Saturday, 17 October 2026

Tracing Indian Connections to Central Asia – Part I

Toramana - The Huna of Eran

The Silk Road will continue to send merchants, travellers, monks, and armies west and east. Some of these people / nomadic tribes / hordes / inhabitants of the grassland Steppes would cross the Oxus, the Pamirs, the Hindu Kush, the Karakoram to move south, roughly in the period 100 BC to 600 AD. This is called the Great Migration (1^st to 5^th Cen CE). These people / migrants / empire builders / invaders will centre their kingdoms around two major cities of Taxila (Gandhara) and Mathura.

To understand this migration, let’s look at this brief timeline of people who would come into India once the Mauryan Empire had declined when assorted Persians, Greek and Central Asians would swarm the Khyber Pass - a period of roughly 700 years:

[Indo-Aryans - 2000 BC to 1500 BC]

Indo-Greeks or Yavanas – 200 BC to 10 CE – after the demise of the Mauryas - did not come from Central Asia – they would come by sea also as traders to Muziris, the greatest city that disappeared.

Sakas or Indo-Scythians – 2nd Cen BC to 1st Cen CE (One branch of Sakas would settle in Iran) – ‘Northern Satraps’ of Mathura – will later become vassals of Kushans

Indo-Parthian Kingdom or Pahalavas – 1st CE to 226 CE – Sassanians who came from Iran – centred around Taxila – not much impact in subcontinent

Kushans or Yuezhi – 30 CE to 275 CE – the most prominent and the most prolific of art lovers

[Gupta Empire – 240 to 579 CE]

Hunas – 4th to 6th Cen CE - the Alchon Huns (Red Huns?) who succeeded the Kidarites Huns and were succeeded by Hephthalites (White Huns?) & Nezak Huns

Let us start with the last entrants and the least understood or known – The Huns or Hunas.

The Huns are believed to have originated from Xiongnu in China. With climate change, the migration began towards the Steppes. One branch went west to challenge the Roman Empire. Another branch will come southwards to India

Now these Huns who came to India were different. While the earlier people are regarded as migrants and traders like the Aryans who would bring horses to sell in India, Kushans as empire builders and who would become patrons of art as both Gandhara and Mathura would blossom, Huns do not fit into the same mould. Huns are generally regarded as belligerents and invaders. This was perhaps a sign of times and what lay ahead for India. Another branch of Huns would invade Europe. The repeated invasions of Hunas would weaken and then lead to collapse of Gupta Empire. The downfall of Guptas would bring about an almost immediate decline of both the Art Schools and the end of the golden Classical Age. Did the Hunas destroy the cities or the patronage just stopped? While the Mathura Museum is filled with Kushan artefacts, there seems to be nothing from the Hunas.

Who were these Hunas? Why do we know so little of them? Where are the temples, the images, the statues (Kanishk got a stately statue built for himself), the seals or coins or did they spend most of their time here fighting and destroying? You go through your Mathura Museum photos and you draw a blank. Maybe there will be little luck in the Central Asian museums and on internet.

Huna - in the Risthal Inscription

Without going into the origins of Huns since scholars have been arguing and fighting over them for some time now, the Huns who made it to India were called the Alchon Huns. The Alchons would succeed the Kidarite Huns, who earlier they have chased out of Bactria. Too bad for the Kidarites who could have kept running down south to Tamil Nadu. In India, the Alchon Huns will be called Hunas as mentioned in the Risthal inscription. India will mostly see the destructive power of the four Huna kings:

The Tamgha or Seal or Emblem of Alchons

Hun King Khingila with the elongated crowning glory

Khingila was the founder of Alchon Huns around 430 CE. He was called Shengil, King of India. He looks extra adorabe with that head of his.

Mehama – 461-493 CE

King Toramana

Toramana – 493-515 CE – in Indian context, Toramana’s rule is the most influential as he went around conquering central and western India and then decimated the Guptas from Ganga valley all the way to Varanasi and Bengal. Toramana will soon turn native for acceptance and likeability among his Malwa folks and take the name of Prakasaditya. Not bad!

