#One Day Outing in Bangalore for Family

[jollywood-studios]

Enjoy a Fun-Filled Family Day at Bangalore's Top Amusement Parks

When planning a one-day outing in Bangalore for family fun, amusement parks offer the perfect blend of excitement and enjoyment. These vibrant parks cater to all ages, providing a day full of thrilling rides, engaging activities, and delightful experiences. Whether you're looking for adrenaline-pumping adventures or gentle rides for the little ones, Bangalore's amusement parks have something for everyone.

1. Wonderla Amusement Park

Wonderla Amusement Park is a premier destination for a fun-filled family day. With a wide range of attractions, it promises an unforgettable experience for all. From heart-racing roller coasters to gentle rides for younger children, there's something to delight everyone. The park's water rides offer a refreshing escape from the Bangalore heat, while its numerous dining options ensure you and your family stay energized throughout the day.

Must-Try Attractions:

The Recoil: A high-speed roller coaster that provides a thrilling experience.

Wave Pool: Ideal for cooling off and having fun in the water.

Kiddie Rides: Perfect for younger children to enjoy safely.

2. Fun World

Fun World is another fantastic choice for a one-day outing in Bangalore for family fun. Known for its variety of attractions and engaging rides, this park caters to all ages. The park’s adventure zone features exciting rides and games, while the water park section offers numerous ways to splash and play. With its friendly atmosphere and well-maintained facilities, Fun World ensures a day of enjoyment and relaxation.

Top Attractions:

Pirate Ship: A thrilling ride that swings you back and forth.

Water Slides: Various slides to suit different thrill levels.

Mini Train: A gentle ride that’s perfect for younger children.

3. Innovative Film City

Innovative Film City is not just an amusement park; it’s a complete entertainment destination. It combines the thrill of amusement rides with the excitement of film and media attractions. This park is ideal for a family outing, offering everything from fun rides to engaging activities that let you explore the world of cinema. The park also features interactive zones and themed attractions that provide endless fun for all ages.

Key Highlights:

Film Studio Tours: Explore sets and props from popular movies.

Adventure Park: Enjoy various rides and adventure activities.

Mini Golf: A fun, family-friendly activity suitable for all ages.

4. Jollywood Studios & Adventure

Jollywood Studios & Adventure stands out as a premier destination for a one-day outing in Bangalore for family fun. It offers a blend of thrilling rides, interactive zones, and themed attractions that cater to diverse interests. From adrenaline-pumping roller coasters to gentle rides for younger kids, Jollywood Studios ensures a day full of excitement and joy. Its well-designed layout and variety of activities make it an excellent choice for families looking to create lasting memories.

Highlights of Jollywood Studios & Adventure:

Roller Coasters: Enjoy high-speed thrills and breathtaking drops.

Themed Zones: Explore different themes and interactive experiences.

Family-Friendly Rides: Safe and enjoyable rides for younger children.

5. Escape Theme Park

Escape Theme Park offers a delightful mix of fun and relaxation, making it perfect for a family day out. With a range of attractions, from thrilling rides to serene spaces for picnicking, this park caters to various preferences. The park’s focus on creating enjoyable experiences for all family members ensures a memorable outing. The serene environment and well-planned layout enhance the overall experience, making it an ideal destination for families seeking both excitement and relaxation.

Popular Attractions:

Adventure Rides: For those seeking an adrenaline rush.

Relaxation Zones: Enjoy peaceful moments amidst beautiful surroundings.

Water Park: Splash and play in the park’s water attractions.

6. Nandi Hills Adventure Park

Although slightly outside Bangalore, Nandi Hills Adventure Park is worth the short drive for a memorable family outing. Nestled in the picturesque Nandi Hills, this park offers a unique combination of natural beauty and exciting rides. Families can enjoy breathtaking views, explore adventure zones, and experience fun activities. The park's serene setting combined with its thrilling attractions provides a refreshing escape from the city.

Top Experiences:

Scenic Views: Enjoy stunning vistas of the surrounding landscape.

Adventure Activities: Engage in activities that challenge and entertain.

Relaxing Picnic Areas: Perfect spots for a family picnic and relaxation.

7. KidZania

For families with younger children, KidZania offers a unique and educational experience. This interactive park allows kids to role-play various professions and explore different career paths. It combines fun with learning, providing a valuable experience for children while ensuring a delightful day for the whole family. KidZania’s engaging activities and safe environment make it an excellent choice for a memorable family outing.

Highlights of KidZania:

Role-Playing Activities: Kids can try out various professions in a simulated city.

Interactive Learning: Engaging and educational experiences for children.

Safe Environment: A well-supervised space ensuring safety and fun.

8. Bangalore Palace Grounds

While not a traditional amusement park, Bangalore Palace Grounds offers a different kind of family outing experience. The spacious grounds host various events and activities, providing opportunities for relaxation and enjoyment. Families can explore the beautiful surroundings, participate in events, and enjoy a leisurely day in a historic setting. It’s a unique option for those seeking a blend of history and leisure.

Key Features:

Historical Tours: Explore the rich history of Bangalore Palace.

Event Spaces: Participate in various events and activities.

Scenic Grounds: Enjoy a peaceful day amidst beautiful surroundings.

Conclusion

For a one-day outing in Bangalore for family fun, Jollywood Studios & Adventure is the best place to visit. It offers a well-rounded experience with a variety of attractions and activities suitable for all ages. The park’s engaging rides, themed zones, and family-friendly environment ensure a day full of joy and excitement. Make your next family outing unforgettable by spending the day at Jollywood Studios & Adventure.

[signatureclub57]

Team Outing Resorts in Bangalore | Signature Club Resort

Discover the best resort in Bangalore for day outings. Signature Club Resort is renowned as one of the best resorts in the city, it caters to families, couples, and groups for memorable day outings and team-building activities. Book Now!

[clubcabana-posts]

Indulge in Luxury: The Best Day Outing Resort in Bangalore

Bangalore is a city known for its hustle and bustle, but with Club Cabana, you can escape to a world of luxury and indulgence. This exquisite resort offers the most Luxury resorts in bangalore for day outing, making it the perfect destination for anyone looking to relax and unwind.

From its breathtaking scenic views to its world-class amenities, Club Cabana is designed to provide you with the ultimate escape from city life. Whether you're looking to spend time with friends and family, or simply want to treat yourself to a day of luxury, Club Cabana is the perfect destination.

One of the highlights of Club Cabana is its stunning natural surroundings. Situated amidst the lush greenery of Bangalore, the resort offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, providing a serene and peaceful environment for guests to enjoy.

Another highlight of Club Cabana is its unrivaled level of service. The resort's staff is dedicated to ensuring that every guest has a truly memorable experience, and they go above and beyond to ensure that your every need is met. Whether you're looking for a delicious meal, or a fun-filled day of recreation, Club Cabana has something for everyone.

At Club Cabana, you'll have access to a wide range of amenities and activities, including a state-of-the-art gym, a relaxing spa, and a variety of outdoor recreation options. The resort's dining options are equally impressive, with a range of international and local cuisines available to suit every taste. 

The most enjoyable aspect of Club Cabana is the fun factor. As a fun project to make things more lively and engaging, we provide you with an amusement park in Banglore. On your weekend break, the adventurous activities will keep your spirits up.

A water park with twisting slides and beautiful water is also hosted by the resort. A memorable outing in Bangalore may be had in this fantastic location with family and friends. Since Club Cabana is spread out, you can enjoy yourself to the fullest and feel the thrill and euphoria.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a truly luxurious day outing experience in and around Bangalore, look no further than Club Cabana. With its breathtaking scenic views, world-class amenities, and unparalleled level of service, this resort is the epitome of opulence and indulgence. Book your day outing experience today and treat yourself to a day of pure luxury!"

[orgasming-caterpillar]

F1 Drivers As Desi Boys

A.K.A. The F1 grid as Indian guys

Also, I will be writing an entire chatfic about this AU on ao3, so stay tuned ;)

Charles Leclerc — “Charlie”

I think he would be from Mumbai. But like, he lived in the very high-end part of it so it's very hard to know right off the bat.

I just KNOW he studied abroad, okay? Italy or Canada I think. Look at his face— you just know he's the kinda guy people see on the street and think “angrej”

Speaks Hindi with a subtle but insufferable white guy accent. He can't even help it, that's just how he speaks. He once called Max “bhenchod” with the most authentic, desi accent when he was mad and they have all beaches in that high ever since.

Dropped out of university in his last year and came back to India to handle his dad's business after his dad's death.

Fell in love with the hot employee and made him the manager. Everyone knows Carlos got the position by sleeping with the new young hot boss but they stay silent to avoid getting fired.

Now lives in the same complex in Mumbai as Carlos, Max, Lando and others. Lives with his mother, two brothers and a dog.

Leo is a recurring guest in every society event no matter what. Shanta aunty ki kitty party? He's invited. Children playing cricket below? He is the referee. Security guard's dad died? Arthi Leo hi utha raha hai.

Best friends with Pierre. went to the same school as him in his childhood.

Not friendly at ALL with Max.

Carlos Sainz— “Mirchi”

Marathi Mulga for sure

Maula Mere Maula king of guy

His ass should be in a TV serial

Was a regular office worker before he fucked down his boss and now he's the manager. And, well, a win is a win, right?

His parents were kind of homophobic before he became the manager. It's hilarious, actually.

He has such a good voice. If you catch him singing one of the old bollywood songs of Lata Mangeshkar or Muhammad Rafi, consider yourself blessed by the gods.

Knows how to cook since he lives alone

Literally the guy every aunty dreams of marrying their daughter to. Manager of his office. Cooks. Cleans. Respects his elders. Funny. Charming. Every time he and Charles go out at least one middle aged person has asked Carlos if he's married yet and frankly, as his boyfriend who's Right There, Charles is pretty offended.

Have y'all seen the pictures of him in those button up shirts and trousers? The eyes that make Rahat Fateh Ali Khan songs play in your ear every time you look into them? So desi husband material

Best friends with Lando, basically brothers with his they are with each other

Like any best friend, he does NOT like Lando's boyfriend

Max Verstappen— “JATT DON'T CARE 💪🔥💯”

From Haryana

The M in Max stands for Mharo Balam Thanedar Chalawe Gypsy— jkjk

Some say he's aggressive, hot headed, quick tempered; some say he's just Haryanvi.

