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
The lanes are narrow , twisting and turning amidst buildings old and new. Crumbling old structures with intricate workmanship stand side by side with art deco buildings, and more modern constructions, which follow no particular style. Autos, bicycles, motorcycles and vans rush past, blowing their horns as loudly as possible, while cows saunter past peacefully, completely unaffected by the noise. In the midst of all this chaos, children play by the side, and women go about their chores, as we explore these by-lanes of Bikaner, and its beautiful Havelis. Facade of one of the Rampuria Havelis
Nice picture but I have no idea what the insect is.
ReplyDeleteI cant identify it... but I like the way.. you've clicked a pic of this little thing and made him a celebrity.. :-)
ReplyDeleteDon't know the name of the insect Anu.
ReplyDeleteCan see, however, the deception because of the similarity in colors to its background. I guess that's what they mean by camouflage!?
May be one belonging to grasshopper family.......
ReplyDeleteWe saw a rock agama brilliantly camouflaged against the colourless rock in Nandi hills recently..will find out reg the insect
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant! I wouldn't have called it an insect had you not mentioned it. it looks more like a crooked root.
ReplyDeleteNo idea what it is. Though it seems like a shorter grasshopper/cricket variety. These guys are experts in camouflaging. So, I am assuming that this insect is related to them.
That is a cricket.
ReplyDeleteBrown version of grasshopper.
@Mridula: thanks.... I wouldnt even have realised it was one, but it jumped :)
ReplyDelete@Patty: :) I never thought of it that way... but then again... wonder if it would know, what would it think???
@Celine: Absolutely! I used the pic to explain the word to my son!
@Chitra: yes, it did look like that....
@Lakshmi: Isnt it amazing, the kind of things we see these days now that we carry a camera around, and look for things to shoot??? I never even noticed them before!
@Indrani: thanks a lot! u seem to be the only one who has any idea about the insect....
@Sankara: you were right! Indrani just commented that it was the cricket variety! and even i wouldnt have realised that it was an insect... just cause it jumped i managed to notice it... and thankfully it stayed still long enough for me to take a pic!
ReplyDeleteDamn, i was looking for the insect in the picture and then realised i was staring right through it... :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a camouflage...yep, i also think its a cricket family insect only.. Amazes me to think God thought so deep to create such mysterious creatures as well ..
Samhith must've been intrigued... :))
Well spotted and neat image...Thomas
ReplyDeleteGood shot...but don't know what the insect is....
ReplyDeleteit does look like a cricket from this angle...
ReplyDeleteOnce in the area I was studying there was a locust storm and I was also a volunteer in the campaign to eradicate them. The creature you have photographed looks like that very monster!. Good shot.
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