Much has been written about the Pench National Park by other travellers. So I will keep it simple. We travelled from Ramtek to Pench and since we were arriving late evening, we were happy to check in quickly at the Tathasthu Guest House to get some rest before the early morning safari that was scheduled. … Continue reading Photo-essay of Pench – World Wildlife Day March 3rd ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
Maharashtra
Vistas of Vidarbha (Part 4) Nagpur and Beyond; Ganesh Tekdi & Swaminarayan Temple ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
In this article, I describe two temples of significance in Nagpur, the streets of Nagpur, and links to the other articles in the series and with that, it is a wrap of the Nagpur series. If you think people have more to experience in Nagpur, do leave a note in the comments. Ganesh Tekdi Temple … Continue reading Vistas of Vidarbha (Part 4) Nagpur and Beyond; Ganesh Tekdi & Swaminarayan Temple ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
Vistas of Vidarbha (Part 3) Nagpur and Beyond; Weavers of Mominpura ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
As I planned my trip to Nagpur, I realised I had a day all to myself when my husband was at work. Hence, as a handloom and textile aficionado, the first thing I wanted to research on was the textiles and the handloom of the region of Vidarbha. I got in contact with a young … Continue reading Vistas of Vidarbha (Part 3) Nagpur and Beyond; Weavers of Mominpura ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
Vistas of Vidarbha (Part 2): The story and history of Ramtek Garh Temple ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
I have been reading ‘History of Sacred Places’ by Hans Bakker and the chapter on Ramtek (near Nagpur) shows that it was an ancient centre of Vishnu in the 18th century. After the struggle between the Peshwas and the Mughals, the region of Berar or Vidarbha came under the control of the Marathas (Parsoji Bhonsle). … Continue reading Vistas of Vidarbha (Part 2): The story and history of Ramtek Garh Temple ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
Vistas of Vidarbha: Nagpur and Beyond (Part1) ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
Nagpur: The city of Bhonsles, Gonds, Oranges, and more! (In this article I describe the GI tagged Nagpur Oranges, the Zero Milestone, The Civil Lines buildings, the Chitnavis Wada and Rukmini Temple in the old Mahal area) Located in the eastern part of Maharashtra, the Vidarbha region is also known as Berar and it shares … Continue reading Vistas of Vidarbha: Nagpur and Beyond (Part1) ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
Shani Shinganapur- the village with no locks ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
Shani Jayanti Today May 30th is observed as Shani Jayanti. Lord Shani, as you know is the ruler of Planet Saturn and the seers have said that he is the son of Lord Surya or the Sun God. Shani Jayanti is also known as Shani Amavasya, as it falls on the Amavasya (new moon) Tithi during … Continue reading Shani Shinganapur- the village with no locks ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
Malkhed – a Rustic Getaway from Mumbai/Pune ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
A three and a half-hour drive from Mumbai brought us to this little hamlet called Malkhed. This village is located in the Haveli Tehsil of Pune district in Maharashtra, India. Situated 170 kilometres from Mumbai and about 17 kilometres from Pune, Malkhed village is also a gram panchayat. This village is not to be confused … Continue reading Malkhed – a Rustic Getaway from Mumbai/Pune ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
The Govardhan Ecovillage – a model for perfect sustainable and spiritual living
Last week, my family and I had the opportunity to visit the Govardhan Ecovillage located in a small hamlet called Galtare that is located on the Manor-Wada highway in Maharashtra. It us about 2.5 hours to traverse the distance of 106 kms from South Mumbai early in the morning. As we entered through the gates … Continue reading The Govardhan Ecovillage – a model for perfect sustainable and spiritual living
Mumbai Diaries: The Keneseth Eliyahoo – Restoring of a piece of history ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
The Kala Ghoda precinct in South Mumbai is clearly a favourite with me - what with the art galleries, the exhibitions and cafes, it is a cultural hub. It also has the finest set of heritage buildings with varied styles of architecture. You have the Prince of Wales Museum (now renamed as Chatrapati Shivaji Vastu … Continue reading Mumbai Diaries: The Keneseth Eliyahoo – Restoring of a piece of history ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
Lights, Camera, Action- The National Museum of Indian Cinema ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
A few weeks ago, I had attended a retrospective of the late actor, director and Kannada writer Girish Karnad at the Films Division of India located at Pedder Road, Mumbai. The auditorium was packed and the event was inaugurated by film producer and director Anand Mahendroo, who reminisced about his mentor and teacher. This was … Continue reading Lights, Camera, Action- The National Museum of Indian Cinema ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
sojourn-with-san 