Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque the land mark of Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi,

 the second biggest Mosque in World, 

is a beautiful structure in Marble and decorated with Gold and Semi Precious Stones.

 Makrana Marble is also used in the Mosque 

A grand mosque to accommodate at least

 40,000 worshippers at a time. 

3000 artisans and at least 38 contracting companies from all over the world took part 

in construction of the mosque

There was no body who can explain 

the architecture and other details.

The mosque speaks the wealth accumulated by these counties during the recent past.

A part of a corridors reflecting its image in small pool.

Well built corridors with 1096 columns decorated with Gold 

These are Palm Tree in Gold. 

Top of pillars carved in the shape of Palm Trees.  

Inside one of the Domes.

The mosque standing high with 82 domes

Beautiful Calligraphy in 24 carat Gold.

Women clad in Burqa are the tourists from other parts of the world and definitely not Muslims.

Burqa is,  MUST for women,

 while entering the Mosque. 

Floors of the arcade are adorned with 

Huge flowers with semi precious stones.

The ceiling of the mosque is adorned with Huge Chandeliers made with Swarovski Cystals

 and Italian Glass

The floral design designs on this huge wall are made of semi precious stones like Lapi lazuli, 

 Sodalite and others. 

Reflection of the wall in the floor

These flowers in Semi Precious Stones speaks

 the craftsmanship.

  

The Main Prayer Hall with 96 columns.

99 names of Allah are carved on the Qibla wall, 

in traditional Kufi Calligraphy.

The Qibla wall is illuminated in Fibre optic lights with

 99 names of Allah

The Columns in the prayer are clad with Marble and inlaid in mother of Pearls.

This is one of the Huge Chandeliers inside the mosque are imported from Germany.  

Incorporated with millions of Swarovski Crystal. 

This is the second largest known Chandelier in the mosque and the third largest Chandelier in the World

These are the three Chandeliers in the 

Main Prayer Hall.

This is the one piece Largest Carpet made in wool by 1200 to 1300 carpet knotters in Iran 

and was completed in two years

I think our Taj Mahal, though it is not a Mosque, 

is THE MAJESTIC AND GRAND Piece of Architecture.

Though it is not adorned with Chandeliers and 24 carat Gold, but a real piece of art.

Stok Palace in Leh

Stok Palace in Leh is the residence of Royal family. 

Part of it is converted into a museum.

It has a small shop and a restaurant.

Could not take pictures of the exhibits in the museum,

as the Faithful Tall Royal Guard with misterious looks, 

didn't like my idea of photography.

I was emphatically stopped by him.

Painted ceiling of the entrance.

Here, Buddha adorns the ceiling of the entrance.

View from the Stok Palace. 

 Ruins of Mud houses amidst the scattered greenery.

A fully deckedup fruitseller in the Leh Market.

The decoration with flowers , coins reminds me of pictures of Aryan woman printed in the newspaper, years ago.

  I asked her, where she has come from.

I heard her saying Dhahanu

(I was amazed to see that she understood my language. 

Aryan strings between us ?? may be.)

Dhahanu is a land of Aryans.

I heard that civilians are not allowed in this area,

people from armed forces can have access to it. 

It was banned years ago because, the German female tourists were found sneaking in this area and returning with a sperm of an Aryan in their wombs, with a dream of delivering a PURE ARYAN.

I heard this story from a friend, how far it is true, I have no idea.

Even otherwise, one needs permit to visit certain places in Leh including Dhahanu.

Aryans are known for their beauty but that beauty diminished with a passage of time and also by marrying with in their own clan.

Could not visit Dhahanu, hopefully next time

Clouds on South Mumbai

It was a month of September, when I landed in Mumbai. 

Clouds were bubbling in the sky

painting the sky of Mumbai

creating shapes-

Here  white clouds preferred the shape of INDIA

My favourite place in Mumbai -

cuffe parade at the other end of the backbay

almost touching the clouds

Vidhan Bhavan popping from the back of INOX

It stands alone amidst the rectangular Boxes

Clouds showering silver on the Arabian Sea while 

 Mantralya keeping an eye 

A chimp planting a kiss on the forhead of a lovely lass

Vidhan Bhawan shining with the silver

clouds look full from the thirtieth floor  

The mighty Mantralya boasts its presence 

Vidhan Bhavan surrounded by tall boxes

It is a time of hightide, the Backbay is full with water

the fishermen are back with their catch so it seems very calm as the boats are lying idle

There was a time when I used to sit for hours in the window of a house at fifth floor in Cuffe Castle,

 spending hours watching these boats going to sea for their catch, and this time I spent hours looking at the backwater and my favourite place fifth floor of Cuffe Castle

I cherish those memories