Exploring India through her stories

by Storytrails

Every sight has a story to tell. Join us as we uncover fascinating, insightful stories behind places, people and monuments of India. Each episode offers a bite-sized glimpse into India’s history, culture, and heritage; Hidden histories, unexpected tales, and stories that help you make sense of the sights around you. Come, experience India with us! Storytrails is an award-winning organisation that attempts to showcase India thr ...   ...  Read more
History
Society & Culture
Places & Travel

Podcast episodes

  • Season 1

  • Humayun's Tomb

    Humayun's Tomb

    S01 E06
    48:34

    Humayun was sandwiched between the ambitious Babur and the visionary Akbar. Add avaricious brothers and defiant governors into the mix, and you have a king caught in a bad place. He struggled, but managed to hold on tenaciously to his kingdom. And when he died, his son, Akbar built a tomb befitting of an emperor for him. Humayun’s tomb stands in all its majestic glory in the heart of Delhi, ensconced in its own lush gardens, one of the earliest mausoleums to be built this way. It has inspired many later buildings, including the Taj Mahal. Who else is buried in this tomb complex? Just how did the insides look when it was first built? And what happened to this imposing monument when the Mughals lost power? Join us on the Storytrails podcast, and listen as Ms Swapna Liddle takes us through this glorious monument called Humayun’s tomb.

  • The Vaigai River Valley excavations, Keeladi

    The Vaigai River Valley excavations, Keeladi

    S01 E05
    37:26

    They traded in beads, sported with humped bulls and engraved their names in the wet mud of newly made pots. They used weighing units and terracotta seals, indicative of well regulated trade practices. And they lived around the year 580 BCE in the Vaigai river valley. Their story is still unfolding. The ongoing excavations at Keeladi are unearthing new and exciting information about this highly advanced civilization. The excavations throw up many questions as well. How do archaeologists know where to dig? Does Keeladi suggest the beginning of urbanization in South India? Did this society have any links with the Indus valley civilization? Do ancient South Indian scripts have any connection with the Indus valley script? Join us on the Storytrails podcast, and listen in as we put these questions to Dr Rajan, a noted archaeologist who led many of these excavations.

  • The Magnificent Ajanta Caves

    The Magnificent Ajanta Caves

    S01 E04
    40:38

    It all began when Captain John Smith went tiger hunting in the Sahyadri hills in 1819. He found no tigers that day, but he did find something that took his breath away. The Ajanta caves. Thirty caves filled with gorgeous paintings made over 2000 years ago. These ancient Buddhist paintings cast a long shadow, and have influenced many centuries of later art. What do these paintings tell us about life back then? What colours did the artists use and where did they get them from? And why were these amazing pictures painted in the middle of nowhere? In this episode, Dr Alamelu Nachiappan, a professor of Art History, helps us unravel some of these mysteries. Listen in as she takes us through the many stories of Ajanta.

  • Gangaikonda Cholapuram | The city built by the greatest Chola king

    Gangaikonda Cholapuram | The city built by the greatest Chola king

    S01 E03
    24:53

    There was once a mighty king and he produced an even mightier son. Between them, they took their kingdom to dizzying heights. This podcast focuses on the son of Rajaraja Chola the great - Rajendra Chola. Who was the greatest Chola king? Listen in, as we tell you the story of a southern king who took his campaigns to the Gangetic plains, Srilanka, Maldives and South East Asia. This story takes you to Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the capital city he built a 1000 years ago, with a marvellous temple that still stands.

  • The myths and mysteries of the Big Temple, Thanjavur

    The myths and mysteries of the Big Temple, Thanjavur

    S01 E02
    41:00

    The mighty Brihadeeswara temple in Thanjavur is a 1000 year-old engineering marvel and one of the tallest structures of its time. It is considered Rajaraja Chola’s magnum opus. Join us on this podcast by Storytrails, as we explore the rich history and the many myths that surround this famous temple. Is it true that this tall temple casts no shadow? How did they get the massive cupola to the very top of the tower? Is the temple entrance really cursed? On this episode, we’re joined by the articulate Madhusudhanan Kalaiselvan, a conservation architect who specialises in Tamil literature, heritage and architectural research.