Storytellers of Wonder

Category: Tips

  • Healing Melodies

    The difference between life and drama is measured by how quickly life can turn on its head and amaze you. In medieval India, such was the miracle of music, that sometimes, life was stranger than fiction. Legend has it that Tansen, Mughal Emperor Akbar’s court musician was once asked to sing Raga Deepak, and so…

  • Tale Trails: Go barefoot in Sri Lanka…

    A little off-track for a series on bookstores for this one’s about books, handmade textiles, apparel, art exhibits, food and Jazz on Sundays! But then that’s what makes it so special! A beautifully laid out place, the Barefoot Café, Colombo, is a must visit for anyone who’s visiting this not-so-little island country. Founded by artist…

  • Tale Trails: Street-side Sunday Surprise at Daryaganj, Delhi

    When Edward Spenser wrote his epic poem The Faerie Queene celebrating the Tudor Dynasty and Elizabeth I, little could he have imagined that more than 400 years later the monetary worth of his words would be tested by a weighing contraption installed in Delhi. At 0.82 kgs, Spenser’s allegorical masterpiece exchanges hands at Rs. 180.…

  • Tale Trails: A Must Visit Literary Icon in San Francisco

    San Francisco, the undeniable global capital of liberalization and the birthplace of the hippie revolution and the gay rights movement, has for centuries been associated with culture, arts and creativity.  And yet, little is known about how this liberalization came about. The end of World War II saw the emergence of a new genre of…

  • Tale Trails – Treasures Waiting Around the Bend

    We all travel for different reasons. To experience a place far removed from our own, savor delectable treats, soak in the city life and the unmatched scent of hidden streets. But mostly what tugs at wanderlust-struck heartstrings is the desire to discover something hidden behind the bend, a little gem that we can carry with us…

  • 5 Unconventional Dos for first time India travelers

    A discerning traveller chooses a travel destination based not just on the location or weather but based on the overall experience. Of course you could be fully satisfied with the fabricated experience courtesy of Thomas Cook but at some point you may question the integrity of it all and wonder aloud, ‘is this the real…

  • Home Diaries: Rustic Retreat

    Many of us covet a getaway in the lap of nature, where quietude can release all the accumulated stresses of city living. When designer and decor aficionado Viji Jayaraman decided to set up home away from Delhi where she grew up, she wanted to create a space that encompassed all the fabulous ingredients of a…

  • 10 Natural Ingredients to Nourish Your Daily Diet

    They say, you are what you eat. Then why not make each meal count? We bring you a list of 10 natural ingredients that can do your body a whole lot of good if included in your daily diet. ~ Panchphoran, literally, ‘five spices’, is a whole spice blend used mostly in Bangladesh and Eastern…

  • Why do Indians wear Tilak on their Foreheads?

    The beauty of most Indian Traditions is that they are little lessons in Human Physiology. Disguised as Traditions and Customs, they form habits at an early age with deep meaning attached to them that ensure the well-being of our Mind and Body. Wearing Tilak on our foreheads is one such custom. Though it symbolizes Hinduism and has…

  • Lucknawi Naqqashi: Decorating the Medicinal Metal

    Copper finds a pride of place in kitchens across India as it is held in high regard by Ayurveda for its remedial properties. The metal is believed to have electromagnetic energy, called ‘Prana Shakti’ and many Indian homes store drinking water in a copper vessel overnight to allow copper to make water ionic, thus helping…