Bhimbetika Paintings

The sprawling caves of Bhimbetka (2405’N and 76045’E) are located about 45 km northeast of Bhopal, the state capital of Madhya Pradesh. Situated along the Bhopal-Hoshangabad highway, these caves bear proximity to the Bhiyapura village in Raisen district. The northern fringes of the ancient Vindhyachal ranges are home to the extraordinary rock shelters and paintings, its awesome rocks fortifying the ancient treasure within. Ensconced amidst lush greenery in dense forests, and rocky terrain and craggy cliffs, with the lofty rocks guarding the ancient premises, the caves of Bhimbetka present a breathtaking view even from as far as Obaidullaganj, a small town in the vicinity of Bhimbetka.

Bhimbetka is a natural art gallery and an archaeological treasure. The rock paintings have numerous layers belonging to various epochs of time, ranging from the Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic Age to the protohistoric, early historic and medieval periods. The most ancient scenes here believed to be commonly belonging to the Mesolithic Age. These magnificent paintings can be seen even on the ceiling of the rock shelters located at daunting heights.  The cover of the dense forest and vegetation protected these rocks painting from being lost to the vagaries of nature. Executed mainly in red and white, with the occasional use of green and yellow with themes taken from the everyday events of eons ago, the scenes usually depict hunting, dancing, horse and elephant riders, animal fights, honey collection, decoration of bodies, disguises, masks and different type of animals etc. It depicts the detail of social life during the long period of time, when man used to frequent these rock shelters.

Animals such as bison, tiger, rhinoceros, wild boar, elephants, monkeys, antelopes, lizards, peacocks etc. have been abundantly depicted in the rock shelters. Popular religious and ritual symbols also occur frequently. The colours used by the cave dwellers were prepared by combining manganese, hematite, soft red stone and wooden charcoal. Perhaps, animal fat and extracts of leaves were also used in the mixture.

The rock art of Bhimbetka has been classified into various groups on the basis of the style and subject. The superimposition of paintings shows that the same canvas was used by different people at different times. The drawings and paintings can be classified under seven different periods.(Text credit - ASI web site)

Mahal's of Islamnagar

Islamnagar is a village known for the palace of Bhopal's Afghan rulers built by Dost Mohammed Khan. Gardens surround the palace and the pavilion. It is near Bhopal on Berasia Road. Formal gardens surround the palace and pavilion. Most important of the monuments at Islam nagar include Chaman Mahal, Rani Mahal and Gond Mahal. The palaces here depict an amalgamation of the Rajput, Mughal and Malwa styles of architecture

CHAMAN MAHAL

Sardar Dost Mohammad Khan built this palace in 1715 A.D. He was an Afghan soldier of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and was the founder of Bhopal State. This palace is surrounded by an enclosure wall and has two entrances. A Sheesh Mahal with twelve doors is situated near the entrance. A Charbagh pattern garden in Mughal style is situated in the centre of this palace. Facing the garden is a red sandstone platform having a stone latticed screen around it. Arches decorated with floral motifs, pillared baradari, as well as rooms with open courtyard can be seen in front of it. Dost Mohammed Khan is said to have conducted his official business in the baradari. To the north a hammam is built in Mughal style. There is one dressing room in it. The main room can be approached through galleries, where water tanks are constructed on three sides. A copper plate is fixed at the base of one water tank beneath which a furnace is constructed for providing hot water. The second floor of the palace is flat roofed, which has two chhatris on either sides. The architecture of this palace is a mixed form of later Mughal, Rajput and Malwa styles. It has been built by using red sand stone, kakaiya bricks and lime. The style of the dome is particularly distinctive of the monuments of early Bhopal Rulers.

RANI MAHAL

This palace was constructed by Dost Mohammad khan in the year 1720 to serve as a residence of his queens. Shades of the Rajput, Mughal and the Malwa styles of architecture are evident here.

Nature's heart !

