Bagan, Burma

a river

a land

a king

a religion

a thousand pagodas

a thousand temples

a city

an invasion

an earthquake

an age

a history

a girl

a journey

a revelation!

P.S.: Between the 11th and 13th centuries, over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed in the Bagan plains alone, of which the remains of over 2,200 temples and pagodas still survive to the present day.

Located in an active earthquake zone, Bagan has suffered from many earthquakes over the ages, with over 400 recorded earthquakes between 1904 and 1975 and a recent one in August 2016.

Ghats & Lanes of Udaipur

There’s something about its glorious ghats that’s flowed over & with the time

soaking in centuries of stories & sagas imbued every bit with melodies & ragas.

The elaborate echoes of innumerable jharokhas & chhatris fills up one’s eyes

as one stands enchanted on those wearied steps amidst the many wandering souls

hoping the holy water would wash away the blues that’s seeped into the spirit.

There’s something about its syrupy streets that’s spanned around with time

steeped in the sugary smiles of its people, scented with elaaichi & malaai.

Lumbering up or tumbling down the narrow bylanes of the boisterous bazaars

reveal those little-known spots, straining out family recipes of jalebis & kachoris

perfected with time, that both fills & lightens you up as you scour for souvenirs