Hanging with the monkeys.

Posted on June 30, 2019

Since I was in the area (Gurgaon) I just had to see my old “friends” the langurs. It was almost exactly two years since my last visit. This time without my driver Pawan though. He had to give the cab driver directions over the phone so he was kind of involved <:

On the way we drove past the HUGE Hanuman who now has been painted all orange !
that morning I was just hanging with the monkeys
they have amazing tails…..they are so long so they are kind of all over the place <:
time for a dip, or at least a sip.
cool young one just hanging, or stepping on one of those long tails. Just look at those toes on the small one.
They are curious and playful and all over the place.
adorable…<:
Practising……
All of a sudden we saw two Indian mungos among the rocks…..I have to show even if the picture is not very good ( due to the fact that they where far away and I still don’t have any telezoom lens) It kind of looks like it have feathers don’t you think?

I’m sure happy we decided to visit even if the temperature in Delhi/Gurgaon was like 41 degrees celsius already in the morning. It’s such a cool place and amazing encounters.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend dear reader. See you soon.

 Category: Animals    Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Colourful stroll.

Posted on June 24, 2019

The houses here in the southern parts of India are a lot more colourful so it’s fantastic to have a little early morning stroll down a village street. Well, maybe not in all villages ……but for sure in this !

morning chores in almost every house
narrow alleys used for washing and hanging
this dog was so scared of me first….
the cutest little boy who walked with me and was so interested in the pictures in the camera. It was nice to be able to show him the pictures.
morning dishes and a little chat with a foreigner.
amazing colour scheme….and toe rings !
I love to walk around in neighborhoods , especially when they are so friendly as in this.

I hope you enjoyed the morning stroll and that the colours made you smile. I also hope your week has started out in a good way. Mondays are still Mondays unless you have vacation and maybe some of you have. I’m still struggling to get some sort of routine in my life. I’m that kind of person who needs routines to feel good. Anyhow, enjoy your day either in the grass with a good book or at the office.

Talk to you soon.

 Category: Bangalore, colours of India, Faces of India, Okategoriserade, Street life    Tagged: , , , , , ,

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Early 9th century temple ! Bhoga Nandishwara.

Posted on June 9, 2019

Today our rickshaw is heading for Chikkaballapura, just say that out loud a couple of times, makes you giggle doesn’t it? Chikkaballapura is about 60 km north of Bangalore and in the village of Nandi in the foothills we will find the Bhoga Nandishwara temple that dates back to the early 9th century. A hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and a twin temple. The twin is up in the hills and is even older. Let’s start with this one and see what we think.

I walked inside the gates and saw this beautiful flame of the forest tree against the mountain in the back. Also spotted the first monkeys for the day. ( makaks)
An old wooden chariot with amazing carvings was the first thing that caught my eye. All signs around where in Kannada so no information on how old and what the purpose was.
Me in profile…
Before entering temples in India you must remove your shoes and here there’s a stall outside where you pay 2 rupees to leave them. Don’t try with a rs 10 coin because they will not accept it since it’s bad luck ! apparently.
Outside the entrance we found these enormous unused stone wheels for a temple chariot.
Maha mantapa, the main hall . The original construction for the temple was commissioned by Bana King Vidyadhara in 810 A.D
Yali pillars…the carvings at the temple is truly amazing.
the drain with a “yawning” sculpture ? hmmmm…..
Parvati shrine
amazingly carved windows
Pillars with intricate details. Also to the right you can see the temple chariot in a glass box.
Sculptures in soap stone and probably from the 13th century. Amazing work.
different carvings on all the pillars …..
An old pillar outside the entrance that looks more like a ladder…..

So I missed the part that I really wanted to see and that was the water tank. Kind of like a baoli- step well but not. Never found the entrance to it and since no signs and no information. Well, well, next time I will. This old temple in this small village and not a lot of people is really worth the trip out here. And once you are out here and you have seen this you might as well travel on really winding roads to the top of the hills and have a look at the twin – the Yoga Nandishwara temple. (and Tipu’s drop)

Hope you enjoyed the little ride and noticed all the grapes growing and the cows with their sharp horns. You didn’t ? Then you have to have a peek now and then. Hope to see you.

Oh!, don’t forget to wash your feet ! It was a pretty long stroll in the temple .

 Category: Bangalore, Hinduism, South Indian temples, Temples    Tagged: , , , , , ,

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