After a long walk from the car park through lush emerald greenery we came upon the honey- hued Bathstone stunning façade of the Basildon Park House in Reading England, set within 400 acres of splendid woodland. We set out to explore its journey from an 18th century home to a deserted home to a fashionably […]

Around the Holi and Vaisakhi one’s memories turn to the majestic kaleidoscopic Hola Mohalla and traditional Baisakhi celebrations at the historic Gurudwaras. Vaisakhi marks the commencement of solar New Year and the month of Vaishakh- a historical and religious festival! Though this year the celebrations lacks the lustre   and have lost its sheen to the […]

Alongwith the Indian Spring season of festivals – Navratris, Hindu New year, South Indian states New year-Ugadi to Ram Navami; co exists the forty days long Christian month of Lent, ending before Easter that brings to mind the celebration of Good Friday and Easter. Good Friday and Easter bring to mind festivities associated with it […]

We were at the unique name Hinton-Ampner stately home – the ‘House on the Hill’ with enough reasons for us to explore it. In the last 400 years it rose from the ashes twice, rebuilt twice; back to its glory, after being haunted for over a century! Driving through the rolling green Hampshire countryside, we […]

In the last 400 years rising from the ashes twice; back to its glory yet again and being haunted for over a century ; the unique name Hinton Ampner– the ‘House on the Hill’ had enough reasons for us to explore it! Driving through the rolling green Hampshire countryside, we reached the historic 16th century […]

The sun blazed through the crystal clear sky as we caught the first view of the Highclere Castle– built on a site of an Iron Age fort and holding ancient tracks within the estate, it is one of England’s most beautiful Victorian Castles near London and Television serial’s Downton Abbey. Ever since over 100 countries […]

As the temperature touched 30 degrees and the sun blazed through the crystal clear sky we caught the first view of the Highclere Castle- one of England’s most beautiful Victorian-era Castles near London and Television serial’s Downton Abbey. Ever since over 100 countries aired the ‘global sensation’ Television serial Downton Abbey, I always anticipated fervently […]

Past playful children and attractive mothers we walked towards the red brick Georgian house – the melodic world of Hatchlands Park which is home to a collection of 42 historic keyboard musical instruments connected to famous composers called the Cobbe Collection. We were in England and on our way to look up an ‘ancient estate’ […]

The silhouette of the ancient Carlisle Fort appeared on the skyline as we walked up the sloping pavement. We were in the quiet town of Carlisle in North England, Britain’s most besieged border town, in the past. Carlisle Fort is the first fort on Roman Emperor Hadrian’s Wall commencing from Bowness-on-Solway, which was built to […]

Walking past panoramic emerald vistas – green meadows meeting sapphire sky, we approached the Greys Court family home. This was at one point of time a Castle, maybe a thousand years ago! Crunching ahead on the gravel path we caught the first view of the three storey brick and stone Elizabethan house from late 16th […]