Temples of Aralaguppe

On a visit to Tiptur about 200 kms from Bangalore, I did the usual search and lo! I could get a list of many ancient structures in and around. Managed to visit Aralaguppe -a small village 20kms away from Tiptur; which boast two wonderful temples- The Kalleswara and Chennakeshava.

Chennakeshava temple

 The Chennakeshava temple is amazing in this little village almost a oasis in the desert. Dated to have been built in the 13th century by the Hoysalas, this structure has all the attributes of the Hoysalan architecture of Belur and Halebid. The walls are sculpted with images of Vishnu in various avatars and the creativity of the creator is absolutely marvellous.
Front View of the temple

Rear View-The star shaped platform and the elephants placed at regular interval

Intricately carved wall

The Kalleshwara temple

Purported to be a Pre-Hoysalan structure, built by the Nolambas,The Kalleshwara temple has a two attractions which are worth many a visit -The extraordinary ceiling intricately carved and the sculpture of Uma and Shiva. The pillars of the temple are of granite, but the walls are of brick-may be a later day addition. The temple of this importance could be better maintained

The main attraction of this temple the ceiling which is something to be seen to be believed. Its amazing but proved difficult to capture of the nine panels on the ceiling I could get the these two

The Nataraj                                                                                    Pashupathi

 

A view inside-Lathe turned pillars, the ceiling and the the Shiva Linga

The Bull - Nandi                                                    Uma- Maheshwar- a unique sculpture

 

Bagamandal and Tala Kaveri

At the foothill of Talakaveri is Bagamandala. A confluence of three rivers, river kaveri joined by two tributaries.
After a customary dip at the confluence, devotees visit the Bhagandeshwara temple before proceeding to Tala Kaveri-the birth place of the river Kaveri on the Bramagiri hill. This a wonderful place to visit and spend a day in the pristine environment.

Confluence of the river  kaveri- people taking a dip

 Another view of the river and beyond

This is Talacauvery-the place the might  river kaveri is born, Beautiful and majestic. The sight of people wading through the length of the tank to the exact spot where the river raises in a small spring is humbling. People crowding the around the small spring

A view down from Bramagiri

Coorg_The Scotland Of India

It been a long time,with little time, bogged down with various things, time now to complete the Coorg saga. Coorg or Kodagu, often called the Scotland of India so unique, The people have their own distinct culture, food, the women drape the Saree in their own unique way. Lucky for us to have a cousin hailing from this area. He made sure we could savor all the flavors coorg has to offer.

Spending a night in a home stay, enjoying the dinner the coorgi way is most enchanting. To being with lots of fruit wine (Pineapple, Pomegranate), whisky, Pork, chicken,  Wow! it was wonderful.

Getting up early and taking a walk in the meadows-

 Crossing cool crystal clear streams - most refreshing

Sugar cane from the nearby fields for breakfast

Some flowers along the way

This is something amateur irrespective of the results try

Golden Temple, Bylakuppe

A long pending dream to visit Coorg (Kodagu) came true thanks to the initiative taken by my Cousins, A bunch of vibrant people, lots if fun spread over two days began with a visit to the Tibetan settlement at Bylakuppe on the door way to Kodagu district. Enter this settlement and you are in a different world altogether, A home away from home for Tibetan.

The main entrance to the monastery

Rear View

Monks in prayers

And the Buddha........

Ameins

Here we were in this Picardie region visiting some sites related to clean energy and efficiency. The first point being the station of Douai, where we arrived at, by TGV from Paris, just a couple of hours. 

We drive through some picturesque landscapes and visiting  some Municipal waste based power generating sites and Landfill gas based power generation site and
   

  We arrive at Amiens. A beautiful city again with a rich heritage, a famous cathedral and wonderful cuisine. The Amiens Macaroon are a delicious speciality of the Picardie area  I was told and they tasted delicious and almost melted in the mouth. Another of the local delicacy is Foie gras -prepared out of the liver of a duck specially fattened. Did I enjoy this? I dont't know, I will have to try it again.
 Well this our dinner table

And now the cathedral of our lady of lady of Amiens,

said  to be tallest in France and built in the 11 century has some marvellous facade.

The are some exquisite hotels and restaurants around the bylanes of the Cathedral and its lovely to spend a evening.

Unfortunately for us this monument was closed due to major repairs being undertaken.

The entrance to the cathedral                                       Apostles and Saint on the facade

Getting around this wonderful city was such a experience, with canals and quaint little building lining it, Alas, the camera was at the hotel, but could manage these shots from the city centre.

Nantes-France

And here we are at Nantes railway station

On a visit to L'ecole de Mines, we got to spend a couple of days in this lovely city of Nantes. Located in the western part of France, about 500 kms form Paris. I learn later of the rich history of this region starting with the Gauls, the Roman and the English

Two days was hardly sufficient to do justice to this historic city in the erstwhile province of Brittany. Wish I could visit the coast and the many beautiful  cathedrals, but not to be.

Some shots from the city centre

Stade de la Beaujoire -the home stadium of the Food ball club de Nantes

The tram-very effective means of transportation

Buddha Vihara- Gulbarga

Gulbarga has many historical buildings particularly of the Deccan sultans. A visit to the the Shrine of the Sufi saint Hazrat Kwaja Bande Nawas and the Sharana Baseweshwara temple is a must, which I couldn't in this visit, But the latest addition to monuments is the Buddha Vihara which was thrown open to public last year. A imposing white structure built over 75 acres of land is worth a visit, if one is in Gulbarga. Photography is prohibited in the precincts and I have no complaints, the ambience is silent and peaceful

The gateway to the vihara


The main Stupa resplendent in twilight

Gulbarga Fort

History always surprises me. Its one thing reading history in text books and another when you visit the monuments. I have read a lot about the Deccan sultanates. Always thought that Bijapur was the one which was all powerful with impressive list of monuments. But then Gulbarga fort is a massive and beautiful. Roaming around in the fort one is taken back to the grand old days when the Bahamani sultans ruled from here for more than two centuries, until they decided to change their capital to Bidar

Surrounded by a moat, which is overgrow by weed. There are two entrances to this fort, entry of which is through the bridges across the moat. Both these entrances are flanked by strong bastions.

One of the entrance, What is he waiting for?               Settlements inside the fort - time stands still 

Among the many Canons in this fort this is the one biggest one, Majestic in length all 29 feet and facing the entrance   on the other side ready to boom in case of a breach

This is a jewel in the fort-the Jumma Masjid, a huge structure extremely simple and beautiful, The ASI board say this was designed by Rafi -an architect from Iran. Designed to accommodate 5000 people.

This Mosques is said to resemble the a famous mosque in Cardova city of Spain

A view from the rear side, This mosques is also opined to follow the plain Turkish design contemporary to Byzantine, I wonder if the raised design in the middle wall does resemble some Churches particularly the St. Francis Church in Goa

The interiors of the mosques supported by 140 pillars and 250 arches 

 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

It has five large domes. The central dome here is 80 feet in diameter The Grandeur of  the ceiling decorated with flowers and creepers