Category India

M S Blue saree

MS Blue: the saree that became an icon

September 16 marks the birth anniversary of M.S. Subbulakshmi (1916), one of India’s most celebrated Carnatic vocalists. Her music carried Carnatic tradition to audiences across India and the world, while her distinctive stage presence became equally memorable. The sari, flowers,…

idol of clay Ganesha

In search of Ganesha beyond the celebration

There was a time when Ganesh Chaturthi carried a bigger purpose that went well beyond the rituals of the day. In the late 19th century, India was under oppressive British rule. Political meetings were watched, public gatherings faced restrictions and…

Indigo: the dye that made farmers rebel

Indigo is a dye obtained traditionally from plants of the Indigofera genus. It has been used for thousands of years to color textiles. While we often associate indigo with deep blue color and, of course, with blue jeans, there was…

How Bobbili got its name

Bobbili in Andhra Pradesh has a fascinating connection to the town’s royal origins and the tiger, and its evolution reflects centuries of local history. Bobbili traces its origins to the 17th century, when Pedda Rayudu, a descendant of the Venkatagiri…

Horsley Hills and the story behind its name

Horsley Hills is a hill station in the Eastern Ghats in Annamayya district (formerly part of Chittoor district) in Andhra Pradesh. Located about 16 km from Madanapalle and 130 km from Tirupati, it stands at an elevation of around 1,290…

The mystery behind the name “Military Hotel”

Despite the name, Military Hotels have no official connection with the armed forces. The term refers to a distinctive style of traditional South Indian eateries, especially in Karnataka, that became known for serving hearty non-vegetarian meals at a time when…