‘The Wandering Sufis’ by Kumkum Srivastava was my first formal introduction to the world of Sufi saints (also called as Peer Baba). Before that, I always noticed dargahs while travelling in Delhi, but never went inside them, for no particular reason. But then the images of what I used to see kept intriguing me and the book increased my level of curiosity. Came majorly from Iran (also known as Persia), these Sufi saints spread the message of Allah within the Indian

The land of kings, the state of Rajasthan was earlier known as Rajputana. It was divided into various regions, each ruled by a different clan. Over the years, these clans built historical monuments, especially forts on hills which shaped the rich cultural heritage of the state. Constructed between the fifth and eighteen centuries, these hill forts are longstanding masterpieces of Rajputana heritage. At the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Cambodia, six forts of Rajasthan were declared

Nestled in the heart of the country, the medieval city of Orchha in Madhya Pradesh is a haven for history buffs and architecture enthusiasts. The rich historical legacy of the city is preserved in the beautiful stone sculptors and the ancient forts and buildings. Roosted 18km from Jhansi railway station and 119km from Gwalior airport, it once had the distinction of being the capital of one of the largest and most powerful kingdoms of Central India. Founded by the Rajput king

Horse breeders from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Maharashtra have come together to foster an unbridled bond in raising awareness about the various breeds of Indian Horses. And for the first time, under the aegis of a website called HorsesofIndia.com, create a digital database of horses, horse breeders as well as horse enthusiasts. The unanimous decision among all is that even though the Indian Horse breeds are known for their looks, hardiness, stamina and survival skills, the need of the

Back in the day, you might have heard stories, folklores from your grandparents and village elders about merry women on tree swings during the monsoon season, of the fervour and festivity in the air. The Punjabi name for this season is known as Teej or Teeyaan. But what finds the most mention in the course of Punjabi culture and this season are the beautiful patterns of the world-acclaimed Phulkaris. The word Phulkari comes from the association two Punjabi words -

We all love to have coconut water, coconut milk, sweets, and other coconut-based delicacies. But about the husk of coconut trees? What happens to them, what happens to the shell of tender coconuts after the content is consumed? To find the answers to these questions, head to the International Coir Museum in Alappuzha when you are in Kerala next time. Nestled close to the tranquil backwaters, the first-of-its-kind museum in the world takes you on a journey, acquainting you on

Did you know that major international luxury jewellery brands such as Bvlgari, Cartier, Van Cleef and Arpels and several others not only look up to the royal magnificence of Jaipur and its Maharajas for jewellery inspiration but also seek the finesse and expertise of craftspersons here to execute their high-end designs? This was a major reason why The Humming Notes travelled to Jaipur to attend the Jaipur Jewellery Design Festival (JJDF) to see the synergies between craft, design and business.

Punjab has a long and an illustrious history. Under the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, its borders extended to the west of the Indus river and kissed the foothills of the Himalayas. Most of the events of that era were recorded in Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu and Farsi text. Apart from the sacred texts, the archives were stored; but in a deplorable state. In the year 2003, Panjab Digital Library undertook the task of finding and saving these manuscripts and archives