Mysore Zoo - Gaur

Mysore Zoo is the most popular zoo at Mysore in India. There are various wild animals and birds at the zoo. One among them is Indian Bison the Gaur. 

It is the tallest species of wild cattle. It is a strong and massively built with a high convex ridge on the forehead between the horns. There is a prominent ridge on the back. The adult male is dark brown, approaching black when very old. Their average weight of adult is 650 to 1,000 kg.

They are largely confined to evergreen forests or semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests.

Images of India - 93

A glimpse of India in black and white. 

Planes parked at Bangalore Airport

Arunachalesvara Temple, Nandi

The Bhoganandisvara Temple complex at Nandi is the finest architectural  specimen of Dravidian order built anytime between 9th and 15th century A.D. 

Here there are twin temples Bhoganandisvara and Arunachalesvara. Among this the Arunachalesvara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is on the South. 

The temple consists of a garbhagriha, a sukanasi and a navaranga. Both sukanasi and navaranga have pierced windows with sculptured jalis. The window jalis here has figures of musicians and dancers.

To the right in the navaranga of the South Shrine is a curious figure of Lord Ganesh which is 3 ft high with a small lion face and a lean proboscis.

The outer wall of the shrines have pilasters, turrets. The outer wall of the shrines have pilasters, turrets. The temple on the external wall has beautiful carving of Nataraja.

St. Stephen's Church, Ooty

This church in Ooty is located on the road towards Mysore. It is one of the oldest church in the district.  

The construction of this 19th century church was initiated by the then Governor of Madras Stephen Rumbold Lushington. The foundation for the same was laid in 1829.

Unfortunately the gates of the church were closed when we visited it and had to satisfy ourselves only with external views.

Hungry For More

The rocky hills of Devrayan Durga near Bangalore is surrounded by forest. On the way up the hill on the concrete steps one is greeted with monkeys.

They eat any food like banana, biscuit whatever available.

Interested people can offer them food.

Darasuram

Darasuram is a small town in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is in the Tanjore district just 3 km from the temple town of Kumbakonam. This ancient town originally was known by the name Rajarajapuram.

This place is known for Airavateswarar Temple, which is a rare specimen of architectural and sculptural workmanship.

We visited the place while touring the state of Tamil Nadu along with other cities like  Tanjore, Gangaikondacholapuram and Kumbakonam. 

Images of India - 92

A glimpse of sites of India in black and white. Check other posts that will give you more details about this place.

Haveli Entrance in Mandwa of Shekhavati region in Rajasthan

Poetry in Stone - 25

This is twenty-fifth in the series on the rich cultural heritage of ancient temples in India. The ancient temples are richly carved and each of the carvings surpass each other in their mastery. One of the prominent carvings are the war scenes from various epics.

Above is the two warriors fighting in a battle carved at the 12th century Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebid. At the same temple there is a intricate rock carving showing, Abhimanyu entering the Chakra vyuha as seen below.

The epic Mahabarath depicts the battle between Karavas and Pandavas. In this battle Abhimanyu, son of Arjun penetrates the Chakravyūha a special formation. As he had no knowledge of how to come out of it, he was trapped upon entry and fought alone. Once he penetrated the sixth tier of the formation, all the Kauravas commanders attacked him simultaneously and killed him.

A band of battle scene on the external wall of Mallikarjuna Temple, Basaralu. In the below the top image is that of band of various battle scenes from Lakshminarayana Temple at Hosaholalu. 

The Jalakanteshwar Temple in Vellore Fort at Vellore has beautiful Kalayana Mandapam. The pillars here have beautiful carvings of warriors on the horse. The 10th century  Ranganathswamy Temple at Srirangam also has beautiful sculptures of warriors on the horse. One of the Hero Stone at A.S.I Museum in Shimoga created in memory of brave warrior  who lost his life in the battle field.

Cattle at Bhitarkanika

Bhitarkanika National Park is home for many common as well as rare birds. We can also see cattle in and around the place.

Here we spotted egrets and myna around cattle on the river-front.

Images of India - 91

A glimpse of sites of India in black and white. 

A view of  misty winding road through the forest area

Sihor, the Chotte Kashi

Sihor is a small town just 20 km from Bhavnagar in the state of Gujarat. This town in ancient time during Mahabharata period is known by the name Saraswatpur. It is often regarded as 'Chotte Kashi' also.

This walled city and fort is known for hills and Shiva Temples. We passed through this town in the late evening when traveling from Diu to Bhavnagar. We did not have much time to visit all the places, but did visit Brahma Kund.

This place is also considered to be a prominent Buddhist circuit during 5th and 8th Century B.C. Geologists are of opinion that rocks and the pattern of the hills are unique. It is believed that age of this region could be older than that of Himalayas mountain range. 

