The Unheard Secrets

The astonishment of why some places lies abandoned,and in ruins does not get more perplexing than this. Off the Konkan coast of Maharashtra , lies the impregnable, unassailable and unconquered fort of Janjira . A fascinating history that begins with a pirate keep from which the Ethiopians carved out a stone fortress. It has held back mighty warriors like Shivaji the great Maratha champion. It lends a distinctive colour to the eclectic social fabric of the region. Mumbai ...The city of dreams or we call it as Mayanagari ....The place where we all attach our dreams and aspirations....About 160 kms away...In the midst of its magnificient sea lies a fort, carved out of a stone, which still speaks of its glory. 60 Kms away from Alibaug close to Konkan Coast lies the small village of Murud . Murud is the gateway to the wonders of Murud Janjira , which is lying abandoned in the silence of the sea. Rajapuri , another small village associated to Murud is another significant gateway to this ...

Andaman and Nicobar Islands are more or less scattered like a pearl necklace over the vast waters of Bay of Bengal. ..almost 1200 kilometres away from the Indian Subcontinent. One can estimate that these islands are quite far away from the coastal regions... T he beauty of these islands are world famous. Quite obvious to the fact, people travel from all over the world to enjoy this scenic beauty. In the midst of this beautiful environment lies an unknown history.....The islands which we are talking about was once compared with the beauty of Paris...The Ross Islands. Ross Islands is a tiny little island at the mouth of the Port Blair Harbour . It is in fact, the entry point into the Andaman Islands. At one point in no time, it served as the capital of the British in this part of India. It was a township that had everything one may need to live a lavish life in. But today this island lies forgotten, deserted and totally abandoned.... Ross Island was a great symbol of Br...

Stories form a very important part of our culture. These small folktales get somewhere hidden beneath the great epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata , which is relived again in those small lanes in the form of folklores. The story of a brave warrior who is considered the pride of Rajasthan . This unsung legend is still worshipped in the town of Nagaur , Rajasthan , who laid down his life for the sake of protecting his villagers. Localites believe Tejaji to be an incarnation of God, who will free them from all troubles and pain. The folkgod of Rajasthan , Tejaji was born in the year 1704 in the family of Dhaulya Gotra Jats . His father Taharji was the chief of Khadnal district and his mother was Sugna who is believed to have conceived Tejaji by the blessings of Naag devta (snake god). Since his sacrifice for life was associated with cows, the people of Nagaur built several cowsheds in his memory, instead of temples. The local folks believe that Nagaur never face...

The story which we are going to relive today, its main character is a fort. This fort has been claimed as ajinkya , meaning invincible. But still...this fort has been conquered thrice...then how it is ajinkya then? Because its story is wrapped around the tales of treachery, deceit and thumping rumours....and a history...which is still unknown...and silent, and unbelievable as usual....the story of ASIRGARH .      At the northern edge of the massive Deccan Plateau lies a forgotten fort that was once the key to open the doors to the Deccan , also called Dakkhani Darwaza . A survey by the British, extolled it as the strongest fort in the country and one that was never taken by force- depending on which version of its many histories you feel should be believed. With an antiquity that only grows older every time it is explored, Asirgarh is a treasure trove of fascinating spell binding stories so fantastic in their bearing that history and myth seem dyed in the...

Far up in the Himalayas , a couple of hours drive from the border town of Kargil , further north from the Grand Srinagar-Leh Highway lie the ruins of what once must have been a majestic fort. Rumoured to be taller and older than its famous cousin, the Leh palace , the Chiktan fortress is shrouded in many mysteries. Legends of its making, numerous sinister and violent events, magical tales of wondrous creations and a heart wrenching tailspin of destruction and apathy encompass the story of this fabulous fortress set in an almost fantastical location. From the ancient times of Vedas and Puranas , or maybe before that, people have always turned up here, in search of antiquity, which lies in the beauty of this bottomland, hidden within the world's largest mountain ranges- Himalayas . The life existing here is quite like the mountains itself.....rough...but beautiful. Opening up our ears to this eerie silence, where the history still echoes of its time... According to the maps, t...

Within the picturesque beauty and the mesmerising greenery of Himachal Pradesh , lies the iconic village of Rewalsar . Situated at 1360 metres above sea level, this place promotes a significant example of religious fraternity. Rewalsar is home to Buddhist monasteries, Gurudwara and temples. The holy lake of Kunt Bhyog is situated here, which is associated with the escape of Pandavas , from the greatest epic- Mahabharata . The temple of legendary Sage Lomas - who impressed Lord Shiva through his hard penance, and the famous Rewalsar Sahib Gurudwara , made in the memory of the tenth Sikh guru , Guru Gobind Singh Ji . But the most significant of all is the Rewalsar Lake, which is a sacred place for all Tibetan Buddhists. The lake made out of ashes, is a symbolism of spirituality, penance, love, sacrifice and faith. Herein lies the legendary tale of Guru Padmasambhava and Princess Mandarva , whose sacrifice made Rewalsar an iconic place in History. Born out o...

With this fast changing world, where old cities are losing their identity backed by modernisation, Lucknow has still upheld the roots of his past times, through which the golden history of Awadh is associated. This capital of Uttar Pradesh still counts among few cities of India , having its own unique personality. In this whole of India hardly any city might have existed which could compete with the beauty of Awadh evenings (Shaam-e-awadh) and the delicacy arousing from these common lanes. The legacy of the Nawabs of Awadh can be witnessed in their draping styles, their Urdu accent and in delightful delicacies. Lucknow , the city of Nawabs which once suffered a huge impact in the 1857 revolts, has still uphold its culture and dignity. Its quite impossible to relish these pocket friendly dishes anywhere in India, what these common lanes of Awadh offer respectively. Even though Lucknow has transformed into a beautiful city, but Awadh is one of the oldest principalities of ...