On a valentine day ! A leaf on a plant in Kaliasoot area of Bhopal. Browm spots may be pointing out to pollution which this nature's heart is getting exposed to in Hindustan ka dil now a days !

Raisen fort

One gets attracted to the sprawling Raisen fort as seen in picture from the highway. It is one kilometer from the main highway but road is un-motorable. To make it worse there are big stones in the lane towards the fort, which make sure that one cannot drive even if you want to try !. One has to then climb staircase which leads to this fort which includes temples, palaces, a large water reservoir and some 40 wells.

If one looks at the official web site of Raisen district, in 'places to see' on the site this fort even does not feature may be that that is the reason there is no focus on maintaining this fort, a fort which gave district its name !.

Sunrise as seen from Indore - Bhopal highway !

Peacock in Kanha National Park

Peacock in Kanha national park. Kanha,a national park and a Tiger Reserve is situated in the Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh. It was was created on 1 June, 1955 by special law. Today it stretches over an area of 940 km² in the two districts and still has range of flora and fauna which it offers, and attracts lots of tourists during winters.

Khajuraho dance festival

Pic courtesy A M Faruqui

February 1 - 7, 2010. The Festival of Dances is a unique celebration of the best of Indian classical dance, in a spectacular floodlit temple setting in Khajuraho, Central India.

India's talented dancers performing different styles of dance - Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri and many more perform here. It is a platform for dancers, the festival and is organised by the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation. It draws audience of dance lovers from all over the world.

Lokrang at Bhopal

25th year of Lokrang - Lokrang Samaroh is organized every year in the month of January in Bhopal started today. This five day festival is based on the rich tribal and folk tradition of India.

On Republic Day eve

Raj Bhawan and Vidhan Sabha, Bhopal on the eve of Republic day (pic - Jan 25, 2009 night)

Solar eclipse from Bhopal

Pictures of Longest Solar eclipse which had dazzled India, as seen from Bhopal.

Pictures courtesy A. M. Faruqui

Camels at Biaora

Camels enjoying themselves while camle breeders look on. They have been left for grazing by camel breeders  at Biaora in Rajgarh district of MP.

Fog on Guna Bhopal highway

This picture was taken on Friday morning when the visibility on Guna - Bhopal highway was nearly zero and it was chilly morning, but this could not deter these women to fetch for woods which is a need to run their houses.

Rose exhibition opens in Bhopal

Rose exhibition opens today at Bhopal. It will be officially opened by Mayor of Bhopal today evening. About 2000 enteries are participating in it. The painting competition of the school children is being introduced for the first time in 29th All India Rose Show, coupled with several competitions related to floriculture at the Government Rose Garden. This is being jointly organised by Madhya Pradesh Rose Society and Directorate of Horticulture. The competitions scheduled from January 2-9, have already started.

Tuhar Dal is Rs 45 per kg here !

Women separating dal from the other waste at Tarawata Village in Guna district of Madhya Pradesh. They sell this to pulse traders at Rs 45 per kg who then polishes it, and is available at Retail for Rs 90 per kg at Bhopal !

Marble rocks and Madan Mahal of Jabalpur

Jabalpur is surrounded by low, rocky and barren hillocks, which geologists and archaeologists can feast upon. When you are in Jabalpur you should visit Madan Mahal, a fort built by Gond Raja Madan Shah, on a top of a rocky hill. This fort dominates the skyline and provides a panoramic view of the town and the open countryside around it.

Jabalpur is also known for its marble rocks. On the bank of the river Bhedaghat, Narmada, lie these marble rocks, in all their splendour, adding name and fame to Jabalpur. On either side of the Narmada are white saccharine limestone rocks intertwined with dark green and black volcanic rocks. These marble-white pinnacles sparkle in the sunlight and cast dappled shadows on the pellucid waters – a glorious spectacle indeed! People here say that on a full moon-lit night, it is even more enticing although I did not get a chance to view it on a full moon-lit night.

