The originally suggested time of departure for our group to Borobudur (near Yogyakarta, Indonesia) was 3.30 am. I groaned loudly when I read that WhatsApp message. And then the members of our group argued for an even earlier start at 3.00 am because they wanted nice pictures of the sunrise! Have you ever met a…
Tag: Buddhism
Kudumbigala Monastery, Ampara, Eastern Sri Lanka
It was a 5.00 am start and if you ask me I am no fan of 5.00 am starts. Five in the morning is for being sound asleep but it was not to be because we had plan to catch up the sunrise at Kudumbigala Monastery in Eastern Sri Lanka. We were far away from…
Sanghol- Glimpses of Rural Life and Buddhist Heritage
Even though I went to present a paper at an academic seminar at Sanghol in Punjab but I managed to catch the glimpses of its rural life and Buddhist Heritage too. The place is also known as Ucha Pind. The seminar was hosted at Cordia Group of Institutions, Sanghol. On the first day after the presentations…
Gustor Festival at the Spituk Monastery in Ladakh
One of the highlights of my winter trip to Ladakh was the opportunity to attend the Gustor Festival at the Spituk Monastery in Ladakh. This year it was held on 7th and 8th January. As it falls in winter it is attended by the locals in large numbers, tourists were in minority! It is said…
Gangtok Offers an Exciting Experience for Adventurous Travelers
Gangtok is India’s gateway to the Himalayan Mountains, and it is quickly becoming an industry leading and world class destination for adventurous Indian travelers who are looking to enjoy good food, great wilderness, pristine ecosystems and exquisite hiking. If you are considering a stay in a one of the Sterling Holidays resorts in Gangtok or…
Wat Phra That at Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Even my sleep deprived eyes could see that I was in the middle of grand splendor at the Wat Phra That Temple Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I can’t fall asleep on planes and I can’t feel fresh without sleep, hence the first day of a trip is usually tough for me. I visited…
Sirpur- Ancient Heritage in a Sleepy Little Town
I saw Mr. Arun Kumar Sharma for first in the conference hall of the Hiuen Tsang Resort in Sirpur. Looking at him I would have guessed that he must be in his sixties. When the MD Chhattisgarh Tourism, Mr. Santosh Misra, introduced him as the excavator of Sirpur, he added that Mr. Sharma was in…
Wat Arun, Bangkok, Thailand
For this lazy Sunday I present the magnificent Wat Arun Temple from Bangkok, Thailand. It is a Buddhist Temple said to be build in 17th century, though the spires are said to be added by King Rama II in early 19th century. Wat actually means temple both in Thailand and Cambodia. Both Thai and Cambodian…
The Smiling Faces of Bayon- The Center of Angkor Thom, Camboida
Out of nowhere the rain started falling heavily as we were nearing Angkor. My heart sank, I have had way too much of rain on many of my trips this year. I was left wondering if I would see Angkor in pouring rain! It was not what I wanted. Heavy rains mean the camera stays…
The Local temple at Ban Dong Krathong Yam
We visited the Ban Dong Krathong Yam Village as part of our media trip with Tourism Authority of Thailand. This village is a Puan village which still keeps its local culture. It is quite off the tourist map. You can take a detour or make a stop here if you are going to the Aranyaprathet…