My pictures with their little stories

Nilgiri Mountain Railway with steam locomotive Some amount of walking around and climbing gives you the vantage points you have been looking for. The steam locomotive puffing with full force on the gradient on this lovely route of Nilgiri Mountain Railway that passes through dense forest and the Nilgiri mountains . At a spot like this, it is all very quiet and the sound of approaching steam engine gets you in a state of high alert and excitement no less than what was felt by the brother-sister duo in the film Pather Panchali by Satyajit Ray , when they heard the whistle of the steam locomotive from a distance and ran through the fields to catch a glimpse of the approaching beauty - one of the most enchanting cinematographic sequences ever filmed. (somewhere near Lovedale , 2007) Here is my blog post on Nilgiri Mountain Railway

A stop for Nilgiri Express This stop for Nilgiri Express is meant for water to refilled in the steam locomotive. The cute little stations and surroundings are so pretty that you cannot but resist getting down at each station where the train makes a stop. There are vendors selling crispy vadas and chai at each of these stations. (2007 ) Here is my blog post on Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Enjoying the meal at the monastery after the festivities, Bhutan  Everyone who attended the festivities was welcome to partake the meals which were lovingly cooked by the village folk. They were keen that everyone including visitors like us joined in for the meal with some local arak (ara). No wonder Bhutan is seen as such a tourist friendly country. (Bhutan, 2015)

The artistes step out in the monastery grounds for a dance performance After the elaborate dressing up and putting on the fierce looking masks, the artistes step out from the crowded changing room into the monastery ground for a spectacular dance performance to the cheer of waiting crowds which has people from near and far. This ritual will be a colourful extravaganza with a slow beat typical of monastery dances. The young lad on the left announces the arrival of the troupe by beating the metal disc in his hand. (Bhutan, 2015)

Draft beer at a Bengaluru pub Beer guzzling happens at an industrial scale in some of these pubs at Bengaluru. Great atmosphere to be in, huge energy of the young available on tap. They must be discussing movies, politics and not to forget start-ups in the current age. If cafes were the addas of yesteryears, it is surely these pubs which will churn out new ideas, enterprises and may be youth movements. Must thank Sonali and Gautam Khot who not only pointed us to some of these energetic places but also joined us in the last two years. (2015)

St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai It was during one of those not very defined walks in the area around Flora Fountain , that I discovered this almost 300 year old church. In fact, Churchgate station derives its name from this church. One of the gates in the fort which the East India Company had built to protect their settlement was the entrance to the St. Thomas Church. It was called Churchgate. That is the reason the entire area towards the west of the church is called “Churchgate” even today. For more information on this, click here : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Thomas_Cathedral,_Mumbai

Wrinkled beauty from Sangla, Himachal Came across this remarkable lady at the temple at Batseri in Sangla valley , Himachal . She was among the group of village women watching the ceremony of the Devata being taken out from the temple which happens on very select occasions during the year. Her sharp features along with the lines on her fair Himachali face with those deep eyes made a compelling visual. (2010)

X class steam locomotive of Nilgiri Mountain Railway The X class steam locomotives which are Swiss make, are a looker and they look as beautiful from whichever angle one views them from. The golden star on the black circular area right in front gives the loco a character and an imposing presence of its own. (2007)                      Here is my blog post on Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Black Beauty up close The X class steam locomotives that power trains between the stretch of Coonoor to Mettupalayam of Nilgiri Mountain Railway are wonderful machines which are kept running by equally wonderful technicians of Indian Railways who work diligently at the steam loco workshop at Coonoor. Unlike the Light and Sound shows at various archaeological sites, watching these beauties is a Sight and Sound show. Mechanical engineering at its best ! Any youngster who watches these Swiss origin machines up close is bound to be inspired to be a fine mechanical engineer or a technician. (2007)                        Here is my blog post on Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Nilgiri Passenger at Katti railway station Nilgiri Passenger at Ketti railway station on the Ooty - Mettupalayam line. This station like others on this line are beautiful little structures and retain the old world charm. Life is easy and slow here and the only semblance of any hustle bustle is when a train arrives. Here the engine driver is ready to exchange his token and the green flag of the guard will go up soon. (2007) Here is my blog post on Nilgiri Mountain Railway