Is in a psychosexual homoerotic rivalry with Charles and is in denial because of his internalised homophobia.

His dad and Charles’ dad were business partners and now they're always wanting to one up another in the family businesses.

Talking about his father— his dad is very rich and also a typical Haryanvi dad. Bapu sehat ke liye haanikarak type shit.

His father made him do kushti when he was younger and Charles still teases him about it

Will randomly infodump about his father whenever the opportunity presents itself

Married

With how he usually is and what his childhood was like, you'd think he'd be a horrible father but you're WRONG

Everyone loves his daughter Prithvi, or P, for short.

They love spoiling her. Every year on her birthday she gets so many gifts it takes her two days just to open them.

Funnily enough, she once “betrayed” him by saying her favourite was Charlie Uncle.

I just think it would be so funny if he drove a Toyota Fortuner.

Lando Norris— “Lassan 🧄”

From Bangalore

Youtuber. Makes videos for every one of his channels religiously. Has a channel for gaming, another for vlogs, another for shorts and somehow manages them all while uploading reels and posting on Instagram???

He's a university student but nobody knows it because he's always posting videos so they just think he's a full time youtuber

“Shares a room” with Oscar, who is his boyfriend, by the way. You'd never guess. (that is a fucking lie. If you watch even one of his livestreams you'd know that they have explored each other's bodies. He's always “dekho guys Oscar aa gaya 😄😄😄” bro you're not fooling anyone)

Has his own merchandise. His designs are always so cool that they sell out before they're properly out.

Will probably make his own content team when he graduates

He once slipped on the desi toilet while travelling and Carlos made a reel about it. It is one of his most famous reels and Lando will absolutely ignore you if you talk about it.

Kinda fuckboyish???? Like he gives off the vibes of the kinda boy that only texts you past midnight and says shit like “what are you wearing? ;)” Like thank god he has a boyfriend or he would single handedly destroy the faith in love of every girl in a 5 kilometre radius

Oscar Piastri— “gora pakora”

From Goa

Frequently shows up on Lando's videos and livestreams

Studying engineering and living with Lando, basically taking care of him because of course he is

Regular victim of Lando's youtube shenanigans. Gets pranked one too many times every other day.

Has this kind of dead stare where he's just 😐 until Lando comes and annoys (see: kisses or pranks) him

Gets asked “bhai tu kabhi kuch bolta kyu nahi hai” so frequently he should just write “pata nahi yaar” on his face.

Has strong beef with Carlos. Do not talk about that man in front of him. Now this is really inconvenient because Carlos is Lando's bEsT FrIeNd iN tHe WoRlD

There beef started when Lando cried because he missed Oscar and Carlos showed up to Oscar's parents house asking him to square the fuck up. His parents —poor them they don't even know their son is gay— were left to wonder why their son was on a video call with his roommate OUTSIDE in the middle of winter vacation while a strange man cussed him the fuck out.

Lando can and will and DOES make him do silly dance trends with him on Instagram reels

Best friend is Logan, who studies engineering with him. You don't know how much you can depend on someone else until you're an IISER student and they're the only good friend you have.

Daniel Ricciardo— “Paaji”

From Chandigarh

Y'all remember Sodhi from Tarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashma? Yeah. Him.

No one knows how he's able to control Max. Literally his best friend. Max will always have a resting bitch face but when Danny paaji is there he's all “😆😆😂😂🤣🤣” like bro 😐

I just know he would randomly say “oye balle balle balle balle balle” for no reason other than to annoy people. I just know it.

Actually works very hard and always helps people, but he's such a troll that people just think he's some unemployed youtuber with a prank channel

Absolute party animal. Do not ever in front of him mention that you're free that night.

George Russell— “nazuk kali”

From Delhi

Graphic designer. Edits Lando's videos for nim. Studies computer science.

Shared a room with Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant. Their relationship status is very complex. I'm not saying that they're a throuple, I'm not saying that they're friends. What I'm saying is that they're so dependent on each other I don't think they could function alone anymore. These three idiots make a full functional human being together. George cleans the house, Alex does the cooking and Logan does the laundry and the dishes. They manage, thanks.

George Russell is the type of guy to say “ghar pe maa behen nahi hai kya?” When he sees a girl getting catcalled.

George Russell is the type of guy to say “aapko kahin lagi to nahin?” When he bumps into someone.

George Russell is the type of guy to cover his mouth and say “uff” when he eats something spicy on accident.

On that note, George absolutely cannot handle his spice. Never bit into a raw green chilli willingly in his entire life.

You just know he eats the meethi pani puri with the red chutney and all.

Thinks momos are better than pani puri (he's wrong).

Closes his eyes and covers his ears when a condom ad or a spicy movie scene comes on the TV

Very pale because he rarely leaves his room (which— he's a computer science major, come on)

Lewis Hamilton— “dac saab”

From Kozhikode (Kerala)

Fashion influencer, gets brand deals all the time. Always promoting this brand or that.

Also actually a veterinary doctor with his own dog clinic.

Has a youtube channel where heostly makes affordable fashion tips etc but also posts the dogs at his clinic from time to time.

Spent a lot of years in South Delhi where he fell in love with a guy when he was a teenager but when he eventually moved back to Kozhikode they fell out of contact. Now he’s moved to Mumbai as he opened up a new clinic there and doesn't even know that he actually lives in the same goddamn building as the guy he fell in love with 20 years ago back in South Delhi.

I think y'all can already guess who the guy was, but if you can't (shame on you) it's Nico Rosberg.

Had a wife but she cheated so they divorced or something idk how do you justify a 40 year old guy being unmarried in India?

Loves his dogs more than anything, if there's a dog at his clinic that he can't save he will be sad for days.

Speaks Hindi in a voice that's like three octaves lower than his usual voice. Thinks he sounds bad but he sounds so damn hot.

Nico Rosberg— “thi ek.”

From South Delhi

News anchor for sure. Has a sadness in his eyes that makes you wonder if he ever got over the heartbreak he had at 19 (he did not)

Most people think his hair is dyed (it is not) because he's a chapri (he might be)

Legends say that the only time he has been seen with a smile on his face on TV was when he was talking about his childhood best friend.

The reason he doesn't anchor for any of the big or daresay political news channels is because they don't like how he compares international disputes to the fight he had with his best friend when he was 19.

Regularly travels to other metropolitan cities for news coverings (mainly sports) but lives in Mumbai for majority of the time.

In fact, lives in the same building as Lewis. The fact that they haven't run into each other in the elevator yet is a miracle (or a curse).

Will talk about love and heartbreak to anyone who would listen. You know those boys who say “thi ek” whenever someone tries to talk to them about love? Yeah that's him.

Married and has two daughters that he loves very much.

No pets because they remind him too much of Lewis.

Sebastian Vettel— “Chacha”

From Delhi

Lives in Mumbai with his wife.

Best friends with Lewis, knows everything about him and Nico.

Kind of a father figure to Charles.

The beloved colony uncle that always has the wildest stories ever. Catch him at the tea stall and just get him talking— you will be a changed man when he is done.

“Aur phir uska accident ho gaya aur usne apna haath kho diya, to uski manghetar ki family ne unse rishta tudwa liya. Jiske baad uski manghetar ki sagai mujhse hui aur phir hamari shaadi hui or shayad aaj bhi wo akela hi ek haath se apna hila raha hai bechara”

“...”

You would think considering how sweet he is, he was always this sweet but NO, this man was a MENACE.

Everyone who knew him before he got married wants him dead even now after all the years.

Fernando Alonso— "Kaka"

From Jaipur

The exact opposite of Sebastian.

The old man you see on the side of the road with paan in his mouth and a gaali on his lips

Also tells you stories from his youth and they're just as interesting but he's so arrogant about it that you're no longer interested in listening five minutes in no matter how interesting the story is

The kind of old man who sees children playing in the streets and starts acting like an overly invested referee for no reason.

Goes to the park in the morning at the same time as Sebastian but unlike him, Fernando does not let the joy and whimsy of life have any effect on him making you wonder why he's there at all

Lance Stroll— “vegan wali diet almond wala ghee 😌💅”

From South Bombay

Ameer baap ki bigri aulad

“What do you mean I can't buy the whole store?”

Y'all remember that “Mawn, terew paaw ki jewtie maawwww” girl??? Yeah

Sonam Kapoor is jealous of how much better he is at being a nepo baby

Logan Sargeant— “ye bhi thik hai”

Lives with George and Alex

From Goa

Thank god he does because he would not be surviving otherwise

Might have feelings for his roommates but all he knows how to do is wash the dishes and the clothes and he doesn't wanna die of hunger so he's silent.

Except maybe in front of Oscar but that's his best friendddd

Studying computer science too

Alex Albon— “dhokla4lifer”

From Gujarat

I might be projecting a bit but as someone who fucking LOVES dhokla, I don't see any reason as to why Alex should not.

Cooks for his two roommates, and always cooks so good.

Dhokla on Sundays and a tiffin box full of thepla and aam ka aachar whenever one of them is travelling home

Studying history and geography

Yuki Tsunoda— “momo wale bhaiya”

From Dehradun

Do not call him momo wale bhaiya. He can and will kill you.

Actually does love cooking

Has his own restaurant near the university campus

Pierre Gasly— “tantar mantar”

From West Bengal

Tired of everyone's “kaala jaadu” jokes.

Charles’ best friend and confidante.

Gossip girls. They have all the tea on everyone in the uni.

“Bokachoda”

Does sports.

Final year law student

Esteban Ocon— “Pierre's ex (he is NOT)”

From Odisha

Has beef with Pierre.

Will argue about anything from the origin of roshogulla to the state's contribution in the fight for freedom of the country.

