Front view of the house |
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Thursday 10 December 2020
Chikkamagaluru - A 100-Year-Old Unique Heritage
Tuesday 8 December 2020
Lepakshi Temple
Another place filled with drama, intrigue and designs is the incomplete Kalyan Mantapa or the marriage hall near the southwest side of the temple.
Entrance to the kalyan mantapa |
Saturday 5 December 2020
Lepakshi Temple
The story of the hanging pillar of Lepakshi is definitely not a new one, but it still does not fail to intrigue. Of the 70 pillars in the dancing hall, one pillar was the chosen one. Hanging from the ceiling in a perfectly straight manner, this pillar balances the weight of all the other pillars around it. Such an immaculate calculation of the place, weight, angle and positioning of the pillar!!!
The hanging pillar |
Sunday 29 November 2020
Lepakshi Temple
All over the ceiling in the dancing hall are colorful murals depicting various stories from mythology. Just walking around with head tilted upwards to see these paintings was a challenge enough. So how did the artisans of the bygone eras manage to achieve such incredible perfectionism in their ceiling paintings?
Ganesha And Ravana |
Friday 27 November 2020
Lepakshi Temple
- The Dancing Hall
Climbing up a few steps from the entrance, we reached the dancing hall. Interesting carvings beckoned us, but after we learnt the story behind each carving we were more than enamored.
The Ceiling In The Dancing Hall |
Lepakshi Temple
- History And Significance
We were supposed to meet just for a pizza. Then we decided to maybe just go for a long drive and have pizza on the way back. After a breakfast of crisp, hot masala dosas and some piping hot coffee at the Bangalore Cafe, we set off.
We had no idea where we were going, so we decided to go near Nandi hills and
explore some more places nearby. Just as we were nearing the toll, one of my
friends brought up this brilliant idea of going to the Lepakshi temple. So we
topped on the first breakfast with a second breakfast at 'Nandi Upachaar' at
the junction of Nandi Hills and we were on the way to Lepakshi temple in the
town of Lepakshi along the Karnataka-Andhra border.
Jatayu In Jatayu Theme Park |
Monday 9 November 2020
Bhutan
- The Mighty And Magical Journey Across Eastern Himalayas
Sunday 25 October 2020
Our Moon
– The Lunar Fascination Continues In All Serenity
‘The Moon is a friend for the lonesome to talk to’ said Carl Sandburg and for many of us, this is a reality as also a stress buster. At night when it shines luminously, it makes my life bright and meaningful. With so many imperfections, it is still the most beautiful and the most fascinating natural satellite to watch from our planet with naked eyes. It was time for me to join many fellow enthusiasts and other curious people from around the world to watch the Moon.
Our Moon
-A Closer And Keener Look To Satisfy Our Curiosity
Image credit : Kantharaj |
Friday 23 October 2020
The Talented Gollas
- Wandering Bards On The Streets Of Bangalore
Tuesday 13 October 2020
Giridarshini Homestay - BR Hills
Tucked away in the base of BR Hills is a quaint homestay. I first visited this place around 2011 and have frequented there pretty often. In this new 'We recommend' section we are starting, I thought I could introduce this place to all our readers in case a trip to BR hills is planned. This is the Giridarshini homestay.
Monday 5 October 2020
Chikkamagaluru – The Marle Heritage
- With Its Intricate Siddeshwara Temple
Outer temple walls |
Chikkamagaluru - Marle Hoysala Heritage
-With Its Ornate Keshava Temple
A view of the temples |
Sunday 27 September 2020
Pondicherry
– A Tranquil, Soothing Time On The Paradise Island
Therefore, a visit to Paradise Island should not be missed if you want to forget the world. The beach is in fact, located right at the mouth of the Chunnambar backwaters. This place is considered a paradise as it is flanked by a creek on one side and dark mangroves on the other side.
View from ferry |
Pondicherry
– The Amazing Ride On The Chunnambar Backwaters
There is something magical when one goes on a winding journey from a river to the endless expanse of a sea. Traveling in a steamer and enjoying the windy, choppy journey, I ask you to visualize my thrilling experience in just three minutes. It is not just the Arabian Sea but even on the Bay of Bengal and the eastern coast of India, one gets such moments to take up such escapades once in a while.
As we were winding up our visit to Pondicherry, Loganathan, our
guide-cum-driver who took us to most of the sights in this old French colonial
town, was insistent that we should not miss this incredible experience.
Although we had hardly any time at our disposal since we were taking the night
bus back to Bengaluru, he dropped us off at the Chunnambar Boat office by 3
pm. I was already exhausted as it was a hot Tuesday afternoon and pretty
sticky and sweltering even in the month of January.
Tuesday 22 September 2020
Tungabhadra Backwaters
- A Home Away From Home For Winter Visitors
A couple of young guys announced that the boat was ready. I looked around and did not see anything. Then they asked us to leave our footwear and walk up to the boat. It was just getting more and more curious.
Ibis and terns flying together |
Tungabhadra Backwaters
- A Winter Paradise for Birds
I had been harping about seeing these birds forever. Pompayya Sir had put together a fine little itinerary for the day to ensure that I would not have to leave without seeing them during this visit.The day started pretty early, still not bright outside as we drove towards Ankasamudra for a brief stop. Any bird lover in and around Karnataka would be well aware of the haven this place is for birds from all over.
We were there to meet Vijay Ittigi and Raju, who were among the key players in getting this place declared as a bird sanctuary. Since most newspapers have that story, I'll just stick to my experience here. Most of which was fascinating enough for me to keep scooping my jaw off the floor.
Pelicans at Ankasamudra |
Monday 14 September 2020
Prayagraj – The Gutsy Siberian Seagulls At The Sangam
Prayagraj : A Confluence Of Himalayan Rivers
Friday 28 August 2020
Lord Ganesha In His Various Avatars Across The World
As we visit temples in South Asia or South East Asia, one thing that stands out are the various forms of Lord Ganesh . Most of them are rock cut and either in standing or sitting posture. Since he is considered as the remover of obstacles and a harbinger of wisdom and success in life, one can find his image in every known form in temples across the world. You can even find him atop volcanoes, in the middle of dense forest, near seaside, on hill tops and any place that one can think of.
He is one god who has reached the foreign shores and one can see Ganesh’s various forms in which he is worshiped. Rock cut carvings of Ganesha can be seen in many temples which are built at the base of the volcanoes. In Bali, his images in stone and wood are so common that children sell the idols to tourists on the highway road to Denpasar.
Ganesha with a Dragon look |