Story of Jesal and Toral ,Anjar (Untold Tales)

Anjar is a beautiful city in the Kutch region of Gujarat, which has some of the most attractive forts and monuments. It is said that many centuries ago this region was an abode for dacoits. One such villainous dacoit was Jesal, who longed to steal the king's pedigree horse named Toral. 

Apparently the queen’s name too was Toral.

One night when Jesal entered the stable 

to steal the mare, sensing the presence of a stranger she broke away from the peg and fled to her master. The guards brought her back  and pegged her rope to the ground near a hay stalk. It so happened, that Jesal was hiding in the hay stalk and his hand was at the place where the peg was hit. Hearing the moans of pain the king came to the stable and on seeing the dacoit asked him what he had wanted. Jesal said he had come to take away Toral.

The king being a Daani (donor) gave away his Toral- his horse and his wife. Toral being a devoted wife did not question about why she was being sent away. Jesal became extremely guilty about his act and reformed from dacoity. Toral too helped him through her preaching on the right path of life and devotional ways to become a saintly person.

Their relationship is spoken with great respect in this region. It is believed that Toral took sati when Jesal died. Both their tombs are at a monument in Anjar and is a tourist spot.

This story was narrated by the locals when we were at Naliya, in ’96-99. They believe that these tombs move and when they come too close a calamity hits this region. They feared that it was moving closer then.
Anjar was the most devastated city during the Bhuj earthquake (Jan 2001). But people say the tombs were undisturbed.


 … Believe It or Not...!! ...

The Surya Kirans (Poem)

People congregated big and small 
To view the spectacle over the bay,
An act to entertain one and all
And mark the twin cities’ tourism day.


Commentary began amid loud applause,
Making heads look up, to the sky,
At the jets that flew without a flaw,
Motionless-not even a wink of the eye.


The crowd roared with claps and cries
Greeting the Kirans as they flew by
Coming from nowhere- in three and threes,
Nine red air-crafts, up above were seen.


They formed a neat square that turned
To a diamond- a wine glass and to a letter ‘T’.
They looped and rolled and painted 
The Heaven - saffron white and green.


The ladies were completely elated,
When two from them-shaped a heart,
And when the third darted a cupid
Dumbstruck- we all could only applaud.


Criss-crossing and signing off
The flights ended their show.
But the heads still looked upward
With words that wouldn't flow….

The Surya Kiran Acrobatic Team (SKAT) was disbanded in 2011, they are likely to fly back into the skies in 2014 with the Hawks air crafts. The only other military acrobatic teams that fly a nine aircraft formation are UK Royal Air Force (Red Arrows) and Royal Canadian Air Force (Snowbirds). 

This poem was written after witnessing the air show, conducted over the Hussain Sagar Lake, Tank Bund, Hyderabad in 2003 to commemorate the State tourism week. In spite of seeing the airshow about a dozen times (at AFA, Hyderadad) it is something I would love to watch again. Hoping they come back soon to 'Touch the sky with Glory' in their safer machines. 

Sourastra Region, Gujarat (Travelogue)

The quench for logging places in Gujarat made us pack our bag and our 3 year old son for a road trip in our loyal Maruti, to few places of interest in the region of Sourastra, the south western part of Gujarat. 

After a long drive and a night halt at Jamnagar from Naliya, we set off to Dwarka the next morn.

Dwarka - Dwarka is considered as one of seven most holy places for Hindus. The present temple was built in 16th century, while the original temple was believed to have been built by Lord Krishna's great grandson, King Vajra. The 5-storied temple is said to be made of limestone and sand. A flag is hoisted in the temple tower five times every day. There are two gateways - Swarga Dwar, where pilgrims enter, and Moksha Dwar, where pilgrims exit. From the temple one can get the view the Sangam of River Gomati flowing towards the sea.

Porbandar- Despite being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, Porbandar lacks any significant tourism infrastructure, although the area around Mahatma Gandhi's home has been renovated to become a temple of peace. Apart from this and a beach there is nothing much for tourists here.

Junagadh- Junagadh is an interesting and unspoiled town which has some exotic old buildings, mostly in a state of despair and is a place to explore.

