@ Gandikota - The Grand Canyon of India

 (August 2026 - Penna Gorge, Gandikota, Jammalamadugu Mandal, Dr.Y.S.R.Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh )

@ The Grand Canyon of India

An almost lonely winding road snaking past windmills perched atop Erramalla Hills like white damsels waiting for their loved ones took me to Gandikota, the site of the Penna Gorge and the 13th Century Fortress (If it may be called that) overlooking it, a lesser known natural and historical place, regarded rightly as "The Grand Canyon of India". For a place with a deserving tourism potential, only two APSRTC (Public Transport) busses connect it to it's Mandal headquarters of Jammalamadugu, each scheduled 12 hours apart at 6 A.M. and 6 P.M. Today, Rayalaseema portrays a resource filled yet underdeveloped vibe, however centuries ago, it was a crazed contesting ground of the finest empires of South India, a watershed region of culture and conquest, of art and brutality, of fame and fortune in equal measure. @ Madhavaraya Swamy Temple      @ The Grand Canyon of India      After gorging two famous Karam Dosalu, I made a tryst with the beautful Gorge. It was a sight to behold. The Second Saturday Morning was bereft of too many tourists, and the El Nino extended summer did not trouble me and I've felt that the moniker "The Grand Canyon of India" is truly deserving. Millions of years ago, the River Penna cut through the extant Erramalla Hills, and water eroison caused this unique phenomenon, exposing the reddish Gandikota Quartzite rocks, eventualy causing a deep, rocky canyon - a picturesque and breathtaking site that words fail to describe. @ The Miniature Charminar   @ Jama Masjid, Gandikota      On the right banks of the Gorge, the ramparts of the 13th Century Fort stand tall, originally a site of a vassal of Western Chalykyas / Chalukyas of Kalyana. Later, the Vijayanagara Era (c.1336-1646 CE) gave a larger and beautiful dimesnion to the place - with the now dilapadated Madhavaraya (Lord Shri Krishna) and Ranganatha Swamy (Lord Shri Maha Vishnu) temples standing as proud examples. The region came under the control of the artistic Pemmasani Nayakas, who were more renowned for the temples at Lepakshi and Tadipatri.  The walls and pillars of the temples hark back to the halcyon days of Hampi rivalling modern day European megacities, with fantastic figurines of River Goddesses, Yali Cavalry, Apsaras, tales from Ramayana and Mahabharatha competing for space and attention.   @ Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Gandikota After the Golconda conquest of Gandikota, Jama Masjid, a Miniature Charminar and Jail were commissioned by the victorious Mir Jumla (c.1650 CE) which complete the other monuments of the fort. After a sturdy but refreshing three hours, as the Sun was beating down, I made my retreat. By luck, as I was gulping down tea, I spotted a lone auto without any passengers, got down at Anna Canteen near the Tahsildar's Office in Jammalamadugu, and had a sumptuous Rs.5/- meal.  @ Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Gandikokta While visiting the Grand Canyon on Colarado river in Amazon (USA) reamains a distant prospect, I take great pride and happiness in visiting teh Grand Canyon of India - a sight to behold, a much needed sojourn amidst the hum drum of the routine life.

@ The Grand Canyon of India

         

@ Gandikota - The Grand Canyon of India.
Maheeth Veluvali,
16 Saladi Jamindar Street, Palakollu,.
Monday, 17th of August, 2026.

@ The Gibraltor of India

 

(January 2026 - Gwalior Fortress, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh)

