Innovations that rake in the dough: Must See India

Must See India is featured in Edex supplement of New Indian Express today (Oct 25, 2010). In the run up to the Pan IIT Conference in Noida this Friday, the New Indian Express has covered 8 IIT startups in the cover story, including mustseeindia.com, titled "Innovations that rake in the dough".

Ganesha, Gangtok, Ganges & more...

Festivities filled the air this past week all across the South and Maharashtra, where Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated with full vigor and grandeur. And the blogging community was out and about capturing the mood of the devotees. Here's our first pick of the week "Ganapati Bappa Moriya"!

1. Festive mood: Ganesh Chaturthi

We picked Lakshmi's short and sweet right up,capturing the vivid colors and festive frenzy! In her words..

Frenzied drum beats as towering Ganeshas are paraded in autos ,crowds beating the rains and shopping for their puja paraphernalia,chaos wearing the cloak of a celebration - this is Ganesh Chaturthi,according to me the most frenzied festival.

Talking about her walk down Malleshwaram, which is the hub of all the action much like Jayanagar in the south of Bangalore, she watches as craftsmen give the final touches to the idols and people take their pick from the several sizes, designs and colors. She says

And this is just the beginning as the loud pandals, the processions and the immersions are yet to happen. Today however Bangaloreans forgot the slush and the rains and flooded the market, looking for their Gowri and Ganesha.I was in Malleswaram, where the action happens.

2. Terrakotta temples: Bishnupur

From gods to idol carvings of a different kind, Anuradha's travels talk about the Terrakotta temples of Bishnupur. An unexplored little town, she goes on to say

Bishnupur is home to many terracotta temples spread across the town, peeping out at every nook and corner and sometimes standing tall in vast plains, some by the numerous small lakes that punctuate the town and some amongst the town, a part of its daily life by way of play ground for children and meeting places for adults.

Her attention to details and quest for information, stands testimony to the intricate details mentioned in her write up, quiet like the intricacy of the carvings themselves. Like this one

Bishnupur was the capital of Malla kings of Mallabhum, or the warrior kings, which was an important dynasty that ruled Bengal for a long time with its beginnings in late 7th century that lasted till early 19th century. This is more than 1100 years and 55 generations. The intricate work on the walls depicting stories from Ramayan, Mahabharata and Puranas along with the depiction of daily life leaves you in total awe. The designs carved in these temples continue to inspire the Baluchari Sari weavers of the town, who even today pick up their designs from the walls of these temples.

3. Sikkim: The land of Bhaichung Bhutia

From idols we move on to a state with a different kind of idolizing, a land very much a part of our borders but feels like a land unknown. A well weaved in experience penned down by Charukesi is my next read. Her words, her way

In the time I spend in Sikkim, India truly feels far away – and it is not just about what the people say. Like everywhere else in the country, kids are out on the streets but it is not cricket they are playing. It is football that rules here, the way it rules the streets of perhaps only Goa. It is Baichung Bhutia who smiles from posters and hoardings all over the market, kicking a careless ball and seeking votes for the reality dance competition he was once part of; from Soccer King to Dancing King, they proclaim.

As she travels across the state thinking about how different people here are from the rest of the country, she throws light on facts from election stats to the royal family rule in the state.Moving on she cant help but admire the beauty and landscape around her. She describes them...

The next evening, I am strolling on MG Road, the cobble-stoned promenade in Gangtok where locals and visitors, young and old alike meet, shop and drink. I am here to shop for souvenirs – local tea and cherry brandy mainly – to take back to ‘India’ with me. Kanchenjunga, the venerable protector deity is an invisible presence in the far distance, revealing itself only in the post-monsoon winter months.

A blend of experiences her own and the locals, shopping and luring landscapes; she wraps up with details for all those planning to take the high road to Sikkim soon.

4. Mana: The "Last Village of India " 

I wrap up this weeks top picks high up in the hills, 3 km away from the popular pilgrimage point - Badrinath, is the little hill town of Mana; believed to be the last village of India before the Tibet border. Aravind keeps it short, with pictures lining the blog, he describes this little hamlet

The village is also closely related to several Mahabharata events. It is at this place where Pandavas crossed over to heaven. While Yudishitira reached heaven alive, others died on their way. And there are Temples constructed at places where they fell down.

Mentions about Bhimpul, he says

An important place is “Bhimpul”, a natural rock bridge where Saraswati River gushes through a narrow gorge. It is said that Bhima put this rock on the River to Help Draupadi to cross the River!!

And one of the most interesting ones to catch my attention was this

Next to Bhimpul is a shop which claims as the “Last shop of India”!!

Palaces, boats, temples & more: Travelers take their pick!

As i scout around different blogs i see a pattern,some hitting the popular spots and others visiting the the unknown amidst the known! These are the ones that catch my attention.


1. Mandu - Jahaz Mahal

My first stop was at Celina's visit to Mandu. Her journey through the Jahaz Mahal- The Ship Palace, her opening lines set the rhythm for the entire write up and i must see it is poetic and picturesque in my mind. Her imagination of a typical Mughal setting

It is a starlit sky. The dancers, musicians, the other artists and entertainers are dressed i n their finest best. Lanterns are lit and decorated all over the palace grounds. Music fills up the open halls of the Jahaz Mahal.

As she takes a walk along the beautiful gardens of the Royal Enclave of Mandu, in which the Jahaz Mahal is housed, she notices the origin of its name, she says

I see the Palace perched on a narrow strip of land flanked on either side by the lakes, Munj Talao and the Kapur Talao giving it the appearance of a ship anchored in water.

Extracts of Noor Jahan's words, splendid pictures taken from different spots in the palace and description of the intricate architecture form a perfectly seasoned article!

2. Alleppey - Snake Boat Race

As i continue browsing, mentally i'm already planning a trip to this wonderful palace i just read about and my attention is drawn by sleek snake boats with precision paddles all aligned and racing ahead!

An experience expressed as it unfolded Charukesi writes about her experience at the Alleppey Snake Boat Race held recently.A photography workshop and then off to capture the race behind her lens, her words weave a picture in your head, like this one

Most of the times, we had no clue about what was going on – was it the pre-heats or the heats? Did this team not pass us just now? Where are the women rowers in their pretty blue blouses and sparkling white saris?

The race after a while looked pretty much the same i guess, so Charukesi decided to capture the mood of the people around and got some great shots of the people around. With some great shots of the race in full swing and the spectators mood captured she signs off on her weekend, and so do we as we move on to our next traveler of the week!

From blogs mostly about individual travels, this ones about the more common office team outing. Reading this blog takes me back to my office outing and as Ajey points out rightly, the best part of the team you work in can be common interests shared, just like mine in my first job!
3. Kuppalli Hills

Excited to discover the Kuppalli Hills, these youngsters head out and this is what he says

The trek was very nice with light drizzles. Once at the summit, we relaxed watching the awesome view. Clouds covered the view below, but with one blow of wind the clouds, like a curtain in a drama, uncovered and then covered back the view.

A straightforward blog about experiences described just like we would speak in everyday life, its indeed easygoing, like in this piece

After relaxing there for a while, we returned back to the Bus, had lunch at theerthhalli and then drove back to the lodge. Rest of the evening, we relaxed chatting and laughing..

With trekking, relaxing and getting some good shots of the hills they ended their weekend trip and headed back to their mundane office cubicles, and i browsed through further before i bumped upon my last read of the day!