Hidden Gem of Gujarat - Roda Temples, Himmatnagar Part-2

Click to read Part-1 about Roda Temples..

Journey through ancient India begins again.

It was difficult to walk away from idyllic and spiritual surroundings of Shiva temple and "Kund", but temptation to explore further was equally strong.

Side note: Many statues and artifacts of these temples are kept in Baroda museum. ASI has failed in providing any historical or archaeological information about these temples at the site.

We started our walk through ravines of the river Hathmati or of some stream which must be meeting the river nearby. We were on a look out for Navgrah Temple and Shiva temple. I wish ASI had put board showing the way to those temples. Though maybe topography made it impossible for them. And to be truthful it was interesting to search for them and find them.

Both the temples were on the mounds. Maybe to protect them from over flowing river during monsoon.Our first climb was to Navgrah Temple. Temple precinct was peaceful with occasional chatter of jungle babblers breaking that quietness. One feels like whispering at such places so as not to disturb the serenity.

Navgrah temple is so called because 9 planets of astrology are depicted on its door panel. Pillars have statues of Apsaras or dancers. Surprisingly few of the statues are better preserved than at other temples.

Statues of Apsaras on the pillar

As a photographer, I loved the play of light and shadow on the temple and it's compound. Many artifacts , collected by the ASI from surrounding areas can be seen strewn around the compound. We settled down on the stones and enjoyed some quiet moments. One can see lush Green wheat fields on the backside of the temple. ASI has also done plantation on one side of the temple. Take a look at Navgrah Temple!

After a little walk we could see mound on which Shiva temple was situated. Climbing was little tricky as steps were broken and loose.

Climbing was not so easy on this mound , Roda Shiva
 temples

Shiva temple, considered to be the largest in the group is in dilapidated condition. 2001 earthquake has really taken its toll. Beautiful Nandi statue with missing head can be seen in front of the temple. Cracks were visible all over the temple and one rather worried about going inside the temple.

Badly damaged Shiva Temple at Roda group of temples

Ruins of Shiva temple

Sun was really making its presence felt now. Time for lunch and some rest! We left ,enriched by what we saw and carrying beautiful memories forever.

Hidden Gem of Gujarat - Roda Temples , Himmatnagar

I had heard about Roda temples of Gujarat sometime around 2011 and since than I was looking for opportunity to visit them. 8 years later I could fulfill my wish when my photography friends decided to do photo-walk there. Located some 15 kms from Himmatnagar on Khed- Tasia road these temples are worth visiting for history and photography lovers alike.

 Check  Location of Roda temples. Tiny and rusty board by ASI can be easily missed. 

Once you take a turn towards the direction of the temples , you ride on the dirt track among the wheat fields. For city folks like us , fresh air and bountiful fields were pure delight. As a photographer I itched to photograph the vista. 

Wheat Fields on way to Roda Temples, himmatnagar, india

Roda group of temples, built in 8th or 9 th century , were badly damaged in 2001 earthquake. ASI has surely done a wonderful job of restoring them and it seems the restoration work is still in progress. All the temples are at elevated level and one gets a feeling that in old times a river must be flowing along these temples. It is believed that originally there were some 125 ( numbers vary from 109 to 125) temples in the area , today only 6 of them remain. 

First thing I noticed about the temples was their architecture. I felt the affinity to temples from southern part of India. later on when I started reading about it, I came to understand that they can be compared to temples of Hampi and other places in Karnataka.  

Shiva temple Roda, Himmatnagar

A glimpse of this Shiva temple. albeit in state of semi-ruin was enough to convince me about the beauty I should expect as we go further ahead. In the first precinct one can see this Shiva temple apart from Bird Temple. Few remains of the carving inside are proof how people from that era valued life other than humans.

Bird Temple, Roda, Himmatnagar, india

Cool winds and cloudy atmosphere made our trip all the more pleasant. Important point to note here is that one must carry enough water and food supply as there are no restaurants or "Dhaba" nearby. And this must be one of the most ideal place to do picnic, so why not carry your food!

As we went further ahead on the dirt track, we found another gem, best of them all, precinct with three temples with "Kund" in front of them. "Kund" (reservoir) was quite similar to the one at Modhera Sun Temple. May be they were built during the same period. Shiva temple had a Shivling and saw steady stream of visitors as it was a Shivratri day. Out of three, one temple was in ruins with just a base on the view. Third one, according to the information I have gathered, is a Vishnu temple. 

Kund at Roda Temples, Himmatnagar

Shiva Temple at Roada , Himmatnagar

We forgot time in this peaceful and divine surroundings. It was so interesting to go back in time and  contemplate history of bygone era. 

to be continued....

Jaisalmer- Poetry in Stone

Jaisalmer- Carving in the morning light

Yellow lime stone is carved out with beautiful floral and geometric motifs by the artisans of the area. Here is a story of these artists presented in a documentary by INTACH. 