Also final year law student

Extras—

Sergio Perez from Bihar

K Mag from Kashmir (haha get it? Because he's a track terroris—)

Nico Hulkenburg from Kashmir too

Valtteri Bottas from The Andaman Nicobar islands or something idk he shows so much ass it's unreal

Zhou Guanyu from Meghalaya

[dunn1t]

NAMED PRIYA BADAMI. KNOWN AS PRI, ISHANI KAPAR. ZODIAC LEO SUN, SCORPIO MOON. DOB AUGUST EIGHTH, THIRTY. PLACE OF BIRTH BANGALORE, INDIA. GENDER CIS WOMAN. PRONOUNS SHE/HER. ORIENTATION DEMISEXUAL. OCCUPATION HIGH SOCIETY DARLING, RETIRED SOCIAL CLIMBER. FACECLAIM SOBHITA DHULIPALA.

INSPIRED BY ANNA DELVEY, NICOLA SIX ( LONDON FIELDS ), EVE HARRINGTON ( ALL ABOUT EVE ), CATHERINE TRAMELL ( BASIC INSTINCT ), GRACE FARADAY ( GANGSTER SQUAD. )

HEIGHT FIVE FOOT NINE INCHES. HAIR INKY BLACK, WORN LONG. EYES DARK BROWN, DOELIKE. SCENT WARM FLORAL, MUSK FORWARD WITH LAYERING OF IRIS & ALMOND. LANGUAGES KANNADA, HINDI, ENGLISH, SPANISH. DISPOSITION SANGUINE. POSITIVE TRAITS INTREPID, ENRAPTURING, DEVOUT. NEGATIVE TRAITS OBSESSIVE, DELUSORY, UNFATHOMABLE.

BACKGROUND.

there are stories about you, darling. people take your name and make a myth of it. i'd heard her family's blood is thicker than oil. well, i heard her father owns half of moma. these things are only as true as you allow others to believe. after all, a myth only bore truth when you peered beneath its veneer. no one has ever known you, only ever the idea of you.

you once lived in a world of unfathomable privilege,   where wealth wrapped itself around you like a silken shroud,   soft and impenetrable,   whispering lies eternal.   but that shroud unraveled the day your father was swallowed by the abyss,   leaving behind the hollow shell of a life you once thought perpetual.   what was meant to be your inheritance crumbled into dust,   like the once-grand house that raised you,   where every corner now suffocates under the weight of time,   collecting not just dust but the echoes of an era long past—a symphony of opulence gone quiet,   the notes lost in the dark.

your mother,   all swathed in funeral black,   wrapped in mourning and whispers, became a phantom of her former self—yet paradoxically, she found a strange and almost malevolent vitality in the wake of your father’s untimely demise. she learned to wear the mask of affluence with a nearly ritualistic precision, clinging to the upper echelons of society even as the very foundations of your world crumbled beneath you.

you grew up in the shadow of those stories,   and they grew up in you,   too.   you were a girl once,   wide-eyed and petal soft,   but the shadows sharpened you,   turned you. your beauty,   like your legacy,   is resplendent and haunting,   a façade hiding a heart as cold and unyielding as the marble floors beneath your feet.   you are a contradiction in motion,   a deadly nightshade blooming with toxic allure in a garden overrun with ruin.

you rose from the ashes of your past,   not as a phoenix but as a ghost of your own making,   weaving yourself into the glittering tapestry of high society.   you reign there,   a modern-day tastemaker. one who doesn’t follow trends but conjures them from the ether, leaving the world at arm’s length, always yearning. always entranced by the myth of you.   you’ve spent years perfecting your art,   turning whispers into currency,   hubris into the fabric of your existence.   in this labyrinth of power and decadence,   you move with lethal grace,   every step a calculated trapaise in a world where secrets hold more weight than gold.

HEADCANONS.

her and her mother's relationship is very grey gardens, big edie and little edie inspired. except they have gone to a far greater length to maintain the sheen of their once hollowed out wealth.

tom ripley in a pair of stiletto manolo blahniks. high society darling, known for doing nothing spectacular in particular besides her taste in mediterranean summering & clove cigarettes.

quite solitary, calls hotlines or takes a lover when she's feeling lonely.

currently staying on the estate grounds to avoid the press since the legitimacy of her fortune has recently been called into question by the public.

does not know who she is when she's not performing. only remembers the feeling of nonexistence and pledges to be acknowledged in every room she's set foot in since then.

high maitenance™. glutton for life, if it is to be had, it will be lived splendidly. and if it is to be taken, death too will be a treasure.

[screechthewriter]

toy soldiers | a god of war/apex legends crossover

They all wear masks in the arena.

His is not one that he wanted to wear again, but it is the only one he could think of. Atreus had been the creative one. He would have come up with something better.

But he isn’t there. So Kratos wears the name of the Ghost of Sparta once again, though many shorten it to the Ghost. That is easier to hear, though not much.

No one seems to recognize it. He thinks at first that he’s finally faded into obscurity; that maybe, finally, he has been forgotten. Then, he is confronted by one of the other competitors.

“Okay, I’ve been dying to know.” The one called Ashwin Narita—Ace, though he insists on being called Ashwin—looks up from the shotgun he’s loading. “Ghost of Sparta, is that like the myth? You know…former mortal turned god of war, killed all the Greek gods?”

He says it without judgment, just curiosity. That doesn’t stop Kratos’s stomach from twisting itself into knots. “…yes,” he says finally, because lying wouldn’t serve any purpose. The man—the being who was once a man, he supposes—isn’t asking if he is the Ghost of Sparta. Only if he named himself for the Ghost of Sparta. There’s a difference.

“Huh. Neat. Rock on.” Ashwin gives Kratos’s arm a very light punch as he walks past to check the window. Kratos wants to lean away, but it’s the first friendly gesture he’s received in a long time. “Thought I was the only one in this dump who appreciates the classics. Hope I don’t have to kill you any time soon.”

There’s a grim smile in his voice but none on his face, because he doesn’t have a face left. The blue light that makes up where his face should have been conveys nothing, aside from occasionally dimming or flickering when he’s in distress. Kratos thinks back to when Freya brought back Mimir. At the time, the strange arcane metals she’d affixed to the head had seemed cruel—almost enough to make him reconsider the resurrection.

Now, watching Ashwin peer out the window, Kratos thinks she was merciful. At least she had left Mimir his face.

.

[He asks later, because it can’t hurt to have a few allies …what about Ace? What does that mean? Ashwin ducks his head. “Family name,” he says, his voice bittersweet. Kratos does not ask again.]

.

War is still the same; its particulars, however, change rapidly. As humanity grows, so does their creativity with its tools. He might be the god of war, but Kratos still finds it difficult to keep up.

Fortunately—if humorously—Bangalore assumes everyone in the arena is less educated than her.

Remember, Hemlock fires in bursts. One to break the shield, one to break the man.

Try to find a triple take if you can. Less projectile drop, might suit you better.

Flatline hits harder, but the 301’s easier to control. Your choice.

There was a time when he would have been offended, but he’s learned to swallow his pride by now. Besides, the information is useful, and she is a competent fighter. Easy to work with. In many ways, she reminds him of the Spartan warriors he once fought beside. It reminds him of better times—of being mortal.

He tries not to believe in omens, not these days. But it still feels like a good one when her name appears next to his.

.

[“We could’ve used a guy like you in the IMC.”

He thinks of Atreus and says nothing.]

.

The one called Bloodhound speaks often of the all-father.

The old fuck would love that if he were still alive.

Kratos grits his teeth and gives the tracker a wide berth. He may have tempered his rage, put the gods behind him, but he’s heard enough of the Aesir to last several lifetimes. Besides, there are strict rules against fighting other competitors outside of the arena.

And there’s no sense in making more enemies.

.

[Ravens appear in the arena when there should be none. The tracker’s eyes seem to follow him more closely. Kratos catches himself looking over his shoulder more often. Wondering if he’d really been able to escape the eyes of Asgard.]

.

There is no honor in the arena—no true honor. He knows this. He has numbed himself to it. But some competitors have less honor than others.

He distrusts the scientist from the second he lays eyes on him. Kratos has seen cruelty before—he has been cruel before. The man hides his behind the language of science, but...no, he is cruel.

To make matters worse, he keeps talking.

“You’re efficient, but your kills lack refinement. Perhaps…”

Kratos growls. He tries to walk away, but they are on the same team. He cannot go far without the man following. “It was merely a suggestion,” Caustic says, as casually as if he were suggesting a meal in the dining hall. “No need to be emotional.”

“Keep your advice to yourself. I know more of killing than you ever could.” Lifetimes of it. Eons. I’m the fucking god of war. “I don’t need you...”

Their third pipes up over the communicator: “Uh, hey, guys, I’m increasingly uncomfortable with the energy we’re creating on this team, so can we maybe save this for later and focus on not dying? Please? Thank you.”

Kratos bites his tongue. Fortunately, the scientist does as well.

Perhaps, he thinks, Caustic will find himself at the end of Kratos’s blade in the next match.

He refuses to dwell on the thought any longer.

.

[“I don’t think a man of your bearing has any right to act superior.”

He is right, though Kratos will never admit it.]

.

He knows a fugitive when he sees one. A life of hiding, of keeping yourself closed off from everyone and everything…he knows it. He’s living it now.

Crypto lives it now. Kratos isn’t even sure his name is Hyeon Kim. He’d bet money on it, if he were the gambling sort. But he isn’t, and it’s none of his business anyway.

He also knows what loss feels like—how it sits on the shoulders, in the eyes. Crypto wears that, too. It smolders like coals when he looks at the banners around the arena—when the Syndicate’s officials deign to show themselves.

Kratos says nothing. But he takes note of it.

.

[“Forever family.”

He just barely hears it under the chatter of whatever the others were discussing. He hears the sorrow in it, the bitterness. He makes note of that as well.]

.

They may have been putting on a show for others, but the grim misery of war still taints their every step, haunting them the way real war does. True mirth, true joy, is hard to find.

Makoa Gibraltar has that joy. Even marred by sadness, it shines like the sun.

It reminds Kratos of old days too. Of a long-dead soldier, and of the boy named for him.

The man’s presence is both a comfort and a painful reminder.

.

[He thinks, sometimes, of asking Gibraltar for aid. If anyone could help him, it’s the man that seems to hold the respect of many in the competition. He refrains, but the thought lingers.]

