tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25228530204138041102024-03-14T01:12:45.034+05:30My Bioscope - Viewfinder to the worldThe world presents itself in myriad colours and forms - forever changing and throbbing with energy! My Bioscope is an attempt to display as many of them as captured through my lens.The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-8715382975857501012016-05-21T21:40:00.000+05:302016-05-21T21:48:41.028+05:30The Trogon of Creekpore - A Short Story<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Trogon of Creekpore is a short story (written by me) about the journey of a bird-watcher, looking for the Malabar Trogon, into the wild forest of Creekpore, and his encounters therein.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span>This story was first published on my literature blog, <b><a href="https://barobaug.blogspot.in/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Barobaug Diary</a></b>.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can read the full story by downloading the pdf document from <b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwxlv66LyqhsN3pqRE1RNzltc0E/view" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">here</span></a></b>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Copyright © Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Disclaimer: </b>This story is entirely a piece of fiction. All names, characters, places, descriptions and incidents are a product of the author's imagination. Resemblance to any actual person, place or incident is mere happenstance.</span></div>
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-61199154847597063492015-12-20T12:53:00.001+05:302015-12-20T12:59:20.619+05:30A review of the ASUS 'Zenfone 2 Laser' phone <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-out5kdS8RvE/VnVW0lHQ9CI/AAAAAAAAG6U/mgH8x-zLt2I/s800/ZE550KL_AG06_W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-out5kdS8RvE/VnVW0lHQ9CI/AAAAAAAAG6U/mgH8x-zLt2I/s200/ZE550KL_AG06_W.jpg" width="75" /></a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Recently I was asked to review ASUS India's latest offering, the <b>Zenfone 2 Laser </b>(ZE550KL) smart-phone</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">. According to ASUS India, </span>it is a great device for blog photography because of <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">its brand new laser auto-focus feature (as fast as 0.03 seconds, which greatly reduces blurring and enhances image stabilization), and low-light imaging capabilities. Being a travel writer and photographer, they requested me to share my thoughts on the device (supplied by them) with the aid of pictures taken using the same. I present to you below what I discovered about its photography abilities.</span></span></div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: justify;">You can have a detailed look at the phone's features / specifications <b><a href="https://www.asus.com/in/Phone/ZenFone-2-Laser-ZE550KL/" target="_blank">here</a></b>. From the perspective of the present review, following are the phone's principal features:</div><ul style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aqjAVGpI7AI/VnVXLJyFb0I/AAAAAAAAG6c/uIUWgDF-P-4/s800/ZE550KL_AG01_R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aqjAVGpI7AI/VnVXLJyFb0I/AAAAAAAAG6c/uIUWgDF-P-4/s200/ZE550KL_AG01_R.jpg" width="106" /></a>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">Android 5 Lollipop operating system</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">4G capability</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">Qualcomm MSM8916 (1.2 GHz) CPU</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">2 GB RAM</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">16 GB in-device storage, with a Micro SD slot (expandable up to 128GB)</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">F2.0 Aperture; 13MP (rear) and 5MP (front) cameras</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">Full HD video recording</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">5.5" display screen with Corning Gorilla Glass</span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;">Please note that I have reviewed this phone from a travel photographer's perspective. The review has been written in layman's terms for the ease of comprehension of the average user. This is <i>not</i> supposed to be a detailed technical review of all the features / capabilities of the phone.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Further, the review should be read in light of the capabilities of other smartphones in the genre. When I comment on any specific aspect, it is only in comparison to the results obtained from other phones' cameras. They are not to be compared to SLR's, or other photography devices. While I have shot most of the images outdoor, the opinion provided below would also hold true in case of indoor photography, though the results would wary depending upon the proficiency of the user, quality of light, and whether one chooses to use flash or not.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">All the pictures showcased below have been taken using the <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Zenfone 2 Laser </b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">device </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">and processed using the in-device features (except the white borders.)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Let me begin by making some general observations, based on personal experience, about the camera and related features in the device:</div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: justify;">The device comes with a lot of pre-set modes for the rear / principal camera, as well as for the selfie / front camera. For tinkerers and hands-on enthusiasts like me, there are many options to manually vary the parameters, such as: ISO, shutter speed, brightness, saturation, image aspect, white balance, EV compensation, metering mode, sharpness, etc. In other words, there's something for everybody. Most of the situations one encounters while photographing have been taken care of.</li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: justify;">The camera uses laser technology for focusing. In my opinion, the focusing is fast; even in low light, the lag time is not much, except when the subject is far away in low light conditions (which is to be expected). Consequently, the subjects in the images are rendered quite sharp.</li>
</ul><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: justify;">Colour vibrancy, contrast, brightness, dynamic range, tones, are in general quite good. The results, obviously, will vary depending upon the proficiency of the user and the choice of settings.</li>
</ul></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: justify;">There are also a number of de rigueur pre-set post-processing options. One can also manually fine-tune the images by varying the saturation, shadow / highlights, brightness, sharpness, contrast, hue, curves, blur, etc. I found them to be extremely useful. There's also the option to create customised user pre-sets for processing under different situations.</li>
</ul></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: justify;">The device is thin, light-weight, and has an ergonomically curved back. The back cover and the edges provide solid grip while photographing. This is a plus when shooting in crowded places, windy locations, or near the edge.</li>
</ul></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: justify;">The photographs are displayed on the screen with amazing clarity, vibrancy, and contrast.</li>
</ul></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: justify;">The device is fast and snappy, even when multiple applications are open in the background. The battery life is long and, despite heavy use, easily lasts over a day on a single charge.</li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-align: justify;">When shooting outdoors, or even in low light, I would suggest checking the 'smart brightness' option in the manual settings. The screen displays the subject and the scene clear and bright, which greatly aids composition.</span></li>
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</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">All in all, it looks like a great choice for travel photographers to capture and share precious moments on the go. I will now delve in to some of the specific aspects of the camera, which will help buttress the claims made above. The images displayed below will also enable you to make an objective assessment of the camera's capabilities.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><b style="text-align: justify;">Shooting</b><b style="text-align: justify;"> at low ISO </b><b style="text-align: justify;">in low light conditions using the HDR Mode:</b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">High Dynamic Range (HDR) technique is a way to capture well-exposed images in tricky light situations. The camera achieves this balance by automatically combining images taken at different exposure readings. All that the user needs to do is select the HDR mode, and hold the camera steady for awhile after clicking the shutter-release button. The results achieved are quite good, as the following images demonstrate. Without the HDR mode, and at low ISO setting, these two images would've turned out dark.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_cN22fySsyU/VnOyiIrB4bI/AAAAAAAAG6E/ieAneCEirp0/s800/P_20151212_174900_HDR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="433" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_cN22fySsyU/VnOyiIrB4bI/AAAAAAAAG6E/ieAneCEirp0/s640/P_20151212_174900_HDR2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9xHkypUKq9U/VnOwjFYlvEI/AAAAAAAAG5E/fCmjUhrFWcc/s800/P_20151210_181944_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="433" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9xHkypUKq9U/VnOwjFYlvEI/AAAAAAAAG5E/fCmjUhrFWcc/s640/P_20151210_181944_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: justify;">Shooting</b><b style="text-align: justify;"> at low ISO </b><b style="text-align: justify;">in dim light conditions </b>using the Low-light Mode:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The device has an in-built "Low-light" mode for photographing under conditions of dim light. This is useful for capturing images that preserve sufficient amount of detail, while at the same time conveying the mood of the scene, such as the post sun-set scene below.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g1GOPZSohYU/VnOvwLbr_GI/AAAAAAAAG40/7cqJ9dz-L0M/s800/P_20151206_174436_LL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="433" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g1GOPZSohYU/VnOvwLbr_GI/AAAAAAAAG40/7cqJ9dz-L0M/s640/P_20151206_174436_LL.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<b style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: justify;">Shooting</b><b style="text-align: justify;"> at High ISO </b><b style="text-align: justify;">in dim light conditions </b>using the Low-light Mode:</b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">If you want to capture brighter images in conditions of dim light, then select the "Low-Light" mode in the device, and manually boost the ISO. The exact level of ISO would depend upon your individual artistic requirements. In the images below, I have taken the liberty to shoot at the highest ISO level of 800 in order to test the engine. Consequently, while the images are well exposed, there is visible grain and smudging in the images, which is natural at such high ISO levels. However, details have been well preserved and colour reproduction is good and vibrant. This mode would be useful in instances wherein capturing the moment over-rides the necessity of having a flawless image.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I shot at mid ISO levels, the noise levels were quite low.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-woOTpfUJfAM/VnOwuf1DNII/AAAAAAAAG5U/T3laUN9p50U/s800/P_20151211_175003_LL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="433" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-woOTpfUJfAM/VnOwuf1DNII/AAAAAAAAG5U/T3laUN9p50U/s640/P_20151211_175003_LL.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7-rIjeFG2Ng/VnOxFg_Y_vI/AAAAAAAAG5c/LHMTMAHUOlg/s800/P_20151211_175842_DF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="433" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7-rIjeFG2Ng/VnOxFg_Y_vI/AAAAAAAAG5c/LHMTMAHUOlg/s640/P_20151211_175842_DF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<b style="text-align: justify;">Shooting Streets / Architectures / Landscapes:</b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Under bright, natural light conditions, the images are near perfect. The camera captures the details in the shadows quite well, with good contrast between light and shadow regions. The colour reproduction is also excellent, with just the right amount of saturation to make them vibrant, which obviates the need for further processing. The shutter speed is fast enough to not just capture moving images without a blur, but also capture them right at the moment where you have positioned them in your composition.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have presented below three different instances of day-light photography.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">First is street photography, which is all about the moment and the interplay of light & shadows. The image below speaks for itself.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BVPpBBJBy8M/VnOxYMavE_I/AAAAAAAAG5k/RWGy8MBGepE/s800/P_20151212_163332_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="433" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BVPpBBJBy8M/VnOxYMavE_I/AAAAAAAAG5k/RWGy8MBGepE/s640/P_20151212_163332_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The second image depicts architectural photography. Despite the Church facing the sun and having a white façade, it is perfectly illuminated, with no details being lost in the highlights. Details in the shadows are also good. All this without using the HDR mode!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0EdyxoyJlvY/VnOxiJEgULI/AAAAAAAAG5s/N4s0PQMRWfs/s800/P_20151212_155533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="433" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0EdyxoyJlvY/VnOxiJEgULI/AAAAAAAAG5s/N4s0PQMRWfs/s640/P_20151212_155533.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Third image showcases landscape photography. Here, the depth of field is good; far away areas are clearly visible and are sharp. Since the image below was shot in HDR mode, it's perfectly exposed. The colour quality, tones and contrast are excellent.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EOlW6Z7JJVU/VnOxyGBVPNI/AAAAAAAAG58/kmo48ou9IG0/s800/P_20151212_170854_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="435" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EOlW6Z7JJVU/VnOxyGBVPNI/AAAAAAAAG58/kmo48ou9IG0/s640/P_20151212_170854_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Shooting Macros:</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Under the Macro mode, which is used to photograph small objects in great detail, the camera's processor automatically creates a depth of field effect around the selected subject after clicking on the shutter-release button. The result is quite good; the blur-effect looks quite natural.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bYlc8waPd-A/VnOxxsA7qoI/AAAAAAAAG54/ABbc9r2zx7c/s800/P_20151213_154045_DF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="433" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bYlc8waPd-A/VnOxxsA7qoI/AAAAAAAAG54/ABbc9r2zx7c/s640/P_20151213_154045_DF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<b style="text-align: justify;">Shooting Selfies / Flash Photography:</b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Selfies are du jour. There are various pre-set modes available in the camera to capture the right image. The most important and the most used one is the 'Beautification Mode'. In this mode, the image quality is enhanced by: increasing the brightness level of the subject; imparting softness to facial features; and removing blemishes. Consequently, somebody like me can also be made to look good ;-)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The flash is quite powerful and illuminates the subject and its immediate surrounding quite well. There is an option to quickly share the images on multiple social-media platforms and other productivity tools.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DgBcoJugIvA/VnOwiB7-JAI/AAAAAAAAG5A/PxacWXTyxQw/s800/P_20151205_180639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DgBcoJugIvA/VnOwiB7-JAI/AAAAAAAAG5A/PxacWXTyxQw/s400/P_20151205_180639.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I would end by saying that I am quite pleased with the results. The device has all the features, backed with capability, that I would look for in a camera-phone in today's times.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Thank You!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XLawzVpMb6Q/VnOwrHhQAWI/AAAAAAAAG5M/Zln4qCxwCEU/s800/P_20151210_181159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XLawzVpMb6Q/VnOwrHhQAWI/AAAAAAAAG5M/Zln4qCxwCEU/s400/P_20151210_181159.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><br />
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-67712288288659715362012-02-26T23:22:00.000+05:302012-02-27T21:30:43.059+05:30On the Leopards' Trail in Marwar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/6892077145/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Alert Leopard on a boulder by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Alert Leopard on a boulder" height="435" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7064/6892077145_bba61795c1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alert Leopard on a boulder in Bera</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trying to sight a Leopard (Panthera Pardus) in a jungle is perhaps no different than trying
to find a needle in a haystack. On the many trips to the jungles of India, with
some patience and luck, one can have excellent sightings of tigers, lions, even
the shy sloth bear, and other mammals. But the leopard is an elusive beast. It
can hide itself in any nook & cranny of the jungle, is smaller than the
other carnivores, enjoys excellent camouflage, prefers hunting in the night, and
with its acrobatic skills can perch itself on trees and boulders. Even if
sightings occur, they are more in the nature of blink and you miss it. Though,
we have heard stories of people seeing a leopard, sitting nonchalantly in plain
view of the human eye, in the jungles of South India, such reports have been
fewer from those of North India.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite several trips in the wild, we had thus far been unlucky in the
matter of leopard sighting. The closest we ever came to sighting it was when we
spotted a leopard’s kill but, not the perpetrator himself!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No longer wanting to leave things to a chance, we decided to take matters
in our own hands and headed straight to Bera, a dusty village in southern
Rajasthan </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">amidst the Aravalli mountains and</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> surrounded by water bodies. Here our abode was Thakur Devi Singhji’s orchard or rather the
</span><a href="http://leopardlairresort.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leopard’s Lair Resort</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> as it is officially called.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vgg0-Mzv1w4/T0tCBLoj4ZI/AAAAAAAAFBM/pVmLIi0aD8Q/s1600/Devi+Singhji.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vgg0-Mzv1w4/T0tCBLoj4ZI/AAAAAAAAFBM/pVmLIi0aD8Q/s200/Devi+Singhji.jpg" width="132" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Devi Singhji & Me</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thakur Devi Singhji is a legend in these parts of Rajasthan for his work
in the field of leopard conservation. The mountains in this belt do not have enough of a
natural prey base for the leopards to feast upon; hence they were forced to
hunt calves and goat. The villagers, who were naturally incensed on losing
their livestock, would often kill the leopards. This was until Devi Singhji
stepped in and started compensating the villagers for the loss of livestock. Thanks
to his efforts, the man-animal conflict in the region has reduced to a great extent.
Today, there is a thriving population of about 20-25 leopards in the area
surrounding Bera! No wonder the place is on its way to planting itself on the
wildlife tourism circuit of India.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.15pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Presently there are two properties in Bera that provide stay facility and
game drives - <a href="http://leopardlairresort.com/">Leopard’s Lair Resort</a> (run by Thakur Devi Singhji) and <a href="http://castlebera.com/">CastleBera</a>. We of course chose the former.<br />
<br />
The leopard safaris (game drives) are lead by Devi Singhji himself and it is a
pleasure spending time with him while waiting for the leopards to put in an
appearance. A thorough gentleman, extremely polite and hospitable, he is a fountain
of knowledge. Leopard sightings are very regular thanks to Devi Singhji's
expertise and the fact that their territories are well defined. There's a rocky
hillock, close to the farms, where a leopard's family is known to reside (male,
female and two adult cubs) and it serves as a starting point for the safari.
The leopards can be easily seen resting on the rocks or perched on the dry
trees. The absence of any dense vegetation on the hillock makes the sightings
easier (though for us mortals it takes a minute or two to sight the leopard in
the yellow grasses). Devi Singhji also proudly informed us that he can count on his finger tips the number of days in a year when there are no sightings! Impressive!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.15pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had visited the place in winter which, as Devi Singhji informed us, is
also the best time for leopard sightings. This is because, unlike summers when
they emerge out late owing to the heat, in winters they stroll out of their
caves between 5-6:00PM, bask for a while in the warmth of the setting sun and
then proceed to make their kill. The only negative, from my perspective, was
that during winters the Sun sets exactly behind the hillock. As a result,
leopard sightings occur in fading light and getting some good images becomes
difficult. Though, we were more interested in the sightings (given our luck
earlier) than in images.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.15pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The evening safari extends into the night and if one is lucky he might even
sight leopards feasting on their kill.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.15pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Female Leopard (Zara) and Male adult cub" height="218" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7201/6892068813_715f07e490.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zara & her adult cub</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/6892068813/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Female Leopard (Zara) and Male adult cub by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the first day, we got to enjoy the sight of a female leopard (named
Zara) and her adult cub (named Nivaan, if my memory serves me right) for over
an hour. They would occasionally rest on the boulder, move about on the
hillock, and play on tree tops until they chose to disappear into the bushes,
presumably, to make arrangements for their dinner! It was almost night time by
now and Devi Singhji drove us around in the territory hoping to sight leopards
indulging in some activity. In case you are wondering how it is possible to
sight leopards in the dark - well, a helper sitting in the rear of your vehicle
employs a large spotting light to sweep the area for any signs of the beast.
The beast’s eyes reflect back the light thereby betraying his presence. After a
long drive we did manage to sight the two leopards again (Zara and Nivaan).