The Man and The Machine It is the love, care and dedication of the technicians at the steam loco workshop at Coonoor that has kept these beautiful X class vintage steam locomotives running on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway . Whoever I spoke to at this workshop - the technicians as well as the engine drivers, they were all proud of the fact nowhere in the world you can find such relics from the past up and running. (2007) Here is my blog post on Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Makke ki roti, Sarson ka saag at Amritsar Relished the desi ghee preparations at several restaurants in the alleys of the old city. These were certainly not places with new world ambience, but then the food they served was authentic.  (2010) 

Buddhist monks at a monastery, Bhutan The red robes of the young monks in this Buddhist monastery in Bhutan created a stunning contrast against the backdrop of predominantly white majestic walls and steps.  Another sharp contrast was the age - the monastery which is few hundred years old providing a solid foundation to the young energetic monks who are still learning. Interesting to note this contrast operating at two different planes.

At the upper level of the monastery, photo by Milind Sathe As I climbed up to the upper level of the monastery to take few pictures from above, came across this motley group which included western travellers, seekers of spiritual experience, two local young beauties and two bubbly kids. All these characters made a perfect setting for a lively shot with so many little stories in one single frame.

View from above - Dancers at the monastery festival in Bhutan While the local dancers wore spectacularly colourful attires, the wet surface of the floor below prompted me to climb up and take few pictures from above. The pattern of the stone floor which did not have any symmetry looked very inviting after a shower in the morning that day. While the downpour stopped, the clouds were still hovering and this lent a sense of special air to the festive mood already prevalent.

At village Shoja, Himachal It was a fascinating walk through Shoja in Himachal, a village on the edge of the mountains. All houses with slate roofs, close knit to be available for each other at a shout and living together with their cattle. To be on the edge all the time is something urbanites cannot imagine. The slate stone shines when the sun rays fall upon it at an angle. From a distance, this is quite a view.

Play of shadows at Paro Dzong It was late afternoon with the sun going down. The shadows of the trees created a lovely visual on the white outer wall of this dzong at Paro . I had to pick this up.

The place to be - Chair at Hindu Gymkhana, Mahabaleshwar During each visit to Mahabaleshwar, we did make it a point to spend some time at the Hindu Gymkhana and play table tennis. Milind Rajguru from Mahabaleshwar, an old family friend was gracious to join us and give us some good practice on the TT table. After a game or two, this chair would be my destination to sip some chai and read. 

White Door and Yellow Wall, Fontainhas, Goa What a beauty this was. If I were to live here, I would probably spend more time looking at it from outside. Wonderful entrance to this house in the pretty quarter of Fontainhas , Goa. Although it was a hot summer afternoon, the sheer beauty of some of the structures made walking the lanes quite an involved exercise. (2014) 

Sunrise in Kumaon mountains overlooking Ramganga valley Each morning during our stay at Camp Shama in Kumaon was an experience which was full of delight, curiosity and a sense of fulfilment. No other meditation was required. Looking at the horizon from early morning around 5 am for the next two hours was sheer bliss. The early morning soft rays of the sun would light up the mountain tops one by one and then enter the valley to show the river hidden in the night blanket. When you start seeing the river, it is morning and time for chai. (2012)

Diwali preparations at a home in Kumaon During one of our walks in the Kumaon hills, noticed this girl totally engrossed in decorating her home for Diwali . She was probably using rice paste.  Like anywhere else in India, festivals are celebrated with full enthusiasm and involvement with all the cultural traditions and practices being observed. (2012)

Rail tracks at CST, Mumbai The footbridge that goes into CST station gives a vantage point to get a good view over the rail tracks coming into the station and the trains coming in and going out. 

Oil lamps in a monastery, Bhutan Let there be light - near us and afar - to illuminate and guide. These oil lamps in monasteries in Bhutan was a sight which was profound to say the least. Even a confirmed atheist would turn pious in these surroundings. 

Little girl at Ura village festival near Bumthang, Bhutan Noticed that this little girl was watching the festivities alone, away from her friends and family. Her eyes seemed fixated. Could not fathom what she must be thinking.  I wanted to catch her gaze and yet not disturb her. 

