Childhood recollections remain enshrined in our hearts forever and nothing can be as wondrous as returning to a place blurred by the passage of time—and, suddenly, miraculously, finding words, sights and flavours rising from the depths of memory!
Twenty-seven years. That’s how long it had been. Now here I was again, zipping through the streets of a once familiar, but now entirely alien city in Andhra Pradesh. The Andhra Pradesh of the late 1980s no longer exists, of course, now that the state of Telangana has been carved out of it.
As I pulled out of the new terminal at Vijayawada’s Gannavaram Airport, nearly three decades after the last time I was here, I did not know what to expect. I was returning to a place whose language I had clean forgotten, whose sights were a blur at best, whose flavours I had never grown to love; yet this was the place that was my home for the very first years of my life. Those early years, from zero until three, had been spent in a creaky circular bungalow in the coastal town of Machalipatnam, just outside Vijayawada, with frequent visits to the “big city” for our shopping needs, or to board a train to Delhi. Now, in the year I turned the big three zero, here I was, back in Vijayawada, back in that same swathe of land along the Krishna river, dotted with low-rise buildings with peeling yellow facades and dishevelled government offices.
Except, this time, these visuals existed only in the recesses of my mind. Driving out of the shiny new airport terminal, I sped past a swanky Toyota showroom, an INOX Cineplex, and modern shopping and dining outlets. A somewhat bizarre sight caught my attention: looming blue-green sculptures of the characters from the film Avatar stood calmly in a park. Vijayawada had modernised, and how!
This story is from the March 2018 edition of Discover India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2018 edition of Discover India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
New Gear For New Travels
Here’s our selection of some nifty new gear that’s certain to add extra oomph to your next vacation.
10 Hidden Gems Of India
The last two years have prepared us to expect the unexpected, so why not explore the unexplored in 2022? India boasts some of the most culturally abundant and visually spectacular places in the world. Pick one or more of these 10 indian destinations to travel to and discover new lands in the coming year.
When Travel Heals
Going for a holiday just after you have lost your mother to COVID-19 may not be the most popular idea, but it was the only way for a grieving family to escape the agony with which they were living. And so, they headed to the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu in search of peace and recuperation.
BOOKS FOR THE BACKPACK
Journey across India through these books that shed light on the intriguing history and vibrant culture of the country.
Masks of Glory
Charida is not the most popular tourist spot in West Bengal. But its obscurity is one of the reasons we choose to discover the undiscovered ‘mask village’ of India.
Palace of Grandeur
The Grand Mercure Bengaluru at Gopalan Mall offers a slice of Karnataka’s rich architectural and culinary history and culture. We check-in at the palatial property for a plush staycation.
The Road to My Roots
A family finds harmony and plenty of nostalgia in the hilly forests of Ramgarh, Uttarakhand and the Kumaon Himalayas.
GARDEN of FABLES
On the fringes of Darjeeling, Kurseong is home to India’s most expensive tea, the world’s first tea factory, and a mystical natural phenomenon.
MORE than just FOOD
Kochi’s boutique cafés go beyond the traditional meal to o er artisanal experiences that reflect the port city’s varied expressions. From artist residencies to couverture masterclasses and upmarket design stores, there’s much to explore and savour.
Magical Moments
Travel blogger and dancer, Nina Okhotina, is also the founder of the clothing brand, The Dress Stories. Her fl owy, one-tone dresses add a touch of magic to her Instagram pictures from her Indian trips. The Russia-born social-media star reminisces about her time in India and the people that made it special.