World Heritage Day - 18th April

     Recently we visited the first city in India to get the tag of the UNESCO World Heritage City - Ahmedabad. After visiting its numerous heritage structures, we realized that it indeed was a treasure-trove of our rich cultural and architectural heritage. 

     In my blog dated 24th February, I have relived my experience at Ahmedabad. Do peruse it!

     As an avid traveler who has visited lots of Indian heritage sites and been awe-struck by their resilience and sheer magnificence, I have lots of photographs to share. Here are some heritage landmarks:

Jantar-mantar  -  Jaipur, Rajasthan

Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti Dargah - Ajmer, Rajasthan

Velankanni Church - Nagapattiam, Tamil Nadu

Shore temples - Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu

Living heritage! 100 year old banyan tree - Auroville, Puducherry

Aurobindo Ashram - Puducherry

Fort Saint George - Chennai (First British Fortress of India) Tamil Nadu

Government museum - Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Chidambaram temple - Chidambaram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Varadaraja Perumal temple - Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

Sri Siddhi Vinayak Temple - Siddhatek, Maharashtra

Sri Jagdish temple - Udaipur, Gujarat

City Palace - Udaipur, Rajasthan

Saheliyon-ki-bawdi - Udaipur, Rajasthan

Ummed Bhawan palace - Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Mehrangarh fort - Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Jaswant Thada - Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Cenotaph - Mandore, Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Zenana Mahal - Mandore, Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Ambaji temple - Ambaji, Gujarat

Amer Fort - Jaipur, Rajasthan

World's largest cannon on wheels - Jaigarh Fort, Rajasthan

Amer Fort - Jaipur, Rajasthan

Maharaja Jaisingh's Palace - Jaipur, Rajasthan

Hawa Mahal - Jaipur, Rajasthan

St. Patrick's Cathedral - Pune, Maharashtra

Sun temple - Modhera, Gujarat

Sabarmati Ashram - Sabarmati, Gujarat

Adalaj step-well - Adalaj, Gujarat

The Empress Botanical Garden - Pune, Maharashtra

The Chennai Municipal Corporation building - Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Salarjung Museum - Hyderabad

Charminar - Hyderabad

Pichavaram mangroves - Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu

Taj Mahal - Agra, U.P.

Buland Darwaza - Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, U.P.

Panch Mahal
Rani Jodhabai's Palace - Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, U.P.

Ramgarh Palace - Varanasi, U.P.

Khwaja Salim Chisti's Dargah - Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, U.P.

The Sacred Ganges - Varanasi 

Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) - Amritsar, Punjab

You could read detailed reviews of most of these places on this blog. 

By the way, in my opinion, most of the cities in India would qualify for the UNESCO World Heritage City tag as architectural gems dot our country, making it vibrant and a tourist's delight!



Our ancient Indian civilization and its way of life has charmed visitors for centuries and will undoubtedly continue to do so in the ages to come. Long Live India!

I eagerly await the time when I will be able to visit all the heritage sites of the world. May it come soon...

I am delighted to inform you that I am in the top 10% of contributors from Pune to www.tripadvisor.in.

Priya's Vision Academy's Creative-writing Classes-cum-workshops - Now through email!

Dear friends,

With the Covid19 pandemic scare, all of us are locked up in our houses with lots of spare time. Why waste time twiddling your thumbs at home or racking your brain for what to do next? Why not use it fruitfully and creatively?

Priya's Vision Academy's creative writing classes-cum-workshops is the ideal solution to chase your blues away!

You could call up and express your interest and enroll for the creating writing classes, pay online through NEFT and get briefings, assignments and insights through email. Stay safe in this pandemic! By the end of three months, you will become confident enough to write effortlessly.

Hurry! Make an informed and right decision. Welcome to sharing Priya 's Vision!

Priya's Vision - Makes your life blossom!

Priya

Here are the details:

Priya's Vision Academy's Creative-writing Classes-cum-workshops 

Yes, you can also become a professional writer. Priya's Vision conducts classes-cum-workshops for those who are interested in creative writing and desire to see their names in print, one day.

All help and information will be provided regarding publications and their contact details.
 

The contents of the classes-cum-workshops will be aspects and techniques of writing stories, articles, travelogues, autobiographies, debates, etc. The classes/workshops will be fun-filled, interactive sessions packed with information. Assignments will be regularly given, assessed and analyzed. Suggestions will be given to improve the content. 

