India Travel

Lalbagh Flower Show - Phlox

2012-01-28T16:25:00.001+05:30

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on August 2011 there were exclusive collection of Phlox on display. The colors were amazing. One of the colorful Phlox flower is below.

The varied colors of the flower.

Macro Flower Saturday

Serfoji Saraswathi Mahal Library, Thanjavur

2012-01-26T06:00:00.010+05:30

Located in campus of the Royal Palace of Thanjavur, it is one of the oldest libraries in World. The library has exceptional collection of books, manuscripts, paintings and other valuable items. This library was started sometime between 1535 - 1675 AD by the Nayak Kings of Thanjavur. From 1875 the Maratha rulers further developed this library until 1855.

Most notable among the Maratha Kings was Serfoji II. He took special interest in the enrichment of the Library. He employed many learned people to collect vast number of works from all renowned Centers of learning. As a tribute to the Great Collector Serfoji, the Library has been named after him.

The library has a rare collection of palm leaf, and paper manuscripts in Indian and European languages. Over 80% of its manuscripts are in Sanskrit. The manuscripts on palm leaves are very unique. There are manuscripts covering a wide area of literature, music and medicine. Some of the manuscripts are from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

A Museum is located in the Library building and one can see some of these items on display. This Museum is small but organized into sections highlighting ancient manuscripts, printed copies of the original drawings, paintings.

Shadow Shot Sunday

Thanjavur, Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu

2012-01-23T06:00:00.003+05:30

From Chidambaram we drove to Thanjavur to see the magnificent place, the treasure house of art and handicrafts. This city is one of the ancient cities in India and has a long and varied history. The city came into prominence during the Chola period between the 9th and 14th centuries A.D. Later it further flourished during the rule of the Nayaks and Mahrathas. The city is an important agricultural center is known as the "Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu".

It is well known for handicrafts ranging from pithwork, bronze icons, Thanjavur paintings and the classical South Indian musical instruments. It is regarded as the major learning centre for culture and education.

The main tourist attractions in the place are:

Brihadeeswara Temple, a World Heritage Site
Royal Palace
Serfoji's Saraswathi Mahal Library

We will soon explore these above places.

Mysore Zoo - White Peacock

2012-01-21T16:47:00.004+05:30

Mysore Zoo is the most popular zoo at Mysore in India. There are various animals and birds at the zoo. One among them is white peacock.

This is a nice place for the kids to get know about the various animals in the wild.

Peshwa Museum, Pune

2012-01-19T06:00:00.004+05:30

Peshwa Museum in Pune is on Prvati Hill adjacent to Parvati Temple. For people who are interested in history and want to know about Peshwa rulers a visit to the museum is a must.

On the hill top a palace was built by Shrimant Peshwa in the year 1795. Part of the Peshwa Palace has been converted into museum.

At the museum on display are the items belonging to Peshwa era. Here there are paintings of all Peshwas, Maratha Sardars along with the arms, manuscripts, coins and other articles which were in use in those days. Photography inside the museum is not allowed.

A glimpse of interiors can be seen from the entrance.

Blue Monday

Aurangabad, City of Gates

2012-01-16T06:00:00.002+05:30

From Pune we went to Shirdi. From here we traveled to Aurangabad by train covering a distance of 120 kms.

Aurangabad city located in Maharastra is more than 2200 years old and was known by many other names in the past like Rajtadak or Fatehbad. It was given the present name by the Moghul ruler Aurangzeb. The entire city was fortified with the erection of huge entrance gates. Due to this it is known as "City of Gates". Today only 13 gates have survived test of time out of 54 gates.

This place is famous for Himroo and Paithani Sarees. These sarees have gold & silver threads woven in silk fabric. There are many interesting places around the city. The places that I had covered during my visit of the city are:

Bibi-Ka-Maqbara a mausoleum which is a replica of Taj Mahal
The 12th century, Devagiri Fort (13kms from the city)
2nd century B.C rock cut caves of Ajanta (110kms from the city)
5th century B.C rock cut caves of Ellora (29kms from the city)
Ghrishneshwar Temple (30kms from the city)

We shall explore these places in detail soon.

Garden at Shaniwar Wada, Pune

2012-01-12T06:30:00.003+05:30

Shaniwar Wada in Pune cannot be missed by any tourist at it is at the center of the city. Built in 1732, it is the residence of the Peshwas.

This place in the ancient time had beautiful garden around the palace. Now there is only glimpse of past glory.

The garden had remarkable fountains in those days.

I have captured some of the flowers that had bloomed in the garden during my visit to the place.

Shri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, Mysore

2012-01-09T06:00:00.004+05:30

Established in 1892, the Mysore Zoo at Mysore it is one of the oldest and most popular zoos in India. It is home to a wide range of wild species. The zoo is spread across 45 acres now and it is founded by Maharaja Chamarajendra Wodeyar. Officially the zoo is known as Shri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, named after the founder of the zoo .

This is one of the well maintained place, where animals are well taken care of. This is a nice place for the kids to get know about the various wild species. The trip through the zoo consumes more than half a day.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Dahlia

2012-01-07T12:20:00.002+05:30

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on August 2011 there were exclusive collection of Dahlias on display. The colors were amazing. One of the colorful Dahlia is below.

Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram

2012-01-05T21:14:00.007+05:30

Thillai Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram is one of the prominent temples in South India. This 6th century Lord Shiva temple represents element sky of the basic 5 elements of nature (Others land, water, air, fire). The place where temple located is the center point of world's magnetic equator.

The temple occupies 40 acres of land and had several renovations over the years in the the ancient and pre-medieval periods by several dynasties such as Pallava, Chola, Pandya, Vijayanagara and Chera.The temple is well endowed with several water bodies within and around the temple complex.

There are 9 gateways around the temple from where one can enter the temple complex. 4 of the gateways facing in the East, West, South and North are 7 storeys.

The intricate carvings adorn the tower. The sculptures of the temple were inspired the postures of dance form Bharatha Natyam.

Castle Mandwa, Shekhawati

2012-01-02T06:00:00.004+05:30

Castle Mandawa in the Shekhawati Region was build in 1755 by Thakur Nawal singh, a descendant of Rao Shekha, the founder of Shekhawati. In those days this was fortress and now it is converted into a luxury hotel.

Two imposing gateways lead to the central courtyard where cannons stand as a reminder of the past when they were used to repel the enemy.

The palace in the fort hosts beautiful fresco paintings. Mostly vegetable pigments were used for coloring. Some of the main ingredients are kajal for black, lime for white, neel for blue, geru for red, kesar for orange, yellow clay for yellow. Family portraits, antique cannons and arms add to the charm of this palace.

Seasons Greetings

2011-12-29T08:00:00.004+05:30

Your continuous support and interest in my blog enthused me to show more of my Little World.

Looking forward to do more of it in the New Year.

Thanks to all and happy blogging.

Friends wish you all

HAPPY & PROSPEROUS

New Year

Sunset is shot at Kapu beach and butterfly on the flower is shot near Hebbal lake in Bangalore.

Poetry in Stone - 8

2011-12-26T06:00:00.003+05:30

This is eight in the series on the rich cultural heritage of ancient temples in India. 2o kms apart twin towns of Belur and Halebid are home for temples known for their exquisite Hoysala architecture. The temples at both these places are built by renowned architect Jakkanna Acharya in the 12th century.

Both the Hoysaleswara temple of Halebid and the Chennakesava Temple of Belur have intricate sculptures and friezes. They include elephants, lions, horses, episodes from the Indian mythological epics, and sensuous dancers. Inside the temple are a number of ornate pillars.

