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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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Birds from my window - Oriental Magpie Robin

It has been a while since I posted photos of birds, so here is one I see the most these days - the Oriental Magpie Robin.




There are three of these birds in our garden, and I see them frequently flying around, and can hear their distinctive, melodious call even before I see them! Capturing them on camera, however, has been another matter entirely, and I managed these only because the birds were nice enough to sit on the window ledge near my house, and also pose for a while on the tree right opposite my window!



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Comments

  1. Shalu SharmaMarch 6, 2013 at 2:39 PM

    Nice little birds. Nice photos, well taken..

    ReplyDelete
  2. MridulaMarch 6, 2013 at 2:49 PM

    Such womderful captures, extra special as they are birds and that means a lot of patience :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarMarch 6, 2013 at 3:46 PM

      Thanks Mridula! for such reasonably big birds, they are hard to capture! am unsuccessfully trying now for the purple sunbird. its flitting around, but cant get an image!

      Delete
  3. Julia DuttaMarch 6, 2013 at 3:01 PM

    My God! I can't believe it! In Mumbai? What lovely luck, Anu :))

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarMarch 6, 2013 at 3:46 PM

      We are lucky to live in an area which is covered with greenery, Julia! tho it comes with its share of problems! and this one is a regular visitor...

      Delete
  4. IndraniMarch 6, 2013 at 7:35 PM

    Lucky you to get visitors like them. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarMarch 7, 2013 at 8:31 AM

      Yes, Indrani! we are indeed lucky to see such beauties!

      Delete
  5. MadhukarMarch 6, 2013 at 11:16 PM

    Beautiful bird.. I think ot is cached in Dandeli Jungle.
    Thank you for sharing with us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarMarch 7, 2013 at 8:32 AM

      Thank you, Madhukar... this is quite a common bird, seen everywhere in India.

      Delete
  6. NeerajMarch 9, 2013 at 6:56 AM

    Nice... I miss the sounds of birds chirping (even crow)! You must be hearing that all the time, no?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarMarch 9, 2013 at 9:19 AM

      oh yes, Neeraj! birds chirp here all the time , as for crows, they are here all day long!

      Delete
  7. R Niranjan DasMarch 11, 2013 at 11:46 AM

    Nice clicks!

    www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.in

    ReplyDelete
  8. D.NambiarMarch 16, 2013 at 6:35 AM

    So pretty!!

    ReplyDelete

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