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Showing posts with label india 2012. Show all posts
Showing posts with label india 2012. Show all posts

Monday, 10 December 2012

Delhi - The Ultimate!

So here we are with more visual treats! And this time it's frozen frames from the capital of India, New Delhi! Delhi was once the hot seat of the Mughal emperors and hence, the Mughalai buildings and architecture make up for most of it's historical attractions and perhaps is many an artist's muse. The minars, the mausoleums and the palaces have been witness to Delhi's progress over centuries now. While the capital city raced forward to keep up with time, these elements that make up the history of Delhi, have silently stood still, bearing within their walls, stories of love, hate, war & peace.

Here are the works of Siva Subramaniam, a close friend of mine and a great photographer in the making.

Happy browsing!
















Tuesday, 6 November 2012

Belur & Halebid - Karnataka's Best!

A couple of weeks ago, my husband & I decided to take off on a small road trip on our noble steed of speed, if you will. So we nailed Belur as our destination and took right off one fine morning. It took us close to 3 hours & a couple of rest stops to reach Hassan from Bangalore. Belur is in the Hassan district and is the preferred rest stop en route. Hassan about 220kms from Bangalore, is a small town equipped with good hotels & restaurants so we halted there for a bit and took off again towards Belur & Halebid.
Belur: Pronounced ‘bay-loor’
Halebid: Pronounced ‘ha-lay-beed’

A couple of weeks ago, my husband & I decided to take off on a small road trip on our noble steed of speed, if you will. So we nailed Belur as our destination and took right off one fine morning. It took us close to 3 hours & a couple of rest stops to reach Hassan from Bangalore. Belur is in the Hassan district and is the preferred rest stop en route. Hassan about 220kms from Bangalore, is a small town equipped with good hotels & restaurants so we halted there for a bit and took off again towards Belur & Halebid.
Ravana, Belur

Belur
These 2 towns are famous for their Hoysala architecture and are major tourist attractions in the state of Karnataka. We stopped at Halebid & then continued to Belur which is about 16kms from there. You will be welcomed by massive sculptures from the very entrance. Both the towns have very similar architecture & layout, with Belur being the bigger site of the both. These temples have an immense history behind them. But all that I could see was the marvelous sculptures. These were smooth, beautiful sculptures made by master craftsmen during the reign of King Vishuvardhana. The splendor of the temples was so enthralling that I didn’t think about its history or any other fact. The only thing on my mind was that I was standing in the very place that was walked by the once great kings & subjects of Karnataka. I was trying to imagine the vision of the sculptors as they chiseled away to make their king’s wish, come true. It is hard enough to get 2 individuals to see eye-to-eye on anything. How did these many hands manage to make together, working as a unit, idols that did not differ even by one single stroke??? I was floored!!
 You will see that the foundations of the temple consist of carvings of elephants, men on horses, mythological events, avatars of Vishnu and different motifs. Of the hundreds of elephant carvings you will notice each one is different. There are a lot of intricate details to observe and delve in, but I am simply eager to let the pictures do the describing.


Krishna, Belur
Trivikrama, Belur

Halebid
Belur
Brahma, Vishnu, Kartikeya & Ganesha @ Halebid 

Shilabalika @ Halebid

Halebid

Halebid

Halebid

Halebid

Halebid

Belur
Belur

Nandi @ Halebid
















Tips for travel in Belur & Halebid :

  • The best time in the day to visit is during sunrise & sunset. When the rays hit the walls of these temples, the sculptures come alive.
  • Have a good camera in hand. Maybe a good SLR or your handy aim & shoot.
  • The best place to halt is in Hassan, as there are no facilities in Belur & Halebid.
  • There are buses plying between Bangalore & Hassan. The schedules are available on all KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) stations & website.
  • Hire a guide. They make your trip worthwhile with details. They are filled with information & facts and will help you observe intricacies that may normally be missed.
  • The road leading to Belur from Halebid is not good. So are the roads inside the towns of Halebid & Hassan. So those traveling on a bike are requested to watch out for the rough patches. Gear up well before heading out & reach your destinations in daylight.
Happy Touring! 






Wednesday, 12 September 2012

What Is So Special About India 2012?

Despite India being in the list of population, poverty and corruption, there is something about this country. Lets not get to the history but talk about the present India 2012. When I travelled India, I did see the lack of sanitation and basic amenities but that alone cannot define a nation.

India 2012: What I Saw..

The Travel

Many a times we find videos of people comparing the developed with the developing. They bring up all the negative points, make fun by being dramatic on clips and do what not. But one thing is for sure, India's certain tourist spots can be compared to nothing of the world. These attractions are a proof to the oldest civilisation. The Ajanta, Ellora and Badami caves, the ruins of hampi, the massive gopuras of temples in Tamil Nadu and Kerala speak a different culture all together.

The People

At the tourist spots, you may find hungry children but when you request them for a picture, they will always pose with a smile. They may annoy you for pennies but are also ready to help you in every little way.

On my visit to Mysore palace, I observed a funny scene. The autowalas and local guides treated some foreign travellers like celebrities in an intention that they may gain some more money. Where on Earth can you expect such a treatment?..Even if you are ready to pay, you can never wish for such a treatment like in India 2012.

The Food

The idlis, dosas and rotis didn't upset my stomach as much as the burgers, french fries from the Internationally famous restaurant did. Their jal jeeras and lassies are the best than any aerated drink in the world.

One of the flight tickets had warned its passengers travelling to India to prefer only packaged drinking water. My question is, isn't it the same case in every country? Who would prefer the water of the fountains and ponds in the city?

The Clothing

In India, you are blessed if you plan to shop. You can purchase atleast 2 bags more than anywhere in the globe (I, here, refer to the international brands).

If you know English, you can happily travel in India where atleast 50% of the world still strives to get a few words of universally accepted language.

The Beliefs

Their spiritual beliefs aren't strange but the Indian media doesn't wish to take a break from the controversial news, even if the world is ready to know.  The channels are driven with the idea of spreading the virtual India which the new gen isn't aware.

All in all, this was the India I discovered in my expedition but you may have something else to say, do you?