Arjun Haarith

Mesmerizing Mumbai

2011-11-21T23:04:00.004+05:30

Hello friends,

I had been to Mumbai after a very long time. This time not with family, but with colleagues. We were sent for a training to our Mumbai office. Also for a change I did not take my camera :)
The team:
1. Shimsha
2. Namitha
3. Maanasa
4. Chiranjivi
5. Yours Faithfully (Arjun )

The HR Manager came to us and spoke about the technology that we were supposed to learn. As a result, the 5 of us were told about the training that was to be held at Mumbai. We were enthralled after hearing the news. The training was supposed to be held from 24th October to 10th November, 2011. So , we left Bangalore on 23rd October. We all were busy packing the previous day. Finally on the day of travel , I got up very early. Usually , I get up late :) , started roaming around the house, ensured everything was packed. Loads of messages and calls were arriving to my phone with best wishes from my family and friends.
The flight was booked , and the departure time was 12.30 PM. We were at the airport early. All of us met at a discussed point. The families of most of us had come to the airport to wish us. After taking all their best wishes, we entered the airport for our boarding pass. After that(security check), we were waiting for 12.30 PM to arrive soon, as it was a new experience for most of us. Most of us, travelled for the first time in an airplane.
Bengaluru - Mumbai : GO Airlines. http://www.goair.in/

Mumbai as seen from the plane during landing

At around 2pm, we landed at the Mumbai Airport. They gave us a warm welcome to Mumbai. Warm because it was 38C :)

The company had arranged a cab. He took us to our SEEPZ guest house at Andheri(E).

Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ) is a Special Economic Zone inMumbai, India. Situated in the Andheri East area, it is subjected to liberal economic laws as compared to the rest of India to promote rapid economic growth using tax and business incentives and attract foreign investment and technology. Seepz was created in 1973 and was seen as export processing zone. Since then many other SEZ’s have been created in rest of India. SEEPZ mainly houses Electronic Hardware Manufacturing Companies, Software Companies and jewellery exporters of India. More than 40 percent of India’s total jewelry exports ($2,222.31 million) out of $5,210.69 million during year 2006-2007 came from units within SEEPZ. Despite its name, it is not located near the suburb of Santacruz, rather it is located closer to Andheri that lies further north.
More than 150 units operate in SEEPZ. Prominent companies that have offices within Seepz include: Navteq, Renaissance Jewellery Ltd, Gitanjali Gems Ltd, Vaibhav Gems Ltd, D’damas for Jewelry. IT Companies include Quinnox Consultancy Services, Blue Star Infotech Ltd, Praxis Interactive Services Ltd, CGI Group Inc., Thirdware, iGATEPatni Computer Systems, Tata Consultancy Services, Geodesic Limited, Trigyn Technologies Limited,Syntel Limited etc., buildings in SEEPZ are called Standard Design Factories (SDF).

The SEZ is a high security entry zone. Employees of various companies need to have permanent SEEPZ gate pass to gain entry. Visitors need special permits to enter. Due to these hassles government proposed making SEEPZ a Free Trade Zone(FTZ) in 1999. However, gate pass and visitor pass rules continue till date. Making SEEPZ a FTZ meant that it would be treated as outside the customs zone of India. This meant no excise or customs duty will be levied on raw material but companies would also not be able to sell their products in domestic market. There are also Hotels like Indian Coffee House which is quite popular.

Guest House at SEEPZ

Within the premises is located the ruins of an abandoned Portuguese church, St. John the Baptist Church, Mumbai built in 1579. The church also laid in ruins for years and access to it restricted since the SEEPZ was formed. After much political controversy, it was handed back to Fr Rodney Esperance of Bombay Archdiocese in 2003 in ceremony organized by Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. A lake and several canteens are located inside the SEEPZ premises.

The oldest settlements in and around Andheri were those of the East Indians, the natives whose villages survive in Pump House, Marol (See St. John the Baptist Church), Chakala, Gundowli, Sahar, Saki Naka, etc. The name Andheri was derived from Udayanagari, the name of a mountain near the Mahakali caves.Another concentration of the native East Indians was located on the former islet of Versova, also known as Vasave.

In the early 1900s, as urbanization spread from Bombay northwards, Marathi, Gujarati and other settlers began to colonize the area.

The English actively encouraged this in order to take off population pressure from the congested city and to increase revenue inflows; however, as a result, the native East Indians came to be swamped, marginalized and their lands were usually expropriated without compensation, even as their access to the sea for fishing was cut, thus destroying their two means of livelihood: agriculture & fishing.

In the 1950s the English built the Versova Causeway (the Versova Road) between Andheri on Sashti Island and the islet of Versova. The area on both sides of this causeway were rapidly filled in to develop areas now known as Lokhandwala Complex, Yamuna Nagar, Millat Nagar, Dhake Colony, D.N. Nagar, Four Bungalows, Seven Bungalows, etc.

One of the earliest colonies is the Dhake Colony on Versova Road, West Andheri. The five buildings of Dhake Colony were built around 1950, and they served as a landmark until recently. The area is now known as D.N. Nagar.

Another of these early settlements is Bhardawadi. This lane forms a vital link with S.V. Road for the residents of Versova Road. It has been inhabited for the last ninety years. In the past, there were bungalows on this road; these gave way to apartment buildings, although there are still a few old bungalows, which is rare in Mumbai. This lane bustles with the sound of traffic which passes through it to reach S.V. Road.

The popular Ganesha temple, Siddhivinayak temple, created in 1926, also contributed to the settlement of Andheri.

Starting from 1935 up to early 1980s Andheri East boasted of many Film Studios, namely Prakash Studio, Nataraj Studio, Modern Studio, M&T Studio and Mohan Studio. All these studios were situated from Telli Gully signal junction up to Chakala Junction on Andheri-Kurla Road. All the big names of Bollywood of that era had their offices in it. Prakash Studio made way for Vishal Housing complex. Modern studio had to close down in mid 1960 as the Western Express Highway was constructed right through it. M&T studio was gutted in a fire in early 1960. In its place came German Remedies(pharmaceutical company). Post sale of German Remedies to Cadalia, the same has now been converted into a residential apartments "Green Woods CHS". Mohan Studio too had to make way for Mota Nagar and Padam Nagar. Small hotels run by Sindhis who migrated from Pakistan and Udipi Restaurants run by entrepreneurs from Mudradi Village in Udipi (Karnataka) catered to these Studios day and night.

Before 1945, Andheri was administered by a Collector as the "Suburban District"; in that year, the former Suburban District was absorbed by Mumbai city as Greater Bombay. However, the Suburban District was once again revived in about 2000 as the Mumbai Suburban District.

After relaxing for a while at the guest house, evening set in . As we were new to that place, we began to explore SEEPZ and outside SEEPZ. After horrible dinner (@ SUBWAY) we came back to the guest house and slept.

The next morning , we were ready for the training . The training room consisted of our trainer Mr.Mahesh, 8 Mumbai based employees, and 5 of us (Bangalore based).

