My recent India Trip - 03/26 - 04/10, was a short one but an eventful one. I travelled a lot in the scorching heat of 100 - 104 degree Fahrenheit with humidity touching 80-85% during the day. I 
went to my paternal hometown of Berhampur, which is the trading capital of Orissa, situated in the southern tip of Orissa, this city draws a lot of flavor from its neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh. Telugu is spoken by 75% of the population and 99% of the people enjoy telugu movies. I had a two day stay over there and hustled and bustled with the always moving busy crowd in the crampling streets of Berhampur. I returned back to Bhubaneswar and stayed there for 5 days of which most of the time was lost in meeting relatives but I took time to go to my alma mater - DAV Public School, Unit - 8, BBSR. After a massive extension and construction, this school has now started imparting Distance Education in Management Faculties.
went to my paternal hometown of Berhampur, which is the trading capital of Orissa, situated in the southern tip of Orissa, this city draws a lot of flavor from its neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh. Telugu is spoken by 75% of the population and 99% of the people enjoy telugu movies. I had a two day stay over there and hustled and bustled with the always moving busy crowd in the crampling streets of Berhampur. I returned back to Bhubaneswar and stayed there for 5 days of which most of the time was lost in meeting relatives but I took time to go to my alma mater - DAV Public School, Unit - 8, BBSR. After a massive extension and construction, this school has now started imparting Distance Education in Management Faculties.During my stay at BBSR I went to the historic site of Dhauligiri, site of the famous Kalinga War. The Kalinga War 
(कलिन्ग युध्धम्) was a war fought between the Mauryan Empire under Ashoka the Great and the state of Kalinga, a feudal republic located on the coast of the present-day Indian state of Orissa. The war began in the 8th year of Ashoka's reign, probably in 261 BC. Ashoka's father Bindusara had previously attempted to conquer Kalinga, but had been repulsed. After a bloody battle for the throne after Bindusara's death, Ashoka tried to annex Kalinga. He was successful only after a savage war, whose consequences changed Ashoka's views on war and led him to pledge never to wage a war. It is said that in the aftermath of the Battle of Kalinga the Daya River running next to the battle field turned red with the blood of the slain; about 100,000 Kalinga civilians and more than 10,000 
of Ashoka's own warriors were among those slain. Dhauli hill is presumed to be the area where the Kalinga War was fought. The historically important Dhauli hills are located on the banks of the Daya River, 8 km south of Bhubaneswar. Dhauli hill, with a vast open space adjoining it, has major Edicts of Asoka engraved on a mass of rock by the side of the road leading to the summit of the hill. Also known as a Peace Pagoda, Dhauligiri Stupa displays the Buddhist glory of ancient India. Built by Kalinga Nippon, Buddha Sangha, in the early seventies, with the influence of Guruji Fuji, founder president of Nipponzan Myohoji of Japan, this stupa adds a charisma to this important Buddhist destination...
(कलिन्ग युध्धम्) was a war fought between the Mauryan Empire under Ashoka the Great and the state of Kalinga, a feudal republic located on the coast of the present-day Indian state of Orissa. The war began in the 8th year of Ashoka's reign, probably in 261 BC. Ashoka's father Bindusara had previously attempted to conquer Kalinga, but had been repulsed. After a bloody battle for the throne after Bindusara's death, Ashoka tried to annex Kalinga. He was successful only after a savage war, whose consequences changed Ashoka's views on war and led him to pledge never to wage a war. It is said that in the aftermath of the Battle of Kalinga the Daya River running next to the battle field turned red with the blood of the slain; about 100,000 Kalinga civilians and more than 10,000 
of Ashoka's own warriors were among those slain. Dhauli hill is presumed to be the area where the Kalinga War was fought. The historically important Dhauli hills are located on the banks of the Daya River, 8 km south of Bhubaneswar. Dhauli hill, with a vast open space adjoining it, has major Edicts of Asoka engraved on a mass of rock by the side of the road leading to the summit of the hill. Also known as a Peace Pagoda, Dhauligiri Stupa displays the Buddhist glory of ancient India. Built by Kalinga Nippon, Buddha Sangha, in the early seventies, with the influence of Guruji Fuji, founder president of Nipponzan Myohoji of Japan, this stupa adds a charisma to this important Buddhist destination...My last destination was The City of Dreams - Mumbai, I had to take my DL17 to JFK at 00:20 hrs on 04/10/08. I had couple of hours to scan around the places of interest. Being the commerc
ial capital it boasts of places like, Nariman Point, Marine Drive, Dalal Street,, VT etc. Bombay VT was christened VT (Victoria Terminus) to commemorate Victoria Jubilee Day in 1887 when India's first steam engine puffed out to neighboring Thane, about 45 kms away. Modeled by Frederick William Stevens, on the lines of the St Pancras Station in London, Victoria Terminus is undoubtedly the Raj's piece de resistance. In 1996 When Shiv Sena came to power VT was rechristened छत्रपती शिवाजी अंतक CST (Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus). and the master piece statue of Queen Victoria was plugged off it's base just below the clock, denting the beauty of this Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture fused with traditional Indian architectural brilliance. Waking up in 2004 UNESCO comes to rescue nominating it as a World Heritage Site. But to the 2.5 million commuters who push past its mass
ive portals everyday, this is still VT, the pulse of a throbbing city. Just opposite to VT is बृहन्मुंबई महानगर पालिका (BMC) building. It is the administrative headquarters of the India's richest and the largest civic organisation. The design of the building, based on the Gothic Revival style
