Now that Monsoons have set in, rainy days call for a sumptuous lunch comprising of Khichdi and onion fritters! What else does it call for? Of course, a good horror story! Here are the most suggested books for jump scares!
Draw your curtains to darken your room more before you open this book to read! Collectible edition of Ghost stories has the best of the best short stories from around the world! Now can someone gift me this one since I made this awesome suggestion? Just kidding!
World’s 50 Greatest Horror stories
Everyone knows about Roald Dahl‘s comedy stories, particularly for children. However, are you aware of his bone- chilling ghost stories? Those are perfect for cloudy days with very feeble sunlight – The book of ghost stories is sure to give the goosebumps on your skin.
When we speak of horror, we cannot forget our own Ruskin Bond. The mist-filled haunted houses and creaky staircases – his stories have it all! Read his works at night, and you may just feel the sudden cold hand on your shoulder perhaps! The horror omnibus is just perfect for all horror fiction lovers!
The Ruskin Bond Omnibus
I was introduced to HP Lovecraft’s stories via audio stories on Midnight Horror station. His collection of stories which includes The call of Cthulhu is one of the best in the horror genre. I am yet to read his books but I have heard lot of his translated stories via audio story channels on YouTube. Though he was not respected during his lifetime as writer, his brilliance for horror genre some of which had magic realism elements as well, was recognized posthumously.
The Call of Cthulhu
Of course, saved the best for the last – the King of horror genre – the mighty Stephen King. The Shining is deemed to be one of his best works. His list of terrifying stories is huge – most of them have been actually adapted into award-winning movies, not just The Shining. It had definitely set the coulrophobia in many.
The Shining
Have you read any book from the list? I am yet to read most of these books – I have read snippets and heard translated versions; hence sharing my suggestions based on experience!
Now that Rakshabandhan is just a month away, maybe you can plan to gift these books to your siblings if they live for macabre horror stories – these can be the best books to gift.
You can also reach me on Facebook or Instagram to share your views; or share your comments below. Cheers to Reading!
Ganesh Natarajan, Uma Ganesh, Lavanya Jayaram have co-authored this book to give technical insights into the world evolving while healing from the global pandemic.
COVID -19 has changed our lives drastically and it’s high time to re-evaluate how the unprecedented event will shape the future of technology and how we all will benefit from it.
The book highlights over several chapters how the common practices of the organizations have transposed. Perhaps since I am from an IT background, it was quite easy for me to relate to the terms likeCloud computing. A lot of people may be aware that Cloud computing has changed the face of IT by canceling out unnecessary expenses business. The aggressive cartwheel of cloud computing with stronger spokes created by AWS, Azure, and Google cloud will soon crush the limited storage capacities – The Post-Covid era will see the cartwheel has picked up greater speed! Similarly, mobility is now magnified in the mainstream market as connectivity has become of paramount importance. The easily accessible infotainment system at the tip of the fingers can’t be ignored at a whim now. Business deals kick-off over Google hangouts or Teams or Zoom – all at the comfort of 6/7 inches screen. Brand building over social media is a salient requirement. We live in an age where engaging a social influencer can give quantifiable gain as much as any PR agency.
With the chaos which ensued since last year, it has become even more obvious that data is more of a commodity with immeasurable benefits these days – even common people have started to understand the significance of it. The book highlights that the staggering low costs for streamlined processes in data-driven frameworkswill be more accepted in near future. The industry is bound to cater to the evolving needs of customers to stay in the race for success. Retailers are choosing augmented experiences to entice customers to provide a seamless online shopping experience. Covid has affected the store owners and led them to change their approach completely. Even store owners have adopted friendly banking facilities of UPI and e-Wallets for instant transactions.
“As mentioned, the product consideration, try-outs, price discovery and consultation can all happen through well-designed user interfaces and user experience design, but ultimately it is the full cyber-physical experience that will determine the level of satisfaction and delight the customer recalls.”