Kindly note that I have a Post-degree, Degree in Communication and Journalism from the Pune University (B.C.J.). I have an ad agency's experience too! My poems, articles and stories have been published in reputed newspapers like Maharashtra Herald, Pune Newsline and Sakal Times; and magazines like Woman's Era, Alive, Poona Digest, Citizen, etc. since 1989. I maintain 4 blogs. I am among the top 10% of contributors to tripadvisor.in from Pune.

I've published 14 e-books on Kindle titled 'The Enigma and other stories', 'The Obsession', 'The Mysterious Basement of Summer City', 'Just not meant for marriage!', 'Wow! Wrong number', 'You compromise, I won't!', 'A good old rumor! and other stories', 'Unconditional love in exchange', 'The Byline and other stories' and 'The Celestial Souls of Khambetka ', 'Of Siblings and E-friends', 'Dad's Great Boys!', 'God's Will', 'The Trophy Wife'. Thirteen books have been published as paperbacks too (at Amazon)! 

Besides the above-mentioned books, I have published a novel titled 'The Love-addict' at www.freeditorial.com.

I have published a novel titled 'A Suitor for the Princess' at www.radiantpriyasvision.blogspot.com (My blog).

I am serializing a novel titled 'No Mother-in-law, Please!' at www.wattpad.com.

I'd been adjudged as the second prize-winner in a novel-writing contest organized by Vishwakarma Publications, Pune; for my debut novel 'The Mysterious Basement of Summer City'. 

I had won the third prize in an essay-writing contest organized by the I.M.A., Pune; for an essay on the topic 'Should self-defense be a part of the curriculum for girls in schools?'

I have recently been awarded the 'Writers' Award Certificate' by www.penfactor.com for my story titled 'The Baby-doll'.

Total fees: Rs. 12000/- only (For senior citizens, the fees are Rs. 10500/- only) 

Please note that the fees are payable on registration, one day in advance. After remitting the fees through NEFT, proof of the same must be emailed to me for verification. The classes will commence after that only.

Age: 12 years and above 

Duration: 3 months 

Days: Any two days of the week.

Timings: 1.5 hours per day

Mode of instruction/assessment: Online through emails. 

A certificate of participation will be given to each participant at the end of the classes-cum-workshops. This certificate will be a hard copy.

Please don't miss this golden opportunity! Hurry! What are you waiting for? 

Enroll immediately for giving wings to your imagination and creativity! Learn the ropes from an established author who believes that anyone with some imagination can become a good writer. 

Your online reviews for my writings are most welcome!

Kindly contact: Mrs. Priya Swaminathan

Please call: 9850019553

Priya's Vision - Makes your life blossom!

P.S. Kindly spread the good word around! Thanks in anticipation. Priya

Today is the last day of the Kindle Countdown Deal offer for 'A Good Old Rumor! and other stories.' Available for only $ 0.99 at a whopping discount of 67% at www.amazon.com. Hurry! Kindly peruse it and review it online. Thanks. Priya

Kindle Countdown Deal - A Good Old Rumor! and other stories

Dear friends,

With the pandemic of Novel Corona virus swirling around the globe, lots of rumors concerning it are also doing the rounds.

Rumors can make or break things. Hence one must refrain from spreading rumors just for the heck of it.

A Kindle Countdown Deal will be on from 5th to 12th April, 2020 for my e-book titled A Good Old Rumor! and other stories at www.amazon.com.

It will be available for just  $0.99 at a whopping discount of 67%

Kindly peruse it and let me have your invaluable feedback. You could even peruse my other 16 e-books and paperback novels.

Thanks.
Priya Swaminathan

P.S. No, this is not a rumor, though it sounds too good to be true!

Excerpt from a story in this book

Alan Great

           

           One day, a pretty young girl named Charlotte walked into the Club and into my life. She was also blonde, had the bluest eyes ever, just like the sky on a sunny summer afternoon, was slightly freckled and most charming. Her elegant gowns in pastels enraptured all the gals there. Her smile bedazzled all the blokes there. She had many suitors but she chose me. I felt honored and privileged. I later asked her why she had chosen me. She said “You are different.” 

                                                          ****************

           On my 16^th birthday, I asked her out for a date. We went into the woods and sat under a tree, with a picnic basket. She had her head on my lap and I was sitting with my back against a huge tree. She was pretty in her sunny yellow apron frock and small matching cap. In great spirits, she was humming a merry tune and looking up at me with those lovely blue eyes. I saw the sky reflected in them.

