speakingroads

Darkness is a friend of light                 Shadows are not simply voids. There's much more than darkness in there. There is a world of intangibles disguised as darkness. There is an ocean of energy out there, invisible to the eyes. It was a usual Saturday evening and I decided to go to my favorite spot in Sanjay Vann to watch the sunset. I found a few friends at the usual spot and I realized they were from Himachal Pradesh. We chilled for sometime as the Sun slowly dipped. It was a great vantage point where you could see up to long distances all around. One of the guys was into trekking and we talked in length about the Parashar Lake trek and also another secret spot near Kasol. After we were done, we started walking back towards the entrance. But a long way from the entrance, I stopped in my tracks and bid them goodbye. I wanted to spend some quality time alone. I turned in my new happiness and walked to the edge of the f...

I always had a dream, about a place where time stood still, and where life was flawlessly beautiful. I've also felt that I would visit the place at some point. I guess I have finally found that place in Dhanushkodi. Sunrise; a revelation Sitting in an island off the Indian coast, this tiny strip of land is surrounded by water. The calm Indian ocean overlooks it from the east, while the Bay of Bengal batters it from the west. Sun is ever-present and shining and the heat is intense as it is close to the equator. The calm Indian Ocean TNSTC bus that takes you all the way to the Rama Sethu Point, the meeting point of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean All said, the beauty of the place is unmatched. The beaches are filled with pristine white sand and contrast the calm Indian Ocean magnificently. The sunrise here was a piece of art on the day we visited the place. Clouds put on quite a show in the sky that kept us watching in awe. A heart-melting sunrise A...

Mehrauli is a small town situated at approximately 12 Km from Delhi. A quaint town in comparison to other bustling towns in the capital, Mehrauli's specialty lies in its hidden marvels. It has been interspersed with a number of historically significant buildings that seemed to have blended beautifully with the present day. Read along for a virtual journey through this beautiful town which is also the place I would like to call my home in Delhi. Qutub complex      Comprising of several epic structures, the qutub complex is an ultimate treat to eyes. The main attraction though, is the Qutub Minar which is the tallest brick minaret in the world. The adjoining Alai Darwaza is  breathtaking in terms of its architecture. Built in Turkish architectural style, the intricate detailing and the scriptures along with the overall design is quite impressive. Apart from these, the famous Iron pillar of 402 CE also leaves you surprised at the sheer skill of our artists at ti...

Staying awake on a freezing cold night was never easy. My friend and I were crouched on a bench in Manali bus station waiting for daybreak. Finally, when we had a steaming hot tea at 4 am, it felt like drops of heaven. We waited for the bus in the newfound warmth.  When the second bus that touched Rohtang Pass arrived, I was still in conversation with a native guy about the possibility of visiting Kaza. However, the guy terrorized me with all kinds of news that I hated to hear. He told us that there was no way of getting to Kaza by bus and that Rohtang Pass was one deserted location.  I would have easily known these things if only I did minimum research about the place.   But ever since I started planning this trip, Rohtang Pass was never even in the equation. So, as usual, we decided to jump into the bus out of the same impulse that led us there. I can only remember having fallen asleep against the cold window glass of the bus. When I woke up, I was surprised by the sh...