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Odisha Part 10: Bhubaneshwar – the city of temples

Bhubaneshwar is often called the city of temples . It is impossible to know exactly how many temples there are, but it has been estimated that there might be over 700 temples in the city. This number, while impressive, is just a fraction of the original number, which, sometime in the 13 th century, would have been about 7000. Wikipedia has a page dedicated to the Hindu temples of Bhubaneshwar , where 93 temples are listed. All these are ancient temples, built between the 7 th and 13 th centuries CE. Bhubaneshwar was once known as Ekamra Kshetra , the sacred mango grove. We know this name from an inscription at the Ananta Vasudeva temple, which mentions the name of the place, and the main temple (that we now know as the Lingaraja temple) in the mango grove. Ananta Vasudeva Temple, with a sculpture of Trivikrama in the niche It is extremely interesting to note that the Ananta Vasudeva temple is the only temple to Lord Vishnu in this city. Varaha, Ananta Vasudeva Temple Located v...

Summer Vacation Begins... and a special give- away too!

Summer is here...

More birds from Sewri

In my earlier post , I wrote about the flamingos we saw at Sewri. They are, after all, the main reason people flock to Sewri these days at low tide! However, there are also scores of other birds which arrive at Sewri for the insects which populate the mud flats. This post is about some of them...

Flamingo Poetry

Nothing brightens up my day more than appreciation for my blog! However, today, I was in for a wonderful surprise - a poem written on a photograph I had posted on Facebook!! I can't really call myself a photographer.. I am simply playing with my camera the way Samhith would play with a new toy! Yet, to see the poem, that too written by a blogger I have admired for long, was a pleasure that can not be described in words..... Ugich Konitari, aka Suranga Date, is a blogger I have never met. She is many years my senior, yet her innate sense of humor, her unique perception of issues, and the way she writes about even the most common situations we come across everyday, are what make her blogs a wonderful read! I have been following her blogs, Strewn Ashes and Gappa , for quite a while now, and to be featured there feels like a great honour! Here is the photograph,

Flamingos at Sewri

I usually look forward to the weekend events conducted by the BNHS, but of late, I had been missing out on a lot of interesting ones. It had been over a year since we had joined them for a Flamingo Watch, and with my new camera, it was more than just a little tempting! However, with all the hectic events planned for our weekend, I wasn't sure if Samhith would be up and ready so early in the morning. However, it is only for school that I have to shake him awake. Just one call and he was up and ready, in  less than 15 minutes, all set for the exciting day ahead! 

Sunset at Somnath

We recently visited the Somnath temple during Samhith's short year-end break. We arrived at Somnath in the evening, and rushed for a glimpse of the deity, and then hurried to get my camera to capture the sight of the sun setting behind the temple...

Book Review - Hot Tea Across India

The minute I heard of the book, ‘Hot Tea Across India’, I just knew that I had to read it! After all, tea is something Shankar says I practically live on, while travelling! While he can’t stand the sweet and watery liquid that passes for tea in most places these days, and prefers to abstain, I can’t stay away it, especially on train journeys, where both Samhith and Shankar now know to call out to every chap selling chai , especially masala chai on any station small or big! Image courtesy: Westland Books

White Throated Kingfisher

at Alibag..