Mihirakula - its possible he was born here in India and therefore did not get the conical head treatment - not sure why he is scowling though or maybe that's his happy face

Mihirakula - in the Gwalior inscription

Mihirakula – 515-542 CE – he is mostly busy in demolition and killings

Artificial Cranial Deformation seen in Khingila

Oh heck yes! The Hunas ARE different. You are looking at the seal of Khingila whose head is crowned with a well, a conical looking elongated skull. The practice is called Artificial Cranial Deformation and was widely practised across the world from the Mayas to Central Asia to Austronesia. Well, nobody is happy about their looks and Alchons were no different. The Afrosiyab Museum in Samarkand with those remarkable murals from the ancient city of Afrasiab has in its possession some of these elongated skulls. You either missed seeing them or you would like to believe they were not on display that particular day - yeah right!

The recreated Hunnic Bow in State History Museum, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

The Armoury of Huns - State History Museum, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

You will have better luck in the State History Museum in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Museums abroad are always pleasant and this one is monumental and beautifully curated. In the gallery of Great Migration, you will see the reconstructed Bow of the Hunnic time of 2^nd to 3^rd Century CE – the state-of-the-art weapon of choice of a terrific Hun charging on his horse. The display has a collection of iron arrow heads, armour plates, pieces of chain mail armour and bone bow linings.

The march of Hun Cavalry in India

Toramana and his son Mihirakula will have most of the fun during the Gupta Empire as they went around destroying stups, monasteries and killing monks from Taxila (Kanishk’s huge stupa would became a victim) to Kaushambi and perhaps even to Pataliputra and beyond.. Of course, it is no surprise that the father and son duo would get bad press including Kalhan who would call Mihirakula in his Rajataringini, a man of violent acts resembling Yama with no compassion and pity and Buddhists calling Mihirakula a terrible persecutor of their religion.

To put things into perspective, so while Mihirakula went around demolishing monasteries and stupas, just south of Malwa, in their backyard, Vakatakas were busy painting the incredible frescoes on the walls of these rock cut caves in Ajanta. The Hunas probably unknowingly provided a conduit to the Gandhara art form captured here in Deccan.

Some search on Toraman and you hit paydirt. There is connection between him and Eran. Eran of all places! Oh Enigmatic Eran! Eran is perhaps India’s most understated monumental archaeological wonder – pure and untouched. Eran, the beauty, the angelic is not for everyone. Eran opens up only to the few who are willing to make that extra effort to woo that someone special. Hope this never changes.

Inscription of Toramana – dated about 510 CE in the aftermath of Ist Hunnic War, Eran, Gupta Period, Sagar District, Madhya Pradesh

And here in Eran, the Hunas would leave their mark on the most surreal signpost in Central India. On the banks of River Bina, stands the archaeological site of Eran, an ancient Gupta period town. On a monsoon day, you will find yourself alone with the most incredible collection of images among fields of soyabean. A colossal Varah stands tall and proud under the dark clouds, silent and all observing witness to the vicissitudes of 2000 years.

Hunas, just like you would have been overawed and dumbstruck just looking at this magnificent Vishnu avatar. They might have ransacked the Eran town and possibly destroyed the sanctums here (Cunnigham found broken pillars) but once they were face to face with the Varaha they would just bow to the Lord of Earth benignly and leave this inscription on the boar’s throat.

On its throat is an eight-line inscription in Sanskrit invoking the name of Maharajadhiraja Toramana, perhaps the most powerful Alchon Hun King. This was the site of First Battle of Eran (510 CE) when Toraman defeated the local Governor Bhanugupta and became the King of Malwa. From here Toraman would march to Varanasi, installing a king and then towards Gaur in Bengal. The inscription is believed to be dated between 510-513 just before Toraman’s death in Varanasi.

Near Mandsaur, MP, the Risthal inscription was found which announces that Aulikara King Prakashadharma of Malwa defeated Toramana in Central India, about five years after the First Battle of Eran bringing an end to Toraman's twenty years of riding his horse in Malwa. These two battles are called the First Hunnic War (496-515 CE).

Aulikaras are another interesting and little-known chapter in Indian history. Yashodharman will emulate his father by vanquishing the tyrannical Mihirakula and the Alchons will retreat to Kashmir and beyond. Yashodharman will raise inscribed twin Vijay Stambhs in Sondani near Mandsaur to commemorate this victory over the Hunas. This will bring an end to the Second Hunnic War (520-528 CE).

