“India is, the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of tradition. our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only.”
On Friday, June 2, 2023, a horrific accident took place in Balasore district of Odisha, when three trains collided with each other, killing nearly 300 people and injuring over 1000. The accident involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train. It was one of the worst train accidents in India's history.
I visited Ghum and Darjeeling with my family. It was a wonderful trip. We enjoyed the scenic views of the Himalayas, the tea gardens, and the toy train ride. Ghum is the highest railway station in India and has a famous monastery. Darjeeling is a charming hill station with a rich cultural heritage. We had a memorable time there.
Tinchuley is a small hamlet located about 28 km from Darjeeling and around 3 km from Takdah. The name means “three ovens” in Tibetan, because of the three prominent hilltops that resemble ovens. The confluence of Teesta and Rangeet is also known as Triveni. Some call it Lover’s point. It is considered to be a holy place where two great Rivers meet. Rangeet is considered to be a male river who meets his beloved Teesta at this point, hence the name ‘Lover’s Point’. Lamahatta stands for Lama for Buddhist monk and Hatta for hut: a monk’s heritage. Lamahatta Eco park is a famous spot with its vibrant bright flowers.
Takdah is a small hill station in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India. It is surrounded by lush green tea gardens, pine forests and orchids. The place was once a British cantonment area and thus has a number of old British bungalows. You can enjoy the scenic views of the Himalayas, breathe in the fresh mountain air and experience the local culture and cuisine. A homestay at Takdah will give you a chance to live with a host family and learn about their traditions and lifestyle. We fell in love with the place Takdah and the Rose Villa heritage homestay. I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to the Lama family, who owns the Rose Villa for making our stay so memorable. We would love to visit again.
If you are interested in ancient civilizations, you may have heard of Mohenjo-daro, one of the oldest and best-preserved urban settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization. But do you know who discovered this remarkable site and realized its significance? The answer is Rakhal Das Banerji, an Indian archaeologist and historian who worked for the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the early 20th century. His discovery of Mohenjo-Daro was one of the greatest achievements of Indian archaeology and history. He deserves to be remembered and celebrated as one of India’s finest sons.
Getalsud dam is a beautiful place that offers a scenic view of the water reservoir and the surrounding hills. It is located about 35 km from Ranchi city and is easily accessible by road. The dam was built in 1971 for irrigation and drinking water purposes. The dam is located on the Subarnarekha River. It also serves as a picnic spot for tourists and locals.
We went to the Paryavaran Mela in Ranchi and saw a lovely Chhau dance in the evening. Chhau binds together people from different social strata and ethnic backgrounds with diverse social practices, beliefs, professions, and languages. This semi-classical dance form originated at the royal court of Saraikela, now in Jharkhand. However, increasing industrialization, economic pressures, and new media are leading to a decrease in collective participation with communities becoming disconnected from their roots.
Megalithic monuments are among the earliest and most permanent of archaeological structures, and so many of them were used, or more properly, have been used and reused for thousands of years. Their original intent is likely lost to the ages, but they may have had multiple functions as they were used by different cultural groups over the centuries and millennia.
Isko Cave is a natural cave located in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, India. It is considered to be a site of archaeological significance, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Stone Age. These Isko caves and rock art needs protection and maintenance. The ASI and the state government must take immediate steps to protect this heritage. This will promote tourism and bolster the local economy too.
The Gregorian New year is already upon us, and I wish for all to have a healthy year ahead. I had an awesome journey to the new year and will like to share my experience with you. We went to Ghatshila on 3-day bike trip to celebrate the journey of time from 2022 to 2023. This was my exhilarating adventurous new year celebration. I even felt a hangover from the bike road trip for the next few days. Just one thing repeating in my mind- NEED TO DO IT AGAIN!
Indrosphere 