As some of these sculptures represent scenes from Hindu epics, some of the sculptures in these temple look similar. One such sculpture is daemon King Ravana lifting Kailasa mountain. Atop the mountain is Lord Shiva with Parvati. This is based on Hindu epic Ramayana.

Another sculpture is Arjuna hitting the eye of fish using his bow and arrow looking at its reflection in the water near his feet. This scene is carved beautifully with some minor differences. This is based on Hindu epic Mahabarath.

There intricate sculptures at two different temples are carved very similar to each other. How could they achieve these in the ancient times? Were the ancient civilization so advanced that they knew techniques of photography and photocopying (xerox). There are more than thousand sculptures in each of these temples. It is possible that some of them are similar to each other and we may be able to identify them if observed them with interest.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Primula

2011-12-24T08:30:00.001+05:30

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on August 2011 there were exclusive collection of various flowers on display. The colors were just amazing.

One such beautiful and colorful flower is Primula.

These flowers were there in pink, red and purple color on exhibit.

For more visit Macro Flower Saturday

Aghoreshwara Temple, Ikkeri

2011-12-22T06:00:00.004+05:30

Aghoreshwara Temple of Ikkeri is a well proportionate structure, built of granite. It was built by Keladi Nayaks in the 16th century. The architecture of the temple is a unique mix where Dravidian style is combined with style from the Deccan.

The temple has ornamental doorways in three directions North, West and East with North as main entry point. The sculptures on either side of the huge doorways are striking. The temple is reddish pink in color all around.

The carvings and lattice work on the windows of the temple are simple and quiet unique. The carvings on the stone walls of the temple are intricate. In contrast to the temple color there are two small black stone elephant sculptures at the entrance.

The Garbhagriha, which is built of huge stones, houses Shiv linga. Outside the Garbhgriha doorway there are two niches, those to the right containing the figures of Ganesha and Subramanya and those to the left figures of Mahishasuramardini and Bhairava.

The huge stone Nandi is housed opposite to the temple in open stone mantapa. The surface of Nandi is very smooth and appears as if it has been polished.

Srimad Anantheshwar Temple Pond, Manjeshwar

2011-12-19T06:00:00.005+05:30

The Srimad Anatheshwar Temple in Manjeshwar is most ancient temple in the area. To the right of the temple there is a pond enclosed within a compound wall.

The water of the pond is used only by the temple.

In the pond there are two ducklings having a good time.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Torenia

2011-12-17T00:48:00.006+05:30

Tanaji, the Lion

2011-12-15T06:00:00.008+05:30

Tanaji Malusare was a brave warrior and a leader in the army of Maharaja Shivaji, founder of the Maratha Empire in the 17th century. He is known for the battle he fought to recapture the fort Kondana near Pune for his King Shivaji.

Kondana fort is at the top stiff cliff and is known to impossible to be captured by using force. He planned to storm the extremely well-guarded fort in the middle of the night. Tanaji and his troops scaled the fort with the help of monitor lizards (the iguana). They fought a fierce battle to recapture the fort. He fought with another brave man Udaybhan Rathod from the opposition ranks even after he lost his shield. It is known that Tanaji fought Udaybhan by tying a cloth over one of his hands and using it to ward off Uday Bhan's sword attacks. Tanaji and his men managed to capture the fort, but Tanaji lost his life in the battle.

Maharaja Shivaji renamed the fort from Kondana to Sinhagad in his honor. His words after hearing about the demise of Tanaji were "Gad ala pan Sinha gela" He meant "Won the Fort, lost the Lion"

This statue is located in the Sinhagad.

Varaha Cave Temple, Mahabalipuram

2011-12-12T06:00:00.006+05:30

Varaha Cave Temple in Mahabalipuram is a rock-cut temple. It is a 7th century small monolithic temple with a mandapa. The mandapa is guarded by sculptures of two Pallava doorkeepers. In front of mandapa are two pillars and two semi-columns that have horned lions carved into the bases.

Inside the mandapa the walls have four large sculptured panels, which are finest examples of ancient craftsmanship. The delineation and modeling of the figures are remarkable.

On the panel to your left is Lord Vishnu incarnated as Varaha raising goddess earth from the ocean. There is still hint a red color at the top of the panel.

Opposite to this is the panel showcasing Trivikrama overcoming the demon king Bali.

At the rear are the two panels on either side of opening - Gajalakshmi seated on lotus and bathed by elephants, Durga with four arms.

Srimad Anantheshwar Temple, Manjeshwar

2011-12-08T06:45:00.003+05:30

This temple in Manjeshwar is most ancient temple in the area. The temple is in a low laying area and has to be approached by going down the slope.

This temple like many other ancient temple was ravaged by both man and nature. The portions of the temple was devastated by cyclone in 1677. The temple was later looted by various people several times from 1750 and 1799. In 1804, it was renovated by the Gowda Saraswath Brahmins. The inner sanctum was recently again renovated in 2010 -2010.

The main sanctum has images of the three deities. Besides the image of Shiva, there are images of Lord Narasimha (Ananteshwar) and Subramanya.

There is a peepal tree outside the temple with various snake sculptures around the tree.

Udaygiri, Mountain of the Sunrise

2011-12-05T06:00:00.005+05:30

In Udaygiri (State: Madhya Pradesh) which is 13kms away from Sanchi there are a series of rock-cut sanctuaries and images excavated into hillside. These carvings in the caves are carved during the Gupta Empire between 4th and 5th Century. The literal translation of Udaygiri is the 'Mountain of the Sunrise'.

The caves here are numbered for convenience of identifying. The most famous sculpture is the monumental figure of Vishnu in his incarnation as the boar-headed Varaha. Another interesting sculpture is that of Shivlinga where hair is tied up into a topknot.

I think there are alltogether 14 to 16 caves. I could explore only few caves due to shortage of time. This was the last place that I visited during my trip of Madhya Pradesh state. We shall explore the following caves in detail very soon.

Cave No. 5
Cave No.9

Manjeshwar, the Pancha Bhasha Bhumi

2011-12-01T06:00:00.007+05:30

The coastal village of Manjeshwar is part of Kerala state and it is bordering Karnataka State. It is known as 'Pancha Bhasha Bhumi' as five languages namely Kannada, Malayalam, Tulu, Urdu and Konkani are prominently in use here.

This place is at a distance of approximately 21 Kms from Mangalore.

The places of travel interest are:

Chathurmukha Basti
Srimad Anantheshwar Temple (1, 2)

Trimurti Cave Temple, Mahabalipuram

2011-11-28T06:00:00.004+05:30

Trimurti Cave Temple in Mahabalipuram is located behind huge rocks and a passage leads one to this temple.

We would have missed seeing this temple, had I not followed a group of travelers going in the direction of the rocks. I am glad I followed them.

This 7th century rock-cut shrine is unique in that is honors the Hindu Trinity in one place. This cave temple is devoted to three supreme gods of Hindus, Brahma-the creator, Vishnu-the preserver and Shiva-the destroyer.

There is a separate section in the temple for each of them.

Great Stupa of Sanchi

2011-11-24T06:00:00.002+05:30

If one is in Bhopal, not a single opportunity to visit the 'Great Stupa' at Sanchi should be missed. It was commissioned by the emperor Ashoka in the third century BCE. It is one of the oldest stone structures in India.

It is a simple hemispherical brick structure measuring 36.5mts in diameter and 16.4 mts high. built over the relics of the Buddha. It is crowned by a parasol-like structure symbolizing high rank. Inside the Stupa there are relics of the Buddha. The dome which is flattened near the top is crowned by three superimposed parasols within a square railing. It is a symbol of the Dharma, the Wheel of the Law.

