Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. Statues of Buddha, generally under a tree, are found all over India depicting him in a serene, peaceful, and meditative pose.
With his elephant head and human body, Ganesha (or Ganesh) is one of the most beloved and popular of all the Hindu gods. This is because he brings good fortune while destroying all obstacles.
Ganesh is depicted as an art form in colorful statues and stone carvings.
The sun sets behind the Kayavarohan Shiv temple creating interesting images – a framed portrait of the setting sun and another with a sunset glow backlighting the temple.
Located in Vadodara district of Gujarat, Kayavarohan Shiv temple is one of the sixty-eight ‘teerthas’ (Pilgrimage) of Lord Shiva as mentioned in the Shiva Purana. According to the legends, Lord Shiva took the incarnation of Lakulish in this temple. Lord Shiva took the form of a brahmin child so the place is known as Kayavarohan. Kayavarohan lingam represents the formlessness and uniqueness of Lord Shiva.
Visitors enjoying peace and serenity at the temple around sunset.
Images at the pond in Kayavarohan, Gujarat, India during the day and at night.
After a productive trip to Gir, we took a respite in a small village. Kayavarohan or Karvan is a village in the Vadodara district of the state of Gujarat, India. It is an important religious place on account of its Lakulish temple.
As the sun sets in Gir National Park, we bid farewell to the variety of animals, birds and landscapes. Onwards to other sights in India.
Found an interesting, artistic tee shirt design depicting a composite of a lion and a woman at Gir National Park, Gujarat, India
The Indian leopard has strong legs and a long well-formed tail, a broad muzzle, short ears, and small, yellowish-grey eyes, light grey ocular bulbs. Its coat is spotted and rosetted on a pale yellow to the yellowish-brown or golden background. Leopards are elusive, and solitary animals. They are active mainly from dusk till dawn but in some regions, they are nocturnal.
Here is a leopard on the move, crouching low to the ground as if stalking something in Gir National Park.
The Lion is probably the biggest enemy of the Leopard and a fight to the death will ensue when they come into contact. Hyenas and Baboons have also been known to attack and kill Leopards, in particular the young cubs. Leopards climb trees to survey the surrounding area for food, stay cool in the shade, store their prey and, most importantly, escape potential danger.
A leopard in full stride at Gir National Park, Gujarat, India.
One can identify most leopards by their light color and distinctive dark spots. Those spots are called rosettes, because they resemble the shape of a rose. The coloration on leopards and many other animals has evolved because it helps them survive better. In the case of leopards, the alternating dark and light blends into the shadows and sunlight patches in the grasslands or forest where they live and makes it easier for them to sneak up on the the animals they hunt.
A young leopard strolls through Gir National Park …
Indian Leopard or Leopards are elusive and one of the most beautiful and most loved Big Cat among all the Big Cat Species. The feline is ‘smaller’ as compared to the other member of the big cat family. Indian Leopard can adapt itself to varying environments with ease and because of this, is the most successful in an era of habitat destruction, poaching and progressively increasing invasive human settlements!
Here is a young leopard walking in Gir National Park.
Apart from the Asiatic lion, Gir National Park also has a sizeable number of another elusive cat—the Indian leopard. Gujarat is the only state in India where lions and leopards have coexisted. According to the last census of leopards carried out in 2016, their population was 1,395 across Gujarat of which about 450 were in Junagadh and Gir-Somnath.
Vultures sitting on the ground in Gir National Park.
An Indian Pond Heron creates a mirror reflection, while a Red-wattled Lapwing, and a Common Sandpiper search for food in the waterholes at Gir National Park.
Indian Paradise Flycatcher and an Indian Ringed Parakeet (with something in its beak) add color to Gir National Park.
Captured different expressions of a lion resting in Gir National Park, Gujarat, India.
A lion staring at something from behind branches at Gir National Park.
Closeup images of a lion sleeping and nearly dozing off in Gir National Park.
While this image might be sensitive to some, here is a lion protecting a buffalo kill from hyenas and other animals in Gir National Park, Gujarat, India.
