Hello There!
As this is my first post,here I thought it would be the best if I clarified what Holidays actually mean to me.
Holidays are about relaxation;a getting away;far from the madding crowd; not only of people,but also from thoughts,feelings,workings of the mind that govern our daily lives.A mind gets crowded too,right?
I like my mind to wander sometimes-in pristine environments,or in an atmosphere that can stoke my imagination,like amongst ruins,relics,art,architecture.
Accordingly,I plan my holidays;And I do not like to rush,or be pushed,or dictated to when on vacation.
Therefore,my holidays are tailor-made,only by me,and me alone;carefully planned and crafted,but crafted so,that it includes the luxury of uncertainty too.
One of the reasons I always choose to travel outside of tourist seasons-cannot tolerate the archetypal tourist,especially the desi one! Thankfully,my age and circumstance in life,now allows me to do so.Earlier,when my children were younger,I could not ; so, we always chose places outside of the popular ambit ,especially to stay in. As a result,while travelling within the country,we got to see and get to know so much about the land we live in-things we did not even know about.I say within the country,because ,when one is travelling abroad,one of course,goes to places of popular interest.But then,unless one is travelling in the underdeveloped nations,one is not really likely to be swamped by the unruly tourist of the desi kind.Unless one is travelling in the holiday season-which again I do not.
My latest memories are naturally of the most recent holiday we took ,to Madhya Pradesh.
Yes ,we went to Khajuraho.Popular,on the tourist circuit,but thankfully,of interest to only the discerning few,as I found out.
And this is what I want to talk about.Interesting points I noted on my visit there.
MP Tourism has done a grand job in maintaining the temples and all the relics.Each temple is well manned with individual very well linformed and trained guides.The sound and light show is just short of moving one to tears,and one of the best I have seen anywhere in India.They could have done a bit more in keeping the town clean,considering it is very small,almost a hamlet.And the little place is choc a bloc with cafes and restaurants run by expatriates of all nations around the world;so you are spoiled with choice of food.
Curious observation-the Indian tourists were almost all from Bengal,Maharashtra,and some from the Southern states.75 per cent were foreigners.
I will leave the readers to draw their own conclusions,here.
Needless to say,this is not a place for shopping or mall hopping.or loud noisy pubs and eating joints.
Neither is it as most folks tend to think a halt for erotica.
In fact,unless you are looking for it,or it is pointed out,that is not what the temples are all about.
I was moved,because here I saw the tremendous power of Human talent,tenacity and endurance.
Endurance,considering such works of art were produced without the help of any kind of technology,and in what was then,as the history of the place tells you ,wild wild country,teeming with ferocious animals and brigands,These temples are about the vision of one monarch,who wanted to immortalise architecture,through devotion,and mobilised immense resources.They are about thye human spirit.
I was overcome.And As I mentioned ,it really really stoked my imagination!
If any of you feel the way I do,please visit unless you have already done so.
In winter,because,MP is HOT in the summer.and all the sight seeing is outdoors.
And What else Khajuraho has to offer,will be in my Next.
Because,this has become to long.
And because ,I am almost sure,most of those who have been there,have not gone to the two other places we went to,because,no tourist brochure mention the places,Real amazing discoveries!
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