Coming to banks, the post- COVID era may see ATMs dwindling slowly over time to be replaced by AI and robotics which will ensure the financial needs are fulfilled without actual physical contact. Even roles in industries will be swapped for cross-skilled talents. Employees will tend to learn digital technologies rather than work in legacy frameworks. Possibly, mass hiring to retaining business will be replaced by talent retention with lucrative packages and easy self-paced pieces of training. I agree with the authors that these changes will be effective in revolutionizing the IT industry.
Book available on Kindle
Artificial Intelligence or AI will be the air to fill in the lungs of technology in the coming days. Though few companies have already started relying on its services especially for predictive analysis; AI is yet to be utilized in the mainstream to boost in Indian economy particularly. Anyone’s common sense will say that crying over split milk will be no use. The world digital business curve is on the rise and India is still lagging behind with furbished energy behind missed opportunities. However, I believe that Covid has ensured the lagged journey has picked up its speed. We have already seen the benefits of Digital India which has enabled remote rural areas to be connected to urban plans.
The book impresses on the fact again and again that both the way we think and the way we react are quickly evolving. The technical jargon is explained carefully with solid examples which makes the book easier to read. The authors have clearly harnessed their IT experience into the book and have provided accurate analysis of the changing times, especially under the reeling effect of COVID. In my opinion, little more visual diagrams could have helped visualize the statistics. I wish all the best to the authors Ganesh Natarajan, Uma Ganesh, Lavanya Jayaram for the book’s success. Apart from penning this insightful book, all the authors have decades of experience in business and talent management. Dr. Ganesh Natarajan is founder of 5F world and also Chairman of Honeywell Automation India Ltd. Uma Ganesh is also co-founder of 5F world and NES, Chairperson of Global Talent Track. Lavanya Jayaram is Executive Director -South Asia at Asian Venture Philanthropy Network.
I would like to thank Lavanya Jayaram for giving me the opportunity to review the book. You can also reach me on Facebook or Instagram to share your views. Cheers to Reading!
A fast easy-breezy read – That’s what made me pick up Long-Short Stories by Chetan Soni. Its collection of 5 Romantic stories will catapult you to rosy romance. I want to start with the story I liked the most – What’s in a Name. Two star-crossed lovers, Krish and Lakshmi, find themselves at crossroads with hidden scars. They run from their past in the guise of lies only to finally find the love and peace they were looking for, in each other’s arms! The Chronicles of Raghu Kapoor, to me, was a bit bland among all. It’s dosed with filmy overthinking – lack of courage to say the right words at right time may snub over a flame. Some relationships are just nipped in the buds because we overthink the consequences. The stories are well-spun and all the characters are well- sketched. However, since all are short stories, there was a certain rush towards the moral of the story. There are abrupt dosages of enlightenment in name of “once a wise man said” a few places which fused the flow of the story. If you are looking for a light read and to get over the reading slump, this can be the answer to your woes!
STONED! The Untold Story of CO-Weed-20 By Gautam Mayekar is a sci-fi story set in the pandemic scenario. Amar, the self-proclaimed superhero or rather, The Batman along with his Catwoman, Joanna, and best friend Mohit, fall prey to their creation – Co-Weed. The story entails how Amar and Mohit, the creators of CO-Weed, start experimenting further to augment the experience of the users. So certain percentage of increased concentration of weed led to the invention of Co-Weed 5.Riding high on multiple successful orders, they decide to take it further by selling the patent of the drug. The high sale will allow them to take a pause and enjoy an early retirement. Hell breaks loose when the plan goes astray. The book is woven with several television references. The book is also an ode to Nucleya, the author fan-boys all over him – there is a whole chapter dedicated to Nulceya. All the chapters’ names are inspired by Sit-com Friends. There are hilarious references to Bollywood movies like the coin scene from Sholay and the naming helicopter as “Dhanno”.
