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The Elephanta Caves

The Elephanta Caves , located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri, about 11 Km off the coast of the Gateway of India, Mumbai, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit to these caves, excavated probably in the 6 th century CE, is awe-inspiring, and also thought-provoking. Over the years, I have visited the caves a number of times, and also attended a number of talks by experts in the fields of art, history and archaeology on the caves. Together, they help me understand these caves, their art, and the people they were created for, just a little bit better. Every new visit, every new talk, every new article I read about the caves, fleshes out the image of what the island and the caves would have been like, at their peak. I last wrote about the caves on this blog, in 2011, almost exactly 11 years ago. Since then, my understanding of the caves has, I would like to think, marginally improved. Hence this attempt to write a new and updated post, trying to bring to life, the caves of Elephan
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Sunbirds in the garden

Bombay has no winter to speak of. For us, it is winter when there is a slight chill in the air late and night, and early in the morning, and that too, thanks to living in an area full of open spaces and lots of trees. Which is why, I was surprised to notice that most of our regular winged visitors were missing for the past few months!

Finally, with the slight chill too having disappeared, some of the birds are back. A few days back, we noticed that the sunbirds have returned, and yesterday, one of them sat long enough on a branch for me to photograph it... So, here's a Purple rumped Sunbird, and hope more birds return soon.....



Purple Rumped Sunbird

Purple Rumped Sunbird


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Location: Chedda Nagar, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Comments

  1. Bhavesh ChhatbarMarch 8, 2010 at 3:47 PM

    Amazing! We have exactly the same bird's pair as regular visitors to our home :)

    Thanks! :)

    Wednesday Wallpaper

    ReplyDelete
  2. chitraMarch 8, 2010 at 3:54 PM

    I think this bird can fly backwards little. Have you noticed?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bhavesh ChhatbarMarch 8, 2010 at 3:59 PM

    What a coincidence that you were commenting on my blog when I was commenting on yours!

    Well, about your question on my Common Rose Butterfly [Atrophaneura Aristolochiae, Pachliopta Aristolochiae, Swallowtail Butterfly] Feeding on Marigolds post, click here to see where Mayureshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is located. It's not very worth visiting unless you have powerful binoculars, but yes, the efforts by the authorities are good. We saw small groups of deer far away from us. We saw a jackal also.

    ReplyDelete
  4. MridulaMarch 9, 2010 at 10:23 PM

    Beautiful Anu.

    ReplyDelete
  5. sandeepMarch 10, 2010 at 11:15 AM

    its a beautiful bird, isnt it. wish u more photo-ops soon :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Preeti DatarMarch 10, 2010 at 5:08 PM

    Anu, I've recently started following your blog. You have a nack for writing and observation :) Nice capture :D

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anuradha ShankarMarch 11, 2010 at 4:24 PM

    @Bhavesh : thanks a lot, for the comment as well as the info..

    @Chitra: it doesnt really fly backward, but hovers over the flower or bud it is sucking nectar from.... which makes it look like that..

    @Mridula : thanks... your new blog looks very interesting..

    @sandeep: yes, it is... i hope so too....

    @Preeti: thanks a lot.... i liked your blog too......

    ReplyDelete
  8. DaniApril 3, 2010 at 1:37 AM

    Hi Anu,
    came across your blog..great one!
    as for these gorgeous birds, never seen or heard about them! they just look so beautiful. :) and love the name, SUNbird :))
    hugs from Macedonia
    Dani

    ReplyDelete

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