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
Driving through Gokarna in the monsoon, the last thing we expected to see were birds. Therefore, when, in the middle of nowhere, when Samhith excitedly shouted, "Amma!! Flamingo!!" I didnt really believe him. I didn't believe my eyes either, when, a little way off, there was indeed a bird, which, from a distance, did look like a flamingo. We requested our auto driver to take us closer, without disturbing the birds, which, to our relief. he did, with a smile, here is what we saw....
Yes, it was indeed a flamingo!
And it wasnt alone. These ducks gave it company...
These are Lesser Whistling Ducks or Lesser Whistling Teals, which seem to be quite common birds, but nice to see nevertheless! Thanks Karthik for help with the identification.
This little cormorant was busy drying itself.....
And a little farther, was this Lapwing...
Common birds they might be, but seeing them so unexpectedly, certainly perked us up!
Chancelesss!!!! superb Click YAr!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gowtham!
DeleteSuperb images !!!
ReplyDeletewww.vaidehivaidehi.blogspot.com.au
Thanks Vaidehi!
DeleteWOW! Flamingos in and around Gokarna is so rare. Either you were extremely lucky or bird migration patterns have started to change. Either ways, it was good you could see these birds. I am going to give it a try too and see what comes my way :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Sankara! we were indeed lucky, but am not really sure if it is a change in the migration pattern. there was just this one flamingo around, so it was probably lost or made the place its permanent home :D but it was nice to see it nevertheless. but do go and see if it is still there!
DeleteFirst time seeing flamingos see around Gokarna, never knew ! TFS
ReplyDeleteThank you, Paresh!
Deletethe pictures are really great...
ReplyDeletethe cormorant, is the best one, the moment captured is awesome...
pulkit
Thank you Pulkit!
DeleteThe lapwing reflection looks so good!
ReplyDeleteHi, loved the photographs, would love read about kaikondranahalli lake birds.
ReplyDelete