiuen Tsang who spent 15 years in India checking out all the major Buddhist sites makes no reference to Sanchi in his writings. The stupa is believed to … Continue reading Sanchi Notes
The only thing I knew about Shahnaz Habib’s ‘Airplane Mode’ was that it was a book on travel that had garnered a decent amount of attention. Within a few pages, to my delight, I discovered that the Brooklyn-based writer dissecting her anxieties of traveling off the beaten track in Rumi’s Konya and Istanbul was a … Continue reading Shahnaz Habib’s ‘Airplane Mode’
I spent a week in Jakarta last month. The short ride from the airport to the hotel was enough to understand how broken and shambolic India’s urban infrastructure systems are. Not a single Indian city can match up to the quality of built infrastructure that was visible in the city. Drivers there, also know the … Continue reading Jakarta Notes
My last stop was Switzerland. Traveling through the country, one can’t be faulted for imagining this to be paradise. Panoramic views, lakes that stretch for miles, looming mountains, cows with bells and a train network that is truly an engineering and management marvel can mesmerize anyone. It was only in 1863, when Thomas Cook organized … Continue reading Switzerland Notes
My next stop after Brussels was Paris, which I expected to be overrated. But boy, was I wrong. The city lived up to its reputation and for the history and literature buff that I am, it kept throwing up surprises and delights. Like Delhi, it’s a city that does not reveal itself effortlessly. One needs … Continue reading Paris Notes
I took the train from Amsterdam to Brussels and the change in the economies of the two countries is visible as soon as you reach Belgium. The Brussels metro looked run down and the streets had a sombre, melancholic feel to it. Had it not been for the EU’s decision to have its headquarters here, … Continue reading Belgium Notes
