Karnataka State - Badami

Event date: 1st October 2012

Bismillahirahmanirrahim

In search for World Heritage of India, I have my heart sealed on Badami that I laid eyes on 1st October 2012. The mosque of deccan sultanate architecture was seen as soon as we approached the parking lot. The facts of the place and the history that I retrieved from Wikipedia are narrated below.

A word Badami is from badam (walnut) and the placed called Badami was the regal capital of Badami Chalukyas dynasty from 450 to 757 AD. It is famous for rock cut and other structural temples, located in a ravine at the foot of a rugged, red sandstone outcrop that surrounds Agastya lake. A little bit of ruler of Badami since ages ago:-

• 450 to 757AD: Chalukyas dynasty
• 757 to 992 Rashtrakutas dynasty
• 992 to 1120: Hoysalas
• 1120 to 1646: Vijayanagara Emprire, rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts by the southern powers to ward off Islamic invasions.
• 1565: The Adil Shahis of Deccan Sultanates
• 1863 to 1901: The Savanur Nawabs of Savanur State, a princely states of British India, under the Bombay Presidency

The rock-cut Badami Cave Temples were sculpted on the cliff mostly between the 6th and 8th centuries. The four cave temples represent the secular nature of the rulers then, with tolerance and a religious following that inclines towards Hinduism, Buddhism andJainism. Cave 1 is devoted to Shiva, and Caves 2 and 3 are dedicated to Vishnu, whereas cave 4 displays reliefs of Jain Tirthankaras. Deep caverns with carved images of the various incarnations of Hindu gods are strewn across the area, under boulders and in the red sandstone. From an architectural and archaeologicalperspective, they provide critical evidence of the early styles and stages of the southern Indian architecture.

Cave Temple No. 1

Posing on the steps to Cave Temple No. 2

Vishnu Image from Temple No. 3

An impressive row's of carved colum at Cave No. 4 (The technology used to carved the column in fine lines and sharpness are indeed salutable)

 The following are place of attraction in Badami, which mainly are the cave temples, gateways, forts, inscriptions and sculptures.

• The Bhutanatha temple, a small shrine, facing the lake, constructed in 5th century.

• Badami Fort situated on top of the hill.

• a Dargah, a dome of an Islamic place of worship on the south fort side.

• Vista points on top of the North Fort for the view of the ancient town below.

Due to time constaint, I was not able to visit the following attraction:-

• A Buddhist cave in a natural setting that can be entered only by crawling on knees.
• Temple of Banashankari, a Kuladevata (family deity) for many families, is located near Badami.
• Archaeological museum, that has collection of sculptures from Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal.
• Many Shivalayas including the Malegitti Shivalaya with 7th century origins.
• The Dattatreya temple.
• The Mallikarjuna temple dating back to the 11th century, built on a star shaped plan.

Following picures that I took from the North Fort overlooking the Agastya lake and the leftover ancient town which are hard to forget.

The lake is a source of water for the local town people

A beautiful cliffs

That's all for today. Thanks for reading :) Wassalam

Sunflowers

Event date: 1st October 2012

I happened to see a sunflower farms along a project site (4-laning highway from Pune to Solapur) from a distance when I was in Pune . Pune is in Maharashtra State. When I shifted to Andhra Pradesh State where sunflower oil is being majority produced, it feels like time is nearer for me to do photo-shoot of the beautiful flowers. The opportunity never arises as I was, most of the times, always busy having a different attention onto the project progress.

Despite a busy schedule, I forced myself to make a trip to visit Hampi, a world heritage site of India in Karnataka State. A journey begins after lunch on Saturday, 29th September 2012. On the last stop of my trip, 1st October 2012 at Aihole temples, I was a bit disappointed to travel so far to see Aihole of far beyond my expectation level. Thus, we headed back feeling regret to waste about 3 hours travelling to Aihole.

The weather was cloudy and the sun was not yet up though it's already past 12 noon when we first saw the 1st farm. As the sunlight's and temperature was not right, the flowers look very sad. Its gloomy just like having a bad day.

As we about to head back to the car, the farm owner and his assistant appeared from behind. They asked me to take a picture of them. I'm more than gladly to accept the request, naturally :)

We continued our journey on the same road we came in (NHAI is building an upgrading from 2 lanes to 4 lanes and it was so bad) and can't help shouting with joy when from far we saw a yellow clouds in front of us. The sunflowers are up proudly facing us.

See the closer looks when even the bees are not bothered with our presence, busied themselves sucking its honey. So many of them, so many of us!

And I was so damn happy as the flowers are as round and big as my face.

Ops, not to forget, my companion, Satyanarayana's lovely wife and her 2 kids.

More sunflowers for you :)

One last photo of me surrounded with only sunflowers...

