The story of Queen Kota or Kota Rani as she was also known. The trials and tribulations that she witnessed during a very volatile period in History. And of course the tragic end of the Last Queen of Kashmir.
Read MoreThe only surviving member of the Army of the Indus, was the assistant Surgeon William Brydon who was immortalized in this classical Painting by Elizabeth Butler called the “Remnant of an Army” as he trudged on his tired horse with the Fort of Jalalabad in sight. One of the worst defeats suffered by the British Empire.
Read MoreAlong the lower foothills of the Salt Range along the Indus there lie a number of Temple Complexes built by what we now know as the Hindu Shahi Kings. Mysteriously nothing much of these seemingly magnificent Temple Complexes is mentioned in History and the fact that they survived itself is even more mysterious. The Temples of the Indus - Kafirkot.
Read MoreThe Story of the the Chitral Expedition, a conflict in the shadows of the Hindu Kush and the Karakorams between the local Rulers and his tribesmen against the British and the soldiers of the Jammu and Kashmir state. A story of a seige and how it was finally broken.
Read MoreAs more and more people travel from the plains to the Himalayas in the Winters some words of advise on the use of Heating Systems in the Mountains and words of Caution about some deadly dangers associated with some of these Systems. Be safe in the Mountains.
Read MoreThe story of Col.Jagatram, a Doctor in the Indian Army, who had a dream. A Dream of growing Apples at his acquired Estate in Dalhousie.
Read MoreThe Britsih Musuem has a fine Collection of Kashmir Art on display. Some glimpses of the Kashmir Art held in the archives of the British Museum. This is Part II.
Read MoreThe Story of a forgotten adventurer, Mohan Lal Kashmiri, who started of as an Asissant to Alexander Burnes but went onto to become a Diplomat of sorts. He wrote the Biography of Dost Mohamed and was regaled by various Eastern potentates. But one day he just disappeared into obscurity off the scene of history
Read MoreThe Collection of Antiquities and everyday use Items from Ladakh at the British Museum Collection.
Read MoreRandom musings from Journeys in my Homeland of Kashmir. In this one we talk about the exquisite Wooden Ceiling Patterns created by the Kashmiri art of Khatamband. We also talk about the regal Residency Building in Kashmir which was once housed the British resident in the State of Jammu and Kashmir and which now serves as a Government Arts Emporium.
Read MoreThe story of the Kanishka’s Casket which was said to contain the Bone Relics of the Buddha himself. The Role Kanishka played in the spread of Buddhism. And how it was discovered in the early 1900s and how its “lost” again.
Read MoreThe story of Chinni Bagh, which at once upon a time was the Consulate of the British Empire in Kashgar to facilitate the Trade between India and Central Asia and also keeping a watch on the Russians during the Great Game.
Read MoreThese were also adventurers but there adventure was in the name of God. The Uighur Hajis who traveled the Leh Yarkand Route only to proceed further into mainland India and then across the Arabian Sea to do the Haj Pilgrimage.
Read MoreThe Fort of Hari Parbat or the Koh-E-Miraan dominates the skyline of old Srinagar. The Fort was built by the Afghan Durranis who ruled the region at one point of time and has stood witness to the vagaries of time in Kashmir. Many places of historical / religious lay dotted around the Hill.
Read MoreThe Central Asian Collection at the Shanghai Museum. At the Minorities section of the Museum on display from the Tibetan, Uighur, Kirghiz, Kazakh and other Central Asian people are various Antiques and Arts reflecting the rich culture of these people.
Read MoreThe Horse and its Saddle were the main means of transport and one of the most important weapons in Warfare especially on the Central Asian steppes. No wonder the Empires built by the Nomads of Asian Steppes including the one built by Mongols under Changez Khan were also known as Horse Empires.
Read MoreA visual journey through the Dachigam National Park on the outskirts of Srinagar in Kashmir. The Park is the last stronghold of the highly endangered Kashmiri Hangul.
Read MoreThe Shanghai Museum holds a collection of Tibetan Antiquities and Arts from down the ages in its Minority Ethnic Groups section. Here is a glimpse at some of the Tibetan pieces on display at the Museum.
Read MoreThe British Museum has a great Collection of Sculptures from Kashmir from the first Millenium AD. We try and highlight some of the selected pieces from the Museums Collection. All Pics and Descriptions are from the British Museum Website (http://www.britishmuseum.org/)
Read MoreThe Story of outsiders who came and finally settled in Kashmir. And today are a part of Kashmir like any other Kashmiri.
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