Stories from a wanderer

Little bit of Jagannath in our lives           "Baara maase tera parba" (13 festivals in a year) is a common saying in average household of Odisha. Festivals are part and parcel of everyday life. There are numerous occasions which are celebrated in different parts of the state as a part of the festivities. The social fabric is closely knit by these festivals where people get closer to each other. Be it the Makara Parva in Mayurabhanja, Nuakhai of Sambalpur, Push Punei ("Pausa Purnima") of Koraput, Bali Jatra of Cuttack; all of them are as vibrant and colourful as the Odia culture. Many of these festivals where one or the other deity is worshipped is an opportunity for socialisation irrespective of cast and creed.           Few of these festivals are restricted to specific areas in the state. However there is one festival Ratha yatra ("Car festival") which is celebrated across all parts of the state with equal devotion and excitement. Many place

Where there's a will, there's a way The recent instance in Chennai where a heart was donated by a not-so-fortunate to one fortunate is a real story of humanity. Every one in the process showed the supreme form of humanity which is commendable. To start with the parents of the deceased who were ready to donate the organs of their child. God give them the strength to get over the irreparable loss. The doctors at both hospitals who played the saviours for the patient who survives. The coordinated effort in terms of keeping the patient ready to accept the new heart on time till their counterparts make the organ ready for transplant. Even the ambulance driver also did his bit in the best way possible by covering the distance in record time. One can imagine the turmoil he would be going through during the hectic process. Last but not the least the traffic control administration. These guys need a big appreciation for what they have done. Holding back an otherwise busy traffi

Far from the cacophony of urbanisation, one seeks solace in Mother Nature and the divine bliss of sacred places. One such place is Gupteshwar which is about 55 kms from the nearest town Jeypore in Odisha. While driving through serpentine roads and hamlets passing by, one gets drawn by the divine force. The picturesque route ends with the divine abode of Lord Shiva which beautifully depicts the nature’s craftsmanship. Gupteshwar means “Hidden God”. This is because the shrine which is a limestone cave surrounded by a dense forest of Sal trees and is far away from the materialistic world. The Kolab river flows nearby adding to the natural beauty.                                                                                    The Kolab river flows over a bed of stones One can reach the temple, by taking the steps flanked with rows of   champak   trees. A 2 metre high   Shivalinga  made of lime stone (Stalagmite)  stands in the cave  which is said to be increasing in

5 things to learn from the Golden Temple The Golden Temple located at Amritsar in Punjab, is a perfect place to unwind from the routine life and get one step closer to divinity. My 5 take aways from the Golden Temple: 1. Cleanliness:  Nevertheless enormous footfalls, the temple premise is maintained neat and clean. 2. Humility:  Very heartening to see humility of people providing service. Be it service at the cloak rooms to the water sheds. Even the well off are found cleaning the floors. 3. No bounds:  Nothing/nobody is restricted inside the temple. Open for all and free for photographers delight. 4. Magnanimity:  The "langar (free kitchen)" feeds several needy people everyday. 5. Beauty:  The golden structure and its reflection on the sorrounding pond of nectar "Sarovar" is simply breath-taking.

Walk through Zurich         Zurich is a major city in Switzerland connecting the country to various parts of the globe, by air as well as trans-national trains to the European countries.        The central Railway station is a witness of artistic excellence of the Romans.  Zurich Central Railway Station               There are provisions for half day city tours with an English speaking guide. This is the best possible way to understand the city and its rich cultural heritage. No one can beat the Swiss in packaging tourism.  Guide of the Walking Tour         Zurich city is almost divided into half by river "Limat" which crisscrosses through the city.   Model of City of Zurich          The city boasts of 1200 fountains delivering round the clock water which is absolutely drinkable. Though the fountains are quite old, the water is safe for drinking. One of the fountains in the city         Few major attractions in the city are the

Come with me for the 4 Pass Tour Switzerland is blessed by nature with beautiful snow covered mountains. The mighty Alps could be seen with its grandeur with multiple facets. One has to take the 4-pass tour which is a one day tour operated by PostBus (www.postbus.ch), takes you across four of the most magnificent Swiss mountain passes.  Post Bus operates the 4-pass tour The tour is customised for travellers from across the globe, equipped with audio guide which explains the significance of each place that comes on the way. The itinerary is well planned and allows tourists to get soaked with natural beauty and Swiss culture. Starting point for the tour is Meiringen and ends at the same place after a full day trip.         The first pass which comes on the tour is Grimsel which is at 2167 m. En route the curvy roads winding across the mountains, one can see the mighty Alps towards standing like a wall on one side. D am of the Räterichsbodensee has a capacity of 100 mill

Basel: The city of Art & Culture          Basel is the third most prominent city of Switzerland (after Zurich & Geneva); situated at the meeting point of Swiss, French & German border. There's an airport in the city which connects to the nearest airport in Zurich which in turn is the pathway to rest of the world. Alternatively one can board a train from Zurich to Basel. Basel Railway Station         The city has beautiful walkways in addition to the lush greenery. Here is a statuette along with a splendid walkway in the countryside: Statuette in the country side Walkway                        Basel has the major river Rhine flowing through the city almost dividing the city in half. The bridge over river Rhine was constructed by Bishop Heinrich von Thun in 1225-1226. Bridge over river Rhine         You get the glimpse of the Cathedral of Basel (known locally as  Münster ). Made from red sandstone and coloured tiles on the ro