There are four monumental gateways (toranas) facing the cardinal directions. The gateways carved out of stone are covered with narrative sculptures. They showed scenes from the life of the Buddha. They show scenes from the life of Buddha. The gateways were erected c. 35 BCE. The four gateways are the finest works of art at Sanchi and are among the finest examples of Buddhist art in India.

On these stone carvings the Buddha was never depicted as a human figure as it was thought to be too confining for the Buddha. The artists choose to represent him by certain attributes, such as the horse on which he left his father’s home, his footprints or a canopy under the Bodhi Tree at the point of his enlightenment.

The Grandeur of Shindyanchi Chhatri, Pune

2011-11-21T06:00:00.003+05:30

When in Pune, a visit to Shindyanchi Chhatri is must. Built in 1795 this architectural marvel has intricate carvings on the external surface.

Above is the top part of front portion of the Chhatri, while below is the bottom portion of the same.

The interiors are beautifully carved and painted. The bright interiors is a nice contrast to wonderful carvings on the exterior.

Here in the above one can see the beautifully carved arches and the painting on them. Below is a closer look at the painted carvings on the arches. Most of the decorations are flower patterns.

Below one can see the interior and external carvings.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Orchids - 9

2011-11-19T00:35:00.001+05:30

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on January 2011 there were exclusive collection of Orchids on display. The colors were amazing. Below are some of the orchids on display:

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

For more visit Macro Flower Saturday

Pancha Rathas, Mahabalipuram

2011-11-17T05:51:00.008+05:30

Pancha Rathas are group of important monuments in Mahabalipuram. These 7th century shrines were carved sometime in the period 630 - 670 A.D. during the reign of King Narasimhavarman I. There are totally five shrines, each of them are monolith, carved out from an outcropping of rock.

Since these temples are still unfinished, no worship has been offered there. Pancha Rathas when translated mean "five chariots", and they are named individually after Draupadi and the Pandava brothers. It is different matter that there may not be relation between them and the epic Mahabharata.

The view in this photo is from the northwest. In the foreground is a carved lion. Behind the lion, from left to right in the photo, are the Draupadi, Arjuna, and Bhima Rathas. In front of Bhima Ratha is Elephant and Nakul-Sahadava Ratha. Dharmaraja Ratha is hidden in this photo behind the other structures.

Draupadi Shrine is the smallest and simplest and it is formed as a bangla hut. The Arjuna shrine is like a small palace or pavillion, with sculpted pilasters, and an octagonal dome. Bhima Shrine is the largest with its barrel vaulting and long columned porch. Seated lions are carved in front of the columns at the base. Nakul-Sahadeva Shrine is south-facing and is in apsidal shape.

Dharmaraja Shrine is a larger version of the Arjuna Shrine with pyramidal roof. The building is topped by an octagonal-shaped dome, the shikhara. Since there is a increase in the elevation below this shrine, it gives a clear look at the decorative elements of its roof, when compared with Arjuna's similar roof.

The craftsmanship when viewed in person will be appreciated more.

Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, Pune

2011-11-14T06:00:00.006+05:30

The Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum is in Pune is a must see place. The museum showcases the various items that are collected by Dr Dinkar G. Kelkar since 1920.

The museum is a three storey building that houses more that 20000 items of which 2,500 are on display. There are various sculptures, ornaments made of ivory, silver and gold, musical instruments, paintings, war weapons and vessels, etc.

Some of the sculptures date back to 14th century. Also on display are Indian decorative items from everyday life and other art objects, mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries.

One need more than half a day to cover this museum leisurely. Unfortunately I had only one hour on my hand, I did not purchase the ticket for photography. I entered the the museum when there was one hour for closure.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Multi Color Rose

2011-11-12T06:20:00.005+05:30

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on August 2011 there were exclusive collection of roses on display. The colors were amazing. One of the rose that I liked most is dual color rose.

ISKCON Temple, Bangalore

2011-11-10T06:00:00.001+05:30

When in Bangalore all tour operators will surely take one to this temple. Even though new the temple has been constructed beautifully and well known in the city. ISKCON Temple is the temple of Lord Krishna and Radha. It is located at Rajajinagar, in the North Bangalore.

Built on a small hillock it is one of the largest ISKCON temples in the world. The construction of the temple that sprawls on 7 acres of land is completed in 1997. Built in neo-classical style of architecture, the temple brings together conventional architecture with ultra-modern services.

The Temple has six shrines. The main shrine is for Radha-Krishna. Others are Krishna Balrama, Nitai Gauranga, Srinivasa Govinda, Prahlada Narasimha and Srila Prabhupada.

The main hall of the temple covering a area of 10000 sq ft has the first three shrines that are listed above. The ceiling of the hall is decorated with beautiful paintings of Lord Krishna made by the Russian painters.

The Grandeur of Shaniwar Wada, Pune

2011-11-07T06:00:00.004+05:30

Shaniwar Wada in Pune cannot be missed by any tourist at it is at the center of the city. Built in 1732, it is the residence of the Peshwas. Originally there was a palace here surrounded by fortification walls.

However, a fire later gutted the buildings in this place and what now remains is the plinths and fortification walls. To experience the grandness of this place one has to see the balcony at the top of Dilli Darwaz.

The balcony has wooden pillars that are beautifully carved with floral designs. Each of the pillars are carved exactly same with no difference at all.

The palace in those days had several rooms for queens, court hall, dancing hall any many other rooms. They were beautifully painted. A glimpse of which can be seen in the interiors of Dilli Darwaza. There is a beautiful painting of Lord Ganesha and Lord Vishnu sleeping on the serpent.

The place had beautiful gardens and fountains which we will try to explore soon.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Alstromaria

2011-11-05T09:00:00.002+05:30

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on August 2011 there were exclusive collection of Alstromaria on display. The colors were amazing. One of them is below.

Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram

2011-11-03T09:00:00.005+05:30

The tour of Mahabalipuram is not complete without a visit to the famous Shore Temple. This imposing temple is located away from other rock cut shrines. As the name suggests it is on the shore of Bay of Bengal. It is built sometime during the period of Pallava King Rajasimha (700 - 728 A.D.). It is one of the earliest structural temple in Southern part of India, very different from other rock-cut monuments in this place.

The temple has 3 sanctuaries and they are dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. The pyramidal structure is 60 ft high and sits on a 50 ft square platform. The roofs of the temple are capped by finials indicating that the temple was complete and functional.

Underneath the towers the walls of the temple are mostly plain except for the engaged columns that are carved with lion bases. At the top of the compound walls around the temple there are large sculptures of Nandi.

There is a huge rock-cut of sculpture of a lion rode by two young women in the temple premises. The lion has a small a square shaped cut in its belly with the carving of Goddess Durga.

This temple is listed in UNESCO World Heritage.

Patwon ki Haveli, Jaisalmer

2011-10-31T06:00:00.005+05:30

When in Jaisalmer, our guide took us through the several narrow lanes. We were not sure where he was taking us and when we reached the destination what was in front of us was stunning. We had heard a lot about Havelis of Jaisalmer but were certainly not prepared for this architectural extravaganza.

We were in front of magnificent Patwon ki Haveli. This was built by Guman Chand Patwathe well-renowned dealers in brocade, gold and silver embroidery during those times. Built between 1800 and 1860 this five-storey mansion has five suites for the five sons of the merchant.

This beautiful sandstone mansion is carved and pieced together with in different patterns. This difference is undone by the perfect harmony in architecture.

The lavish haveli showcases their beauty of craftsmanship in the stone carving. It surely hypnotizes one and all with its charm. No two windows are same.

Every window has something different to offer. It reflects the unique architecture of traditional Jaisalmer. The splendid monument adds to the old glory and grandeur of the place.

