While we have gone into lockdown again, I’m dreaming of being back at this beautiful park which is the heart, soul and lungs of Bangalore. Sleeping dogs, sleeping humans, frolicking kids, kids being kids, adults being kids once again, beautiful old trees - it has it all, along with a piece of my heart.

Madras through the eyes of reimagined Disney princesses

There is no place like home, but this pandemic has given us more than enough reason to be confined within our homes with our family for over a year now. A child learns to walk in a year, so even we are learning to appreciate all that is just around us by now. My 4 year old son and me, we spend a lot of our time reading books, eating, playing or just enjoy the best of Indian summer bloom with Gulmohar's to Laburnum from our house terrace. Are you experiencing simple pleasures of life!

One of my absolute favourite places to escape to is Cubbon Park, also known as the lungs of Bangalore. This green haven was originally created in 1870 and called Meade Park. It was renamed after Major General Sir Mark Cubbon, the longest-serving commissioner of the city. The park is spread over almost 250 acres and is a treasure house of beautiful and exotic plants, including gorgeous bamboo groves. It is a hot spot for nature lovers, joggers, bird-watchers and cyclists. The park is a major reason why pollution levels remain low in the city centre. A trip to Bangalore is incomplete without visiting this little piece of heaven!

Cubbon Park is a favourite for the city dwellers for its open space, greenery and proximity to the cbc.. it’s also a regular haunt for the Urbansketching community in Bengaluru as it has some really nice buildings within its limits.. I share an option here for a casual Sunday stroll..

Kaas Plateau also called as the 'Valley of Flowers' is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Satara district of Maharashtra. Over 850 varieties of flowers bloom here after the monsoon season every year.I got a great sense of satisfaction after I ticked it off from my travel bucket list. Within a 6-7 km radius walk one can find over 25 different species of flowers. Some flowers even bloom once in 7 years! The plateau is a sight to behold with various shades of pink, purple, magenta and yellow.

The map takes us into the beloved 'Baug'(Park) of the Baroda city, that was developed more than a 140 years ago for a benevolent king for the people of his kingdom. It points out all the heritage structures housed in the park along with the wonders that embellish the park. It also draws out on personal experiences as well and brings out the true nature and ambience of the park.

Where We Walk: Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta) is lovingly called the 'City of Joy'. Here is a map of Central Kolkata comprising of all the places I visit during Christmas with my friends. The illustration depicts the iconic Victoria Memorial ( built during the early 20th century, dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria), Flurys (one of the most old and famous bakery of Kolkata serving the best cake), Oxford Bookstore (the largest bookstore in Kolkata), Peter Cat (famous for 'chelo kebabs'), Allen Park (for Christmas decor) and Bow Barracks (for home-made wine and cake and Christmas celebrations). The city is indeed a melting pot of culture providing immense joy to all citizens in terms of food, entertainment and festival. Also the yellow blue cabs, the hand-pulled rickshaws and the Christmas lights in Park Street are a sight to behold since they form a major portion of Kolkata's heritage. This is my first map illustration and I intend to showcase the very best of food, fun and celebrations of my city through this artwork of mine.

In July 2019, my husband and I went on a holiday for the first time to India. We have been in India many times before but they were always for work. Two of our flights were cancelled but it was a fun experience to be on a train even the overnight one for 12 hours...

Pokhara city, Nepal’s 2nd largest city, by Phewa lake on the foothills of the Annapurna range, is the tourism capital of Nepal and serves as a base for trekking in the Annapurna region. From stunning views of the entire Annapurna range, visiting the international mountain museum, boating at Phewa lake & paragliding at Sarangkot are a few things to do in the mountain city, other than relishing Nepali food. This view is from Raniban hill next to Shanti Stupa (World Peace Pagoda) that overlooks the Himalayan peaks and Pokhara city below.

Domkhar is a small village in Domkhar valley about 120 kilometres away from Leh. Surrounded by harsh rocky towering mountains the Rock Art Heritage Sanctuary is by the Indus river where most of the art is on the rocks, and one of the richest sites of rock art in Ladakh. The prehistoric Rock Art paintings are some of the earliest expressions of our species, our artistic and cultural beginnings!

The holy city of Varanasi, Benaras or Kashi on the banks of river Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, India, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. River Ganges, the longest river of India and the soul of Varanasi, draws pilgrims who take a dip in its holy waters and perform funeral rites of their loved ones, as Hindus believe death in Varanasi brings salvation.
A boat ride over the Ganges at sunrise & sunset is one of the best ways to experience the colourful ancient city & spiritual capital of India, that stands frozen in time contrasting our modern world.

Tibetan prayer flags or Dar-Cho as they are called, are a common sight in the Himalayas and in Sikkim, it's the vertical ones hung on bamboo poles that attract attention. The 5 colors in the flags represent the 5 elements in nature and the mantras written on the flags are carried through the blowing wind. With Mt. Kanchenjunga in the background (almost always shrouded in clouds) the colourful prayer flags add rustic beauty to the landscape.

We all are facing same situation, entire world is living same life. Rather it's India or Italy, New York or Singapore there is one thing common which is hope. In this lockdown period when I look outside I find different people in the balcony. They are attractive, hopeful and looking forward to have a better tomorrow.

Pune, also called Poona, city, west-central Maharashtra state, western India, at the junction of the Mula and Mutha rivers. Called “Queen of the Deccan,” Pune is the cultural capital of the Maratha peoples. The city first gained importance as the capital of the Bhonsle Marathas in the 17th century. It was temporarily captured by the Mughals but again served as the official Maratha capital from 1714 until its fall to the British in 1817. Pune has long been a major educational and cultural centre. Pune is known for its educational tourism and has a blend of cultural, business, health, cuisine tourism background. The large student population in the city makes for a lively nightlife and vibrant atmosphere. Pune also houses fantastic restaurants, good museums, and hill forts which offer panoramic views. Pune is a gateway to knowledge about the past with opportunities to learn from the help of forts, monuments, museums and higher-learning institutions.