I did abhor the frequent references to playful substance usage of drugs. Also at times, the “moments of high” left incoherence in the storyline, I had to frequently scroll back to few pages to understand the contexts again. The language is otherwise lucid and easy to understand – however one may have to look up the Hindi song lyrics meaning to get the meaning.
I loved this fast paced story – A Train Story by Himanshu Goel. The plot jumps in right away to the point. However I am intrigued to know if the protagonist had personality disorder. I understand that we are our first rescue responders. We have to help ourselves first. I am not sure how can someone forget their own actions, unless it is probably a disorder? That’s one question which bothered me in the end. Overall I really liked the story and I will try to check out his other stories.
Mountain Mist & Meghalaya
Mountain Mist and Meghlaya By Hanisha Raghunath and Urvesh Bhatt
I have never enjoyed a travel book as much as this one! The author is a humble explorer – he visited the same places in Meghalaya in two days. His wanderlust soul was not satisfied with the richness of solitude, the vast expanse land of Meghalaya had provided: Now that’s a heart-warming moment in the book. The author is so modest that he never failed to have meals with his driver, or his hotel staff. That is how stories are spun and memories are etched in the mind. The language is so lucid that one sets off with the author and Kennedy, his driver in quest for beautiful Meghalaya! We travel to the misty lands of Kongthong and Shnongpdeng; we even have a boat ride on the Wah Umngot river (the bargaining made me laugh out loud!). I was touched by how beautifully the author had portrayed the simple life of the local people who believe and live “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” in true terms. Instead of waiting for others to take the brunt, local people themselves have immense respect for nature and have taken it upon themselves to preserve the sanctity of the places.
Throughout reading the book, I kept searching for images of the places the author has visited. A few photographs would have been a treat for tired, daydreaming eyes! Also, the airport woman and child story was a bit unnecessary from a travel point of view – at places, rather I felt she was piling on and offering unsolicited advice. Anyhow, I think that is how the author had encountered that particular woman.
Looking forward to more books by Urvesh Bhatt and Hanisha Raghunath!
Can a regular doting family man with a not-so-fancy job be an undercover agent dealing with notorious terrorists? Shrikant Tiwari played by the powerful talented actor Manoj Bajpayee, makes you laugh a moment and then throws you off-guard with an intense cat-and-mouse chase. The extremely nail-biting plot is dotted with hilarious light moments. Season 2 opened with a bang after a successful Season 1. A powerful performance by Samantha Akkineni who had captured the incredible body language of a guerrilla soldier has been applauded by all.
Sacred games on Netflix
Sacred games on Netflix (image from IMDB)
The show took the world by storm. Competing with Western productions, this Indian thriller has all the right ingredients of suspense and nail-biting scenes. Netflix India adapted Vikram Chandra’s book and spawned a potboiler of religious and socio-political developments in the 80s-90s decade in Mumbai. Saif Ali Khan effortlessly gets in the skin of his character, Sartaj, the underperforming cop who is caught between his dead father’s integrity and deceptive seniors at work. You will be gripped with anger at his lack of ruthlessness and yet sympathize with his indomitable spirit. The showstopper is of course Nawazuddin as the mighty Ganesh Gaitonde. The megalomaniac gangster who controls Mumbai on one hand and yet falls prey to the manipulative minds of Guruji. Nawazuddin delivers a stellar performance of the arrogant and vulnerable Gaitonde. The show runs in flashback and present-day chain of events – which makes this suspense thriller show one of the best in its categories.
Anushka Sharma’s Clean Slate films maiden OTT venture with Amazon Prime explores the murky outlook of dishonesty and corruption in India. The show highlights the fallacies of the law system and the deceptive approaches undertaken to ensure order in the country. The fast-paced thriller has an extremely riveting plot twist in the end. In my honest opinion, the story arc was cut short with the sudden plot twist. In the Epic finale, we realize that the accused were just innocent puppets dancing to the tunes of people sitting in upper-class bureaucracy.
