The sage...

The silence of the room seemed dreadful as always. I stepped in slowly without disturbing the atmosphere, he doesn't like it. The walls of the room was a treat to the eyes. Every time I entered the room I was awestruck by the beauty of nature so artistically captured by this man. I have witnessed the walls change fifty times right in front of my eyes... The walls narrated the story of freedom movement and then for a few years there were different stories from the sacred texts. There was a time when I used to feel I walked into some garden with flowers and trees that were several times larger than I am... I felt like an insect walking among elephant grass. 

The present paintings on the wall depicted daily routine in the village. Women wearing colorful lehangas and antique jewelry decorating their ears and hands. Their fingers adorning mother earth with artistic designs. Small kids played peacefully with wooden toys at a corner. Their faces delightful and eyes shining with joy. It reminded me of the long gone days of large families. I gave a heavy sigh which echoed within the room. 'Who's here?' asked a strong voice. The heavy sigh! That must have disturbed him, and the echoes... I followed his voice and shyly presented myself. He looked fiercely for a moment and then smiled. Before returning to his painting he gave me a confused look and I reminded him about the jug of water he had called for. I left it on a three legged stool and re-traced my path to the garden.

My husband loved his work. Art. I have never seen a man so involved in his work as him. I am not just saying this because I am his wife, it was crystal clear that he was in a constant state of joy as long as he was in his studio. Nothing seemed to affect him. Illness,  cries of children, poverty, the treacherous neighbors, government.... all failed to create any kind of ramifications. I filtered most of it from touching him but the rest he resisted them himself. Near the door was a photograph of him with the president, I wiped it clean with the edge of my sari. He was being honored with the padmabhushan and it was a proud moment for me. With tears in his eyes and smile on his face he gave me a nod which acknowledged every small effort I made to protect him from others, sometimes himself.   

I only had a minute to catch a glimpse of what he was painting near the eastern window. What I saw was the result of six months of hard work! It was the Himalayan mountains. Sun rays crowning the peak, a mixture of golden and white snow, slowly melting away into various shades of blues and whites. Clouds seemed to embrace the snow covered peaks. I glanced back at him. He was staring outside through the window. The sage was meditating....    

End of season.....

Photo courtesy: Souvik Prometure

They looked happy to leave. Their faces beamed with energy of exploring another place. We hugged and kissed good bye. And I kept wondering 'How can they leave?' The frustration was killing me within. But I didnt move from the place. I continued watching the sea, Green, Blue, White, Golden.... I kept searching for more colours and hours passed till I saw the next batch of people leaving. Carla and George paused at my table, released their heavy luggage and signalled the others to go on. I smiled faintly and said 'Where next?' They ignored my question and said 'It's time for u to leave too. You know that! Better pack your bags, stay with the rest!' I already knew where they were heading, to the North East. I nodded and wished them a safe journey. And then took a sip of whatever I was drinking and continued to watch the sea. Peace.

As the sun began to dissolve into the vast sea, I sighed at the beauty of nature for a thousandth time. The sky looked like an orange potion as I walked back along the beach. This period was a depressing time here. Three months back the night sky was lit with fireworks. The beach was full of people walking up and down. The shacks looked like beautiful and inviting. It was carnival time throughout. Nobody slept at nights. The music was always ringing in our ears. Now the shops closing down, the shack workers calling it off for monsoon, covers coming up over these places. It was painful to see isolated areas, it seemed like people were packing after a circus act. Those who remained had an wornout smile. They knew it was time for them to get HOME. 'End of act 1' I heard an inner voice telling me.


When I first set my foot in Goa, seven months back I knew I was here to stay. I never once left the place in all these days. And my routine was pretty much the same : watching the sea. It's a mystifying experience, to watch waves huge ones roaring as though to eat up land. But humbled at the slightest touch of earth! Again they rise and fall and wash the feet of earth. An army of immortal waves, they look like at times. It's the most beautiful experience I have ever had. I found peace at last away from home, here. I was in love with the sea. And the season of love never seemed to end.

As I stood there mystified by the sea, I felt the first few drops of rain wash away my fears. I began to walk towards the sea......

Khajuraho- the city of love......

If you are in love with 'love' then this is your destination. Khajuraho. World heritage centre, situated in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh state. Once a capital to the Chandela clan of Rajputs, now a splendor of art Khajuraho has always attracted students of love. After the decline of the Chandela dynasty in 13th century, the temples were left under dense date palm trees cover for many years, which gave the city of Khajuraho its name, Khajur in Hindi means a Date. In the ancient times it was known as Vatsa. In 1838, a British army engineer, Captain T.S. Burt rediscovered them. The whole village consists of three groups of temples separated by a few kms.