It is not possible to capture every detail of this marvel in camera. One has to be there in person to really enjoy it.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Colorful Dahlia

2011-10-29T07:20:00.002+05:30

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on August 2011 there were exclusive collection of Dahlias on display. The colors were amazing. One of the colorful Dahlia is below.

Shindyanchi Chhatri, Pune

2011-10-27T06:00:00.001+05:30

When in Pune, one must no miss to visit Shindyanchi Chhatri, situated in Wanowrie. It is a architectural marvel.

Mahadji Shinde as commander-in-chief of the Maratha army under the Peshwas served Pune for 20 years from 1760 to 1780. This chhatri is the memorial dedicated to this great solider.

He was cremated on 12th February 1794 in Pune and in this spot a memorial was built by Madhavrao Sindhia in the year 1795. It has an exquisite architecture, reflecting the style used in Rajasthan. The Anglo-Rajasthani style of construction exhibits a fine blending of two different cultures. The memorial showcase the splendor of the past, representing the rich heritage of that era.

The exteriors are done with perfection, giving intricate details to every carving. Even years after its construction, the memorial retains its architectural designs and beauty and seems to be totally unaffected by time.

This is open for visitors from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Entry Fee Rs.2.00

Olakneswara Temple, Mahabalipura,

2011-10-24T06:00:00.002+05:30

Mahabalipuram is famous for finely carved rock cut shrines. Adjacent to the hill on which there is a lighthouse, there is a superb rock-cut shrine of Mahishasuramardini Mandapa.

On top of the diorite hillock where the cave is present is an another ancient shrine, Olakneswara Temple.

It was closed when we were there. On the exterior walls it had beautiful carvings.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Pentas

2011-10-22T13:55:00.004+05:30

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

A glimpse of the different colors.

Shaniwar Wada, Pune

2011-10-20T06:20:00.002+05:30

Shaniwar Wada in Pune is the most magnificent and stately mansion built chiefly as the residence of the Peshwas. The foundation of the original residence was laid by Bajirao - I in 1730 A.D. and the construction completed in 1732 A.D. His successors made several additions such as fortification walls, with bastions and gates, court halls and other buildings, fountains and reservoirs in 1828 A.D.

However, fire gutted the building in this place and what now remains is their plinths and fortification wall with five gateways and nine bastions that enclosed the whole complex. Nobody knows what caused the fire. The complex had an impressive lotus-shaped fountain in the garden. The location of this can be seen in the below image (the central part near the green cover where no people are present).

The main gate of the complex known as Dilli Darwaza faces north towards Delhi. This strongly built entrance has massive doors, large enough to admit elephants outfitted seating canopies. Each door has seventy-two sharp twelve-inch steel spikes arranged in a nine by eight grid which are at the height of elephants forehead. On the right door there is a small man-sized door for usual entries and exits.

The invading army can not charge through the open main gates as there is a sharp right turn followed by a sharp left before entering into the central complex. This would provide a defending army with another chance to attack the incoming army, and to launch a counterattack to recapture the gateway.

One of the brass canons with carvings on them in the complex.

Chidambaram, City of the Cosmic Dancer

2011-10-17T06:00:00.005+05:30

From Mahabalipuram in the afternoon we left for Chidambaram which is at a distance of 145 kms, via Pondicherry. Unfortunately it was past 6 p.m when we reached Pondicherry. Hence could not see much of this place other than a few. From here we moved to Cudlore where we had our rooms booked for overnight stay.

Early morning we left for our destination. Chidambaram, known as the 'City of the Cosmic Dancer' as the ancient Nataraja Temple of the dancing Shiva is located here.

Chidambaram is a center second to none in representing the rich cultural heritage of India. The artifacts hand created from here are rich in quality and artistry. Above is one of the four entrance towers of the temple.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Pink Candytuft

2011-10-15T11:15:00.002+05:30

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on August 2011 there were little beautiful flowers Candy-tuft. These were on display in a variety of colors. One of them was pink in color.

Parvati Temple, Pune

2011-10-13T06:00:00.007+05:30

Parvati Hill and Temple in Pune is an important landmark. Located very close to the city center it is a main tourist attraction.

One can reach top of the hill by climbing approximately 110 steps. Here the main temple at the top as the name suggests is of Goddess Parvati.

It was built by the third Peshwa, Shrimant Nana Saheb in the year 1749 A.D. There is no change in the temple architecture that we see today. It was constructed in this style on those days itself. Probably only new thing in the temple is the paint.

Mahishasuramardini Cave, Mahabalipuram

2011-10-10T06:30:00.001+05:30

Mahabalipuram is famous for finely carved rock cut shrines. Adjacent to the hill on which there is a lighthouse, there is a superb rock-cut shrine of Mahishasuramardini Mandapa.

This is a 7th century cave temple where front part adorned with four columns. There are two impressive friezes one at each end of the long veranda.

On the panel in the right, Goddess Durga seated astride on her lion wielding an assortment of weapons. She is slaying a buffalo-headed demon, Mahisha, who disturbs the delicate balance of life. Goddess is accompanied by eight ganas, where as Mahisa with his army of seven demons is retreating. Hence, the name Mahish-asura-mardini meaning ‘destroyer of demon’.

At the opposite end of the veranda, Lord Vishnu is lying under the protective hood of the seven-headed serpent Adishesha in the sea of eternity. Below Vishnu there is Bhu-devi, Mother Earth. Above and below the God are shown four flying ayudh-purushas - divine weapons of Lord.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Penstetom Purple

2011-10-08T09:00:00.002+05:30

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on August 2011 there were little beautiful flowers Penstetom. These were on display in a variety of colors. One of them was purple in color.

Mahatma Gandhi

2011-10-06T06:00:00.002+05:30

Mahatma Gandhi was born on 2nd October, 1869 in Porbandar. He completed his basic education in India and then moved on to London to study Law. After that he practiced law in South Africa.

Later he returned back to India in 1915 to join he freedom struggle against British. He led Indians in protesting the British-imposed salt tax with the 250 mile Dandi Salt March.

He practiced non-violence and truth in all situations, and advocated that others do the same. He lived modestly in a self-sufficient residential community and wore the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, woven with yarn he had hand spun on a charkha.

With his principles he forced British to free India from their clutches.

The above images of Gandhi and beach are taken at Malpe Beach at Udupi.

Lalbagh Gardens - Tree Fossil, Bangalore

2011-10-03T06:00:00.003+05:30

The Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore is an important destination where one can find variety of flowers, fountains, trees. One of them is tree fossil.

This tree fossil is a collection from the Natioanl Fossil Park, Tiruvakkarai, South Arcot in Tamilnadu. It is supposed to be 20 million years old.

The fossil is of petrified coniferous tree.

ASI Museum Garden - 2, Shimoga

2011-10-01T06:59:00.010+05:30

In Shimoga the ASI Museum has a beautiful garden. The garden along with flowery plants has lot of sculptures.

With these flowers one can see lot of butterflies flying around.

This butterflies are colorful and have different patterns on them.

Parvati Hill and Temple, Pune

2011-09-29T06:00:00.001+05:30

Parvati Hill and Temple in Pune is an important landmark. Located very close to the city center it is a main tourist attraction.

The hill is at a height of 2100 feet above sea level. One can reach top of the hill by climbing approximately 110 steps.

The steps are wide, but they are also smooth. The steps are so smooth that there is a chance for anyone to slip if not careful. There are railings by the side of steps to which one can hold on to.

There are several temples at the top, the most prominent being Parvati Temple, There is also a museum, the Peshwas Museum at the top. As per the popular legend, from this hill the Peshwa ruler Balaji Baji Rao watched the British defeat at the Battle of Kirkee.

This hill is frequented by people who want to get away from the maddening crowds and busy life of the city.

