While William Shakespeare may have famously said, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose/ By any other name would smell as sweet,” the villagers of Bhadrapur in Karnataka beg to differ. The Hakki Pikki tribe in Karnataka is present in a few districts including Bhadrapur. The specialty of this tribe is that… Read More Bhadrapur – what is in a name?
The Garden City of India, Bengaluru is not just the software hub of India but also a city that has its heart in its right place. A city that is home, Bengaluru despite its traffic woes is among India’s most livable cities. It is something I always feel each time I return from a trip… Read More Travelogue – Bengaluru
A temple town dotted with stone arches, water tanks and monuments that reflect a rich past, Melukote is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. If there is one thing I must thank the pandemic for, it would have to be discovering Karnataka, my home state. And one such charming destination located 150 km from… Read More The Magic of Melukote
A space that embodies serenity in the lap of nature, Ayatana Resort, Coorg is the perfect antidote to the chaos of urban life, especially in the age of the coronavirus. A resort that blends traditional Indian heritage with the beauty of nature, Ayatana Resort, Coorg is set amidst 100 acres of lush landscapes that makes… Read More Ayatana Coorg
Santoshkumar Chitragar, a craftsman from Kinnal is using the power of social media, especially Instagram to keep his craft relevant. A craft form that enjoyed the patronage from the royal Vijayanagara Empire and the Nawab of Koppal as well. The artists belong to a community called Chitragars and essentially make figurines of gods and goddesses.… Read More Kinnal Art – keeping the tradition alive
A free-flowing river whose course has never been altered by manual intervention and in its path lies stories of life and hope. Aghanashini is a small village on the southern bank of Aghanashini River in Kumta taluka of Uttar Kannada district in Karnataka. Shankara Honda in Sirsi, a small village set amidst the UNESCO World… Read More In the footsteps of Aghanashini River
The Kodiyala weaves that once enjoyed royal patronage are seeing a revival courtesy the efforts of a project called Hosa Arambha. It was a newspaper clip many years ago that had me drive into narrow dusty roads off the Bangalore-Mysore highway to look for a village called Kodiyala. My interest was piqued as this was… Read More Kodiyala Weaves Revival
Gulur and Kaidala in Karnataka are lesser known in the tourist circuit which makes a visit here a charming discovery. Driving through Karnataka’s countryside is a joy because you can experience the beauty of nature in its pristine form. The 75 kilometer stretch from Bengaluru to Gulur is a breeze not just courtesy the excellent… Read More Gulur and Kaidala Travelogue
The legendary Mysore Pak of Mysore has a royal connection with its origins in the palace kitchen over 100 years ago. A small motley crowd had already gathered at the hole-in-the-wall store in the bustling Devaraja Market in Mysore. Notwithstanding, I reach out my hand to be given a hot piece of Mysore Pak on… Read More Mysore Pak – the story
The temples of Talakadu a tiny town near Mysore has fascinating stories from the past that are an intricate part of its fabric. “Do you know that Talakadu has many cashew trees?” This was a question my cousin asked me many moons ago explaining that this was a place where the cashew trees were strewn… Read More Talakadu Travelogue