ThE vIcToRiAn gIfT tO ThE cItY oF JoY

After around 14 years i went to the Victoria Memorial just two days back..whoo, what a change..for some years, the have been charging Rs. 4/- just to enter the campus and Rs. 10 /- to enter the museum..and a whopping Rs. 150/- for foreign nationals..which is actually insane and very discriminating..but then, for a city that constantly lags behind in terms of funds raised from public money, this is probably a tolerable step..the entry fee has in fact caused a drastic decline in the number of jobless loiterers and aimless lovebirds and nuisance makers who used to flock here at all times of the day and destroy the aesthetic beauty of the place..then there are the horse carriages that offer you a ride around the landmark for a fee that is always a bit more than you can afford for them..even the softdrinks that are sold in the stalls nearby are high priced..a bottle of 'Fanta' thats currently priced for Rs. 22/- is being sold for Rs. 25/- without objection..on bargaining, such a stall-owner was ready to sell for Rs. 24/-..tourists therefore beware..

But the actual appeal of the place can be best captured on a winter morning, with a cool breeze blowing against your face, with some nice Oasis or Goo Goo Dolls music plugged in your ears and sitting relaxedly against a tree..oh yes..

PS :  The protective bamboo framework around the angel on top of the dome has been removed! Sadly though, the angel doesn't rotate anymore like it is supposed to..