Skywatch - Sunset in Maidenahalli

Some destinations keep you waiting  - like Maidenhalli for instance or Jayamangali Blackbuck Conservation Reserve as it is known as. I finally visited the wildlife sanctuary and what an evening it was. The blackbucks or the birds were not the showstoppers - it was the sun. Read my column - Inside Story published in The Hindu Metro Plus where I had written about the reserve.  Meanwhile, here is the gorgeous sun bidding adieu .

I can never get enough of this magical moment, so will share some pictures in another episode of Skywatch, Meanwhile to see more glorious skies, visit Skywatch this Friday.

Valparai and the Great Indian hornbill

One of my favourite birds is the hornbill - ask any birder and most of them would die to see this bird. The sight of it with its wing spread out , flying in the sky is an image one can never forget. In Valparai, we were lucky to see this bird and here are some photographs of it

Heritage week special - Vandalised murals of Suseendram

Deep down South near Kanyakumari  is a temple dedicated to the Trinity - Brahma , Vishnu and Siva called Suseendram. A 18 feet tall Hanuman towers over the devotees, protecting them from all ills. However even he is unable to protect the precious heritage from getting vandalised from people. I was in Suseendram as a part of the Naanjil Naadu tour organised by INTACH Tamil Nadu.  The temple itself maybe over 1500 years old and the seven tier Gopura was built much later .

As you climb up the dark and dingy stairs up the Gopura, disturbing the bats with a flashlight, you chance upon some of the most beautiful murals..

 Unfortunately I discover that many people have been here before me and they chose to highlight their presence by vandalising these paintings.

 This heritage day, lets save and protect our heritage from us.. We have done precious little to add to our heritage for posterity ; so let us not deny them a chance to see what our forefathers had left for us..In the meantime, enjoy some of these paintings.

Read the entire story here in my column in The Hindu Metro Plus 

Sannathi - A Stupa and Samrat Ashoka

Last December I visited Sannathi where a stupa from the Ashokan era (3rd century BC) is getting restored. The prized treasure here is the portrait of the Emperor himself which was unearthed . I was told that this was the ever portrait of the king discovered with the incription " Raya Ashoka" carved on it..Here is the photofeature that was published in Yahoo.com . I wrote a detailed story in Deccan Herald a couple of months ago.

 

This heritage week, we celebrate more heritage sites across India.. I have been always fascinated by lesser known destinations, especially on heritage and cultures and will be sharing some of the stories and photographs from these sites. 

Skywatch - Happy New Year

In India, several communities celebrate new year today - the Tamilians, the Bengalis, the Assamese, the Punjabis among others. And tomorrow it will be Visu, celebrated by Malayalees and Mangaloreans among others. Greetings to all . This Friday, we visit an ancient sea side fort - Vattakottai - heart of Naanjil Naadu, near Kanyakumari , built in the 18th century . A view of the sea from the fort..

To see more beautiful skies around the world, visit Skywatch. 

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The story of a crested serpent eagle and the indian roller in Kabini

Was rummaging through my hard disk this morning and I found myself looking at a trip I had made with my parents three years ago to Kabini. Found this photograph of the crested serpent eagle.

The indian roller and the black drongo would not let it perch quietly though and they chased the raptor away.

Ironically I made three trips to Kabini that year and now, I havent been there for three years..Note to self - Go in 2012.