New Photos!

Well, finally I get to post some photos again! If you haven't seen the others, click on "photo log" in the "Labels" Section to the right. I will be taking them more often now, as I live in an area very rich in historic sites. They will all be included under the label "photo log" for your reference.

Just click on a picture to see a full-size version, these were taken with an 8.1 mpx digital camera so they are quite large!


First, a couple of Moon shots. The street lights are yellow, hence the color. It is not an added effect. But it sure does enhance the beauty of the moon!

Now, we have the Rarheswar Siva Mandir, built in the 12th Century.

From a distance:

 

Closer:

Pensively drinking in the surroundings:

The usual reaction I get in crowds, laughter or gawking! I can't sneak around, that's for sure! This is still at the mandir, there was a Saraswati Puja Mela (festival) going on in the area and it was quite crowded.

Another Mela shot, I have to duck quite often!

Trippy shot:

One time whilst meandering to lunch, I chanced upon a whole group of monkeys  relaxing. I've been told that it is rare to see them in groups, so I am doubly bummed I didn't have my camera on me at the time! Oh well, here's one:

Some very beautiful flowers in a neighbor's yard. The yellow and white ones were bigger than my head!

This picture is absolutely hilarious, but the mirth doesn't show through that well! That's an older female humping a young male dog. The adolescent pup kept trying to get away from her, but she kept at it for 2 days, with all the gusto she could muster!

In my room:

Next we have a Kali Ashram (hermitage). This one is 700 years old.

Just inside the main gate toward the mandir. The mandir itself was only built 4 years ago (although I think I may have misunderstood, as it looks more like 40 years old!) To the left there is a little Shiva linga shrine.

A rare picture inside the mandir. They requested this picture be taken, and a print of it, and were delighted to be posted online! The one all the way to the right speaks a little more English than the rest, not quite conversational, but we can communicate a bit. Wonderful people!

To the right of the mandir are little shrines to Hanuman and Ganesha.

The original mandir, the foundations of which can be seen here, was destroyed in a storm around 400 years ago.

The smasham (cremation ground), which is no longer in use.

This is just to the right of the memorial stone above (note it to the left). Sorry it's a bit blurry.

A clearer picture. I'm sure there was much more water there at one time.

Looking towards the site of the previous picture, from the other side of that body of water.

This is the gate to the park area where I took the above picture. This ashram and the park in the next few pictures are in my neighborhood. This whole area used to be thickly forested, and was a hideout for pirates for a long time. There were a series of underground tunnels allegedly leading all the way to Bangalore! (This link should give you an idea of the distance.)

Well, there you go! Hopefully you enjoy these vistas and I hope to have more updates on a more regular basis! Thanks for coming!