Now coming to the existential question!

Did the Hunas join their earlier Central Asian Aryans and Saka brethren and turn into Jats?

Now origin of Jats is again a hot topic of discussion and and never ending arguments. Some say the Jats came from the original Aryans and some say they were the later Sakas or Scythians that includes Alexander Cunningham. So, by the time Huns came raiding about 500 years after Sakas, there would be a sizeable Jat community from Balochistan to Western UP and beyond. The Hunas were in the play for over 100 years. There is a possibility some of these Hunas would have become Jats as they assimilated into local communities. Also, when the Hunas were routed after the Second Hunnic War, some Hunas would have stayed back in Malwa and Gangetic Valley, intermingling and would have become part of Central Asian origin communities like Rajputs, Jats and Gujars.

But yes, given the credentials of the invading race of Huns and the bad press they got some Jats might not be amenable to the idea of Jats sharing ancestory with the Huns. But then who can change the history. If some Huns became Jats then who can change it. You wouldn’t mind having a Hun gene yourself!

And then you come across a video, where the speaker, probably a Jat scholar, opines that the Aulikaras are Jats! Before making Mandsaur or Dashpura their capital, they had spent some time in Bharatpur. Now, Bharatpur is historically a well-known Jat stronghold with the only Jat King Suraj Mal holding sway, things have turned interesting. So is it possible that Jats of Scythian ancestry would fight the later migrant brethren from Steppes here in Central India? Yes, all very interesting!

There is another school of thought that says the remaining Huns in Central India could have become the later Gurjar Pratihars? This is quite possible too. All lovely possibilities.

You are just happy that as your Central Asia visits continue (hope there are more – Central Asia is more connected to India then any other region of the world), you chanced upon to dig a little into these migrants when the Eran connection jumped out of the screen. This is sweet serendipity. You have a feeling this is just the beginning.

Related Posts on this Blog

Gone Kannauj - Part 1

Gone Kannauj – Part 2

Decoding the Bhojshala

Chasing Ghurid Mosque in Braj

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchon_Huns - a detailed and informative post on Hunas time in India

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huna_people - The Huns of India were called Hunas

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_cranial_deformation - the practise of reshaping skull

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eran_boar_inscription_of_Toramana - the amazing link with Eran that brings the Hunas into mainstream history

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C4%ABsthal_inscription – the first defeat of Hunas at the hands of Aulikara King Prakashadharma

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwalior_inscription_of_Mihirakula - The original inscription was in Surya Temple in Gwalior Fort. The original temple is gone and the inscribed red-sandstone slab found by Cunningham in another temple is presently in Indian Museum – both Toramana and Mihirakula are mentioned in the inscription

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yashodharman - the Aulikara who defeated Mihirakula

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandsaur_Pillar_inscriptions_of_Yashodharman - the second defeat of Hunas – Mihirakula will be routed away to Kashmir

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_Mathura - Mathura School of Art along with Gandhara would collapse overnight with the overthrow of Guptas

The World of Skandapurana by Hans Bakker – pages 25-37 that cover ‘Twilight of the Gupta Empire’ and ‘Huna Attacks and Inner Fragmentation’ available on Google Books - https://books.google.co.in/books?id=6p2XCgAAQBAJ&printsec=copyright#v=onepage&q&f=false

Monuments of Hope, Doom and Glory by Hans Bakker – with some wonderful plates – pdf available on archive.org

The Alkhan: A Hunnic People in South Asia by Hans Bakker

https://mathura.nic.in/history/ - Mathura has a chequered past from Lord Krishna to Surasenas, Mauryas, Indo-Greeks, Mitras, Indo-Scythians, Kushans, to Mahumd Ghazni, Lodhis and Mughals – for a government site, the post is quite informative

https://www.britannica.com/place/Khyber-Pass - The Gateway into India

https://www.facebook.com/100057452259088/posts/the-yueh-chis-or-jat-massagetaetocharithe-yueh-chi-people-or-called-tochari-or-j/1600527035205690/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1QW7LXWMaY – a Jat scholar argues the Aulikaras were Jats and that there is no chance Huns were Jats’ ancestors

When Huns conquered Central and Western India – The Eran Chapter

The Indian Power that Defeated the Huns : The Aulikaras – Never heard about them!