Ananta Vasudeva Temple, Bhubaneshwar

Ananta Vasudeva Temple located in Bhubaneshwar, is one the oldest temples in the city. The construction 13th century temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna is initiated by Queen Chandrika of Eastern Ganga dynasty.

It is a Kalingan style of temple having a rekha vimana, pidha jagamohana and also the natamandapa and bhogamondapa are of pidha temple.  The temple is facing towards west. All the components are square on plan. 

The sculpture in the exterior walls of the temple have been craved beautifully. Most of the female sculptures in the temple walls are decorated with ornaments.

The carvings of the temple include a variety of motifs, females, deities.

Ooty Rose Garden - Yellow Rose - 2

There are many roses of different colors and sizes at the Government Rose Garden at Ooty. 

They differ from each other with very minute differences. One of the them is in yellow color is here.

Big Banyan Tree, Bangalore

The Big Banyan Tree at Kethohalli is about 28 kms from Bangalore city. This tree is more than 400 years old and it is considered to be 4th biggest Banyan tree in the World.

This tree now lives without its main trunk. The main tree has over the years spread out widely with several acrial roots.

With thousands of such roots spread out, the tree covers an area of 3 acres and entire area is covered with acrial roots. 

The present crown of the tree has a circumference about 120 mts and the highest branch rises to about 95 feets.

The tree has been a favorite place for tourists. On the weekends lot of people visit this place. Apart from people this place also has lot of monkeys.

Images of India - 90

A glimpse of sites of India in black and white. 

A view of traffic jam on the fly over to Electronic City at Bangalore

Alakapuri Gumpha, Udaygiri

Alkapuri Gumpha located on Udayagiri hill of Orissa belongs to 1st century B.C. It was built by Emperor Kharavela. It is a two storeyed cave, the lower cells are badly damaged and while the upper cells can be approached by a flight of steps. The major portion of the pillars of the benched veranda is of modern construction.

The cave is devoid of sculptural friezes except the pillar and pilaster. The pillars are based over a three stepped pedestal and square at the base and at the top and octagonal at the center. 

The existing bracket of the pillar in the interior side is designed with lion, a royal elephant flanked by two other elephant one holding umbrella and the other a fly whisk. The central pillar is designed with a enigmatic winged animal.

The pilaster on the left side of the cave is relived with a scene of a male holding a female in his one hand and a elephant tusk in other hand.

Mysore Zoo - Blue-and-gold Macaw

Mysore Zoo is the most popular zoo at Mysore in India. There are various wild animals and birds at the zoo. One among them is Blue-and-gold Macaw.

It is a large South American parrot with blue top parts and yellow under parts. These birds grow 76 to 86 cm. They have blue wings and tail, dark blue chin, golden under parts, and a green forehead. Beaks are black on the white face. It inhabits forests and woodland of tropical South America.

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A glimpse of India in black and white. Other posts will give you more details about this place.

River front in Aluva

Monastery No. 4, Lalitgiri

Lalitgiri Buddhist complex has various structures of religious and architectural importance that have been excavated by the A.S.I.  There are various monasteries here and Monastery No. 4. measures 30 sq.m. and is facing toward west and oriented north-south.

On the basis of architectural ground and excavated material this monastery came into existence between 8th and 12th century A.D during the period of Bhaumakara and Somavamsi dynasties. It is a large monastic complex square in plan with ten cells, of which five are on each wing and a central courtyard a shrine chamber at the rear wall. 

The monastery has an open courtyard with chambers in all side fronted by a veranda and a sanctum in the rear wall. It is plain, except the pedestal of Buddha, which is represented with triratha symbol, lotus medallion, lion and scroll work. 

For courtyard and doorjambs the material used is Khandolite stone where as bricks are used for other structures. 

Thousand Pillar Basadi, Moodbidri

Thousand Pillar Basadi in Moodbidri is one of the most important Jain Temple in the area. The local Chieftain Devaraya Wodeyar initiated the construction of the this beautiful temple in 1430. 

The construction of the temple completed in 31 years and it was built in phases. In the first phase sanctum was built with eight foot idol of Chandranath. As a result this temple is also known as the Chandranath Basadi. In the second phase magnificent prayer hall was built with its innumerable pillars.

Every pillar in this basadi is very unique and showcases the architectural excellence and grandeur. 

The big and small pillars all together they are thousand and hence the name. Every pillar has unique figures carved on them. 

In the last phase of construction was the erection of 60 foot monolith pillar, commissioned by Queen Nagala Devi. 

Sparrow Tree at Ooty

When in Ooty, we noticed a tree with bare branches. On hearing lot of chirping sound, we approached the tree curious to know what it is.

The tree was decorated by the little sparrows.