Flamingos and Salt Pans of Tuticorin (Thoothukudi)

Flamingos and Salt Pans

Tuticorin (Thoothukudi)

Also see: FAM Trip of Tamil Nadu

At glance it seems like endless snow field but the scorching heat will soon take you back to reality and it is not snow but salt. Under the blazing sun, the mounds of blindingly white crystals as far as the eye can see, creates a striking contrast with the deep blue sky in the backdrop.

Flamingos at the salt pans of Tuticorin (Thoothukudi)

Located at the far south of the Coromondal Cost, Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) is a major port city in Tamil Nadu and home to much of the state’s salt harvesting terrain. This industry is over a century old in these parts.

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Birding Hot Spots in and around Kolkata

Backyard Birding

Ever since the outbreak of Covid 19 travelling has taken a back seat. This has been a big psychological blow for trvallers like us. Being confined at home is the greatest curse for a traveller and travel writer.

Birding Hot Spots in and around Kolkata
Top left to right: Rufous Treepie, Central Park, Salt lake; Indian Paradise Flycatcher, Rabindra Sarobar; Black Rumped Flameback Woodpecker, Salt lake Canal Side; Asian Openbill Stork, Baruipur
Below: Lesser whistling duck, Santragachi

But we soon got adjusted to our new lifestyle. As a teacher, I was busy with my online classes and decided to spent the evening on my Salt Lake residence rooftop. Soon I got attracted by my feathered guest. With a bit of google search, I soon started identifying them. Soon I started documenting and photographing the birds with my 11 year old daughter Rupsha assisting me with a pair of binoculars.

Birding from Salt Lake rooftop during Covid 19 lock, unlock and beyond

Birding from rooftop during lock and unlock

Compilation of birds documented from my Salt Lake, Kolkata residence

Also see: Lockdown Memories (Part 1) and Lockdown Memories (Part 2)

Lock, unlock, lock… and the process goes on and on. It has been over nine months since the lockdown started on mid-March 2020 and things are yet to come to normal. We have got adjusted to our modified routines. I still spend a couple of hours in the evening spotting and photographing birds and other wildlife from my residence terrace in Salt Lake, Kolkata.

Clockwise from top left: Red Vented Bulbul. Oriental Magpie Robin, Black Hooded Oriole, Rose Ringed Parakeet, Red Whiskered Bulbul and Coppersmith Barbet

My initial days was just restricted to observation only. With a little internet search I was able to identify and spot a few birds within a week. Next step was to photograph them but with no knowledge of birds and inappropriate equipment it was not an easy task, but I wanted to give it a try. My 11 year daughter Rupsha was my constant companion from the very beginning. She soon got the hang of it and started spoting birds with the help of a pair of binoculars.

Lockdown Memories Continues, Wildlife Photography from Rooftop

Lockdown Memories Continues

Wildlife Photography from Rooftop (Part 2)

Also see: Lockdown Memories (Part 1)

Lock, unlock, lock… and the process goes on and on. It has been over four months since the lockdown started on mid-March 2020 and things are yet to come to normal. We have got adjusted to our modified routines. I still spend a couple of hours in the evening spotting and photographing birds and other wildlife from my residence terrace in Salt Lake, Kolkata.

Oriental magpie Robin

I uploaded my first blog post in mid-June and the list of wildlife spotted was as follows:

1. Chestnut Tailed Starling or Grey Headed Myna (কাঠ শালিক) (Sturnia malabarica)
2. Red Vented Bulbul (বাংলা বুলবুল) (Pycnonotus cafer)
3. Oriental Magpie Robin (দোয়েল পাখি) (Copsychus saularis)
4. Purple Sunbird (দুর্গা টুনটুনি) (Cinnyris asiaticus)
5. Black Hooded Oriole (কালোমাথা বেনেবউ) (Oriolus xanthornus)

The second phase continued with the spotting of more birds and other wildlife, this new list includes:

1. Coppersmith Barbet (ছোট বসন্ত বৌরি) (Psilopogon haemacephalus)
2. Blue Throated Barbet (বড় বসন্ত বৌরি) (Psilopogon asiaticus)
3. Rose Ringed Parakeet (সবুজ টিয়া) (Psittacula krameri)
4. Indian Flying Fox (বড় বাদুর) (Pteropus medius)

Lockdown Memories, Wildlife Photography from my rooftop

Lockdown Memories

Wildlife Photography from my rooftop

Covid 19 has changed the way we lived, with the lockdown being implemented from 16 March 2020, there was nothing much to do. Stuck at home I started editing the Wikipedia.

Chestnut Tailed Starling or Grey Headed Myana

Although I have been attached with the Wikipedia Movement for almost a decade but my activity was more off line. The Covid 19 Lockdown first provided me to edit wikipedia on a regular basis.

Panoramic Tour of Mumbai

Compilation of photos from Colaba and Elephanta Caves

Also see: My collection of Panorama Compilation

Panoramic photography is a technique of photography, using specialized equipment or software, that captures images with elongated fields of view. It is sometimes known as wide format photography. Panorama photos are normally shot by stitching series of photos with sightly overlapping fields to create a panoramic image.

