Flowers in the Night

I took this pic earlier this year, in March, when I went on an office trip to Bhimtal. I felt quite lonely, unable to join my colleagues in their annual night of offsite drunken revelry. I just wanted the calm of a quiet mountain night.

Safdarjung's Tomb

"Tombs are the clothes of the dead and a grave is a plain suit; while an expensive monument is one with embroidery."

I read this quote on the net a few days after I had just visited Safdarjung's Tomb in Delhi. Its so true. Everywhere you go in Delhi, you find these stunning old complexes and beautiful buildings - at traffic intersections, at the end of one of the many parks. And almost all of them are tombs - some for important figures in history, and others for those who may not have their names in the class 7 history books, but still had a prominence their own in their times.

Safdarjung Tomb is big and famous. Here are some snapshots.

This is what you see just as you enter the complex.



When I saw Safdarjung Tomb I felt like I was seeing the Taj Mahal, except in red sandstone. Some of the similarities are uncanny especially to my untrained eye. I'm sure any history teacher or student readng this would be having goats with that I'm saying!



The tomb is constructed with what looks like red sandstone, is usually empty, save for the occasional lovebirds, and allows you to sit quiety and soak up the atmosphere.



When I was walking out of the monument, I loved the profusion of red gulmohar trees in full summer bloom. Giving them company and competition are the yellow amaltas trees. Makes for a wonderful view. And somehow, the effect this place had on me was that had I not seen other people, I could've day dreamed that I was in this place hundreds of years ago...

Two More From Qutub Minar

I just found 2 more pix I had taken at Qutub Minar, and can't help myself from sharing them.

Here is the great monument itself.



When I was returning home in the evening, and was about to exit Qutub Minar, I turned back for one last look. This is what I saw.

Qutub Minar

When I visited Qutub Minar 10 years ago, I never once noticed, this corridor, where every single pillar is of a different design. No duplication whatsoever. And with the evening sun streaming in, it made for a pretty picture.



Is it just me, or does this remind anyone else of a sponge cake too????



Another beautiful day ends.

Flower Through the Concrete

My First Time

I went on some wonderful journeys recently. To look at some of the great momuments in Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. I remember going to these places as a school kid, but back then the emphasis was more on singing in the bus, and making silly poems based on who sat with who. It had its own charm, but now I find myself being able to appreciate the beauty of these ruins even more. Most of them are just huge tombs, but the skill and patience that must have accompanied their construction, amazes me.

I find myself wanting to capture silly things on the street. 4 boys riding on the scooter, celebrating India's win in some cricket match. A little girl crying with a pouty bottom lip on her way to school. Aunties haggling over veggies with a vendor. Those huge tractors from the farms with veggies stackpiled so neatly on them. Vendors selling colorful baloons to kids. A 50-year old distinguished CEO-type licking an ice cream with the same joy as his 4-year old son. A pretty flower just growing out of a cracked concrete driveway.

If you like them, let me know, or just enjoy them. If you know someone who is capturing similar images, drop me a line, and I'd love to go see what they have to share.