The Government has announced the Opening of some new Routes in Ladakh which were earlier Off Limits to the General Public except with Special Permits. Hopefully in the near future more such areas would be opened up for Tourism in Ladakh.
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The Elusive Kashmir Sapphires
The Story of the Kashmir Sapphire, the finest Sapphire that exists. Very few true Kashmir Sapphires exist today and are mostly held in Museums and Private Collections. We delve into the fascinating history of when and where did these Kashmir Sapphires came from and why they are so rare.
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Mahasu Temple Hanol
Mahasu Devta is the main Devta / Deity of the people living in the Jaunsar Bawar region of Uttarakhand as well as in the neighboring districts of Himachal Pradesh. The main Temple to Mahasu Devta is located in Hanol in Uttrakhand close to the border with Himachal Pradesh. Interestingly Mahsu Devta has a Kashmiri connection. We explore.
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The Last Queen of Kashmir
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.
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The Remanent of an Army
The 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.
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The Temples of the Indus : Kafirkot
Along 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.
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Chitral Expedition
The 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.
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Heating Systems in the Himalayas : Caution Advised
As 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.
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Dalhousie's Colonel
The 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.
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British Museum Kashmir Collection Part II
The 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.
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The Forgotten Kashmiri
The 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
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Antiquities from Ladakh at the British Museum
The Collection of Antiquities and everyday use Items from Ladakh at the British Museum Collection.
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Kashmir Musings I
Random 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.
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The Keeper of Buddha's Bones
The 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.
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The Consulate at Chini Bagh
The 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.
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The Uighur Hajis
These 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.
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Around the Hari Parbat Hill
The 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.
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Mongol Brass Chess Pieces
Central Asian Arts at the Shanghai Museum
The 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.
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Central Asian Wooden Saddle.
Saddles of the Horse Empires
The 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.
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The Dagwan which originates at the Marsar Lake is the life line and the main River which flows through the Dachigam National Park
A Visual Journey Through Dachigam National Park
A 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.
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