This blog contains photos from the Colaba Region (covering Gateway of India, Afghan Church, Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Kala Ghoda and Flora Fountain)and Elephanta Caves of Mumbai.

Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) formerly known as Victoria Terminus (VT) is an historic train terminal station of Mumbai and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The terminal station was designed by Frederick William Stevens.

Panoramic view of the southern faced of Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) previously known as Victoria Terminus (VT), Mumbai

Construction of the building started in 1878 and was completed in 1887, which concided with the 50 years of Queen Victoria’s reign and hence the name Victoria Terminus. In 1996 the station was renamed as Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus and in 2017 it was further renamed as Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT).

Sixth Wikipedia Kolkata Photowalk

Wikipedia Takes Kolkata VI

Sixth Wikipedia Kolkata Photowalk, 29 January 2017

Also see: Wikipedia Kolkata Photowalks

Wikipedia the world largest online encyclopedia runs entirely on voluntary effort. Each major city in the world has a a Wikipedia chapter, who apart from contributing to Wikipedia carry out different activities like workshops and photowalks.

Group Photo, Sixth Wikipedia Kolkata Photowalk, (Photo Courtesy: Indrajit Das, Wikimedia Commons)

The main objective of Wikipedia Photowalk, officially known a “Wikipedia Takes,” is to build a database of photos of landmarks of the city. The photos can later be used in the relevant articles.

A Panoramic Tour of Delhi

Compilation of Panoramic photos from Delhi

Also see: My collection of Panorama Compilation

Panoramic photography is a technique of photography, using specialized equipment or software, that captures images with elongated fields of view. It is sometimes known as wide format photography. Panorama photos are normally shot by stitching  series of photos with sightly overlapping fields to create a panoramic image.

Feroz Shah Kotla was the fifth fortified citadel of Delhi and was built by the Feroz Shah Tughlaq (reign 1351 – 1388). Kotla literally means citadel. Feroz Shah Kotla was constructed in 1354 as the new capital of Delhi Sultanate. In 1398 the citadel was plundered by the Turco-Mongol conqueror Taimur.

Panoramic view of Feroz Shah Kotla. Left: Pyramidal Structure with Ashokan Pillar and Right: Jami Masjid

Today the ruins of the ancient citaadel lies next to the Feroz Shah Kotla Cricket Stadium, with the Jami Masjid as the prime attraction. Every Thursday there is a huge crowd at the fort. It is popularly believed that Jinn(s) descend down at the Fort from the Heavens and accept requests and wishes from people. A lot of wishes, penned down on paper, can be seen on the walls within the premises.

Panoramic tour of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana

Compilation of Panoramic photos from Hyderabad, Rammappa, Ghanpur and Vizag – Araku

Also see: My collection of Panorama Compilation

Panoramic photography is a technique of photography, using specialized equipment or software, that captures images with elongated fields of view. It is sometimes known as wide format photography. Panorama photos are normally shot by stitching  series of photos with sightly overlapping fields to create a panoramic image.

This blog post contains panoramic photos from Hyderabad, Ramappa, Ghanpur and from the Vizag – Araku railway.

Hyderabad

An amazing mix of old and new

Hyderabad the capital of the newly formed state of Telangana and the de jury capital of Andhra Pradesh is an interesting mix of modernity and antiquity. A major contributor to the It industry, The history of Hyderabad dates back to the late 16th century.

The Charminar, built during the Qutb Shahi rule remains the icon of Hyderabad. Charminar, literally meaning four towers (Char = four, Minar = Tower), is synonymous  the Pearl City of Hyderabad. Standing on a traffic island in one of the the most congested part of the old city.

Panoramic View (with Mekka Masjid) from first floor of Charminar, Hyderabad

Today visitors are allowed up to the first floor of the Charminar, which provides a panoramic views of the old town, including the Mekka Masjid.

A Panoramic Tour of Madhya Pradesh (MP)

Compilation of Panoramic Photos from Amarkantak, Pachmarhi, Bandhavgarh, Jabalpur, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar. Hanuwantiya and Mandu

Also see: My collection of Panorama Compilation

Panoramic photography is a technique of photography, using specialized equipment or software, that captures images with elongated fields of view. It is sometimes known as wide format photography. Panorama photos are normally shot by stitching  series of photos with sightly overlapping fields to create a panoramic image.

This blog post contains panoramic photos from Amarkantak, Pachmarhi, Bandhavgarh, Jabalpur, Omkareswar, Maheshwar, Hanuwantia (Jal Mahotsav) and Mandu of Madhya Pradesh (MP).

Amarkantak

Amazing mix of old and new temples

Amarkantak, the source of the Rivers Narmada and Son, is a important pilgrimage for for both Hindus and Jains.

Narmada Kund Temple, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh (MP)

No wonder Amarkantak has innumerable temples and still newer ones are being constucted. Thus the ancient pilgrimage offers an interesting mix of old and new temples.