The Many Lives of Delhi

This post is a consequence of a Heritage walk through New Delhi organised by the Hungarian Information and Cultural Center.  New Delhi, referred to by some as Lutyen's Delhi, is the Capital of modern India. It is one among many cities built by conquerors who made India their home. Of course, for any place to be 'New', there has to be an 'Old'. In this case, it is Old Delhi or 'Purani Dilli'. This name, however, is a misnomer. Old...

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A Book Review.....and a Synopsis of 'India Discovered' by John Keay

I recently finished reading 'India Discovered' by John Keay. It is a must read book for every Indian, who wants to maintain a balanced view on the Right-wing nationalist version of history, the  Sone ki Chidiya story, which seems to be getting more and more popular. John Keay is a respected author who has written many well received books on India and China. But, what convinces me that he would provide a reliable...

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Madurai - The City of Temples (Part 1)

During the winter holidays, we went home to Chennai. Generally, we tend to remain at home, only visiting relatives and a little shopping. So this time, we decided to go on at least one out of town trip. So we decided on Madurai, Rameshwaram and Kanyakumari. Plan was to go to Madurai, followed by Rameshawaram and Kanyakumari. However, we had to return from Madurai as there was a cyclone warning and we were informed that all tourist activities...

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Golden Tickets, Magic Passes and Hidden Entrances

City Passes and Entry Tickets Entry tickets to various places of interest, can add up to a substantial amount. Most major tourist cities have a pass giving you free or discounted access to many of the sights. However, they are generally expensive. So you need to decide on the sights and museums you want visit, check their individual ticket prices and compare it to the price of the pass. Passes are generally cost effective when you are visiting...

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