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
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.