Me @ Gwalior Fort, Gwalior

As per legend, Suraj Sen, the mythical king of present day Chambal region was cured of an ailment, thanks to the advice of Sage Gwalipa who asked the ailed King to drink water from a sacred Pond. To this day, the Pond known as Suraj Kund is located inside the fortress, which was commissioned by the cured King, who named it Gwalior, in honor of the Sage. However, inscriptions record the region's name as Gop-Giri i.e, the Cowherd's Hill. @ Samadhi of Jhansi Laxmi Bai, Phool Bagh, Gwalior Me @ Samadhi of Jhansi Laxmi Bai The imposing citadel of Gwalior Fortress, perched atop the Gopachal Hill-Plateau, overlooking the city of Gwalior is truly regarded as the “Gibraltor of India”. The fort is one of the oldest surviving forts in India, and was held successively by the Guptas, the Hunas, the Gurjara – Pratiharas, the Kachchhapaghatas, the Delhi Sultanate, the Tomars, the Mughals, the Marathas, the Jats & finally the Scindias of Gwalior. Me @ Gwalior Fort, Gwalior  Surrounded by Siddhachal caves and Gopachal rock cut Jain monuments, the Fortress of Gwalior witnessed many key events of Indian history like the defeat of Mihirakula Huna, the Invasion of Ghaznvids and Ghurids, the resurgence of Man Singh Tomar, the resourcefulness of the Mughals, the opulence and modernity of the Scindias, and the bravery and sacrifice of Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi. Gwalior Fort Wall - Iconic Blue Tiles   The view from the hill top is captivating. Spread over 3 Sq Kms and connected by six imposing bastions perched on the edge of the hill, with the walls proudly displaying blue tile works and dilapidated paintings, some of the iconic structures in the fort include Man Mandir Palace, Jahangir Palace, Shah Jahan Palace, Gujari Mahal and the impressive Hathi Pol Entrance.   View from Gwalior Fort Hill top overlooking Gwalior City     Another interesting monument to look out for is the Chaturbhuj Temple / Temple of Zero, which has one of the oldest recorded evidences of Zero in inscriptional form, resembling the modern zero (0) in usage (875 CE). Over a period of time, there was large scale damage and iconoclasm in the Fortress, but from these tragic tales which turned out to be false ends, there was resurgence. Me @ Gwalior Fort, Gwalior In the early 16th Century, the first of the Great Mughals finally set foot on Gwalior. The fort was passed on from the Lodhis. While ordering destruction of the Jain monuments, he stood amazed at the Gwalior Fortress, and murmured, designating it as the “Pearl among the fortresses of the Hind”. Centuries later, Gwalior Fort would be last heroic stand of Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi, on whose valor and sacrifice, the opposing Field Marshal Hugh Rose remarked "here lay the woman who was the only man among the rebels". Zero Temple / Chaturbhuj Temple, Gwalior Fort Zero Temple / Chaturbhuj Temple, Gwalior Fort Zero Temple / Chaturbhuj Temple, Gwalior Fort While one may despise the violent imperial ambition and religious zeal of Babur, his aesthetic eye and artistic appeal in celebrating the Gibraltor of India is worth emulating.

         

@ @ The Gibraltor of India.
Maheeth Veluvali,
16 Saladi Jamindar Street, Palakollu,.
23rd of April, 2026.

Vikramaditya's Ujjain

Me @ Mahakal

(January 2026 - Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh) 

It is said that no poet could describe a city as opulent and lavish as Kalidasa, the greatest Sanskrit Dramatist described Ujjain in his magnum opus, Meghaduta. Kalidasa stood on the banks of River Kshipra, at the Zenith of India's Golden Age (The Gupta Era, c.320-550 CE), wondering that the city is a role model of heaven on earth, and could disappear in an instant, returning to heaven. To this day, this myth prevails and people from surrounding areas are wary of an overnight stay in this city. And I had the great fortune of visiting this celestial city, the abode of Lord Shiva, as Maha Kal, the one unconstrained by the travails of time and space. 

@Kala Bhairav Temple

@ Mangalnath

Ujjain, formerly Avantika is a historical and spiritual city located in Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, on the banks of River Kshipra, through which the Tropic of Cancer passes. It is one of the Sapta Puri i.,e seven holiest Hindu cities, and is a popular pilgrimage site. It was the capital and grandest city of the Gupta Era, under the capable, aesthetic and popular reign of Chandragupta II Vikramaditya, and is one of the oldest cities that had been in continuous existence since times immemorial.

@ Gadh Kalika Devi Temple

@ Sandipani Ashram

The Mahakaleshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, as Maha Kal is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga Saiva Temples, noted for it's early morning Bhasma Arti ritual, and is the only major Saiva temple where the Shiva Linga is South facing. I booked an online Sheegra Darshan ticket and had a hassle free darshan, that took less than an hour. It was a truly divine experience to catch a glimpse of, and offer humble salutations to Lord Shiva. The recently renovated Maha Kal Lok Corridor surrounding the temple offers is a fantastic piece de resistance, soothing for an evening walk, resplendent with lighting and various Puranic sculptures representing Lord Shiva and his deeds. 

