Auto in Fatehpur-Shekhawati

This auto invites  "O Tau, Baith Bolero Mein"

I could't sit in this Auto as

it invites "Tau" only and I am not a "Tau"



Rock Cut cave in Mahabalipuram

 We have our own sphinx.  Never heard about their existence
 before my visit to this place.

Mahabalipuram was a port few centuries back, many people may had visited this place or many people from this part of the county might have had visited  other countries. 
 Had they copied it from Egypt or some country or it is just the imagination of the person who carved it.  Do not know ?

Besides being a port it was school of art also. 

My guide in Mahabalipuram showed me very proudly the gap

 between the rock and  the front leg of the cow. 

A well curved milk woman.

The carvings in this cave are related to Krishna where one can see a Buddhist monk milking a cow. 

A Good imagination.

It is monkey or a child on his father's shoulders.

I think it is Durga riding on Lion ?

A shephard in rains..

This Krishna lifting the Goverdhan on his finger.

How these rocks were carved into these different styles ?

How much time they have taken ? 

Kanheri Caves_Mumbai

Heard about Kanheri Caves long back but get a chance to visit these marvels in June this year only.

These Buddhist Rock cut caves dates back to 1 BC and 9 AD.  Kanheri caves located in the deep forests famously known as Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivli in Mumbai. 

   These beautifully carved figures adorned at the entrance,     welcoming the tourists to this huge Buddhist habitat.

This huge Buddha was busy giving company to the Tourists

sitting on its feets for the photographs. 

This is the main prayer hall called Chaitnya in Buddhism. 

 It seems that the ceiling of this hall was adorned with something may be with wood as I had seen in Karla Caves.

Inscription on the pillar of Chaitnya Hall.  Is it Palli or some other script, I do not know and I do not know how these beautiful small words were carved on the rock.

Delapidated Buddha Statue.

Stupas carved on the walls of the main cave.

Are the guards are for this Cobra or Sheshnaag in the middle of this carving.  Why these carvings do not speak and narrate their stories....may be they are telling something but I am not able to understand them.... 

The main cave 

All these figures in Buddist caves have similarities in their

 dress their headgears. 

 Was Buddhism all over India? 

Then why and how it has almost vanished in India?

These caves are scattered on a very large area in this part of Mumbai. 

 It seems it was a huge habitat or a university.

I wonder how and in how many years they have carved these dormitories out of the hard rocks.

 Here people are enjoying in one of the reservoir or a canal.

These caves have a perfect water harvesting system. One can find many water channels and reservoirs to store the water. Same thing is found in Karla caves also. 

I have visited many historical places in our country,

and have found that people or the architects of that era were more aware of the water harvesting. 

 I have seen in Mandu a perfect system of water harvesting.

I have not covered all the caves, next time

I will go with lots of time and a very good camera.

The caves are surrounded with the real jungle and trek trails.

Once you are in this Sanjay Park, you forget that you are in Mumbai 

Why this park is named after Sanjay,

 it could have some refreshing name.

Yes, you rightly said it is difficult to imagine such a place in a city like Mumbai.

Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram, 60 kms. from Chennai the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the Southern Indian state is a bundle of wonders. Mahabalipuram a port city in 1st AD a place of complete awe, master creations show the patience of artisans. 

A complete rock carved into a depiction of incidents of Mahabharta.

Here Draunacharya, the Guru of Pandavas and Kauravas

 is seen sitting on the left side.

Complete view of the rock. 

Animals carved beautifully can be seen from a distance.

In the middle the Ganges is shown as a Cobra.

The two resting Deers carved below the Draunacharya,

found their place on the ten rupee note.

Here Arjuna is shown meditating.

After his penance he  was able to get the weapon from shiva. 

The peaceful atmosphere around is carved beautifully.

Sau chuhe kha kar billi Haj karne chali. 

 A cat surrounded by rats is shown meditating on her hind legs beneath the elephant's tusk.

A cave is also carved from the same mountain.

Among the front five pillars in front of the cave, the fourth pillar from left is not the original one. 

 I was told by the guide, this pillar was reconstructed by the Brits.  Good gesture.

I was informed by the guide that the faces on these pillars are of Chinese loins.

  I failed to understand how come the chinese lions reach there.  So the chinese invasion is so old ?

The rock cave supported by pillars.

There is a country called India, a bundle of wonders.

Karla Caves-Rock cut Caves

 Karla Caves in Lonavala are rock cut Buddhist caves standing magnificently on Mumbai Pune highway

On way to Karla Caves, I do not know the name of these birds.

I dont know how  and why Godess Ekvira appeared in front of these caves.

The national emblem on the top of pillar (authentication)

The places related to Buddha bears the same design and pattern whether it is Sanchi, Ajanta Caves, Bhaje caves or Karla Caves.  This pattern is missing in Leh.

Carved figures adorn the entrance of caves. 

Here again it bears the same pattern of dress an headgears which is found in Era of Buddha or Ashoka.

Imaculatly carved figures

This Prayer Hall in the caves is the master pieces of  architecture.  This prayer hall is considered to be the largest in the country and  well preserved.

The wooden planks in the ceilings date back to 2500 years. 

It is the most astounding feature of caves and one wonders about the life of wood. 

No traces of ageing is found.....indeed wonderful

The ceiling of the cave is supported by these strong pillars.

These small cubicles are the vihars on the first floor of the caves. 

On entry of these cave one can find a Ekvira Temple. 

The place is thronged by locals for the reason of this temple only. 

Our country was so rich technically in that era,

it gives a feeling of pride. 

 How they have created such master pieces is really wonder ful.

Are we able to create such wonders in today's times.