Krishna Mandapam, Mahabalipuram

2011-09-26T06:00:00.002+05:30

Krishna Mandapam at Mahabalipuram is one of the interesting place. This is a cave temple.

It has a huge bas-relief carved out of a single rock. This carving is done some time in the middle of 7th century.

In Hindu culture, cows have great importance, and their association with Krishna during his life among the milkmaids. A calf is kept beside the cow to encourage her milk production, a practice which has been followed in most parts of the World.

The carvings on the panel depicts one of the stories of Lord Krishna. It mainly has the story of Krishna Govardhana, in which Krishna lifts up the mountain to shelter his followers from a storm.

There is also a cow at the top in one of the corner, overlooking the entire scene. This can be seen in the first image at the top.

For more visit Our World

Aga Khan Palace, Pune

2011-09-22T06:22:00.004+05:30

Aga Khan Palace is one of the important landmark in Pune. This palace was built in the year 1892 by Sultan Muhammed Shah, Aga Khan III. This was done to provide employment to people in the area who were drastically hit by the famine. In those days it took 5 years to complete at a cost of Rupees 12 lakhs.

The magnificent palace occupying 7 acres of land is surrounded by the lavish green gardens all around with fountains.

Some of the rooms are lavishly decorated as a reminder of its royal past and it has five halls. The arches are designed in Italian style. With its grand architecture the palace it captivates once attention.

Father of Nation - Mahatma Gandhi with his wife Kasturba were held as a prisoners here from 9 August 1942 to 6 May 1944. Later in 1969 the palace was donated to the nation by Aga Khan IV as a mark of respect to Gandhi and his philosophy.

Devi Jagadambi Temple, Khajuraho

2011-09-19T06:00:00.003+05:30

The Devi Jagadambi Temple is one of the oldest temple in Khajuraho (State: Madhya Pradesh). Belonging to Western Group of Temples it is smaller when compared to Lakshmana Temple, Vishwanath Temple and Kandaria Mahadeva Temple. It is built by the kings of dynasty in the middle of 11th century.

Carved beautifully it is on the same platform as Kandaria Mahadeva Temple. Smaller in size, it is much more delicately proportioned temple.

It is decorated with some of the finest sculptures in three bands around the temple. The carvings are exquisite.

The images of deities set into prominent places in the temple's exterior, so they were functioning as more than mere decoration.

There is a big sculpture of a warrior fighting with a lion bare handed at the entrance of the temple. This is the symbol of Chandela Dynasty.

Ganjam

2011-09-15T10:24:00.010+05:30

Ganjam is a small historical place on Bangalore Mysore Highway. It is 17 kms from Mysore and 2 kms from the highway near Srirangapatna.

It lies at the confluence of two rivers Cauvery and Lokapavani. This centuries old place is the land of rulers of Mysore and they built the beautiful Nimishamba Temple for goddess Nimishamba on the banks of the river.

The landscape here is amazing with the temple on one side of the river and hill on the other side. The hill is hemmed in intermittently by bushes, tropical trees.

Here one can enjoy the beauty of the countryside by the riverside. For those who know swimming this is a ideal place as water is not deep. Coracles can be rented here for a ride in the calm waters and explore the other bank of the river.

Ibrahim Roza - Tomb, Bijapur

2011-09-12T06:30:00.006+05:30

The Ibrahim Roza complex located in the western outskirts of the Bijapur (State: Karnataka) city. Built sometime in 16th century, it comprises of a tomb and mosque. We have already seen the details of and now for the tomb.

The tomb has perfect domes that is topped with crescent moons. There are symmetrical minarets on four corners of the tomb. The tomb is 13 meters square with the ceiling that is divided into nine squares with curved sides.

Steps are provided to approach the raised platform on which the two structures (tom and mosque) have been built. The tomb is for the ruler of Bijapur, Ibrahim Adil Shah II, his two sons and his mother.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Cosmos

2011-09-10T07:59:00.005+05:30

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on August 2011 there were lot of colorful Cosmos flowers. The colors were amazing.

Light pink Cosmos is one of the color on display.

Tiger's Cave, Mahabalipuram

2011-09-08T06:00:00.008+05:30

Tiger's Cave is located in a small village Saluvankuppam 5 kms from Mahabalipuram. Don't be surprised, if you do not see neither a tiger nor a small dark den of the tiger.

This is actually a 8th century temple dedicated to Goddess Durga. This was built during the reign of Pallava Kings. The shrine is known by this name as there are series of carved heads of a animal that resembles tiger surrounding the entrance of the shrine.

Hebbal Lake, Bangalore

2011-09-05T06:00:00.005+05:30

Hebbal Lake is located in north Bangalore. It is on your left while one dives to Bangalore International Airport. It occupies around 150 acres and has beautiful garden on one side of the lake. It is created by building bunds to hold the water of natural valley system.

The habitat is favored by many species of water birds including large waterbirds such as the Spot-billed Pelican, Eurasian Spoonbill, Shoveller, Pintail, Garganey, Little Grebe, Coot and Spot-billed Duck.

In the morning time the park by the lake side is buzzing with lot of activity: jogging, exercise, birding. Fishing can also be done if adequate permissions or contracts are there.

The park has lot of variety of flowery trees and plants. The park looks colorful with these flowers.

This lake was established by Kempe Gowda, the founder of the city.

Flowering Tree - Pink Trumpet

2011-09-03T06:00:00.003+05:30

Bangalore (State: Karnataka) known as Garden City true to its name as lot of flowering trees on either side of most of the roads. They bloom with flowers of various colors. One such tree is Pink Trumpet Tree.

The flowers are deep pink with a pale yellow center and are borne in clusters. The tree starts flowering in winter and spring.

In the spring the entire tree is covered with pink blossoms.

The trees have very distinctive broad leaflets that are pointed at the tip and curved inwards. There are total 5 leaflets of unequal size. When the tree begins to flower the tree sheds all leaves.

For more visit Today's Flowers

Dagduseth Ganapati Temple, Pune

2011-09-01T06:00:00.007+05:30

Dagduseth Halwai Ganesh Tempe is an important landmark in Pune (State: Maharashtra). Established in 1893 it is one of the oldest Ganapati temples in the city. The temple is located at a short distance from the historical fort of Peshwas, Shaniwar Wada.

The construction of this temple is attributed to the sweet-maker of the city who lost his son in a plague outbreak.

The temple construction is very unique and has a beautiful stepped tower. It is painted in white and golden color and looks great against the blue sky.

The idol is 4 feet wide and 7.5 feet tall and mesmerizes everyone by its beauty. The devotees can catch a glimpse of the Ganesh idol even from outside the temple.

Poetry in Stone - 7

2011-08-29T06:00:00.012+05:30

This is seventh in the series on the rich cultural heritage of temples in India. The ancient temples are richly carved and they behold ones attention for their craftsmanship.

Most of these temples have carvings of Lord Ganesh in various forms. Each of these sculptures are marvel stone in their own right.

The first two sculptures are beautifully carved on the external walls of the 12th century Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebid in Karnataka.

Above are from the temples of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh on their external walls. On the left is from Lakshmana Temple and the right one is from Vishwanath Temple. This is one of the World Heritage Site.

This one again from World Heritage Site Hampi in Karnataka. This 8 feet idol is known as Sasivekalu Ganesha.

Above is 16th century sculpture of Lord Ganesha at ASI Museum, Shimoga. It is front and back of the same sculpture which has been damaged. Uniqueness of this idol is the hair style at the back which is commonly done by ladies in India.

Above one is the angry form of the Lord. This is a very rare form of sculpture and is at Boganandishwar Temple near Bangalore.