@ Vikramaditya Teela

There are many other temples and shrines in the city. The Temple of Gadh Kalika Devi, the Kul Devi of Kalidasa, is one of the Ashtadasa Shakti Peethas. Maa Harsiddha Temple is another iconic temple and is associated with Shaktism. Sree Mangalnath Temple - India's only temple dedicated to Mars / Mangal, on the banks of River Kshipra attracts huge crowds. Kal Bhairav Temple, Guardian of Ujjain, located a far is known for the offering (Prasad) of Alcohol. The Sandipani Ashram is associated with the epics Bhagavatam and Mahabharatham, and is the Ashram of Sage Sandipani, the Acharya of Lord Shri Krishna, Balarama and Sudama / Kuchela. Ujjain's beauty lies in it's versatility, where aesthetic excellence and scientific spirit coexisted, as vouched for by the presence of Arya Bhatta, Varahamihira among the Navratnas and the Jantar Mantar commissioned by Raja Sawai Jai Singh of Amber in 17th Century. 

   

@ Jantar Mantar

During the evening, Kshipra Harati at Ram Ghat offers a rejuvenating and blissful experience with the active participation of  the locals and the devout. One of the interesting features of this Kshetra is that the Maha Prasad never goes to waste. Ujjain is the ideal city, ruled by the ideal king, Vikramaditya, ever blessed by the Lord of time himself, and is etched forever in the annals of Indian history and spirituality. 

Vikramaditya's Ujjain - On Ujjain

Maheeth Veluvali, 

Monday, 13th of April, 2026.

Palakollu

The Thermopylae of Rajasthan

(A Poetic Tribute to the famous Battle of Haldighati, fought between the numerically superior and materially prosperous Mughal Empire led by Raja Man Singh and the fiercely Independent Mewar Kingdom led by the famous Maharana Pratap, on 18th June, 1576 CE. The battle is regarded as the Themopylae of Rajasthan for the heroic last stand of Mewar.) 

The Forts of Rajputana shook at the Great Mughals' gumption

with new allies and old foes all seeking redemption.

Yet, on the turmeric colored pass, Mewar's Rana stood tall;  

For his warriors, the battle's a game, with no fear of fall. 

@ Museum, Haldighati

Men, Horses, Elephants all set for glory; 

Ambition clashed with courage, and the result's very gory. 

Near the impregnable Kumbhalgarh, a tryst with blood  was sought,

and with Saffron clad frenzy, the outnumbered Rana's troops fought. 

 

Me at Haldighati Pass

But the forces of the Emperor's trusted lieutenant were not ill prepared,  

and the deadly battle raged on, with hell's cynical glare.  

The adjacent pond became redder and redder with each passing minute;

The victors and vanquished became inseparable with no escape route 

Me at Haldighati

Then at that fateful movement, the noble & sweet stallion Chetak was wounded;

With worse to come, with all hope lost, the Rana’s forces were rounded. 

The Bhils rallied behind Rana, but the battle was long over,  

The bloody day ended, but the battle and the warriors’ deeds remain etched in Mewar’s folkore. 

Samadhi of Chetak, Halighati

"The Thermopylae of Rajasthan" (Poem /Poetic Tribute/ English) 

Maheeth Veluvali, 

16 Saladi Jamindar Street, 

Palakollu. 

Friday, 20eth of March, 2026.

ఓ చింత చెట్టు కథ

(సంక్రాంతి, జనవరి 2026; గ్వాలియర్, మధ్య ప్రదేశ్)  

జిబ్రాల్టర్ అఫ్ ఇండియా గా పేరుగడించిన, శత్రుదుర్భేద్యమైన,  గ్వాలియర్ కోట సందర్శన పూర్తి అయ్యింది. దగ్గర్లో వున్న తెలీ కా మందిర్, సాస్ బహూ గుళ్ళ దర్శనమూ అయ్యింది. తదుపరి మజిలీ హిందుస్తానీ సంగీత సామ్రాట్ తాన్సేన్  గారి సమాధి. 2023 లో గ్వాలియర్ నగరానికి UNSECO World Heritage City of Music గా గుర్తింపు వచ్చింది. హిందుస్తానీ సంగీత సంప్రదాయం లో గ్వాలియర్ ఘరానా (గురు శిష్య పరంపర) చాలా సుప్రసిద్ధమైనది, పురాతనమైనది. ఈ ఘరానా / గురు శిష్య పరంపర కి ఆద్యుడు రాజ రామ తనూ పాన్డే అలియాస్ తాన్సేన్. గ్వాలియర్ నగరవాసి.

