School of Life Sciences

The School of Life Sciences, Sambalpur University...one of the many academic institutes, I attended in pursuit of higher study...
Located in the sleepy city of Burla, in the valley of Mahandi, it offered valuable teachings at nominal fee..
Despite its humble infrastructure, it certainly gave quality education (gratitude to the eminent professors)..

The Golden temple

The world-renowned Harmandir Sahib or Golden temple, located in the historical city Amritsar..

Even if you are not driven by spiritual instinct, the dazzling shrine, the crowds of devotees, the plaid lake, the colorful koi fish in it, the free lunch 'langar' and the rows of souvenir shops are inviting enough to pay a visit..

Topatoli forest...

Topatoli forest in Meghalaya...endowed with deciduous trees, woody vines, ferns, boulders, streams, hills and betel nut, pine apple and citrus plantations is an ideal escape for a picnic..
If you wish, you can walk up to a near by neighborhood of local, friendly people and strike a fascinating conversation..
The bamboo house, hand-made brooms and wicker-baskets,  gingers, put for sun-drying on the porch make for delightful experiences...

Indian railway...

The Indian railway...lifeline for millions of commuters...
One of the thousands of trains navigating the length and breadth of India, pulls into Bokaro railway station..

Dussehra in campus...

Durga puja being celebrated near IIT Guwahati campus...Though not a hardcore believer in religious rituals, the air saturated with divine fragrance, the well-sculpted idols gracing the pavillion and the palatable 'prasad' being offered were reason enough to rush there...

Palash, the versatile plant...

Palash or Butea monosperma, a keystone species of the deciduous forest  and plateau of Orissa...a major source of timber, firewood and medicine for the local people...
The gorgeous blossoms blooming in spring are to be seen to be believed...

Aerial view....

It was my first-ever flight, domestic (from Guwahati to Kolkata) and barely an hour...
I was mesmerized with the bird's-eye view of the legendary Brahmapautra...sprawling across the entire landscape...

The plane was about to touch down at Kolkata airport...