Ananta Vasudeva Temple, Bhubaneswar

A vaishnava temple of 13th century which enshrines lord Balarama (Ananta), Krishna (Vasudeva), and Subhadra.

a side view of the main temple ...

The temple is very popular, like many others in this region for its profusely carved exterior and finished appearance. But now unfortunately much of the carvings are faded due to the softness of the stones. Going back to history, it was erected by Chandradevi, the daughter of Anangabhima III during the rule of Bhanudeva in 1278 AD.

The interesting thing someone could notice between this temple and the Sri Jagannath temple in Puri, there is one similarity the way prasad (holy food) are sold/offered to to the deities. The place where the food is sold/served is called as Anand Bazaar.

The temple is located very closely to the eastern corner of the Bindu Sagar lake, which offers a magnificent view and another highlight of the visit. And if you walk still further for few minutes, on your right hand side you will find Lingaraj temple, the famous temple of lord Shiva (more on this on a new post).

Due to lack of time, I didn’t able to spend my share of time with the camera but nevertheless these few pictures will serve as a reminder to me that I have to visit that place once again.

An unseen revelation, Orissa!

People talk about everything; they have their own views, they have their own things to prove and they have their fears to overcome. They politicsed every issues and nothing has spared then how will you escape when it comes to which state you belong? Which language you speak? etc.. Even after 61 years of independence we are fettered to make ourselves free from the fighting to prove an identity. When we will learn to be Indian and respect each other as Indian. Why are we so divided with every bit of things, by language, by region, by dressing, and you name it whatever, next you will find a division for it? If money and power are the two factors that influence hundreds of other factors for things to find other way? The same people have their many different opinions for things. For them there are so many unidentified problems to solve but with no clue what they are doing. 'Unity in diversity' is a thing of past and maybe we forget about it since eon, don't know where are we heading?

Many times, I wonder even with open eyes we can’t see what is happening in front of us. And the next moment we close our eyes to discover a new world, a world where we can see everything the way they are without even bothering about the closed eyes.

I have had one such exploration in the recent past trip to Orissa. There were places that I visited for the first time; I got a different (I would say learning) experience that otherwise completely unknown in many aspects to me. It was a village and not a university that taught me about a kind act to keep humanity alive and also about the amazing people out there. They don’t know how to read but they know how to respect, they don’t know how to talk but they know how to show their love, they don’t have money to buy gifts but they have the unselfish helping hand to offer. I was so wrong that they are the poorest people, now I say they have everything that makes this life happy and to live in peace. I was glad to see that Govt. has taken some significant steps to improve the lives of villages. On my return path, I smiled back to those villagers and thanked them for they welcomed me not as a stranger. You say it god’s gift or nature’s gift both sounds same to me. A trip to there, always come as gift for me. But this time it also surprised me whatever was happening at the other corner of the state.

An early morning endless walk, reminded me that I have lots of things to catch up with ...

I am still wondering, how things change and time just passes by us telling nothing, nothing at all about things we don’t want to know. There are still so many things to explorer and most of the time I find myself as a little drop in the ocean. I have learned one thing - there are no secrets, if you respect yourself, your own identity then it’s never a difficult task for you to acknowledge the same in the other person.

The Rail Trail

Here are few random pictures from the never ending experience of Indian Railways. Some good, some bad and some ugly but all it matters now is the curiosity of navigating the past moments spent standing behind the lens.

The power runs through these thin nerves …

A WAG 7 engine, known for its speed and one of the successful class of goods engine.

On a voyage of discovery ... unfinished ...

A WDM-2 Engine, reminds me about the old yet the long existence of it on the tracks. WDM Stands for Broad gauge (W) Diesel (D) Mixed traffic (M) engine, if you are not already known about it.

The bridge over Godavari River. You praise the bridge when you learn that it carry you over a tough path.

OOO … Holiday Time :)

Yipppee! I am on vacation now, its almost 7 months or so by now since I am part of such a long holidays. There are lots of things that I am looking forward from this trip, needless mentioning I will be travelling like a mad. So if I think 3 eastern coastal cities in three different states are not long enough to tired me then I am always open to make some changes and add couple of more places to the list :). The other thing is that to witness one of the most exciting and beautiful festival in this part of the country which is popularly known as Dashera or Durga Puja.

Sometime, I wonder how things appear to be changed over the years and on the other hand this realization that as if nothing has changed at all. It keeps on reminding me that I am the same traveler who starts his journey with a renewed pair of eyes with every day passing by... And then it remains the same for you whether you associate some people with a place or some places with a group of people but time is one of thing that change without unveiling much about itself to a traveler ... Ah! do I need to say now that there is no such time called as the best time that someone can really think or wait to go on and meet the people who love you the most. Perhaps you don't know the speed of the time and don't mind anything :)

I was watching one of documentary video all through my train journey which is quite inspiring and reverencing. Honestly, its one of the best real-life video that I have watched in the recent past (I will write more about it in a separate post).

Now, here you go … that describes the theme of the video with few extracted lines from it …

Our nature’s beauty is something that the soul wants it. Whenever you see that a man is in contact with his soul then he enjoys a beautiful sky, a beautiful tree, a beautiful bird and suddenly you hear a piece of music, Oh! and then you lose your self. Everything seems to open up in a different way !!!