Bhopal mela

19th Bhopal mela was inaugrated yesterday evening at at Dusshera Maidan, TT Nagar, Bhopal. It is expected that it will about 500 stall, though many are still under preparation. The mela which started yesterday will go upto Feb 7, 2009. The Bhopal Mela Utsav Samiti has constructed a replica of Akshardhaam temple at one end of the Mela ground, which will attract many. Mela as usual will have regular stalls of bangle sellers, eateries, toys, crockery, handlooms and showrooms of FMCG brands. One of the stall in mela also offers an oportunity to learn magic in 2 mts !!, (no gurantees on this !).  Mela is one of the major attraction to its  visitors from Bhopal and districts nearby Bhopal during winters.

Child labour at mela is painful - Inspite of all its offers, one feels pained to see rampant child labour at the mela. Be it stall owners where one can see young boys working or are serving tea and eateries to the stall owners. At an age when they should be enjoying mela, be on the 'merry go rounds' they loose their childhood serving at mela. Indeed painful.

Black headed gulls

Black headed gullls at Upper lake. These are migratory in nature and normally seen in Bhopal during winters. Here they are in between the lake, one has to take a boat to click them !

Wood Sandpiper at Hoshangabad

The Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola, is a small wader.The Wood Sandpiper breeds in subarctic wetlands from the Scottish Highlands across Europe and Asia. They migrate to Africa and southern Asia, particularly India. I sited them in district Hoshangabad in farm field next to highway.

Song bird at Pachmari

Common Tailorbird also called 'songbird' is popular for its nest made of leaves "sewn" together and immortalized by Rudyard Kipling in his Jungle Book. Although shy bird it is usually hidden within vegetation, their loud calls are familiar and give away their presence, like the way I sited in lawns of Hotel Golf View in Pachmari.

Mustard plant

Mustard plan growing at farm fields at Hoshangabad.

Stork at Hoshangabad

Scaring the crow away !

Scarecrow in the farm field in Hoshangabad.

Link to the earlier article on Scarecrow's in Indiahttp://madhyapradesh.blogspot.com/2008/03/scaring-crow-away.html

A glimpse of Orcha

A village of Niwari tehsil, Orchha is situated on the Betwa river at a distance of about 13 Km. from tehsil headquarter. It is 15 Km. from Jhansi(U.P.). Orchha is famous for the Bundela style of architecture which is considered by historian to be one of the mature manifestations of the amalgamation of the Mugal and the Rajput styles of architecture.The Bundela style is marked by its rectangular form of place relieved often by circular towards the corners surmounted by chhatris.

Hoardings on ‘four wheeled cycle’

Polling for a total of 268 municipalities, municipal corporations and nagar panchayats (city councils) will be held in Madhya Pradesh phases on Dec 11 and 14. Campaigning for the same is at the peak. Stationary hoardings at crossings and market places can be seen all around the city. Uniquely one saw hoardings on ‘four wheeled cycle’ on Bhopal roads, being used to raising visibility of candidates. Earlier one had seen auto being used for miking and announcements, this time it is eco friendly four wheeled bicycles and with only hoardings without any noise pollution. But the driver has to pull an extra load and off course balamce it well, which is not easy.

Rally marks 25yrs of pain post Bhopal Gas Tradegy

Torch Rally at Bhopal on Dec 2 marks 25yrs of struggle, post Bhopal Gas Tradegy.

Picture credit - A.M. Faruqui

Photo exhibition on Bhopal Gas Tradegy

Photo Exhibition marking 25 years of Bhopal Gas Tradegy

Picture in Exhibition taken by Prakash Hatvalne

Swaraj Bhawan in Bhopal is hosting a photo exhibition on Bhopal Gas Tradegy. It has some touching images by Prakash Hatvalne and others photographers, which bring out pain and agony post disaster. It is a gallery exhibition of photos on the aftermath of the gas leak and the contamination by chemical wastes and initiatives to end the two ongoing disasters in Bhopal.