Who were the Huns that invaded India?

Coming Invasion of the Huns – good set of videos on Huns by Jay Vardhan Singh of JNU

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Thursday, 31 July 2025

Time to Spring - 2025

Last dance with Mary Jane (Spring)
One more time to kill the pain (Pain and Pollution)
I feel summer creepin' in and I'm (not creepin' but blastin' in)
Tired of this town again

Yes, these few days of Spring is all that you like of your once beloved city. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers could well have been singing about the Last Dance with the Spring before the city becomes unlivable for the rest of the year. Over the last few years, this city is quickly turning to No City For Old Men. This could have been the reason that you have been out of the city for most of last year and hope this continues this year too. Well, no use lamenting for the things lost. Let’s celebrate what we still have. And Delhi still has its Spring, albeit very brief.

You are not sure what most government departments do in Delhi, but for these few days, the horticulture department does put up this incredible show of colours. To be fair, the horticulture people are up against all odds: sudden heat days in the middle of Jan and Feb; the always sensible crowds crouching on flower beds for selfies and the gentle throngs of picnickers treating the parks and green lawns as belonging to their favourite neighbours and relatives. But despite all this, the parks, the roads and the roundabouts in New Delhi continue to delight and spread love. While built up areas continue to grow even as the stretch from Vijay Chowk to India Gate (you avoid going there now) has turned into one giant concrete block and the skyline above the city has more cranes and high rises than trees, Delhi, unbelievably has got some new parks too. Another park - third one - has taken shape on the Yamuna floodplains.

This Spring you got a chance to be out most weekends and sometimes weekdays to enjoy the floral offerings. Here is a glimpse:

While the flowers of Central Delhi take all the attention, Indian Habitat Centre and India International Centre does an excellent job all year round and both the loved places will always have some lovely curated seasonal flowers. Here the earliest flowers of the season make an appearance in January and February in IHC.

January 2025

The earliest flowers in Indian Habitat Centre

Almost clear skies over Barapullah

February 2025

As month changes IHC turns more colourful. IHC and IIC have a special set of gardeners who make it possible all year around.

IHC turning Spring Colourful

Indian Habitat Centre - all flowery all year round

Noida Vasant Utsav - Flower Show February 2025

The Noida horticulture department and the assorted flower clubs and nurseries do a great job in creating this flower wonderland in the grounds adjoining Noida Haat.

Noida Haat - some displays were lovely and innovative

Noida Haat is a welcome addition to the Spring Season

Alyssum

Okhla Bird Sanctuary

After hearing of all the construction taking place here and birds refusing to show up in the winter months, you have not visited OBS for many years now. But then, you need to go check out the damage inflicted by the so-called conservators of our wildlife and forests. They themselves are the biggest danger to our forests and wetlands since there is no end to greed. But then what is the use of a government job or being an elected representative if you cannot hoard for the next seven generations and some more.

To your surprise the sanctuary looked quite unmolested though there were hardly any birds or maybe you did not look long enough. The skyline of Noida is rapidly changing and it is only a matter of time before this small patch of wetland is wedged between high-rise concrete. Well you can’t have your seventh generation blaming you for having to earn for a livelihood.

Okhla Bird Sanctuary - first there was Yamuna, then came the barrage, then the power lines and traffic, then the stone and concrete skyline

Okhla Bird Sanctuary - not sure how long it will survive

World Book Fair at Pragati Maidan

Yes, times are changing. Pragati Maidan is now known as Bharat Mandapam. You need to go see it when it hosts the annual World Book Fair. Yes the entire grounds have gotten a major makeover. The old pyramidal galleries are gone and in their place are these mammoth airconditioned blocks that go endlessly. But then this is the era of air-conditioned world where everything from schools to neighbourhood supermarkets are air-conditioned.

Bharat Mandapam - Story of Delhi over centuries - Rulers erasing the past and so it will continue

Pragati Maidan - World Book Fair 2025

Pragati Maidan is centered around Bharat Mandapam which is a huge saucer like conference hall hovering over and out of bounds of less entitled. You are not sure if you like it or not. Nostalgia hangs heavy and it is not easy to embrace the new at your age. You are again not sure if it will age nicely. This was built at break-neck speed for the G20 Summit. You are still not sure if spending all that money in the runup and all this is worth it. There are too many meaningless summits happening around the world all year round. Anyway, there is already digging happening around. Despite us constructing the largest and most magnificent forts, palaces, and temples, we in modern times cannot build public places and buildings that will last even a couple of years.