Delhi Crime is such a well-made and brilliantly executed series. The show did not sensationalize one of the most gruesome crimes in recent history. Rather the subject was treated with sensitivity and focused on the consequences than the actions. The story follows the subsequent police investigation and its fallacies. We often become victims of media trials and get swayed away by the inaccurate facts presented to us via unverified sources. The show offers a more in-depth perspective wherein the audience is disturbed by the inhumanity of the crime and the awareness against the crimes like rape.
13 reasons why on Netflix
13 reasons why on Netflix (image from IMDB)
Trigger Warning: Teen Suicide, sexual abuse, and depression.Though it’s based on teenagers – the show not only investigates the possible murder and suicide of Hannah Baker but explores the complexities of teens. Teenage is a sensitive age group where a person is trapped in between treated as a child or as an adult. Often puberty shakes the mental health of fragile teen souls. Instead of talking to close people, they start seeking solace from other sources which often leads to dire consequences. Stories pan out over 4 binge-worthy seasons.
Head over to comment section and let us know if you have watched any of the series! You can also reach me on Facebook or Instagram to share your views.
Based on a book by Caroline Kepnes, this two-season series is an extremely addictive physiological thriller. Joe Goldberg, played by Penn Badgley, is an intensely obsessed lover. One can’t help but fall in love with the protagonist initially. Just when you start patronizing Joe, the story progresses into a dark thriller that explores the extent one can go to protect and prove his love! Netflix has renewed the contract for season 3 so that’s something to really look forward to!
Breathe on Amazon Prime
Breathe on Amazon Prime (image from IMDB)
I was skeptical about R Madhavan’s cast in a thriller – boy oh boy was I wrong! The story flows effortlessly entwined with an ethical dilemma and parental love. The suspense builds right from the start where one knows who the culprit is – yet the cat and mouse chase keeps you on the edge of your chair. Amit Sadh as Kabir Sawant also has a parallel story that touches a chord in your heart. Both men are driven by desperation which is well-portrayed across varied situations. This 8 episode series can easily be binged watched over any weekend.
Asur on Voot
Asur on Voot (image from IMDB)
This is one of the best series on Voot. The powerful storyline simply swallows you into a vortex of suspense and thrill. A psychopath who has a weird penchant for vicious murders and violence justifies his actions based on mythology. Dhananjay Rajpoot and his team work round the clock as the psychopath killer goes on a rampage of victims. What makes this series unique is, you almost identify the culprit but bam! you are proven wrong! The last episode sends a chill down your spine.
A.I.S.H.A My virtual Girlfriend on Arre
AISHA on Arre (image from IMDB)
This series is undoubtedly one of the best digital Sci-Fi thriller Original series streaming on Arre. Spanning over three seasons, this tech-based show shows both the ugly and beautiful side of Artificial Intelligence. Introvert coder Sam strives towards creating a true artificial intelligence program A.I.S.H.A. He creates in hope to have some company and expel his loneliness but the situation turns grave when his work life clashes with a budding love. Meanwhile, the virtual assistant falls in love with the creator and starts taking matters into her own hands! The melee that follows spans over 3 seasons.
Aarya on Zee5
Aarya on Zee5 (image from IMDB)
You must watch this show for the phenomenal performance by Sushmita Sen. This could easily be heralded as Sushmita’s best project to date – a project that has finally allowed her to explore her skills as well as merge her strong personality with her on-screen character. A rich family siphoning on drug dealings starts the show with a dark note. A distressed widow is caught in between her search for her husband’s killer, whose only witness is her youngest son; and to keep up the business deals. Sushmita has captured the nuances of the character so well – the fierce tigress who protects her cubs at the same time grieves over the wrong decisions which led to the loss of her husband’s life.
