The Hindu : Arts / History & Culture : Of commerce and Cupid

The Hindu : Arts / History & Culture : Of commerce and Cupid

World Heritage Day

Today (April 18) is World Heritage Day.

The following are the world heritage properties in India.

1. Ajanta Caves.
2. Ellora Caves.
3. Agra Fort.
4. Taj Mahal.
5. Sun Temple, Konarak.
6. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram.
7. Churches & Convents of Goa.
8. Khajuraho Group of Monuments.
9. Group of Monuments at Hampi.
10. Group of Monuments at Fatehpur Sikri.
11. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal.
12. Elephanta Caves.
13. Great Living Chola Temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram.
14. Budddhist Monuments at Sanchi.
15. Humayun's Tomb.
16. Qutb Minar and its Monuments.
17. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka.
18. Champaner-Pavagarh Archaeological Park.
19. Red Fort Complex.

Quotable Quote

I don't know in what context this was written but I love it.

An individual human existence should be like a river: small at first, narrowly contained within its banks, and rushing passionately past rocks and over waterfalls. Gradually the river grows wider, the banks recede, the waters flow more quietly, and in the end, without any visible break, they become merged in the sea, and painlessly lose their individual being. -Bertrand Russell, philosopher, mathematician, author, Nobel laureate.

Sport is War minus the Shooting

Much hyped India-Pakistan semi-final cricket ODI in Mohali today.
All the best to both teams.

Nirmal Shekar has written a wonderful essay.
Read here
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/nirmal_shekar/article1582808.ece

Chudamani

A heart warming news item on a large hearted writer.
Click here http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/24/stories/2011032454130700.htm

Megamalai and Alamparai

Just the other day, The Hindu reported that Megamalai and Alamparai fort being the cynosure of all eyes at the international tourism fair in Berlin. I have been curious about Megamalai all along and now Alamparai is also added to the list of must see places. I did some research on Megamalai on Google. Wiki has it that Megamali "is a cool and misty mountain range situated in the Western Ghats in Theni district, Tamilnadu, South India. It is a place of natural beauty dotted with cardamom plantations and tea estates. The place is situated at an elevation of 1,500 m above sea level and it is rich in flora and fauna".

Alamparai fort, one is surprised to know, is quite near Chennai. After some googling, came across this link. Worth checking out. http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/02/14/stories/2004021400010100.htm

Crosswords

One learns constantly from crypic crosswords. In today's The Hindu Crossword (10101, dated March 14, 2011), there was a clue " Irish pounds littered about we find." The answer was "unswept". I came to know that punt or Irish Pound was the standard unit of currency in Ireland. The other day, there was a clue "an enemy plane". The answer was "bandit". Bandit is a slang for a hostile aircraft, especially a fighter aircraft.