The so-called “Buddhist Caves” around Uparkot are not actually caves, but three separate sites of rooms carved out of stone which were used by monks’ as their quarters. These caves are said to be over 2000 years. These caves are carved into rocks and the entry to the chambers lead downwards.It is believed that after many years of use, they were abandoned because of the cracks which had developed in the top most structure, that allowed the water to seep into the living quarters, making them unusable. Many say that due to this, the monks left for Maharashtra, where they went on to carve many similar and more elaborate structures. 

Zoo – Though it was a place we logged for 

the sake of my son, a trip to Junagadh would have remain incomplete without a visit to the Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden. The Junagadh Zoo was built in 1863 by the then Nawab. Incidentally, the zoo is the oldest one in Gujarat. He had set up this zoo in order to save the Asiatic Lion from extinction. Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden is located at around 3.5 km from the centre of the city. It is home to 71 species of animals. According to recent reports, there are around 850 animals in this zoo.

Somnath - Somnath means "The Protector of (the) Moon God". The Somnath Temple is known as "the Shrine Eternal", having been destroyed six times and rebuilt six times. The  present temple was rebuilt in November 1947, under the initiation of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.It is a place worth seeing.

The other places of interest in this region are the Gir Forest and Diu and Daman which we did not visit.

The Great Indian Palaces (Travelogue)

India been ruled by Kings and Princes sure have many palaces in each and every town of tourist interest and play the backbone of Indian tourism. Indian palaces are an excellent example of the rich and glorious past. Apart from being a royal residence of the Kings, these palaces are the finest example of luxury and display the brilliance of architecture that prevailed during their era. Most of these palaces are now Heritage hotels that offer a trace of royalty in their tourism package, bringing a boom to the Indian tourism and hotel industry. 


Amongst the Palaces visited, the ones which awed me;

                                                                                 (from Google Images)

The Mysore Palace- This is undeniably one of the most magnificent buildings in India. The interior of the palace displays its grandeur with the spacious halls, paintings and architecture. The domes and the exterior are of  Muslim construction and the interior of the palace is built on Hindu architecture. The blend of the two distinguishing culture sets an aesthetic spirit to this palace. The spectacular view of this palace during the nights when illuminated on Sundays and during festivals is a sight not to be missed when visiting Mysore. 

                                                                                  (from Google Images)

The Jaipur Palace – From the land of palaces, The Chandra Mahal a seven storeyed palace, is located in the heart of the city - displays the blend of Rajasthan and Mughal Architecture. At present only the ground floor is open for visitors which contains unique paintings, and other items that belonged to the royal family. 

With a few friends

The Jodhpur Palace- Umaid Bhavan Palace in Jodhpur is one of India's most imposing and recent palaces. The Umaid Bhavan palace was converted into a heritage hotel in 1977. The Palace is now segmented into the Royal residence, a Heritage Hotel and a Museum. In a part of the palace the royal family of Jodhpur still lives. In another part of the palace is a well-maintained museum.

With a major section of the Indian palaces closed for tourists except for a segment,(as a museum) which displays a collection of the things used by the Kings during their reign; as a tourist - one must be satisfied with the views of the exterior and its blend of architectural excellence which prevailed during the era. 

Zero Point, Kurseong,W Bengal ( Unexplored Lands)

I used to live in Chennai and always looked forward to summer vacation so I could escape to the hill stations of Tamil Nadu. The peaceful beauty of the mountains and greenery made me wish I could live in a laid-back place instead of the busy city life.

When I got married to an Indian Air Force officer, many of my dreams came true. Being stationed in Kurseong in 2004 was the most memorable year of my life. The scenery and the magical atmosphere made me wake up at 4 AM just to see the sunrise over the snow-covered Himalayas. On clear days, I would spend my mornings sipping coffee and admiring the view of Kanchenjunga. The sight of the swaying conifers and the rainbow over the valleys made time stand still.

Bagora, a town in north Bengal, is perched on a ridge 2,339 meters above sea level. It hasn't been spoiled by tourism like Darjeeling, which is 26km away. Bagora offers a peaceful escape from the chaotic life beyond the valleys. From the Kurseong Air Force Station, which is a short distance from Bagora, you can enjoy the view of the Teesta River flowing through the villages below.

Surrounded by the Himalayan range, you can sit in your home's lawn and enjoy the picturesque view of the snow-covered peaks. The tall conifers and cane plants are home to various birds and mountain squirrels, which you can occasionally see in the early hours.