However, upon sighting us humans, they quickly made for the bushes and we lost
them thereafter.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.15pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our subsequent visits were not as fruitful. But we had enough memories to
carry back home. On the first day, while waiting for the leopards, we sighted a
pair of Indian Grey Mongoose and as the legend goes, sighting them in a pair is
extremely lucky for the beholder. Well, so we were!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-size: large;"><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">For a slide show of complete set of pictures from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Bera</span>, please click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/sets/72157629359070549/show/" style="color: #002750; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Here</span></a>.</b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<br /><br /><b>
A note on the resort: </b>The resort package includes crocodile safaris which are
conducted in the morning. These are a complete waste of time and should be
exchanged for the morning leopard safari. The crocodile safari is lead by a
village bumpkin who can barely tell a crow from a pigeon. As such if one is
interested in bird / crocodile watching near the Jawai Dam, we would suggest
that he personally hire a vehicle and drive down to the dam and explore the
birds at leisure than be at the mercy of an idiot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/6892042147/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Asian Openbill Stork in flight by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Asian Openbill Stork in flight" height="340" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7181/6892042147_56b94b12c1.jpg" width="500" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Asian Openbill Stork (@ Jawai Dam)</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The resort by itself has a nice rustic ambience. The property is fairly large
and the Thakurs have planted a wide variety of trees in the orchard, thereby
providing habitat to diverse species of birds. One can easily spot about 30-35
species of birds within the campus itself. The food is home made (in
traditional Rajput style) and tastes ok.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
The rooms are well appointed, large and clean. The sour point is that the hotel
staff is not well trained in hospitality and their mannerisms can put one off
at times. In such instances, one just needs to speak to Devi Singhji or his
wife and things will be immediately taken care of.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<b>Room Tip: </b>Choose the ones near the bonfire site.<br />
<br />
All in all, visit this place for sighting leopards, understanding their
behaviour, watching birds and to soak in some tranquillity. We would suggest
spending minimum 2 nights at the place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/6892153537/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Sun rises over Marwar, Rajasthan by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Sun rises over Marwar, Rajasthan" height="435" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7067/6892153537_1d38b6e703.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sun rises over Marwar</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 8.15pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How to reach: </b>The nearest railhead is Jawai Bandh. From
here, the drive to the resort takes ~ 20-30 minutes. The nearest airports are
Udaipur (East of Bera) and Jodhpur (North of Bera) both of which are a good 4-5
hours’ drive from Bera. We would suggest that you include in your itinerary a
visit to Udaipur and the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary for a wholesome
experience and to make the most of your time and money.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/6892159043/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Plum Headed Parakeet, Male by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Plum Headed Parakeet, Male" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7066/6892159043_489b7bc487.jpg" width="218" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plum Headed Parakeet (Male)</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>List of birds sighted by us in the region: </b>Large Cuckoo
Shrike, White Wagtail, Common Hoopoe, Yellow Wagtail, Asian Openbill Stork,
Black Winged Stilt, River Tern, Red Wattled Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Grey
Headed Canary Flycatcher, Eurasian Collared Dove, Laughing Dove, Spotted Dove,
Plum Headed Parakeets, Rose Ringed Parakeet, Little Ringed Plover, Indian Pond
Heron, Ruddy Shelduck, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Black Shouldered Kite,
Indian Robin, Common Tailorbird, Common Crow, Rock Pigeon, House Sparrow, Long
Tailed Shrike, Black Ibis, Black Headed Ibis, Little Cormorant, Little Grebe,
Common Greenshank, Red Throated Flycatcher, Indian Peafowl, Jungle Prinia,
Desert Wheatear, Oriental White Eye, Large Billed Crow, Red Vented Bulbul,
Purple Sunbird, Jungle Babbler, Little Green Bee-eater, Black Drongo, Indian Roller, Grey
Francolin, Oriental Magpie Robin, Crested Bunting, and Black Redstart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</b>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com20Dadoji Rd, Juna Bera, Rajasthan, India24.999321838221938 73.18186283111572324.995724338221937 73.176927331115721 25.00291933822194 73.186798331115725tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-37226785078040207462012-01-22T18:04:00.000+05:302018-12-23T20:56:32.521+05:30Shilonda Trail (Sanjay Gandhi National Park): Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5618897211/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Morning rituals! (B&W version) by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Morning rituals! (B&W version)" height="435" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5109/5618897211_7d0ee0fa76.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: #3c3c35; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #3c3c35; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #3c3c35; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is an update to my <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.in/2010/08/sanjay-gandhi-national-park-silonda.html">previous post</a> on Shilonda Trail in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (Mumbai).</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffff6; color: #3c3c35; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffff6; color: #3c3c35; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Last Sunday I traversed the Shilonda Trail again with few of my friends. Here is a bit of dope for those wanting to go on this trail. This trail is closed for the general public and requires special permission from the forest department to go. Good news is that the Nature Interpretation Centre inside SGNP provides this permission for a nominal fee of Rs. 50 per head, albeit for a group size of 10 people. In case you are fewer than 10, then a lumpsum amount of Rs. 500/- needs to be paid. The department issues a receipt so everything is above board. </span><img alt="" border="0" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.indiamike.com/india/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="background-color: #fffff6; color: #3c3c35; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: middle;" title="Wink" /><br style="background-color: #fffff6; color: #3c3c35; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><br style="background-color: #fffff6; color: #3c3c35; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: #fffff6; color: #3c3c35; text-align: -webkit-auto;">This time around our focus was on birds and we managed to sight around 30 species of birds (fewer than we expected - but that's luck). Our prize catch was a pair of Indian Grey Hornbill. However, we didn't get any good bird photographs... but got some decent nature and street photography images.</span></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffff6; color: #3c3c35; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #3c3c35;">Check out the images </span><a href="https://www.mybioscope.net/Nature/Sanjay-Gandhi-National-Park/n-5LZbtQ"><b><span style="color: red;">here</span></b></a><span style="color: #3c3c35;">.</span></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">-
Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com4Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Maharashtra, India19.25 72.91666719.220018 72.877185 19.279982 72.956149000000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-86706045052147100162011-10-14T19:01:00.001+05:302015-09-14T17:43:57.402+05:30Spiti Valley - Article published in Hindustan Times<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQ1zqSysi0I/VfZ9xZMm5hI/AAAAAAAAGvk/5GaGgvb7Vnk/s1600/_DSC0576-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQ1zqSysi0I/VfZ9xZMm5hI/AAAAAAAAGvk/5GaGgvb7Vnk/s640/_DSC0576-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Himalayan Patterns @ Spiti</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The web edition of leading Indian daily, <b>Hindustan Times,</b> recently published an article written by me on <b>Spiti</b> (Himachal Pradesh). You can read the article <a href="http://travel.hindustantimes.com/rush-stories/discovering-the-charm-of-spiti.php"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">here</span></b></a>.<br />
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</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f4WK-xMiro0/Ve1xSQrvK0I/AAAAAAAAGpg/VvgMUtZYQpw/s1600/_DSC0357_A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f4WK-xMiro0/Ve1xSQrvK0I/AAAAAAAAGpg/VvgMUtZYQpw/s320/_DSC0357_A.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Leap of Faith!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Titled '<b>Discovering the charm of Spiti</b>', it is a slightly modified version of the article I had written on this <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/2010/07/lahaul-spiti-jeep-safari-manali-shimla.html">blog</a> last year immediately after returning from Spiti - one of the most satisfying trips of my life!<br />
Hope you enjoy reading the article. I also urge you to visit the place at least once in your lifetime for the spectacular sights it offers and the wonderful people who live there!<br />
<br />
As always, I would like to personally thank each one of you for having patronised my blog and for supporting me. A special thanks to the team at <i><a href="http://incrediblespiti.com/">Incredible Spiti</a></i> for getting this article published in Hindustan Times, which is an esteemed newspaper of our times.<br />
<br />
<b>P.S.</b> - The pictures published alongside the article in the newspaper are <i><b>not</b></i> mine. They have been mistakenly credited to me. All images on this blog are, of course, mine :-)<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">-
Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-25604212461570072862011-06-04T12:02:00.000+05:302011-06-04T12:02:58.567+05:30Kaas Plateau - Article published in Asian Age<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">An article written by me on Maharashtra's Kaas Plateau, along with some pictures taken by me, was published yesterday in the Delhi edition of Asian Age newspaper.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O4k8SZ1VU7I/TenQUXHUdoI/AAAAAAAAE9w/EY3dou0V4EA/s1600/kaasplateauasianage03_06_2011-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O4k8SZ1VU7I/TenQUXHUdoI/AAAAAAAAE9w/EY3dou0V4EA/s320/kaasplateauasianage03_06_2011-001.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Asian Age article</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I would like to personally thank each one of you for having patronised my blog and supported me. You can also read the original write-up, which I had published in October 2010, on this very blog <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/2010/10/kaas-plateau-valley-flowers-maharashtra.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">here</span></b></a>. The newspaper article is a remixed version of the same.<br />
<br />
Also do not forget to visit the place in September!<br />
<br />
Thanks once again :)<br />
<br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">-
Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-55480936778307768612011-04-30T18:17:00.010+05:302012-02-27T17:46:50.472+05:30Ranthambhore National Park II - Charge in the Rajbagh Lake<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5620898077/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Portrait of Tigress (T-17 / Sundari), Ranthambhore National Park by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Portrait of Tigress (T-17 / Sundari), Ranthambhore National Park" height="640" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5302/5620898077_a6566f2973.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Portrait of T-17 / Sundari Tigress</b></td></tr>
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<br />
It was a cloudy evening on our third day in the Ranthambhore National Park. As I looked heavenward, I said - well, bad light to add to our woes! Thank you! So far on our current trip, we had tasted limited success with tiger sightings - none worth photographing (see details at the end). Hence, for our fifth safari in the jungle, we were at the same time desperate for a decent photography opportunity as well as nonchalant about the prospects. We were getting closer to a tiger with every passing safari and we still had two more to go after this one!<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><b style="background-color: #999999;">For a slide show of complete set of pictures from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Ranthambore National Park</span>, please click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/sets/72157626501544240/show/" style="color: #002750; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Here</span></a>.<br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><b style="background-color: #999999;">Also read about my previous visit and a detailed note on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Ranthambore National Park</span> <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/2010/05/ranthambore-national-park-ranthambhore.html" style="color: #002750; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Here</span></a>.</b></span><br />
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For the evening we were allotted the scenic Zone 3. In the morning, during our tour of Zone 2, we happened to learn that the tigress T-17 (affectionately called <i>Sundari</i>) had been spotted around the Rajbagh Lake. We were hoping to sight her again in that area, praying that she would have chosen a spot in the adjacent bushes to rest during the day. We were completely oblivious to the fact that Goddess Amba (one of the most worshipped Goddesses in Hinduism and who has the tiger as her vehicle) had already given her blessings for this safari and what awaited us today was something we would cherish for a lifetime! As we neared the Rajbagh Lake we saw a few jeeps stationed near the bushes with the tourists inside animatedly motioning towards something behind the rocks. When we neared the spot, the guide pointed towards a stepped rocky area and said in a voice full of excitement "<i>Sir, woh dekho pathar ke peeche T-17 tigress hai</i>" (Sir, the T-17 tigress is sitting behind the rocks over there). We were struggling to spot her as the rock was also surrounded by bushes. Intermittently she would bob her head and that is when we would catch a glimpse of the stripes. There was not much happening for a good 20 minutes. An army of jeeps and canters had come rushing to the spot in the meanwhile. Our driver Mahesh, quietly moved the jeep away from the din and parked it in such a position that if the tiger were to move he would be best positioned to manoeuvre the vehicle.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5621376550/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Mahesh - safari jeep driver waiting for the tigress T-17 to emerge from the bushes by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Mahesh - safari jeep driver waiting for the tigress T-17 to emerge from the bushes" height="136" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5229/5621376550_d243a9893a.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mahesh</b></td></tr>
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I was peering through my binoculars and suddenly heard the rustle of the leaves and saw the tigress beginning to make a move. The whole crowd was now in a state of heightened alertness - like the army officers on battlefront! What followed was absolute madness! No sooner would the tigress take a step in a particular direction, than the battery of vehicles would start moving in that direction... come to a screeching halt and then move backwards again... trying to match the tigress' move step for step. Mahesh kept his cool all the while and began driving only when the tigress had started moving decisively. It was a mad scramble out there as everyone was trying to out manoeuvre the other and there were some close escapes. In the meanwhile, the tigress was walking straight behind the spot where she was resting...a path which would lead her to the other side of the Rajbagh Lake. The drivers sensed this, and rushed to the spot from where she would emerge.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5618911361/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Habitat shot: Tigress (T-17 / Sundari) walking beside the Rajbagh Lake, Ranthambhore National Park by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Habitat shot: Tigress (T-17 / Sundari) walking beside the Rajbagh Lake, Ranthambhore National Park" height="341" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5264/5618911361_2d30a541fa.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>T-17 walking beside the Rajbagh Lake</b></td></tr>
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The light was bad and I was worried whether I would be able to get good shots. But the moment the tigress emerged in plain sight I started firing away. I also spared a moment or two to soak in the magnificence of the animal - the sight of a tiger always has such a profound impact on the beholder that he / she gets lost in the moment and needs to be stirred out of his stupor! The mad race for a vantage position amongst the jeeps was still on and sometimes we would have a clear view of the tigress and sometimes not. As such we were shooting from a moving jeep. However, luck was to be completely on our side from here on. We were helped, in large measure, by our driver Mahesh who manoeuvred the jeep like Lord Krishna manoeuvring Arjun's Chariot on the battlefield in Mahabharata. He drove on steep inclines by the track side and also managed to fox other jeeps to give him room to drive ahead. We were now ahead of everybody else, including the tigress. A supremely vantage position as the tigress was walking straight towards us - giving a full frontal view, sans the radio collar!!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5620833517/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Profile of Tigress (T-17 / Sundari), Ranthambhore National Park by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Profile of Tigress (T-17 / Sundari), Ranthambhore National Park" height="200" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5228/5620833517_d1766cbeac.jpg" width="137" /></a>Here I must take a small detour and tell you an interesting fact about T-17 / Sundari. T-17 is the 4 year old daughter of the legendary tigress Machali (Machli) and lords over the territory around the Padam Lake and Rajbagh Lake. She has a radio collar around her neck which is used to undertake scientific studies on aspects such as tiger movement, extent of area covered, etc. It is strictly NOT used for tracking the tiger for the benefit of tourists during tiger safaris. The presence of a radio collar poses a peculiar problem for photographers... in that, nobody would love to have a picture of a wild tiger with a collar around its neck! The solution is to either photograph her from the front or at an angle such that the collar is not visible... but then, the angle is not under one's control since the tiger is the King of the jungle and it does not move as per a tourist's whims and fancies!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5621462384/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Tigress (T-17 / Sundari) walking on the safari track beside the Rajbagh Lake, Ranthambhore National Park by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Tigress (T-17 / Sundari) walking on the safari track beside the Rajbagh Lake, Ranthambhore National Park" height="270" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5101/5621462384_85dce729b0.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>T-17 treads slowly on the vehicle track</b></td></tr>
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The moment T-17 arrived close to our jeep, she was barely 15 feet away, she nonchalantly glanced towards us (Bah! Tourists - I could read it in her eyes!) and I managed to get some nice portrait shots of this <i>sundari</i> (beautiful) animal. She then moved out onto the vehicle track and sat down a few metres away from us. The jeeps behind us were yelling, because for them the tigress was almost out of sight! She sat there for a few minutes (her backside towards us), wagged her tail, glanced around and then she stood up and started walking, albeit slowly. Everybody instantly realised that she had now begun stalking the three unsuspecting Sambar Deers who were cooling themselves and feasting on the grass inside the Rajbagh Lake. She slowly descended from the tracks into the bushes abutting the lake. We were so positioned that our jeep, the tigress and the deers were all along the same line of sight!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5620831069/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Tigress (T-17 / Sundari) stalking Sambar Deers inside the Rajbagh Lake, Ranthambhore National Park by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Tigress (T-17 / Sundari) stalking Sambar Deers inside the Rajbagh Lake, Ranthambhore National Park" height="438" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5229/5620831069_42155d8879.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 20px;">T-17 Stalking the Deers - damn the light!</b>
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For around 20-30 minutes, which seemed excruciatingly long, she was stealthily making her way towards the deers. At times even we couldn't spot her - she was so well camouflaged. The light was fading fast now, damn! It wasn't to be long though. She was now within striking distance. There was an eerie calm all around. The spectators were watching in mute silence, numbed by the proceedings and the heavenly sights on display. It was to be a rare moment for everyone.<br />
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T-17, however, appeared to have revealed her cards a bit too soon as one of the Sambar Deers sighted the tigress, perhaps in the nick of time, and gave out a loud alarm call. At this very moment the tigress leaped into the waters, creating a huge splash akin to a tidal wave. But the Sambar Deers proved a bit too agile given that they got a few crucial moments between the sighting and the leap to run for their lives. The tigress charged in the waters after the larger of the three deers and also chased it for a few yards outside the waters in the woods. But, finally, she had to give up on the hunt. It was a kill not to be, sigh! The whole episode was over in less than 15 seconds!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5621473998/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Chase sequence (1/4): Tigress (T-17 / Sundari) charging after Sambar Deer for a kill inside the Rajbagh Lake, Ranthambhore National Park - taken in the wild by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Chase sequence (1/4): Tigress (T-17 / Sundari) charging after Sambar Deer for a kill inside the Rajbagh Lake, Ranthambhore National Park - taken in the wild" height="396" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5065/5621473998_2778c264b7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5621478818/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Chase sequence (3/4): Tigress (T-17 / Sundari) charging after Sambar Deers for a kill inside the Rajbagh Lake, Ranthambhore National Park by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Chase sequence (3/4): Tigress (T-17 / Sundari) charging after Sambar Deers for a kill inside the Rajbagh Lake, Ranthambhore National Park" height="435" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5185/5621478818_c33a471399.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sambar Deers running for their lives!</b></td></tr>
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All this while we had concealed our excitement and focused on capturing the wonderful, action-packed moments in our cameras. Once the tigress disappeared into the woods, we all broke into animated conversation and like sports commentators were giving suggestions on how things could have been different for the tigress. But the tigress, just like sportsmen, cares a damn for the commentators. We looked at each other's pictures, revelled in the memories and thanked the lady luck, our driver Mahesh and the guide. Back in the hotel, I showed the pictures to Desh Bandhu Vaid (the Guru of Ranthambhore). He was happy at what transpired and remarked that the sight of a tiger charging inside the Rajbagh Lake is a rare one and a photographer's delight!<br />
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For me Ranthambhore had once again lived up to its reputation. Long live the Tigers of Ranthambhore!<br />
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<b>General brief on our trip and sightings - </b><br />
We sighted <b>six</b> different tigers during our trip -<br />
Day 1, Evening - Zone 4 - Nil<br />
Day 2, Morning - Zone 3 - missed T-17 by a whisker (she crossed over from Jogi Mahal to Zone 2)<br />
Day 2, Evening - Zone 1 - T-24 Male and his female partner T-39 (they were mating) who we couldn't sight. T-24 was resting far away in the bushes near Kala Pani area.<br />
Day 3, Morning - Zone 2 - Nil<br />
Day 3, Evening - Zone 3 - T-17<br />
