Simran Kaur writes a political column with a satirical instinct and a flair for the set-piece scene. Her columns are read for their language as much as for their argument.
Recent work
Ajanta Caves: Where India's Ancient Soul Speaks in Colour
Deep in the Sahyadri hills of Maharashtra, the Ajanta Caves represent one of the world's greatest concentrations of ancient Buddhist art, spanning nearly eight centuries of continuous creative and spiritual endeavour. Thirty rock-cut caves — filled with luminous frescoes, towering sculptures, and the quiet hum of centuries — tell a story not of a civilisation that was, but of one that never truly stopped breathing. A visit to Ajanta is not sightseeing; it is a conversation with the living past.
Somnath Temple: Where the Arabian Sea Meets Eternal Devotion
Somnath Temple, standing at the edge of the Arabian Sea in Gujarat's Saurashtra region, is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and among the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Hinduism. Destroyed and rebuilt multiple times across centuries, its present avatar — consecrated in 1951 by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel — is as much a monument to spiritual resilience as it is to architectural grandeur. For every visitor who walks its stone corridors and hears the sea roar behind the sanctum, Somnath is not a relic of the past but a living, breathing civilisational statement.
Gangtok: Where the Himalayas Keep Civilisation Beautifully Alive
Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is far more than a hill station — it is a living testament to India's civilisational continuity, where Buddhist monasteries, vibrant festivals, and Himalayan landscapes converge in extraordinary harmony. From the iconic Rumtek Monastery to the colour-drenched promenade of MG Marg, every corner of this city pulses with cultural memory and spiritual depth. For the thoughtful traveller, Gangtok offers not merely a destination but an encounter with something eternal.