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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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Drongoes in the morning

For the last few days, I have been awakened at dawn by birds instead of the irritating alarm clock. Wondering about which bird is making the noise has proved to be far more effective than waking up wondering about all the things I have to do that day. Anyway, a few days ago, I managed to find out at last the one who was making all that racket at the unearthly hour of dawn - it was a pair of drongoes!

Here are a few pics I have managed to click over the last couple of days.....





and here is a sample of the sound which makes all the noise. They seem to be really perverse birds, making so much noise that I wake up, and then shutting up when I get my camera ready!




P.S. I am out of town and will be back in a few days. Please leave your comments and I shall reply as soon as I get back.
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Comments

  1. IndraniOctober 30, 2010 at 9:13 AM

    Fantastic Anu!
    You may find their nest somewhere nearby.

    ReplyDelete
  2. chitraOctober 30, 2010 at 11:41 AM

    I am yearning to hear such voices early morning , I hardly see any bird here so the video was a nice treat. Enjoy your travel. Come back with interesting news.

    ReplyDelete
  3. MridulaOctober 30, 2010 at 5:43 PM

    Loved the video, should try my hand too. Are you traveling?

    ReplyDelete
  4. AartiOctober 31, 2010 at 6:15 PM

    hahaha.. i dont know what i wud do if i saw a Drongo outside my window early morning... probably shoo it away n shout out curses... :D

    Saw the racket tailed & black drongo recently at our coffee estate.. beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anuradha ShankarNovember 9, 2010 at 9:51 PM

    @Indrani: Thanks so much! I have been looking for the nest, but have not managed to find it so far!

    @Chitra: Its really nice to wake up in the morning hearing bird calls... it is quite a surprise that see so many birds here in the city....

    @Mridula: you certainly should try it out... esp with the wonderful birds you get to see...

    @Aarti: LOL!!!! maybe you wouldnt :)... not if you could write a blog about it :) i have seen lots of racket tailed ones when I have been in the south.... the coffee estate would be a wonderful place for a getaway!

    ReplyDelete
  6. magiceyeDecember 6, 2010 at 10:46 AM

    cool captures!

    ReplyDelete

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