Day 4, Morning - Zone 4 - Mating pair @ Berda: T-6 male and T-41 female - far away in the bushes! Also sighted Machali (T-16) near Adi Daggar but again far away in bushes!<br />
Day 4, Evening - Zone 1 - Mating pair T-24 male and T-39 female. We had clear view for a while but from atleast 100 metres away!<br />
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Other mammals sighted - Nilgai (Bluebull), Sambar Deer, Chital / Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, Striped Hyena (in the night when out for a drive), Common Langurs, Pair of Mongoose.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5621332138/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Mr. (right) & Mrs. (left) Painted Sandgrouse by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Mr. (right) & Mrs. (left) Painted Sandgrouse" height="218" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5301/5621332138_b4b1a18dae.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mr. (right) & Mrs. (left) Painted Sandgrouse</b></td></tr>
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<b>List of birds spotted during the trip</b> - Bronze Winged Jacana, Shikra, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Darter, Little Heron, Indian Pond Heron, Black Kite, Black Winged Stilt, Great Thick-knee, Common Greenshank, Pied Kingfisher, White Throated Kingfisher, Green Bee-eater, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Asian Palm Swift, Black Drongo, Long Tailed Shrike, Red Vented Bulbul, Jungle Babbler, Purple Sunbird, Chestnut Shouldered Petronia, Greater Painted Snipe, Common Moorhen, White Browed Fantail, Collared Scops Owl, Long Billed Vulture, Red Headed Vulture, Painted Stork, Lesser Whistling Duck, Crested Serpent Eagle, Woolly Necked Stork, Painted Spurfowl, Eurasian Collared Dove, Rock Pigeon, Asian Paradise Flycatcher (female), Black Redstart (Id doubtful), Asian Koel (male), White Bellied Drongo, Painted Sandgrouse (male & female), Grey Heron, Intermediate Egret, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Crested Bunting, Spotted Dove, Laughing Dove, Grey Francolin, Oriental White-eye, Indian Peafowl, Great Tit, Rufous Treepie, Large Billed Crow, Brahminy Starling, Common Myna, Common Tailor Bird, Oriental Magpie Robin, Indian Robin, Common Iora, Rose Ringed Parakeet, Red Wattled Lapwing, Pied Myna, Greater Coucal, Black Rumped Flameback, Eurasian Thick-knee, Indian Cormorant, Great Cormorant, House Crow and House Sparrow.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b>Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</b></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">-
Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-77762099555684835632011-04-04T22:35:00.005+05:302011-04-05T20:44:41.558+05:30Street Photography in Vasai<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5489592686/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="I am happy when my best friends have their arms around me :) by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="I am happy when my best friends have their arms around me :)" height="436" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5056/5489592686_b898024dfe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I am happy when my best friends have their arms around me :)</b></td></tr>
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<i><b>"When you photograph people in colour, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls!"</b></i> — Ted Grant<br />
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Street photography is all about wandering, with a camera strung around your neck - observing, soaking in the surroundings, and capturing the moments that define the people, their moods and their surroundings, often in a candid setting. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_photography">Wikipedia</a> beautifully puts it thus - <i>Street photography uses the techniques of straight photography in that it shows a pure vision of something, like holding up a mirror to society. Street photography often tends to be ironic and can be distanced from its subject matter, and often concentrates on a single human moment, caught at a decisive or poignant moment. On the other hand, much street photography takes the opposite approach and provides a very literal and extremely personal rendering of the subject matter, giving the audience a more visceral experience of walks of life they might only be passingly familiar with. </i>The best part about street photography is that it doesn't need fancy equipment! Often a point & shoot camera or even a mobile phone camera can do the job. All one needs is the eye to observe, the heart to feel the situation and the mind to quickly frame the scene!<br />
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</div>The above photograph was taken inside the Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasai">Vasai</a>, where we had gone birding a few weeks ago. A photographer needs to be alert all the time about possibilities even while he may be out to specifically shoot something else, in this case birds. While that day didn't prove particularly lucky for us with respect to capturing birds, we made the most of the opportunity by indulging in some candid / street photography of people who visit the Tungareshwar temple as well as residents of the place. Later in the day we also visited the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassein_Fort">Bassein Fort</a>, located beside the Arabian Sea in Vasai. There's a beautiful fishermen's village nearby and luckily we managed to get some good street shots of its residents! - even though our objective was water birds!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b style="background-color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For a slide show of complete set of pictures from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Vasai</span>, please click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/sets/72157626175188242/show/" style="color: #002750; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">here</span></a>.</span></b></span><br />
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-2870352108980774032011-02-24T21:25:00.001+05:302012-03-01T19:17:37.222+05:30Picture of the day: Rajasthani folk musician<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5441164023/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Rajasthani folk dance / music performer by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Rajasthani folk dance / music performer" height="435" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4145/5441164023_aab154dc28.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A Rajasthani folk musician enjoys a light moment during his performance in Mumbai. This picture reminds me of Indian farmers' smiling faces that we typically see on fertiliser sacks and posters / hoardings of Government's rural schemes :)<br />
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See more of Rajasthan <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/search/label/Rajasthan"><b>here</b></a>.<br />
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-26235869926009703782011-02-05T15:59:00.002+05:302011-03-17T12:19:45.533+05:30Ovalekar Wadi - abode of the butterflies (Part 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5364162074/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Common Jezebel Butterfly by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Common Jezebel Butterfly" height="435" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5241/5364162074_7f2e7f5695.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Jezebel Butterfly</b></td></tr>
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Our second outing at Ovalekar Wadi (read about the place and our first trip <b><a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/2010/12/ovalekar-wadi-butterfly-park-thane.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">here</span></a></b>) also proved to be somewhat of a damp squib. The light, though, was excellent this time around. But, the chill in the morning resulted in the butterflies taking a bit too long to wake up from their slumber and busy themselves with the task of looking out for breakfast!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5364147006/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Drops of Pearl by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Drops of Pearl" height="435" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5201/5364147006_7631c161bf.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Nonetheless we managed to sight the following butterflies: Great Orange-tip, Common Jezebel, Common Bush Brown, Common Sailor, Skipper, etc. We also got some nice macro shots of flowers (with dew drops), caterpillar, dragonfly, etc. I guess we will need more outings to be able to explore the near 100 species of butterflies that can be seen at Ovalekar Wadi.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><b style="background-color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For a slide show of complete set of pictures from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Ovalekar Wadi-II</span>, please click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/sets/72157625844874384/show/" style="color: #002750; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">here</span></a>.</span></b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5363546275/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Caterpillar by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Caterpillar" height="438" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5050/5363546275_f866890a88.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-92028530464630990522011-01-14T20:26:00.003+05:302011-01-14T20:34:15.094+05:30Picture of the day: Hired cooks!<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5354103521/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5044/5354103521_3bf2ae2326.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>Men who toil to make our festivals sweet... all with a smile on their face, never mind the sweat and the grime! Clicked during the middle of last year.<br />
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Wish you all a very happy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makar_Sankranti">Makar Sankranti</a> :)<div class="blogger-post-footer">-
Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-61628945281662476632011-01-06T12:52:00.004+05:302018-12-23T21:29:01.917+05:30Rewind: A photographic journey through 2010<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5306325578/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Malshej Ghat: Pimpalgaon Joge Lake - Sunset time (Panorama) by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Malshej Ghat: Pimpalgaon Joge Lake - Sunset time (Panorama)" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5082/5306325578_fc55ff7242_z.jpg" height="254" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sunset at Pimpalgaon Joga Lake, Malshej Ghat</b></td></tr>
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The year 2010 may have come to an end, but the time to look back and enjoy some of the great moments of 2010 has only just begun! The advantage a photographer has is that he / she can capture those moments and present them with his / her own unique perspective.<br />
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In an effort to share with you some of the sights / moments I have been privileged to witness in 2010, I have put together a compilation of some of my <b>Best clicks of 2010</b>. This compilation is based on both viewer feedback received on Flickr as well as my discretion. Every picture is like a baby and it is difficult to chose the better one. Hence, I have taken the liberty and been generous with my pickings.<br />
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Here is the link to the gallery - <b><a href="https://www.mybioscope.net/Travel/My-Fav-Clicks-in-2010" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">My favourite clicks in 2010</span></a></b><br />
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There's another interesting compilation that I have put together, titled the <b>People of India</b>. It is a collection of mostly street photographs and a few self-portraits (ahem!). Not all are from the year 2010, but most are. In case you are interested, you can see them <a href="https://www.mybioscope.net/People/People-of-India-Portraits" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Here</span></a> .<br />
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I hope you have a great time viewing them. Please feel free to comment on the pictures. In case you come across a picture, which in your opinion, does not deserve to be in the gallery then do let me know since it would help me in trimming the gallery.<br />
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As an aside, 2010 was the second year of 'My Bioscope' and during this year it went from being merely a photo-blog to a travel & photography blog. Consequently the readership and hits ('eyeballs' as they say in Silicon Valley) have also gone up. Today a bulk of our readers come via search engines. I would also like to personally thank each one of you who has been reading 'My Bioscope' regularly - through Google Followers, Facebook Fan page, RSS Feed, Bookmarks, etc. and I look forward to your continued patronage...!<br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Cheers to 2011! May you all have a wonderful, healthy and a fun filled year ahead :)</span></i></b><br />
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-78029549226271998352011-01-01T12:30:00.001+05:302018-12-23T20:35:07.981+05:30Malshej Ghat, the Prince of Sahyadris! - a perfect weekend getaway from Mumbai!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2dZV3IYYI/AAAAAAAAEwU/EnNIgMNM1Dc/s800/_DSC1170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2dZV3IYYI/AAAAAAAAEwU/EnNIgMNM1Dc/s640/_DSC1170.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Malshej Ghat, view from the plateau</b></td></tr>
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Not many would believe it, but Mumbai is still a blessed place! As Mumbaikars we are indeed privileged to have places like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malshej_Ghat">Malshej Ghat</a> at a driving distance of only 3 hours.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2enhMYV3I/AAAAAAAAEwY/0EEBK2y3xic/s800/_DSC1184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2enhMYV3I/AAAAAAAAEwY/0EEBK2y3xic/s320/_DSC1184.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Malshej Ghat is a quaint hill-station located ahead of Kalyan, at a distance of about 150 Kms from Mumbai. Cosily nestled in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Ghats">Western Ghats</a> of Pune District, it is a place which has acquired fame (and some notoriety) for the unparalleled sights it offers during the monsoon months. Indeed the best time to visit the place is during monsoons when the swirling wind, heavy showers, verdant mountains and numerous waterfalls weave an atmosphere of magic in these jungles. But, on weekends, these delights also attract a lot of merry makers for whom the idea of enjoying this nature's bounty is to consume bucketfuls of liquor and then create ruckus in broad daylight along the streets and at the plateau beside the MTDC Flamingo Hill Resort. Aside from this, Malshej Ghat is a place where the waves of commercial exploitation are yet to reach. It has only two hotels worth the name - MTDC Flamingo Hill Resort and Su-shant Resort. Consequently, it is an ideal destination for people who want to spend time in solitude and soak in the tranquil atmosphere.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 20px;"><b style="background-color: #999999;">For the complete set of pictures from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Malshej Ghat</span>, please click <a href="https://www.mybioscope.net/Travel/Malshej-Ghat/n-wnsTtC" style="color: #002750; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">here</span></a>.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5306472852/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Malshej Ghat - Panorama by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Malshej Ghat - Panorama" height="124" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5209/5306472852_93a8ee1b48_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Malshej Ghat Panorama</b></td></tr>
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The place is equally impressive even during the non-monsoon months. In fact Malshej Ghat is a place which has something to offer for every class of traveller. If you are of the adventurous kind, then there are numerous trekking points around here - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harishchandragad">Harishchandragad</a> (a place which every trekker worth his salt swears by, being one of the most difficult points in this part of the world), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivneri">Shivneri</a> (birth place of the warrior king <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivaji">Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj</a>) and the numerous nature trails in the rolling hills around Malshej Ghat.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2fl1VWDhI/AAAAAAAAEwc/Yz4T4hPnCmA/s640/_DSC0733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2fl1VWDhI/AAAAAAAAEwc/Yz4T4hPnCmA/s200/_DSC0733.jpg" width="137" /></a></div>For wildlife lovers, the place is a paradise of sorts. Located in the Western Ghats, one of the few <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity_hotspot">biodiversity hotspots</a> in the world, it is home to several species of birds (resident and migratory), butterflies, flowers, reptiles, etc. including its most famous visitor - the beautiful Flamingos, who have perhaps rightfully chosen this place to breed during the monsoon months. The area around <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pimpalgaon_Joge_Dam">Pimpalgaon-Joge dam</a> (located about 5 Kms from the MTDC resort) is an excellent birding hotspot which attracts a host of migratory birds during winter. One could even go Leopard tracking in the dense jungles nearby or in the adjacent Junnar area - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junnar">Wikipedia</a> tells me t<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">hat "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Junnar taluka in Maharashtra has the largest density of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">leopard</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> population within a 500 km² area", Gulp</span>!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2gX63EYaI/AAAAAAAAEwg/-wpLYM9q99k/s800/_DSC0683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2gX63EYaI/AAAAAAAAEwg/-wpLYM9q99k/s200/_DSC0683.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Finally, if you are of the Wodehousian type, looking to spend a quiet day away from the hustle-bustle of the city, just relaxing, repairing and enjoying the simple aspects of life - seeing time fly by, listening to the sweet melodies of the birds, walking bare-feet on cold grass, feeling the gentle wind lapping on your face, reflecting on the how's & why's of life - then Malshej is perhaps the place you need to head out the next weekend.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2gnmrWJ-I/AAAAAAAAEwk/zmfh8tHF7s8/s640/_DSC0519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2gnmrWJ-I/AAAAAAAAEwk/zmfh8tHF7s8/s200/_DSC0519.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>For the moment we fell in the second and third category. The occasion was my wife's birthday and we were looking to spend a day out without much fanfare. We decided on the place only two days before and thanks to the off-season, managed to get bookings at the MTDC Flamingo Hill Resort (where otherwise getting bookings is very difficult). We got moving at the crack of dawn and as the soft sunlight filtered in through the trees we could see the air and landscape change immediately after we passed Kalyan. Mountain peaks draped in winter mist, monkeys (Rhesus Macaques) waving out to us from the edge of the road, winding and undulating roads, sweet earthy scent of the Indian hinterland wafting from the villages (still unscathed by modernity), and spicy Misal Pav with cutting tea (for breakfast) were some of the pleasures we enjoyed during this small journey.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2hI-hl9GI/AAAAAAAAEwo/tvo114fZ5JY/s800/_DSC0547-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2hI-hl9GI/AAAAAAAAEwo/tvo114fZ5JY/s320/_DSC0547-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>As we neared Malshej Ghat, we passed through the solitary tunnel and immediately after it, on our left, saw a strange piece of nature's architecture. Overlooking the vast expanse of the Malshej Valley was a lone rock (shaped like Thumbs-up) jutting out at the edge of a small cliffed plateau. There's a narrow passage at the end of the tunnel which leads to the spot. It's a place from where one can photograph the entire panorama and spend a good 15-20 minutes (or more!) marvelling at the rock and the sights. If you are lucky, you could even get to photograph a Raptor flying at eye level!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5305876569/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Malshej Ghat Panorama by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Malshej Ghat Panorama" height="140" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5088/5305876569_a7a05f11c0.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Malshej Ghat Panorama from Rock Point</b></td></tr>
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We reached the resort by 11:00AM. <a href="http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/mtdc/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/MTDC_Resort/Malshej/Malshej.html">MTDC Flamingo Hill Resort</a> is located on a plateau, surrounded by jungles and rolling hills, and it came to us as no surprise as to why it was so popular with travellers - there's no better place to get a good 180 degree view of the valley (save for the rock point I mentioned earlier). However, the place is like any other MTDC property - excellent location, trashy facilities!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2h59Ba2ZI/AAAAAAAAEws/phsBV8_JNDs/s800/_DSC0671_bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2h59Ba2ZI/AAAAAAAAEws/phsBV8_JNDs/s320/_DSC0671_bw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>At a distance we could see from the hotel drive-in that the waters of Pimpalgaon-Joga dam were beckoning us - it was wonderful to see them glistening in the sun. Since we were before check-in time, we decided to take a stroll on the plateau. There were very few tourists currently and the vast expanse was ours to own. The plateau abruptly ends into a deep gorge with dense jungle at the bottom. The jungle seemed calm from hundreds of feet above, but I am sure it was wild and teeming with activity below! The edge of the plateau is perhaps the best place to spend quality time!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2i3jufM7I/AAAAAAAAEww/zW8apt9r6cU/s800/_DSC0911_2b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2i3jufM7I/AAAAAAAAEww/zW8apt9r6cU/s320/_DSC0911_2b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Soon after a sumptuous lunch (the food is ok if you stick to the basic items) we headed straight towards Pimpalgaon-Joga lake. The lake has been created by halting the waters of River Pushpavati by constructing a <i>bund</i> or an earth-fill dam. There's a crude road on top of the dam which leads to Khireshwar village - the base camp for trek to Harishchandragad. Stretched expansively under the blue sky, the waters appear azure as far and wide as the human eye can see and one feels like getting lost in that moment. It's one of those perfect postcard lakes - rolling mountains on either side, a village behind us and the waters disappearing on the horizon - mesmerising! The lake is peppered with rocks which serve as perching point for cormorants, terns, egrets, kingfishers, and other water birds. Every now and then a cormorant would do the sorties and keep us entertained.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2jjZv_voI/AAAAAAAAEw4/EFXr8hDZgec/s800/_DSC0851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2jjZv_voI/AAAAAAAAEw4/EFXr8hDZgec/s320/_DSC0851.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2jXtf5BnI/AAAAAAAAEw0/1cO4uYyOqaU/s800/_DSC0829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2jXtf5BnI/AAAAAAAAEw0/1cO4uYyOqaU/s320/_DSC0829.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2j1rjRW4I/AAAAAAAAEw8/oEd4qPbaZkQ/s800/_DSC0976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2j1rjRW4I/AAAAAAAAEw8/oEd4qPbaZkQ/s320/_DSC0976.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2kRIgSWWI/AAAAAAAAExA/Y4KwHAJbBf4/s640/_DSC0907-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2kRIgSWWI/AAAAAAAAExA/Y4KwHAJbBf4/s200/_DSC0907-2.jpg" width="137" /></a></div>We slowly traversed the entire cross-section and finally settled down at a small piece of land that merges into the waters at the end of the dam. Once here, we waited for the evening - the crucial twilight time - when all the colours of nature would be on full display. The simple charms of rustic life were there for us to savour - smoke billowing from the stacks on the horizon, buffaloes bathing in the waters only a few feet away from us! We also met a villager who told us tales of misery of the people of the land. His eyes were intense, but there would be a glint whenever he would mention the prices that some pieces of land were fetching! We spent our time chatting, throwing pebbles in the water and photographing birds, including the Common Kingfisher who would intermittently come and perch on a rock few feet away from us.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><b>Evening is when nature's magic show begins...</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2k-hukLJI/AAAAAAAAExE/w8D_n3l3_Ag/s1200/_DSC1088_stitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2k-hukLJI/AAAAAAAAExE/w8D_n3l3_Ag/s640/_DSC1088_stitch.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2l2z9PerI/AAAAAAAAExM/uLVF_I8QTnQ/s800/_DSC1134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2l2z9PerI/AAAAAAAAExM/uLVF_I8QTnQ/s640/_DSC1134.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2lgzQoOhI/AAAAAAAAExI/6F6aJnRfegM/s800/_DSC1059_2b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2lgzQoOhI/AAAAAAAAExI/6F6aJnRfegM/s640/_DSC1059_2b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Time flew fast... soon evening fell and we were joined in by a large family group at this time. It was an absolute riot of colours. Sky was the canvas and God was the painter - from shades of yellow to golden to blue on nightfall - we couldn't have asked for more! With a very heavy heart we left the place and trundled back to our car. Back at the resort, a bunch of college students were having a campfire at the plateau. Amidst all the cacophony of these revellers, we could hear songs like <i>Munni badnam hui</i> blaring from mobile phones<i>... </i>wonder what the resident Gods must be thinking of them! Meanwhile, the night sky was beautifully lit up by the near full moon and countless stars.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2mvgpUHnI/AAAAAAAAExQ/Xz-rB_1SwHc/s800/_DSC1342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TR2mvgpUHnI/AAAAAAAAExQ/Xz-rB_1SwHc/s320/_DSC1342.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bee-eater readying to take flight</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>In the morning we ventured out early onto the plateau, hoping to catch some birds and capture panoramas in the soft morning light. The Long-tailed Shrike, Green Bee-eater, Pied Buschat, Blue Rockthrush, Crested Lark were all there for us - somehow shy this morning! Soon the butterflies also joined in and all around us it seemed like a song & dance party of nature! Good things don't last for long and the check-out time was looming upon us. In the courtyard we saw people playing volleyball and badminton. Finally by 2.00PM we bid Malshej Ghat goodbye but not before enjoying another sumptuous lunch, this time from the restaurant's upper deck from where the whole valley is visible!<br />