The 8 of them were : Milind, Rashmi , Savi , Aniketh , Nilam , Prashanth , Sagar and Vinayak

After a brief introductory session, Mahesh sir started with the training. His method of training is amazing. He is one of the best trainers I have seen till date.
After the training on the first day, we decided to venture out. With the help of our Mumbai friends, we could go to Powai lake as it was close to our campus.

Powai Lake (named after Framaji Kavasji Powai Estate) is an artificial lake, situated in the northern suburb of Mumbai, in the Powai valley, where a Powai village with cluster of huts existed. The city suburb called Powai, shares its name with the lake. Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay one of the premier institutions of science and technology in India is located to the east of the lake. Another famous institution, the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) is also located close to the lake. Housing complexes and plush hotels are developed all around the lake periphery. Population around the lake has thus substantially increased over the years.

The above buildings captured in a slow Shutter speed , and also caused by the movement of camera.

I moved the camera to achieve this picture. The lights are of the buildings and vehicles.

The team : Maanasa , Shimsha , Namitha , Arjun , Chiru

Large number of crocodiles on the lake side have been sighted on the shores of the lake and also reported by fishermen and officials of IIT, Powai. White throated kingfisher, small blue kingfisher, spot-billed duck, spotted dove, a few purple moorhens, purple rumped sunbirds, bronze winged and phaesant tailed jacanas, ashy prinias, brahmany kite, Red vented, red whiskered and white browed bulbuls, cormorants, lesser whistling ducks, grey, purple and pond herons, little, intermediate and large egrets,, perigrine falcon, greater coucal, rose ringed and Alexindrine parakits, Eurasian marsh harrier (possibly winter visitor), wooly necked stork (winter visitor) hopooe & whiskered terns. butterflies, honey bees, bumble bees and beetles have also been sighted.

From there we went to HiraNandani Gardens : Hiranandani Gardens is a township located in Powai, a northern suburb of Mumbai, India. The township is approachable by Adi Shankaracharya Marg (ADS Marg), a part of Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR). The nearest Mumbai Suburban Railway station is Kanjurmarg and Vikhroli. It is named after the Hiranandani Group (Niranjan & Surendra) who built this township. In a matter of 25 years; a quarry with 20 trees has been converted to a sprawling development.The township is dotted with skyscraper residential towers, many with very expensive apartments. Its skyline is immediately recognizable due to the classic Greco-Roman architectural influences, especially at the topmost level. The residential towers often have a second underground parking level. Residents form cooperative societies to take care of issues related to utilities andaesthetics, resolve neighborly disputes and hold events on festivals or other occasions. Some communities have their own parks, children's play areas, sport courts, swimming pools or clubs within their perimeters.

Later , went to Haiko market, where I met my friend. After eating chats(Dabeli's , Vada-pav), we returned to our guesthouse.

Next day morning(25th), as usual training, and in the evening we had been to Inorbit Mall

The next day (26th) was a holiday on account of Diwali. One of my friend by name Rohan guided us to different places. (We both did engineering at SJBIT.) We got down at Dadar from Andheri. He came to Dadar from Thane. Dadar is junction where people from central can go to western railway. We all met at Dadar, and decided to go to Siddhi Vinayak temple. But it was crowded, and

the police told that it takes around 3-4 hours to get Darshan of the deity. As the queue was huge. So we decided to go back to Churchgate, and then visit Elephanta caves. So we came back to Dadar station and caught a local train to Churchgate.

Rohan (rightmost)

We could see Real Mumbai when we came to Churchgate. There was a drastic change from Andheri to Churchgate. The southern Mumbai is surely an amazing place to hang around.Churchgate (now Veer Nariman Street) (Marathi: चर्चगेट) is an area in downtown SouthMumbai. During the eighteenth and up to the mid 19th century, Bombay was a walled city. The city walls had three gates, and Church Gate, named after St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbaiwas one of the gates. The gate was situated near the present day location of Flora Fountain. In the mid nineteenth century, the city walls were torn down to aid in the expansion program.Churchgate station gets its name from Church Gate street (now Veer Nariman Road) which lines on the immediate south of the station. Churchgate station is aterminus of Western Railway line ofMumbai suburban railway. It is the southernmost station of the city, though up to the 1931, Colaba was the southernmost station, however the rail line was removed beyond Churchgate, making Churchgate the southernmost station. It is home to the Western Railwayheadquarters. Today, the station is one of the busiest stations in the city. Millions of city dwellers residing in the suburbs alight at this station to get to their offices in the business districts of south Mumbai.

The station is the terminus for local trains on Western Railways. The earliest train departs at 4:15 AM for Virar , and the last train at 1:00 AM towards Borivali.

Later, we went to the Gateway of India, where we could get a boat to the elephanta caves.

Gateway of India :

The Gateway of India (Marathi: गेटवे ऑफ इंडिया) is a monument in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India. Located on the waterfront in Apollo Bunder area in South Mumbai, the Gateway is a basalt arch 26 metres (85 feet) high. It was a crude jetty used by fisher folks and was later renovated and used as a landing place for British governors and other distinguished personages. In earlier times, the Gateway was the monument that visitors arriving by boat would have first seen in the city of Bombay.

Its design is a combination of both Hindu and Muslim architectural styles, the arch is in Muslim style while the decorations are in Hindu style. The Gateway is built from yellowbasalt and reinforced concrete. The stone was locally obtained, and the perforated screens were brought from Gwalior.

The central dome is 15 metres (49 feet) in diameter and is 26 metres (85 feet) above ground at its highest point. The whole harbour front was realigned in order to come in line with a planned esplanade which would sweep down to the centre of the town. The cost of the construction was Rs. 21 lakhs (2,100,000), borne mainly by the Government of India. Due to lack of funds, the approach road was never built, and so the Gateway stands at an angle to the road leading up to it.

From here people can visit Elephanta Caves by ferry boats. There are luxury boats which take visitors around the harbour for a couple of hours. Opposite the Gateway stands the Royal Taj Mahal Hotel and Taj Towers. In front of the Gateway, there is a statue ofChatrapati Shivaji.

Also the Grand Taj Mahal hotel could be seen from there.

The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower is a five-star hotel located in the Colaba region of Mumbai,Maharashtra, India, next to the Gateway of India. Part of the Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces, this building is considered the flagship property of the group^{[citation needed]} and contains 565 rooms. From a historical and architectural point of view, The Taj Mahal Palace and the Tower are two distinct buildings, built at different times and in different architectural designs.

The hotel has hosted notable guests including The Beatles, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Bill Clinton, Jacques Chirac, The King & Queen of Norway, The Duke & Duchess of Kent, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, Roger Moore, Joan Collins, Mick Jagger, Deep Purple,Michael Palin, Hillary Clinton, Michelle & Barack Obama as well as professional cricket teams on tour. According to the BBC, after the Mumbai attacks of November 2008 by terrorists, the hotel serves as a symbol of Mumbai's resilience

Taj Mahal Hotel

Taj Mahal Tower

After a brief photo session at the place, we left for Elephanta caves. This was a 2 hour boat ride(one way).

