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Temples of Kashi - The Kardameshwar temple

The absence of ancient Hindu structures in Kashi is something I have always lamented about. The shrines are certainly ancient, and that is something that has always attracted me to the city. However, I miss the beauty of the ancient structures that we see at other sites. This feeling is intensified when I see marble and concrete and tiles in temples that once would have been beautifully adorned with evocative sculptures, and worn by the passage of time, touched by the hands of seekers who came before. This time , this desire to see some remnants of an ancient Hindu structure in Kashi came true when I managed to visit the Kardameshwar Temple. The Kardameshwar temple is not one of the main temples in the city. It is part of the temples on the Pancha Kroshi yatra, a pilgrimage which takes one on a circumambulatory tour of the whole city. The temple is located on the outskirts of the city, on the western bank of a tank called the Kardama Kund. The Kardameshwar temple is one of the...
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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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  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. D.NambiarMarch 16, 2013 at 6:35 AM

    So pretty!!

    ReplyDelete

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