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All in all it was a day well spent. Perfect blend of some nature-watch activity and relaxation! Truly, Malshej Ghat is the 'Prince of Sahyadris'!<br />
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<blockquote><i style="font-weight: bold;">"I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes" </i><i>- </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Edward Estlin Cummings</span></span></blockquote><br />
As always, I look forward to your comments / suggestions / feedback. Do write in...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Thank you!</b></td></tr>
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-33763162051642198702010-12-22T19:30:00.006+05:302010-12-22T19:33:15.466+05:30Picture of the day<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5283058930/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5126/5283058930_70515fe377.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5283058930/">Captured from my home...</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/thelegendreturns/">thelegendreturns</a>.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Captured this today from my home...<br />
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Have posted several pictures in the past of dusk / sunset captured from my home on this blog. I really consider myself lucky to have enjoyed these views for close to 23 years of my life now. However, soon these views would be gone as the panorama is fast filling up with new construction, sigh!<br />
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Lets enjoy the sights while we still have them!<div class="blogger-post-footer">-
Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-33725026227031838462010-12-20T22:37:00.001+05:302018-12-24T10:26:15.241+05:30Ovalekar Wadi - abode of the butterflies (Part 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ovalekar-Wadi-Butterfly-GardenGhodbunder-RoadThaneW/124297987625777">Ovalekar Wadi</a> is a quiet little butterfly park (all of 2 acres) located off the Ghodbunder Road in Thane (near Mumbai). Home to about 70-90 different species of butterflies, it's a place about which I learnt only a few months ago! What pleased me the most was that as a resident of Mulund it wouldn't be too much of a bother reaching the place early in the morning.<br />
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I set out from my house at 6:30 AM on a November morning armed with my camera kit. No sooner had I stepped out, than it started raining!!! It was only a drizzle, but enough to indicate that for good part of the morning the sky would be overcast and hence the light poor - a photographer's nightmare!<br />
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Thankfully it wasn't all that bad either. Yes light was poor and we got to see far fewer butterflies than otherwise, but we had an overall positive impression about the place and resolved to come back again soon.<br />
Intermittently, sunlight would filter in through the cracks in the clouds and we used that opportunity to indulge in some macro photography - flowers, insects, et al.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #999999;">For a slide show of complete set of pictures from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Ovalekar Wadi</span>, please click <a href="https://www.mybioscope.net/Nature/Ovalekar-Wadi-Thane-Butterfly-Park/Ovalekar-Wadi-Thane/n-4jk5vc/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">here</span></a>.</b></span><br />
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The park is a result of the efforts put in by Mr. Rajendra Ovalekar, the owner of the place. He has planted a variety of fruit and flower bearing trees in this patch of land, thereby creating a natural environment where butterflies can thrive without any need for enclosures. He very passionately showed us a butterfly cocoon, caterpillars, and also explained some of the finer aspects of butterflies.<br />
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As we were enjoying the sight of butterflies flitting about, flower to flower, we were very lucky to sight a Signature Spider trap a butterfly and entangle it in his web. That was the highlight of the visit. Apart from this we got some nice shots of flowers (with water droplets beautifully sparkling on their petals), mushrooms, a cat that seemed eager to catch a prey, moths, and butterflies such as - Blue Glass Tiger, Striped Tiger, Common Evening Brown, Common Palmfly, Common Crow, etc. - a fraction of the total population over there.<br />
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I believe the place is a must visit for butterfly lovers and people generally interested in nature macro photography. Spend a few hours here at leisure and you are sure to go back refreshed. We are fortunate that there are still a few patches of green left in & around Mumbai, thanks to spirited people like Mr. Ovalekar - lets enjoy them while we still have them!<br />
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<b>Looking forward to your comments...</b></div>
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<b>How to reach the place:</b> Ovalekar Wadi is located off the Ghodbunder Road in Thane (West) (see map - <a href="http://www.wikimapia.org/14420146/Butterfly-Farm">http://www.wikimapia.org/14420146/Butterfly-Farm</a>). Whether coming from Mulund Check Naka or Thane Station, ask for Parshvanath College of Engineering or Harmony Society in Owale. Just ahead of these landmarks there is a narrow winding lane on the left (be alert as you are sure to miss it), which takes you inside the village. Drive for two minutes on this lane and keep an eye out for a non-descript gate on the right (again you are sure to miss this). A board outside the gate reads Ovalekar Wadi but there's no mention of butterfly park. The entry charges are Rs. 50/- only and the park is open all day.</div>
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-86631114900576506812010-10-30T10:56:00.005+05:302011-06-04T14:02:41.056+05:30Kaas Plateau - Maharashtra's Valley of Flowers - a heaven on earth!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5120405182/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Kaas Plateau - let a million flowers bloom! by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Kaas Plateau - let a million flowers bloom!" height="435" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/5120405182_b2d17fb078.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Let a million flowers bloom! - Kaas Plateau</b></td></tr>
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Picture yourself at a place where there are rows and rows of blooming flowers on a flat land, as far as your eyes can see - different colours, different varieties - surrounded by verdant mountains, lakes and valleys. If you think I am asking you to recollect a scene from some Yash Chopra film then you are mistaken. I am alluding to a place which is only 6-7 hours drive South of Mumbai and about 2-3 hours from Pune.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5120351702/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" title="Kaas Plateau - Bed of Eriocaulon Tuberiferum flowers by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Kaas Plateau - Bed of Eriocaulon Tuberiferum flowers" height="217" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1193/5120351702_6b81c20759.jpg" width="320" /></a>Kaas Plateau, nestled in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahyadri">Sahyadris</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Ghats">Western Ghats</a>) in the District of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satara_district">Satara</a> (of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabaleshwar">Mahabaleshwar</a> fame), is also known as Maharashtra's Plateau of Flowers or the Valley of Flowers (being surrounded by valleys on two sides). As the monsoon sets in, the place comes alive with millions of wild flowers blooming on the plateau and along the slopes of the hills (all naturally occurring). The carpet changes colour every passing day and hour - white, yellow, pink, violet, blue. Add to this the changing hues of the sky, it being rainy season, and you have a magical place - a place fit for the Gods!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For a slide show of <u>complete</u> set of pictures from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Kaas Plateau</span>, please click</span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span><b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/sets/72157625127827029/show/" style="color: #002750; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">HERE</span></span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5120513722/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Kaas Plateau during monsoon by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Kaas Plateau during monsoon" height="435" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/5120513722_14c7b60732.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Gathering Storm</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5120496440/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Kaas Plateau - Bed of flowers - countless Smithia Hirsuta flowers by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Kaas Plateau - Bed of flowers - countless Smithia Hirsuta flowers" height="435" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5120496440_ef35023a0a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kaas Plateau - Bed of flowers - countless Smithia Hirsuta flowers</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Malabar Crested Lark</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The best time to enjoy this nature's bounty is August - October, of which September is perhaps the best. Apart from the flowers, keep an eye on the fauna as well - birds such as the Malabar Crested Lark, Bonneli's Eagle, Indian Robin, Crested Bunting, etc; reptiles - we saw a man holding Vine Snake on our way to the plateau; and myriad insects.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMre3hgXuoI/AAAAAAAAEno/RBXIhdv5r4U/s800/_DSC0111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMre3hgXuoI/AAAAAAAAEno/RBXIhdv5r4U/s320/_DSC0111.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">According to Dr. Sandeep Shrotri, there are over 1,500 types of plants in Kaas - 156 botanical families, 680 genera, 1452 species, 400 medicinal plants, and about 33 endangered varieties in Kaas and the neighbouring Koyna area. Many of these are believed to be not found elsewhere. It thus becomes imperative to protect this place. As such the Western Ghats are a biodiversity hotspot (amongst the two in India, out of a total of 34 world over). Days after we visited the place, <a href="http://sify.com/news/unesco-team-to-visit-plateau-of-flowers-news-national-kkklabhfjgf.html">a team from UNESCO visited the site</a> in order to assess it for declaring it a World Heritage Site. Achieving this milestone would go a long way in creating awareness about conserving the place.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Some of the commonly found flowers at Kaas, and which are pictured here & in slideshow are - Smithia Hirsute (Mickey Mouse flower), Senecio Grahami, Utricularia Purpurascens, Dipcadi Montanum, Impatiens Oppositifolia, Indigofera Dalzelli, Cyanotis Cristata, Ipomoea Nil, Celosia Argentea, Drosero India, etc. (unable to label them below since it distorts alignment)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMrlDzqMv0I/AAAAAAAAEo0/gCUD4EyQHeI/s640/_DSC0765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMrlDzqMv0I/AAAAAAAAEo0/gCUD4EyQHeI/s200/_DSC0765.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMrlQbF6gXI/AAAAAAAAEo4/-L6chNm6Qa8/s800/_DSC0789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMrlQbF6gXI/AAAAAAAAEo4/-L6chNm6Qa8/s200/_DSC0789.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMrlVTPZ-FI/AAAAAAAAEo8/ChrSvyEBK7g/s640/_DSC0842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMrlVTPZ-FI/AAAAAAAAEo8/ChrSvyEBK7g/s200/_DSC0842.jpg" width="137" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5120519772/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Thousands of vehicles lined up beside the Kaas Plateau! by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Thousands of vehicles lined up beside the Kaas Plateau!" height="272" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/5120519772_bacd065daf.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Endless line of vehicles on an overcast day!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Today, this once quaint idyllic place is under threat (it is not a declared protected area!) as <a href="http://72.78.249.126/SakaalTimesBeta/20101009/4772234722818999073.htm">lakhs of tourists </a>visit this place. While tourism helps create awareness, it is also a double edged sword. Many tourists blissfully pluck flowers, uproot plants, litter the place and trample upon the flowers & insects - not knowing which endangered species they might be causing harm to. Many also indulge in revelry and treat it as a picnic spot.<br />
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When we reached the spot on the first day, there were hundreds of vehicles lined-up on either side of the road along the Kaas Plateau - while the next day (being Sunday) there was absolutely no place to park for miles - the cops had decided to halt vehicles headed for Kaas well in advance in order to avoid a traffic nightmare. I have to say that the cops stationed at the place are doing an admirable job of guiding the tourists and preventing any foul play - but just like entries to a national park are restricted, to conserve the place it is necessary to quickly come up with some mechanism to manage the flow of tourists.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMrspavrmSI/AAAAAAAAEpE/OHuF0gBfBtU/s640/_DSC0547-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMrspavrmSI/AAAAAAAAEpE/OHuF0gBfBtU/s320/_DSC0547-2.jpg" width="219" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><u><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5119896831/" title="Kaas Plateau - Visitors enjoying the sight of bed of flowers by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Kaas Plateau - Visitors enjoying the sight of bed of flowers" height="218" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1176/5119896831_7dfffe8cc3.jpg" width="320" /></a></u></span></div><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">With the place gaining in popularity over the last few years, things have only gotten worse. What's more, the place is also rich in minerals and one can only dread what could be the fate of the place if it is not declared a protected area!</div><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMrttbnfFAI/AAAAAAAAEpM/LFLIsSqL9SI/s640/_DSC0525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMrttbnfFAI/AAAAAAAAEpM/LFLIsSqL9SI/s320/_DSC0525.jpg" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Soak it in!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>We had been to Kaas during the 2nd - 3rd October, 2010 weekend as part of the <a href="http://www.bnhs.org/">BNHS</a> programme. Going along with knowledgeable people helps one understand the place better. Though the trip was towards the fag end of the blooming season we got to see enough diversity to be more than impressed with the beauty of the place. It is literally a cornucopia of flowers as you would also realise from the pictures.<br />
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Even the drive from Satara City to Kaas Plateau (about 20-22 Kms) is very scenic. One can see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanher_Dam">Kanher Dam</a> and Urmodi Dam on either side of the drive respectively - separated from the road by scenic valleys. There are number of farms dotting the place where one can see people going about their simple yet strenuous routines. After visiting Kaas, one can spend a good hour or two photographing the panoramic landscape, birds and other flora around here. Then there is also the Kaas Lake which is a must visit - its azure waters surrounded by forests,and the cool wind blowing on your face provide a nice tranquil and refreshing feeling. Apart from this, I have been told, there are a number of historical temples and gushing waterfalls nearby.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMrublAjkHI/AAAAAAAAEpQ/-TdsaPd40rU/s800/_DSC0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMrublAjkHI/AAAAAAAAEpQ/-TdsaPd40rU/s320/_DSC0027.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMruuSJo5zI/AAAAAAAAEpU/6zn6Jj8Psq0/s800/_DSC0068-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMruuSJo5zI/AAAAAAAAEpU/6zn6Jj8Psq0/s320/_DSC0068-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">En-route Kaas</span></b></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5119714571/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="En route Kaas Plateau by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="En route Kaas Plateau" height="435" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/5119714571_60b75c2d38.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>En-route Kaas</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5119947455/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Kaas Lake by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Kaas Lake" height="435" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1094/5119947455_e0c16b0458.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kaas Lake</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMrwZfOY3mI/AAAAAAAAEpg/cqHubsVktrs/s1600/Pan+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMrwZfOY3mI/AAAAAAAAEpg/cqHubsVktrs/s640/Pan+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kanher Dam panorama (stitched)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Most importantly do not miss the evening at Kaas Plateau - the sunset and the changing hues of the sky are absolutely surreal and have an out of the world feeling about it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5120422030/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Sunset kid by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Sunset kid" height="464" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1117/5120422030_db808261b5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5119840643/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cars lined up beside the Kaas Plateau by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Cars lined up beside the Kaas Plateau" height="435" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1236/5119840643_c0bc76c977.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5120443228/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Kaas Plateau @ sunset time by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Kaas Plateau @ sunset time" height="435" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1205/5120443228_f6e830d802.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kaas @ Sunset time!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>We ended our trip on Sunday afternoon by enjoying sumptuous Maharashtrian food at a place providing homestay options - located between Satara City and Kaas. These people were very passionate about nature and had planted a number of flowering plants in their courtyard. The flowers you will see towards the end of the slideshow are the ones cultivated by these folks and are not to be mistaken for the wild flowers of Kaas Plateau.<br />
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<b>Travel tip...</b> To reach Satara, one can either drive down from Mumbai or hop onto the many buses that ply regularly between the two cities. There are plenty of stay options in Satara. Kaas Plateau is located about 20-22 Kms from the city on the road that leads to Bamnoli village.<br />
Do not forget to carry a sunscreen lotion and an insect repellent cream (if you are comfortable applying it). Being rainy season, carry adequate protection for your photography gear. Importantly buy Dr. Sandeep Shrotri's book 'Kaas - Plateau of Flowers' - it has a wealth of information on the place, flora and fauna and in it he also makes a passionate plea to protect the place. A two day weekend, I believe, is good enough to explore the place - you may want to go more than once to check out different carpets.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMryPNIbUYI/AAAAAAAAEpw/dIyILeIbuak/s1600/Pan+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMryPNIbUYI/AAAAAAAAEpw/dIyILeIbuak/s640/Pan+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Satara City - through the valley - panorama</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMryvk0spbI/AAAAAAAAEp0/fCyoZAZ6G-4/s640/_DSC0030-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TMryvk0spbI/AAAAAAAAEp0/fCyoZAZ6G-4/s200/_DSC0030-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you! Do write in with comments / questions.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Conserve nature! Protect our future!<br />
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</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">-
Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-73050974380688582862010-10-19T17:41:00.001+05:302010-10-19T22:33:04.967+05:3010 Amazing Photos of India - a photo-essay featured on Go! Overseas<div style="text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TL1pf3v_6pI/AAAAAAAAEk8/B70B2dp5X-o/s800/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TL1pf3v_6pI/AAAAAAAAEk8/B70B2dp5X-o/s320/3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>God's Own Country, Kerala</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://www.gooverseas.com/">Go! Overseas</a> have this week published on their website a photo-essay contributed by me. The objective of this photo-essay, titled '<a href="http://www.gooverseas.com/go-abroad-blog/10-amazing-photos-india/5641">10 Amazing Photos of India</a>', is to market India as a destination where the international community can explore opportunities to teach, study and volunteer. The pictures are a preview to what they can expect in India in terms of the beauty and the culture of the place.<br />
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The post has been compiled based on the pictures taken by me during the many journeys I have undertaken to discover the magnificent diversity of India and hence (constrained by my travels) may not be truly representative of all that India has to offer.<br />
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In the words of Go! Overseas - "<b><i>From the towering Himalayas, to white-sandy beaches, India clearly is blessed with an amazing abundance of natural and cultural diversity</i></b>"<br />
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To read the post click <a href="http://www.gooverseas.com/go-abroad-blog/10-amazing-photos-india/5641"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">here</span></b></a><br />
To know more about Go! Overseas, click <b><a href="http://www.gooverseas.com/go-abroad-about"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">here</span></a></b><br />
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I hope you enjoy the post. As always I look forward to your feedback. A special thanks to Andrew Dunkle of Go! Overseas for providing me the opportunity to showcase India.<br />
