Lost in the Heat: A Weird Little Adventure in Raipur
okay, so i landed in raipur and immediately felt like i’d stepped into an oven. i just checked and it's 30.31°c there right now, feels like 28.66°c, hope you like that kind of thing. humidity is a merciful 24%, so at least i'm not drowning in sweat, but the sun is relentless. i'm here as a freelance photographer, chasing textures and chaos, and this city delivers both in spades.
i started my day near the mahant ghasidas memorial museum, which is honestly cooler than i expected. the architecture is this weird mix of colonial and local, and i spent an hour just snapping doorways and peeling paint. someone told me that the locals call it "the old lady" because it's been around forever and has that stubborn, slightly crumbling charm. i heard that the exhibits inside are a bit dusty, but the vibe outside is pure gold for street shots.
2019-04-27T00:00:00Z
later, i wandered into sadar bazaar. it's loud, it's messy, it's exactly what i needed. the colors are insane-stacks of spices, glittering bangles, and the occasional cow just ambling through like it owns the place. i grabbed a plate of chana samosa from a stall that had a line out the door. no idea what it was called, but it cost me 20 rupees and i'd sell a kidney for another bite.
if you get bored, bilaspur and durg are just a short drive away. i didn't make it there this trip, but i overheard someone at the bus station saying bilaspur has the best rice in the state. not sure if that's drunk advice or actual wisdom, but it stuck with me.
i also checked out urja park in the evening, mostly because i needed shade and a place to sit. the fountains were off, but the locals were out in full force-kids flying kites, couples on benches, old men playing cards. it felt like everyone was just waiting for the sun to quit for the day. i sat there for an hour, watching the light change, and realized i hadn't checked my phone in ages. that's a win, right?
for dinner, i went to hotel grand international based on a tip from a rickshaw driver who looked like he'd eaten everywhere in town. the thali was massive, the dal was buttery, and i left with a food coma and a new friend who kept refilling my plate. if you're into street food, check out tripadvisor for more local eats-i was too busy eating to take notes.
raipur isn't the kind of place that screams "instagram me," but that's exactly why i liked it. it's real, it's messy, and it doesn't care if you're taking pictures or not. i'll be back-probably during a cooler month, though.
*tags:* travel, raipur, freelance photographer, messy adventures, real india
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