The 'killer' factory

Present picture of chemical plant of Union Carbide which released a toxic gas into the atmosphere in Bhopal on midnight of Dec 3, 1984, which killed thousand and affected lakhs, many of which still suffer for want of justice.

Remembering the victims & seeking justice

Marking the 25th anniversary of the world's biggest industrial disaster, Bhopal Gas Tradegy, this painting is being painted by art makers on the wall behind the statue opposite the factory gate as mark of remembrance to many whom had died and others who still are fighting for justice.

Bhopal showcases Bonsai

Bonsai (pronounced bone-sigh) is an ancient oriental horticultural art form. The word Bonsai literally means (in Chinese & Japanese language) 'tree-in- a-pot'. Contrary to popular felt bonsai is not the art of stunting a tree's growth. Bonsai can be grown from seeds, cuttings or young trees. They are kept small by pruning branches and roots, repotting periodically, pinching off new growth and wiring the branches and trunk so that they grow into the desired shape.

A two day bonsai exhibition showcasing about 50 varieties of bonsai in different style is being held at Bhopal on Nov 28 & 29, 2009. This is 14th bonsai exhibition and competition organized by Bonsai Society of Madhya Pradesh in cooperation with Horticulture and Farm Forestry department of Govt of Madhya Pradesh.

In picture is Banyana which is 31 years old bonsai and is in Multi trunk style. By the way as we mention of Banyan tree let me also link you to the blog having info about the original The Great Banyan Tree in Howrah district of West Bengal.

Here is the is link http://kolkataeyes.blogspot.com/2009/09/great-banyan-tree.html

IIM entry exam have server problems in Bhopal

Indian Institute of Indore is one of the IIM's in India, and to be in one of these premier institutes one has to appear for Common admission test, which this time was conducted online.

First computer-based Common Admission Test (CAT), the test at Bhopal centre did not take place due to server problems. In Bhopal, Technocrats Institute of Technology (TIT) was the authorised centre for conducting the test, but the concerned agency responsible for conducting the exam failed to provide question papers to the candidates. Due to technical problems in the server the CAT examination for the first shift scheduled to begin from 10 am failed to start."The problem is still persisting and it is not possible to conduct the exam scheduled for the second shift also from 3.30 pm," spokesperson of TIT ar Bhopal said.In both the shifts, 200 candidates each were supposed to take part in the the test on the first day.

Info about IIM Indore, only one in Central India

Situated atop a hillock, in a beautiful 193 acre campus is central India’s prime management education institute in Indore. It was established in 1996, Indian Institute of Management Indore is the sixth in the prestigious IIM family of management schools. The sprawling lawn looks beautiful, though it needs bit of maintenance but is still an ideal place for the brightest minds in the country to work their best to be managers of tomorrow !

Good morning Bhopal

Black buck poses for the camera !

Black winged stilt at Bhopal's upper lake

Bay Backed Shrike

Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus) is a widespread resident in India and can be sited in Bhopal's Van Vihar. It is smallish shrike at 17 cm, maroon-brown above with a pale rump and long black tail with white edges. The underparts are white, but with buff flanks. The crown and nape are grey, with a typical shrike black bandit mask through the eye. There is a small white wing patch, and the bill and legs are dark grey.

On a rainy day at Van Vihar, Bhopal

Common Jezebel butterfly at Indore

Common Jezebel (Delias eucharis) a medium sized butterfly found almost all over India, except in the desert tracts. It is seen flying high among the trees, visiting flowers and gardens. etc.The Jezebel often flies high up in the canopy and usually comes lower down only to feed on nectar in flowers. Due to this habit apparently, it has evolved a dull upperside and a brilliant underside so that birds below it recognise it immediately while in flight and at rest.(Text adapted from wikipedia)