After a long 2 hours, we finally arrived at the entrance of the caves.

the boats that take passengers to the caves

On the way , we could see many Gulls, Naval Dockyards, many army ships etc.,

Elephanta caves :

Shimsha and Namitha

The Elephanta Caves (Marathi: घारापुरीची लेणी, Gharapurichya Lenee) are a network of sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri (literally "the city of caves") in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the east of the city of Mumbai in the Indian stateof Maharashtra. The island, located on an arm of the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves—the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, the second, a smaller group of twoBuddhist caves. The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, representing the ShaivaHindu sect, dedicated to the god Shiva.

The rock cut architecture of the caves has been dated to between the 5th and 8th centuries, although the identity of the original builders is still a subject of debate. The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. All the caves were also originally painted in the past, but now only traces remain.The island was called Gharapuri and was a Hindu place of worship until Portuguese rule began in 1534. The Portuguese called the island Elephanta on seeing its huge gigantic statue of an Elephant at the entrance. The Statue is now placed in the garden outside the Bhau Daji Lad (erstwhile Victoria & Albert) Museum at the Jijamata Udyan (erstwhile Victoria Gardens) at Byculla in Mumbai. This cave was renovated in the 1970s after years of neglect, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 to preserve the artwork. It is currently maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India

Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri, is about 7 miles (11 km) east of the Apollo Bunder (Bunder in Marathi means a "pier for embarkation and disembarkation of passengers and goods") on the Mumbai Harbor and 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Pir Pal in Trombay. The island covers about 4 square miles (10 km²) at high tide and about 6 square miles (16 km²) at low tide. Gharapuri is small village on the south side of the island.^[3] The Elephanta Caves can be reached by a ferry from the Gateway of India, Mumbai, which has the nearest airport and train station.^[4] The cave is closed on Monday.

The island is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length with two hills that rise to a height of about 500 feet (150 m). A deep ravine cuts through the heart of the island from north to south. On the west, the hill rises gently from the sea and stretches east across the ravine and rises gradually to the extreme east to a height of 568 feet (173 m). This hill is known as the Stupa hill. Forest growth with clusters of mango, tamarind, and karanj trees cover the hills with scattered palm trees. Rice fields are seen in the valley. The fore shore is made up of sand and mud with mangrove bushes on the fringe. Landing quays sit near three small hamlets known as Set Bunder in the north-west, Mora Bunder in the northeast, and Gharapuri or Raj Bunder in the south.

The two hills of the island, the western and the eastern, have five rock-cut caves in the western part and a brick stupa on the eastern hill on its top composed of two caves with few rock-cut cisterns. One of the caves on the eastern hill is unfinished. It is a protected island with a buffer zone according to a Notification issued in 1985, which also includes “a prohibited area” that stretches 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from the shoreline

After having a nice time at the Elephanta caves, we came back to Mumbai and moved towards Chowpatty beach. As we entered the gateway, i could photograph the Taj hotel at Silhouette.

Girgaum Chaupati (Marathi:गिरगाव चौपाटी), commonly known as just Chaupati (pronounced as chow-patty), is one of the most famous publicbeaches adjoining Marine Drive in the Girgaum area of Mumbai, India. The beach is famous for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations when hundreds of people from all over Mumbai come to immerse the idols of Lord Ganapati in the Arabian Sea.

One can find several bhelpuri, panipuri, ragda patties and pav bhaji vendors on the beach.

Marine Drive (Marathi: मरीन ड्राईव) is a 3-kilometre-long boulevard in South Mumbai in the city of Mumbai. It is a 'C'-shaped six-lane concrete road along the coast, which is a natural bay. The road links Nariman Point to Babulnath and Malabar Hill. Marine Drive is situated over reclaimed land facing west-south-west. The bay is part of the Arabian Sea.

After a beautiful and a tiring day, we went to the guesthouse at night. Next day(27th) , the training went on as usual. on 28th, we had a holiday for Bhai Dhuj festival. On that day, others wanted to go to Bandra for shopping. I refrained from shopping, because I wanted to see the place properly. So Rohan and I decided to go to Borivali where Sanjay Gandhi National park is located. This park also contains Kanheri caves.

On the way to the caves

Trekking route
Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), previously Borivali National Park, is a large protected area in the northern part of suburban Mumbaicity in Maharashtra State in India. It encompasses an area of 104 km²(40 sq mi) and is surrounded on three sides by India's most populous city. It is notable as one of the majornational parks existing within ametropolis limit in Asia and is one of the most visited parks in the world

The rich flora and fauna of Sanjay Gandhi National Park attracts more than 2 million visitors every year. Tourists also enjoy visiting the 2400 years oldKanheri caves sculpted out of the rocky cliffs which lie within the park.

The undulating green lands of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park have a natural environment which tourists love to retreat to for moments of quiet introspection or meditation. The great views of forests, hills, valleys, lakes and open expanses have a therapeutic effect on mind, body and soul.

The Sanjay Gandhi National Park area has a long written history dating back to the 4th century BC. In ancient India, Sopara and Kalyan were two ports in the vicinity that traded with ancient civilizations such as Greece and Mesopotamia. The 45 km (28 mi) land route between these two ports was partially through this forest.

The Kanheri Caves in the centre of the park were an important Buddhist learning centre and pilgrimage site sculpted by Buddhist monks between the 9th and the 1st centuries BCE.^[7]They were chiseled out of a massive basaltic rock outcropping.

The park was named 'Krishnagiri National Park' in the pre-independence era. At that time the area of the park was only 20.26 km² (7.82 sq mi). In 1969, the park was expanded to its present size by acquiring various reserve forest properties adjoining the park. After this, an independent unit of the Forest Department called 'Borivali National Park Sub-division' administered the area. Krishnagiri National Park was created in 1974 and later renamed as 'Borivali National Park'. In 1981, it was re-dedicated as 'Sanjay Gandhi National Park' in memory of Sanjay Gandhi, the son of ex Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi, who was killed in an air crash.

Kanheri caves is located deep inside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park which is in Borivali East. Once you get there, you need to pay a certain entry fee at the gate (Once at entry of sanjay gandhi national park and another at the entrance of kanheri caves). The caves are quite a distance away from the entrance, about 5 kilometres (3 mi). Transport by bus to the caves is available every hour.

Kanheri caves offer picnickers a good getaway, especially during the rainy season. The hilly terrain of the caves creates several large and small waterfalls. The road from the entry point of Sanjay Gandhi National Park to Kanheri caves is intercepted at several locations by small rivulets where families can enjoy a lazy weekend get-together.

Cave number 34 has unfinished paintings of Buddha on the ceiling of the cave.

Fauna: The forest cover in the park helps provide the ideal habitat for many wild animals. Chital (or spotted deer), Rhesus Macaque and Bonnet Macaque are some of the wild mammals that can easily be spotted roaming inside the park. Other large mammals found in the park are: Black Naped or Indian Hare, Muntjac (Barking Deer), Porcupine, Asian Palm Civet, Chevrotain (Mouse Deer), Hanuman or Gray Langur, Indian Flying-fox, Sambar Deer and Leopard. One can also spothyena or four-horned antelope.

