shvetabhagat

  Secunderabad, the twin city of   Hyderabad   was an old British cantonment and boasts of one of the highest concentration of churches. With close to 100 churches that are ardently attended till date, there is something special about them as you cross them even as a passerby. The architecture mostly Anglo style Gothic stands out in the midst of new settlements. There is a quiet encompassing them and one can’t help but wander into one such charming church with a humble air. St Frances Xaviers Church dated 1842 is located in Valerian Grammar school and was built to cater to the spiritual needs of the Irish regiment stationed here. The church now though under CSI (Church of South India), is under the ambit of the Army due to its location. Wonder if the historic churches are more secure owing to this fact. The simple white and limestone edifice is made of lime mortar and timber girders with a carved wooden church door and a simple D.O.M (Latin acronym for “The greatest and B...

On choosing a holiday destination like Moldova, you are first met with quizzical glances followed by wild guesses as to where could it be.   Not on the average traveler's radar, Moldova is sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine with its culture and traditions treading between Russian and Italian. The aerial view one gets just before landing is a large oasis of greenery interspersed with water bodies.     Moldova’s main natural resources being soil and sunshine, it was the agricultural basket of the Soviet Union. Lush with plantations, its agrarian culture dominates the countryside. On your drive a common sight would be miles of giant sunflowers and grape vines, walnut trees flanking the road with meadows stretching into the horizon and meandering rivers. The undulating terrain is ideal for different crops and this medley absorbs you in its natural beauty with an odd Lada passing by, the only car in erstwhile Soviet bloc countries. But the most interesting sight is the m...

Goa Churches attract tourists but have lost some of their old glory! Goa as we know has a history of Portuguese rule and the churches that imbue the city are a reflection of a time gone by. The Portuguese were in Goa for about 450 years right up to 1961 and the influence is so visible through not just the food and culture but the eye-catching, high standing churches and the freshly whitewashed looking sign of cross that one often sights along the way, especially in the interiors. Ofcourse the Basilica of Bom Jesus in distinct Renaissance baroque architecture is the most revered and recognised by UNESCO that accorded it the status of a World Heritage Site. It has the embalmed mortal remains of St Francis Xavier and also houses beautiful art works of Biblical times. While it has become a major tourist attraction over the years it no more holds a Portuguese service. Majority churches in Goa now have Konkani as the main language in their service apart from English. However the imposing...

Lawrence Lovedale, nestled in the beautiful mountains of Nilgiris, brings back myriad memories. It’s an experience that has stayed and guided me at every turn of life long after I bid it adieu for what they call "the big bad world”. For me, the forewarned transition certainly carried meaning as I can say confidently no place seemed more secure before or after Lovedale.   From the letterman to our matrons, to our dear Pasha the baker, to whom we would dash during our loo breaks -- all seemed to be in cahoots with us, caring and assisting, even through our mischief-making.  The teachers were unlike any I had experienced before. They upheld the same standards outside class that extended to being genuinely interested in our goings-on and asking after our well-being and folks back home. The relationship was built as much on campus as within the four walls of the classroom, where we were encouraged to ask questions and think out of the box.  I will never forget one day, wh...

  In my earliest memory, I remember it as a place with rolling meadows and colourful hats with everyone swinging an exciting looking stick. Barely into school, I boasted I had just visited New Zealand every time I rolled down from home to the golf course! You heard that right. Maybe as we were in picturesque Wellington, an army cantonment in Tamil Nadu, and in my head I was confused with all the movies in VCRs and felt just maybe we are that Wellington, with such a diverse setting from any I had been exposed to. This was my first encounter with a game where the players always wore a contradictory air of distress and glee and the arena looked like it was almost a pathway to Heaven. There began the intrigue.     Following years, I got used to this designated, exclusive verdant island in every town my father was to get posted and my understanding evolved. Now I just thought it is a place elders go for outdoor recreation and even to get into the good books of a boss. It jus...

The third largest out of the seven Emiratis in UAE (United Arab Emirates), Sharjah, has so much to offer that one wonders why it wasn’t on the regular tourist beat until now. More known to the common traveller as a satellite city of Dubai, one visit and you realize it has its own distinct character and rich history. Did you know that archaeologists from across the world have converged to study excavations dating back to the Paleolithic age, some 130,000 years ago, at the Mleiha Archaeological site? Or that the F1 H2O World Championship is in its 18th year running in this fast evolving destination that has managed to retain the traditional while on a modernizing spree. On a recent visit, I was forced to think aloud while dipping my fluffy pita into a second round of hummus, why would even an avid shopper not happily flock here, as an international standard mall stood facing our hotel boasting of top of the line brands like Berkshire and Pull&Bear. Our guide Shada, an expat who...