Q1 of 24 Page 135

The text you read is a travelogue where the author, Vikram Seth, talks about his visit to two sacred places in Kathmandu.

Imagine that you were with Vikram Seth on his visit to Pashupatinath temple, and you were noting down all that you saw and did there, so that you could write a travelogue later.


Record in point form:


- What you see when you reach the Pashupatinath temple


- What you see happening inside the temple


-What you do when inside the temple.


- What you see outside the temple


-What your impressions are about the place.

2 March 2017


Today I feel much elated after witnessing the spectacular Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu. It is truly a wondrous piece of art. Since only the Hindus had an access to the visit the shrine, it was totally a chaotic situation outside. Inside the temple, I could see thousands and thousands of worshippers trying to elbow and push each other in their way to reach the front and attract the attention of the priest. The shrine was surrounded by priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists, monkeys, cows, pigeons and dogs roaming about here and there. I feel that this beautiful shrine should be made open for all.


NOTE- This is only a small example. A diary entry is a piece of writing where in the writer includes informal details and a much deeper experience of his or her surroundings. Students can accordingly add more details to this


More from this chapter

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3

Use capital letters, full stops, question marks, commas and inverted commas wherever necessary in the following paragraph:

an arrogant lion was wandering through the jungle one day he asked the tiger who is stronger than you you O lion replied the tiger who is more fierce than a leopard asked the lion you sir replied the leopard he marched upto an elephant and asked the same question the elephant picked him up in his trunk swung him in the air and threw him down look said the lion there is no need to get mad just because you don't know the answer.

 4

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

1. The heart is a pump that ------ (send) the blood circulating through our body. The pumping action ------- (take place) when the left ventricle of the heart ------- (contract). This ------ (force) the blood out into the arteries, which ------------ (expand) to receive the oncoming blood.


2. The African lungfish can live without water for up to four years. During a drought it ------- (dig) a pit and --------- (enclose) itself in a capsule of slime and earth, leaving a tiny opening for air. The capsule ------- (dry) and ------- (harden), but when rain ------ (come), the mud ------ (dissolve) and the lungfish ---------- (swim) away.


3. Mahesh: We have to organize a class party for our teacher. --------- (Do) anyone play an instrument?


Vipul: Rohit ------- (play) the flute.


Mahesh: ------------ (Do) he also act?


Vipul: No. He ---------- (compose) music.


Mahesh: That’s wonderful!

 2

Here is your diary entry when you visited Agra. Read the points and try to write a travelogue describing your visit to Agra and the Taj Mahal. You may add more details.

January 2003 - rise before dawn - take the Shatabdi Express at 6.15 am from Delhi- meet a newly married couple on train - talk about Himachal Pradesh - get off the train - enter the once-grand city, Agra - twisted alleys - traffic dense-rickshaws, cars, people - vendors selling religious artifacts, plastic toys, spices and sweets - go to the Taj Mahal - constructed entirely of white marble - magical quality - colour changes with varying of light and shadow - marble with gemstones inside - reflection of the Taj Mahal in the pond - school-children, tourists - tourist guides following people.

 1

“A slumber did my spirit seal,” says the poet. That is, a deep sleep ‘closed off’ his soul (or Mind). How does the poet react to his loved one’s death? Does he feel bitter grief? Or does he feel a great peace?