the entrance was thru a tunnel which opened into a volcanic cavern. not only could you see the red hot lava all around but feel the heat of it all- quite popular with the children
My husband handed me something. “Your tickets for the Queen of hill stations”, he said. I looked down. “Oh Ooty,”I looked and felt disappointed. When families all across were on a ‘going abroad for a small holiday’ trip, Ooty was like falling down from a peak. .... From Chennai we were to travel to Mettupalayam, which would be a good 9 ½ hours. From there we were to board the narrow gauge ‘Toy train’. I was told it would be a novel experience for our seven-year-old son and us. It sure was. When we reached the station we found the train already packed. It was on first come first served basis. But our persistent efforts paid off in the end. We were bundled into a coach full of luggage. Another family like ours also managed to squeeze in. thus began our sojourn heavenwards with our feet failing to touch the ground. I cannot put down on paper the thrill of clutching onto something, more tangible than my husband’s hand, for safety with one hand whilst a finger of the other was pressed onto ...
My first impression was of the green lawns lined precisely by those white and red painted bricks and the unending lines of the three tonners and two tonners. This was a world alien to me. This was the OG world to which my husband belonged. Coming from an entirely civil background, I had no clue as to what I had let myself in for. And my husband had done nothing to alleviate my ignorance. When our train reached Jammu, my husband remarked that there might not be anyone to receive us at the station. I smiled wryly. Who did he expect? With the smile of a self-conscious, newly married husband, he scurried out. I scanned the platform to breathe in the place where I was to start married life. My gaze was riveted by the sight of a group of OG uniformed jawans all lined up. A bewildered anticipation welled up in me. My husband re-entered the coach. He had changed from a self-conscious newly married husband into OC, workshop. “These jawans are from my workshop. My CO has sent them an...
This year, when I went to Bhopal to attend a wedding, I decided to do a little Bhopal familiarisation. On asking about interesting places to visit, the first name that came up was, of course, Sanchi Stupa. As I had done Sanchi Stupa, on an earlier visit, I asked for some other recommendations. Then I was told about Bheembetkar Caves. Bheem What ker? was my immediate response. Oh, haven’t you heard of it? They are enlisted as a World Heritage site. The Bhimbetkar caves. There are about 12 to 15 caves with colored paintings. Oh wow. Immediately the vision of 12 structured caves came to my mind. And people looking at them, as in a museum, awestruck with colourful paintings. Little did I know it was far from it. When we reached the place, after a tortuous approach road, the most fascinating feature was that it was so unstructured. Had to be. After all, they were the dwelling caves of the inhabitants of Paleolithic and Mesolithic age. Yes, you heard me co...
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