R K Laxman Museum, Pune

Museum of India’s most popular cartoonists

Also see: FAM Trip of Pune

Rasipuram Krishnaswami Laxman (1921 – 2015), or simply R K Laxman was a well-known cartoonist and illustrator, best known for his famous creation The Common Man. R K Laxman Museum is located in Balwadi, Pune contains almost 35,000 of his sketches.

Statue of Common Man at the entrance of R K Laxman Museum, Pune

This museum cum art gallery is a project of Pune Municipal Corporation. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2022. The museum tells the story of Laxman and his career. The story of how his pen and brush along with his sense of humor have turned him into a legend.

Canning House, the last remains of the failed Canning Port Project

Canning House, 24 Parganas (South)

The last remains of the failed Canning Port Project

Since the late 17th century Calcutta (now Kolkata) has flourished as a flourishing river port and contributed a chunk of the trade of East India Company. It also served as the Capital of British India and was considered the second city of the British empire.

Canning House, Canning, 24 Parganas (South)

Plan for a new port: But In the early 1850s it was found that the river was first silting up and the East India Company decided to make a new port further down the river. Surveyors were sent deep into the Sundarban area and they finally came up with a spot on the banks of the Matla River.

Shinde Chhatri, Memorial of Mahadji Shinde (Scindia)

Shinde Chhatri, Pune

Memorial of Mahadji Shinde (Scindia)

Also see: FAM Trip of Pune

Shinde Chhatri at Wanawadi in Pune is a memorial or cenotaph dedicated to the 18th century Maratha military leader Mahadji Shinde who served as the commander-in-chief of the Maratha army under the Peshwas from 1760 to 1780.

Shinde Chhatri (left) and Shiva Temple (right) at Wanawadi in Pune

Mahadaji Shinde (23 December 1730 – 12 February 1794) later known as Mahadji Scindia was a Maratha statesman and ruler of Ujjain in Central India. Mahadaji was instrumental in resurrecting Maratha power in North India after the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761, and rose to become a trusted lieutenant of the Peshwa Madhavrao I.

Monuments of Green Park, Delhi

Exploring beyond Hauz Khas Park

Delhi is literally littered with monuments. Tombs and mosque with crumbling domes and minerates can be found in the most unlikely of places including municipality parks and traffic islands.

William Dalrymple, The Last Mughal
…. of the great cities of the world, only Rome, Istambul and Cairo can even begin to rival Delhi for the sheer volume and density of historic remains.

Green Park, an upscale affluent neighborhood in South Delhi is the most unlikely place for historical ruins. Interestingly this posh Delhi neighborhood houses as many as 5 archaeological sites protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Collage of monuments of Green Park, Delhi
Top row left to right: Dadi Poti ki Gambud and Biran ka Gambud
Bottom row left to right: Bara Khamba, Chhoti Gumti and Sakri Gumti

These five medieval monuments share space with high rises and bungalow-like apartments of a posh Delhi locality. All the five sites are located within walking distance and can be combined with a visit to the nearby Hauz Khas Park, housing a medieval tank and several other monuments.

Memorial of APJ Abdul Kalam, Rameswaran

Memorial of APJ Abdul Kalam

Rameswaran

Also see: FAM Trip of Tamil Nadu

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam or simply APJ Abdul Kalam (15 October 1931 – 27 July 2015) was the 11 ^th President of India (25 July 2002 – 25 July 2007). Known as the “People’s President” and the “Missile man of India” Kalam came from a humble background.

Memorial of APJ Abdul Kalam, Rameswaran

He was born in Rameswaram, an important Hindu pilgrimage in Pamban Island (also known as Rameswaran Island). Kalam came from a very humble background but excelled in academics. He went on to study aerospace engineering in Madras Institute of Technology (IIT).

Nandadirghi, Buddhist Vihar, Jagjibanpur, Malda

Nandadirghi Vihar

Buddhist Vihar, Jagjibanpur, Malda

Also see: Gour Pandua Tour

During the summer of 1987 Jagadish Gayen, a farmer from the remote village of Jagjibanpur bordering Bangladesh in Malda district, stumbled upon a copper plate. The plate measured 52.5cm x 37.5cm and had inscription on both side.

Ruins of Nandadirghi Vihar at Jagjibanpur under restoration

Gayen had no idea what was written but he could figure out that the plate was something extraordinary. Understanding the historic importance he submitted it at the panchayet office. The plate soon moved to the BDO office and then onwards to the DM office and final made its way to the State Archaeology department.

Murshidabad Heritage Festival 2022

Heritage of Murshidabad, Cossimbazar, Jiaganj and Azimganj

Also see: Murshidabad Heritage Festival 2022

The Murshidabad Heritage Festival is an initiative of Murshidabad Heritage Development Society (MHDS). MHDS was founded in 2010 by the Sheherwali community of Jiaganj and Azimganj with an objective of reviving the tangible and intangible heritage in Azimganj and Jiaganj in particular, and Murshidabad in general.

Participants of Murshidabad Heritage Festival 2022 at Nasipur Rajbari

MDHS plans to bring back Murshidabad in the tourism, cultural and heritage map of India. This lead to the formation of Murshidabad Heritage Festival first edition of which was celebrated in 2011.

Brihadeshwara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram

Great Living Chola Temples of Tamil Nadu

Also see: FAM Trip of Tamil Nadu

The Brihadeshwara Temple of Gangaikonda Cholapuram is a temple dedicated to Shiva. It is one of the largest Shiva temple of South India and is a classic example of Dravidian Temple Architecture.

Brihadeshwara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram

It is part of the UNESCO Heritage site of Great Living Chola Temples. Which includes:

1. Brihadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur (Tanjore) constructed by Raja Raja I (Raja Taja Chola) in 1010
2. Brihadeshwara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram constructed by Rajendra (Rajendra Chola) in 1035
3. Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram constructed by Raja Raja II in 1166

The temple at Tanjavur was included in the UNESCO list in 1984. In 2004 the other two were included in the list under the common heading of Great Living Chola Temples.

Nimasarai Minar of Malda, tower of a medieval inn

Nimasarai Minar, Malda

Tower of a medieval inn

Also see: Gour Pandua Tour

Today Malda town the district headquarters of Malda district serves a base for tourist visiting the two medieval citadels of Gour and Pandua. Today Pandua lies about 32 km north of Malda, while Gour is 15 km south of Malda.

Nimasarai Minar, Malda

Today Malda town with its share of hotels and restaurants serve as a night stay option for tourist heading for the two medieval citadels of Gour-Pandua. Today good roads connect both the ancient towns to Malda and vehicles are readily available for tours covering the monuments of the twin citadels.

Mantra Koodam CGH Earth Resort, Kumbakonam

Mantra Koodam CGH Earth Resort

Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu

Also see: FAM Trip of Tamil Nadu

Kumbakonam or Kudanthai is a town in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. There are about 180 temples located within the town and apart from that there several thousand temples around the town and hence it is popularly referred to as the temple town.

A small shrine inside Mantra Koodam Resort, Kumbakonam

The Mantra Koodam Resort in Kumbakonam provides a spiritual experience ans serves as a home away from home. Managed by the CGH Earth Experiential Holidays, who specializes in curating experiential holidays since 1954.