P.S: The picture above is taken by me ... I considered it as a beautiful gift for working late on a day ;)

Glimpse of Chilika lake

From my reminiscences, here I am today to tell you about one of the amazing train ride I had. I was specifically took the early morning train to Bhubaneswar the reason being to watch the sun climbing up from behind one of the amazingly beautiful lake somebody could ever see. My destination was different but I was utterly delighted by the glimpse of this lake on my way.

Chilika is one of the largest brackish water lakes in Asia covering more than 1,000 sq. kms and also uniquely popular for its bird sanctuary. It is situated east coast of India, around 105 K.Ms south of Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa. So here you go with my collection of photographs that I have taken while the train passing by the southern part of Chilika, a stretch of around 40 K.Ms.

The bridge over Rushikulya river , Just after few K.ms from Berhampur.

"You don't need somebody to interpret for you what a beautiful sunrise it is."

The first close encounter with the lake, its nevertheless looks like a sea …

East-Coast Railways tracks running side by side of the lake.

Passing by Chilika Railway Station

You can find the details information about Chilika by checking the official website here.

P.S: All of the pictures were taken form inside the moving train.

Athirappilly Falls

The memory is still fresh and it was not a difficult task for me to scroll through yet again a memorable trip to a waterfall called Athirappilly Falls in Thrissur district of Kerela. The interesting thing about this place is that it is located inside a forest region, Vazhachal and you have an option for going a jungle trek in this region which is again a treat to your eyes but prior to that you should take the necessary permission from the forest department officer. This place is a well know picnic spot in this part of Kerela.

Probably, the best time to visit this place is in-between the months of September to February, and that’s exactly what we badly missed on the trip. In the end, it was a tiring day for us but by then we have accomplished the purpose of the trip, a fun filled trip.

There you go with the pictures taken along side the Chalakudy River and the pictures of the waterfall.

Rail Curves - Part II

Linked Post : Rail Curves - Part I

Rail Curves - Part I

Today evening I was going through some of my trip albums and I found something really interesting to share/blog here. Most of us at some point of time boarded a train for the purpose of a long or short journey but how many times you have observed or had seen a train taking a sharp turn like on a curve ? Hmm ! that’s what makes me always wonder about these trains. They really look different and you will get a idea of their entire length. In almost of my train journeys I spent time looking outside the window or standing near the entrance with my third eye (the camera).

BBS-YPR Express, was taking a sharp right turn just after Jolarpettai Station you can spot two diesel engines at the front side...

HWH-YPR Express, was entering the Godavari bridge just after Rajmundery Station.

MAQ-LTT Express (Masayaganda Express), I really don't remember this place now, what I can recall is that, this pic wass taken in my West Cost trip.

MAQ-LTT Express (Masayaganda Express), one more ....

SBC - BBS Express (Prashanthi Express), was entering inside a tunnel just after Prashanti Nilayam Station.

SBC - BBS Express (Prashanthi Express), one more ... but on a different trip.

The unexpected trip to Orissa – happiness unfold

I don’t remember when was the last time I had been to this place but one thing that I still remember is that I am attached with this place in some or other ways. When I look back it was like almost a decade. This HOT Summer, I dragged myself out of the luxury shell to this place. Initially I was clueless where I was heading, knowing that this journey wouldn't be the usual one but again life has its own truths for each one of us. And I accepted that without being carried away from it.

What I have explored in those two days will remain forever with me. As someone rightly said –“You can never step into the same river; for new waters are always flowing on to you”. I am so glad now because I was able to make it to that place 'where my roots are buried'.

After a 24hrs train journey from B’lr, I reached at my home town station. It was then I realized how I was missing them all. It was a overwhelming moment for me; a moment where I felt as if the roads, the tress, the buildings and all those faces were desperately waiting to welcome me. Oh! I am completely wordless to put all those feelings running inside me then …

I had to stay there at home until the next day to catch a bus to a village which is around 40 K.ms away from my home town. How I wonder, I have had never been to such an amazing place; summer god had forgiven me, I was on my way … This particular village has always something more to offer; it is surrounded with two beautifully curved river and dense trees all around. One of the river is known as ‘Rushikulya’, which is a popular river in the southern part of Orissa.

A view of the river- Rushikulya.

The best part is yet to come; I had to cross the entire breadth of the river to spot a narrow pathway in between those huge tresses that leads to entrance of this village. The wind came briskly on the way to ease my mind lets go a thousand things and I was totally in a different world; faraway from the reach of the routine mechanical and artificial urban life style. It took me around 30 mins to walk over the gradually drying river bed and from there another 15 mins to reach at the ages old house. It was invariably holding the identity with this village.

You can find the red arrow mark on this picture, that is the entrance to the small and beautiful village.

The trees, the birds, the wind, the sky, the people, the food and nevertheless almost everything; amazed me how they are different. The one night stay helped me to see and realise things which otherwise, I would have missed for a life time. It made me a bit closer to where I belong, a bit closer to this wonderful culture, a bit closer to those wonderful people, a bit closer to this beautiful place and bit farer from the artificial city crowd.

The sun does not forget a village just because it is small.

There is a beauty in the silver singing river, there is beauty in the sunset in the sky and there is a beauty in this land.

If you stretch your eyes on both sides of the river then you would see the faded green paddy fields gradually merging with the view of wide blue sky.

There is a beauty in the darkness of the night that holds the reflections of silence.

The true colors of life ...

An early morning breathtakingly view

They are the backbone of our country and how can I forget them they feed the entire nation, they are the farmers.

Now again I am back to the noise of the city, with all those wonderful memories packed with me. I wish one day I could find my share of peace there and that reminds me; I am away form it chasing my own destiny.