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Lalbagh Flower Show - Pink Cosmos

2011-08-27T07:00:00.003+05:30

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on August 2010 there were lot of colorful Cosmos flowers. Pink Cosmos is one of the color on display:

Stupa 3, Sanchi

2011-08-25T06:00:00.006+05:30

This Stupa of Sanchi was originally constructed sometime in the 2nd century BC. In 1st century AD it was repaired and enlarged.

It is smaller than Stupa 1 and has only one gateway. It contained caskets of two disciples of the Buddha during his lifetime.

The 1st century AD torana (gateway) is exquisitely carved. On the front: the top architrave has floral designs, the middle architrave has a Stupa and two Bodi trees and the lower architrave represents paradise of Indra.

On the pillars the left side has a design of stupa and on the right is the Wheel of Dharma. Pot-bellied dwarves support the architraves.

Painted Homes of Shekhawati

2011-08-22T06:00:00.011+05:30

Shekhawati region in western India, is famous for its mural paintings. Every house is painted beautifully with colorful designs. This frescoes in some cases also depict scenes from the Indian Epics. Such exquisite paintings decorate their walls, doors, and interiors of homes. I managed to capture some of these Shekavati frescos which were on the exterior of homes.

Here on the left hand side, the scene is of Royal court where musicians are playing music in front of the King. On the right hand side, the scene is from Ramayana. Here Bharath, the brother of Ram is requesting Lord Ram not to go in exile.

In the above the scene on the left is from Mahabarath. It is Draupadi Vastrabarana, where Lord Krishna is saving Draupadi's honor by giving her infinite clothing. The scene on the right is Lord Krishna's marriage.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Candytuft

2011-08-20T06:30:00.006+05:30

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on August 2011 there were little beautiful flowers Candy-tuft. These were on display in a variety of colors. One of them was white in color.

Raj Mahal, Jaisalmer

2011-08-18T08:00:00.005+05:30

The grand palace Raj Mahal of Jaisalmer constructed around 1500 AD. It is located on the Trikura hill inside the Golden Fort.

It was built with marvelous beauty by the most famous architects and craftsmen during the Royal period.

It is one of the oldest palaces in Rajasthan. This imposing seven-storied palace is highly popular for the lattice work.

Poetry in Stone - 6

2011-08-14T23:57:00.010+05:30

This is sixth in the series on the rich cultural heritage of temples in India. The ancient temples are richly carved and they behold ones attention for their craftsmanship.

One such architectural gem is Kailashnath Temple of Kanchipuram. This temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is surrounded by 64 small sub-shrines. They adorned with the sculptures of the Lord Shiva in different poses, representing a picture of different aspects of mythology.

Here below Lord Shiva and Parvati can be seen sitting position. Behind them we can also see traces of red and green paint.

Another architectural gem Ekambareshvara Temple of Kanchipuram. It is one of the largest temple and dates back to sometime between 16th to 17th centuries.

As one enter the temple there is a beautiful carvings on the pillar. It looks like a throne ceremony of Lord Rama.

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Lalbagh Flower Show - August 2011

2011-08-13T08:45:00.008+05:30

Every year in the month of January and August, the Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore hosts Flower Show. If in Bangalore around this time one should not miss the event.

In the month of August, it is usually organized for 10 days from August 6th to 15th. The theme for this year is Lotus Temple in Delhi which is celebrating its 25th year. It is created with white carnations and white roses.

Other main attraction is Indian Flag creatd using 4.5Kg of rice on the occasion of 64th Independence day of India.

There were variety of flowers on display. Each flower had every color in them show cased. Some of the attractions were Rose, Phol, Carnation, Lily, Antirrhinum, Candytuft, Statice.

Every day thousands people enjoy the beauty of these flowers on display. It is mostly crowded in the evening on the weekdays. Best time to be in this place is the early afternoon. I had been here on the weekend afternoon. Even though it was crowded I had enough space to take some snaps.

Very minimal entrance fee is charged for the show. No charges for camera.

For more visit Ruby Tuesday

Krishna's Butter Ball, Mamallapuram

2011-08-11T09:03:00.003+05:30

Krishna's Butter Ball is one of the interesting site in Mamallapuram. It is very different from rest of the attractions carved out of stone here.

Very close to Arjuna's Penance on the hill slope is a huge boulder. This massive rock is perched on the slope of the hill opposing the all laws of physics. This has been standing in this position for centuries now without any support. Area around the boulder is so slippery that kids use it as a natural slide.

For some reason it is famous by the name "Krishna's Butter Ball". I guess it resembles the shape of a butter ball and Lord Krishna loves it. Beyond this I have no other clue. But this natural balance is worth all the attention.

Lord Aprameya Swamy Temple, Dodda Mallur

2011-08-08T09:45:00.004+05:30

Lord Aprameya Swamy Temple at Dodda Mallur is a very ancient temple with a history of more than 3000 years. There is documentary evidence of existence of this temple in 980 A.D.

It is said that that the temple was built and expanded by Chola King Rajendra Simha. The uniqueness of this temple is that it does not have any solid foundation, but it has been erected directly on the sandy area.

Lord Aprameya is the presiding deity of the temple. The idol is carved out of Saligrama stone. It is in a standing posture with Shanku Chakra in upper two hands and Gadha and Padma in the lower hands.

The temple has beautiful carvings on the towers and the pillars. This temple is more famous as Navaneeta Krishna Temple as the temple also houses Lord Krishna is the crawling form.

The temple is about 60 kms from Bangalore on the Bangalore - Mysore Highway. On the left side of the highway while driving from from Bangalore after Channapatna, there is a big arch leading to the temple.

For more visit My World
and ABC Wednesday

Lalbagh Flower Show - Orchids - 8

2011-08-06T07:43:00.002+05:30

Stupas of Sanchi

2011-08-04T09:43:00.007+05:30

Sanchi is a small village located 46 km north east of Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh state. This is a important Buddhist pilgrimage area. Here several Buddhist monuments dating from the 3rd century BC to the 12th century BC can be seen.

This place is not directly connected with events in the life of the Buddha. But, it became a pilgrimage site when Emperor Ashoka erected a Stupa sometime the 3d century BC. The way Stupas are built has lot of significance. They are built on a hill, where their beneficial influence can radiate to all four points of the compass. The dome of Stupa represents the universe.

Here is the meditating Budha outside the "Great Stupa". We shall explore it in more detail very soon. Sanchi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sites I visited here are

Malik-e-Maidan, Bijapur

2011-08-01T06:20:00.003+05:30

There are many interesting sights in Bijapur (State: Karnataka). One among them is Malik-e Maidan.

Malik-e Maidan ("Lord of the Battlefield") is a massive cannon located on the top of the Sherzah Burj. It was considered to be largest weapon in medieval times. The 8.5m long and 1.6m wide cannon weights 55 tons.

The head of the cannon is fashioned into the shape of a lion's head with open jaws trying to devour an elephant. This huge cannon is a cast of alloy of copper, iron and tin.

The outside surface is shining and adorned with inscriptions in Persian and Arabic.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Orchids - 7

2011-07-29T21:35:00.011+05:30

For more visit Today's Flowers

Light House, Mahabalipuram

2011-07-27T16:30:00.002+05:30

The Lighthouse at Mahabalipuram is built in 1900 on a rock nearby to Mahishasura Mardhini Cave Temple. It is constructed in such a way that it blends very well with the 7th and 9th century Pallava cave temples around it.

This is a 26m high circular stone masonry tower. The exterior surface is natural and unpainted to blend with surroundings. The light on tower was commissioned for the first time on March 1901.

The stone tower at the top has a lantern dome painted red in color.

