As we began climbing the steps towards Kochi's Hill Palace, we began to fully grasp the grandeur that must have once defined Kochi's royal bearings. This complex itself is composed of an archaeological museum, deer park, and a heritage museum. We have to remove our shoes before entering the palace, which brought us in direct contact with the sun-kissed tiles on the ground, so we tiptoed inside with great aplomb. This palace was built by the Raja of Kochi in 1865, Sri Thampuran, and the architecture takes influence from both traditional Kerala wood-based intricate designs and European tilework and motifs. Since India was under colonial rule at the time, this palace served as both the residence and administrative centre for the royal family of Kerala, and today, under the governance of the Department of Archaeology, we can see artifacts from those times still preserved at the site. We often see the elephant motif, which is part of the court's insignia. There are multiple roo...
If you start to think about it, any spot in the world could have been a monumental place in its time, but now gets overwritten by newer world events. Just like this Sankt Thomas Plads in Copenhagen, which acknowledges the country villa that was demolished in favour of newer construction. Does it mean we must learn to let go? No, rather it recognizes the value of history while still making the present accessible to newer audiences. A moment of appreciation, that's all! Airial image credit: copenhagenbycosedis What first caught my eye in Copenhagen was the way this circular plaza seamlessly blended into the road, which immediately gives the impression that one must slow down and look around, although the real achievement here is that Sankt Thomas Plads offers a small respite from the rest of the city's concrete jungle. From an aerial view, one can easily spot the residential buildings surrounding it, and as I walked around this cobblestoned junction, I spotted the Sankt ...