Wall Art of Bharat Mandapam

You are not sure if you like what they have done here. Nostalgia is unreasonable and you wish they had let one of the old halls survive.

But what you do like is this art over these sections of walls raised in the open space to create space and to break monotony. Along with the paintings there are names of the artists and a QR code to learn more about the painting school and style.

One thing is for sure. We cannot create public spaces and with people like our civic and social sense we cannot maintain them. The work is definitely shoddy trying to beat the G20 deadline. Stone tiles are already coming off, corners have chipped away and you just can't understand why polished granite is used for flooring in public spaces. You have never seen this stupidity anywhere else in the world. And then our ability to wreck and litter our public spaces is unmatchable.

Of course, the name Pragati Maidan has been totally scrubbed off. You wonder why?

Pragati Maidan, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

After all the years living next door to the Jahanpanah Park, you are finally discovering it. The park still has the original cover with native trees. It should be a delight when the palash blooms.

Jahanpanah City Forest - Alaknanda

Spring at Home

Gazania - The Mood Lifters

The Return of the Roses 2

Last year was not one-off. The roses are blooming across the parks in Delhi

Orange Firecracker Vines glowing under perfect blue skies - BRICS Friendship Rose Garden

Tulip Day Fever

These are the few lovely days in Delhi. Niti Marg is packed with school buses and cars. Inside, Nehru Park has turned into an outdoor food court with picnickers spread out all over. The Flower Park is still out of bounds. It is good that the flowers are taking their time to bloom. It is only the beginning of February and already it feels like March end. After a surprisingly mild winter, it seems Spring too has withered in this heat.

After many years, you catch the Tulips within days of their blooming. The petals are fresh and translucent. Shanti Path has turned into a huge parking lot. Surprisingly though the selfie seekers are behaved and you largely ignore them without getting into spats. The tulips may not last for more than a week though in this almost 30 degree heat. You are just happy that you continue your annual rite and that at least this area is still largely unspoiled.

Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

Even the flyovers are blossoming in Spring Colours

Lodhi Road Flyover

Lodhi Garden - the time of the day you like it here best

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The Giant is Down

End of an Era - Lodhi Garden will not be the same again

The old eucalyptus was as old as the tombs it towered over. You always remembered the tree standing here, proud and emphatic. You are trying hard to recall if you ever saw it in leaf. Even though life had ebbed out of it, the tree stood resolutely reaching out to the changing skies of this polluted and beautiful city. It was the favourite perch of the eagles and the starlings as they discussed the maneuvers of the evening murmuration performance that will begin soon over the gardens you love so much.

And when the sun went down, the bare limbs of the tree would throw spooky shadows over the Sheesh Gumbad and the grounds. The best moments were at these twilight hours as the picnickers and joggers emptied out leaving you two old dogs and the tombs and this still quietness of another day ending.

Either you are getting too old or Delhi doesn't feel the same.

And now this. You will be missed.

Time to move to Laos.

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March 2025

Bikaner House is turning into a hub for culture and food events. The flowers are a plus.

Bikaner House - The New Culture and Food Hub

You are visiting India Gate and it does not disappoint. It is a brilliant spring day and India Gate is awashed in golden light. The biggest surprise is that the whole area is super clean. What happened to our 15000 year old culture - why are we not littering? We just cannot forget our civic sensibilities overnight! All the ice cream and food vendors and have now been clustered towards the hexagon, so by the time all the responsible citizens have dropped all the waste on the way to India Gate; India Gate itself stays clean. Oh yes, the flower beds look amazing except for the selfie takers who have jumped on to the flowers. Some good habits should be protected.

Polo Watching at Jaipur Polo Grounds

Finally, after all these years of thinking of watching a live polo match at the Jaipur Polo Grounds, the wish is fulfilled. There is no invitation needed, there is no ticket. The entire swish set that you see on Page 3 during the winter months is here dressed in their weekend polo match best. Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh is playing with his Jaipur Polo Team against Jindal Panther Polo Team and his sister Gauravi Kumari is here to cheer for the team. It is all fun here. Next time you will come suitably dressed up. And, the best thing is they are serving this lovely buffet of hors d'oeuvres (no pun intended) with some fancy cheese, crackers, dips, bread and tea. You can hardly believe your luck.