Birding at Hebbal Lake

2011-07-25T06:00:00.008+05:30

Hebbal Lake is located in north Bangalore. It is here that I had my first experience of bird watching. In the morning time the park by the lake side is busy with people doing morning walk and exercise. There are enthusiastic photographers trying their luck with every bird they spot.

The habitat is favored by many species of water birds including large waterbirds such as the Spot-billed Pelican, Eurasian Spoonbill, Shoveller, Pintail, Garganey, Little Grebe, Coot and Spot-billed Duck.

On my first trip here, I was accompanied few of my friends. This has been a memorable exercise for me. Waiting near any spot trying to get that one precious shot of the bird.

But age of Digital camera is a real help, where one can just go on clicking.

My friends identified this bird as Pelican.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Hydrangeas

2011-07-23T10:40:00.006+05:30

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on August 2010 there were exclusive collection of Hydrangeas on display. The colors were amazing.

Temples of Kumbalgarh Fort

2011-07-21T06:00:00.002+05:30

There are many temples inside this huge Kumbalgarh Fort complex that has a circumference of 36kms running across the hills.

It is believed that there are not less than 360 temples inside the Fort in its golden period. In the short time I spent there I have captured few of them in my lens.

Arjuna's Penance, Mahabalipuram

2011-07-18T06:00:00.006+05:30

As described in Hindu epic, the Pandavas are fighting their battle against the evil forces. To win their battle Arjuna wants to gain a powerful weapon from Lord Shiva. These scene has been beautifully carved in the 7th century relief known as Arjuna's Penance at Mahabalipuram. Here, we will take a closer look at what we have seen in an earlier post.

The upper left of the relief has an setting of mountain with grazing animals, lions, humans, and celestial's. This part also has a pair of bird-like creature with human bodies. Lord Shiva attended by his ganas can be seen at the far rightmost side.

Arjuna is performing a extremely difficult yoga posture of standing one-legged with arms above his head to please the Lord. This posture held unmoved for months together. The protruding rib-cage is an indication of how long he stood in such a position without bothering about self-starvation.To the left of Arjuna is four-armed Lord Shiva. From the looks on his face he is pleased and his left hand extended to grant the blessings. In the other left hand is the weapon that probably Arjuna is seeking.

The other important features of the scene are at lower left, an antelope bounds from ledge to ledge, flying celestial's, and a pair of birds near Arjuna's left elbow.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Celosia

2011-07-16T10:25:00.005+05:30

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on January 2011 there were exclusive collection of various flowers on display. A wide variety of Celosia flowers were also there on display.

One of them is red in color.

Arjuna's Penance, Mamallapuram

2011-07-14T07:10:00.005+05:30

This is one of the most important sites in Mamallapuram (State: Tamil Nadu). This amazing relief, carved sometime in the 7th century, measures approximately 30m (100ft) long by 15m (45ft) high. This beautiful work symbolizes either "Arjuna's Penance" or "the Descent of the Ganges", or possibly both.

Arjuna's Penance: According to the story in the epic Mahabharata, Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers, offers prayers in extreme conditions in order to obtain Lord Shiva's weapon.

Descent of the Ganges: According to this story, the sage Bhagiratha, offeres prayers in extreme conditions in order to bring the river Ganges down to earth.

On the relief one can can see many scenes being carved out in support of both the stories. The left side has the main elements of the story. Just above the shrine, Arjuna (or Bhagiratha) stands on one leg, his arms upraised, in a yogic posture.

While the right side has scenes of the natural and celestial worlds and the life-sized elephants protect their young. A natural cleft populated by nagas (snakes) separates the two halves of the relief.

We shall explore finer details of this relief soon: 1

Mysore Zoo - Zebra

2011-07-11T07:00:00.006+05:30

Mysore Zoo is the most popular zoo at Mysore (State: Karnataka) in India. There are various animals and birds at the zoo. One among them is Zebra.

They have been provides lot of space to move around. There are around 2 to 3 of them moving all over the space.

This is a nice place for the kids to get know about the various animals in the wild. The trip through the zoo consumes more than half a day.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Brain Celosia

2011-07-09T07:00:00.009+05:30

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on January 2011 there were exclusive collection of various flowers on display. The colors were amazing. Below is the Brain Celosia Flower on display:

For more visit Mellow Yellow Monday
Today's Flowers

and Macro Flower Saturday

Mamallapuram

2011-07-07T06:00:00.017+05:30

Mamallapuram (State: Tamil Nadu) located at a distance of 56kms from state capital is known for its ancient shrines. This is also known as Mahabalipuram. The history of city dates back to the 7th - 9th century when Pallava dynasty ruled the place.

The temples of the city portray the events described in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Majority of thee monuments are rock-cut and monolithic. The style of architecture is Dravidian with influences of Buddhist elements. The sculptures are excellent examples of Pallava art.

The important attractions are:

The historic monuments here are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Poetry in Stone - 5

2011-07-04T06:00:00.019+05:30

This is fifth in the series on the rich cultural heritage of temples in India. The ancient temples are richly carved and they behold ones attention for their craftsmanship and the focus here is on the Buddhist Stupas. The construction of famous Great Stupa of Sanchi is commissioned sometime in 3rd century BCE. It has sandstone gates in in all the four corners of the Stupa.

The Eastern Gate is carved beautifully like all the other gates here. There are beautiful carvings of people, animals like elephants, lions, peacocks on it. But most famous sculpture on this gate is that of an shalabhanjika or Yakshi.

Here, it is added as an auspicious element to the decoration of the gate. The Yakshi is hanging by a mango tree. The sensuous maiden is carved with a single pearl necklace falling between her breasts, heavy anklets and bracelets. Her hair is tied into elaborate plaits.

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Lalbagh Flower Show - Celosia

2011-07-02T10:38:00.016+05:30

Vaikuntha Perumal Temple, Kachipuram

2011-06-30T06:00:00.007+05:30

Vaikuntha Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram (State: Tamil Nadu) is one of the oldest and largest sandstone temple. It was built sometime in the 6th century by Nandivarman, the ruler of Pallava Dynasty.

This temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. The temple is built in Dravidian style of architecture. The outermost walls of the temple are carved with lions standing on the hind legs at regular intervals.

Similarly the main temple is surrounded by a colonnade, with rear wall is carved with sculptures all around the temple. These columns in front of these walls are also have lions sitting on the legs.

The carvings on the walls are done beautifully and passing time has resulted in some wear and tear. Still the carvings in these all around the temple are still in a presentable state and impressive.

St. Aloysius Chapel Paintings, Mangalore

2011-06-27T06:00:00.014+05:30

This beautiful St. Aloysius Chapel in Mangalore (State: Karnataka) was built sometime in 1899-1900. The interior walls and roofs of the chapel are covered with the paintings of Bro Anthony Moscheni of Italy.

This Chapel was dedicated to the St. Aloysius Gonzaga. On the wall above the alter, the paintings depict the life of Aloysius. The center picture shows him serving the people suffering from plague in Rome.

On the rear walls there is a huge painting where Jesus is shown as the friend of children. This is considered as the masterpiece from the artist.

The paintings on the ceiling.

These paintings here belong to two categories.

Fresco, where the painting is made on fresh wet lime plaster walls. As the lime plaster dries up the colors are embedded. There are about 600 square meters of walls with fresco paintings.

Canvas, where oil painting is done on the pure linen of strong close weave. There are about 400 square metes of canvas paintings.

ASI Museum Garden - 1, Shimoga

2011-06-25T18:45:00.015+05:30

In Shimoga (State: Karnataka) the ASI Museum has a beautiful garden. The garden along with flowery plants has lot of sculptures.

With these flowers one can see lot of butterflies flying around.

This butterflies are colorful and have different patterns on them.

