Prayer Bells in Manakamana, Nepal
Limited edition prints of this image are for sale. Ordering info is given at the end of the post. Click on the image for a larger view.
I was driving from Kathmandu to Chitwan National Park in Nepal when I came upon the cable car service going to the Manakamana temple. Thousands of Hindus had queued up to take this ride, but I managed to get permission to jump ahead as I was a on ‘journalistic mission.’ (every job has some perks). The sights were simply breathtaking as we ascended; the image will give you some idea. Will post more later. And these bells were a part of the temple.
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Tagged as:
Art,
Hinduism,
Limited Edition,
Manakamana,
Misty Mountains,
Nepal,
Prayer Bells,
religion
Blind woman rowing a Shikara in Dal Lake, Srinagar, Kashmir
Limited edition prints of this image are for sale. Ordering info is given at the end of the post. Click on the image for a larger view.
I had driven to Kashmir during April (a great time to be there) and could but help falling in love with the Dal Lake in Srinagar. I went on multiple Shikara (local boats as seen in this image) rides at all times of the day. In this case, I was out visiting the floating vegetable market at the crack of dawn and had stopped for tea at one of the floating shops in the lake. And then I saw this old woman rowing towards me – as she got closer I realised she was nearly blind. And then the shot happened as she crossed me: a perfect play of light with colourful reflections of house boats in the background. Few shots have given me as much professional satisfaction as this.
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Art,
Blind Woman,
Dal Lake,
Kashmir,
Limited Edition,
Rowing,
Shikara,
srinagar
3-year old Tiger Cub waiting for lunch at Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
Limited edition prints of this image are for sale. Ordering info is given at the end of the post. Click on the image for a larger view.
I spotted this tiger cub cooling off in a pool in the Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan, India. It was a hot summer day, with temperatures in excess of 50 degrees Celsius. The cub, though looking fully grown-up, has yet to learn how to hunt. My guide was not sure of its gender, but he/she has a subling. Both the sibling and the mother were away somewhere, and this cub was waiting for them to come back with some food probably. I waited a few hours myself hoping to see the family together but it was not to be.
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Art,
Hunt,
Limited Edition,
Rajasthan,
Ranthambhore National Park,
Tiger Cub
Blue Walls and Green Windows in Tansen, Nepal
Limited edition prints of this image are for sale. Ordering info is given at the end of the post. Click on the image for a larger view.
I took this image when driving around the beautiful town of Tansen in Nepal. The village I took this in had just a few houses on the main highway itself – and this wall stood out for its colours. When I enquired what these wooden logs were for, some teenage girls tried to explain their use for storing or processing honey. But due to language barriers, I could not really understand.
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Art,
Blue Walls,
Canvas,
Green Windows,
Limited Edition,
Nepal,
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Tansen
The Tata Nano just after the Rohtang Pass
Driving to Ladakh in any kind of a vehicle (especially when the roads still have snow / black ice on them) can be a tricky affair for the most experienced of drivers. But when someone decides to venture out in a Nano (the ‘baby’ car from the Tata Automobiles stable with a reputation for catching fire without the slightest of provocations) and comes back in the same car to tell the story, it is another thing altogether. Sanjay Madan and Pankaj Chanana did just that: they left their Landcruisers home and ventured out in a Nano. The following is a story of their journey, as narrated by them. (we have done minimal editing to it). (Sanjay will be coming to the Kunzum Travel Cafe in August to narrate his story in person. If you want to join the interactive talk, let us know and we will inform you when it is scheduled). Read on… [continue reading…]
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Barlacha La Pass,
Delhi,
Driving to Ladakh,
Fotu La Pass,
Gata Loops,
Ghata Loops,
Himalayan Expedition,
Jispa,
Kargil,
Khardungla Top,
Larchalang Pass,
Leh - Ladakh,
manali,
Nalagarh Fort,
Rohtang Pass,
Sarchu,
srinagar,
Tandi Petrol Station,
Tanglang La Pass,
Tata Nano,
Tough Toddler,
Zojila
A photo feature by Prashanth Vishwanathan
I am just back from a visit to Hyderabad, the capital of the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. I wanted to write something poetic myself, so smitten was I by the city’s mystic charms at night. But then I came upon this poetic verse by Sarojini Naidu – more apt to put that here. So here goes: [continue reading…]
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Andhra Pradesh,
Charminar,
Hyderabad,
South India
Why don’t they make more properties like the Old Inn at Bandipur?
It is a charming property, with some of the best interiors I have ever seen. Each nook and corner seems to be a labour of love and great taste. It is like an aesthetic exposition of Nepali / Tibetan handicrafts. And the place has character with wooden steps going all over, walls beautifully painted and decorated and furniture to match. You can see albums of actual photographs of those who have been adventurous in Nepal and want to follow their footsteps. With the property overlooking the village and the valley and peaks around, you have the perfect recipe for not wanting to leave. [continue reading…]
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Bandipur,
hotel review,
Nepal,
Old Inn
Frescos and Blue Doors in Shekhawati, Rajasthan
Limited edition prints of this image are for sale. Ordering info is given at the end of the post. Click on the image for a larger view.