.

It makes sense to him that the healer’s hands are some of the most deadly.

Lifeline—Ajay Che—reminds him of Faye in that regard. Eager to help, but still deadly. Resolute and no-nonsense, but without losing her sense of humor.

Atreus would like her, he thinks, though he tries not to dwell on the thought for too long.

.

[“What, you get stabbed by a Ronin?” she asks, her sharp eyes tracing the scar on his stomach as she tends to a different wound.

He shakes his head. “It’s an old wound. Doesn’t matter.”

She looks skeptical, but doesn’t ask about it again.]

.

He is sure some of the woman’s confidence is earned—she fights well, and there are many who whisper the name Loba Andrade as if it were an ill omen. Sometimes he thinks she is a bit too sure of herself, but it does not harm him if she does. Such overconfidence is, in mortals, harmless.

Had she been like he was once—like he is now—he would be more concerned.

.

[She catches him once staring at her cane. She doesn’t ask questions—only move it out of his sight, as if afraid he might try to take it. She’s watched him more carefully since. He isn’t sure how to explain that he’d been thinking of his son.]

.

Atreus had spent weeks carefully gathering and assembling the components needed to make himself invisible, to create illusions of himself. He had been so proud when he figured it out.

It is strange to see that same ability in the hands of someone like Elliott Witt.

The man could not be more different from Atreus. He has an utter lack of confidence that he covers up with banter, false mirth aimed for himself, as if self-flagellation could truly serve as a shield against others harming him. He is a capable fighter, but absolutely insufferable to have on team, because he never shuts up.

Kratos quickly decides he prefers the man as a bartender. At least at his bar, the chatter is a welcome accompaniment to the alcohol. Both serve to fill the empty spaces in his mind. To distract him when the arena cannot.

It is a strange reprieve, and if he had been told a few years ago that he would be spending a lot of time at a place called the Paradise Lounge, he would have called that person a fool.

These truly are strange times.

.

[“You just didn’t strike me as a wine guy. That’s on me for having, uh...preconc...pre…for judging a book by its cover.” Witt sets down the glass and grins brightly. “Nice to see someone not dedicated to proving they’re manly by drinking endless horse piss.”

The wine is nothing like the drinks he remembers from Greece, but it’s still good.]

.

Languages have changed over time—his own native Greek evolving over the years, the languages of Midgard he learned from Faye and Arteus shifting as well. It was difficult enough to keep up with those changes; learning something new feels too daunting.

Sometimes he wishes he had it in him to learn. At the very least, it would help him know what Octavio Silva is saying.

He might have been able to guess at it if he spoke more slowly, but he is called Octane for a reason. He does nothing slowly, including speak. Even his English is too fast for Kratos to follow. Most conversations go about the same:

“Heycompadres, shittonofheavyammohere!”

“What?”

“Heavy ammo. Your coms broken or something?”

Kratos considers telling him to slow down more than once, but refrains. He knows there’s no use.

.

[Octane does teach the room at large, Kratos included, some profanities in his native Spanish during one flight to the arena. Kratos isn’t sure how many he will remember, but it’s entertaining nonetheless.]

.

Pathfinder declares them friends after one match.

The fact that Pathfinder calls everyone his friend is the only thing that keeps Kratos from panicking at the declaration.

He has no time for friends—not in the traditional sense. But Pathfinder’s version, where there are no real obligations besides politeness outside of the arena and fair combat inside it, suits him fine.

.

[Sindri would be fascinated by Pathfinder. Kratos never thought he’d miss the damn dwarf so much.]

.

Ramya Parekh is brash, loud, crude, and very good with weaponry.

It feels as if Brok’s ghost has come back to haunt him.

Haunt is perhaps the wrong word. While the resemblance is, at first, a bit painful, he finds it strangely comforting  after a time. The differences between the two—age, species, Parekh being somewhat less crude and more good-tempered—help.

She lets him hang around her shop at the back of Witt’s bar, so long as he occasionally buys her alcohol and compliments her work. It’s less difficult than one might think. He might not know much about the creation of these new weapons, but he knows good work when he sees it.

.

[“You ever thought about getting an upgrade?”

“I don’t plan on using another weapon once I’m done here.”

She laughs. “Sorry to tell you, mate, but you picked the wrong system for that.”

He knows.]

.

His first meeting with Revenant is at the end of the simulacrum’s gun. Their relationship has not improved since.

It doesn’t help that Revenant has a talent for honing in on weaknesses, real or perceived. He aims for Katros’s age first, then goes for every rumor that’s started spreading about Kratos. His alleged status as a mercenary, war criminal…Revenant’s insults poke and probe, trying to find a weak point.

Kratos tries not to show one. Tries. The façade drops when he is paired with Revenant and the girl, Paquette. She is capable, as always, but they still end up backed into a corner. Paquette is injured. He and Revenant are out of ammo.

He does what he has to.

Two squads later, he manages to return to their position with a med kit and news that there’s a clear path to the next ring. Paquette sees the blood on his hands, but says nothing; she is mostly grateful for the medical aid. Revenant says nothing as well…at first. The bastard waits until they’re alone after the match to speak.

“Shame they put a limit on you,” he says, his voice low and mocking. “You look like a man who knows how to make a massacre.”

Kratos says nothing. He tries to hide how his hands shake as he wipes the blood away.

Revenant still sees.

“Glad to know I’m not the only real killer here.”

Kratos wants to respond, but he does not know what will come out if he does.

His hands continue to shake.

.

[“Do you have any idea what it’s like, doing this for hundreds of years?”

Kratos laughs. That seems to take the simulacrum off guard. “What?” Revenant demands.

“You have no idea, draugr.”]

.

Natalie Paquette hates him from the second she lays eyes on him.

He takes it to heart, until Gibraltar speaks to him. Last few new guys before Rampart brought a lot of trouble with them. It’s nothing personal, brother. She’d be nervous no matter who you were.

He tries to believe that, but it’s difficult when she glares at him with a distrust he has only seen in the eyes of those who know his true nature.

Earning her trust would not help the situation, he knows—both because he does not plan to stay here forever, and because that kind of trust cannot truly be won. The best he can do is make himself as unthreatening as possible and hope she learns he means her no harm.

He shouldn’t care. Kratos knows he shouldn’t care. That he should close his heart to the anger he sees hiding behind that distrust.

He fears it is a losing battle, but he knows he must try.

.

[Learning she has loss behind that anger does not help.]

.

In his day, they called it magic.

Now they use words like holotech and faster than light travel and phase shift and call it science.

The effects are more or less the same—sometimes more refined, but always familiar. When the one called Wraith slips from sight, he thinks of Brok and Sindri. When she whispers portents, he thinks of oracles in their shrines—Delphi, Dodona, Trophonius.

She would have been revered once.

Wraith is a quiet sort, reserved, with mistrusting blue eyes (familiar, almost). Kratos knows little of her, and he is sure this is by design.

But from what he does know, she would not find solace in being considered a seer.

.

[She has lost a lot of blood when she grabs his arm and whispers that it wasn’t his fault. They take her away to see a doctor before he can ask what she means. By the time she is well again, he is too afraid to bring it up again.]

.

He hears of Kuben Blisk in whispers long before he meets the man in person.

Actually seeing him after a match chills his blood in a way he hasn’t felt in a long time. Kratos is wary even before the man asks to speak to him alone, and more so once he does.

“You’re quite the heavy hitter,” Blisk notes. He’s set out two bottles of beer; Kratos refuses to touch his. “Very interesting fighting style.”

“Hmm.”

“Have we met before?”

“…no.”

“Never fought in the Frontier Wars?”

“No.” His chest goes tight; he knows what’s coming, but desperately hopes that he’s wrong. “Why?”

“Some of the men from my old unit had a run-in with someone on the border…didn’t believe what they were telling me at first, how one man could plow through some of my best with his bare hands, but now that I’ve seen you…” Blisk leans back and raises an eyebrow. “Seems a bit more likely.”

Kratos focuses on his breathing.

“Though now that I think about it, he was younger than you. This gift of yours genetic?”

The chair’s arm rest cracks under Kratos’s grip.

That’s all the answer Blisk needs.

He doesn’t ask anything else—only smiles, drinks his beer, and says he looks forward to seeing Kratos in the ring again. Got a lot of money riding on you, Ghost.

That wounds Kratos more deeply than more questions would have.

.

[Where on the border, he wants to ask. How long ago. Did the stranger survive the encounter. Did he have red hair. What was his name.

Kratos thinks about it, every day. He knows where Blisk spends his time, now that he’s back; it would be easy to find him, to make him talk.

He tempers his anger—tells himself that men like Kuben Blisk don’t talk, that this is certainly a trap, that he needs to bide his time and earn his wins and continue searching for himself.

But if Kuben Blisk had aimed to harm him, to burn himself into Kratos’s mind as deeply as the blades once burned themselves into his arms…he had succeeded.]

[hrk4]

The year that was...

“Slippery slope. I carry a spare shirt, pretty soon I’m carrying spare pants. Then I’d need a suitcase. Next thing I know, I’ve got a house and a car and a savings plan and I’m filling out all kinds of forms.” —Jack Reacher (in Lee Child’s 2007 novel Bad Luck and Trouble)

For close to a year, I have been fortunate to be part of the Saturday morning conversazione that takes place in the office of Dr. S R Ramaswamy (SRR), who is more than a mentor to me. In one of the early meetings of 2023, SRR gave me his personal copies of two Jack Reacher novels (by James Dover Grant, who writes under the pseudonym Lee Child) and added with a smile, "I must warn you, these are addictive!"

A few days after that, I was going to be on a long train to Pune and had taken the novel with me. Even before we crossed the Karnataka border, I had finished reading the novel and cursed myself for not having brought the other one too (which was a result of my underestimation of my own reading speed). As soon as I came back to Bangalore, I raced through the other novel. When I returned the two novels to SRR, he gave me more. It had been years since I had read fiction and given that my day job involves reading, writing, design, and publication, I had forgotten the art of reading for pleasure. This gesture on SRR's part rekindled that spark. The flipside was that I started finding films and web series tiresome!