Stories set in stone- A Film by INTACH

Yercaud- Hillstation of Tamilnadu - Part-3

Shimmering Emerald lake at Yercaud in the evening

Enjoy dinner of “Hot and Tasty” chilly Bhajiyas at the lake. Not to forget the hot corn cobs and Malabari parattha.

Strong smell of coffee covers entire town of Yercaud. For coffee lover like me it is a heaven. Town , though not quite big, can be quite crowded during working hours. We visited Vinayak Coffee shop and bought some freshly ground coffee. Owner explained to us that ideally coffee should contain 12 to 15% chicory and not more. Pepper is another thing to buy from the market here.

There are few typical “points” to visit which all hill stations boast of. Lady’s seat, Pagoda point, Killiyur’s waterfalls to name a few. Highest point in Yercaud is Sherveroyan temple. Temple is inside the large rock. One needs to bend and go inside to pray to the deities Sherveroyan and Cauvery.

Way to KiliyurFalls Yercaud

Our stay was arranged at Lake Forest hotel. Its colonial buildings and wooded environment transported me to another world.

http://www.indecohotels.com/lakeforest-hotel.html

Lake Forest hotel Yercaud

This charming little hill station doesn’t have much to offer like its other stellar competitors. And I think therein lies its attraction. From Hotel Lake Forest to its scenic drive to its shimmering lake in twilight it holds your interest. For people living in South India it will be a wonderful way to spend a long weekend.

Being a photographer, its charm made my creative juices flow.

Yercaud- Hillstation of Tamilnadu - Part-2

Anyone visiting Yercaud must spare few hours to take 31 kilometers scenic drive in Sheravoy hills.  Our drive took us right up to Cauvery peak and back.

Beauty around is seen to be believed. Coffee, pepper and orange plantations abound. Teak plantations are in plenty. Peeping in the woods, one can find lovely colonial planter’s bungalows.

Cavery Pak- Yercaud

Planter's Bungalow - Yercaud

Misty atmosphere and smell of vegetation prevails. We stop frequently to enjoy the beauty which I have rarely seen in my frequent travels around India. Hidden charms of Sheravoy hills are on display through entire route. I feel this is a must do thing for any traveler to Yercaud.

Misty Forest of Yercaud

To be continued....

Journey to White Desert, Kutch - Part-1

We left for our journey to White Desert very early in the morning. More than 400 kms of distance from Ahmedabad to White Desert  passed with more than necessary stops for umpteen number of tea cups  and capturing vista which was photographer's delight. My Canon EOS 7D and SONY RX 100 M3 with its versatile Carl Zeiss lens were put to good use.

Early morning

 Place where I always love to stop is Surajbari area, where landscape can change depending upon the season or time of your visit. White beauty of salt pans, broken by symmetrical formation of electrical poles and unsymmetraical arrangement of windmills present surreal landscape to my photographer's eyes.

Surreal landscape of Surajbari, Kutch

Salt pans of Kutch

 And if you are lucky enough you will be able to meet and photograph shepherds of kutch attired in their traditional dress and with their flock of animals. 

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Shepherds of Kutch

To be continued....

Backwaters of Kerala , india

God's own country

Kerala, one of the southern states of India, is also known as God’s own country, and rightly so.Verdant forests, pristine beaches, beautiful and beckoning waterways, undulating mountains with tea gardens and wildlife parks, all make Kerala a perfect tourist destination. 

Backwaters of Kerala at Alleppy

 I am fascinated by life around Kerala’s 1500 km long waterways. Boats are lifelines for people residing on both sides of canals or “backwaters” as they are known.

Gliding over water at Kerala Backwaters

As one leisurely travels across the waterway, one comes across signs of daily living. Men concentrating on fishing, women washing clothes or utensils, laughter of children as they swim or play in the water or some boatman enjoying his siesta in the boat, the chirping of many birds flocking the waterways are sights one comes across and enjoys. Both sides of canals are lined by swaying Cocoanut trees, Jackfruit trees or paddy fields. Waterways are filled with purple flowered hyacinth giving it green hues. Reflection of tress growing on the sidelines and occasional sighting of aquatic life floating in the water delights travelers.

Life around backwaters of Kerala - Captured with my Canon EOS 7D

On my recent trip to Kerala, I spent hours travelling across its tiny, narrow, off the beaten track waterways, enjoying the rhythmic sound of oars hitting water and occasional the singing of our boatman breaking the silence that surrounded us.

View from the houseboat at backwaters of Kerala

Mandavi Boatyard, Gujarat, India

Waiting for the makeover...

Mandavi, small town , on west coast of India, boasts of 400 year old ship building industry. These wooden boats, known as Kotia , are completely built by hand. Craftsmen who make these boats have such mastery over their craft , that, they don't need to make any designs on papers, as a preparation for making them. Wood, mostly sourced from across Gujarat , is used for this giant boats. Hammer,saw and nails are the only things these master craftsmen need to build up these beauties. As I took round of this boat building yard, I was transported to the world, which must have existed hundreds of years ago, and when human intelligence and ingenuity were only things people depended upon to get things done.