This is the wall of one of the many havelis (houses) in Nawalgarh in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. I was actually on the roof of an adjoining haveli when I saw this sight – and it immediately struck me as an image waiting to be captured.
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Blue Doors,
Frescos,
Haveli,
Nawalgarh,
Rajasthan,
Shekhawati
Have you fancied driving across to Nepal in your own car? It is not a big deal at all as I discovered when I undertook the Great Himalayan Drive recently. You can actually start very early, cross the border around noon, and be out for a jungle safari in the Shuklaphanta National Park in the afternoon. Or leave comfortably, cross the border when the gates open in the evening and have dinner in Mahendranagar (this is the border town in Nepal and adjoins the national park). Here is the distance / time chart I logged: [continue reading…]
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Banbassa,
Delhi to Nepal,
Driving to Nepal,
Great Himalayan Drive,
Mahendranagar,
Nepal Border,
Shuklaphanta
Brown Wall of House in Village near Tansen in Nepal
Limited edition prints of this image are for sale. Ordering info is given at the end of the post. Click on the image for a larger view.
I took this image while driving around the town of Tansen in Nepal in 2010. This house was in one of the many unmarked villages in the region, and stood out for its colours and absolutely clean surroundings. With the light falling almost perfectly on it, and the way the utensils were out to dry with a broom lying nearby, this shot was waiting to be taken. Continue reading if you want to order this print
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House,
Nepal,
Photo of the Day,
Tansen,
village
A Kite Shop in Mandawa in Shekhawati, Rajasthan
Limited edition prints of this image are for sale. Ordering info is given at the end of the post.
I took this image in the town of Mandawa in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan in India. I had reached the town late afternoon on a cold, January day – and ventured out to the market after evening tea. This shop was illuminated as you see after sunset – and most of the light on the street was from the shops themselves. It was a shot waiting to be taken. Continue reading if you want to order this print
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Mandawa,
Photo of the Day,
Rajasthan,
Shekhawati
If you are looking for modern comforts when visiting the Kaziranga National Park, Iora is the place you should choose to stay. The property has all the comforts you can ask for, with high quality furnishings, satellite TV, a fully functional restaurant and more. The problem is the property could be anywhere in the world; it has little to show that it is at the world heritage site of Kaziranga National Park. [continue reading…]
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Assam,
Hotel Iora The Retreat,
hotel review,
Kaziranga
The Almond Villa in Srinagar in Kashmir is literally a jewel in the crown. Or the crown itself for Mahindra Homestays. [continue reading…]
We’re back with the ‘weekend music mayhem’ but with a twist – this time the event is on Sunday! So, ‘no excuses’ for not being there… or being square!
Save the Date: Sunday, 11 July
Time: 5 – 7 pm sharp
Place: Kunzum Travel Café; T-49, GF, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi 110016; +91.11.2651 3949, +91.9650 702 777 (Last left turn before the monument)
Who: An upcoming music group called ‘Pratham’ [continue reading…]
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Event,
Music,
Pratham,
Travel Cafe
Photo Feature by Prashanth Vishwanathan
The havelis of Shekhawati in Rajasthan are profusely painted with frescoes depicting gods and kings, flowers and arabesques and scenes from everyday life. The technique of Fresco painting in Shekawati was very close to the Italian Fresco technique developed around the 14th century. The havelis were owned by the rich traders of Marwar who have moved on to bigger cities and left their ancestoral homes abandoned. [continue reading…]
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Forts,
Frescos,
Haveli,
Paintings,
Rajasthan,
Shekhawati
Few properties in the world can match the setting of Fish Tail Lodge in Pokhara in Nepal. With the Fewa Tal (lake) on one side, and a forest cover on the other, it is an island of delight. Accentuated with the imposing Machhapuchre (meaning Fish Tail) peak almost at touching distance towering over it. [continue reading…]
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Fish Tail Lodge,
hotel review,
Nepal,
Pokhara
Bhaktapur in Kathmandu
Ever since Nepal made front page news for its political troubles, it has been struck off as a holiday destination by most Indians. But surely Nepal’s charms must still be holding good? Ajay Jain hit the road in his SUV to re-discover Nepal he last visited in the 1980s as a school boy. And came back giving a thumbs up to the country. [continue reading…]
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Bandipur,
Bardia,
Bhairavsthan,
Bhaktapur,
Birds,
Buddha,
Chitwan,
Fish Tail,
Gorkha,
Janakpur,
Kathmandu,
Koshi Tappu,
Lumbini,
Mayadevi Temple,
Nepal,
Pashupatinath,
Patan,
Pokhara,
Shivratri,
Shuklaphanta,
Tansen,
Temple,
Thamel,
The Great Himalayan Drive,
wildlife
GO WILD WITH CANON & NATURE WANDERERS
Editing and Post Processing Workshop
July 17, 2010, Canon Image Lounge, Ambience Mall, Gurgaon
Nature and wildlife photography is all about patience and post processing plays an important role in giving your photographs a fine edge by making them look neater. Nature Wanderers and Canon is pleased to kick-start season 2010-2011 of the Go Wild series with a workshop that would help you to edit your photos and make them look more presentable. [continue reading…]
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Canon,
Editing,
Nature Wanderers,
photography,
Photoshop,
Workshop