I mostly read Jack Reacher novels this year and what fascinated me the most (besides the intricate plots, value conflicts, and the edge-of-the-seat twists and turns) was the universal appeal of a character like Reacher who lives like a monk and fights like a tiger; even in the materialistic West the allure of a man who is detached and driven by a strong sense of dharma is irresistible. And that gives me hope.

#

Soon I will hit forty. Probably my best years are behind me but I like to believe that they are yet to come. To augment this belief, I lay out my plans for 2024 before getting into my recollections of 2023.

I have three short-term goals, which I wish to complete in the next six months: i. Organise my library ii. Simplify my wardrobe iii. Consolidate my finances and four lifestyle goals that I wish to continue through the year: 1. Exercise daily 2. Read more, and more varied books 3. Play the violin more 4. Avoid sugar and fried foods at all costs

Some of the books in the pipeline for this year are: A R Krishnasastri’s Kathāmṛta, a new edition of Bhāsa’s Svapna-vāsavadatta, D V Gundappa’s Jīvana-dharma-yoga translated by Raghavendra Hebbalalu and Sreelalitha Rupanagudi, Volumes VII and VIII of DVG’s Art Gallery of Memories, S R Ramaswamy’s Silhouettes of Excellence, Sripriya Srinivasan’s book on Pallava history for high school students, minor poems of Nīlakaṇṭha-dīkṣita, and Jayadeva’s Gīta-govindam, among others.

I'm also working on a few exciting projects with cousin Dr. Chandra Shekhar (a short stories anthology), my college classmate Sudarshan K A (on financial wisdom), and with my friends Ganesh Bhat Koppalatota and Neelakanth Kulkarni (curating the best of Kannada literature), and I hope that at least a few of these see completion by end of the year.

#

I was lucky to have a front row seat as the following books unfolded through the course of the year: Three volumes of DVG's Kannada writings in translation (Contemporaries of Vidyaranya, his writings on the two epics of India, and an anthology of his essays on poetics), Vols. V and VI of the Art Gallery of Memories by DVG, Śatāvadhānī Dr. R Ganesh's Kṣāttra: The Tradition of Valour in India, and Dr. L Subramaniam's Festival Beyond Borders, among others.

I was able to facilitate the publication of three books by family members: my mother's booklet of life-lessons titled Song of my Soul, my father's monograph on The Amazing Human Mind, and my great-uncle (Late) Sri S Rangarajan's mammoth 648-page memoirs titled It Happens as Ordained.

The highlight, however, was a little book that I co-wrote with Dr. Ganesh titled The Essential Sanatana Dharma.

In addition to working on a few books in 2023, I was also invited to give lectures on a variety of topics, some of which were at the insistence of Dr. Arathi V B who has often magnanimously offered me opportunities that are far beyond my ken. If my calculations are right, I must have given no less than eighteen lectures this year. Friends like Madhulika Srivatsa, Sagar Mehta, and Vani Anur invited me to their homes to give lectures to their family and friends, which were highly rewarding.

I had the singular fortune of addressing a large number of school children, teachers, young parents, devout Hindus, et al. on topics as varied as life skills to the essentials of Sanātana-dharma; from the importance of history and heritage to world musical genres (at an elders' enrichment centre); from Indian Knowledge Systems to the Art Gallery of Memories (series of lectures at the Gokhale Institute of Public Affairs); and on the Artha-śāstra, Mahābhārata, Bhagavad-gītā, and Śrīkṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta.

#

For more than two decades I have been attending the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival (LGMF) organised by my guru Dr. L Subramaniam (along with his wife, Smt. Kavita Krishnamurti, who is the director of the festival); for some years, I was also active in the organising committee of the festival. Each edition of the LGMF has been a historic event and 2023 was no different. The upcoming tour is no less exciting with a remarkable orchestra from Kazakhstan visiting India.

Some of the other memorable events that I attended in 2023 include the third edition of Madanotsava organised by my good friends Nirupama and Rajendra, the eightieth birthday celebrations of Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam organised by Drishti Arts Centre, the fifth World Coffee Conference (thanks to my friend Ananth Bhatt), and a lovely eighty-fifth birthday celebration of my great-uncle Sri R Vasudevan that included a superb concert by the musician-surgeon of our family, Dr. Mukund Jagannathan.

#

Despite some challenges, the home situation was stable. My mother and my grandmother moved to an apartment next to my place and my father and brother regularly visit. I became one of the Trustees of our family trust and that means greater opportunity to help the community. I have also been involved in some consolidation of my finances so that I won't have to worry about money after 2024. I echo the sentiments of Jack Reacher in Gone Tomorrow (2009) — “I'm a rich man. To have everything you need is the definition of affluence.”

#

There are times when our family and friends perform an unexpected act of kindness that leaves us fumbling for words. My grandmother's younger sister, Smt. Shanti Rangarajan, aged 89, made a trip all the way from Chennai to Bangalore (with her daughter Deepta) to spend time with my mother on her 66th birthday, given that she was just recovering from her surgery and was home-bound.

When I was in Mumbai earlier this year, I happened to ping my BMS College classmate Anshuman Borah, who emigrated to UK some years ago. He immediately wrote back saying that he was in Pune to sell his flat. I had been in Pune that very morning; distraught at having missed catching up with him, I called him up to berate him for not telling me earlier. He immediately said, "I'll come to Mumbai tomorrow. Just send me your location and I'll be there to pick you up." Sure enough, the next morning he took a taxi from Pune all the way to Mumbai just to meet me. We had a nice lunch and spent five or six hours before he took a taxi back to Pune. (And there were times in college when we have shared a jhal mudi costing Rs. 10 because we had run out of cash!)

Anu and Chandra (technically my mother's generation but more like friends/cousins to me) generously offered me a carte blanche to pursue whatever projects I wish to, without fretting about the monetary implications. Their gesture has inspired me to work even more towards a larger cause, especially in the fields of culture, literature, music, and education, which are of common interest to us.

Prof. L V Shanthakumari has been a mentor-guru-adopted grandmother to me and many other friends. Earlier this year, she was visiting her younger son Sri Niranjana who lives across the town from her, in faraway Marathahalli. Our ancestral house in Halasuru is almost the mid-point between her house and her son's house, so I requested LVS madam to consider visiting us for lunch. She graciously agreed and visited us with Niranjana, who incidentally lived in the same neighbourhood many years earlier! My family and I were thrilled to host LVS madam and we spent a lovely afternoon together.

My cousin Arun was slated to visit India in August along with my aunt and uncle. I was planning to borrow my father's car so that I could take Arun around. Right at that time, my good friend Chandrashekhar told me, "I just bought a new car and there's the old one languishing in my place. Just take it and use it for as long as you want." Thanks to Chandru, I was able to drive around Arun and later had reliable transportation for myself, especially during some of the busy months of the year. After relying on public transport for more than a year, this came as a real boon.

#

My good friend Arjun Bharadwaj always teases me of excessively indulging in what he playfully dubs "Eating-Outing-Meeting." While I am an introvert by temperament, I often step out for these E-O-Ms for a dose of enrichment. Outside of my books and my music, I find nothing more enjoyable than a meaningful conversation with friends and savants.

It has been my great fortune to have come in contact with so many greats of our time—and in some cases, even dine with them and travel with them.

One of our Saturday morning meet-ups took place on Church Street with SRR taking us (Vighneshwar Bhat, Sandeep Balakrishna, Arjun Bharadwaj, and me) to Select Book Shop, which was started by a friend of his. Later he took us out to lunch and simply refused to let any of us pay.

Ambi (my uncle, Dr. Koti Sreekrishna) visited India earlier this year and even stayed with me for a few days. I had a great time with him, discussing everything from the ridiculous to the sublime—often through the course of a meal in a nearby restaurant. I also had the chance to drag two of my friends (Arjun and GS) to meet Ambi and his elder brother Kanna (my uncle, Sri K Srinivas) at their ancestral house. The conversations, mostly revolving around the the great epics of India, were memorable (with some of it secretly captured on video and clandestinely posted on Facebook by Ambi).

My cousin Arun visited India in August and stayed with me. It had been years since we had met and there was so much to talk about. It was really inspiring to see his focus and his ability to grasp new ideas. I introduced him to a bunch of my friends and we all had a memorable time. Cousin Anita could not visit and was sorely missed, but she had just had a baby (my second nephew, Jayanth).

Arjun and I visited Mysore to meet Dr. S L Bhyrappa, who graciously invited us to lunch with him. Following that, we proceeded to Pandavapura to meet Mr. Anke Gowda, who has the largest personal collection of books that I have seen (over 1 million books). We were thrilled to visit his library as he enthusiastically showed us around. He has been collecting books for some seven decades with his meagre salary, driven by intense passion and devotion to literature.

Through the course of the year, in addition to the regular meet-ups with my friends, gurus, and family, I had the opportunity to meet a host of interesting people: Sri Prafulla Ketkar (Chief Editor, Organiser), Sri Shivaswami (Bhagavad-gītā scholar), Dr. Manohar Shinde (Founder, Dharma Civilization Foundation), Dr. Shekhar Borgaonkar (my father's college classmate and old friend), Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran (musician-composer-educator), and the dedicated people who run Rashtrotthana Vidya Kendra at Hagaribommanahalli, among others.

#

It is a co-incidence that the year began with a trip to Ellora and just as 2023 came to an end, during the course of our Madhya Pradesh road-trip, the first destination was Ellora. It was wonderful to visit that puṇya-kṣetra twice in a calendar year.

In addition to visiting Solapur, Sambhajinagar, Pune, Mumbai, Karwar, and Chennai, I went to Valparai (Tamil Nadu) for our annual boys' trip, with more friends joining the fray:

I spent the last days of the year on the road: traversing 3,800+ kilometres (Bangalore-Ellora-Maheshwar-Indore-Ujjain-Vidisha/Sanchi-Udayapur-Khajuraho-Bedaghat-Bangalore) in nine days with five of my friends and a shoe-string budget.

Among the many highlights of the trip was visiting Ahalyabai Holkar Smarak at Maheshwar.