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-17766846374996864722010-09-28T22:18:00.003+05:302010-09-29T19:47:34.962+05:30Window shooting (Part 1) and photography tips for shooting sunsets & moons<div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"></div> <blockquote> <div style="text-align: center"><b><i>"I enjoy travelling and recording far-away places and people with my camera. But I also find it wonderfully rewarding to see what I can discover outside my own window. You only need to study the scene with the eyes of a photographer."</i></b> </div> </blockquote> <blockquote> <div style="text-align: right">- <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Alfred Eisenstaed</span></span></div> </blockquote> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5036279718/lightbox/" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TKM7kpy_I2I/AAAAAAAAEjg/YfS59hP3z50/s640/_DSC0227_2b.jpg" width="640" height="436" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption"><b>A Bat flies across the setting sun in Mulund</b><a name='more'></a> <br /><a name="more"></a> <div style="text-align: left"><b></b></div> <div style="text-align: left"> </div> <div style="text-align: left"></div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table style="text-align: left; float: left; margin-right: 1em" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; clear: left; margin-right: auto" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5022621047/lightbox/" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TJ4EwaaYKSI/AAAAAAAAEhA/vffcYHKam_I/s400/_DSC0062_2b.jpg" width="276" height="400" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption"><b>Sunset over Mulund hills</b></td> </tr> </tbody></table> In the page '<a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/p/about-blog.html">About My Bioscope</a>', the blog description ends with the above quote and it is only fitting that I reproduce it over here - because today's post depicts some of the pictures I have captured from the cosy confines of my house by merely peeping out of the window and having the camera at hand (and also in part because nobody would have read the blog description!). <br /> <br />Photography is a subject which can be practiced literally anywhere, even in your bathroom (more about it some other day) and that is why I love it (not to be mistaken for spending time in the bathroom). As I have said in some of my earlier posts also, photography is all about perspective and a brilliant composition is just waiting to be captured right close to from where you are reading this. <br /> <br />It is not always possible to travel - due to time constraints, budget constraints and of course sheer laziness! In order to keep the creative juices flowing one is hence compelled to look around for subjects. And how very rewarding it can be, gee! <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5025540735/lightbox/" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TJ9JyolK2uI/AAAAAAAAEh4/-DS0zswQPec/s400/_DSC0079_3-1.jpg" width="400" height="400" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption"><b>Birds heading home</b></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br />People who have been following my blog (and I know there aren't many) would have seen in the previous posts the various colours and aspects of the sky that I have captured (see these posts here - <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/2010/02/moods-of-sky.html">1</a>, <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/2010/01/maghi-purnima-full-moon.html">2</a>, <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/2010/01/first-sunset-of-2010.html">3</a>, <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/2009/12/violence-peace.html">4</a>, <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/2009/03/sundown-on-real-estate-sector.html">5</a>) from my home. This post takes the series forward by depicting some more enchanting skies. Additionally there is the picture of the bird, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_Magpie_Robin">Oriental Magpie Robin</a>, that I spotted this Saturday perched on a cable few feet away from my window (previous similar home shots - <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/2009/06/bird-watching-in-mulund-2.html">1</a>, <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/2009/03/trying-to-scare-daylights.html">2</a>). Apart from these, there is an entire world waiting to be captured from one's window - street life - which we will see in another post. <br /> <br /> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5022618471/lightbox/" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TJ4FX1U2oxI/AAAAAAAAEhE/t4sPZ4JbTy4/s400/_DSC0031_2b.jpg" width="400" height="273" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption"><b>Sunset over Mulund hills</b></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br />The hills that you see in these pictures are part of the <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/2010/08/sanjay-gandhi-national-park-silonda.html">Sanjay Gandhi National Park</a>. There was a time when I could get a sweeping panoramic view of these hills. But the real estate boom of the past few years has slowly blocked most of this view and it won't be long before I won't be able to see the sunset from my window and on that day this series would also come to an end, sigh! <br /> <div style="margin: 0px"> <br /></div> <br /> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5022621805/lightbox/" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TJ4Fyc2g4bI/AAAAAAAAEhI/K-yQtcInNE0/s400/_DSC0046_2b.jpg" width="400" height="273" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption"><b>Oriental Magpie Robin (OMR)</b></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br />This bird was whistling its melodious tune and I knew the moment I heard the sound that it was the OMR (they are quite regular around my house) and I dashed to the window with my camera - in the process startling my father, who was enjoying his morning breakfast beside the window! <br /> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"></div> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"></div> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"></div> <b>I am giving some photography tips below (free! free! free!) based on what works for me (disclaimer)!</b> <br /> <br /> <br /> <table style="text-align: left; float: left; margin-right: 1em" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; clear: left; margin-right: auto" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5026155588/lightbox/" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TJ9KmZ59FPI/AAAAAAAAEh8/IZD62wTq5ew/s320/_DSC0083_2-1.jpg" width="320" height="218" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption"><b>Birds heading home</b></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <b>Photography tip for shooting stunning sunsets: </b>For that ideal sunset picture it is important to ensure that you get the exposure right else the picture may turnout either too dark or washed out. Also the subject that you want to show as silhouette (hill, bat, buildings, birds and transmission towers in the these pictures) may not turn out as intended. For people using point and shoot cameras, use the in-built 'sunset' option. More often than not it works. For people with SLR and prosumers, set the camera to 'aperture priority' mode (aperture value of 8.0), meter the camera from the sun and stop down the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposure_value">EV</a> by 1/3 - 2/3 - this will ensure that the camera compensates for the sun's brightness, adds warmth and produces the silhouette effect (should you need to quickly switch to 'manual mode', in case the sun becomes dull at the time of sunset, preset it to a shutter speed of 1/160 - 1/200). Lock the exposure and now compose your frame, click! Depending upon the scene, you could also use evaluative metering, but ensure that you stop down the EV. <br /> <br />While some of these aspects can also be controlled during post-processing, I believe in the Japanese management concept of 'Do it right the first time'. Most important thing is to take test shots before the actual moment - lest you miss out on a great shot because the settings were not right! And of course practice a lot! <br /> <br />In case you do not want the silhouette effect, such as in the pictures below, then meter from an area next to the sun (which will be less intense) else use evaluative metering. Rest of the procedure remains the same. <br /> <br /> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5033387290/lightbox/" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TKH25PaCRWI/AAAAAAAAEi4/bGgxolFTE04/s400/_DSC0165_2.jpg" width="400" height="223" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption"><b>Mulund</b></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5033385680/lightbox/" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TKIbd8B9biI/AAAAAAAAEjQ/kEaXGZuBmzk/s400/_DSC0184_4.jpg" width="400" height="161" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption"><b>Sun about to set over Mulund</b></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"></div> For some more of my <b>sunset and evening</b> shots, click <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/search/label/Sunset"><b>here</b></a>. <br /> <br /> <br /> <table style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"><a style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5022629007/lightbox/" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TJ4MG4GD6nI/AAAAAAAAEhU/8xCnqeDdQrQ/s400/_DSC0193_2b.jpg" width="400" height="273" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" class="tr-caption"><b>The crescent moon</b></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /><b>Photography tip for those beautiful moon shots: </b>For people who want to photograph the moon, remember that the moon is bright and can also have a halo around it. In order to compensate for this, meter your camera from the moon using spot metering and stop down the EV by 2/3. Use the 'manual mode' and set the aperture value to 8. The precise shutter speed to use would depend upon the phase of the moon you are trying to shoot as well as its position in the sky (closer to the horizon they are a lot bigger but may not be as bright). For the above shot I have used a shutter speed of 1/15 (crescent moons are not as bright as full moons and require longer exposure), while for capturing <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/2010/01/maghi-purnima-full-moon.html">Maghi Poornima</a> I have used a shutter speed of 1/640 - in other words do some test shots - using 'aperture priority' mode would also work just as fine on most occasions (saving the headache of deciding the right shutter speed). These settings will ensure that your picture has the right exposure and captures the moon accurately, with craters, spots, et al! <br /> <br />In terms terms of gear, you need to have a camera with "atleast" 12-15X zoom or a 200-300mm lens to produce a picture of any meaningful size. Also use a lens hood in case there are external light sources nearby to prevent flares. If you do not have a steady hand, rest your elbow on a firm object else use a tripod (and if you don't have a tripod then boost the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_sensitivity">ISO</a> and correspondingly increase the shutter speed, but this will make the picture grainy - for point & shoots use the 'auto-ISO' option). Of course practice and try out various settings depending upon the scene. Pictures of the moon come in handy for merging with other pictures - say for example when you want to show a moon shining above a monument! <br /> <br /><b><span style="font-weight: normal" class="Apple-style-span">In case you have any queries regarding the techniques, please feel free to <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/p/contact-me.html">contact me</a>. </span></b> <br /><b><span style="font-weight: normal" class="Apple-style-span"> <br /></span></b> <br /> <div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div> <div class="blogger-post-footer">-
Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-23539729887591046392010-09-22T21:43:00.005+05:302010-09-22T21:43:00.540+05:30Shades of melancholy in black & white...<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In my "humble" opinion Black & White (B&W) photography is perhaps one of the purest forms of photography. B&W stands on its own feet - on the strength of composition and mood, without the glamour (so to speak) of colour. I have also generally found that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_photography">street photography</a> is more appealing when seen in B&W - maybe it's because B&W brings out the starkness and hence help convey the mood better. To paraphrase it in a literary fashion - street-photography has the onerous task of capturing the shades of grey in our society and what better than using the shades of grey to portray them! It could also be because the works of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Cartier-Bresson">Henri Cartier-Bresson</a> (which were in B&W), the legendary photographer and father of street photography, continue to inspire photographers to this day, resulting in an immense amount of B&W work being done despite the colour capabilities of today's cameras.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Initially I had planned to share these pictures as part of another larger theme-based post, but then I had a feeling that they would get lost somewhere in the array of pictures (like so many of my other portraitures). Hence, this small post depicting some of the shades of melancholy which I observed recently.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5011868798/lightbox/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TJiE1KFQneI/AAAAAAAAEes/7rSFC9s1eIY/s400/_DSC0772_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A trumpet player in a Western-styled band</b></td></tr>
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Wonder why the faces of most trumpet players appear melancholic and hardened to me? This man was otherwise quite jolly and would wink at me after finishing his bit!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5011265319/lightbox/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TJiFQIRYQRI/AAAAAAAAEfA/Rh1w2d-I73k/s400/_DSC0740.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A charioteer appears lost in thought</b></td></tr>
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A relic of the past, horse carriages that were once common-place in Mumbai (they went by the moniker '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_(carriage)">Victoria</a>') are today few and far between. The struggle of having to run a carriage in the face of mounting costs, decreasing number of customers, traffic woes and animal rights groups breathing down their neck sure takes a toll on these guys.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5011868552/lightbox/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TJiFiWUIwBI/AAAAAAAAEfI/a2-CLb03aFM/s400/_DSC0765.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hardened by age, toughened by life!</b></td></tr>
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A worker takes a breather during a dull moment in a festive procession. What intrigues me always is the impact the people, who come dressed in finery and gold ornaments for the festive / wedding processions, may be having on the minds of poor onlookers and members of a troop (such as this person)!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/5011266743/lightbox/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TJiFwU4viGI/AAAAAAAAEfQ/u8tH7wQrmek/s400/_DSC0788_2.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Another charioteer lost in thought</b></td></tr>
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Perhaps the same goes for this charioteer as well.<br />
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<b>Some great B&W pictures -</b><br />
To see Henri Cartier-Bresson's work, click <a href="http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP3=ViewBox_VPage&VBID=2K1HZOWB59EMU&CT=Search&DT=&RW=1263&RH=685"><b>here</b></a>.<br />
Also have a look at the <a href="http://www.moolf.com/interesting/10-photographs-that-changed-the-world.html">10 photographs that changed the world</a>.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">P.S.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> - this time I have linked the pictures to the </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Flickr lightbox</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. In case you have encountered problems with it or find it troublesome to navigate then do let me know.</span><br />
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-14080885938322996182010-09-16T22:01:00.002+05:302018-12-23T20:39:46.695+05:30Musical Bands of Mumbai 1 – the Dhol-tasha band<div style="text-align: left;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TJJA8pV5NsI/AAAAAAAAEdM/RBP_RuD0aXI/s800/_DSC0897_3b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TJJA8pV5NsI/AAAAAAAAEdM/RBP_RuD0aXI/s320/_DSC0897_3b.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Young boy playing cymbals</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The arrival of the month of August heralds a long period of celebration for the majority of Indians. Starting with the Parsi New Year and ending with Christmas, it encompasses diverse festivals like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onam">Onam</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janamashtami">Janamashthami</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesh_Chaturthi">Ganesh Chaturthi</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paryushana">Paryushana</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid">Eid</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navratri">Navratri</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dussehra">Dussehra</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali">Diwali</a>. It is the season of revelry, food (read sweets), music, penance, et al. In this and subsequent posts, I am sharing with you the images of people who get us swinging to their distinctly folksy beats during these festivals - the musical bands. Our first band is Maharashtra's famed <i>Dhol-Tasha</i> band.<br />
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If during a festival in Maharashtra you have heard the drums roll, clatter and create a deep resounding sound, then in all probability you have heard the <i>dhol-tasha</i> band play. As the name suggests, the band members play an assortment of drums (large and small) along with hand cymbals to create various <i>taal </i>(rhythm) synchronisations. The group members (more than 10 in number) are both young and old and sometimes also include children. Of late even women have started joining these bands (that should impress the women's rights groups)! During the Ganesh Chaturthi festival one gets to see the best of these groups. They typically rehearse for months and develop new <i>taals</i> to be in the reckoning of the large Ganesh <i>mandals</i> who hire them for the processions.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b>For a slide show of complete set of pictures of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Dhol-Tasha</i> Band</span>, please click </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2103596958"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">H</span></a><a href="https://www.mybioscope.net/People/Mumbai-Musical-Bands-Dhol-tasha/n-GtXfSm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">ERE</span></a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The </b><i><b>mandali</b></i></td></tr>
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There's an amazing amount of energy that they bring to this art form which is not seen in other traditional bands. During the processions they would halt a while and dance as they play music, raising the crescendo and pitch with every passing moment. The drums beating in unison and the clanging of cymbals have an earthy feel to it. It is also highly infectious. If you happen to be standing anywhere nearby, your feet would begin stamping without you even realising!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Electrifying to the core...</b></td></tr>
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These people are quite jovial and give cheerful expressions upon spotting a camera.<br />
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In the next post I will share with you images of the great Indian Brass band (brought back into the limelight by Amit Trivedi in Dev D.) and also a Western version of it.<br />
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Till then...its goodbye!<br />
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-35230974469591394182010-08-22T16:16:00.003+05:302018-12-23T22:10:40.820+05:30Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Shilonda trail - A walk in the woods!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai">Mumbai</a>, aptly called Maximum City by Suketu Mehta in his book by the same name, is a city of contrasts. One such element is the presence of a National Park in the midst of what is India's busiest metropolis. Which other metropolis in the world can boast of such a privilege? To most Mumbaikars (especially of the types born and brought up in the city like me), the 104 sq. Km <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanjay_Gandhi_National_Park">Sanjay Gandhi National Park</a> (SGNP) brings back memories of an unspoilt childhood when our parents would take us to the park on a lazy Sunday for a jungle safari or an excursion to the famed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanheri_Caves">Kanheri Caves</a> (they are 2400 years old!) and of course those lovely school picnics. Alas, as we have grown up, and through the boom years, places such as these have only remained confined to memories for most people.<br />
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A visit to the National Park on a rainy Sunday morning, as part of the <a href="http://www.bnhs.org/">BNHS</a> Nature Walk, was to me as much about jogging the memory back as about exploring the lesser known areas of the park. Coming after a successful visit to the <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/2010/07/maharashtra-nature-park-mahim-nature.html">Maharashtra Nature Park</a>, I was craving for more...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">For a slide show of complete set of pictures of </span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sanjay Gandhi National Park</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">, please click</span></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.mybioscope.net/Nature/Sanjay-Gandhi-National-Park-Shilonda-Trail/n-Hb7VDk" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">HERE</span></a></span></span></b></span><b>.</b><br />
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Every morning hundreds of people throng to the park for their ritual of exercises - walking, jogging, doing yoga, etc. Being a Sunday, many had also come with their kids for nature watch and safaris. Seeing the crowd outside the gate and the swarm of cars (yes people come in cars to walk! maybe they come from far away places) reminded me of the daily scenes outside the gates of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEEPZ">SEEPZ</a> in Andheri! But once inside, it was a completely different world!<br />
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The areas of Sanjay Gandhi National Park that are open to public are but only a fraction of the park's total area. Vast portions of the park are restricted and can only be accessed with the permission of the Forest Department. It is in these areas that the park has tucked away the best of its treasures. The Shilonda Trail (also spelled Silonda) is one such area. Nature walks conducted by organisations such as BNHS are the best way to go on these trails without having to undergo the hassle of interacting with forest officials, especially if you are going alone like me.<br />
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The entrance to the Shilonda trail begins from about 1 Km inside the park (starting from the Borivali Gate). The muddy unpaved trail extends Eastward from its entry point towards the main North-South ridge that rises towards Kanheri Hill (the highest point above sea-level in Mumbai). It is a trail lined with bamboo groves, scrub and tall forests, termite mounds, Pongam oil tree, and also has a small forest river cutting across it. During monsoons, the river is wild and the forest dense & green. It makes for excellent nature watch - plants, butterflies, bugs, spiders, birds, flowers, wild fruits, monkeys (Rhesus Macaques - how can one forget them) and other varieties of insects. Its sylvan and verdant design, teeming with numerous habitants, makes Shilonda an ideal place for nature and macro photography. The hoots of Greater Coucal provide an excellent departure from the cacophonous sounds of mobile phones.<br />
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The forest river, which bulges in the monsoon, is a place to spend a nice 1 hour or more. Observe grown ups turn into kids, photograph some candid moments and indulge in your own revelry as well! It is indeed impossible to believe that one is still within the limits of Greater Mumbai!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Flower that saved us!</b></td></tr>
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If you are lucky enough you may even sight a mammal or two, may be more. It is not uncommon to come across a leopard's pug marks, especially near the artificial waterhole located half way into the trail. While we didn't sight any signs of a carnivore, we got to witness something truly remarkable from the herbivores of the park. While on my way back, along with a fellow BNHS traveller, I stopped for a moment to click pictures of a flower. No sooner had I bent down than five Spotted Deers (Chitals) emerged out of the thick bushes, four metres ahead on our right, at breakneck speed, landing with a loud thud on the forest track and jumping instantaneously into the bushes on our left. It all happened in a flash of a second. They were probably alarmed by the presence of some carnivore and were hence bolting. We also wondered what would have been our fate had we not stopped for the photograph - those deers would have landed on us! That said, the sight was like an icing on the cake and made our day!<br />
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We had begun the trail at about 8.00 AM (starting at 7:30 AM from the main gate) and it was now 11.00 AM when we emerged out of the Shilonda trail and were back on the main concrete road of the National Park. Now the place was lined with local villagers (yes there are a few villages located inside the park) selling roasted corn, sliced cucumber & tomatoes and fruits to the health conscious people who come for their daily dose of exercise. These scenes also provide excellent opportunities for street photography (also see my previous <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/2010/08/say-cheese-its-world-photography-day.html">post</a>).<br />
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By 11:30 AM I was at the gates, staring at the traffic and ready to head back home after a Sunday morning well spent - completely refreshed and recharged to take on the turbulent financial markets from Monday onwards! All this without stepping a foot outside Mumbai!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks</b></i> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- John Muir</span></div>