Devata (deity) being taken out at Badri Narayan Temple, village Batseri, Dist. Sangla in Himachal The Devata (deity) at Badri Narayan temple, village Batseri in Sangla district of Himachal Pradesh is taken out of the temple only few times a year.  We were fortunate to be there when the deity was being taken out. Womenfolk from the village were present on this important occasion.  

Jantar Mantar, New Delhi Jantar Mantar at Delhi was built by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur as an observatory.  The primary purpose of the observatory was to compile astronomical tables, and to predict the times and movements of the sun, moon and planets. In recent times, Jantar Mantar has a new pehchaan, emerging as the most sought after destination for anti-establishment protests….is there something in its architecture that makes it the preferred destination for all such protests ? Not very long ago, it was the Ramlila maidan that was the preferred destination of all protesters. So what has changed ?

Kennedy Space Centre, Florida When we were watching the film Apollo 13 on TV the other day, we remembered our visit to Kennedy Space Centre , Florida in 2011. It is time that we in India create a facility which will attract millions of Indians especially children to visit and see for themselves the strides in science and technology that we have achieved in recent times. I suppose the children in our country would be more interested in visiting such a facility rather than visiting grandiose memorials being built in memory of various personalities.

Window at Jaisalmer This window with its deep dark complexion created quite a contrast with the light textured wall in which it was set.

End of the day at Harihareshwar sea While I did not find much interesting stuff at Harihareshwar and was put off by the crowds, the walk on the beach when the day was ending was a calming experience. As the light starts to fade, the mystery of the sea starts to deepen and that is a very fascinating aspect of the twilight zone.

In deep thought at Mall Road, Shimla Taking a stroll up and down the Mall Road at Shimla is great fun. Same is the case with many hill stations in North India and most of them have the Mall Road. It is good to see people who are not madly running to meet some deadline but are going about their lives in a leisurely and relaxed manner. This was one such moment when I noticed these fellows sitting on a bench with two of them enjoying their softy and the other two in deep thought.

Mumbai Samachar Could not have missed this unique brick red building of the well known Mumbai daily - " Mumbai Samachar " while at Horniman Circle Garden . It has a unique character and the red colour sets it apart from other heritage structures in the precinct.

A bird takes flight at Horniman Circle Garden, Mumbai The construct of this shot was not deliberate or planned. It just happened. As I was getting ready to shoot the magnificent edifice of Asiatic Society as seen from inside Horniman Circle Garden , this bird came in landed in front of me. I hesitated for a moment for my shot and it suddenly took off giving me that fantastic moment wherein I could capture the bird in its early flight and the shadow on the floor below. Thank you Sir.

Engrossed Came across this fellow at a restaurant in Panjim , Goa where we had been try out Portuguese cuisine . Had also learnt that this place offers good quality home made feni . This fellow had all the time in the world and seemed to be smoking rolled cigarettes.

Twilight at Viper Island, Andaman sea The mood was sombre while returning from Viper island in Andaman sea . It was here that the British used to imprison convicts and political prisoners. There are ruins of the notorious gallows which the British must have used remorselessly to crush the radicals amongst the freedom fighters.  The jail here was abandoned after the construction of cellular jail at Port Blair in 1906.

Corridor at Cellular Jail, Port Blair So many years after visiting cellular jail at Port Blair, the memory sends a chill down my spine. Emotions are strong - anger at the extreme torture inflicted by the British on the freedom fighters, sadness that these bravehearts had to suffer so much and that we continue to bicker over honouring them, frustration that despite all these sacrifices where we are today and pride that there was a bunch of people who had the guts to take on the might of the British Raj and dream of throwing them out despite all the adversities and personal risks to their life and family. It is indeed a vortex of emotions that run high when you visit cellular jail. It is the ultimate temple of independent India.

Andaman sea The jetty at Port Blair is quite busy. Never realised that there would be so much traffic to not only islands in Andamans nearby but also to ports in mainland India. The sights at sea were spectacular with ever-changing sky and the movement of ships and boats.