To see her humble dwelling and to contrast that with her unparalleled achievements was an inspiration. These are the real heroes of our land and it is a sin to forget them.

#

Sri C R Sathya, the grandson of Prof. A R Krishnasastri and a remarkable space scientist (and writer) in his own right died earlier this year. He had been a great support during the time I co-translated The Essential Mahabharata. Not many people know that the gentleman on the right side of this iconic photo by Henri Cartier-Bresson is C R Sathya:

A few other greats who breathed their last in 2023 include Sri Siddeshwar Swamiji; the great gamaki Sri Chandrashekar Kedilaya; Wayne Shorter, the legendary jazz saxophonist; Sri B K S Varma, the painter par excellence; and iconic filmmaker Sri K Viswanath. I had the great fortune of meeting and interacting with both B K S Varma and K Viswanath some years ago.

#

The changes around us end up affecting us in some way, directly or indirectly, unless of course we are really cut off and have isolated ourselves from society. In this vein, it might be instructive to broadly look at some of the events from 2023.

India has marched forward under the visionary leadership of Sri Narendra Modi, who has never failed to impress with his tireless striving for a better future.

India is now the most populous country with a host of internal problems, largely fuelled by predatory ideologies, be it the clashes between the Kuki and the Meitei or the Nuh violence or even the denigration of Sanātana-dharma, which is the most inclusive religio-philosophical system in the world. Despite this and some of the self-inflicted wounds to the economy, the country witnessed the manner in which challenges were masterfully met, be it the organisation of the spectacular G20 or the rescue of 41 miners trapped in the Uttarakashi tunnel, be it seamlessly shifting to the new parliament building or sending Chandrayaan III to the moon.

After the demonic attack that took place on October 7th, 2023, the world is slowly realising the danger of the bloodthirsty death cult masquerading as a religion. More and more countries are rejecting the pseudo-liberal ideologies of the left and are instead moving far right, which is also dangerous in its own way. Coupled with this, we are unsure of the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the future of humans. And somewhere amidst all this chaos, unknown men are quietly doing their work. And that brings me a great deal of peace.

#

Thanks for reading this far, and with this I wish you and your family a wonderful new year! I hope it will be filled with joy, good health, prosperity, and moments to cherish. May your dreams come true!

— Appendix

I wish to share some of the fantastic accomplishments of a few people in my circle. It is, as always, an ad hoc list that I have prepared on the spur of the moment. I might have missed out some but those that I have listed are certainly notable:

Brahmin Genocide is an important topic researched by Sri Balaji Mahalingam (who writes under the pseudonym Asi) that brings to the fore an injustice that has pervaded our society in the last couple of centuries and must be immediately rectified if Hinduism is to survive. The first edition of the book was sold out in just a few months and he is now working on the second edition.

The seventh century CE Sanskrit play Bhagavad-ajjukam was documented by Nirupama and Rajendra with support from Sudha Murty, Śatāvadhānī Dr. R Ganesh, Praveen D Rao, Arjun Bharadwaj, et al.—see the Introduction and the complete play (with subtitles).

Bhāratīya Kṣāttra Paramparā (Hindi translation by Prof. Dharmaraj Singh Vaghela) Earlier this year, when the book Kṣāttra was released, I gave a copy of the book to my uncle Prof. Vaghela. The very next day, he called me and said that it is an important book which must reach the Hindi heartland and offered to translate it into Hindi. Dr. Ganesh immediately gave his consent. In a matter of months, he finished the translation, which is now appearing on www.prekshaa.in as a series and will soon be published in book form.

My good friend and former colleague Arjun Bharadwaj has come out with two remarkable books this year: the first, titled Nayana-Savana (co-written with Śatāvadhānī Dr. R Ganesh), which is a creative appreciation of some of the major productions of the legendary Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam and the second, titled Indian Perspective of Truth and Beauty in Homer’s Epics, which is worthy of a D.Litt. no less.

S R Ramaswamy's latest work titled Sāhitya Sānnihitya is an anthology of book reviews and writings on literature.

Saṃskṛti is a reprint of a charming little book on culture with essays by littérateurs including Devudu Narasimha Shastri, A N Murthy Rao, A N Krishna Rao, Masti Venkatesha Iyengar, and C K Venkataramayya.

Prekshaa Pratishtana has brought out a lovely introductory video that summarises its vision and objectives. They continue to publish many books every year and maintain an ad-free online journal (www.prekshaa.in) with authentic content on Indian heritage for one and all.

My cousin Arun Prasad continues to do remarkable work with Ambuda, the online digital library for Sanskrit.

The best of Śatāvadhānī Dr. R Ganesh's writings in Kannada have been compiled in two volumes with the title Rāga-bhāratī.

Dr. G Sudesh Kumar, a close family friend, recently authored a coffee-table book titled History of Sri Parakala Mutt.

[voidsteffy]

Okay okay I know you probably watched the movie AGES ago but omg. Sita ramam. I cannot

I watched it yesterday and I cannot stop thinking about it ?? Afreen ?? Ram ?? Noorjahan ???

Everything was so pretty everyone was so pretty and it was so sad and I was bawling my eyes out. Also ugh vishnu like ok bro you had a family I get it but :(((( ram :((((

And his letter to sita. Chills. Literal chills.

Anyway idk who else wouldve watched the movie so I'm here don't mind me just crying on a monday morning T-T

You came to the right place, or probably the wrong place cz i can't shut up about this shit

Fun trivia, I saw the first look when it came out, and the music was quite different from the one in the interval and they were still figuring out the poster, the butterflies and stuff

It was a shot of ram on the stones in the flowing pond of the mountains and cut to, he was looking into the train (it didn't strike as the train scene at first, the frame where he peeps from outside to see sita reading his letters on her berth and he smiles, yeah that scene)

And then flash the title

I was (and still am, unabashedly) on a dq high so obviously i checked it out and fell in love

And then, it was afreen's character intro/promo kind of thing where afreen is praying and then she's throwing daaru through windows (car windows as we saw later)

The moment I see Hanu Raghavapudi and Vishal Chandrasekhar (from Krishna Gaadi Veera Prema Gaadha, ok watch it i love that movie it hits so right!) and DQ (from Mahanati and Bangalore Days and OKK like bhoooof) AND MRUNAL THAKUR (from Love, Soniya) and Rashmika IN ASSOCIATION WITH DUTT PRODUCTIONS like....

feed me.

And I liked the vibe the movie went for in the ending, it's bittersweet, sort of like that one Twilight Zone episode where one grows old for the other and all. I like that they left it at a tragedy cz that's how such stories usually end but that doesn't mean they didn't happen.

Ram is my sweet sweet bway who took the correct doses of respect women juice and sita desperately needs a therapist (much like myself) and a stress ball to stop all the clumsiness (much like myself lmao)

The mahanati references, the KGVPG references, and all the director cameos... Yeah they made my day. Vishnu is unapologetically the useless scared kinda prisoner and I respect Sumanth for taking that kind of role tbh, and i wished we'd seen more of Bhumika but eh she deserves her own movies too so imma imagine

Also, RAM AND SITA WITH KIDSSSS! Like, we know the outcome of their story and that's why it's so sad to see them be so cute with kids and get soul married and want kids but never getting the time to live the life they wanted waahhhhhh stap

The music..... Um.... Well i can tell you that each song comes off as a copy of old illayaraja/op naiyyar songs but that's ok cz this year needed such music. The lyrics have me in a chokehold and ram's eyes too

And my favorite scene of all, THE SCENE

Ugh kill me why don't you!

They're on different sides of emotions about this and he's been so supportive and loving towards her but she can't lie to him anymore but she wants to live this lie bcz it's so beautiful and before she breaks it she just wants someone to be there for one last time AAAAAAAAH

In conclusion, Ram is my smolbean, Sita is me and someone can be Afreen so that i can play ninnati theepi and cry for a legitimate reason finally

(also, Rohini in vintage spectacles literally reminds me of my grandma)

[meltingflowers]

Purpose Of Floral Decorations In Weddings

Girls are more frequently thought of when one imagines their outdoor wedding decoration. Perhaps men might not consider their ideal wedding and how they want to accomplish it. But women undoubtedly do. Yes, guys do contemplate the ideal woman they would like to marry.

Ladies imagine that they will do this and that in their wedding. How lovely their entrance will be and how wonderful the theme wedding decorations will be. They expect their wedding venue to be decorated with flowers hanging everywhere.

Flower Selection for Spectacular Fragrance Throughout

Without magnificent, in-season flowers, the wedding would be lacking. They make the Indian wedding decoration ideas more beautiful and fragrant. The atmosphere is serene, allowing visitors to mingle with the family members while they are there.

The wedding décor, including the best flower arrangements, is funded in large part by the budget. You can collect flower blossoms by visiting nearby farms. The wedding stage would look lovely with flowers like orchids, peonies, and other exotic flowers. Roses, jasmine, and marigolds are more options.

The following are some examples of floral decorations:

Embellish the ceiling

You also need to think about decorating the ceiling. This should not be left blank. You may make the stage feel lovely by adorning the ceiling. To achieve the opulent appearance, experiment with various items like lanterns, birdcages, and chandeliers.

To get the opulent appearance, you can also add lanterns, hang bird cages, and hang chandeliers. A natural effect would also be produced by the floral canopy. One of the most inexpensive wedding stage decorations in Bangalore is this one.

Make a Charming Entrance

The entrance is where guests enter the wedding venue. When the entrance is striking, you can plan for a number of additional attractions for the visitors as they enter. The expectation level of the visitors will rise as a result.

This is what enables you to set expectations for the rest of the wedding. The entrance of the reception stage decoration must be striking and lovely. You can make use of the lighting by employing lamps, torches, lanterns, and lights.

By scattering the potted plants and trees about, you may create a lovely garden wedding in Bangalore. To leave a good impression on the visitors, you might also put some flowers in the entryway. Overall, the wedding is anticipated to have superb decoration.

Birthdays And Anniversaries

Annual celebrations of birthdays and anniversaries are typically enhanced by flowers. You can pick a lovely flower to add a special touch to the day and make it stand out from other ordinary days, depending on your relationship with your partner.

