Kedareshwara Temple at Halebid is just about 500 m away from the famous Hoysaleshwara Temple. As per inscriptions in this Hoysala temple dedicated to Lord Shiva it is constructed by Hoysala King Veera Ballala II and his queen Ketaladevi.
This magnificent temple is built using soap stone around 1219 A.D stands on a 16 corner platform that is five to six feet in height. The layout of the main shrine is star shaped with two smaller shrines that have perforated windows on the sides.
The temple has eight equally sized strips of sculptures all around it on the external wall. From the bottom the first row has elephants, second row has Cavalry forces, the third and fifth row is decorated with beautiful creepers and flowers.
The fourth row has series of lions ans this is also a mascot of Hoysala dynasty. The sixth row has various scenes from Ramayana, Mahabharatha, Bhagavatha. The seventh row consists of Makara and eight rows consist of swans.
All around the temple there are sculptures of Gods and Goddesses, shown under ornamented and intricately carved canopies.
Hebbal Lake in north Bangalore is favorite spot for various colorful birds. People have identified nearly 100 spices of birds here. One among them is Indian Pond Heron.
A glimpse of heritage monument of India in black and white. Check other posts that will give you more details about this monument.
At Shravanabelagola on the Indragiri hill there are various ancient monuments all over the hillock. One among them is Siddhar Gundu.
This is a huge boulder with carvings of Jain Tirthankaras is located just 30 steps on the upward journey after one crosses another monument Tyagada Kamba.
At the top portion of the boulder there is a carvings of of Lord Adinatha and his one hundred children.
There is also a unique carving of Lord Bahubali in padmasana and this we can not see anywhere else as we see him in all other places in a standing position.
This magnificent 17th century palace of Gondal is one of the spectacles in the city. We have already got a glimpse of this palace in the earlier post on Naulakha Palace. A glimpse of royalty can be seen as the former living quarters of the palace has been converted into a private museum.
One can also see here the private library with large collection of books used by the the royal family.
The grand Darbar Hall simple yet beautiful with gilt wooden furniture, chandeliers, stuffed panthers and antique Belgian mirrors.
Other interesting items on display are the the baby crib, musical instruments, elephant hauda and many more items.
In other section where there are items used by the kids such as cot, chair, mirror, cupboard are on display.
The Botanical Garden at Ooty is one of the must visit tourist places. This garden has many beautiful flowers and some of them are here:
Here is a bee hovering near the beautiful flower.
A glimpse of India in black and white. This picture is taken at one of the markets.
Kirti Mandir at Vadodara located near Vishwamitra Bridge is the cluster of temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was built in 1936 by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of the Gaekwad dynasty in the memory of deceased members of the royal family.
If one stands in front of the building and look at it then it is in the shape of letter 'E'. It has beautiful balconies, domes.
The central tower on the top of the entrance rises to approximately 34 meters. At the top of tower is the sun, the moon and the earth in bronze with the undivided map of India on it.
We could not see the interiors as it was closed when we visited it in the morning.
The majestic Portuguese Fort in Diu better known as the Fortem do Mar at the eastern tip of the Diu. Built in 1535 by Portuguese during their colonial rule of the Diu island this fort was known to provide a strategic vantage point against enemy attacks. The original fortification was constructed under Nuno-da-Cunha and was later rebuilt by the Viceroy D Joao-de-Castro after 1546 AD.
The fort is entered through double gateways, one after the outer moat and the other after the inner moat. The gateways have impressive Portuguese plaques and sculptures of lions.
The fort is one of India’s best-known Portuguese military architecture. The fortified walls consist of 7 bastions on which guns are mounted.
The fort built along the Arabian Sea coastline is surrounded by sea on three sides. It is circular in shape having 20 feet high and 12 feet thick walls with double moats, an outer moat and an inner moat.