Reptiles living here include:crocodiles in the Tulsi Lake, pythons, cobras, monitor lizards,Russell's Vipers, Bamboo Pit Viper and Ceylonese Cat Snakes.

Butterflies which may be seen here include the spectacular Blue Mormon, the phenomenal artist of camouflage the Blue Oak leaf, the bright jezebels and Large Yellow and White Orange tips,Monarchs, Egg flies and Sailers.

Avian-Fauna: Some of the birds one may see in the park are: Jungle Owlets, golden orioles,racket-tailed drongos, minivets, magpies, robins, hornbills, bulbuls, sunbirds, peacock, andwoodpeckers. Migratory and local birds such as paradise flycatcher and various species ofkingfishers, mynas, drongos, swifts, gulls, egrets, and herons have also been spotted.

Nearly 51 legible inscriptions and 26 epigraphs are found at Kanheri, which include the inscriptions in Brahmi, Devanagari and 3 Pahlavi epigraphs found in Cave 90.One of the significant inscriptions mentions about the marriage of Satavahana ruler Vashishtiputra Satakarni with the daughter of Rudradaman

Buddhism (Pali/Sanskrit: बौद्ध धर्म Bauddha Dharma) is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha (Pāli/Sanskrit "the awakened one"). The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE

After a beautiful trekking session, we came back to Borivali and I came back to SEEPZ. Later during the weekend on Saturday(29th Oct) , I went to my Aunt's house at Pune. It was a total refreshing trip for me. Also I had been to their house 7 years back. At Last after 1 week of Hotel food, i could taste homemade food :)

The whole set of next week was spent on training, as we did not get any holidays in between.

I had been to BNHS and Photographic society of India on 4th Nov , Friday to meet my hobby demands.

The Bombay Natural History Society, founded on 15 September 1883, is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in India engaged in conservation and biodiversity research. It supports many research efforts through grants, and publishes the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. Many prominent naturalists, including the ornithologists Sálim Ali and S. Dillon Ripley have been associated with it. The society is commonly known by its initials, BNHS.

My uncles' set of pictures had been published in a calender, and one of my picture had been published in a greeting card. I had gone to recieve that actually. Also It was a first time for me. So I searched BNHS for a long time. My picture can be seen at BNHS website.

Also I had been to Photographic Society of India , which is very near to CST.

The next sunday(6th nov), we had been to Siddhi Vinayak temple, Mahalakshmi temple , Haji Ali dargah and Fashion street.

The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir (Marathi:श्री सिद्धिविनायक गणपती मंदिर) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Ganesh. It is located in Prabhadevi,Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was originally built by Mr. Laxman Vithu and Mrs. Deubai Patil on November 19, 1801.Though it is one of the richest temple in Mumbai, the current generation of Patil is staying in state of despair near the temple.^[

The temple has a small mandap (hall) with the shrine for Siddhi Vinayak ("Ganesh that grants your wish"). The wooden doors to the sanctum are carved with images of the Ashtavinayak (the eight manifestations of Ganesh in Maharashtra). The inner roof of the sanctum is plated with gold, and the central statue is of Ganesh. In the periphery of the temple, there is a Hanuman temple as well.

Mahalaxmi Temple (Marathi: महालक्ष्मी मंदिर) is one of the most famous temples of Mumbai situated on Bhulabhai Desai Road. It is dedicated to Mahalakshmi the central deity of Devi Mahatmyam. There are three idols of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswthi. The temple was built in 1831 by Dhakji Dadaji (1760–1846), a Hindu merchant.

Built around 1785, the history of this temple is supposedly connected with the building of the Hornby Vellard. Apparently after portions of the sea wall of the Vellard collapsed twice, the chief engineer, a Pathare prabhu, dreamt of a Devi statue in the sea near Worli. A search recovered it, and he built a temple for it. After this, the work on the vellard could be completed without a hitch.

The Haji Ali Dargah is a mosque and dargah (tomb) located on an islet off the coast of Worli in the Southern part of Mumbai. Near the heart of the city proper, the dargah is one of the most recognisable landmarks of Mumbai.

An exquisite example of Indian Islamic architecture, associated with legends about doomed lovers, the dargah contains the tomb of Sayed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari.

After darshan of Lord Ganesh and Maa Mahalaskhmi, we went to Churchgate and walked towards Fashio Street.

Fashion Street refers to a cluster of about 130 to 140 clothing shops on MG Road in South Mumbai, India. Besides clothing, there are also several shoe and jewellery shops.

We moved towards, Chatrapati Shivaji terminus and thought of going to Princess street. But it was closed on that day. Therefore , went to Mc D which was near CST, and came back home.

CST

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Marathi: छत्रपती शिवाजी टर्मिनस), (formerly Victoria Terminus) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic railway station in Mumbai which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. Situated in the Bori Bunder area of Mumbai, it was built as a new railway station on the location of the Bori Bunder Station in 1887 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. In 1996 its name was changed to the present name in honour of the Maratha warrior Shivaji. Its abbreviations CST or VT are popularly used by locals to refer to the station and it is also known by its abbreviation CSTM or Bombay VT. It is the busiest railway station in India, and serves both as a terminal for long distance trains terminating in Mumbai as well as the Mumbai Suburban Railway.

The next whole week(till friday) was spent in training. But the Girls wanted to shop some more, so we had been to Lokhandwala but in vain. But the place is very nice to hangout. We had also been to Ville Parle somewhere in the middle. I dont remember the date.

We were about to leave back to Bengaluru. The packing was in full progress on Friday , as our flight was on Saturday(12th Nov). The girls had purchased a lot of items(as usual), and were very confused about the packing stuff.

The last day of our training was awesome. We all had a photo session, Sir explained about the project that we had to do. Also he gave us very good advice for our future.

Prashanth, Milind, Sagar, Mahesh Sir, Chiru , Arjun, Savi , Vinayak , Aniketh

Maanasa,Shimsha,Rashmi,Nilam,Namitha

our classroom

Finally after all the training sessions. We returned to Bangalore.

While coming back, we came in Jet Airways. It was amazing.

Jet Airways is a major Indian airline based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is India's largest airline and the market leader in the domestic sector. It operates over 400 flights daily to 76 destinations worldwide. Its main hub is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, with secondary hubs at Delhi,Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata. It has an international hub at Brussels Airport, Belgium. Jet Airways is owned by Naresh Goyal.

I would like to thank all of you for supporting me in writing this blog. Also I would like to thank Chiru and Namitha for giving me the camera to take pictures. Some images are photographed by Chiru,Namitha,and Shimsha.

I also thank Rohan Sirsi for all the support he gave us in Mumbai, and accompanying us to various places of the city.

Also I would like to thank Mahesh Kulkarni Sir , for providing us amazing training and giving us valuable advice. We are very thankful to you Sir !!