Criminal Justice on Hotstar
Criminal Justice season 1 on Hotstar (image from IMDB)
Spanning over two seasons, this series on Hotstar is inspired by its BBC counterpart. The series explores the red-tapism of the Indian judicial system and the hollowness of society in general. The inhumane treatment of the convicted in jail is horrifying to the audience. The show explores how a family is affected by the nitty-gritty of the media trail and public opinion. Both seasons have different storylines but the thrill is the race against time to prove the innocence of the convicted.
Head over to comment section and let us know if you have watched any of the thriller series! You would like any other show to be added to this list – I will add them to the next blog! You can also reach me on Facebook or Instagram to share your views.
Increased lockdown protocols have pushed viewership on Digital platforms
Yeh hai family
Yeh meri Family poster from TVF Play
This show invokes the 90s nostalgia! From Chitrahaar to Duck tales, from speaking over landline phone to serving chaat for birthday party – Harshal’s small family throws you back to introspection specially if you are 90s born. For me the highlight of the show was Harshal and Shanky’s friendship, it is one that we all cherish for!
Pitchers
Pitchers poster from TVFplay
“India me jab log corporate jobs se bore ho jate hai , wo log 3 hi choice rakhte hai , MBA , IAS or a Start-Up” – This epic dialogue sets the tone for the web-series. Four friends come together for Start-up company. However, easier said than done, they start realizing that being own boss in a Start-up sounds fun on papers than actual life. They struggle for investors after leaving their own lucrative salaried job. The series opens our eyes to the battle for wannabe entrepreneurs – the amount of perseverance and will-power that goes into starting a company from scratch.
Permanent roommates
Permanent roommates poster from IMDB
Perhaps one of the first romcom web-series in India which shot TVF to unimaginable heights in terms of popularity. The sweet- bitter relationship of Mikesh and Tanya is the core of the series. A hilarious chain of reactions is set to motion when Mikesh proposes to Tanya after a long distance relationship of 3 years. In garb of comedy, the series explores the intricacies of relationship specially when family and unplanned pregnancy factors in.
Aspirants
Aspirants poster from IMDB
“Log aayenge failure ka medal daalenge aur bolenge sincere nahi tha.” The monologue by SK Sir in the opening scene of TVF Aspirants drives home the expectations of UPSC exams. This latest production from House of TVF is raving all over the world. The show has managed to elicit the emotions and diligence of UPSC applicants. With Naveen Kasturia of Pitchers fame in the lead role of Abhilash, the IAS officer – the story runs on flashbacks of promising-friendship-turned-sour when biled with unhealthy competition and toxic relationships. Commendable performances by Abhilash Thapliyal as the mighty SK sir and by Shivakit Singh Parihar as Guri stand out as well! Last but not the least, the last monologue by Sandeep bhaiya aka Sunny Hinduja reveals there is as much to lose in the win as much the gain! The show touches a chord where shattered dreams are often looked down upon, instead of celebrating the choices we have made to succeed in life.
Kota factory
Kota factory poster from TVF play
The paper-and-pen saga which is written in every lane of Kota, the hub of preparation for medical and enginnering exams. A show which finally managed to capture the monochrome life of an aspiring student. A Student who is a nobody with nothing but potential, whose future is based on score of exams. Exams are the cornerstone of the rat-race. Exams play a key factor – be it for State/National level exams to something as simple as change of class or sessions. Irrespective of the potential of a student, its only based on how “quick and accurate” answers one can give, which determines the fate of the student.
Head over to comment section and let us know if you have watched any of the series! You can also reach me on Facebook or Instagram to share your views.