Jaipur Polo Ground - Among the Swish

After the award ceremony as you walk around you see this wonderful tree in the distance growing over a golf course hole. You have a feeling you are seeing it for the first time here in Delhi. The tree has blooming clusters of flowers light purple in colour like the talc fragrance bakan flowers. The flower clusters rise into the evening sun all glowy and luminescent. This is the Foxglove Tree (Paulownia fortunei) or Empress or Princess Tree named after Anna Pavlovna, Queen of Netherlands. It is a beautiful sight as the flower branches sway in the cool March breeze. A perfect Spring Day of watching Polo and sighting this beautiful flower tree.

Foxglove Tree or Empress Tree at the Jaipur Polo Grounds

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Rang of Colours

Finally after many years the Colour is back here at National School Drama. The hectic activities - meetings, rehearsals, performances, prop-building - the decorations; the excitement and buzz is back. The hallowed hallways that you love walking have been given a new skin and facelift. Faces on the walls, instantly recognizable over the years, tell the story of the journey undertaken by the students and teachers of this venerated institution.

The presence of Ebrahim Alkazi resonates over the grounds and across the Mandi House area. Of course, things are changing and now we have jokers as Chairmen. But then on a rangmanch, even a joker is a much needed character.

Bharat Rang Mahotsav, National School of Drama, 28th Jan to 16th Feb 2025, New Delhi

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Rang De

Visiting the National School of Drama during the Bharat Rang Mahotsav is now a tradition. The Bahawalpur House’s colonial building and the grounds are charming and in its hallways walked Ebrahim Alkazi and so many luminaries of Indian theatre and parallel cinema.

National School of Drama

The New Crop at National School of Drama - Mandi House

First Garden of the Republic

You are at the Mughal Gardens (well that’s how you have known it all your life) for the second time in a row. This time however you are here at the beginning of the season while last year it was almost closing time. The feeling of walking among these immaculate gardens of modern India’s most magnificent edifice is always overwhelming and awe-inspiring. It is early in the season and the flowers are coming into their own. But then after visiting Japan’s Zen gardens, and observing SE Asia’s aesthetic upkeep of parks and trees, you really think we are way behind but then we have our own way of doing things and it is not going to change any time soon.

Najaf Khan Tomb - 1% Tomb, 99% Trees and Flowers

Well, for whatever reasons, the tomb here is just a platform (at least the makers did not steal material from neighbouring tombs), and to make up for it, the gardens have a lovely selection of trees. There is Bakain with its talc fragrant violet flowers, lime trees with flowers that make you and the bees go woozy, the bottlebrush trees dripping red wool, and if your lucky you can spot some spotted owls on the freshly green amla trees. And then there are the vibey Banyan, Kanak Champa and Neem trees.

In spring, the gardens break into a colourful riot. Every year the gardens have different beds of flowers - all nicely tended to.

The talc scented Bakain flowers - Najaf Khan Tomb

Najaf Khan Tomb, Lodhi Road

Amla Trees at Najaf Khan Tomb

Rajghat and Shantivan grounds are always a pleasure to go tree spotting, especially in spring with a bouquet waiting for you.

Dog Day Afternoon at Shanti Van

The Perfect Frame - Shanti Van

Purple Shower or Rosewood Moulmein at Shanti Van

This has been a good year for Yellow Tabebuia

Nandi of Yamuna

Fields of Gold

Some nice things are happening on the Yamuna banks. This is the third park here after Baansera and Asita East. While Baansera doesn't seem to have a presiding deity, Asita has the beautiful Surya inspired by Konark; Vatika has this majestic Nandi probably inspired by Lepakshi sculpted in black marble from Rajasthan.

Baansera has bamboo thickets, Asita has assorted seasonal flowers and grasses, Vatika has these Fields of Gold stretching into the horizon. You have not seen anything like this before in the city parks. But then here on the river banks you have a huge canvas where you can let your imagination go wild. You just hope they keep it mostly wild and concrete & interlocking tiles to a minimum.

Yamuna Vatika Park, Rajghat Power Station, New Delhi