Last but not the least, I thank Milind, Rashmi, Savi , Aniketh , Nilam, Prashant , Sagar and Vinayak for the awesome company you gave us. You all are amazing people !!

THANK YOU

At Nature's Lap - Ooty

2011-10-09T21:54:00.003+05:30

To feel the touch of nature, Ooty is a right spot for the lover of nature. It is located at a distance of 300 km from Bangalore. It sparkles with fresh vegetation and sceneries. It is “queen of all hill station”. The height of the hills in the Nilgiri range varies between 2280 and 2290 meters. It attracts the tourist by its charming flowers. Lofty mountains, dense forest, acres and acres of tea estates are green feast for the eyes of the tourist.

The fast food world man runs his life in this world of tension; and living in the sweltering heat; to while away his short leisure hour he can spend that with nature (ooty).The weather of valley is salubrious. Ooty is a best place to know the culture and tradition of India and tribal people.

Botanical gardens, lamb’s rock and Dobabetta peak, kalhatty fallskandal, cross shrine, mini garden and rose garden; Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park are till more amusing places in Ooty and its surroundings. Ooty lake boating is a remarkable spot which highly entertains the tourist. Udagamandalam otherwise called as Ooty. Its mountain train journey on a ratchet and restrain track which commences from kallar will give a new adventures effect. Finally Nature never betrays the tourist.

On August 5th , 2011 we left Bangalore and headed towards Ooty. It was a very memorable one. The time was 2AM,and the driver came to my house. We were ready with the luggage. On the way near Mandya, we sipped some hot tea at a stall on the highway. We had planned to reach Bandipur by 6AM, as the gate opens at 6, following the night ban. All went on perfectly.

The Team included : Sujay , Sushmitha , Arjun , Ambika and Suresh uncle

Jumbo charge : image by Sujay

Jumbos at Bandipur

Though we did not stop at Bandipur for a safari, these gentle giants were found at a far distance.To know more about my Bandipur trip , see this link : http://arjunhaarith.blogspot.com/2011/09/ranganathittu-bandipur-mudumalai.html

After we cross the border, we enter the Mudumalai Sanctuary.The Mudumalai sanctuary lies on the northern and north-western side of the Nilgiri (Blue Mountains), about 80 km north-west of Coimbatore in the extreme north-western corner of Tamil Nadu, on the interstate boundaries with Karnataka and Kerala states in southern India.

This 321-sq-kms wide sanctuary includes a National Park measuring an area of 103-sq-kms. The sanctuary has various mixtures of flat land, open grassland, swamp and valleys. Apart from the wide range of animal and bird life, the rich fauna of this sanctuary has made Mudumalai very popular with wildlife enthusiast.

There are tigers at Mudumalai, though it takes a lot of luck and determination to spot one of these big cats that are such masters of secrecy. But there are several other creatures of the jungle that can be sighted more easily.

Nilgiri gardens on the way to Ooty.

The Nilgiri , often referred to as the Nilgiri Hills, are a range of mountains with at least 24 peaks above 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), in the westernmost part of Tamil Nadu state at the junction of Karnataka and Kerala states in Southern India. They are part of the larger Western Ghats mountain chain making up the southwestern edge of the Deccan Plateau.

Things to see around Ooty :
Ooty Botanical Gardens

If you are on a sightseeing tour to Ooty, you might want to visit the Government Botanical gardens, which were laid out in 1847.The picturesque gardens that are maintained by the Horticulture department of the state, cover an area of about 22 hectares. The Gardens have well over 650 species of plants and trees, including a fossil of a tree, which is believed to be more than 20 million years old. The garden is very popular with nature lovers and those who long to walk among greenery and see rare ferns and shrubs up close. If you are in Ooty in the month of May, then you can also be a part of the summer festival, which is held here annually. The festival holds flower shows and various cultural programs showcasing the talent of the locals and the renowned artists.

Doddabetta peak

The Dodabetta Peak stands at an altitude of 2,623 meters. It is the highest point in the district, making it possibly the best vantage point around Ooty. It is merely 10km from Ooty so you can simply grab your camera and head straight to the peak, and click amazing pictures of he valley below. Many say that on a clear day, which is honestly not that often, one can see far off areas, even the plains of Coimbatore and the flat highlands of Mysore.

Annamalai Temple

Annamalai Temple is a situated about 20 km distance from Ooty. This place has grown as a famous temple of Lord Muruga, known as 7th Hill house of the lord. The view from the Temple is really awesome. There is an observatory at the top of hill for the public to enjoy the magnificent panoramic view.

Ooty Rose gardens

its an amazing and very large area garden. You can enjoy varieties of roses there. The roses bloom only for 2-3 months a year (not sure when), so going there off-season is not very interesting. If interested can buy the seeds and plants also.

Wax World - (Wax Museum)

Its a private investment not supported by Govt. Don't expect much like other foreign wax museum which are helped by tourism authorities for advertisements and promotions. But for sight seeing its good. more attraction is the very old house, where the museum is set up. Candles are available. But it is suffering from funds for expansion so they request tourists to visit so that they can get help from them, which is the only form of support.

Sims Park (Coonoor)

similar to ooty botanical garden. Very rare plants and trees are there.

The Tea Factory

several tree gardens and factories are there. On the way you will get lots of them. They will approach you with free tea taste and offer some tea packets to buy. But be cautious if you don't have much knowledge about tea, better not to buy from them as the packet tea has not the same taste as they gave you to taste.The spices quality is not so good.

Boating at Pykara

it's an awesome experience. Though the rate of boating is little bit high but still it is worthy. Fresh air, good feeling and good view

Falls at Pykara

Historical Dam with Power station at Pykara

Hidden Valley

Echo Rock

some called it as 'Lambs rock" naturally took the shape of a lamb. Go through a very small forest and then you can see the rock.

shooting point

one very nice place is that. Don't miss it. The view is very pleasant.

Pine forest

Its a natural beauty. After the end of the forest a lake is there. Be careful while walking as the path has slope.

Dolphin's Nose

Then we moved towards shooting point :

Shooting point is an elevated expanse of land with a steep climb. As you climb to the top the view of the valley below is just astounding.