         

           Suddenly Alexander took over me and I asked, “So what’s so different about me Charlie?”

          

           She laughed and those freckles reddened. Then she laughed harder. I found it strange. Fascinating!

          

           Then warning bells began to ring in my head.

          

           “You’re weird!” she said and then repeated for good measure, as if I was deaf, “You are weird!”

          

            Something snapped within me. A deafening roar filled my ears. Hot, molten lava erupted through the boiling crater and burst out with a terrifying blast. The clouds turned red. The lava turned everything on its way into ash. Those on its fringes, it singed black; with hatred! The lava wound itself through everything that challenged its right of way and smothered it till it could dare no more!

          

           The audacity of that chit of a girl! Charlie lay smothered and lifeless on my lap. I had strangled her so quickly; she didn’t even get a chance to scream. Well, served her right! How dare she mock me, The Greatest Ever…!

           

           I dragged her lifeless, yet pretty body, deep into the woods and pushed her into a ravine. The picnic basket followed her, in case she felt hungry later!

          

           But her bulging blue eyes haunted me ever since.

END OF EXCERPT

Intrigued? Read on to find out what happens next..... Happy reading!

Stay at home and stay safe! Keep the NCovid - 19 virus at bay!

Kindle Countdown Deal - God's Will

Dear friends,

          For the God-fearing people in this world, nothing in life occurs without His Will!

         

          They lead their lives with a song on their lips and a prayer in their hearts. They are hard-working folks of the soil who swear by their sweat and toil.

           Babu and Rojakutty are two such simpletons who lead a solitary existence in their village, till their paths cross.

          

           Will their destinies entwine or unravel?

          

          Read on to find out, in my engrossing novel titled God's Will - (All the way...)

          This novel is available at www.amazon.com under a Kindle Countdown Deal from today, that is 13th to 20th March, 2020, for just $0.99.

         Kindly peruse it and let me have your invaluable feedback. You could even have a free preview at the site.

 

         While you are it, you could even peruse my other 13 books at www.amazon.com.

 Thanks, 

Priya 

          Excerpt from this book

          “Roja, Roja palli” she heard a familiar voice behind her.

          

          She whirled around and King Dushyant was standing face to face with her. He winked at her. She laughed at the weird sight. His face painted in bright green with the white and red winged eyebrows and red nose, stiff white ceramic covering the lower chin with a heavy, studded crown on his head, stared back at her; with his dark eyes merrily smiling down at her.

          

          His billowing, tent-like, regal costume swathed his body in layers of clothing. A heavy perfume of kewda assailed her nostrils as he came closer. She involuntarily stepped back,

 befuddled. How did he know the nickname that Babu had given her? Was he his friend? How dare that scoundrel address her like that in public? Even wink at her?

          

          Just as she got ready for a slanging match, it struck her. She slapped her forehead and exclaimed “Babu?”

          

          He bowed down deeply and said in an exaggerated tone, “Naane daan. It’s me!”

          

          Now she spoke with awe and reverence. “Wow, Babu! You really got me there. I never knew that you are a part-time Kathakali performer. You never revealed it to me. I must say, that you are an excellent performer. Your thick, handlebar moustache really becomes you. King Dushyant indeed!”

          

          Babu was elated and his face creased into his familiar grin, showing sparkling white teeth through his bright red painted lips.

          

          His grin expanded further and nearly reached his ears as she added further, “And your reference to the fish in the story was also not lost on me! You deliberately chose this play as I like fish, don’t you?” She sounded pleased as punch. Now her fangs were bared in undisguised glee, reveling in the fact that Babu

truly cared for her and wanted to please her, going the extra mile for her!

          

          He also inhaled the heady fragrance of Emami as he walked with her, all the way back home, walking with his right hand dragging his cycle by its handle, and the left one, possessively around her broad shoulders. Everyone on the same path curiously stared at the couple as Babu was still in his full costume and make-up.

          

          “Raja Dushyant and Rani Shakuntala!” exclaimed some enthusiastic passers-by. The couple giggled. They really felt like the royal couple and basked in the reflected glory.

          

          The next day they would go back to catching fish and bringing down coconuts for a living…. Mundane reality.

                    End of the excerpt