Mandi district as we now see was formed by merging the two princely states of Mandi and Suket, when the State of Himachal Pradesh was created post independence (1948). The kings of Mandi and Suket are believed to be descendants of the mighty Sena dynasty of Bengal. After the Islamic invasion of Bengal in 1204…
Category: photography
Sri Someswara temple in Kolanupaka near Warangal (Telengana)
The beautifully sculpted Kakatiyan temples seen in Telengana are predominantly dedicated to Shiva, and they generally follow the Ekakuta, Trikuta, or Panchakuta plan. The sculptural art of this time gives us an idea of the socio-religious atmosphere of that era. A favourite theme in Kakatiyan temple sculptures were stories from various epics, such as the…
A Photographic Journey of Hardwar
Scenes from Har ki Pauri ghat: the melting point of India where one gets to see people from all states The main bazaar area bordering the ghats: The Temples of Hardwar near Har ki Pauri To read on the history and other details on Haridwar please check this link : Haridwar
Kurmachal or Kumaun – The land of Vishnu
माटू हमरू, पाणी हमरू, हमरा ही छन यी बौण भी… पितरों न लगाई बौण, हमुनही त बचौण भी। (Soil ours, water ours, ours are these forests. Our forefathers raised them, it’s we who must protect them —Old Chipko Song ) The state of Uttarakhand, earlier referred to as Uttaranchal, is located in the northern part of India….
Rabindranath Tagore and a glimpse into some of his paintings
“From our very childhood habits are formed and knowledge is imparted in such a manner that our life is weaned away from nature and our mind and the world are set in opposition from the beginning of our days. Thus the greatest of educations for which we came prepared is neglected, and we are made…
Brihadesvara Gangaikondacholisvarar temple at Gangaikondacholapuram- proclaiming the might of the Chola army
The Lost Glory of the city of Gangaikondacholapuram The beautiful temple known as Brihadisvara Gangaikondacholesvara in Gangaikondacholapuram stands tall, proudly proclaiming the 11th century victorious march of the Chola army up to the banks of the Ganga, where they defeated king Mahipala of the Pala dynasty. While the city and the mighty emperor’s palace are now…
Brihadesvara Peruvudaiyar temple in Thanjavur – an architectural marvel by the dynamic Raja Raja Chola I
“When we recall the nature and extent of the efforts and sacrifices that must have gone into the construction of this magnificent temple… and the manner in which numerous villages all over the empire were linked with the daily routine of the temple… when we consider further, how all the learning and the arts that…
Airavatesvara temple in Darasuram: A beautiful stone carved verse from the later Chola period
The Imperial Cholas The Imperial Cholas of South India hold the record for being the longest ruling dynasty in Indian history, and is undoubtedly one of the grandest empires that the country has ever seen. Historically their rule goes long back into the pre-Christian era, and while there is no exact date of their origin, the dynasty…
Kailasanathar in Kanchipuram/ Kanchi- A Pallava marvel in stucco and sandstone
Looking back at Kanchipuram Kanchipuram, the city of thousand temples, was a part of Tondaimandalam division during the ancient and early medieval times. The city which lies between the two rivers Palar and Vegavati, is situated in the north-eastern part of Tamil Nadu. Kanchi is broadly divided into two main parts: the Vishnu Kanchi and Shiva…
What do Ganas, Gandharvas, Mithuna Couples, and Dancing girls on temple walls tell us
When we embark on a circumambulation of a temple (pradakshina), our eyes come across many figures besides those of the gods and the goddesses. Among the ones we most frequently meet are the chubby ganas busy blowing into conch shells, or bearing heavy loads of the temple, or sometimes playing the musical instruments. Others that…
Moni Gāthā 