After enjoying our time at the Shooting point, we later remembered the song Chayya Chayya from the film Dil-Se, where Shah Rukh Khan dances on the top of the train in the Nilgiris. So, we also planned to enjoy the same feeling. As a result, we went to the Ooty Railway station to go till Coonoor by train and then return.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway was built by the British in 1908, and was initially operated by the Madras Railway Company. The railway still relies on its fleet of steam locomotives. NMR comes under the jurisdiction of the newly formed Salem Division. In July 2005, UNESCOadded the Nilgiri Mountain Railway as an extension to the World Heritage Site of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the site then became known as "Mountain Railways of India." after it satisfied the necessary criteria, thus forcing abandonment of the modernisation plans. For the past several years diesel locomotives have taken over from steam on the section between Mettupalyam, Coonoor and Udhagamandalam. Local people and tourists have led a demand for steam locos to once again haul this section

After returning , we had some delicious lunch and moved to Dodda Betta peak. At the entrance of the peak, there were many endemic birds such as Great Tit, Nilgiri Laughing thrush , Black bird etc.,

Doddabetta is the highest mountain in the Nilgiri Hills, at 2637 metre (8650 feet). There is a reserved forest area around the peak. It is 9 km from Ooty,on Ooty-Kotagiri Road in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu, South India. It is a popular tourist attraction with road access to the summit. The Chamundi Hills can be viewed from the peak.The name "Doddabetta" traces its roots from the Badaga/Kannadalanguage translating into 'Big Mountain'. Hecuba (2375 m), Kattadadu (2418 m) and Kulkudi (2439 m) are the three closely linked heights in the west of the Doddabetta range and nearby Udagamandalam. In the Nilgiris plateau Doddabetta is highest peak of the Nilgiris districtsss remarkable for the flattened curve of its summit. Sholas cover the hollows of its slopes. Slightly stunted, rhododendron trees, in the midst of thick coarse grass, flowering sub-elphine shrubs and herbs are common, even very near the peak.There is an observatory at the top of Doddabetta with two telescopes available for the public to enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of the whole district. It opened on June 18, 1983 and is run by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC).

Great tit

From the top of the Dodda Betta peak, Coonoor can be seen. The houses in the picture belong to Coonoor town

Then, we went to the Tea factory and museum. The detailed report is given in this link.

http://arjunhaarith.blogspot.com/2011/09/process-of-manufacturing-of-tea-powder.html

After coming out of the museum, we bought some delicious chocolates and moved to the Botanical Garden . It was very late in the evening, we just made a quick visit to the park.

The 22-acre (89,000 m²) Ooty Botanical Gardens was laid out in 1847 and is maintained by theGovernment of Tamil Nadu. The Botanical Garden is lush, green, and well-maintained. A flower show along with an exhibition of rare plant species is held every May. The Gardens have around a thousand species, both exotic and indigenous, of plants, shrubs, ferns, trees, herbal and bonsaiplants. The garden has a 20-million-year-old fossilized tree.

Image by Sujay

THANK YOU

Process of Manufacturing of Tea Powder

2011-09-01T13:36:00.001+05:30

We all drink and relish the beautiful taste of Tea. There are many brands of tea in India, and each one of them have created its own trademark in the industry.

Tea is the agricultural product of the leaves, leaf buds, and internodes of various cultivars and sub-varieties of the Camellia sinensis plant, processed and cured using various methods. "Tea" also refers to the aromatic beverage prepared from the cured leaves by combination with hot or boiling water, and is the common name for the Camellia sinensis plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world.It has a cooling, slightly bitter, astringent flavour which many enjoy.

The term herbal tea usually refers to infusions of fruit or herbs containing no actual tea, such as rosehip tea or chamomile tea. Alternative terms for this are tisane or herbal infusion, both bearing an implied contrast with tea. This article is concerned exclusively with preparations and uses of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis, the Minnan word for which is the etymological origin of the English word tea.

Tea Estates near Ooty

We had been to Ooty and had been to the tea Museum. There we could witness , how tea powder was prepared.

Tea Museum

Process of tea manufacturing

Tea leaves are passed on to the Withering trough, Where it gets crushed and goes to the Rotor Vane

Incomplete crushing of tea leaves

This is the Last stage of the CTC machine. From here, it goes to the Drum

Drum

The tea powder goes into a machine called Fibromat. As the name says, it separates fibre from tea powder by a mesh.

Fibromat

The Dhool is now fed into the Fluid bed driver. It passes over a perforated, stainless steel sheet of dimensions 2025ft x 16ft. Hot air is passed through the heater. Drying process takes 16 minutes

Fluid bed drier

Tea powder goes for packing

Final product

Ranganathittu - Bandipur - Mudumalai

2011-09-01T12:47:00.002+05:30

I had been to Ranganthittu, Bandipur and Mudumalai along with my cousins. While returning, we had been to KRS to witness the Magic of the musical fountains. As such, we left Bangalore on 30th July,2011 and came back on 2nd morning (mid night). There are brief descriptions of the parks, along with the trip experience.

1. "Ranganathittu" means Rangan's island. The word Rangan refers to Lord Vishnu of Srirangapatnam.. The islets are filled with trees and the water with enough fish providing ideal ground for the birds to nest and bring up their children.
The islets came into being when a dam across the Kaveri river was built in the 1700s. The ornithologist Dr.Salim Ali observed that the isles formed an important nesting ground for birds, and persuaded theWodeyar kings of Mysore to declare the area a wildlife sanctuary in 1940.

There are many other smaller and bigger Bird Sanctuaries in India. But to the best of my knowledge, Ranganathittu offers the closest access to birds and hence is a delight for photographers.
You can spend hours moving around the water in boats and there are picture opportunities around every corner. The early morning and late evening times are the best for Photographers. During this time, the sanctuary looks magical and offers excellent directional lighting and lots of shades. Unfortunately, officially the park hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. However, photographers enjoy special privileges and can enter early to catch the early morning light. However getting boats to go into the river depends on your luck.

I would like to thank Mr.Sateesh Narasimhaiah , for helping us get permission to go inside the sanctuary.

Tourists at Rangantittu

Night Heron

Marsh Crocodile

Grey Heron

I have minimized the number of pictures because, I have added most of the pictures in my previous blog of Ranganthittu.

http://arjunhaarith.blogspot.com/2010/03/ranganathittu-bird-sanctuary.html

2. Bandipur : Bandipur National Park(Kannada: ಬಂಡಿಪುರ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಉದ್ಯಾನವನ) is one of India's best known protected areas and is an important Project Tiger reserve. It is located in the Chamarajanagardistrict of southern Karnataka in South India,

The park stretches over 874 square kilometers (337 sq mi), protecting the wildlife of Karnataka. Together with the adjoining Nagarhole National Park (643 km² (248 sq mi)), Mudumalai National Park (320 km² (120 sq mi)) and Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary (344 km² (133 sq mi)), it forms the largest protected area in Southern India, totaling 2,183 km² (843 sq mi). It is notable as the home to around seventy Bengal tigers and over three thousand Indian elephants (in 1997 ) Bandipur is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Flora :

There are several species of valuable timber trees including: Teak Tectona grandis, Rosewood Dalbergia latifolia, Sandlewood (Santalum album) (V), Indian-laurel Terminalia tomentosa, Indian Kino Tree Pterocarpus marsupium, giant clumping bamboo Dendrocalamus strictus, clumping bamboo Bambusa arundinacea and Grewia tiliaefolia.

There are also several notable flowering and fruiting trees and shrubs including: Kadam tree Adina cordifolia, Indian gooseberry Emblica officinalis, Crape-myrtle Lagerstroemia lanceolata,axlewood Anogeissus latifolia, Black Myrobalan Terminalia chebula, Schleichera trijuga, Odina wodiar, Flame of the Forest Butea monosperma, Golden Shower Tree Cassia fistula, satinwoodChloroxylon swetenia, Black Cutch Acacia catechu, Shorea talura (E), indigoberry Randia uliginosa

Fauna : There is a large population of Elephants in BNP. Significant numbers of Predator species of Mammals live in BNP including: Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Chevrotain, Dhole and Hyena. Preyspecies of grazing Ungulates including Gaur, Sambar (deer), Chital, Wild boar, Barking deer and Four-horned Antelope are common in B.N.P.

