Saturday 30 December 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 117

                                                   RESTORING LOST GLORY


'Restoring lost glory', a write-up on the ancient Padmatheertham pond, its twin tank Patrakulam, and the Cochar, Thiruvananthapuram, The Hindu, 30-12-2017.


Friday 22 December 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 116

                                                           VINTAGE CHARM


'Vintage charm', a write-up on the C.S.I. Christ Church in the Old Cantonment area, Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, The Hindu, Friday Review, 22-12-2017.


Sunday 17 December 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 115

                                                   WHERE THE PAST IS PRESENT
'Where the past is present', a write-up on the ancient Mitranadapuram Trimurti temple in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, The Hindu, 16-12-2017.


Saturday 25 November 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 114

CRAFTING A LEGACY

'Crafting a legacy', a write-up on the famed craftsman Kalaratnam O. Velayudhan Achari who designed the idol of Sree Sastha for Sabarimala temple, The Hindu, 25-11-2017.

Sunday 12 November 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 113

A NEW CHAPTER

'A new chapter', a write-up on the famed Konnakode family, Colachal, who were the original custodians of Mandaikadu Devi temple, Tamilnadu, The Hindu, 11-11-2017.
http://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/a-new-chapter/article20103678.ece


Saturday 28 October 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 112

CARVING A NICHE FOR ARTS

'Carving a niche for arts', a write-up on master ivory carver Neelakantan Achari and his association with Dewan Sir T. Madhava Rao, The Hindu, 28-10-2017.


Tuesday 17 October 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 111

THE LIGHT SHINES ON

'The light shines on', a write-up on Hill View, the private residence of Dewan T. Rama Rao, 
The Hindu, 14-10-2017.


Thursday 28 September 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 110

A DIAMOND IN VELLAYAMBALAM

'A diamond in Vellayambalam', a write-up on Diamond Hill, the private residence of Sri. Nanoo Pillai, Dewan of Travancore, The Hindu 23-09-2017.


Sunday 10 September 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – LXXXIII

REVIVING TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE

'Reviving traditional architecture', a write-up on architect Robert F. Chisholm and Travancore's brush with Indo-Saracenic architecture, The Hindu 11-09-2017.


Monday 28 August 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – LXXXII

CRAFTING AN ONAM TRADITION

'Crafting an Onam tradition', The Pallivillu, a.k.a., Onavillu, the ceremonial bow presented to Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple, The Hindu 25-08-2017.


Wednesday 23 August 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – LXXXI

SHEAVES OF NOSTALGIA

'Sheaves of nostalgia', Jagadamma (93 years), Retd. Deputy Thahasildar at Melkangakam Department recalls her memories of the city's agrarian past, The Hindu 19-08-2017.


Tuesday 15 August 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – LXXX

HOUSE WITH A REGAL PAST

'House with a regal past', a write-up on the ancient Thiruvattar Ammaveedu in Thiruvattar, Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu, The Hindu 05-08-2017.


Sunday 30 July 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – LXXIX

ABODE OF A WARRIOR GOD

'Abode of a warrior god', a write-up on the ancient Kumaracoil in Kanyakumari District and its association with the Navaratri festival in Thiruvananthapuram, The Hindu 22-07-2017.


Monday 10 July 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – LXXVIII

RISE OF THE WARRIORS

'Rise of the warriors', a write-up on the ancient clan of kalari asans of Kadakampally who assisted Marthanda Varma in his war against the Ettuveettil Pillamar, The Hindu 08-07-2017.
http://www.thehindu.com/society/rise-of-the-warriors/article19232570.ece


TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – LXXVII

PALACE ON THE HILL

'Palace on the hill', a write-up on the enchanting Kanakakunnu Palace and its history, Friday Review, The Hindu 07-07-2017. 
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/palace-on-the-hill/article19229433.ece


Monday 12 June 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – LXXVI

ART AND THE PRINCESS

'Art and the princess', write-up on Mangala Bayi Thampuratti of Kilimanoor Palace- the true matriarch artist of Travancore, The Hindu 10-06-2017.


Friday 9 June 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – LXXV

STORIES THESE FORTS NARRATE

'Stories these forts narrate', write-up on the famed Udayagiri fort and its association with De Lannoy, Friday Review, The Hindu 02-06-2017.


TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – LXXIIV

A ROYAL PROCESSION TO SASTHAMANGALAM

                'A royal procession to Sasthamangalam', write-up on the now forgotten royal procession to Sasthamangalam, The Hindu 06-05-2017.



Sunday 23 April 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – LXXIII

BUNGALOWS ON THE BEACH

                 'Bungalows on the beach', write-up on V. Krishnan Thampi's Beach Bungalow and other famous residences on the coastal stretch of Shangumugam, The Hindu 23-04-2017.


Tuesday 28 March 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – LXXII

STRADDLING TWO WORLDS

                 'Straddling two worlds', write-up on V. Krishnan Thampi, a Sanskrit scholar and founder of Kathakali Club, The Hindu 25-03-2017.


Sunday 12 March 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – LXXI

A TEMPLE WITH A HOARY PAST

                  'A temple with a hoary past', write-up on Neelakanta Swamy temple, Padmanabhapuram, and its place in Travancore history, The Hindu 11-03-2017.



Sunday 5 February 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – LXCIIV

A PALACE FOR A SCHOLAR AND PRINCE

'A palace for a scholar and prince', write-up on Saraswathy Vilasam palace, West Fort, Thiruvananthapuram, the abode of Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran, a.k.a., Kerala Kalidasan, The Hindu 04-02-2017.


Tuesday 31 January 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – LXCIII

                                                  CHALA, A MARKET OF ANTIQUITY

'Chala, a market of antiquity', a search for the origin of Chala market, Thiruvananthapuram,                         The Hindu 21-01-2017.


Sunday 8 January 2017

TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – LXCII

                                  THE TRAVANCORE-TANJAVUR CONNECTION


'The Travancore-Tanjavur connection', write-up on Vadasherri Padinjarae Ammaveedu, a.k.a., Tanjavur Ammaveedu in Perumthanni, constructed by Swathi Tirunal Rama Varma for his consort Sundara Lakshmi.