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<b>About Sanjay Gandhi National Park:</b> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanjay_Gandhi_National_Park">SGNP</a>, also called Borivali National Park, is a protected area located in North Mumbai. Its main entrance is located on the Western Express Highway in the suburb of Borivali. The place is very easily accessible from any corner of Mumbai by trains, buses and cabs. The entry fee (without a car and for non-commercial photographers) is a mere Rs. 20/- (less than half a dollar!). The park touches most of the Northern suburbs of Mumbai including Mulund, the place where I reside. I have grown up watching the hills (very clearly visible from the windows of my house) that form part of the park. As a teenager I have also gone trekking in those hills (we would begin our ascent from a hillock behind Veena Nagar, which has now been razed to make way for a residential tower!!!). From the top of the hill (it is the tallest of all the suburbs) one can catch a sweeping view of the North-Eastern suburbs as well as the Tulsi Lake which is located just behind the hill.<br />
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A highly recommended place for nature lovers!</div>
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-22198700171911056822010-08-19T20:13:00.006+05:302011-06-06T20:28:05.284+05:30Say cheese! It's the World Photography Day!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><br />
Today, across national boundaries, most photography lovers like me are celebrating the World Photography Day. Photography is a hobby which gives me immense joy and helps me discover this world in ways different from a casual observer. The thrill of having visualised something (a story or a moment) and being able to capture it "forever" is something indescribable. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_photography">Photography</a> has now been around for over 150 years and yet, as a medium of communication, it still remains the most powerful. This is owing to its ability to convey reality as well as the mood in a manner that directly appeals to the sensibility of the viewer.</div><br />
On this day, I am sharing with you one of my favourite clicks - a picture that I took recently on a rainy Sunday morning while out on a nature walk inside the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanjay_Gandhi_National_Park">Sanjay Gandhi National Park</a>, Mumbai. While I was strolling inside the park and enjoying the greenery, I came across a house where a boy, seated outside on the rocks, was quietly observing a heated conversation between two people. As I observed closely, I saw that his face was melancholic (probably saddened by the commotion), he was poorly dressed and was looking in a direction away from the bicycle leaning against the house. That's when I took this picture...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/4911785275/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Whither Childhood? by thelegendreturns, on Flickr"><img alt="Whither Childhood?" height="435" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4911785275_38a119a280.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Whither Childhood! - one of my favourite clicks!</b><br />
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Later when I saw the picture on the camera's LCD, it seemed to convey a totally different story (or as any third person who was not present at that moment would wonder) - one of a boy perhaps reflecting upon his lost childhood! The boy would have been out cycling or playing with other kids on any other Sunday morning, but something was holding him back today, something had saddened him. Was it the end of his childhood? Would he soon have to head out in search of work to meet household expenses? Is he going to miss his school in order to work? Or was it that his house was going to be relocated outside the national park and he would miss the surroundings where he spent the best days of his childhood? Or was it just that he was waiting for the sun to come out so that he could play? Or was he just unwell that day and hence appeared weak and sad?<br />
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Pictures such as these have the power to create a well of emotions inside us...words will never be able to achieve that! <br />
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Wishing you all a happy World Photography Day! May our tribe increase! Happy clicking :) <br />
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-51187288689310509052010-07-25T22:27:00.163+05:302018-12-23T22:21:06.360+05:30Maharashtra Nature Park, Mumbai: Butterfly diaries and more…<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TE2Z7SPMPnI/AAAAAAAAELk/FteD1iuK050/s800/_DSC0050-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TE2Z7SPMPnI/AAAAAAAAELk/FteD1iuK050/s320/_DSC0050-1.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Maharashtra Nature Park</b>, also called the Mahim Nature Park (MNP), is a 15 hectare (37 acres) patch of green in Mumbai, which comes as a shock (albeit a pleasant one) to anybody who visits it, especially during the monsoons. One of the reasons for the surprise is, apart from the fact that it is situated in Mumbai - a concrete jungle with sky high land prices, its location “within” Mumbai! How does this sound for a place that resembles a mini forest? – located on the Southern bank of the dirty Mithi River and squeezed between Asia's largest slum Dharavi and Mumbai's most sought after business location, the Bandra Kurla Complex!</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For a slide show of complete set of pictures of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Maharashtra Nature Park</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, please click</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.mybioscope.net/Nature/Butterfly-Diaries-Maharashtra-Nature-Park/n-JBzdQ3" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">HERE</span></span></a></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TE2eG7LIyFI/AAAAAAAAEM0/z_3iLllbRv8/s800/_DSC0041-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TE2eG7LIyFI/AAAAAAAAEM0/z_3iLllbRv8/s200/_DSC0041-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Maharashtra Nature Park has been developed over the years through the painstaking efforts of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA – they do some good work as well, eh?) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF India). Starting in 1982-83 on what was then the site of a garbage dump and land fill, the piece of land has been today transformed in to a verdant and thriving mini forest which plays home to about 63 species of birds, 40 varieties of butterflies, snakes, other insects and over 13,500 trees of various species including herbs, shrubs, grasses, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TE2bYVccQ9I/AAAAAAAAELs/6rIJNR2sJYk/s800/_DSC0246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TE2bYVccQ9I/AAAAAAAAELs/6rIJNR2sJYk/s200/_DSC0246.jpg" width="200" /></span></span></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Alongside Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) and Aarey Milk Colony, this oasis, MNP, serves as an excellent recreational destination for nature lovers and photographers while at the same time performing the important role of breathing oxygen into the polluted airs of Mumbai. It is also used by various nature conservation organisations and schools to create awareness about the environment. The park also boasts of an audio-visual hall, exhibition hall, open air amphitheatre, nursery, library, etc. – all powered using solar electricity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>And the list is endless…</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TE2lUd6SfcI/AAAAAAAAEOs/1Ei0Q98Ugns/s800/_DSC0167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW4e4zWwr3o/TE2lUd6SfcI/AAAAAAAAEOs/1Ei0Q98Ugns/s200/_DSC0167.jpg" width="200" /></span></span></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">With no crowds around and only the chirping of the birds to keep your ears engaged, it is a great place to escape the din and bustle of the metropolis and spend a quiet day. It’s a place that is sure to charm you. It also comes cheap, considering the inflationary times we live in! The entry fee is a mere Rs. 5/- per person!!! The park’s visiting hours are 9:30 AM – 5.00 PM and there are trails demarcated inside to guide wanderers like us. The entry gate is located opposite Dharavi Bus Depot and is also easily approachable from Sion Railway Station.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-10300360269793928692010-07-14T20:39:00.040+05:302018-06-21T14:12:52.028+05:30Lahaul - Spiti Valley Jeep Safari: Notes & anecdotes from a 7 day odyssey through the middle land!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Connoisseur’s delight…door to freedom...</span></span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Komic</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">If you are not averse to any of these -</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">living at an average altitude of 4,250 metres in a cold desert;<o:p></o:p></span> </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">travelling on narrow (single lane), gravel and water filled roads winding through the Himalayas, which stare thousands of feet down into a violent river, and where road blocks due to landslides and snowfalls are as common as the day and night;<o:p></o:p></span> </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">living without newspaper and telecommunication network (save for BSNL) in a place unscathed by modernity;</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;">then Spiti is the place for you - the connoisseur traveller, the solitude seeker, the adventurer!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiti_Valley">Spiti Valley</a> came on my radar a couple of years back while researching some exotic driving holidays in the Himalayas. I was instantly taken in. Ladakh had been on my travel list for over seven years (since the time the populace had not even heard about it), but seeing the swarm of casual tourists thronging to it since the release of 3 Idiots, I decided that it had to be Spiti that I must visit this time around, before the hotels over there too started dishing out </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">thalis</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iDVNdIe1sMw/WynsoBbS1eI/AAAAAAAAHzI/PiN5W1OoFjwV9nRUGycle74nS06a7z3pgCLcBGAs/s1600/_DSC0036.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="427" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iDVNdIe1sMw/WynsoBbS1eI/AAAAAAAAHzI/PiN5W1OoFjwV9nRUGycle74nS06a7z3pgCLcBGAs/s400/_DSC0036.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">View of Spiti Valley from Kye Monastery</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Spiti, which means ‘the middle country’, is the land of ragged and snow capped mountains that reach out to the clear deep blue skies. Here, in the cold desert, trees are scarce and the moonscape expansive. Spiti is the land of several perennial rivers - Spiti, Pin, Chandra - whose gurgling sounds will soothe you in the night and whose ferocity will awe you when you travel alongside them in the day time. Ah, and not to mention the placid, azure blue lakes like Chandra Taal, Nako, Dhankar. The observer would also be struck by some of the most beautiful canyons and the most unusual clay and rock formations along the river bed and in the mountains. The continuity of the landscape is only broken by numerous waterfalls and glaciers, including one of world's largest non-polar glaciers - Bara Shigri.</span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yRhWJ97EZtQ/WyntARBkDiI/AAAAAAAAHzQ/f2ZSc4AnRFgHPIoSq9VoCKH_vAK4OWzYwCLcBGAs/s1600/_DSC0427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yRhWJ97EZtQ/WyntARBkDiI/AAAAAAAAHzQ/f2ZSc4AnRFgHPIoSq9VoCKH_vAK4OWzYwCLcBGAs/s400/_DSC0427.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tabo Monastery</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For the spiritual seeker, Spiti is home to some thousand year old Gompas </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>(Buddhist Monasteries) and Tibetan art. There is also the mummy of a monk who meditated to death. It's a place which continuously resonates with the chants of Tibetan Buddhism (principal religion) and keeps you in a trance like state. The place also boasts of the world's highest motorable and inhabited villages. A place where lucky few can still find fossils in the valleys or manage to sight Snow Leopards, Ibex, Red Fox, etc. Finally, it is the beautiful people of Spiti who lend the valley its divine soul. These people, despite the harsh environment and poor living standards, are jovial and courteous. They live in match-box styled white coloured houses with </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">lungtas</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> fluttering from their rooftops and speak Bhoti and Hindi languages.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">I discovered all of this and more during my seven day Trans Himalayan safari. Join me below on this journey through the middle land that is sure to leave an imprint on your mind and impel you too to embark on one…</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
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<span style="clear: left; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYbyx2oO0GU/WyntZYQcoJI/AAAAAAAAHzY/Voz34Kf9tXc-Q2F1bihHx76vkkoY-tljACLcBGAs/s1600/_DSC1008-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1073" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYbyx2oO0GU/WyntZYQcoJI/AAAAAAAAHzY/Voz34Kf9tXc-Q2F1bihHx76vkkoY-tljACLcBGAs/s320/_DSC1008-2.jpg" width="214" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kaza</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Located along the Indo-Tibetan border, the district of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahaul_and_Spiti_district">Lahaul & Spiti</a> is the largest in the North Indian State of Himachal Pradesh. It has been a forbidden land for most part of its history. The land route from Manali is barely open for three-four months a year, while the route from the Capital city of Shimla (which is open year round) takes two days to reach Spiti Valley. For most part of the year the region is covered in snow. Temperatures in winter drop to as low as minus 30 - 35 degrees Celsius and rains are minimal. Consequently, the region is very sparsely populated; with some villages having only a handful of "souls" (that’s what the Government boards read over there. Population: 50 souls)! Unlike Ladakh, it has no airport and suffers from little documented history. It is precisely these factors that lend the place its mysticism and make the joy of discovering its unrivalled beauty indescribable.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>For a slide show of complete set of pictures of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Landscape & Monasteries</span>, please click</b></span> </span></span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegendreturns/sets/72157624345083399/show/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">HERE</span></a></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>.</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Our safari was originally slated to start from Manali through the famed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohtang_Pass">Rohtang Pass</a> that serves as a gateway to the Lahaul & Spiti district. However, as luck would have it, owing to snowing in early June, both the Rohtang Pass and Kunzum La had been closed for vehicles. The day we reached Delhi (we were expecting the route to open in a day or two) we received news that some hapless people, who had been stranded in Spiti for 10 days, had to be airlifted, gulp! After some quick deliberations with Vishesh Shourie of ‘<a href="http://incrediblespiti.com/">Incredible Spiti</a>’ (an organisation that specialises in providing adventure solutions for Spiti - more about them later) we decided to change the itinerary. We would now enter Spiti via Kinnaur district by starting from Shimla and driving for two full days along the meandering Sutlej River to reach Tabo and finally exit through Manali. The two mountain passes would have “hopefully” opened by the time we were ready bid Spiti goodbye! While this upset the economics, the good part was that we would now get to see both ends of the valley.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">I begin below from the time we were introduced to our driver cum guide Dharamveer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Day 1, Shimla – Narkanda – Reckong Peo - Kalpa:</span></span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> With barely four hours of sleep behind us in the beautiful city of Shimla (whose Wodehousian charm instantly transports one back to the days of the Raj), we were ready to embark on our journey. The Manager of the Royale Oaks Hotel (Lakkar bazaar) introduced us to our driver cum guide Dharamveer, a man of Nepali descent and medium built. The fact that he was also a Buddhist would prove to be invaluable on this trip.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The day was beautiful, skies clear, and a gentle breeze was wafting through the air carrying with it the sweet scent of pine trees. We purchased plenty of plums and other fruits from a roadside vendor (selling a cornucopia of fruits from local orchards) on the highway. They were dirt-cheap (compared to Mumbai), sweet and enough to last us for the next seven days. As we were driving along roads lined with apple orchards and soaking in the verdant pine filled vistas, the weather decided to get ominous. Dark clouds were hovering above us and threatening with their roar. The moment we got off the vehicle, to have lunch at a restaurant in Narkanda, the clouds screamed “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">bakra</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">” (scapegoat) and opened their bellies upon us. Wind got chilly and gusty, light had faded and I started to worry about photography as Dharamveer promised stunning views ahead. He also told us that this would probably be the last place where we would get good Punjabi food. We ate to our heart’s fill and moved ahead.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HIMEJ72_GG8/WyntvUda4iI/AAAAAAAAHzg/zurxbfwDOHUbRH5GR33_1fuZLPl7wYQYQCLcBGAs/s1600/_DSC0299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HIMEJ72_GG8/WyntvUda4iI/AAAAAAAAHzg/zurxbfwDOHUbRH5GR33_1fuZLPl7wYQYQCLcBGAs/s200/_DSC0299.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">We were now driving on the old Hindustan – Tibet road, traversing deep canyons, ridges, and some startling rock formations with the Sutlej River flowing in all its ferocious grandeur thousands of feet below. The landscape was barren. I have been to mountains before. But never before had I felt so vulnerable. The roads (NH 22) were extremely narrow and to call them roads would be a misnomer. They were merely paths or tracks for the most part. Roadblocks are as common here as day and night.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Being summer time, we were treated to some gushing waterfalls in the </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Kinnaur district created by the melting snow and as the sun set, we passed the famed Nathpa – Jhakri hydel project, the Kharcham – Wangtoo hydel project and finally the Baspa hydel project (phew!) to enter Reckong Peo, the administrative headquarters of Kinnaur district. Located about </span><span style="background-clip: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">10</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Kms from Reckong Peo is the quaint town of Kalpa (approx. 250 Kms from Shimla) where most motorists retire for the night. Hotel Apple Pie in Kalpa has some well appointed rooms that, the manager promised us, also offered the best views of the majestic Kinner Kailash (also called Kinnaur Kailash; 6,350 metres) mountain peak.</span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The peak is revered equally by Buddhists and Hindus of the land.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EP-08xJKIyk/WynvUicg8aI/AAAAAAAAH0E/noXLBzhfyXEY-t-z31QlU0mj-1zzHEWwACLcBGAs/s1600/_DSC0128-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EP-08xJKIyk/WynvUicg8aI/AAAAAAAAH0E/noXLBzhfyXEY-t-z31QlU0mj-1zzHEWwACLcBGAs/s400/_DSC0128-1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kinner Kailash at Sunrise</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Day 2, Kalpa – Nako – Khab - Tabo: </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The best time, they say, for </span></span></span><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>landscape photography is sunrise (and sunset) as the soft and gradually changing light weaves its magic upon the sky-scape. Unfortunately the sun rises at 5:15 AM in these parts! Waking up on the dot on a cold summer morning, I set aside the thick blanket and drew the curtains. What I saw left me awestruck. The Kinner Kailash was there right before me (well almost). The sun was rising from behind the mountains, giving their rims a nice golden glow. As the town was waking up, women went about their chores and we enjoyed our morning cuppa with eyes transfixed on the mountain peak. It seemed as if God had ordained timelessness upon this town.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kalpa at Sunrise</span><br />
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<span style="clear: left; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nkEVfTleYAE/WynwEMoS9uI/AAAAAAAAH0U/Op_LX_akcdkTzGSUebB0X0LlV-Gf81aXACLcBGAs/s1600/_DSC0357-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nkEVfTleYAE/WynwEMoS9uI/AAAAAAAAH0U/Op_LX_akcdkTzGSUebB0X0LlV-Gf81aXACLcBGAs/s400/_DSC0357-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Khab - Confluence of Spiti River (left) and Sutlej River (right)</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">With no dark clouds around, the shutter release button was busy for most part of the journey. Even before it was noon we had encountered two road blocks thanks to some road widening work being undertaken by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). In stretches where the BRO is active, the roads are excellent. Around noon we reached a place called Khab which marks the confluence of Spiti River and Sutlej River. The view was simply breathtaking. The point of confluence almost looked like the moment when two Sumo wrestlers collide! At this spot the road curves in to a steel bridge, built over the point of confluence, and leads onto a road built through a small semi-circular cut in the mountain (see picture). This is a spot worth spending a few minutes at to marvel at nature’s beauty and man’s zeal for conquest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">From here onwards we gradually began to notice the changes in terrain. Rocky mountains gave way to brown and grey sloping mountains. The valleys were wider (enabling human settlement) and skies far more bluer. There was not a hint of green around, save for a few scattered farms cultivated by some enterprising people. Tufts of white clouds were strewn hither thither like pieces of cotton.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nako Lake</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Around 1.00 PM our vehicle turned into Nako village, a hamlet known more for its lake. We had lunch at Lovon Hotel (by no means shady) and then sauntered toward the lake. I was momentarily dumbstruck by the serenity of the place. Not a leaf seemed to move. The clear reflection one could see in it of the surrounding environment told me how much the residents of this place cared about keeping the environment clean.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tabo Monastery</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Grudgingly we returned to our cars to resume our journey onward to Tabo. Beyond Nako lies the village of Sumdo, which formally announces your arrival in to Spiti Valley. On the way, Dharamveer pointed towards Kaurik peak from where a motorable road (now used largely by defence personnel) leads up to Indo-Tibet border and which used to serve as an important trade route in ancient times. Around 4.00 PM we reached Tabo (3,250 metres), which seemed like an oasis in this other wise arid land. With a population of 150 odd souls, Tabo is a quiet village that owes its popularity to the venerable <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabo_Monastery">Tabo Chos – khor monastery</a>, which was founded in the year 996 AD! Driving past the monastery, we turned rightward on the helipad (which was built many years ago to receive His Holiness 14</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Dalai Lama for the inauguration of the new monastery) and reached Tashi Khangsar Hotel, our abode in Tabo. The hotel was sandwiched between the monastery and a rocky mountain. Needless to say it afforded good views.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Since the day was still good, we decided to tour the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabo_Monastery">Tabo monastery</a> after relaxing for a few minutes. The new monastery was closed in the evening so we spent most of our time exploring the old one. As we entered we saw a few young monks playing near the guest house and waving out to us. The vintage of the monastery becomes quite evident from its charming structures which are built from sand and mud. Set against blue skies and brown mountains, the precincts of the monastery have a uniquely magical feel. The inside of the monastery is a virtual treasure trove of millennium old murals, Thangka paintings, scriptures and sculptures. After marvelling at the work of art I realised why the Chos – khor monastery is also referred to as the ‘Ajanta of the Himalayas’. Unfortunately, photography is strictly prohibited inside the old monastery.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />There is a German Bakery nearby which serves an assortment of pastries, cookies, breads and other delectable items. We decided to give it a miss and instead treated ourselves to vegetable Momos and Sea buckthorn tea at the hotel. </span><i style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Wah</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">! For dinner we had Tibetan bread and butter.