Spot Me

This post is not related to travel, just fun. One day when my kids standing in the balcony, they spotted a bird flying around the mango tree. I rushed out with my camera clicked few snaps and here they are:

Picture 1

Picture 2

Try spotting the bird in both the snaps. Name the cell and its position in the cell.

Clue: Bird is Humming Bird

Looking forward to your answers. No prizes, just fun.

I shall post the answers on 07-May-2011.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Orchids

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on January 2011 there were exclusive collection of Orchids on display. The colors were amazing.

There were more than 25 variety of Orchids on display. The color combination and designs on each of them were beautiful.

There were stalls selling the Orchids plants outside the flower show. The price ranged from Rupees 600 to 1200 depending on the variety.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Purple Anthurium

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on January 2011 there were exclusive collection of various flowers on display. A wide variety of Anthurium flowers were grown with mix of colors.

Purple color Anthurium was of interest to me.

Ekambareshvara Temple, Kanchipuram

There are many beautiful temples in Kanchipuram (State: Tamil Nadu). Here, the Ekambareshvara Temple is one of the largest temple and dates back to sometime between 16th to 17th centuries. The temple was constructed by the rulers of Pallava Dynasty and improvised by other dynasties.

The tall tower on the Southern entrance is 180 feet in height. This was erected by Maharaja Krishnadeva Raya of Vijayanagara Dynasty.

The temple has a huge hall with thousand pillars. To the North of the mantapa is a tank; west of the mandapa is the main shrine which contains the Earth Lingam (a form of Lord Shiva). There is a 3500 year old mango tree to the west of the main shrine. The tree produces four different varieties of mangoes.

Nandi at Chamundi Hills, Mysore

The Nandi located at the top of Chamundi hills in Mysore (State: Karnataka) is bulit sometime in the years 1659 – 1673. The creation of this huge image of Nandi attributed to Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar, the Maharajas of Mysore.



This is the largest image of Nandi in India. Carved out of single mammoth boulder it is about 16 feet in height and 24 feet long.



The Nandi is in sitting position with its left foreleg folded is on a 4 feet high platform. Many sequences of bells and garlands are carved beautifully over the Nandi.

According Hindi mythology considered as Lord Shiva's vehicle, the Nandi is in actively worshiped. This is an open shrine exposed to the elements of nature.

Direction: This shrine can be reached by climbing 1000 steps on the hill. Alternatively on the main road to hilltop, take right at the “View Point” junction. From this junction it is 2kms.

Elephant Ride to Amber Fort, Jaipur

Amber Fort in Jaipur (State: Rajasthan) is locates at the top of the hill. The fort complex comprises of several beautiful palaces.

From the bottom of the hill one can reach the fort over the hill either by using stairways or elephant ride. For a nominal fee they carry two to three people on elephant to the top where front courtyard of the complex exists.

Taj Mahal, Agra

Taj Mahal located in Agra (State: Uttar Pradesh) is a mausoleum. The construction of this finest example of Mughal architecture started in 1632 and completed in 1653. It combines the elements from Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles.

This white marble structure stands on a square platform and consists of a symmetrical building with an an arch-shaped doorway topped by a large dome. The multi-chambered structure is an unequal octagon that is approximately 55 meters on each of the four long sides.The marble dome at the top is 35 meters in height and is onion shaped.

The minarets at the four corners are more than 40 meters in height. Each minaret is effectively divided into three equal parts by two working balconies that ring the tower.

One of the entrance gate to the Taj Mahal complex.

Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, it stands as a symbol of eternal love. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mangalore

Mangalore (State: Karnataka) is located at a distance of 350 kms from Bangalore. On the one side it has Arabian Sea, while on the other side there are Western Ghat mountain ranges. The city derives its name from the local Hindu Goddess Mangaladevi. It is one of the important port on the Arabian Sea. Its history dates back to 7th century and it has been ruled by several prominent dynasties. Today it is a major educational hub in India.


Major attractions here are:

• Mangaladevi Temple
• Venkataramana Temple
• Kudroli Gokarnanatha Temple
• Kudtheri Sree Mahamaya Temple
• Kadri Manjunatheswara Temple
• Sharavu Ganapathi Temple
• Kateel Durgaparameshwari
• St. Aloysious Chapel (1, 2)
• Milagres Church
• Light House Hill
• Tanirbavi Beach

Transport system in Mangalore include private buses, Government buses, trains, taxis and auto-rickshaws. The city bus service is operated by private operators and provides excellent connectivity through out the city and beyond.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Mixed Color Petunia Flowers

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on January 2011 there were exclusive collection of various flowers on display. A wide variety of Petunia flowers were grown with mix of colors.

Red and purple color combination Petunia flower.

Purple and white combination Petunia flower.

View of Amber Fort, Jaipur

The pink city Jaipur (State: Rajasthan) has several forts and palaces. Here Jaigarh Fort built in 1726 is perched on a cliff and has a rugged structure with huge fort walls. This fort offers incredible aerial view of the Amber Fort and palace.

The view from the top provides impressive views over a deep narrow valley and the wider plains beyond.

Built in 1592, the Amber Fort is one of the finest examples of Rajput architecture. The fort that sprawls along the Maotha Lake, is composed of a massive complex gateways, courts, stairways and pillared pavilions, and palaces.

Lalbagh Gardens - Bonsai, Bangalore

Inside the Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore (State: Karnataka) the Bonsai Park is spread across 2.5 acres.

The various Bonsai trees are kept on the benches arranged in a particular format making it convenient for public.

There are around 500 bonsai plants aging from 5 to 35 years. Trees such as Jackfruit, Tamarind, Banyan tree etc., here are grown in pots in the miniature form.

The Bonsai Park is entered through the the 40-foot-high pagoda gate. Bonsai Park was opened for public from the first half of the year 2011.

Lalbgh Flower Show - Red Zinnia

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on August 2010 there were exclusive collection of lot flower plants. Lot of Zinnia's were planted as part of the show. The colors were amazing.


The flowers were seen with lot of bees hovering over them.