Based in Ottawa, Rebecca Thornton covers Canadian politics, the India–Canada diaspora relationship, and immigration policy across North America. Her work returns often to the human ledger of immigration: who moves, who stays, and what each country loses and gains in the bargain.
Recent work
Madurai: Where the Sacred and the Living Never Sleep
Madurai is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, a place where ancient Tamil culture, living temple traditions, and Dravidian architectural genius converge in extraordinary harmony. From the towering gopurams of the Sri Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Temple to the palatial grandeur of Thirumalai Nayak Palace, the city offers visitors not a museum of the past but a civilisation still breathing, still praying, still creating. For anyone seeking to understand India's deepest cultural roots, Madurai is not merely a destination — it is an experience of inheritance.
Mysore Palace: Where Royal Splendour Breathes Into Living Civilisation
Mysore Palace, the magnificent seat of the Wadiyar dynasty in Karnataka, stands as one of India's most visited and beloved heritage landmarks. More than an architectural marvel, it is a living testament to the Dravidian, Indo-Saracenic, and Hindu traditions that have shaped South India's civilisational identity for centuries. From the blaze of Dasara celebrations to the intricate ivory carvings within its halls, the palace invites every visitor into a story that is still being told.
Varanasi: Where the Sacred River Carries Every Human Story
Varanasi — known also as Kashi and Banaras — is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and the spiritual heartland of Hindu civilisation. From the thunderous Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat to the meditative hush of dawn on the river, every moment here resonates with thousands of years of unbroken human devotion. This is not a destination you merely visit; it is one you carry with you long after you leave.
Hampi: Where Myth, Empire, and Stone Speak Eternally
Hampi, the UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled along the Tungabhadra River in Karnataka, was once the magnificent capital of the Vijayanagara Empire — one of the greatest kingdoms in Indian history. Today it endures as a landscape where mythology, devotion, and architectural genius converge across hundreds of temples, palaces, and fortifications. For any traveller seeking to understand India not as a country of the present but as a civilisation of unbroken continuity, Hampi is essential.
Bodh Gaya: Where the Buddha Found Light Beneath Ancient Boughs
Bodh Gaya in Bihar is the place where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment beneath the Bodhi Tree, making it the most sacred site in the Buddhist world. Today it draws pilgrims and travellers from across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, who come not merely to witness history but to participate in a tradition that has never stopped breathing. This article explores Bodh Gaya's layered past, its cultural vitality, practical travel guidance, and its irreplaceable role in India's civilisational story.