Butterfly Park is located in the nature park surrounding the Karanji Lake at Mysore. So far about 45 species of butterflies have been identified here.
Among many other butterflies we spotted the common Dark Blue Tiger butterfly.
In this park there are various nectar plants are grown that are essential for the breeding of butterflies.
The park is also visited my many birds every now and then.
A glimpse of heritage monument of India in black and white. Other posts will give you more details about this monument.
Brahma Kund at Sihor is one of the major attraction. This 12th century stepped tank surrounded by idols of Hindu deities is built by Raja Siddharaj Jaisinh.
Water in Brahma Kund, its source and level is consistent throughout the year despite the place being isolated in the interior hill side.
Built in the style of medieval architecture, has a design of steps, small temples, idols of deities, stone work everything carved within and across the complex.
But now sadly the surroundings have been compromised. The area has been encroached and is a serious threat for its survival.
Vaidyanatheshwara Temple at Talkad is one of the oldest temple here. Recent excavations have unearthed this temple and some other prominent temples. This temple built in the 14th century by the kings of Chola Dynasty.
This magnificent granite temple built in Dravidian style showcases wonderful craftsmanship by the artisans of the period. Later, the Hoysalas, Vijayanagar and Mysore Maharajas made valuable additions to this temple.
The east facing temple has doorways that is intricately carved and has two huge guards approximately 10ft standing on either side of the entrance. The outer walls are covered by depictions of various forms of Shiva and Vishnu.
A beautiful chain of granite rings is sculpted at one end of the outer roof. Interesting feature of this chain is that they hang down from the roof, with no joints.
Interesting carvings are done on the pillars and walls of the temple. Each of these carving outdo each other.
In Sim's Park of Coonoor among the various plants and trees one can also see a lot of birds. During tour of the park we also spotted many birds and one such bird is Black-capped Chickadee.
It has a black cap, black bib and white sides to the face with a short dark bill. Its underparts are white with rusty brown on the flanks. Its back is gray and the tail is normally slate-gray.
It is curious, with little or no fear of humans.
The birds hop along tree branches searching for food like insects, seeds and berries.
A glimpse of India in black and white. Other posts provide more details on the place.
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum in Mumbai near Gateway of India was established in the early years of the 20th century by prominent citizens of the city with the help of the Government.
The museum building is built in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. However it also has elements of other styles of architecture like the Mughal, Maratha and Jain. Built in basalt and kurla stone, this three-storied rectangular structure is capped by a dome that rises above the central porch.
The dome is tiled in white and blue flecks, supported on a lotus - petal base. A cluster of pinnacles, topped with miniature domes surround the central dome.
The museum houses approximately 50,000 exhibits of ancient Indian history as well as objects from foreign lands, categorized primarily into three sections: Art, Archaeology and Natural History.
The museum houses Indus Valley Civilization artifacts, and other relics from ancient India from the time of the Guptas, Mauryas, Chalukyas and Rashtrakuta.
At Ahmedabad there are many places that can visit on the tour of the city. The city has many ancient mosques and one such most famous mosque is Sidi Saiyyed Mosque.
It is the last of the major mosques to be built in the city under the Mughal rule in the year 1573. It is built with yellow sandstone in Indo-Islamic style of architecture. The front of the mosque is very simple with two minarets on the sides of which now only the base exists.
The monument is known for its exquisite ten semi-circular Jhali screens. Each one of these screens are just amazing. The rear wall is filled with square stone pierced panels in geometrical designs.
The carved latticework windows in the western wall are known worldwide and have become a symbol of the city of Ahmedabad. Depicting a tree with intertwining branches, the carvings look like fine lace filigree work, but are hewn from solid stone.
As attested by the marble stone tablet fixed on the wall of the mosque, it was built by Sidi Saiyyed, an Abyssinian in the service of Rumi Khan, the second son of Khudavand Khan, the Governor of Surat during the 10th Gujarat Sultan Mahmud Shah III.
Karanji Lake and Nature Park at Mysore is a beautiful lake surrounded by a park with many trees and fauna.
It is one of the favorite haunts of many birds and we spotted one such bird the Asain Koel.
A glimpse of India in black and white. Other posts provide more details on the place.
Rajkot is located in the region of Saurashtra in the state of Gujarat. It was once the capital of the princely state of Saurashtra.
It has been home for father of the nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. The places of interest that I have visited here are:
The place of historic interest near by is Junagadh that is known for fort.
Another place of interest nearby is Gondal that is known for palaces.
Monastery No. 1 at Ratangiri is the biggest monastery excavated in Orissa. The construction of monastery is assignable to 8th-9th century A.D.
This south facing monastery is quadrangular in shape and externally measures 55 sq. m. It has 24 cells with a spacious stone paved central courtyard of 21 sq. m. This magnificent structure is mostly made of brick but externally veneered with khandolite.
The stand out feature in the monastery is exquisitely carved chlorite door-frame. In the lintel it has Gaja-Lakshmi, where as the frame has bands of floral, creeper and human shape motifs. The door frame displays superb craftsmanship in its graceful charm. The ornate doorway is unique of its kind and showcases decorative art of India.
The sanctum enshrined with a massive seated Buddha flanked by the standing figures of Padmapani and Vajrapani holding fans on each side.
The facade of the sanctum is embellished with creeper pattern and elegant figures of door keepers.
The various sculptures carved in the monastery are true masterpieces.
Bhitarkanika National Park is home for many common as well as rare birds. We could spot some cattle egrets here as there are cattle gazing in this area.
A glimpse of India in black and white. This picture is of a steps leading to Gometeshwara on the mountain at Karkala.
At Sarkhej Roza Complex at Ahmedabad in the 15th century around a large tank various tombs, mosques and palaces were built.
Sultan Mehmud had built the palaces on the southwest corner of the tank. These palaces have integration of Muslim, Hindu and Jain architectural elements.
The palace ruins on the South bank is the Kings Palace.
The palace ruins on the West bank is the Queens Palace.
At Ratangiri most of the excavation is done in and around on the high mound locally called Ranipokhari or Queen’s Tank.
The excavation of this site revealed the spectacular remains of two monasteries lying side by side with a narrow passage between them. They have been constructed any time between 5th to 10th century A.D.
One on the left is earmarked as Monastery No. 2.
And the bigger one by its side is earmarked as Monastery No. 1.
Sangam is just 3 kms from Srirangapatna. Located near a temple is the confluence of 3 holy rivers Kaveri River, Kabini River & Hemavati River.
The place is not only frequented by devotees, but also by those interested in picnicking.
This place is also frequented by birds.
