Remembrance

Image credit:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/gofootloose/8339610120 Kuldhara, a deserted village near Jaisalmer was abandoned within a night some 200 years ago. Here’s what the story says about the reason for such sudden abandonment:  https://www.thebetterindia.com/48562/abandoned-cursed-200-year-old-village-kuldhara-rajasthan/ As one drives out to the city of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan to enjoy the sunset at Sam dunes, Thar dessert, one may find tucked at the sideways, some 18 kilometers away from the city, a desserted village, Kuldhara, the Ghost Village  of Jaisalmer.   The eriee air, whirrling dessert sand and the ancient ruins are testiment to the bizarre incident of 1825, when all the residents of Kuldhara, along with those of 83 nearby villages abandoned their houses within a night. The settlement was once said to be inhabitated by prosperous Paliwal Brahmins. According to legends, the Diwan of Jaisalmer, Salim Singh, wanted to marry the daughter of...

Hyderabad was the first-ever city that I had explored on my own, way back in 2006. It was a fun experience, with a really funny anecdote. As I made my last stop to see Charminar, the guard checking the tickets refused to let me climb the minar. He was shocked to find that I was travelling all alone. Plus, he didn't basically trust me to go up the higher chambers all by myself. Despite assuring him that I had no intension of jumping off the minar, he was reluctant. He said only if someone takes my guarantee will he allow me. Desperate to now accomplish this, I requested two young girls to let me come along with them. Thankfully they agreed. The guard issued them strict instructions about me, which they actually followed through, to the extent of trying to hold my hand! As you could see, it was an uneventful visit and true to my words I did come back to the ground and showed my face to the guard too. He apologetically said, "Kya karein, loga kudi maarne ko bhi ata na,...