Village elders watch festivities at Ura Yakchoe near Bhumthang, Bhutan These village elders had a special enclosure for them and sat patiently watching all the dances at the monastery. They have obviously seen years pass by so few hours did not matter.

Steam locomotive at Coonoor Loco Workshop I spent several hours on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. While everything about this route is romantic, nothing beats the raw steam power of the vintage steam locomotives still in operation.  The loco workshop at Coonoor must be having a bunch of passionate magicians who keep very old steam locomotives up and running.                     Here is my blog post on Nilgiri Mountain Railway

At Pande Ji's Maggi Point, Kathgodam. We were asked not to miss the noodles at Pande Ji’s Maggi Point at Kathgodam . The place did not look impressive but the noodles the fellow made were fabulous. We were stocked up just right before our drive into the hills began. This was in 2012 well before the controversy about Maggi noodles in India .

Home in Kumaon Hills While walking in the Kumaon hills, we visited several homes. Stocking up for the winter was an essential task for everyone. Their cattle is precious and they need to be fed during the winters when there is snow all around. This is primarily an agrarian economy in a region where many villages in the hills are not accessible by road.

On board Amtrak While traveling on board Amtrak from Boston to New York , noticed this fellow engrossed in his book. These are some of the small but not insignificant pleasures of a train journey. It is these small pleasures that make a train ride so enjoyable and desirable.

Inside St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai When I entered St. Thomas Cathedral , wondered as to how come I never noticed this beautiful cathedral so close to Flora Fountain . The cathedral is beautiful from inside with several statues and neatly lined up benches. The atmosphere was peaceful with visitors dropping in, spending time and quietly going away. Noticed a choir group practising in the front area.

Chatting around at Sao Jacinto Island, Goa Di scovered this charming little island while driving around in Goa with pretty houses from an old world era. Spotted this group of people enjoying the cool evening breeze and chatting around.

Bombay House, Homi Modi Street, Mumbai A historic building which is the the seat of Tata group , one of the most respected names in business and industry in India. I was interviewed here many years ago for a job with TAS (Tata Administrative Services). I shot this picture 27 years after I last visited this building. Nothing much has changed though in this lane.

Sunday morning at Irani restaurant Sunday morning is probably the busiest hour for the Irani restaurants in Mumbai. You will find people from all walks of life coming here to savour some of the typical eats that one can find only at such joints.  My personal favourites ?  It has to be brun maska with chai and parsi omlette.

Prayer wheel at Dhangkar monastery, Spiti Prayer wheels at monasteries is a fascinating sight. Usually there is line of prayer wheels and the visitors make it a point to touch each and every wheel. This prayer wheel at Dhangkar monastery in Spiti looked as old as the monastery itself and it was a different feeling to touch the prayer wheel as well as the wall around. It had a deep cold feel to it almost as if connecting with its ancient past.

Painting class at National Institute of Zorig Chusum, Thimphu Painting as we saw at National Institute of Zorig Chusum, Thimphu was mostly Buddhist painting or religion centric. This is what Bhutanese art is all about.

Weaving at National Institute of Zorig Chusum, Thimphu Visit to  National Institute of Zorig Chusum (Institute of thirteen arts and crafts) at Thimphu was quite an experience. Bhutan is clearly proud of its culture and heritage and makes sure that it is not only protected but there is honour and dignity associated with it. 

Windows from Spiti Spiti is majestic and it is stark. The windows in the entire region were similar, must be Buddhist architectural influence. Very basic and simple yet beautiful. The region is hardly prosperous so the houses are basic. The windows follow a similar pattern in the entire region.

Fathoming the Sky and beyond Many years ago, I went to Delhi from Mumbai on the 6 am flight of East West Airlines. There were only 12 passengers in that Boeing 737 I suppose. That day I realised what an experience it is to see the rising sun through the clouds. The colours start changing gradually and each moment is lived differently. The best part is that none of the colours are loud. They are all subtle, deep and meaningful. Beckon you to explore. In perfect solitude.

Folk musicians at Jodhpur Heard this folk musician couple performing at Mandore near Jodhpur .  The lady was singing and the fellow was playing a traditional folk string instrument . They were presenting their art with utmost sincerity. When we met them, their son was recovering from a monkey bite in the gardens at Mandore.