by Frederick William Stevens was completed in 1893. Walking round the corner you will see the spectacular भारताचे प्रवेशद्वार, The Gateway of India was built to commemorate the arrival in India, on 02/12/1911, of King George V and Queen Mary and was completed on 04/12/1924. Opposite to Gateway of India is the most prestigious hotel property, Taj Mahal Palace. The Taj Mahal Palace hotel resort was commissioned by Jamsetji Tata and first opened its doors to guests on December 16, 1903. Tata allegedly decided to build the luxurious hotel after he was refused 
entry to one of the city's grand hotels of the time, Watson's Hotel, as it was restricted to 'whites only'. During World War I, the hotel was converted into a 600-bed hospital. The side of the hotel seen from the harbor is actually its rear. The front faces away to the west. It was deliberately built facing inland rather than to the harbor. This was probably a deliberate snub to the English king by Jamsetji Tata due to nationalist feelings. Five decades ago, the old front was closed off, and access is since then through the seaside (former rear). There used to be a Green's Hotel next to the property, which was purchased by the Taj Mahal Hotel. It was at the Green's Hotel, that a small group of pro-Indian Goans assembled and formed the Goan Liberation Council demanding that Portugal cede Goa to India, in the 1950s. Later, the Green's hot
el was demolished and in its place the present Taj Mahal Intercontinental Hotel was constructed. It was time for the street lights and the setting sun over the Arabian Sea was casting a colorful spell. I rushed to have glimpse before winding up for the day. The glimpse with the backdrop of नरिमन पॉईंट - Nariman Point captured with my Olympus E-550 was by far the best of the tour. Nariman Point is Mumbai's premier business district. Named after Khursheed Framji Nariman, a Parsi visionary & BMC Corporator it is situated on land reclaimed from the sea. It had the highest commercial real estate rental space in the world, with property prices for a flat sold at a record $8.62 million (USD) on November 26 2007, at an astonishing $2488 (Rs.97,842) per square foot. The area is situated on the extreme southern tip of Marine Drive. It houses some of India's premier business headquarters. DL17 left sharp at 00:20 hrs on 04/10/08 and it took a 15hrs long journey to reach JFK. A short trip but an eventful one, thats what I said.
ial capital it boasts of places like, Nariman Point, Marine Drive, Dalal Street,, VT etc. Bombay VT was christened VT (Victoria Terminus) to commemorate Victoria Jubilee Day in 1887 when India's first steam engine puffed out to neighboring Thane, about 45 kms away. Modeled by Frederick William Stevens, on the lines of the St Pancras Station in London, Victoria Terminus is undoubtedly the Raj's piece de resistance. In 1996 When Shiv Sena came to power VT was rechristened छत्रपती शिवाजी अंतक CST (Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus). and the master piece statue of Queen Victoria was plugged off it's base just below the clock, denting the beauty of this Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture fused with traditional Indian architectural brilliance. Waking up in 2004 UNESCO comes to rescue nominating it as a World Heritage Site. But to the 2.5 million commuters who push past its mass
ive portals everyday, this is still VT, the pulse of a throbbing city. Just opposite to VT is बृहन्मुंबई महानगर पालिका (BMC) building. It is the administrative headquarters of the India's richest and the largest civic organisation. The design of the building, based on the Gothic Revival style
by Frederick William Stevens was completed in 1893. Walking round the corner you will see the spectacular भारताचे प्रवेशद्वार, The Gateway of India was built to commemorate the arrival in India, on 02/12/1911, of King George V and Queen Mary and was completed on 04/12/1924. Opposite to Gateway of India is the most prestigious hotel property, Taj Mahal Palace. The Taj Mahal Palace hotel resort was commissioned by Jamsetji Tata and first opened its doors to guests on December 16, 1903. Tata allegedly decided to build the luxurious hotel after he was refused 
entry to one of the city's grand hotels of the time, Watson's Hotel, as it was restricted to 'whites only'. During World War I, the hotel was converted into a 600-bed hospital. The side of the hotel seen from the harbor is actually its rear. The front faces away to the west. It was deliberately built facing inland rather than to the harbor. This was probably a deliberate snub to the English king by Jamsetji Tata due to nationalist feelings. Five decades ago, the old front was closed off, and access is since then through the seaside (former rear). There used to be a Green's Hotel next to the property, which was purchased by the Taj Mahal Hotel. It was at the Green's Hotel, that a small group of pro-Indian Goans assembled and formed the Goan Liberation Council demanding that Portugal cede Goa to India, in the 1950s. Later, the Green's hot
el was demolished and in its place the present Taj Mahal Intercontinental Hotel was constructed. It was time for the street lights and the setting sun over the Arabian Sea was casting a colorful spell. I rushed to have glimpse before winding up for the day. The glimpse with the backdrop of नरिमन पॉईंट - Nariman Point captured with my Olympus E-550 was by far the best of the tour. Nariman Point is Mumbai's premier business district. Named after Khursheed Framji Nariman, a Parsi visionary & BMC Corporator it is situated on land reclaimed from the sea. It had the highest commercial real estate rental space in the world, with property prices for a flat sold at a record $8.62 million (USD) on November 26 2007, at an astonishing $2488 (Rs.97,842) per square foot. The area is situated on the extreme southern tip of Marine Drive. It houses some of India's premier business headquarters. DL17 left sharp at 00:20 hrs on 04/10/08 and it took a 15hrs long journey to reach JFK. A short trip but an eventful one, thats what I said.Check out the pics at : http://patnaiksworld.blogspot.com/
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