Our miles for the trip is 1540km (to and fro). Though more stressful event took place after my short break, nothing beats the record of having an experience with sunflowers. The last shot before headed back to Guntur with a happy heart.

I am indeed very lucky and bless. Enjoy the beautiful photos from my personal collection.

Thanks for reading.

Orre kelate jati (I'm a pure kelantanese)

I’m always proud that I’m kelantanese. Though my BM’s vocab is not good, I bet my kelantanese vocab is not bad, let’s check it out.

Sayo beranok (hok sengotinyo “mok sayo beranok ko sayo”) di  Batu 48 (pak puloh lapae), Dungun, Teganu (from my birth certificate) masso abah sayo khijo di Bukit Besi. Tapi, mok sayo assa orre Kg. Kuau, Bachok, Kelate (kuau ni sebenarnyo ulu sangat sebab keno lalu sunga, pah tu jalae kechik cheleh @ single lane). Gamba bowoh ni masa sayo darjoh limo (5) @ nae (6). Dulu2 sayo ite lengit sebab sekoloh keno masuk acaro sukae, dok tengoh panah gak, jadi gelemak la weh. Anok2 sayo semuao tekejut berruk tengok gamba ni.. ile glamour kejap. Tak po tak po sebab sayo comey bena lo ni weh (hubby said I’m his snow white ok sebab tu sayo perasae sediri).

Anok2 sayo semuo panggil sayo orre kapung and they are all call themselves as orre kollo luppo (KL), they said their birth certificates proven all. Hubby pulok sokmo gellar ko sayo that kapung sayo tu namo kapung kuak kuak (twice repeated). Tapi sayo tok kisah setabut pung sebab sayo meme banggo mugo sayo ore kelate, femes tu buke di kapung jah, pah ko kollo lupo and now that I work abroad, ghama sengoti sayo juppo ore kelate kijo di obersea.

Gamba ni pulok maso sayo sekoloh menengoh. Napok dok? Kulit sayo makin cerroh? Nok koho2x comey doh tu J

Makanae asasi orre kelate adolah nasi, ikae rebus dengae budu pah tu cichoh ule2x (ule hok sedak sekali gak ule kacae tollo dengae puchok setelo).  Aih, meleleh air liur kechek pasa budu gak. Selain dari budu, orre kelate suko makae kue manih2x such as kue taik itik (rupo kue tu mace taik itik), jallo mah, cek mek molek etc. Lo ni, sejak sayo doh ilir sikit (jah), especially lepah aruah ma sayo meninggal dunio sebab kecing manih, sayo meme berate sangat pasa makanae manih2 ni, minum kopi jah bubuh gulo. Tapi takpo lah tok makae manih pun sebab sayo sediri meme semulajadi manih. Bukae nok persae sediri tapi hok hakikat tuu.. keno la akat bakul sediri J

Budu sayo meme tok leh tinggal. Sejak sayo khijo obersea, sayo meme bowok budu pah mano gi pun. Nasib baik tepat khijo sayo ado ore jual ikae, bulih la rebuh ko, ghoghen ko so that keno gu dengae bud utu. Ulae2 pun takdok masaloh sangat. Mari kito tengok my pebret lunch.

World Heritage Sites of India

Archaeological Survey of india has name the following 15 locations as India world heritage sites:-

1. Fatehpur Sikri
2. Humayun's Tomb
3. Agra Fort
4. Red Fort
5. Qutub Minar
6. Budhis Monuments, Sanchi
7. Western Group of Temple - Khajuraho
8. Sun Temple - Konarak
9. Ajanta Caves
10. Champaner Monuments
11. Ellora Caves
12. Elephanta Caves
13. Group of Temples - Pattadakal
14. Group of Monuments - Hampi
15. Group of Monuments - Mamallpuram

I've been to the following places, which will be posted in details once time permits.

Fatehpur Sikri, located in Agra (July 2009)

Humayun's Tomb, Delhi - been here twice in July 2009 (alone) and December 2011 (with family)

Agra Fort (July 2009)

Red Fort in Delhi (July 2009)

Qutub Minar, Delhi (July 2009 & December 2011)

Ellora Caves in Aurangabad (December 2011)

Group of Temples - Pattadakal in Karnataka (October 2012)

Group of Monuments - Hampi in Karnataka (October 2012)

It's a bit tiring and a lot of determination required to explore the sites in length. Thus, I have decided to reach another 2 more destination, Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh state and Sun Temple, Konarak in Orissa. Thereafter, I promised myself (only 2 days back) that I shall stop exploring India World Heriatge site. My husband will take no serious of that promises but I sincerely hopes I believe that too!

Adios, thanks for reading <3 p="p">