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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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Little Green Bee Eater

This is a bird I have seen often. It is quite a common bird, and yet, it is always fascinating to watch, especially when it plucks insects out of the air!




The Little Green Bee Eater is a resident of grasslands, thin scrub land, and forests, and observed all over India. I noticed this one at Dandeli, and, having nothing better to do, simply sat and watched it... and clicked...



I must have watched it for about 15-20 minutes, but the best part was when it caught a butterfly...



For a moment, it appeared as if the butterfly's fluttering wings were part of its mouth... and then the whole butterfly disappeared inside!


And that is why I love watching birds... All you need is patience, and you never know what you might see!



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Location: Dandeli, Karnataka, India

Comments

  1. MridulaFebruary 23, 2014 at 6:09 PM

    Oh so that was a butterfly! I was wondering why that green bee eater had so much yellow around its beak!

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    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarFebruary 23, 2014 at 6:12 PM

      Yes, Mridula! not what we would expect in a bee eater, right? there is always something to see with birds, as I am sure you will agree :)

      Delete
  2. K.S.AparnaFebruary 23, 2014 at 6:34 PM

    Amazing pictures. They make me want to write a poetry...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarFebruary 23, 2014 at 6:37 PM

      Thank you, Aparna manni! And please do write a poem! and send me the link when you do.. will add it to this post :) collaborative family writing, i think we can call it!

      Delete
  3. Sandhya MenonFebruary 24, 2014 at 12:47 AM

    lovely! what is this bird's name???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarFebruary 25, 2014 at 6:13 PM

      Sandhya, the title itself has the name of the bird, and I have also mentioned it in the post :)

      Delete
  4. AnonymousMarch 2, 2015 at 4:33 PM

    Nice pictures! Have you seen it handling a bee? Quite entertaining!

    ReplyDelete

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