Detours with Anuradha Goyal

Temples are not just to be built but they are to be maintained regularly. Shilpa shastras not only tell us about how the temples should be built but also how they should be maintained. There are four types of maintenance mentioned - regular, expansion, struck by a calamity - natural or man-made and temples that have fallen out of the use or are deserted. Ponni Selvanathan ji comes from the family of Sthapatis who have been maintaining a lot of South Indian temples talks about these Maintainance routines. 

One of the temples they are helping expand - https://www.inditales.com/mannar-thiruketheeswaram-temple-sri-lanka/ 

India has a long coastline and a longer maritime history. This means ample opportunity for doing underwater archaeology.  However, just a handful of sites have been excavated like Dwarka, Bet Dwarka, Somnath, Mahabalipuram, Lakshadweep, and of course, Goa. National Institute of Oceanography in Goa is the body that anchors most of these excavations. Their primary excavations are on the coast of Gujarat, where the lost city of Dwarka was excavated.  Sh A S Gaur is one of the only three underwater archaeologists in India. Hear him speak about underwater archaeology in India. 

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Dwarkadhish Temple - https://www.inditales.com/architecture-dwarkadhish-temple-dwarka/

Bet Dwarka - https://www.inditales.com/beyt-dwarka-saurashtra-gujarat/

S R Raos book - Lost City of Dwarka - https://amzn.to/38QOnGt

Kumbh Mela happens at the time decided by an astral clock, following the movement of Jupiter in the sky.  We popularly know Kumbh Mela to take place at Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain, and Nashik but the river festivals happen at almost all rivers across India at a pre-defined time. It is fascinating how the movement of pilgrims maps the movement of astronomical bodies and everyone participating just follows them like clockwork. A fascinating talk with Dr. Hari and Dr. Hema Hari of Bharathgyan, who have authored many books on Indian Civilization. 

Do check out their website for their books, videos, and courses - https://bharathgyan.com/

Read More - https://www.inditales.com/must-do-things-at-kumbh-mela/ 

and https://www.inditales.com/kumbh-mela-all-you-need-to-know/

Arctic Circle is best known for the unbelievable northern lights among tourists, but a place is always more than its best-known attraction. So, we have a seasoned traveler Juhi Sinha ji taking us to the Arctic circle and introducing us to its landscape, its long winter nights, its life, and its philosophy. 

Read Books by Juhi Sinha 

Beyond the Dunes - https://amzn.to/3fVUJWZ

Bismillah Khan - Maestro from Banaras - https://amzn.to/3lsgAGE

Read more about Lofoten Islands - https://www.inditales.com/lofoten-islands-norway-road-trip/ 

Indian Railways started as different lines funded and sponsored by different people for different reasons. Slowly these lines that were laid in different sizes - narrow, meter, and broad gauge joined each other and formed the network joining the nooks and corners of the country. Listen to Ananth Rupanagudi, an IRS officer with a vast knowledge of Indian Railways talk about the first few railway lines in India, and some very interesting stories and innovations associated with them.

Follow Ananth ji on Twitter at @rananth

Read more:

Darjeeling Himalayan Raiways - https://www.inditales.com/darjeeling-himalayan-railway/

Konkan Railway - https://www.inditales.com/konkan-railways-joy-getting-lost/

Deccan Odyssey Luxury Train - https://www.inditales.com/deccan-odyssey-luxury-train-travel/

Bollywood Songs on Indian Trains - https://www.inditales.com/top-20-bollywood-songs-on-trains-must-see/

The 10th Century was probably the golden period of India when the best of surviving architecture was built when the invasions that would change the culture and map of the sub-continent were yet to begin. We know very little about ancient Kashmir while it has dominated our news channels all our lives. Ashish Kaul takes us back to 10th CE Kashmir and talks about its landscape, geography, history, and its illustrious people. 

Check Out the Biography of Didda, the warrior queen of Kashmir by Ashish Kaul - https://amzn.to/363WlJG 

Read our Travel stories at - https://www.inditales.com

Bhutan is a mystical land living in the folds of snow-clad Himalayas. In conversation with Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj who takes us through the history, heritage, landscape, and culture of Bhutan. She is the person best placed to talk about India Bhutan relationships and how that has been nurtured by various leaders during different times.

Read More 

Bhutan for first-time visitors - https://www.inditales.com/bhutan-travel-an-experience/ 

Bhutan for the Tourist - https://www.inditales.com/bhutan-for-the-tourists/

Samit Garg is the co-founder of E Factor, a leading event management company talks about the potential of adventure tourism in India. They also specialize in setting up temporary camp cities in places that are otherwise inaccessible like a river island on Krishna River or on the hills of Mandu. 

Read More

Hot Air Ballooning over River Krishna https://www.inditales.com/adventure-activities-amaravati/

Mandu Festival - https://www.inditales.com/mandu-festival-heritage-adventure-culture/

Water Management of Mandu - https://www.inditales.com/ancient-water-management-system-at-mandu/

Hot Air Ballooning Over Mandu - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhZl61k11qc&t=66s

About E Factors - http://efactor4u.com/

Most of us know Bengal from the colonial times, though this place has been mentioned in Indian scriptures as Banga Desh for a long time.  Anita Bose takes us through the journey of ancient Bengal starting with Gangaridai, with an impressive maritime trade from its ancient ports like Chandraketugarh and Satgaon that connected it with all of Asia including South East Asia. There are stone and terracotta temples that tell us about the glorious history of the Bengal region that includes current day Bangladesh, Tripura, and parts of Assam.

Terracotta Temples of Bengal - https://www.inditales.com/bishnupur-terracotta-temples/

A naturalist is a perfect career option for those who love to not just live amidst nature but also those who love to share their knowledge of nature with others. We speak to Manav Khanduja of Pugdundee Safaris who have pioneered this concept of resident naturalists who learn and study about the nature in their surroundings and then regale their guests with the amazing stories of the jungles. Listen to this conversation to know;

What does it take to be a naturalist?

What kind of work routine would you have?

How much money you can make and what are the career growth opportunities?

Where can you take a course to be a naturalist?

To learn more about these programs read more;

https://www.inditales.com/naturalist-travel-tourism-careers/

https://www.pugdundeesafaris.com/professional-naturalist-training-course-india

https://www.pugdundeesafaris.com/amateur-naturalist-training-course

Suggest Readings

Birds of India by Salim Ali ( https://amzn.to/3hSYlZO)

Hinduism And Nature By Nanditha Krishna ( https://amzn.to/2veqxzC )