অস্কার জয়ী সত্যজিৎ রায় বিশ্বখ্যাত হলেও বাঙালির মনিকোঠায় কোথাও যেন রিনরিন করে বাজে যে উনি আমাদের কাছের একজন | “সত্যজিৎ রায়“ নামটি ওতপ্রোত ভাবে জড়িয়ে আছে বাঙালি জীবনে| তার হাতের কলমের সৃজনশীলতা এবং তার পরিচালনার তীক্ষ্ণতা তাঁকে করে তুলেছে কালজয়ী|
চলচিত্র জগতে উনার অন্যতম অবদান , “চারুলতা” আমার অতি প্রিয় নায়িকা | উনি তাঁর দক্ষ পরিচালনায় রবীন্দ্রনাথের সৃষ্ট সাধারণ এক নারীকে প্রাণবন্ত করে তুলেছেন চলচিত্র পর্দায়| ভূপতির অফিস যাবার মুহূর্ত থেকে, চারু, তার কৌতূহলী মন নিয়ে, তার সৌখিন অপেরা গ্লাস দিয়ে বাইরের জগৎকে চিনে নেবার আকুতিকে খুব সুন্দর ভাবে ফুটিয়ে তুলেছিলেন | সম্পর্কের সমীকরণের জটিলতা থেকে বেরিয়ে, চারুলতা তার মনের ভেতরে জমে থাকা ধুলো উড়িয়ে, অমলের জন্যে তৈরী করে এমব্রয়ডারি-করা খাতা| রবীন্দ্রনাথের সৃষ্টি “চারুলতা”র চারুকে উনি গড়ে তুলেছেন নিপুন ভাবে|
সত্যজিৎ রায়ের লেখনীর জোরের প্রকাশ আমরা পেয়েছি তাঁর অনেক রচনার মধ্যে | কল্প বৈজ্ঞানিক প্রফেসর শঙ্কুর মাধ্যমে আমরা পরিচয় পাই সত্যজিৎ রায়ের অতুলনীয় কল্পনা-প্রতিভার| আনাইহিলিন গান পাওয়ার ইচ্ছে ছোটবেলায় কার না ছিলো? বুদ্ধির তীক্ষ্ণধারের সামনে যে, যেকোনো প্রতিপক্ষকে হারানো যাই, সেটা তাঁর প্রজ্ঞা-মনন লেখনীর সব গল্পেই পাওয়া যাই|
অতুলনীয় পরিচালক শ্রদ্ধেয় সত্যজিৎ রায়কে আমার বিনম্র প্রণাম|
The name "Satyajit Ray" is deeply involved in Bengali life. The Oscar-winner director and writer had unparalleled creativity. Be it his eyes behind the camera or his pen on paper - Satyajit Ray had won respect of whole world. His creations have earned him immortality.
One of his contributions to the film world is the movie "Charulata". Charulata is one of my favorite heroines in Indian cinema which was brought to life by Madhabi Mukherjee under Ray's subtle direction.He has brought to life an ordinary woman created by Rabindranath and painted her into this beautiful extraordinary lady. Right from the moment Bhupathi leaves for office, Charu, with her mind filled with curiosity, leans over the windows with her fancy opera glass. The penchant for attention is beautifully expressed. Amal, her brother-in-law, rushes into her otherwise colourless world and makes her dream for more. Her inclination towards outside world is fanned by Amal. Her resolute is broken. Inspite of the complexity of the relationships, Charulata blows the dust off her mind, makes an embroidered notebook for Amal. Satyajit Ray had acutely captured the loneliness of a house-wife, thus breathing life to the creation of Noble laureate Rabindranath's "Charulata".
We have found the brilliance of Ray's writing in many of his works. We get to know the incomparable imagination of Satyajit Ray through the science fiction Professor Shanku. Who didn't want to get Annihillin gun as a child; or for a fact look for Miracurall – the only drug that cures any ailment? The fact that any opponent can be defeated in the face of the sharpness of the intellect can be found in all the stories of his wise writing, including his famous detective series - Feluda.
My humble obeisances to the incomparable director, the venerable Satyajit Ray.
Head over to comment section and let us know if you have read the book. You can also reach me on Facebook or Instagram to share your views. Cheers to Reading!
The Mountain of The moon or Chader Pahar as it is loving known as!