On weekends, we would go trekking through the green forests of silver fir, oak, pine, and birch. We would explore new trails, discover new viewpoints, and sometimes get lost. We would follow the brook from a nearby waterfall, which served as our only guide, leading us back to a nearby village and then back to our base.

In a place like this, you can truly feel connected to nature. If happiness is influenced by our surroundings, then my time spent here was the happiest of all.

Flamingos of Kutch (Unexplored Lands)

Flamingos at Jurong Bird Park, Singapore

The Jurong Bird Park- an open concept park is a must see for all, who visit Singapore. The bird park has the largest variety of birds in the world and is the largest bird park in Asia Pacific.

The water park, an enclosure for the aquatic birds, is a great place to sit and relax. The flamingos – the long legged, pink graceful birds flocked in the lake, oblivious to the happening around them was the picture I carried in  my memory when I walked out of the gates of this park.

This brought back fond memories, I had experienced during the days at Naliya, (a town 100km from Bhuj, Gujarat). It’s in the district of the Rann Of Kutch, the western most habitat town of India. The district of Kutch occupies about 24% of the total area of Gujarat and is second largest district in India, after Leh. The Rann of Kutch is unique and is the largest seasonal wetlands found in the world. The dry marshy lands of Kutch turn into huge wetlands during monsoon and provide as an excellent habitat for the local and migratory birds.It is the largest and the only known breeding ground of Greater and Lesser Flamingos in India.  Each year, about half a million flamingos migrate from hotter climates to the watery expanse of this area to breed. The best birding is during the winter months from October to March when waterfowls like Crane, Pelican and Lesser Flamingo are seen in incredibly large numbers. Flamingos build clay nests that rise above the salty waters of Kutch.  

These birds stand 5 feet tall and have a wing span of 55- 65 inches. The scene of these birds in flight, when they soar into the sky, taking refuge from the intruders, they become aware of, is a sight unseen by many. With its head and neck stretched out and the wings spanned out on both sides, the dark band underneath their pale pink wings can be best described only by poets. And to see a whole flock of these birds flying in the wide expanse of the sky above, is a moment that simulates the sky to blushing pink as if shying away, from the sheer beauty of the picture made by these birds. 

Dad And Daughter (Poem)

                                                   ( from google images)

It seems like only yesterday

A bundle in my arms you lay..
 with a whimper and a cry,

 bringing a tear drop to my eye.

The days flew to weeks,

Weeks to months and years,

And every time I kissed your cheeks

I had teardrops in my eyes.

Your little feats made me proud

And you did grow up very fast.

But deep in heart I knew and feared

Your innocence will not long last.

The years took its twists and twirls,

Growing with you memories I hold

Along life's path whatever swirls
My Little Girl I will always behold.

Female Foeticide (Poem)

A dormant life in a mothers womb

Unaware it’s the treacherous tomb,

Awaiting to inhale  the worldly air

And to live a dream that no one dares.

Defenseless and with innocence

She awaits; her first kiss, and embrace.

Unaware of the plot to end her day;

By the traitor in whose womb she silently lay.

What wrong did she do -to meet her death?

Even before she could take her first breath?

To be murdered by her own beloved mother,

Except for her being a girl child and not the other.

Madh Fort, Mumbai (Unexplored Lands)

A small unassuming little fort built on the rocks of Arabian Sea, is unknown to many but holds a treat for the shutterbugs with every tide reaching the shore. If the sparkling waves lashing the rocks is music to the ears then the orange sun, setting beyond the waters is a treat to the eyes. One can just lose oneself sitting on the rocks of this shore looking at the different shades of blue embedded in the sea and sky which merge at the unknown horizon.

Madh Fort is a small fort in northern Mumbai, situated at Madh Island. It is isolated and not easily accessible, (about 15 kilometres from Malad, its the last stop on route 271 of BEST bus service or via Versova by a ferry boat). It is situated near Aksa Beach and Dana Paani beach. The fort was built by the Portuguese as a watchtower in the 17th century. It offers a strategic view of the coastline of the Marve Creek. The Marine Drive and Chowpatti look like a sting of jewel with the lights at night. Its external façade is intact but inside of the fort is almost in ruins. It is under the control of the Indian Air Force (this Air Force station became my first home, my entry into the AFWWA fraternity) and permission is needed for accessing it. Madh Island fort is surrounded by local fishermen's communities and sea food is best available here. Many movies and TV serials were/are shot in and around this fort.