The shilpis or stonemasons who claim to be descended from the divine architect of the universe, Visvakarma, were one of the five most respected and leading artisan guilds under the Pandya, Chola, Pallava, and other dynasties who ruled South India, especially the areas of Tamil Nadu. Although the buzz around the craft has declined in the present times, this lineage of stonemasons continues to work with ancient methods of chipping, handling, and extracting the local granite reserves.

When a small window opens up in October from the Thursday following the full moon in the month of Ashwayuja till Bali Padyami, coinciding with the festival of Deepavali, devotees from all over gather at the Hasanamba Temple in Karnataka. What intriguing myths and miracles transpire in and surround this place of worship dedicated to the goddess of happiness?

Often known as India’s very own Grand Canyon, the gorge formed by the Pennar River in the Kadappa district of Andhra Pradesh was the perfect setting for Kakatiya Raja, a subordinate of the Chalukya ruler in 1123, and many others who followed him as a seat of power. With its strategic location and panoramic views, the fort built between the Erramalai range of hills has been a witness to the rise and fall of multiple dynasties.

On the way to the Vindhyagiri Hill from Channarayapatna in Karnataka, one can spot the looming figure of the Gommatesvara even from afar. Under the patronage of the Western Ganga Dynasty of Talkad, the magnanimous monolithic sculpture of Bahubali as a Digambara was built at Shravanabelagola. The trail to the site, amongst the two hills and tens of Jain mutts dedicated to other Tirthankaras, enhances the form, making it one of India's most important Jain pilgrimage centers.

Contrary to the fate they suffered in world history until their mass religious migration to Israel, the Jewish community of Kerala enjoyed a respectable lifestyle. However, the synagogues in Cochin that were built as a compound of Kerala’s vernacular and Jewish architectural elements now remain empty shells as the community dwindles.

The largest and deepest stepped pond to have been constructed in India lies in the small village of Abhaneri, which is en route to Jaipur in Rajasthan. A confluence of Hindu and Islamic architecture, it is a spectacular example of sustainable water-harvesting structures of the past as well as the mathematical and scientific prowess of medieval Indian societies.

Within a span of 12 hours, Dhanushkodi went from a bustling trade centre and pilgrimage to a melancholic, ruined ghost town. What was once a well-planned town is now home to only a handful of scattered fishermen.

What a visitor to Hyderabad today sees as a luxury five-star hotel that was once the abode of the Nizams, was falling into ruins by the 90s. With over ten years of meticulous efforts from Princess Esra Jah, India’s famous RMA architects, London-based design firm WATG, textile expert Martand Singh, and the Taj Group, it was revamped and restored to its former glory.