Skip to main content

Featured Post

Review of Executive Lounges at New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS)

During my recent trip to Uttarakhand , I was faced with a problem I had never encountered before. We were passing through Delhi, but we had hardly any time in the city. On earlier visits when I have had to change trains/flights at Delhi, I have always arrived in the morning and left again at night, visiting relatives in between. This time, I was arriving in the city at night, and leaving again early in the morning. There was hardly any time to visit people. I would only have a couple of hours with them before I’d have to leave again. For the first time, we considered booking a hotel, but there again, we were hesitant about the actual hotels, the costs involved, and the logistics of getting from the airport to the railway station and then back again from the station to the airport.  That’s when we remembered reading something about a corporate-managed lounge at Delhi station. We soon figured out that we could book online and pay by the hour. Besides, we also learnt that there wasn’t ju
1 comment

Skywatch Friday - Phantom Rock, Wayanad

For Skywatch today is an interesting natural sight – the Phantom Rock near Ambalavayal town in Wayanad, Kerala.



This natural, metamorphic rock resembles a skull, which brings about its name.


It is visible from quite a distance, which only enhances its popularity.


Locally, it is called ‘Cheengeri Mala’ or ‘Thalappara’, which means ‘stone head’.


For more beautiful skies from around the world, visit the Skywatch Page. 

Labels:
Location: Phantom Rock, Kerala 673593, India

Comments

  1. R Niranjan DasJune 7, 2013 at 2:09 PM

    Have heard about this rock a lot. Yet to visit it. It looks so precariously placed there. Nice clicks!

    http://rajniranjandas.blogspot.in/2013/06/alibaug-beyond-beach.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarJune 7, 2013 at 3:33 PM

      Thanks Niranjan. It is really placed precariously and its amazing to see it still standing like this!

      Delete
  2. MridulaJune 7, 2013 at 3:18 PM

    And I had not heard of it at all before today. They look majestic. catch up with your blog once i am back on the other side of June.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarJune 7, 2013 at 3:34 PM

      Thanks Mridula! it is really a majestic sight! and all the best for your trek! I look forward to your posts!

      Delete
  3. thomasJune 7, 2013 at 3:57 PM

    A majestic rock.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJune 7, 2013 at 4:57 PM

    What a wonderfully moody rock! Great pics.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnuJune 7, 2013 at 7:31 PM

    I've heard about Chengeri Mala / Thalapara, but never seen them. The picture of the rock against the sky is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarJune 9, 2013 at 11:11 AM

      Thanks Anu!! you should go see it someday! really beautiful place!

      Delete
  6. IndraniJune 8, 2013 at 6:31 AM

    There is a spooky place in Wayanad, could you visit it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarJune 9, 2013 at 11:12 AM

      No Indrani, we couldnt visit that. I did hear of it, but our time went off in other pursuits :D

      Delete
  7. KusumJune 14, 2013 at 7:19 AM

    Very interesting! There are so many unheard of places.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarJune 28, 2013 at 8:30 PM

      Thank you Kusum! there indeed are many such places across India!

      Delete
  8. UnknownJune 14, 2013 at 4:58 PM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  9. SudhageeJune 19, 2013 at 4:39 PM

    Never heard of this, Anu. But then I don't really know much of Wayand. Nice captures all.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks so much for stopping by. Please leave a comment for me so that I will know you have been here....

Popular posts from this blog

Gokarna Part II – The Five Lingams

We continued our Gokarna trip by visiting four other Shiva temples in the vicinity, all connected to the same story of Gokarna. The story of Gokarna mentions the Mahabaleshwara Lingam as the one brought from Kailas by Ravana, and kept at this place on the ground by Ganesha. (See my earlier post- Gokarna – Pilgrimage and Pleasure). However, the story does not end here. It is believed that, in his anger, Ravana flung aside the materials which covered the lingam- the casket, its lid, the string around the lingam, and the cloth covering it. All these items became lingams as soon as they touched the ground. These four lingams, along with the main Mahabaleshwara lingam are collectively called the ‘ Panchalingams’ . These are: Mahabaleshwara – the main lingam Sajjeshwar – the casket carrying the lingam. This temple is about 35 Kms from Karwar, and is a 2 hour drive from Gokarna. Dhareshwar – the string covering the lingam. This temple is on NH17, about 45 Kms south of Gokarna. Gunavanteshw
7 comments
Read more

The Havelis of Bikaner - A Photo Post

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
9 comments
Read more

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
12 comments
Read more