Open Skies

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No sizzling summer, no dry spells, no office timings to adhere to, no schedules, no deadlines to meet, no traffic on the road, no hustle and bustle of city life...at least not for a while! That's what I felt when I took a flight to go on a short holiday.

After a brief stop in Mumbai...

Taj, Mumbai

And in Indore...

Rajwada - Holkar Palace, Indore

Passing through Dhar....

A street in Dhar

I spent a major part of my holidays this month in a small rocky spur of the Vindhyan mountain range, in a fort that was the dwelling place of the Parmara rulers of Malwa and the Sultans of yore.

Jami Masjid and Hoshang Shah's Tomb, Mandu

I liked the historical significance of Mandu, Madhya Pradesh and also the serenity of the Vindhya mountains.

On the way to Neelkanth, Mandu

In Mandu, I set out on endless walks with gay abandon, chatting up with friendly locals, biking around for commuting and recreation, in drizzle and downpour, munching on piping hot pakodas and sipping endless cups of hot chai. I was content cosying up on a couch and reading books, or admiring the lush green surroundings, or taking breaks to simply enjoy the pitter-patter of rain drops and the soothing monsoon breeze, or watch the changing colours of a sunset.

Sunset from Chisti Khan's Palace, Mandu

~~~

We live in a wonderful world that is full of
beauty, charm and adventure.
There is no end to the adventures we can have
if only we seek them with our eyes open.
~ J. Nehru