Sibling rivalry over cleanliness led me to “win” this gem! My mother always managed to get me to clean my bookshelf with the promise of new books. In hindsight, a wonderful way to indulge kids in reading, what say?!! I was crestfallen at the name of the book, assuming it to be full of science facts – the name translates to “Mountain of Moon”! To my delight, this was an unputdownable book and one of my favorites. Thank you Mamoni ❤️
Well, why did this book make to this list? This book is my maiden Hardcover purchased with my salary. Those days I was not aware of the concept of “price drops” (sad note to past self) and simply purchased the most coveted hardcover of one of my favorite writers, Dan Brown. A gift to myself, a memory for a lifetime.
The course of love
One of the best books on relationships – The Course of Love
Sometimes a book finds you. Sayantani Di and Krish da had gifted this book to me on my wedding reception. Are you looking for inspiration for an imperfectly perfect marriage – well, your search stops here! This book had the exact opinions I needed to hear at the start of my new chapter in my life. I was gifted two other books by them, but this one had my heart!
The Complete adventures of Feluda -1 by Satyajit Ray
How can Rakhi celebrations for a book nerd sister go without .. ummm, books? This bulky book was gifted to me by Krishanu Da to add glamour to my book stack – which was hoarded into basically a big carton box those days. Now this book sits in all its glory in my bookshelf.
Head over to comment section and let us know the best book gift you have received from your close ones! Stay tuned for the next part of this blog! You can also reach me on Facebook or Instagram to share your views. Cheers to Reading!
2017, UK. I was due to leave for my home in a few months, so I decided to splurge for my birthday. I planned for a house party for my roommates and my landlady, who has been and still is, like an angel to me. Post our spicy Indian meal, which my English guests gulped with a lot of coke – I was asked to open my gifts. Surprisingly, I had a WHSmith (leading bookstore) gift card from Angela and Des. I was, of course, on Cloud 9 then! I will forever remember what Angela said next – “When you had first come to the house, the first question you asked was not about the room, but about the stack of books in the hall. Then we knew you love books and hence decided to get the gift card.” They remembered my tiny action, which made me so happy. Later I purchased the Hunger Games Box set I had been eyeing for quite some time from WHSmith. It’s one of the most special gifts as it stemmed from kindness- for a girl away from her homeland.
Gone with the Wind
Me with my close to tatters now copy of Gone with the wind
Perhaps the most precious gift I own. I had started reading Gone with the Wind as a borrowed copy from my school friend. I had to stop reading it as Pre-board tests where approaching. I had begged my parents to buy me this book right after my exams were over. I woke up to this book as my “Poila Baisakh” ,ie, the Bengali New Year gift from my grandparents. April 14,2006 it was!
The box set I had coveted since 2 years – my sister gifted it for my wedding. She finally caved in to my indulgence and gifted me the most beautiful book set ever.
Want to order the box set for someone? Click here!
Malgudi Days
Malgudi Days by R.K.Narayan
Best saved for last. My best friend had sent me Malgudi Days as my wedding present. Sitting a mile away in another country, my MS pursuing friend gifted me the most precious gift a childhood bestie can gift! We had our own adventures no less than Swami and his friends, so this book is a testimony to our friendship. PS: She also gifted me Sukanto Samagra and Tarinikhuror Galpo.
Head over to the comment section and let us know the best book gift you have received from your close ones! Check the next part of this blog. You can also reach me on Facebook or Instagram to share your views. Cheers to Reading!
All that you need to know for a comfortable road trip
I will start my blog with my Stay in Warangal. Its best to stay at Ramappa Haritha Resort which is a beautiful property – overlooking the beautiful Ramappa Lake. Make sure you reach here by evening to catch the breathtaking sunset.
Haritha Resort cabins overlooking the Lake
The property is idyllic. There are two rows of houses: one side there are four duplexes just above the water. Other side, there are large spacious private rooms. There is a restaurant within property. Due to COVID, we had very limited meal options. Otherwise, the stay was overwhelming specially with the beautiful lake overview. A perfect quaint place for a short vacation with friends and family.
