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With Stars at Singalila

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Startrails over SW Horizon
Milky Way rises!
Milky Way just after sunset
Milky Way dominates the scene
Sleeping Buddha wakes up!
Meteor and Milky Way
Our home in Space!
Startrails over SW Horizon
Handshake with Milky Way!
First rays on Mt. Kanchenjunga
Startrails wheel around North Star
Where’s the Celestial Equator?
Milky Way with its star family

Singalila Ridge is located along India-Nepal border near Darjeeling, India. During my trek in Oct’18, I saw different moods of the night sky with Milky Way Galaxy and Stars taking the centre stage…

Gallery

Step into the Woods

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Grey Heron gets its breakfast
Painted Stork
Greater Flamingos breakfree
Indian Nightjar
Grey Heron with its neck decoration
Doves in attention
Egret
Crested Hawk Eagle
Tree bark is a delicacy!
Hey Boys! No fighting…
Indian Roller
Peacock displays its treasure
…even the rear side view is beautiful
Glowing eyes of Crested Hawk Eagle
Glaring stare of a tigress
Let me sleep
A celebrity pose!
Don’t mess with me!
Male Indian Bison
Giant Malabar Red Squirrel
Crested Hawk Eagle
Tusker in style
Eye on her cubs
Tigress on the move…everyone hides!
Ibis
Indian Pond Heron
Brahminy Kite
Osprey gets ready to fly!
Osprey has a wingspan of 6 feet!
River Tern
Parade of the Whistling Ducks
Cormorant
Osprey takes off…
Darter
Grey Headed Fishing Eagle
Egret
Cormorant drying its wings
Grey Headed Fishing Eagle
Squadron of Painted Storks
Crocodile with Grey Heron – We are just friends!
Sub-adult Grey Heron
River Tern in flight
Flight of Brahminy Kite
Openbill Stork
Otter
Otter Pair
Where are you?
Gallery

Pindari Twinkles

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Stars shine over Maiktoli (6803m)
Maiktoli at pre-dawn
First light on Maiktoli
Golden Maiktoli
Pindari Range – Mrigdhuni, Maiktoli, Nandadevi, Nanda Khat, Pindari Glacier, Chaanguch, Nanda Kot, Laspadhura, Dangthal
Stars over Nanda Kot(6861m) and Laspadhura(5913m)
Startrails over Nanda Kot(6861m) and Laspadhura(5913m)
Milky Way Galaxy rises
Startrails over South West Horizon
Billion stars sparkle in the Himalayan skies
Startrails centred around North Star
Stars at pre-dawn alongwith Andromeda Galaxy
Startrails over Pindari range
Milky Way Galaxy with moon’s silver touch
Our Home – Milky Way Galaxy
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Julley! Ladakh

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Killing Sarai 15100ft
Moving to Sarchu
Sarchu 14100ft
Hills gradually get dusted
It’s a mountains and clouds show!
Bikers all the way…
Gata Loops 13800ft
Lachung La Pass 16600ft
Pang 15100ft
Art with soil erosion!
Soil erosion causes amazing carvings!
Moore Plains 15500ft
Plateau runs for 40-50 kms
Taglang La Pass 17500ft – World’s second highest motor able road
Ladakhi nomadic tribes
Look into Infinity!
Upshi Village 11500ft
Way to Khardungla Pass
View of Stok Kangri 20100ft
Glacier near Khardungla Pass
Khardung village
Snow peaks to barren landscape
Nubra Valley terrain emerges
2 humped camel safari at Hunder in Nubra Valley
Take me away…
Sand dunes of Nubra Valley
14th century Diskit Monastery
Shyok River
Tso Kaigar 15000ft
Tso Moriri 15000ft
Tso Moriri during sunset
Moonlit Tso Moriri
Pre-dawn star trails over Tso Moriri
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Somewhere…in India!

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Umiam Lake
Elephant Water Falls
Living Root Bridge
Mawsmai Caves – The stalagmites caves are a natural wonder with several years of natural abrasion and underground water leaving behind an artistic imprint.
Meghalaya has over 1000 stalagmite caves
It is like a walk through an art gallery
The caves have many rock cut forms and figures
Spellbinding Nature!
Koh Ramah – a volcanic cone shaped rock structure
Nohkalikai Falls – the highest falls in India with 340 meters plunge
Double Decker Living Root Bridge – a marvel of nature
Narmada river cuts through Bhedaghat marble rocks
Marble rocks
Nature carves its sculptures
Dhuandhar Falls
Aerial view of the Dhuandhar Falls
In Rann of Kutch, post monsoon water recedes leaving behind a landscape of dry and barren land
Left Alone!
Barren but beautiful
White Desert – Salt deposits over a vast area creates a unique landscape
It feels like standing in the middle of a sea
Water canal in Rann…that’s man-made!
Salt crystals
Patterns formed by salt crystals
No..that is not a walk on Moon surface!
Take me to the horizon…
Endless beauty…creation of a minimalist
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Wherever the Mountains take me…

