Kanchipuram’s Medieval Inn
It’s nothing more than a dilapidated structure abandoned by the wayside today but back in the 18th century CE, this was a haven for merchants, travelers, pilgrims and itinerants. A simple yet sturdy caravanserai, it was a place where they could rest their weary feet, swap stories over a hearty meal and catch a good […]
Telegraph Road
During our researches on Francis Buchanan we came across a person rather similar to Buchanan, particularly in the range of his interests and knowledge, whose life and work is equally fascinating. We thought it is definitely worth a mention in Buchanan’s Journey, giving us a glimpse into colonial history. This article by Sashi Sivramkrishna published […]
Seringapatnam Bridge
During his research on Srirangapatna, Lingaraj Jayaprakash makes a special effort to look for the old aqueduct which has been described by Francis Buchanan in his Journey. This aqueduct, one of the oldest in the world, now lies in ruins. Watch this short video on the old Seringapatnam Bridge …
Travel Back in Time on Buchanan’s Journey
Venkatesh Parthasarathy and Lingaraj G. Jayaprakash explore interesting facets of Buchanan’s Journey in this article, which will inspire you to take to the road and embark on your journey of discovery … of times gone by and of unfamiliar places, and even of ourselves.
Srirangapatna: Tipu’s Forgotten Capital…
How was life, society and economy in Karnataka 200 years ago? How was the state administered and inhabited before the advent of British colonial power? Francis Buchanan was commissioned by the British East India Company to travel through the region soon after the defeat of Mysore under Tipu Sultan. Lingaraj Jayaprakash is a researcher at […]
Walking in Buchanan’s Footsteps
We recall some of our insights into lives, livelihoods and landscapes of southern India as we retrace the Journey of Francis Buchanan (1800-01). Read our piece published in Live History India in February 2019.
Choultries, Chatrams and Mantappas
Our search for Veera Perumal Pillai Choultry or what is now called Pillai Chatram on Buchanan’s route not far from Chennai (then Madras) opened up new insights into this important pre-colonial institution. Unfortunately, the condition of the two chatrams that we visited, i.e. Pillai Chatram and another at Ocheri (then Wochuru) were to put it […]
A Looming Past
“A Looming Past” weaves together a multi-layered narrative of the lives of traditional coarse blanket weavers in a small southern Indian village in Karnataka State, Yaravarahalli. Coarse blanket weaving is a traditional caste-based occupation that continues to be practiced as it has been for centuries with almost no technological encroachment. To our surprise, we found […]
A Short Journey to Ramnagara
Just 50 kilometers from Bangalore is the small town of Ramanagara. Buchanan had stoped by at this town, then a village, providing interesting details on its location, the hill adjacent to the village and the temple atop the hill. He had also recorded the existence of the Chensu tribe or Iruligars, who have now been […]
Estimating Agricultural Productivity
In 1800 and 1801 Francis Buchanan conducted one of the first agricultural surveys in the erstwhile Mysore state and its adjoining regions. By subjecting data contained in his survey to rigorous analytical study, estimates of agricultural productivity in terms of per capita grain output for two regions in Southern India; the erstwhile Mysore state and […]