Ramappa Lake
Ramappa Lake at sunset
Built under patronage of Ganapathi Deva, the Kakatiyan ruler in 13 century- the lake is spread across an area of 82 Sq km. The lake is surrounded with beautiful hillocks which offers a spectacular view especially during sunset time. We were mesmerized with the scenic beauty , specially from the reservoir room. The calm lake had an extremely soothing effect on us, after our long drive of almost 10 hours. It is open on all days of the week from 5 AM – 6PM – however best time to visit is around sunset.
Ramappa temple
Ramappa Temple
During the period of the mighty Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva, General Recherla Rudra Reddy built this magnificent Shiva temple for Lord Ramalingeswara. The structure of the temple is unique – built on a star shaped pedestal which is close to 6-7 feet high. It is said that due to its beautiful star-shaped structure, Marco Polo lauded this temple as “the brightest star in the galaxy of temples”. The aura of the temple is overwhelming specially when visited early morning. The sprawling garden around the temple is very well-kept and there are lot of eateries outside of the temple premises for visitors.
Laknavaram Lake
Laknavaram lakeLaknavaram lake parkLaknavaram bridge
Laknavaram lake is more popular than the Ramappa lake or Pakhal lake. Spread over 10,000 acres, this lake holds about about 2.135 tmcft of water. The lake is primary source for irrigation as it irrigates over 3,500 acres of land. Built by Kakatiya kings, the lake has about 3 islands in it.
The main tourist attraction is the 160 metres long hanging bridge, which connects three islands. The wonderful hanging bridge, considered one-of-its-kind in the state. When we had visited in December, we were met with lot of crowd who had come for either picnic or wedding photoshoot. The hanging bridge does have a filmy vibe to it – with drones hovering over the bridge for birds eye view of the whole area! Though there is accommodation for few rooms in the middle of the lake, Laknavaram Haritha resort is usually always fully occupied.
Thousand pillars temple
1000 pillars temple
The now-ruined temple is located near the Hanamkonda-Warangal Highway. Built under patronage of Rudra Deva of Kakatiya dynasty, the architecture of this temple is an example of splendour. The richly carved pillars fetch awe-stuck tourists to its door. The thousand pillars are constructed in such a calculated way that the view to the shrine is not obstructed from any angle in front. We were astonished at the intrinsic Jaali work inside the temple and the monolithic dolerite Nandi outside of the temple. It is on UNESCO list of World heritage sites.
Bhadrakali Temple
Bhadra Kali Temple
Temple history states that it was built by the King Pulakeshin II of Chalukya dynasty,in 625 A.D, to commemorate his victory over Vengi region of Andhra Desham. Bhadra Kali mata was the Kuldevi of Kakatiya dynasty. It is rumuored that the left eye of the Goddess idol bore the famous diamond – “Koh-i-noor” which was presented to Alauddin Khilji as truce by the Kakatiyan rulers. The temple has large compound and attracts lot of footfall through out the year.
Warangal Fort
Warangal Fort Gate
The capital city of Kakatiya dynasty, Warangal, once boasted of the massive fort. Now in utter ruins, the fort was closed due to COVID precautions. The famed Kakatiyan arch has been officially incorporated into the emblem of Telangana after the state bifurcation on June 2,2014.
How to reach :
By Road : Frequently buses ply from all over Hyderabad to Warangal. TSTRC buses are the cheapest. You can also book reputed private buses like Orange travels. Bus journey takes 3 hours depending on start location
By car, you can follow the route as Secunderabad > Yadirigutta > Warangal
By Rail : Several trains are available from Secunderabad with Sleeper fare as low as 70₹ By Air : Nearest Airport is Hyderabad International Airport. You can hire out-station cab or Zoom car to drive over to Warangal
Did you visit Warangal – what places did you like?
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Ordo Ab Chao 