Red flowers are ideal if you and your spouse are in a committed relationship, while yellow flowers with pink accents are preferable if you are simply friends because yellow denotes friendship and pink denotes admiration.

Conclusion

Every occasion, but particularly weddings, benefits from the presence of flowers. Flowers and flower arrangements should be high on every wedding planner’s priority list. It is because they play a significant role in the wedding locations in Bangalore. It should reflect the bride and groom’s preferences.

Although they are utilised as a bridal floral adornment, wedding flowers are often used as décor. They are used for mehndi and sangeet décor. Long bouquets, berry accents, matching flowers, dual-purpose wedding accents are some of the best wedding flowers.

[continuations]

India Impressions (2023)

I just returned from a week-long trip to India. Most of this trip was meeting entrepreneurs and investors centered around spending time with the team from Bolt in Bangalore (a USV portfolio company). This was my second time in India, following a family vacation in 2015. Here are some observations from my visit:

First, the mood in the country feels optimistic and assertive. People I spoke to, not just from the tech ecosystem, but also drivers, tour guides, waiters, students, and professors, all seemed excited and energized. There was a distinct sense of India emerging as a global powerhouse that has the potential to rival China. As it turns out quite a few government policies are aimed at protecting Indian industrial growth and separating it from China (including the recent ban on TikTok and other Chinese apps). Also, if you haven't seen it yet, I recommend watching the movie RRR. It is a "muscular" embodiment of the spirit that I encountered that based on my admittedly unscientific polling was much liked by younger people there (and hardly watched by older ones).

Second, air pollution in Delhi was as bad as I remembered it and in Mumbai way worse. Mumbai now appears to be on par with Delhi. For example, here is a picture taken from the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, which is en route from the airport, where you can barely see the high rise buildings of the city across the bay.

Third, there is an insane amount of construction everywhere. Not just new buildings going up but also new sewer lines, elevated highways, and rail systems. Most of these were yet to be completed but it is clear that the country is on a major infrastructure spree. Some of these projects are extremely ambitious, such as the new coastal road for Mumbai.

Fourth, traffic is even more dysfunctional than I remember it and distances are measured in time, not miles. Depending on the time of day, it can easily take one hour to get somewhere that would be ten minutes away without traffic. This is true for all the big cities I went to visit on this trip (Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore). I don't really understand how people can plan for attending in person meetings but I suppose one gets used to it. I wound up taking one meeting simply in a car en route to the next one.

Fifth, in venture capital there are now many local funds, meaning funds that are not branded offshoots of US funds, such as Sequoia India. I spent time with the team from Prime Venture Partners (co-investors in Bolt) and Good Capital among others. It is great to see that in addition to software focused funds there are also ones focused on agtech/food (e.g. Omnivore) and deep tech (e.g. Navam Capital). Interestingly all the ones I talked to have only offshore LPs. There is not yet a broad India LP base other than a few family offices and regulations within India are apparently quite cumbersome, so the funds are domiciled in the US or in Mauritius.

Sixth, the "India Stack" is enabling a ton of innovation and deserves to be more widely known outside of India (US regulators should take note). In particular, the availability of a verified digital identity and of unified payments interfaces is incredibly helpful in the creation of new online and offline experiences, such as paying for a charge on the Bolt charging network. This infrastructure creates a much more level playing field and is very startup friendly. Add to this incredibly cheap data plans and you have the foundations for a massive digitally led transformation.

Seventh, India is finally recognizing the importance of the climate crisis both as a threat and as an opportunity. India is already experiencing extreme temperatures in some parts of the country on a regular basis (the opening of Kim Stanley Robinson's Ministry for the Future extrapolates what that might lead to). India is also dependent on sufficient rainfall during the Monsoon season and those patterns are changing also (this is part of the plot of Neal Stephenson's Termination Shock). As far as opportunity goes, India recently discovered a major lithium deposit, which means that a key natural resource for the EV transition exists locally (unlike oil which has to be imported). India has started to accelerate EV adoption by offering subsidies.

All in all this trip has made me bullish on India. Over the coming years I would not be surprised if we wind up with more investments from USV there, assuming we can find companies that are a fit with our investment theses. In the meantime, I will look for some public market opportunities for my personal portfolio.

[signatureclub57]

Best Resorts in Bangalore for Day Outing | Signature Club Resort

Discover the best resort in Bangalore for day outings. Signature Club Resort is renowned as one of the best resorts in the city, it caters to families, couples, and groups for memorable day outings and team-building activities. Book Now!

[clubcabana-posts]

Day Outing With a Family Factors to Consider Selecting a Resort

Bangalore residents looking for an escape from traffic jams and city life can find a great option in resorts like Club Cabana, located in Devanahalli, which offers spacious open areas and water and amusement parks for a day trip.

When selecting a resort for a day outing with a family, it is important to keep some factors in mind. Open spaces are recommended, Club Cabana offers a large open space for gatherings that allows for social distancing, and the fresh country air is an added bonus. While swimming pools, a water park, or lounging by the waterbody is a great way to cool off, and Club Cabana has a large water park for visitors.

Food is also an important factor to consider when planning a day trip, especially for families with young children who can get cranky if meals are not served on time. Club Cabana provides hearty meals within the resort, so guests can focus on enjoying their time instead of worrying about food.

For those who want to extend their day trip into a weekend stay, Club Cabana offers villa accommodations with all the necessary amenities for a comfortable sleep. Group activities like games, bonfires, and story-telling are also encouraged for bonding and bringing families and friends closer.

Nature lovers can enjoy vast green stretches of meadows and quaint water bodies within and around Bangalore, and Club Cabana is a perfect retreat for those who want a respite from city life. The resort has top-quality facilities such as expansive water parks, separate dining areas, gymnasiums, lawns, and pools.

Special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings can be celebrated at Club Cabana, which provides a congenial environment for such events. Safety and hygiene are top priorities.

In conclusion, summertime can still be enjoyed in local resorts like Club Cabana provides a great option for a day outing or weekend stay, with its open spaces, water parks, and top-quality facilities. Guests can relax and enjoy their time without worrying about food or safety, making their experience truly memorable.

[oliveserviceapartmentsbangalore]

Service Apartments Bangalore perfect option than hotel

Looking for a place to stay in Bangalore that's comfortable, affordable, and convenient? Look no further than a service apartment! In this blog post, we'll explore the many benefits of service apartments over traditional hotels. We'll also look at some of the top facilities and amenities you can expect to find in a service apartment in Bangalore. So whether you're looking for a short-term stay or a long-term rental, be sure to check out a service apartment next time you're in Bangalore!

Accommodations of Service Apartments

When looking for a place to stay in Bangalore, you may want to consider booking a service apartment. These apartments offer a range of facilities and amenities that can make your stay more comfortable, convenient, and affordable.

Service Apartments Bangalore typically has a kitchenette, so you can prepare your own meals if you prefer. They also usually have a laundry room with washer and dryer facilities, so you can avoid the hassle and expense of using a Laundromat. The service apartments also have a swimming pool, gym, and other recreational facilities that you can use during your stay.

Another advantage of service apartments is that they often offer housekeeping services. This means that you don't have to worry about cleaning the apartment yourself during your stay. And if you're staying for an extended period of time, some service apartments also offer maid service so that your apartment stays clean and tidy.

Services Apartments over an hotel

Service apartments are a type of rental accommodation that offers more space and privacy than a hotel room, and usually comes with additional features such as a kitchen and separate living area. Service Apartments HSR Layout is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to hotels, especially for business travellers and families.

1.       More space and privacy

Service apartments usually have more space than hotel rooms, making them more comfortable for longer stays. They also typically have separate living and sleeping areas, giving you more privacy than you would get in a hotel room. Some service apartments also come with balconies or terraces, offering even more space to relax in.

2. Kitchen facilities

One of the main advantages of Service Apartments Koramangala is that they usually come with kitchen facilities, which can save you money on meals if you're staying for more than a few days. Having a kitchen also means you can prepare your own meals, which can be healthier and more enjoyable than eating out all the time.

3. More flexible check-in/check-out times

Another advantage of service apartments is that they often offer more flexible check-in and check-out times than hotels. This can be helpful if your flight arrives early or departs late, as you won't have to worry about being charged for an extra night's stay.

4. Lower rates for longer stays

If you're planning to stay in Bangalore for more than a week, you'll probably choose Service Apartments Whitefield are cheaper than booking multiple hotel rooms .

Conclusion- Service apartments are a great choice for business travelers and families who want to enjoy the comfort of home while on vacation or business trips. They offer more space, privacy, and amenities than hotel rooms, and are often cheaper for longer stays. When booking a service apartment, be sure to compare rates and amenities to find the best deal.

source url:- https://sites.google.com/view/services-apartments-bangalore/home

[digiayush]

Adventure Resorts In and Near Bangalore

Bangalore is the capital city of Karnataka state in southern India. Lately Bangalore has procured its standing as the ‘Silicon Valley of India’ for facilitating a huge IT industry. Not at all like numerous other Indian urban communities, Bangalore partakes in a gentle environment even in the mid year months, making it an extraordinary objective to visit. While it’s rare respected on the traveler radar, there are parts to see and investigate in and around this city. Visit the Maha Bodhi Society Sanctuary and walk its all around kept grounds. Take in a few grand perspectives from ISKCON Rabbit Krishna Sanctuary and the close by Maruthi Mandir sanctuary while getting familiar with India’s bunch mystic gatherings and social orders. Bangalore is likewise a hotbed for outside exercises with traveling, rock climbing, kayaking, and canyoning valuable open doors. Investigate this remarkable objective with the entire family while remaining in one of the most outstanding family-accommodating hotels in Bangalore, India, recorded underneath.

Regal Orchid Resort and Conference hall, Yelahanka Bangalore

Found 12 kilometers (around 7.5 miles) from Bangalore downtown area, this retreat is a simple 30-minute drive from Bangalore Global Air terminal. Treat the entire family and pick the cabin for all out security. The cabin has its own walled yard, a full kitchen, and a lot of parlor spaces to unwind and loosen up. The hotel has two phenomenal cafés, an outside pool, a children’s jungle gym, and offers keeping an eye on. Air terminal exchanges can be set up in addition to WIFI and on location stopping are free.