సాస్ బహు గుడి దగ్గర నుంచి ర్యాపిడో  బుక్ చేశాను. క్యాప్టెన్ పేరు దీపక్ యాదవ్ గారు. ఏదో బిజినెస్ మెన్ అని చెప్పారు. సాస్ బహు గుడి దగ్గర నుంచి ర్యాపిడో బైకు మీద తాన్ సేన్ సమాధి వైపు కదిలాను. ర్యాపిడో బైక్ గంభీరమైన గ్వాలియర్ వీడి మాధవరావు సింధియా గారి విగ్రహం దాటి, వన్ టౌన్ ఏరియా, మార్కెట్ మీద గా చేరాల్సిన చోట కి చేరాం. తాన్సేన్ గారి సమాధి పక్కనే మహ్మద్ గౌస్ అనే సుఫీ ప్రవక్త సమాధి వుంది, అది చాలా పెద్దది. సమాధి వైపు వెళ్తూనే మెట్ల మీద వున్న ఒకాయన ఉపోద్ఘాతం అందుకున్నారు, తెలిసి తెలియని విశేషాలు చెప్తూ తాన్సేన్ గురించి. లోగా నా తో పాటు వచ్చిన యాదవ్ గారు సమాధి వైపు వెళ్లి సాష్టాన్గపడ్డారు. అక్కడే ఆవరణ లో కంచె వేసిన చింత చెట్టు ఒకటి కనిపించింది. 

అతి కష్టం మీద యాదవ్ గారు ఇంకొకాయన ఆ చింత చెట్టు దగ్గర చాల సాహాసం తో నాలుగు ఆకులు కోసి, అత్యంత వినమ్రంగా నమిలారు.  నేను కుతూహలం గా చెట్టు గురించి వాకబు చేశాను. అది మంచి మహిమ కలిగిన చింత చెట్టు అని, దానికి చింత కాయలు ఏమీ కాయవని, దాని ఆకులు నమిలితే తాన్సేన్ మాదిరి గాత్ర మాధుర్యం కలుగుతుందని నమ్మకం ట. అది అక్కడి ఆచారం ట. సమాధి కి వచ్చి పోయే సందర్శకులు, ముఖ్యంగా ఏటా జరిగే తాన్సేన్ ఉత్సవం అప్పుడు అరి వీర భయంకరాకారం గా చెట్టు బెరళ్ళు ఊడబీకేవారని, చెట్టు ఇంక ఉంటుందో లేదో అన్న దీనస్థితి కి చేరుకున్న కారణంగా దానికి ఒక కంచే వేసి రక్షించారని తెలియవచ్చింది. భలే ముచ్చట వేసింది.

మొఘల్ చక్రవర్తి అక్బర్ పాదుషా మన్ననలు పొందిన నవరత్నాల లో ఒకరైన తాన్సేన్ గారు బహుసా ఇక్కడే నడుస్తూ ఏదో ఒక రోజు ఈ చెట్టు ఆకులు నమిలి వుండవచ్చు. జనం అది చూసి మానవ ప్రయత్నం తో సాధించిన excellence ని జీర్ణించుకోలేక సంగీత పాండిత్యాన్ని చింత చెట్టు కి అపాదిన్చారేమో.  లేక, నిజంగా తాన్సేన్ గారి ప్రతి చర్యని గౌరవంగా అనుకరించాలనే ఉత్సాహం ఏమో, అది కాక పొతే నిజంగా చింత చెట్టు ఆకులకి మహత్తు వుందేమో. 

నన్ను కుడా నమలమన్నారు. సరే, ఇంక ఇప్పుడు వచ్చే గాత్ర మాధుర్యం తో నేను తాన్సేన్ లాగా రాగ మల్హర్, రాగ దీపక్ లు పాడినా, పోషించే అక్బర్ పాదుషాలు లేరు గా. దీనం గా చూస్తున్న ఆ చింత చెట్టు వైపు మరీ పుష్పవిలాపం టైపు లో ఫీల్ అవ్వకపోయినా, ఆకులు నమిలే ఆ ఆఫర్ ని సున్నితంగా తిరస్కరించాను.  

ఓ చింత చెట్టు కథ  (Telugu Story)

Maheeth Veluvali,
16 Saladi Jamindar Street, Palakollu,.

16th of March, 2026.