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Kinner Kailash as seen from Sangla Valley
Chitkul – Last village near Indo-China border in Kinnaur region
Farming fields of Nako village in Spiti Valley
…as the sun sets on the way to Tabo..
Tabo Monastery – about 1000 years old is one of the earliest monasteries in India
Tabo Monastery
Kibber Valley – It is one of the most fragile regions in Spiti Valley
Kibber Village – Continuous erosion of the eco-system results in huge monoliths like structures
Unique landscape
Sun rises over a sleepy Kaza
Langza Village – Some of the most remote villages exist in Spiti Valley
It was heart warming to see a small school functioning despite minimum facilities
Monks prepare for lunch time
Village meeting
Every mountain has its own charm
Even the mountains here bow to Lord Buddha!
Stars over our camp site just before sun rise
Star trails over Chaukhamba (height 7138 mts) at Deoriatal, Uttarakhand
Chaukhamba is blessed by first rays of the sun
Tungnath – At 12000 ft, it is the highest Lord Shiva temple in the world
Moonrise over Nandadevi and Trishul peaks
Temple at the top of Chandrashila
Sunset brightens Chaukhamba peaks
I could just sit there and keep watching
Mesmerizing sunrise over Himalayan range
Cloud carpet!
Dawn breaks over Panchchuli
Panchchuli peaks set to welcome the sun
Majestic Panchchuli peaks named after Pandav brothers – Yudhisthir, Bheem, Arjun, Nakul and Sahadev
When the peaks are hidden…enjoy the clouds!
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Ellora

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Ellora Caves – A World Heritage site spanning the period between 5th – 11th century AD. It is famous for Buddhist monasteries, Hindu and Jain temples. This image shows the world’s biggest caved ‘Kailash Temple’ with Dhwajstambh.
Ravan in anger lifts the Kailash Parvat – abode of Lord Shiv-Parvati
Maa Durga killing demon buffalo
Lord Vishnu in Narasimha avatar
Every cave leaves an impression
Mythology comes alive in these caves
Carvings narrate stories from the epic ‘Mahabharat’
A huge verandah carved out of a mountain rock
Lions and Elephants guard the temple gates
Entrance of the caves are decorated with magnificent sculptures
Dhumar Lena cave – Lord Shiv with eight arms in a powerful, furious and destructive dance
Ravan in anger lifting the Kailash Parvat – abode of Lord Shiv-Parvati
Mythological stories in stone
Marriage of Lord Shiv-Parvati
Shivling
Pali script
Lord Shiv dancing as ‘Natraj’
Jain caves
Sculpture in Jain caves
Sculpture in Jain caves
Bhagwan Mahavir in meditation
Jain temple sculptures
Bhagwan Mahavir in Jain temple
Indra Sabha
Indrani under mango tree
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Ajanta

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Ajanta Caves – A World Heritage site excavated between the 2nd century BC and 6th century AD are famous for Buddhist paintings
Bodhisattva Padmapani – this masterpiece shows Padmapani in spiritual calm born of compassion for all living forms
Buddha moving the Wheel of Dharma
Murals showing Buddha in various mudras
Murals narrate stories from famous Jataka Tales
Murals narrate stories from famous Jataka Tales
Murals narrate stories from famous Jataka Tales
Paintings depicting Buddha in deep meditation
Buddha in sanctum
A chaitya hall of the late Mahayana period called as ‘the sculptor’s treasure chest’.
Buddha Preaching
Fine carvings adorn the pillars in Ajanta caves
Buddha in meditation
Buddha Preaching
Ajanta also has some magnificent sculptures as in Cave 26
Reclining Buddha Mahaparinirwanait (23 feet)
Siddharth (Gautam Buddha) in a pensive state of mind due to suffering in the world around him
Suddhodana is sad when his son Siddharth (Gautam Buddha) decides to leave home in search of ‘Truth’
Amrapali – royal courtesan of the republic of Vaishali in ancient India around 500 BC
Fine details of the carvings in Ajanta caves
The wall sculpture shows scholars in discussion
Only true passion for art can carve out magic in stone!
View of the main gate of Cave 19
Buddhist Stupa
Buddham Sharnam Gachaami – He spreads peace and happiness for all…with a smile!