Allô Chatrath

  One of the most fascinating countries that I have visited twice is Peru. For both the trips Ms. Nila Soto Santiago (Official Tour Guide and Tour Operator: nilasoto@yahoo.com) facilitated my visits and I am so thankful to her. She has put some stunning photographs of Peru on Facebook which I am happy to share. The source of these photographs entitled ‘Perú and it’s hidden treasures’ is reservas@perulimaguides.com    

  Niche with Lord Ganesha image in Siddhesvara Temple, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Photo source: Archeological Survey of India.   Simha Dwar, the main entrance of Sri Jaannatha Temple, Puri, Odisha, India, with the pillar of Aruna in the foreground.      Odisha, India- one place you must visit before you die. Please consider my suggestion...I have seen a bit of world, having visited 62 countries besides Antarctica and Arctic Circle.     Shanti (peace) Stupa, not far from Bhubaneswar, near the place where the Kalinga War was fought in 261 B.C.                                                                                 Udayagiri  Udayagiri   Ratnagiri (Source: Deptt of Tourism, Govt of Odisha)  

Walking leisurely in Budapest a few years back, I suddenly came across a beautiful building. Going nearer I found it to be the Budapest Museum of Applied Arts. Following the establishment of similar museums in London, Vienna and Berlin, and upon realizing the importance of handicrafts and industrial design, the Museum of Applied Arts in Budapest was founded by the Hungarian Parliament in 1872. From the start, the Museum has collected applied art works contemporary and historical, from Hungary and abroad. Its collections have come from several sources. The core of the historical collection consists of antiques transferred from the Hungarian National Museum, while the contemporary collection was originally built up from purchases at world fairs (Vienna 1873, Paris 1878, Paris 1889) and gifts by companies (Herend Porcelain Manufactory, Zsolnay). As the collections expanded, a building was erected to accommodate them. The opening of the Museum building on 25 October 1896, attende

  Chennakeshava Temple, also referred to as Keshava, Kesava or Vijayanarayana Temple of Belur, is a 12th-century Hindu temple in the Hassan district of Karnataka state, India. It was commissioned by King Vishnuvardhana in 1117 CE, on the banks of the Yagachi River in Belur also called Velapura, an early Hoysala Empire capital.  

It is universally agreed that of all the creations by God/Nature, woman is the most beautiful. But what is beauty? Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder- said someone. No, no, it was not Shakespeare.  This statement “Beauty Lies In The Eyes Of The Beholder” is said to be  paraphrase of a statement by Greek philosopher Plato and was reportedly first expressed by an Irish novelist in the 19th century. Be as it may, beauty is not the preserve of any country or race. There are beautiful ladies around the world. Internet lets us looks at some such beauties.   Since 2013, Mihaela Norac, a Romanian photographer has traveled the world taking photos of everyday women to showcase the diversity of beauty all around us. The Atlas of Beauty is a collection of her photographs celebrating women from all corners of the world, revealing that beauty is everywhere, and that it comes in many different sizes and colors. ‘30 beautiful women from around the world’ is a collection of such photos by Mihae