Birds: Grey Junglefowl, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Honey Buzzard, Red-headed Vulture, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Brown Hawk Owl, Bay Owl, Malabar Trogon, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Malabar Pied Hornbill,Little Spiderhunter, Peacock, Plain Flowerpecker and Woolly-necked Stork can be seen at B.N.P..

Reptiles: Common Cobra, Python, Adder, Viper, Rat Snake, Water Snake, Marsh Crocodile, Lizard, Chameleon, Monitor Lizard, Frog, Tree frog, Toad and Tortoise.

Insects

Butterflies: Common Rose, Crimson Rose, Common Jay, Tailed, Lime Butterfly, Malabar Raven, Common Mormon, Red Helen, Blue Mormon, Southern Birdwing, Common Wanderer, Mottled Emigrant, Common Grass Yellow, Spotless Grass Yellow, One spot Grass Yellow, Nilgiri Clouded Yellow, Common Jezebel, Psyche, Common Gull., Caper White or Pioneer, Small Orange Tip or Lesser Orange Tip, White Orange Tip, Large Salmon Arab, Common Evening Brown, Great Evening Brown, Common Palmfly, Common Bushbrown, Glad Eye Bushbrowm, Red Disk Bushbrown, Red Eye Bushbrown, Lepcha Bushbrown, Nigger, Common Threering, Common Fourring, Common Fivering, Tawny Coster, Rustic , Common Leopard, Indian Fritillary, Common Sailer, Colour Sergeant, Chestnutstreaked Sailer, Grey Count, Red Baron or Baronet, Angled Castor, Common Castor Aridane merione, Yellow Pansy, Lemon Pansy, Peacock Pansy, Chocolate Pansy, Orange Pansy, Blue Pansy, Grey Pansy, Blue Admiral, Glassy Blue Tiger, Blue Tiger, Dark Blue Tiger, Plain Tiger, Striped Tiger/ Common Tiger, Danaid Eggfly, Great Eggfly, Common Crow, Brown King Crow, Common Pierrot, Angled Pierrot, Banded Blue Pierrot, Striped Pierrot, Dark Pierrot, Red Pierrot, Lime Blue, Zebra Blue, Gram Blue, Common Cerulean, Tiny Grass Blue, Dark Grass Blue, Indian Cupid, Large Four-Line Blue, Common Silverline, Plum Judy, Plain Scupid, Pea Blue, Metallic Cerulean, Chestnut Bob, Dark Palm Dart, Brown awl

Ants: Anenictus sp1, Anoplolepis longipes,Camponotus parius, Crematogaster biroi, Crematogaster sp 1*, Crematogaster sp 2*, Diacamma rugosum, Lepisiota capensis,Leptogenys chinesis, Leptogenys coonorensis, Leptogenys diminuta, Lophomyrmex quadripinosus, Meranoplus bicolor, Monomorium indicum, Myrmicaria striata, Myrmicaria brunnea, Oligomyrmex wroughtonii, Pachycondyla sp1*, Paratrechina sp1*, Pheidole sharpi, Pheidole sp1*, Pheidole sp2*, Pheidologeton diverus, Polyrhachis exercita, Solenopsis geminate, Tetraponera rufonigra, Tetraponera sp1* (* New species yet to be identified.)

Dung Beetles: Catharsius granulatus *, Copris indicus *, Oniticellus cinctus*, Onitis singhalensis *, Onthophagus beesoni*, Onthophagus ensifer *, Onthophagus rana *, Onthophagus sp.107* #, Onthophagus tarandus*, Picnopanaleus rotundus, Caccobius diminutives, Caccobius ultor, Copris furciceps, Copris sp.1#, Heliocopris dominus, Pseudonthophagus sp.2#, Sisyphus neglectus, Caccobius inermis, Caccobius meridionalis., Caccobius torticornis, Caccobius sp.1#, Copris sodalist, Onthophagus socialis, Onthophagus sp.301#, Onitis phelemon, Onthophagus furcillifer, Caccobius gallinus, Onthophagus rufulgens, Onthophagus sp.302#, Copris repertus, Pseudonthophagus sp.1#, Copris davisoni, Onitis falcatus, Onthophagus turbatus, Copris imitans, Onthophagus quadridentatus, Caccobius vulcanus, Liatongus affinis, Oniticellus spinipes, Sisyphus longipus, Onthophagus dama (* Eextremely rare (Represented by a by a single specimen in the collection), # New species yet to be identified

Reference : Wikipedia

Image : Sujay Kashyap

Wild Boar

Wild boar, also wild pig, (Sus scrofa) is a species of the pig genus Sus, part of the biological family Suidae. The species includes many subspecies. It is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig, an animal with which it freely hybridises. Wild boar are native across much of Northern and Central Europe, the Mediterranean Region (including North Africa's Atlas Mountains) and much ofAsia as far south as Indonesia. Populations have also been artificially introduced in some parts of the world, most notably the Americas and Australasia, principally for hunting. Elsewhere, populations have also become established after escapes of wild boar from captivity.

Hanuman Langur

Grey langurs or Hanuman langurs, the most widespread langurs of South Asia, are a group of Old World monkeys constituting the entirety of the genus Semnopithecus. All taxa have traditionally been placed in the single species Semnopithecus entellus. In 2001, it was recommended that several distinctive former subspecies should be given full species status, so that seven species are recognized.A taxonomic classification with fewer species has also been proposed. Genetic evidence suggests that the Nilgiri langur and purple-faced langur, which usually are placed in the genus Trachypithecus, actually belong in Semnopithecus.

Gray langurs are large and fairly terrestrial, inhabiting forest, open lightly wooded habitats, and urban areas on the Indian subcontinent. Most species are found at low to moderate altitudes, but theNepal gray langur and Kashmir gray langur occur up to 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) in the Himalayas.

"Hanuman" refers to the Hindu deity Hanuman.

It had rained heavily from past few days at Bandipur. So when we went there, we are shocked to know that the Safari had been cancelled for the day, so many memebers in our group were disappointed. So we decided to take the gypsy . This was a brand new Gypsy. And we had nice time in the jungle. The above path is just a glimpse of Bandipur during rainy season. But as there were 8 members in our group, but only 6 were allowed in the Gypsy. As such, the remaining members could not go .
The animals sighted were :
1. Elephant
2.Common Hawk Cuckoo
3.Crested Serpant eagle
4. Indian Gaur
5.Shaheen Falcon
6. Peafowl
7. Langur
8. Chital
9. Wild Boar
10. Golden Backed woodpecker
11. Spotted Dove

Image courtesy : Sujay Kashyap

Elephant

The Asian elephant, Elephas maximus, is smaller than the African. It has smaller ears, and typically, only the males have large external tusks.

