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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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Memories of 2012 - Kashmir

Kashmir had been on my wishlist for years and years, but it was this year that the wish came true. Yes, we had less time than I would have liked, but simply setting foot in the state was enough for this trip, especially since Shankar wasn't able to join us. So it was just me, Samhith, my in-laws and my sister-in law. The 12 hour journey from Jammu to Srinagar was tiring, to say the least, but the views more than made up for it!




Srinagar was all we expected... and more.... Staying in a houseboat on the Dal lake was an experience we shall never forget...



Samhith went water-boarding on his birthday..


And nephew and aunt had the time of their lives in the many gardens...



And then there was Gulmarg, covered with ice in peak summer....


Needless to say, we had a blast!!


I have yet to write about any of my experiences... the problem is, there are too many, and I have loads yet to write!!

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Location: Srinagar

Comments

  1. SANDEEP PANWARDecember 23, 2012 at 2:54 PM

    कश्मीर व हिमालय बार बार बुलाता है।

    ReplyDelete
  2. HaddockDecember 23, 2012 at 6:13 PM

    Sigh .... you have ticked off "one of the places to see" and I have yet to go there.
    Well one day :-)
    Like those pictures especially the one of Gulmarg.

    ReplyDelete
  3. DietmutDecember 23, 2012 at 9:08 PM

    beautiful landscape. Warmm greetings and a Very Happy Christmas

    http://dith-plukeenogenblikvandedag.blogspot.nl/2012/12/blog-post_22.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. R Niranjan DasDecember 23, 2012 at 11:35 PM

    Beautiful photos. Waiting fo your detailed posts.

    www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.in

    ReplyDelete

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