Saras Baug Ganesh Temple, Pune

2011-06-23T09:00:00.014+05:30

Saras Baug is an important landmark in Pune (State: Maharashtra). In the 18th century Shrimant Nanasaheb Peshwa started the development and beautification of this area which is about 25000 Sq.ft. To start with this region was once occupied by a lake. But as the time passed the lake dried up and was later developed into a garden named as 'Sara Baug'.

Here, in the year 1750 under the direction of the Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa and Mahadji Shinde a temple for Lord Ganesh was constructed. It got completed in 1784.

This temple is painted in red color externally and one can reach the temple by climbing a series of steps.

Since then several renovations were done to the temple and the area surrounding area so far.

Exploring Keladi & Ikkeri

2011-06-20T07:00:00.013+05:30

Keladi and Ikkeri are the two historically important locations in Shimoga district (State: Karnataka). They are at a distance of 70 to 80 kms from Shimoga. Both Keladi and Ikkeri were once the places where kings ruled large areas in the ancient times for many centuries. It is hard to imagine this as they are today small villages.

Since 1500 AD, Keladi has been ruled by several dynasties across centuries. Keladi was the birthplace of Keladi Dynasty and at a later point the capital was shifted to Ikkeri, just a few kilometers away, which remained their capital for more than a century.Rameshwara Temple of Keladi built in Dravidian style around 1500 AD. The temple has excellent craftsmanship.

Aghoreshwara Temple, the magnificent temple of Ikkeri is a Shiva Temple.

Due to heavy rains, I was able to spend very less time here and click only few shots. There was rain water everywhere. We shall still explore these unexplored places or little known places a bit more in detail very soon.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Merigold

2011-06-18T08:08:00.010+05:30

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on January 2011 there were exclusive collection of various flowers on display. A wide variety of Merigold flowers were also there on display.

Junagarh Fort, Bikaner

2011-06-16T07:00:00.006+05:30

Junagarh Fort in Bikaner (State: Rajasthan) is one of the few land forts in the state, while most of the others are hill forts. It was constructed sometime between 1588 and 1593 by Raja Rai Singh, the ruler of Bikaner.

This fort has a 986m-long wall with 37 bastions, a moat and two entrances. The fort walls are 14.5 feet wide and 40 feet in height. The Surajpol or the 'Sun Gate' is the main entrance.

The palaces within the fort are on the southern side and make a picturesque ensemble of towers, courtyards, balconies and windows.

There is a small garden in the fort complex on one side of the palaces.

On the side of the main entrance there is lot of free space in front of the palace. Kids who come to see this fort complex love this space with birds flying all around.

Jalakanteshwara Temple Kalyana Mandapam, Vellore

2011-06-13T08:49:00.015+05:30

The Jalakanteswara Temple in Vellore Fort at Vellore (State: Tamil Nadu) is the home for exquisite Kalyan Mandapam (marriage hall). Built approximately between 1542 - 1565 AD, the architecture is a mix of Dravidan and Chalukyan style of architecture.

It is believed that, British had planned dismantle this and export it to their land to be kept in the museum before the independence of India. Fortunately for India, they did not succeed.

Here, on the outer pillars there are sculptures of soldiers riding the horse who belonged to Vijayanagar infantry.

Each pillar has upon its faces, figures from one to two feet in height. They are well proportioned and magnificently carved.

The very ornate pillared pavilion has a raised central platform used for the reception of the deity and his consort during the annual celebration of their marriage. The base of the platform is also engraved with sculptures.

The inner pillars are of different designs and highly artistic. Each of these pillars in the Kalyan Mandapam has a unique and different carving.

Lalbagh Flower Show - Yellow Stargazer Lily

2011-06-11T06:30:00.006+05:30

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

One among them is yellow stargazer lily.

Bangalore Public Transport

2011-06-09T09:09:00.013+05:30

Bangalore (State: Karnataka) has reasonably good public transport system. The main mode of local transport are auto rickshaws and buses. People who can afford can also choose variety of metered taxis. The local travel by train is still in infancy stage with the construction of Metro still in progress.

Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) runs bus services for traveling within the city. It has added or replaced its fleet of buses with the introduction of new buses. The service has been upgraded with the introduction of air-conditioned buses.

If one knows time required to travel before hand and are familiar with the routes, then these buses are the best mode of transport. The air-conditioned Volvo or Marcopolo buses are favorite mode of transport for people especially those who travel long distance to reach the office. These buses run on time and people can reach office at the right time.

Daily and monthly passes are available for regular and Volvo services. Different passes are also available for Senior citizens.

Poetry in Stone - 4

2011-06-06T06:00:00.010+05:30

This is fourth in the series. Temples all over India represent the rich cultural heritage. The ancient temples are richly carved and they behold ones attention for their craftsmanship.

One such temple is Jagdish Temple of Udaipur (State: Rajasthan). This temple is located close to the City Palace. Built in 1651, the temple following Indo-Aryan architecture is richly carved externally. The carvings are examples of master craftsmanship.

Here in the frame above one can see musicians and dancers carved on the external wall of the temple. Even minute details like crease of the dress is taken care.

There are several bands of numerous tiny carvings at the base of the temple. There are bands of people, flowers and animals.

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Lalbagh Flower Show - Pink Stargazer Lily

2011-06-04T08:09:00.009+05:30

Mysore Zoo - Giraffe

2011-06-02T07:25:00.012+05:30

Mysore Zoo is the most popular zoo at Mysore (State: Karnataka) in India. There are various animals and birds at the zoo. One among them is Giraffe.

They have been provides lot of space to move around. There are around 2 to 3 of them moving all over the space.

This is a nice place for the kids to get know about the various animals in the wild. The trip through the zoo consumes more than half a day.

What is Real Beauty?

2011-05-30T06:00:00.016+05:30

What does beauty means to you? Is there anything real and unreal about the beauty? Beauty means different things to everyone. There is no one common agreed answer for this.

Is it the innocence on the face of young kids playing in a old temple premises?

Is is the scenic winding route in the countryside?

Is it the famous sculpture of lady looking into the mirror in the temple of the Belur?

Is it this flower?

Is it the scenic view of the beach with the palm trees on its shore?

To me it is innocent smile on the face of the kids who are engrossed in their own world? This beauty one can only seen in the kids who are still untempered by this cunning ways of this World.

What about you?

Lalbgh Flower Show - Orange Cosmos

2011-05-28T06:30:00.008+05:30

At flower show in Lalbagh Gardens at Bangalore on August 2010 there were lot of Orange Cosmos flowers. Below are some of the flowers on display:

Bangalore, Silicon Valley of India

2011-05-26T06:00:00.011+05:30

Bangalore, the capital of the Karnataka state is popularly known as Silicon Valley of India as major IT players have their offices here and this place is the major source of IT man power.

The history of the city dates back to 9th century and since it has been ruled by the rulers of various dynasties till the independence of India. Most prominent among them is Kempe Gowda I, a vassal of the imperial Vijayanagara Empire and he is known as founder of the city.

The city has various historical as well as modern world attractions. The most prominent among them are:

Lalbagh Gardens
Cubbon Park
Tipu Sultan's Palace
Bangalore Palace
Vidhana Soudha
Government Post Office
Town Hall
Karnataka High Court
HAL Heritage Museum
Bangalore Public Library
Mayo Hall
Temples of Bangalore
Hebbal Lake
Sankey Tank

Bangalore is also known by the name Garden City due to various gardens through out the city. There are various flowering trees on either side of the roads in most areas adding color to the city.

There are various lakes through out the city to add value to scenic beauty of the city along with gardens. Below is the glimpse of Sankey Tank.

Bangalore well connected to other city's through road, train, and air. Locally buses operated by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation are an important means of public transport available in the city other than autos and cars.