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></b></span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Day 3, Tabo – Dhankar – Lahlung - Kaza: </span></span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In the morning we first visited the new monastery. Dharamveer requested a senior monk to show us around and he willingly obliged. Grander than the old monastery, the place was a picture of calm. As we stood in silence, the monk gave us interesting pieces of information on the Buddhist religion, the works of art inside and of course The Dalai Lama – the single most revered person in the region. From here we proceeded toward the nearby caves (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">phukpas</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">) for which we had to hike a bit from the main road. The rarefied air in Spiti Valley makes one breathless at the slightest of exertion. These caves are used by monks for meditation and one of them also has an elaborate mural inside. From here one gets a bird’s eye view of Tabo village and the surrounding scenery.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tabo Village, As Seen From Caves</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-89WTmYh8Mds/WyoIYyH0PJI/AAAAAAAAH2Q/p8RBr4sFz1YHH4wY98kgXINXi6-X4FxiwCLcBGAs/s1600/_DSC0561-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-89WTmYh8Mds/WyoIYyH0PJI/AAAAAAAAH2Q/p8RBr4sFz1YHH4wY98kgXINXi6-X4FxiwCLcBGAs/s400/_DSC0561-2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dhankar Monastery Complex</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Today’s first major destination was Dhankar (also spelled Dhangkar / Dangkhar; 3,900 metres). The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhankar_Gompa">Dhankar monastery</a>, a near 1,000 year old symbol of Vajrayana Buddhist architecture, is one of the 100 most endangered monuments in the world (as recognised by the World Monuments Fund)! It is constructed on a 300 metre high ledge in a rocky mountain near the confluence of Pin and Spiti rivers. An architectural marvel of its time, today owing to its age and an earthquake that struck the region in 1975, it is in the imminent danger of collapsing. There is also a dilapidated fort (there are some wonderful murals inside its rooms), that once enveloped the entire complex, the remnants of which can be explored by hiking. As a matter of fact, it is this fort which lends the place its name. Dhankar literally means – fort on a cliff! Dhankar incidentally also has a lake, but for which one needs to hike for about an hour or two.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Confluence of Pin & Spiti Rivers</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dhankar</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The entire complex, and the mountain on which it stands, has an almost fairy tale like beauty when viewed from a distance. From the monastery one can see some crazy natural rock / sand formations on the left, the Dhankar village scattered in the centre, and vast expanses of the valley on the right where the clean blue waters of Pin River merge into the muddy brown waters of Spiti River. The colourful </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Lungtas</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> (prayer flags), strung from the poles, and swaying in the foreground add an air of spirituality to what is one of nature’s finest pieces of work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">At some distance away, on the opposite mountain, is the new Dhankar Monastery. Behind this new structure is a guest house where one can get a wide variety of food to eat. We decided to have our lunch here. Being in a Tibetan frame of mind we ordered Thukpa and fried rice for lunch. The gallery of the guest house is like a viewing deck overlooking the valley and a photographer’s paradise. I took several wide angle shots of the monastery and snow clad mountain peaks while waiting for the lunch to be served.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rBMZS_RSQiE/WyoQb0jXzoI/AAAAAAAAH3I/smFehaHrNCo4oFp1YehN0lgZdTgm8dq7gCLcBGAs/s1600/_DSC0683-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rBMZS_RSQiE/WyoQb0jXzoI/AAAAAAAAH3I/smFehaHrNCo4oFp1YehN0lgZdTgm8dq7gCLcBGAs/s640/_DSC0683-1-2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Canyon, Spiti River and Lahlung Village</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Motoring along the main road we took a diversion from Lingti village on a gravel road that supposedly would take us to Lahlung (also spelled Lalung / Lhalung). This journey, beside the Lingti valley, provides you with sights of some of the finest canyons and rock formations in India (some of which, atop the mountain, appear like the ramparts of a fort!). Half and hour into the drive we realised we were on the wrong path as we had reached a point beyond which it was impossible to drive. We turned back and returned to Lingti where some enquiries threw up an alternate road which finally did manage to take us to Lahlung. </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">En Route Lahlung</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lahlung Monastery</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The Lahlung monastery, also about a millennium old, is fondly called the Golden Temple (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Serkhang</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">) since it has statues (supposedly 1,200 years old!) which are plated in gold. A senior monk showed us around the place and gave us details on the history, murals, artefacts, sculptures and other symbolisms. Photography is permitted inside the monastery as long as you don’t fire your flash gun.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Outside the monastery, as we began chatting with the monk and some </span></span></span>rural folks (mostly giggling women), we realised that they couldn’t even place Mumbai and Kolkata on the map of India! Few had even heard of these places! Yet they were simple, charming and alluring people, gracious enough to invite us to join their tea party. Most of them work on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) projects and knit sweaters during their free time. The old monk (no pun intended) treated us to fine lemon tea and <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">ladoos</span></i>. The lemon tea was far better than what one gets in an upmarket urban joint. It is also here that I met the dancing girl (see pictures). In reality she was not dancing, merely being shy and trying to cover her face as I tried to photograph her thereby creating the illusion. While parting the folks placed a violet coloured flower around our ears which they believe to be a good luck charm. I was truly overwhelmed by their hospitality<span style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In these parts I have realised, under the tutelage of Dharamveer, that a simple gesture like greeting </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">juley </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">(a kind of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">namastey</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> in local dialect), with folded hands and slight bow, can help break the ice with locals.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P6afmajmIps/WyoSczR8E_I/AAAAAAAAH3c/elu-KIrx8KYCdzuBaneiCU76i3X561eYwCLcBGAs/s1600/_DSC1007-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P6afmajmIps/WyoSczR8E_I/AAAAAAAAH3c/elu-KIrx8KYCdzuBaneiCU76i3X561eYwCLcBGAs/s320/_DSC1007-2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chortens in Kaza</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">From here we reached <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaza,_Himachal_Pradesh">Kaza</a> (3,660 metres), administrative headquarter of Spiti, which would be our abode for three nights. Kaza is the largest of all towns in Spiti (about 1,200 souls!) and has a bustling market place (selling everything - from items of daily need to curios for visitors like us – we purchased two Thangka paintings from here), bus-stand, petrol pump, hospital, and other facilities befitting a regional headquarter. Kaza also serves as the base for a number of mountaineers / trekkers who converge from all over the world to explore the Spiti Valley. In Kaza our home was Sakya Abode, the most popular hotel in the town (located next to the Kaza Monastery) – there is a beautiful array of white </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Stupas</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> (Chortens) down the road from here. Tsering, the soft-spoken host of Sakya Abode, updated me on <a href="http://www.google.co.in/images?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:{referrer:source%3F}&rlz=1I7SNYN_en&q=chandra+taal&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=5M4-TJ30B8XBcZ3Zzc0E&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCAQsAQwAA">Chandra Taal lake</a>, the route to which (a trek which begins from Kunzum La) had been closed for several days owing to heavy snowfall. The trip was getting unlikelier with each passing day as even efforts to clear the road were to no avail – glacial and mountain snow would slide and block the route again!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5xsQ9SXGK20/WyoWptt_dsI/AAAAAAAAH3o/w6itr67HNeMeGeDBvCh_Y6yQkmlHmOCZQCLcBGAs/s1600/_DSC0742-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="427" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5xsQ9SXGK20/WyoWptt_dsI/AAAAAAAAH3o/w6itr67HNeMeGeDBvCh_Y6yQkmlHmOCZQCLcBGAs/s640/_DSC0742-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rock & Clay Formations Near Kaza</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5xsQ9SXGK20/WyoWptt_dsI/AAAAAAAAH3o/w6itr67HNeMeGeDBvCh_Y6yQkmlHmOCZQCLcBGAs/s1600/_DSC0742-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="427" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5xsQ9SXGK20/WyoWptt_dsI/AAAAAAAAH3o/w6itr67HNeMeGeDBvCh_Y6yQkmlHmOCZQCLcBGAs/s640/_DSC0742-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> <span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span></span></b></span> <span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Day 4, Kaza – Langza – Hikkim – Komic – Kaza: </span></span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I was eagerly looking forward to today as I have always wondered what life is like at great mountain heights. Our destinations for today were some of the highest inhabited and motorable villages in the world - all located at an altitude of 4,200 metres and more.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HfJl1EBHUKY/WyoXKFfQ7tI/AAAAAAAAH3w/tIgPTyhea2MWJBozD8u7Rk7ys0apqu9tQCLcBGAs/s1600/_DSC0770-1-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HfJl1EBHUKY/WyoXKFfQ7tI/AAAAAAAAH3w/tIgPTyhea2MWJBozD8u7Rk7ys0apqu9tQCLcBGAs/s640/_DSC0770-1-3.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Langza - Chau Chau Kang Nilda Peak</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Our first stop was Langza (4,200 – 4,400 metres, 148 souls), the fossil capital of India. Several aeons back when the Indian sub-continent arrived from the Southern Hemisphere (Gondwana) and collided with the Asian mainland, its impact led to the creation of the world’s highest mountain range, the Himalayas. A by-result of the impact was the fossilisation of several marine and other creatures at the seam. Langza is one such place which was witness to that event and as testimony has several fossils to show - scattered in the nearby </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">nullahs</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> and valleys. While many have now disappeared due to looting and illegal sales, the villagers assured me that a keen eye could find one even today in the various </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">nullahs</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> here and beyond. A drive towards Langza brings up a huge statue of Gautam Buddha (built at the edge of a hillock) on the horizon with the towering Chau Chau Kang Nilda peak (6,300 metres) in the backdrop. This statue and a 500 year old monastery are the principal attractions of Langza. There is also a fossil centre (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Chadua</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">) in Langza, which we unfortunately could not visit.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">The Langza monastery was a quaint place where an old priest went about his prayers – reading scriptures and beating a drum simultaneously, unmindful of the visitors. We lighted two lamps after a brief chat with the priest and also took some pictures with his consent. He later offered us tea. There were a few farms scattered about the village, wherever a flat ground could be found, which were cultivated through ingenious ways of irrigation. These were the only sources of green to the eye. Dharamveer informed us that bulk of the farming is of Peas. He also told us that during the winters when temperatures dip as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius, the villagers largely prefer to stay indoors, living upon the supplies collected during the few months of summer.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aWRVKmmguTU/WyoYZ9VxfUI/AAAAAAAAH4A/yqE6sUK2V2IZvtRWpAlt1ZMrgDsFSoBsQCLcBGAs/s1600/_DSC0913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1073" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aWRVKmmguTU/WyoYZ9VxfUI/AAAAAAAAH4A/yqE6sUK2V2IZvtRWpAlt1ZMrgDsFSoBsQCLcBGAs/s320/_DSC0913.jpg" width="214" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stuffed Snow Leopard</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">From here we proceeded further towards Komic (also spelled Comic / Gomic - 4,275 metres, 114 souls), passing Hikkim village on the way – there is a shortcut from Hikkim to Kaza and hence we decided to tour Hikkim later. We could catch a sweeping 180 degrees panoramic view of the snow laden Himalayas from these places. The old Komic Gompa (monastery) situated at about 4,587 metres is perhaps world’s highest monastery and is about nine centuries old. Our entry into the old monastery, quite small and non-descript in comparison to others, was greeted by the horrific sight of a dead snow leopard’s stuffed body, its bulging eyes ogling at us! Spiti Valley, in particular Pin Valley National Park, is home to snow leopards and several other endangered animals. After offering our obeisance here, we went to the grand new monastery, which also has several rooms for the monks to stay. The outside of the monastery was painted quite attractively using a combination of four-five colours and had ornately decorated windows. Here too the folks graciously offered us some tea (seemed like an official merry making drink of the Spiti Valley!) and chatted for a while. One of them also played the flute for us, crafting an almost mystical setting – tea, music, Buddhism, Himalayas!<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Drive through a cold desert (Shila Peak on the right)</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">From Komic we offered a local man Karam Singh a ride in our vehicle. He was a resident of Hikkim and in return offered to show us the ruins of an abandoned Tangyud monastery and some caves. On the Komic – Hikkim route we saw the snow laden Shila Peak (6,132 metres) popping out its near perfect triangular head from behind the brown arid mountains. A little beyond Hikkim village, we parked our vehicle on the road and started descending on a steep incline by foot. Karam Singh told us these old caves were once used for meditation. He initially lured us by saying it’s a small walk – but then I should have known better that at an elevation of 4,500 metres, small walk for a mountain dweller would mean a laborious and breath-sapping effort for a Mumbaikar! We finally gave up as it seemed just too distant and the descent was steep. We then walked up (a easy hike this one!) to the abandoned monastery which was built overlooking the Kaza village (thousands of feet “straight” below) on one side and a valley and canyon on the other sides. The view afforded from the ruins was worth all the effort. Karam Singh informed us that the monastery had been abandoned many years ago due to acute water shortage following an earthquake (a stream had changed its course). On the way back, Dharamveer showed us a stone which he found amidst the rubble at the monastery. It had some sacred Buddhist words inscribed on it!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Day 5, Kaza – Kye – Kibber – Tashigang – Kaza:</span></span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Today again we would be touring the highest villages of the world. After yesterday, our lungs were primed for it. Our first destination was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kye_Monastery">Kye Monastery</a> (also spelled Ki / Kee / Key; 4,150 metres), which is the biggest monastery and Buddhist learning centre in Spiti Valley. The Kye monastery complex is a closely packed congregation of white houses built on a hillock overlooking the Spiti River. It is also known as Little Tibet.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Inside the monastery, a monk showed us some 800 years old Thangka paintings, murals, musical instruments and several carefully preserved manuscripts – many of which were brought centuries ago from Tibet. Once here, people should also visit the upper floor / terrace of the monastery for a 360 degrees view of the valley and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">lungtas</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> strung from ornately decorated pillars.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tuHsK7RTfQ8/Wyoc2X98JEI/AAAAAAAAH5E/b5MXuAW1mvYtmQgHYKxlafZdMA_gKFR1gCLcBGAs/s1600/_DSC0042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tuHsK7RTfQ8/Wyoc2X98JEI/AAAAAAAAH5E/b5MXuAW1mvYtmQgHYKxlafZdMA_gKFR1gCLcBGAs/s200/_DSC0042.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kye Monastery</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In the prayer hall of new Gompa, four monks were engrossed in a prayer and we stood there for a few minutes observing their rituals. Their singing and music elevated us to a trance like state. I was shaken out of my trance by Dharamveer who prodded me to resume our journey towards Tashigang. It was only upon reaching the vehicle that I realised the reason for his impatience. Seated in the backseat was an octogenarian monk with a walking stick in one hand, beaded holy thread in the other and a slightly hunched back. He had not been to Tashigang for years and saw through us an opportunity to visit it now. He planned to stay there for a few days. Most monks travel to neighbouring monasteries on foot, trekking the Himalayas. However, his age obviously forbid him from doing so. Which also made me wonder how would he comeback since few vehicles ever visited Tashigang.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Tashigang is a remote village with about five - six homes and is known more for the La Darcha fair grounds. The monastery here is about a millennium old and housed in a small mud structure with thatched roof. The area around Tashigang also serves as pasture and breeding place for horses. Declining an offer for tea from the local folks, we motored ahead towards Kibber admiring the Chau Chau Kang Nilda peak, which is visible from here as well.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="clear: left; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kKWcPTQFATY/Wyoo7QYxDPI/AAAAAAAAH6A/_KCdKV0PyBA9cSNzf3JxXWkMnIdsjANkQCLcBGAs/s1600/_DSC0101-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kKWcPTQFATY/Wyoo7QYxDPI/AAAAAAAAH6A/_KCdKV0PyBA9cSNzf3JxXWkMnIdsjANkQCLcBGAs/s400/_DSC0101-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kibber</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Kibber village was larger than all the villages we had seen in the last two days with about hundred houses. In the precincts of Kibber monastery I met a group of people from Maharashtra who had tried visiting Chandra Taal Lake. They informed me that the trail was packed with snow and that any attempt to walk would make the person slip and end up 10-15 feet away! Even though I knew during all these days that going to Chandra Taal would be a long shot, this bit of news killed the last vestiges of hope that were still embedded in my heart. Later in the night Tsering confirmed that Chandra Taal would not be possible and so we decided to visit the Pin Valley for our last sojourn.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Day 6, Kaza – Kungri – Sagnam – Mudh – Kaza:</span></span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> As is said, what God taketh with one hand, He giveth (sometimes more) with the other! That in short is the sum and substance of Day 6. Little did we realise, when we woke up, that for the first time we would get to experience the true spirit and culture of the inhabitants of Spiti in all its splendour and finery!<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uFYqaDk8kX8/WyopbH8flqI/AAAAAAAAH6M/Sa4dBxrUilMO7dksBNiQyhC2snfoLqbfACEwYBhgL/s1600/_DSC0582-2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uFYqaDk8kX8/WyopbH8flqI/AAAAAAAAH6M/Sa4dBxrUilMO7dksBNiQyhC2snfoLqbfACEwYBhgL/s320/_DSC0582-2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mudh Village</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Pin Valley is connected to Spiti Valley by a solitary bridge (Attargu) across Pin River. Most of the valley has been declared as the Pin Valley National Park, spread over an approximate area of 675 sq. Km. It is a natural habitat for endangered species like the Snow Leopard, Himalayan Ibex, Bharal, Red Fox, Snow Cock, Lammergeier, Woolly Hare, etc. Since the terrain is mountainous, tracking these creatures is only possible by exploring the vast expanses of the valley on foot with the aid of experts. I, however, managed to spot a scrambling Red Fox, a Lammergeier in flight and a few mountain goats on our way back in the evening.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Our principal destination for the day was the ancient Kungri Gompa (also spelled Ghungri / Khungri; 3,520 metres). It is the main centre of Nyingmapa order of Vajrayana sect of Buddhism in Spiti and widely popular for the sword dance performances of Buzhens. Upon reaching the monastery we learnt that a two day cultural fair was on over there. Today, being the second day, the Lamas (monks) would be performing a number of Cham dances (also spelled Chham) for the dignitaries and residents of Pin Valley. Interspersed with these were folk dance performances by the students of the region and some comic acts by juvenile monks to lighten up the mood. We reached at about 10.00 AM, in the nick of time, as the proceedings were about to begin…</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">The Cham dance is a form of ancient Tibetan masked dance, which is performed in groups to the beat of traditional Tibetan instruments. It involves rhythmic circular movements, slow and minimal movements of the hand and feet, and periodic displays of energy when the Lama swirls 360 degrees in a flash by jumping in the air. While most dances appear the same (atleast to the layman), they vary in the design and type of various symbolic items used – masks, ornaments, costumes, head-gears, use of certain articles like daggers, Tibetan drums, etc. - each having its own meaning and interpretation. The dances are used to narrate different stories / incidents from the religious texts and to preach lessons. One cannot help but be awed by the sheer vibrancy of colours on display. These dances, while they appear simple, require lot of practice and co-ordination since the masks have no eye – holes!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The performances had the audience in gasps and raptures. This cultural affair provided me with plenty of opportunities to photograph the mood, the facets, the culture and colours of the people of Spiti in an atmosphere of candour and gaiety. The only regret was that we could not see the beautiful monastery from inside since it was closed on the occasion for visitors. The loss of Chandra Taal was squarely behind me.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z5WXV1TCD1c/WyoriVUXEJI/AAAAAAAAH6g/nhY2x70LjokI_6nsqpnWFjZFKEtAgtXNwCEwYBhgL/s1600/_DSC0564-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z5WXV1TCD1c/WyoriVUXEJI/AAAAAAAAH6g/nhY2x70LjokI_6nsqpnWFjZFKEtAgtXNwCEwYBhgL/s400/_DSC0564-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sagnam Village</b></td></tr>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As the event was drawing to a close, around 4.00 PM, we decided to checkout some of the other villages of Pin Valley such as Sagnam (the largest), Mikkim and Mudh (remotest). After spending some time admiring the scenery from Mudh and chatting with the locals (no tea this time) we returned back to Kaza. En route, we offered an Israeli trekker a ride in our vehicle. He was on a long visit to India exploring the Himalayan regions of Sikkim, Nepal, Varanasi, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Spiti and was soon headed for Ladakh. He was as much mesmerised by the place as we were.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Day 7, Kaza – Losar – Kunzum La – Batal – Chatru – Rohtang Pass – Manali:</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The thing about Spiti is that it’s not over until it’s over. The drive from Kaza to Rohtang Pass is perhaps one of the most picturesque in India. Since we had to traverse some 200 odd Kms in a single day, we left Kaza at about 7.00 AM. The route is notorious for unexpected stoppages due to landslides / snow-slides as well as traffic jams at the Rohtang Pass. Hence, it was imperative that we reached Chatru by 4.00 PM.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">By 9:30 AM we were at the Losar check-post (also spelled Lossar; 4,079 metres). Most visitors prefer to use Losar as their base for the trek to Chandra Taal Lake, which begins from about 18 Kms from here. Natives here were discussing how the unexpected snowing and the resultant closure of the route had affected their business. As such the valley attracts tourists for mere three-four months and any loss of day can mean heavy losses for the tourism industry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In about an hour’s time we were driving through the Chandra Valley and as we neared Kunzum La (Kunzum Pass), we realised that we were now completely surrounded by snow – like a boat in the middle of an ocean. At about 4,590 metres, the area around Kunzum La is the highest in the region. The white clouds near the peaks of Chandra and Bhaga mountain ranges appeared like smoke billowing from chimneys. The Chandra River was now our companion (it goes on to meet Bhaga River near Tandi to form Chenab River) and the roads were lined with snow up to 10 feet high! From a distance we could see one of the world’s five largest non-Polar glaciers, the Bara Shigri Glacier – like white and grey lava flowing down a mountain.