1.The western group

2.The eastern group

3.The southern group.

Khajuraho is widely famous for it’s sculptures depicting all walks of life : war, art, sex, mythology. Sexual erotic figures comprise only about 10% of the sculptures. Hindu deities and various episodes in epics are carved along the walls. In Hinduism its believed that there are two paths to ‘moksha’ or ’self realization’. Bhog and yog. The path of materialism and the path of renunciation. And the sculptures of Khajuraho provide an insight to the path of materialism. The sculptures have a characteristic feature which remains one of its kind and draws the world’s attention - the sculptor has not only explicitly carved the poses but has added life to them by giving each one of the stone sculpture a emotion. There is a famous sculpture which depicts a maiden bending down, her face shows a frown, eyes bent and fingers trying to remove a thorn pricked to her feet. And another stone image, where a damsel is writing a letter to a loved one, face looks apprehensive and eyes dreamy. Never have I seen such emotions caught and carved so beautifully.

When I spoke to a few foreign tourists about Khajuraho, they did confirm to me that this place has a strange aura around it and has attracted them time and again. They have visited Khajuraho repeatedly to rediscover the celebration of love.

Five things why you should visit Khajuraho:
1. It is well connected.
2. Hotels meeting your budget
3. A feast to your eyes and also lens of the camera
4. Brass, iron and stone sculptures are famous.
5. good food and nice weather
How to get there:
Khajuraho Airport (HJR) Tel:”+91 7686” 740-415 is located 5kms from the city, and is served by Air India (fomerly Indian Airlines) [http://www.indian-airlines.nic.in/index.asp] offering flights from [[Delhi]], [[Varanasi]] and [[Mumbai]], Jet Airways http://www.jetairways.comoffering/ flights from [[Delhi]] and [[Varanasi]] and Kingfisher offering flights from [[Varanasi]]. If one is not prepared for a 5 hr bumpy ride from Jhansi to Khajuraho, then plane is the best mode.
From the end of 2008 Khajuraho Airport will also be an International Airport with connections to the Middle-East, Singapore, Bangkok.
===By taxi/bus===

[[Satna]] and [[Jhansi]] both are connected to Khajuraho by regular bus service. It takes around 3 hours to reach [[Khajuraho]] from [[Satna]] or [[Jhansi]] by taxi, and 5-6 hours by bus. There are daily bus services with [[Satna]], [[Jhansi]], [[Harpalpur]], [[Chhatarpur]], [[Mahoba]], [[Sagar]],[[Jabalpur]], [[Bhopal]], [[Indore]], [[Gwalior]], [[Panna]], [[Agra]], [[Allahabad]] and [[Varanasi]].
Khajuraho To Satna (117km, 4hrs), Harpalpur (94km), Jhansi (172km )and Mahoba (61km). Khajuraho is located 600km (11hrs journey) south West of Delhi. There are bus services from Agra (12 hrs), Gwalior (9hrs) and Jhansi.
Taxis are recommended because the condition of buses is not good, and the is ride gruelling.
By train
Indian Railways[4], state owned railways, has connectivity from all over India. Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) (225km) and Satna (Madhya Pradesh) (117km) are the convenient railheads to Khajuraho. Satna is on Allahabad-Mumbai main line while Jhansi is on the Delhi-Bangalore mainline.
It takes around 6 hours to reach Jhansi from Delhi by train. The nearest rail junction is Harpalpur (94 km) and Mahoba (63 km).
The best way to reach Khajuraho is to get Dakshin Express from Delhi (22:50 hrs) and reach Jhansi by 05:00 hrs. Take an auto and reach the street where the travel agent offices are located (one can reach by paying 20/-rs. Get a good deal with a taxi person. It is possible to get one for Rs.2500/- (tell him that you wont give him accomodation at khajuraho) and you can reach Khajuraho in 3 hrs. Get into your hotel, fresh up and visit Western Group of temples. Watch the Light and sound show in the evening. Next day visit the eastern and other group of temples and reach hotel by 1500 hrs. Travel back to Jhansi and rech by 1900 hrs and get Goa express (21:20) and reach Kopargaon at 10:00 hrs next day to visit The Great Shirdi Sai Baba Temple and evening proceed to Aurangabad to visit Ajanta and Ellora
Where to stay
Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board Hotels

For more information regarding accomodations, please visit the below site:

http://www.wutravel.com/hotels/india/khajuraho/a_aid=4e1aed33