The world population of Asian elephants—also called Indian elephants—is estimated to be around 60,000, about a tenth of the number of African elephants. More precisely, it is estimated that there are between 38,000 and 53,000 wild elephants and between 14,500 and 15,300 domesticated elephants in Asia, with perhaps another 1,000 scattered around zoos in the rest of the world. The Asian elephants' decline has possibly been more gradual than the African and caused primarily by poaching and habitat destruction by human encroachment.

Shaheen Falcon

Indian Peafowl

Vanashree cottage

The Shaheen Falcon (Falco peregrinus peregrinator), also known as the Indian Peregrine Falcon, Black Shaheen, Indian Shaheen, or simply the Shaheen, is a non-migratorysubspecies of the Peregrine Falcon found mainly on the Indian subcontinent and the nearby island of Sri Lanka
Shaheens mostly hunt small birds, though medium-sized birds such as pigeons and parrots are also taken. Strong and fast, they dive from great heights to strike prey with their talons. If the impact does not kill the prey, the falcon bites the neck of its victim to ensure death.The Shaheen is a small and powerful-looking falcon with blackish upperparts, rufous underparts with fine, dark streaks, and white on the throat. The complete black face mask is sharply demarcated from the white throat. It has distinctive rufous underwing-coverts. It differs in all these features from the paler F. p. calidus, which is a scarce winter migrant to Sri Lanka.Males and females have similar markings and plumage; apart from size there is no sexual dimorphism. The birds range in length from 380 to 440 mm.The male is about the size of a House Crow(Corvus splendens); the female is larger

The term peafowl can refer to the two species of bird in the genus Pavo of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. The African Congo Peafowl is placed in its own genus Afropavo and is not discussed in this article. Peafowl are best known for the male's extravagant tail, which it displays as part of courtship. The male is called a peacock, and the female a peahen. The offspring are calledpeachicks. The female peafowl is brown or toned grey and brown. Peachicks can be between yellow, to a tawny colour with darker brown patches.

The species are:

Indian Peafowl, Pavo cristatus, a resident breeder in South Asia. The peacock is designated as the national bird of India and the provincial bird of the Punjab.
Green Peafowl, Pavo muticus. Breeds from Burma east to Java. The IUCN lists the Green Peafowl as vulnerable to extinction due to hunting and a reduction in extent and quality of habitat.

3. Mudumalai National Park : The Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary Tamil:முதுமலை வனவிலங்கு காப்பகம் , now also declared a Tiger Reserve, lies on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills(Blue Mountains), in Nilgiri District, about 160 km (99 mi) north-west of Coimbatore in the westernmost part of Tamil Nadu, on the interstate boundaries with Karnataka and Kerala states in South India. Mudumalai, which means 'first hills’, is one of the first wildlife sanctuaries established in India. The sanctuary is divided into 5 ranges - Masinagudi, Thepakadu, Mudumalai, Kargudi and Nellakota.

Here one can often spot herds of endangered Indian elephants, vulnerable Gaur, and Chital. The sanctuary is a haven for Bengal Tigers and Indian Leopards and other threatened species. There are at least 266 species of birds in the sanctuary, including critically endangered species like the Indian White-rumped Vulture and the long-billed vulture.^[2]

The Western Ghats, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (6,000 km² (2,300 sq mi)), including all of Mudumalai National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as aWorld Heritage Site

The Mudumalai Sanctuary is as an important wildlife habitat due to its strategic position as a Wildlife corridor between several other protected areas that are a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. To the north is the Bandipur National Park and Nagarhole National Park. To the west is the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and in the south are Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley National Park. To the east is the Segur plateau which connects to the Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuary and Reserve forests and Biligirirangan Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. These parks, sanctuaries and the adjoining Reserve forests cover over 3,300 square kilometres (1,300 sq mi) of forest supporting a population of 1800-2300 elephants.

The elevation of the sanctuary varies from a minimum of 960 meters (3,150 ft) m to a maximum of 1,266 meters (4,154 ft). The sanctuary has a tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate that corresponding to the categories Aw and As of the Köppen climate classification. Rainfall ranges from 790 mm (31 in) to 2,000 mm (79 in)

reception center

animals last sighted

landscape at Mudumalai

Indian Gaur

THANK YOU

Fountain Of Joy - KRS

2011-08-19T13:11:00.003+05:30

While coming back from Mysore, we had been to KRS dam, to witness the majestic dance of Cauvery (musical fountain).
The team included : Sujay, Sushmitha, Arjun, Ambika ,Mr.Nagendra , Mrs. Pushpa and my mom(Mrs.Gayathri)

Gardens : The Brindavan Gardens, then called the Krishnarajendra Terrace Garden, on the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam site, one of the most beautifully laid out terrace gardens in the world. It is world famous for its symmetric design. The creative beautification of the whole dam complex has been the achievement of Sir Mirza Ismail, the then Dewan of the princely State of Mysore. The garden is designed based on the ShalimarGardens of Kashmir in the Mughal style. The Department of Horticulture in 1927 started the work of laying out this garden.

The garden is enriched with fountains, terraces, parterres, running and cascadingwaterchannels, water chutes, lush green lawns, flower beds, shrubs and trees. This garden is a public park and it is one of the important tourist spots of India. The boating pond in the midst of the garden is a location where the visitors can enjoy a boat ride around the famous statue of Goddess Kaveri. It is a mesmerizing sight when the whole garden is lit up in the evenings. Today, the Brindavan Gardens is world famous for its ethereal beauty, grandeur and illumination/ musical fountain.

KRS Dam :The Krishnaraja Sagar dam is, one of the principal dams in South India. The KRS dam, built across the river Cauvery is named after Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV. The Chief Engineer, Sir M. Vishveswaraya engineered the construction of the dam during the Wadeyar kings regime in 1932. It is built close to confluence of three rivers cauvery, Hemavathi & Lakshmana Teertha. The length of the dam is 2621 meters & height 39 meters. The reservoir itself is spread over an area of 130 Sq. Kms.

Fountain :The Musical and dancing fountain, located in the North Brindavan Garden, is the main attraction of the visitors. The water, coloured lights and music are synchronized fountain to create a water ballet controlled by an aquatic organ operated through a controller. A laser show has also been developed for visitors’ attraction The illumination timing is the same as that for the garden. Crowds gather in large numbers at the gallery provided for the viewers.

Information to visitors
The garden is maintained by the Senior Assistant Director of Horticulture, K.R.S.
Garden Timings: 6.30 A.M. to 9.00 P.M.

Facilities :Hotels and Inspection Bungalow provide with boarding and lodging facilities.
Transport :Many Government and private buses ply often from Mysore City to K.RS. K.S.R.T.C. buses also ply from Bangalore to K.R.S. and Mysore.
Illumination Timings :
JAN - SEPT :-Mon- Fri 7.00 to 7.55 p.m. 6.30 to 7.30 p.m.
OCT TO DEC :-Sat to Sun 7.00 to 8.55 p.m. 6.30 to 8.30 p.m.