Shajanram is a frail little person in his late eighties. Yet he moves gracefully, with the agility of a nearby desert antelope. The thick round glasses lying on his aquiline nose magnify the darkness of his black, almond-shaped eyes. The white beard and long moustache match the uniform colour of his shirt, dhoti, and turban. His smile is spontaneous, frequent and highly infectious, as his kindness.
He bows in respect to welcome guests in the home that he shares with his four sons, their wives and a total of twelve healthy and cheerful grandchildren. Shajanram does not speak a word of English. His facial expressions genuinely convey his feelings, passing through no filter, no social barrier. For the rest, a guide translates his sacred speech.
At Samode Palace, regardless of the formalism de rigueur and chic baroque atmosphere, the waiter genuinely invites...
The scene is set in Shekhawati, towards the end of the month of July. On the occasion of an excursion...
This journey travels through the national parks and sanctuaries of North and West India, exploring indigenous wildlife species and migratory avifaunal species...
Discover the decadent mansions of Chettinad through the eyes of The New York Times, when they travelled with us exploring architecture...
Waves wash down the parched shores of the beach as the sands glisten under the warm sun...
Sand easily overtakes the careless traveller. Grain by grain, it squeezes slowly between tight lips, it threads its way through...