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S6CvBMqs63c/WyoxRkGrCsI/AAAAAAAAH7o/iskjcCWOClUFsEQ-iYHnqL5bLYrx11z0wCLcBGAs/s1600/_DSC0685-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1074" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S6CvBMqs63c/WyoxRkGrCsI/AAAAAAAAH7o/iskjcCWOClUFsEQ-iYHnqL5bLYrx11z0wCLcBGAs/s320/_DSC0685-3.jpg" width="214" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kunzum La</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">At the Kunzum top there is a temple, which Chortens, dedicated to Goddess Kali. We spent about 15 minutes here – photographing the spectacular mountain peaks and the Bara Shigri Glacier. There were also quite a few herds of sheep and lamb grazing around the place on whatever little grass could be found. This entire region is a hotbed of small and large glaciers – Bara Shigri, Chhota Shigri, </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Kulti, Shipting, Pacha, </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Chandra, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ding Karmo, Gyephang, Bolunag, Shili, Shamundri, etc. It is believed that the Chandra Taal Lake was formed many years ago by the Bara Shigri Glacier due to geological disturbance in the region. <o:p></o:p></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">After praying at the temple for a safe journey we moved on toward Batal. Barely 30 minutes in to the drive and we encountered a serious roadblock. An earthmover was clearing mounds of snow that had slid on to the road. We decided to make the most of this opportunity and asked Dharamveer to click some clichéd pictures of us – playing in the snow against the backdrop of Bara Shigri Glacier.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">The drive from here onward, though not steep, was very difficult. The roads, which would intermittently cross river beds, were full of small rocks and often streams of water from the melting snow would cross violently over them making it difficult for Dharamveer to navigate the vehicle over invisible rocks. Occasionally the wheel would get stuck. Other times the vehicle would simply bounce and swerve. Our anxiety was however alleviated by the sight of glacial ponds, frozen river beds and waterfalls. The dappled light falling on the valley and refracting in the air gave the sky an almost cosmic appearance.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><b style="text-align: center;">Chandra River, Glacier and Glacial melt near Batal</b></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Batal</span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Around 12.45 PM we reached Batal where we stopped to have tea. The chilling weather clearly warranted it. Batal is all of three – four </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">dhabas </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">(food joint) where most motorists, after a strenuous drive, relax to have lunch. Further, we reached Chatru (3,385 metres) around 3.00 PM where again we halted for some refreshments. The weather from here onward was similar to the one we encountered on the Shimla – Kalpa drive. Skies were overcast, it almost seemed like 7.00PM, and a light drizzle was on incessantly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Rohtang Pass</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The drive to Rohtang Pass was a slow, winding drive upwards. A climb made difficult by the heavy fog, which had reduced visibility down to a few feet. I would have my heart in my mouth every time Dharamveer would negotiate a turn, as neither the valley nor the bend in the road were visible. Dharamveer had to call upon all his experience, accumulated over 20 years of driving in these mountain passes, to reach us safely to Manali. Around 5.30 PM we were finally at the Rohtang Top. The place was crammed with innumerable shops that sell refreshments in the day time. A lot of tourists visit Rohtang Top to experience snow (mostly for the first time) and shamelessly leave behind a litter of plastic, a sight which I could not digest. Finally after an hour of descent we reached Manali and with it came to an end a journey which I can only describe as an odyssey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“At last they entered a world within a world – a valley of leagues where the high hills were fashioned of the mere rubble and refuse from off the knees of the mountains…. ‘Surely the Gods live here,’ said Kim, beaten down by the silence and the appalling sweep and dispersal of the cloud-shadows after rain. ‘This is no place for men!</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">”</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">– Rudyard Kipling writes about Spiti in his book ‘Kim’.</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Treacherous Roads</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The best time to visit Lahaul – Spiti is during the summer months of June – September. One could start either from Shimla or Manali depending upon his convenience and / or the mood of Rohtang Pass. Since one would be living at great heights, it is advisable that he consults his physician before embarking on the journey. As one may have realised from the travelogue, having the right vehicle and the right man at the helm of affairs is perhaps the most critical aspect of travelling to Spiti. It is hence my suggestion that you contact people who are absolutely trustworthy and are experienced in providing advice in the region. While it is possible to book a cab from the Manali taxi stand, you wouldn’t know beforehand about either the quality of the vehicle or the driver. I have always planned my own trips and done the bookings myself. But, as I researched about the place, I realised that this one trip had to be done differently. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Having availed of their services, I would not hesitate one bit to recommend the guys at ‘<a href="http://incrediblespiti.com/">Incredible Spiti</a>’ – customised travel and adventure solutions provider for the Spiti region. The success of my trip owes a great deal to Vishesh Shourie and his team's meticulous planning, good selection of vehicle and hotels and a continuous drive to ensure that we had a great time. It was also wonderful to see how they handled a last minute change in itinerary owing to the closure of Kunzum La. Without them we would have been probably stuck. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">
You could give them the itinerary and budget and they will design a trip around it. Alternatively you could just book the vehicle and / or hotels through them or merely ask them for trip advice!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lastly, I would suggest that you keep your budgets flexible by at least 30 - 50% to meet contingencies like change of route, health problems, need to overstay owing to closure of roads, inclement weather, etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Go, attain nirvana!</span></div>
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522853020413804110.post-46211970850324373732010-06-05T13:57:00.025+05:302018-12-23T21:57:02.378+05:30Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, India - A journey into the wild!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Planning a "hot" weekend excursion... </b>Two months back a casual discussion with my friend on visiting a national park for our May – June sojourn threw up </span><a href="http://www.tadobatiger.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Tadoba - Andhari Tiger Reserve</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> (TATR), located in the Indian State of Maharashtra, as an option. The park was not only brimming with tigers, but we had also never been there earlier, and the place had been in </span><a href="http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=15&edlabel=TOIM&mydateHid=09-04-2010&pubname=&edname=&articleid=Ar01500&format=&publabel=TOI"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">news</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> as a number of tiger cubs had been born there in the past 12 months. The best part was that we could cover the place over a weekend! While we knew that temperatures in this part of the country could touch 48 degrees Celsius in May – June, we also knew that summers were the best time to sight tigers and the number of casual tourists too would be fewer. Coming close on the heels of my visit to the </span><a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/2010/05/ranthambore-national-park-ranthambhore.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ranthambhore National Park</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">, I was naturally excited about the prospect. Deciding to look no further, we packed our bags and set sail....</span> <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>For a slide show of complete set of pictures from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Tadoba - Andhari Tiger Reserve</span>, please click</b></span> </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.mybioscope.net/Nature/Tadoba-Andhari-Tiger-Reserve-India/n-5fsNsS" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">HERE</span></a></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></span> <br />
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<b>Exploring the wild side of Maharashtra... </b>Also called the "Jewel of Vidarbha", Tadoba - Andhari Tiger Reserve is Maharashtra's oldest National Park located in the Chandrapur district, about 155 KM from the Nagpur International Airport. TATR is home to about 43 Royal Bengal Tigers (Panthera Tigris Tigris - India's National Animal), some 80 species of other mammals and 280 species of birds. A Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest, it is largely a flatland with 40 per cent of its area covered with bamboo trees, which gives it a unique appearance. Compared to other popular tiger reserves in India, TATR is relatively under-explored and under-photographed. The place has only of late been attracting tourists and is slowly coming up on the Indian wildlife circuit. At the moment, however, people from the Nagpur - Chandrapur belt comprise bulk of the tourists.<br />
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The moment we stepped out of the plane at Nagpur airport, in the evening, we experienced scalding heat and we immediately knew that we were in for some testing times. Our journey to Tadoba began on a good note. Even as we were driving towards Chandrapur we sighted a Jungle Cat, pair of Spotted Owlets perched on a tree, Common Palm Civet and Spotted Doves. The trailer was good....we now had to wait for a few more hours for the film to begin! The wait seemed quite long. We reached the MTDC Moharli Tourist Complex at around 10 PM and retired for the day after having dinner... with dreams of sighting a tiger. </div>
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<b>Tadoba, a birder's paradise! ... </b>For the first day we decided to choose jungle safaris (morning and evening) inside the Tadoba range of the forest (Moharli and Kolsa ranges being the other two open to tourists). As we drove through the bamboo lined tracks of Tadoba, we spotted Sambar Deers, Chitals (Spotted Deer), Gaur (Indian Bison), Indian Wild Boars, Barking Deer (Muntjac), Black - naped Hare, Common Mongoose, Indian Peafowl (Peacock - National Bird of India), mischievous and errant Common Langurs (Hanuman Langur - they are my best friends!), Changeable Hawk Eagle and the rare Flying Squirrel (we were lucky enough to see it glide). Owing to the bamboo thickets, animal sightings were fewer when compared to some of the other national parks in India. Every now and then I would feel the urge to climb one of the many <i>machaans</i> (watch tower) that dot the forest and soak in the panoramic view from there. <br />
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As we passed the scenic Tadoba Lake, we spotted an Asian Openbill, Great Egret, Pond Heron, Oriental Honey Buzzards (some were perched on trees, some sitting along the shore) and Peregrine "Shaheen" Falcon. We patrolled the range and halted at two prominent water holes (Ambepat and Jamunbari), waiting for any alarm calls that might signal the arrival of the King of the Jungle, the beast of prey, the tiger himself. These water holes enabled us to indulge in birding and we had some excellent sightings at Ambepat - Yellow Crowned Woodpecker, Oriental White Eye, Brahminy Starling, Grey Junglefowl, Great Tit, Black - naped Monarch, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Blue - winged Leafbird, Black Headed Munias, Orange Headed Thrush, etc. The area was buzzing with birds and several of them came to drink water and give us photo-ops. Thanks to the wait, our bird count was a respectable 40 something by the end of the day.</div>
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However, the tiger proved elusive throughout the day. In the evening we heard alarm calls near a water hole (Ambepat) and waited patiently, crammed with 10 other vehicles, for the tiger to come and quench his thirst. The tiger, though, never came. He probably neared the spot and walked away elsewhere (or maybe just sat some place nearby keeping a watch on us), maybe to return later so he could drink peacefully away from the gaze of human eyes. We returned to the hotel with a heavy heart. We were schedule to tour the Moharli range on the following day and so we joked on our drive back that tigers would be sighted in the Tadoba range tomorrow. While the mind knew that sighting a tiger is a matter of chance, the heart wouldn't listen!</div>
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<b>On a <i>dhudum - dhadam - dhudum</i> journey...</b>Visitors to the Tadoba range of the park should be prepared to receive some jolts of their lifetime. The entry gate (Khatoda gate) to the Tadoba range is about an hour's drive from Moharli. The drive on that stretch (located outside the park) is so bumpy that it will rattle every bone, massage each muscle and jangle many joints. One may be well advised to carry a crude seating plate with shock absorbers on the underside or a pillow (a la Saif Ali Khan of the Bollywood blockbuster 'Dil Chahta Hai'). The jungle tracks inside the Tadoba range seemed to be a joy ride in comparison! Wildlife lovers are always prepared to brave bumpy rides inside the jungle, but on an approach road, which is dotted with villages, it is appalling to see the road in such pitiable condition and further highlights the grim realities of the Vidarbha region! Occasionally one sights boards saying Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana... may be someday there will be a decent road which makes the journey a bearable one - more so for people like us who haven't had the fortune of sighting a tiger.</div>
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<b>Tryst with the Charming Lady of Moharli... </b>Moharli range being the most popular amongst local tourists, the forest officials permit more number of vehicles (about 20) inside this range compared to others. It was thus imperative for us to enter the park early. Alas, all hopes were dashed as a scuffle broke out outside the gate in the morning, thereby delaying the entry of vehicles by a good 45 minutes, sigh!</div>
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In order to prevent disturbance to a tigress and her litter of four cubs, the route to the water hole where they frequently come to drink had been recently closed to tourists. This left us with the Teliya Lake area and the main road (its a coal-tar road) with its water hole number 2 to search for the tiger. We first toured the beautiful Teliya Lake area which is surrounded by grassland. Herein we spotted a solitary Lesser Adjutant Stork and Mugger (Marsh Crocodile) lying on the lake shore. Perched on a nearby tree we spotted four-five Oriental Honey Buzzards, which, save for one, flew away as vehicles neared the spot. <br />
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After spending some time here we drove straight to water hole number 2 and camped there for the rest of the morning. The forest guide Neelkanth told us that the tiger would surely appear here as apart from Teliya Lake this was the only other source of water for him and of late he had been quite regular here. <br />
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Thirty minutes later we heard an alarm call from a Sambar Deer and we all stood up on our seats expecting the tiger to soon put in an appearance. Things however quickly quietened and we slumped into our seats. After a two hour wait under the scorching sun and with barely half hour left for us to head back, we heard the rustling of leaves behind the bamboo thickets. Suddenly one could see some movement through the thick vegetation (perfectly camouflaged) and finally, stealthily a gorgeous four year old tigress appeared before us. Her golden coat, glistening in the sun, is one of the best I have seen. Charming young lady, I must say! She sat in the water hole and drank from it for five minutes. All we could see, as she lay there, was her face. Our view was obstructed by a huge tree and we were cursing our luck for that. She then got up, glanced around and disappeared into the bamboo thicket and rested at a spot about 10-15 meters inside... bamboo-zling onlookers. <br />
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Though pleased with the proceedings thus far, our instinct told us this would be our last and only sighting during the trip. We were, however, not willing to give up!</div>
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During the evening we drove straight to the water hole number 2 and parked ourselves beside it. Afternoon turned to evening, a State Transport bus passed by us (!!!); Sirkeer Malkoha, Indian Roller and many other birds came, quenched their thirst and went away. We even sang some Bollywood songs, in muffled tones, calling for the tiger. However, there were no alarm calls, no movement. The sun was just about to set on the horizon and we decided to drive back. </div>
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Upon reaching the hotel we learnt that in the Tadoba range tiger sightings had occurred (as we had expected - Murphy's Law). In one instance a wary tiger and a huge gaur (Indian Bison) were found sharing a water hole with each giving the other angry stares and making attempts to go at each other. We got to see the video of the entire proceedings and struggled to sleep later in the night! <br />
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<b>A memorable drive in sylvan Kolsa...</b> Our last tiger safari was in TATR's most scenic, greener and cooler range, the Kolsa range, which lies on the other side of Andhari River. It's the kind of forest we imagine while reading books. Even though we had been forewarned that tiger sightings in this range were rare, we nonetheless pushed ahead, hoping to try our luck. As we entered through the Moharli gate and took the diversion on the right towards Kolsa, we were welcomed by the sight of a Sloth Bear. But he was so shy that he immediately made for the bushes. Owing to dense growth in this area, we had to constantly mind our head for bamboos jutting out. But the drive was indeed a memorable one, trees here were taller compared to other ranges, water more abundant and the sheer beauty of the place made up for fewer sightings. </div>
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As we waited at a water hole, a vehicle came and informed us that they had sighted a male tiger at a point where we had been several minutes ago. They had been there before us and therefore enjoyed the privilege. This again proved the importance of entering the park early as I had mentioned in my earlier <a href="http://mybioscope.blogspot.com/2010/05/tigers-of-ranthambhore.html">post</a> as well. However, we learned from the same people that the tiger didn't drink at the water hole then and there was a possibility he might reappear. We abandoned our current position and rushed to this spot. After some patient wait we decided to check out some other water bodies. On our way we spotted a Crested Serpent Eagle and a Common Hawk Cuckoo each carrying kills. We were blessed! </div>
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Disappointed at not having sighted a tiger we decided to halt near the Andhari River on our way back. The place is a veritable hotspot for birds - Indian Pitta, Common Kingfisher, Greater Racket - tailed Drongo, Black - naped Monarch, Asian Paradise Flycatchers, Rufous Treepies, etc. were all playing over there. Kolsa was also home to plenty of woodpeckers. <br />
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<b>Tigers, and more!...</b> At the end of it all, though we were a trifle disappointed at having sighted a solitary tiger for a few minutes, we were happy at the wonderful birding opportunities and jungle sightings, in general, that we had. Not to mention the sight of the extremely shy Sloth Bear, who is even more difficult to sight than a tiger is. I am sure there are a lot of hidden treasures in this jungle, tucked away somewhere in the thick vegetation. All in all I would say Tadoba - Andhari Tiger Reserve is a good place for people who have loads of patience and want to enjoy the jungle in its entirety. The tiger is not just the only attraction. If one is willing to accept this fact then TATR is an excellent virgin destination for serious wildlife enthusiasts and a birder's paradise!</div>
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<b>Following is the complete list of birds we sighted at TATR -</b></div>
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Spotted Owlet, Spotted Dove, Brahminy Starling, Black Shouldered (Winged) Kite, Common Kingfisher, Common Hawk Cuckoo, Oriental Magpie Robin, Common Myna, House Crow, Rock Pigeon, Indian Roller, Pied Myna, White Throated Kingfisher, Asian Openbill, Great Egret, Pond Heron, Long Tailed Shrike, Indian Pitta, Oriental White-eye, Asian Paradise Flycatcher (Male & Female), Crested Serpent Eagle, Black Drongo, White Bellied Drongo, White Browed Fantail, Peregrine "Shaheen" Falcon, Great Tit, Rufous Treepie, Black Naped Monarch, Yellow Crowned Woodpecker, Blue Winged Leafbird, Rose Ringed Parakeet, Orange Headed Thrush, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Black Headed Munia, Jungle Babbler, Large Billed Crow, Greater Coucal, Green Bee-eater, Purple Sunbird, Red Vented Bulbul, Red Wattled Lapwing, Eurasian Thick - knee, Tickell's Blue Flycatcher, Black Rumped Flameback, Yellow Footed Green Pigeon, Common Cuckoo, Asian Palm Swift, Cattle Egret, Eurasian Sparrow Hawk, Common Tailorbird, Lesser Adjutant Stork, House Sparrow, White Eyed Buzzard, Shikra, Sirkeer Malkoha, Ashy Prinia, Brown Headed Barbet, Changeable Hawk Eagle, White Naped Woodpecker (Male & Female), Indian Peafowl, Grey Junglefowl.</div>
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<b>Closing thoughts...</b> Before I end I would like to highlight some points - </div>
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<li>The process of entry into the park can be a bit baffling for the first time visitor to TATR. The following variables are subject to change at the drop of a hat - number of vehicles permitted inside, routes on which vehicles can travel, place of booking (it has now been shifted from the gate to Chandrapur), etc. Planning and getting hold of a good safari operator is thus imperative, lest you waste time and energy in trying to get in rather than enjoying the wildlife inside. </li>
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<li>A fact that annoyed me the most was that anybody who has a four wheeler can use it for safari as long as he hires a forest guide. Now one has to wonder what experience does such a person have of driving inside a national park and what does he care for the rules of the jungle? - another Bandhavgarh National Park type tragedy (where a tigress died on being hit by a vehicle) is perhaps waiting to happen! This is also not all. An S. T. (State Transport) bus periodically passes on the arterial road (see pic, one can see other vehicles waiting patiently for the tiger) in the Moharli range of the park - inside the core area! Let me not comment on this matter any further, it needs to be denounced in strongest terms! </li>
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<li>Coming to the place of stay. Accommodation facilities in Tadoba are very limited. We stayed at the MTDC Tadoba Moharli Tourist Complex. This is the place where most people choose to stay (Hobson's choice). Like most MTDC hotels, its trump card is its location. It is located at a five minutes' drive from the Moharli gate of the park. And like most MTDC hotels, the benefits end there. Food is barely comestible (though I must admit that the chap makes good fresh lime juice and dal fry), service is ofcourse non-existent, rooms are just about liveable. In fact, in the room where two of my co-travellers were staying, thousands of big black ants (Carpenter ants for the scientifically minded) emerged out of the bathroom sink (a la 'The Mummy', the Hollywood movie) the moment they stepped in! </li>
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<li>As the Indian economy has been galloping over the last few years, the Tadoba - Andhari Tiger Reserve has come under immense pressure from industries wanting to mine coal in the vicinity. While coal is essential for meeting our energy requirements, should it be permitted in an eco-sensitive zone? It is for the nation to choose - whether we give importance to mining coal, which spews life threatening carbon dioxide, or protect the forest which releases life saving oxygen. </li>
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<b><i>"If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen."</i></b></div>
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved. Write to me at <a href="mailto:mybioscope.blog@gmail.com">mybioscope.blog@gmail.com</a></div>
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Copyright Maneesh Goal. All Rights Reserved.</div>The Legend Returnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918439080871977089noreply@blogger.com13