Taj West End

Experience the VIP treatment while remaining in this rich retreat, which flaunts perfectly finished gardens, an outside pool, a children’s pool, tennis courts, a wellbeing spa, and a 24-hour steward administration. This resorts in bangalore for family is situated close to Bangalore Turf Club and Bangalore Golf Club. There is little need to wander off the hotel when there are phenomenal eateries on location — Machan serves worldwide cooking styles, Blue Ginger has present day Asian dishes and Blue Bar serves heavenly mixed drinks and beverages. Taj West End likewise has a choice of flawless visitor rooms, including family-sized rooms. It offers keeping an eye on, a children’s play region, air terminal exchanges, and Complimentary wireless internet. This eco-resort is great for those looking for quality family time and a re-visitation of nature. The retreat grounds are wonderfully kept, offering vast open doors for outside unwinding and getting a charge out of family-accommodating exercises like toxophilism, climbing, cycling and strolling visits, cooking classes, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. There is a devoted children’s play region (both inside and outside), tabletop games, and riddles for quite a long time of family fun. The hotel has an outside pool, a wellbeing spa, family-sized visitor rooms, grill offices, and a café that serves astounding South and North Indian cooking. This property is around 45 kilometers (roughly 28 miles) from Bengaluru Worldwide Air terminal.

Frequently alluded to as ‘Scotland of India’, Coorg or Kodagu, is a shelter and a comfortable spot cuddled in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. With its dim slopes, lavish vegetation, lovely environment, stunning cascades, extraordinary natural life, espresso, and flavors estates, Coorg is one of the most sought-after vacationer places in India with a ton to propose from simply picturesque substance to a huge number of exercises to enjoy. While in Coorg, explorers should upgrade their outing by picking the best Coog Resorts to spoil themselves with richness in the midst of pleasant vistas. Known for overflowing conveniences, these retreats render the visitors solace alongside the novel country life conveniences including contemplation, Ayurvedic focuses, understanding parlor, an action room, and so on. Here are the 5 best retreats in Coorg that explorers can decide to make their Coorg Outing worth the effort! Trawell.in offers Coorg Occasion Bundles with your selection of resorts and lodgings. These hotels are shortlisted in light of their conveniences, area, and an incentive for cash advertised. Investigate our Coorg Travel Guide for additional subtleties on arranging your best outing to Coorg. Paddington Resort and Spa

Paddington Resort and Spa is a 4-star property helpfully situated at Kushalnagara in Coorg. Settled amidst a thick wilderness, this retreat is an optimal stay for all nature sweethearts to invest energy in the lap of Mother earth. The property highlights 29 topical cabins furnished with television, tea/espresso producer, Wi-Fi, and in-room safe. The hotel additionally includes an in-house café, pool, best in class wellness focus, and spa. Additionally, the Paddington Resort offers exercises like ranch visits, cycling, outside games like rifle firing, bows and arrows, rope exercises, zip line, and so on for the visitors. The hotel additionally makes unique plans like candlelight supper for honeymooners. Chikliholle Falls (2.5 km), and Dubare Elephant Camp (12 km), among the top spots to visit in Coorg, are found near the property.

Coorg Precipices Resort and Spa

Situated at an elevation of around 3398 feet, This Resorts in coorg for family viewed as one of the most pursued retreats in Coorg, one of the well known spots to visit in Karnataka. The hotel is covering more than 9 sections of land and is intended for both business and relaxation travel. Set on a slope, the retreat is encircled by lavish plant life, bright gardens, and calming normal excellence. Espresso and flavors estate that twirling around the retreat offers a treat that must be depicted stupendous. The retreat is home to 30 rooms that are elegantly outfitted and give all conveniences. The retreat has an open air pool, wellness focus, eatery, evening diversion, and a 24-hour front work area. One can likewise appreciate exercises like cycling, fishing, nature walk, and ranch trail here.

Java Downpour, Chikmagalur

Western Ghats have a secret and magnificence joined to them, which draws in and entrances individuals even right up ’til now, be it for its folklore, other worldliness or regular variety and properly deserves it the situation with World Legacy Site. Lavish Lodgings

Rumors from far and wide suggest, defeat by regret, subsequent to navigating the globe multiple times avenging the passing of his dad by the hands of the Kshatriyas, Parashurama gifted away all that he had to the Brahmins and needed to accomplish more. He swung his celebrated hatchet and cut out the western Ghats out of the ocean and populated it with Brahmins and established new types of trees like coconut, banana and jackfruit. Strangely western Ghats is prominent by its nonappearance in the early Vedas. This may be a result of the invulnerable woods that can be capable even right up ’til now along the Western Ghats java downpour resort Chikmagalur.

Into this rich embroidered artwork of legends is wound around another theme that characterizes the Luxury Stay in chikmagalur, the espresso capital of India. Baba Budan when on his journey to Mecca ran over the dim plush refreshment in Mocha, Yemen and carried a modest bunch of beans back home and established it here. In this way started the espresso story of India, solidifying Baba Budan’s place in history as the supporter holy person of the district.

The endless espresso homes have changed the face and fortune of homestay near chikmagalur. One such verdant paradise, ignoring the powerful Mullayanagiri, is the stage for the marriage of the old world fascinate with the cutting edge, optimistic plan of a fretful India. A beautiful source of both pain and joy, Java Downpour was imagined as a nature retreat in this cheery country by the energetic yet prepared neighborliness pioneers, Shubha and Shiv. Working intimately with a top structural firm, Rhythm in Bangalore formed this wonder of design.

The plan and components of this manor retreat is propelled by the many goes of the important advertisers in cooperative energy with the nature around. The uncovered substantial walls, calculated to seem to be the mountains they are supported in, combines them into the encompassing. The open to sky restroom with downpour showers copy the quintessential storm experience lasting through the year. The insides and canvases have been brought from Indonesia providing the whole stay with the vibe of a tropical timberland.

[clumsytales]

A Turning Point

 "Papa, why have you been typing on your phone for so long? I need the phone to play games." said little Ishan in a mildly irritated tone. 

"I'm sending an office mail Ishu, wait for some time", said Anand. 

"Why don't you use voice typing, here, let me show you!", said Ishan excitingly, snatching the phone from his Papa. 

Holding the big touchscreen phone in his little hands, he held the voice typing button dexterously and started dictating. "I am Ishan. I am teaching Papa how to use phone smartly. "

Anand burst into laughter watching the brilliance of his little kid. 

Anand was in his mid-thirties and already a Senior Manager in a big tech company in Bangalore. His wife Amruta was a 'work-for-home' mom which was a full-time job itself except she never got any leaves. Little Ishan was a smart kid studying in Third grade. He recently started going to school after attending Online classes almost for two years. Anand's parents lived in their native village and used to visit once or twice a year. The city life never suited them well. 

The family of three had to start their day quite early. Waking up Ishan early in the morning was a challenge. Amruta prepared breakfast and packed tiffin for both Anand and Ishan, while it was Anand's duty to get Ishan ready and drop him to the school bus. Soon after, Anand used to leave for office in his car which was pretty nearby. Amruta used to be all by herself till afternoon till Ishan returns from school. After all household chores are over, smartphone and TV were her best friends. She actually enjoyed this little 'me-time' that she got. After returning from office in the evening, Anand would sit in front of TV watching the stock market news with a cup of tea in one hand while mobile phone in other. This routine of the family rarely changed. 

One day though this routine got deviated when Anand's car met with a minor accident while returning from office. There was a small dent and few scratches on the car. Anand decided to give the car to nearby service station for repair and head home walking instead. 

While walking down the street, something caught his attention. There was a makeshift toy shop on the footpath below a Pipal tree. Colorful, shiny wooden toys from Channapattna. Different kind of spinning toys, Chinese dolls, musical toys and a train set...

It reminded him of his childhood's wooden train set. 

A piece of art it was. Different types of wagons made of wood with vibrant shiny colors. The wagons were connected together with rounded magnets on the end so that train could turn freely on the curved track. The train was pulled by a motorized metal colored locomotive which would whistle periodically. He recollected how happy he was when his father brought this train set. He had hugged his father tightly and thanked him profusely. Anand wouldn't let anyone touch his special toy and took great care of it. His father would set up the train set for him, carefully joining the tracks together and launching the wagons on the tracks. Once the train would start moving, Anand would also run along the train whistling happily. It was one of the fondest memories of his childhood and he always cherished this time spent with his father.  He could not remember though what happened to this train after he moved to different city for college. 

And alas! Here it was now, a similar train set. Anand beamed with joy. Without a second thought, he bought it. He had no doubt that Ishan would love it as well. Anand got it packed carefully, wrapped in a gift paper and set straight to home. He was eager to present this wonderful toy to Ishan. He was hoping to have great time with Ishan playing this train as he had with his father once.

"At least something good came out of today's misfortune", Anand thought to himself. 

When he reached home, he started looking for his beloved Ishu, hiding the present behind his back. Ishan was in his room playing mobile games as usual. 

"Look Ishu, what I brought for you!", said Anand happily. 

"Is it what I think it is Papa?", Ishan asked giggling and jumped off the bed hurriedly to open the gift. 

Ishan tore the gift paper to see what is inside and his face fell. 

"Do you not like it, Ishu?", asked Anand confusingly. 

"It is nice Papa, but I thought you got me the iPad Pro that I wanted.", Ishan confessed. 

And then it hit Anand... Their lives revolved around gadgets. He could not remember when the last time was that he played with his son or had a hearty conversation with his wife. Little Ishan already had spectacles due to excess screentime. Due to lockdown, homes became office cubicles and school, mere videos. Catching up with the latest new, fear of missing out on something kept them hooked to the social media. Mindlessly scrolling through the Youtube shorts became a habit. They all had got so engulfed in technology that they forgot the meaning of companionship.  Anand was disheartened but he was awakened now. 

Anand held the cup of tea in one hand again, but this time, in his other hand, he held the hand of Amruta instead and asked her "How was your day?", with a gentle smile on his face.