There are a few ruined churches found inside the fort. They are simple in appearance and meant for the resident officers to prey. The fort with its double moat, a splendid array of cannons, small chapels. The notable places of interest in the fort are:
- St. George bastion
- St. Luzia Bastion
- St. Tiago Bastion & Chapel
- Lighthouse
- Canons of the Fort
At Dangmal which is part of Bhitarkanika National Park is a conservation center that houses a few crocodiles born and bred in captivity.
The population of salt water crocodiles was on decline from the middle of nineteen seventies and these endangered species were on the verge of extinction. The decline of population was mostly due to over exploitation, poaching and hunting.
Orissa State Government through Forest Department launched a conservation program to save them and since then around 1700 crocodiles were released in the nature.
A glimpse of heritage monument of India in black and white. Check other posts that will give you more details about this monument.
At Sarkhej Roza Complex in Ahmedabad is the ruins of 15th century Royal Palaces. One among them is King's Palace on the Southern Bank of the lake that was dry during our visit.
This was built in the 13th century by Sultan Mahmud Begada. Though in ruins, it still showcases past glory.
By the side of the palace also has a small mosque used by the Sultan for his prayers.
In Ellora the cave numbered as 21 is a Shiva Temple and in front of it in the open court yard on a lofty pedestal with carvings on all the the sides is a Nandi. This cave dates back to 8th century A.D and locally known as "Ramesvara".
The shrine has an oblong hall of 16 feet in height and with two side shrines on either side. This magnificent cave has a beautiful facade, supported by beautifully crafted pillars. At the top portion of the front pillars are brackets carved with female figures standing under foliage, with their attendant dwarfs.
There are several sculptures in this cave of gigantic proportions. One among them on the right sidewall depicts the Mahisasuramardhini episode where Goddess Mahishasuri is slaying the buffalo demon.
On the left end, is a tall four armed figure standing with on its both sides are attendants with animal heads.
On the back wall of the hall is a beautiful sculpture portraying the scene of Ravana with five heads shaking the Kailasa on his head upon which are Siva and Parvati with their attendants.
During our visit to Chilka Lake which is around 55 kms from Puri we spotted Indian River Tern in the lake.
A glimpse of India in black and white. This is the view of the surrounding landscape from the top of a hillock at Devrayandurga.
This is another view of the same place in color.
The rock cut cave, Tentuli Gumpha - I is located on middle terrace of the Khandagiri Hillock of Orissa. It belongs to 1st century B.C. during the period of Mahameghavahana Chedi dynasty.
It consists of a single small dwelling cell with two entrances and a benched verandah with a simple pillar in the middle.
The cave is devoid of sculptural friezes except for the arched entrances with small carving of two elephant seated back to back on either side of the arch.
The bracket supporting the pillar has beautiful carving of elephant.
The beautiful Sun Temple Complex of Konark apart from 13th Sun Temple has various ancient structures. One such magnificent structure is Dancing Hall which in the current form is a unroofed.
This architectural wonder is a large pillared hall is built on a very high platform, in front of the temple. This hall in the ancient times was intended for offering prayers by the dancing girls during the worship.
The dancing hall can be reached by flight of steps from all the four directions. But one in the eastern side has larger than life images of Gaja-Simhas installed on two high stone-benches on either side of the passage. It is a lion rearing above a kneeling elephant that holds a prostrate man with his trunk.
Every inch of base of the dancing hall have been covered with fine artistic designs of the ancient times. Musicians playing drums, cymbals and other musical instruments adorn the sculptures in Odissi dance posses.
The pillars are elaborately carved with dancing male and female figures in various poses, playing different kinds of musical instruments. The dancing figures are seen carrying incense burners and lamps in their hands.
Each of the carvings on this beautiful hall outsmarts the other. Since 1989 every year in the month of December Konark Dance Festival is organised with temple and dance hall as the backdrop. Various artists perform here several dance forms to celebrate the dances of India.
During our trip to Mysore, we also visited Sangam. Among other things this place is frequented by birds.
We noticed Ibis in the middle of river during our trip.
We also came across Painted Stork.
