Destinations
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Copper Market in Gaziantep : Offbeat Turkey
A man is sitting on a stool just by the door of his shop. On his lap is an intricately carved copper vessel. With his left hand he holds a big chisel over the vessel and with his right he gently beats it with a hammer. Every second he keeps changing the position of the nail, carving a pattern on the metal. The metal protests in pain, expelling a piercing sound, but that sound is muffled under the melody of the tune the man is humming. “Bazaars and bedestens are different. We call the covered bazaars ‘bedesten’. This one is a bazaar, not a bedesten,” says Sehzat. It is my…
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Turkish baklava : A sweet affair in Gaziantep
Emerald green nuggets drip from the edges. My nose inflates — it has smelled a feast. On my first bite, there is a faint crunch in my mouth. As I chew, the flakiness gives way to a mellow sweetness, and then comes the burst of pistachios. The turkish baklava disintegrates in my mouth. Reduced to bits and pieces, they roll around on my tongue. When it is finished, I open my eyes, eager for the next baklava waiting for me on the plate. I am in Gaziantep — a city on the silk road in south-eastern Turkey which has been added to the list of UNESCO Creative Cities Network for…
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Gaziantep city, Turkey : First Impression
It is a brand new feeling. Miles above the ground I am in an aircraft almost wholly surrounded by passengers who are all foreigners to me. The flight from Istanbul to Gaziantep is a short one, a mere 1.5 hours, nothing compared to the 6 hours 45 minutes of the first flight from Mumbai to Istanbul. As soon as the seat-belt sign goes off in the Turkish Airlines flight, crew members start distributing food. In a neatly packed (unfortunately) plastic wrap, bread, butter and salt is served. It is followed by another question, “What would you like to drink?” Options are given and I pick cherry-drink, a beverage ubiquitously present…
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Hutheesingh Jain Temple : A song in sandstone
We crane our necks and squint. It is noon and the Sun is glaring down upon us, blurring our vision. The harsh stare of the Sun camouflages the details of the towering structure into a curtain of black. We are near the gates of Hutheesingh Jain Temple in Ahmedabad, Gujarat— the most impressive Jain temple in the city. Gujarat is home to a large number of Jains. In Ahmedabad, most of the Jains follow the svetambara school of thought. Wherever the Jains went, they took up the language, dressing and culture of the area. This enabled them to maintain their distinct way of living without getting assimilated with other religions.…
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Sidi Saiyyed Mosque : The bloom of a stone
“Honk honk,” the autos blare. We pull ourselves together and trudge along, drained after attending Ahmedabad’s heritage walk. Our eyes fix on the modest sandstone structure which stands without much ado in the centre of the road— Sidi Saiyyed Mosque. Apparently the humble mosque has lent its art to become an icon of the city of Ahmedabad. Sidi Saiyyed Mosque stands like a true leader who reserves a place of importance in the community but never asserts his power over his subjects, but instead, lives a modest life. It is a living mosque where prayers are still held. The emerald green waters of the ablution pool reflect the imposing crown…
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Hemis Festival: The dance of the monks
The main temple complex swelled with the music of gongs and horns. The head lama sat at the highest elevation. It was 7.30 AM. Monks clad in yellow robes and traditional red drikung kagyu hats sat on cushioned benches. The wooden artistry of the monastery was adorned with thangkas. The walls were painted with the teachings and stories of Lord Budhha. The hall was reverberating with mystical chants. A white ceremonial scarf known as khata was passed on from a devotee to the presiding monk. Tourists are allowed to observe the puja but clicking photos and videos are not allowed. But the monks don’t enforce this strictly and tourists appeared…
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Hemis Monastery Guest House: How it feels like to stay in a monastery for a day
We stayed at the Hemis Monastery guest house for a night on the eve of the famous Hemis Festival. Read to know more about how it feels to live within a monastic complex in the remote Himalayas.
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International Kite Festival: Sky is the limit
The crisp morning sun of Ahmedabad pleasantly caressed me the moment I boarded off the bus. I clumsily clutched on to all my belongings and trailed after my group. The media badge dangling from our necks spoke of our privileged entry on the grounds of the International Kite Festival 2019 in Gujarat, the westernmost state of India. It was being held on an area of 2000 square feet at the sprawling western bank of the Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad from 6th to 14th January 2019. It was 6th January. On the enormous stage, arrangements were made for the political dignitaries and the guests of honour who would inaugurate the festival.…
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What to eat in Goa : Our affair with Goan Cuisine
Goa is the smallest state of India. Standing on the shore of the Arabian Sea in Western India, Goa was a Portuguese colony for as long as 450 years. In 1961 it was annexed by India. The long rule of the Portuguese has left a tremendous mark on the socioeconomic fabric of Goa, one of them being the unique Goan cuisine. When, after living so close to Goa for one and half years, finally the chance to visit this coastal state presented itself, I found myself combing the internet to delve deep into Goan food. Having local food is always one of the experiences that we prioritize. When we finally…
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Sham Valley Ladakh : A travel guide
A major portion of the Srinagar-Leh highway meanders through the region known as Sham Valley. Tourists travelling from Srinagar to Leh by road can enjoy the sites enroute while travelling to Leh. Apart from Sham Valley Ladakh there is another scenic route in Ladakh along Leh-Manali highway dotted with several monasteries and sites, you can check out its guide here. If you are searching for a more comprehensive guide to Ladakh then check it here. In 2012 when I visited Ladakh, I missed exploring Sham Valley so on my latest trip to Leh, I made sure my Ladakh itinerary covers Sham Valley as well. Motorcyclists call this route the best…
