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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 - Asian Koel

Since the last few weeks, as I have been busy by the comp, writing my Sikkim series, the Asian Koels have been creating a racket! They choose the time I am inspired to write, to call, and I rush with my camera, leaving everything behind, only to see them hide behind the leaves - the male, that is. The female has remained so well hidden, I have yet to see her! And then, this morning, Samhith's bus was late, and I was bidding him goodbye from the window, I spotted this chap.... 




Camera in hand, I waited for him to come out, or his partner to show herself, but in vain. I turned to the comp, and began typing, and there it was - the frenetic call. I ignored it for a while, but then, it has been a long time since I went birdwatching. I have to be satisfied with the birds I see from my window, so off I went again, with the camera of course. There were two males around, though the female was missing. And then, just by fluke, I captured this....



The Asian Koel with a berry from the Ashoka tree in his mouth! I might have not seen the female yet, but clicking this pic made my day! 

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Location: Chedda Nagar, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Comments

  1. Shubhakara Mahadeva SarmaApril 23, 2015 at 4:18 PM

    I am also seeing some Koels of this type from our kitchen window on some occasions but never had an idea of catching them through my camera. Hope I will catch one and post it soon. It was interesting to read your article. Fine!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AzulMay 10, 2015 at 9:37 PM

    Wow! Its beautiful and those eyes are absolutely charming.

    ReplyDelete

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