Feline Musings

The banks of the lake are dotted with temples and ashrams and colorful shops selling beads and essential articles. Fish feeding has emerged as a thriving business and recreation, and local vendors sell dough to lure the fish, which display ample gluttony to allow everyone to feed them to their hearts content. Monkeys thrive in this area, competing with the fish for their share of food, but are less aggressive than the ones we encountered in Pushkar, on our way to the Savitri temple. Strangely, for a place with so much vegetation, and greenery, it is disappointment for the ardent bird-watcher, except for the Raven that is spotted in the lush trees.

We saw an indigenous fish net made of twigs and branches, caught amazing glimpses of the Jahangir fort, and the Cenotaphs of the Queen and her maids, and of course missed our cameras because we realized that the middle of the river gave the most amazing panoramic views of the Chattris. The trip was made enjoyable by the historical narration of our guide. Rafting in Betwa is not a regular feature and is seasonal and totally dependent on the volume of water in the river. If you want to take a raft tour of the river, and then ensure that you make the enquiries beforehand, else you may be disappointed.

The lake looks its best when visited after sundown, with the reflection of the Eucalyptus trees that line the side, and the pale yellow of the moon, and a silhouette of one of the temples in the background, lend an illusion that is best seen in the dark. Like most illusions, the lake becomes just another water body in the day.

Khajuraho has been misinterpreted by tourists as the “kamasutra temples” because of some of the erotic sculptures and sexual postures depicted on the external walls of the temples. It is noteworthy that while erotic sculptures form only one-tenth of the total sculptures, the greatest emphasis is on the celebration of womankind, in her myriad moods and facets. Hence, there are carvings of a woman writing letter, applying makeup to her eyes, combing her tresses, dancing, picking a thorn from her foot, and playing with her child – all depicted in intricate detail, sharply etched, sculpted with consummate skill. There are scenes from daily life, of warfare, of musicians and potters, and various forms and facets of animal and human life. These temples are built to commemorate life of the commoners, and sexual union being one of the important aspects of existence, receives an apt representation on the temple walls.

One day is usually not enough to capture the entire beauty and resplendence of this embodiment of art, architecture, heritage and culture. You have to adorn various roles of the worshipper, the seeker, the art connoisseur, the traveler, the tourist and the relaxing visitor to enjoy the myriad endearments to the soul, the spirit, and the sight, that Akshardhaam offers. The unique spirit of this temple complex beckons you again and again, in different seasons, at different times of the day to capture the experience in its totality.

We wanted to fall in love with Chakrata, we wanted to wander into the small by lanes and walk on the clouds, and trek in the forests, but falling in love with Chakrata is forbidden. The intense military presence and tight security, is scary and your every move is closely watched. Photography beyond a certain point is strictly forbidden.

The streets of Pushkar are filled with Israeli travelers, who come here in search of spiritual upliftment, but get hooked to the cheap drugs that are smuggled across the borders of Rajasthan. While hash-filled aroma filled the air, and recklessly relaxed white-faces and blue-eyes met our gaze, I wondered why Pushkar was home to so many travelers from Israel.

I desperately tried many times but it wouldn’t click. I gave up, thinking that some thing was wrong with my camera. They moved ahead. I was very disappointed and tried to find what was wrong with the camera. I clicked some one else and it worked fine.

22 hrs, three men, a couple on a houseboat in the Alleppey backwaters – the highlight of our Kerala trip! 
When hubby and I decided that we will have our first holiday as a couple touring Coastal Kerala, I instantly zeroed upon a houseboat stay. And the decision was worthwhile because we were the regal occupants [...]

The difference is evident even from the skies – New Delhi is a concrete jungle; Cochin (rather the whole of Kerala) is verdant intercepted only by meandering water bodies or the infinite sea-shore. The proximity to the sea makes this area pretty humid and this was the only adjustment issue we had during our trip [...]

Three evenings – three different beaches in Coastal Kerala – each with a different personality! 
From the pristine Alleppey beach, to the recreational Shanghamangam beach and finally to the commercialized Kovalam beach; each evening bestowed hubby and me with a feeling of awe at nature’s beauty and magnitude. 
Alleppey is more famous for its backwaters, houseboats and [...]

Hubby and I were on a much-needed, much-awaited 6-day leisure trip to what the “Incredible India” advertisement portrays as the “Beaches and Backwaters” in “God’s Own Country”. There is much to write about our trip to Coastal Kerala but to do justice to what I saw, experienced and wish to share, I intend to distribute [...]