A young lion cub watches with curiosity while a juvenile one walks through the forest of Gir National Park, Gujarat, India.
Young Lions
Tag Archives: Gujarat
Visiting Gir National Park
Gir Forest National Park is a wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat, western India. It was established to protect Asiatic lions. Gir National Park is the only place in the world outside Africa where a lion can be seen in its natural habitat. The lions of Gir are a majestic animal, averaging 2.75 meters in length, and with a bigger tail tassel, bushier elbow tuffs and prominent belly folds than his African cousin which has larger mane. Gir is a home to 40 species of mammals and 425 species of birds.
We went on four safaris at Gir using open air utility vehicles. Here is a composite of the entrances to the park and two vehicles following a lion walking on the forest road.
Sunset at Somnath Sea
We said goodbye to Somnath Temple with a beautiful sunset over the Arabian Sea as we venture out to other sights in Gujarat.
Somnath Temple Lighted Up
The Somnath temple in Gujarat, India is lighted up at night with multiple color themes and is a major attraction for tourists and worshippers.
Shree Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple
The intricately carved honey-colored (further accentuated at sunset) Somnath temple on the western edge of Gujarat is believed to be the place where the first of the twelve holy jyotirlingas emerged in India – a spot where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light. The temples lies at the meeting of Kapila, Hiran and Sarasvati rivers and the waves of the Arabian Sea ebb and flow touching the shore on which it is constructed. The ancient temple’s timeline can be traced from 649 BC but is believed to be older than that. The present form was reconstructed in 1951.
The setting sun transforms the temple sign, in Hindi script, painted with Indian flag colors by casting a golden glow.
Somnath Temple, Gujarat
The Somnath temple is a Hindu temple located in Gujarat, India. It is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus and is believed to be first among the twelve jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. We visited the temple at sunset and the golden glow of the sun’s rays is evidenced in all images.
Photography is not allowed on the temple site so we had to access a walkway along the ocean to capture the images.
Partial Solar Eclipse at Sunset in Kayavarohan
We end our series of images from India with a spectacular sighting on October 25, 2022 of a partial solar eclipse at sunset in Kayavarohan, Gujarat, India. The moon passed in front of the sun causing a partial solar eclipse, the last solar eclipse of 2022.
A Boy with Buffaloes
A boy poses with his colorfully decorated buffaloes in rural Kayavarohan, Gujarat, India
Rose-ringed Parakeet
The rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri), also known as the ring-necked parakeet (more commonly known as the Indian ringneck parrot), is a medium-sized parrot. This is one of the few parrot species that have successfully adapted to living in disturbed habitats; it has withstood the onslaught of urbanization and deforestation. Spotted these parrots at a birdfeeder in Kayavarohan, Gujarat, India.
Archaeological Museum Kayavarohan
Numerous Hindu icons, number of copper coins and a stone quern have been found from Kayavarohan, Gujarat, India. A grand head of Tapasvi, the image of Kartikeya and an idol of Uma Maheshwara are some of the rare and unmatched archaeological specimen discovered from Kayavarohan.
Kayavarohan – Heritage Site
Kayavarohan, Gujarat, India is a place of great archaeological importance and the Archaeological Survey of India has listed Karvan as a heritage site and has set up a special museum for the remains found around this site. Karvan is one of the major sites of Indian Heritage.
Kayavarohan Shiva Temple
Kayavarohan, Gujarat, India harbors the Brahmeshwar Jyotirshivlang temple, claimed to have been founded by Maharshi Vishwamitra. It has been held that the incarnation of Shiva in Lakulish has merged with the linga. Here are images of the popularly visited temple lighted up for Diwali.
At the Railway Station, Kayavarohan
Image of the rails before and during sunset at the station in Kayavarohan, Gujarat, India. Farewell 2022!
Langurs on the Rails
Langurs basking in the sunset glow while sitting on rails in Kayavarohan, Gujarat, India
Kayavarohan Excavations
Kayavarohan or Karvan is a village in the Vadodara district of the state of Gujarat, India. Kayavarohan is considered as the birthplace of Lakulisha, the second century C.E. Shaivite revivalist, reformer and propounder of the pashupata doctrine. It is an important religious place on account of its Lakulisha temple.
The village and its surrounding areas are of great archaeological significance. Ancient sculptures and relics belonging to the 2nd century have been excavated from this place.
Sunset Against Palm Trees
A majestic sunset against palm trees at a farm in Gujarat, India
A Relaxing Environment
Our resort in Anand, Gujarat, India had beautiful pathways through the gardens, places to relax, and artistry on the walls.
Buddha Collection at the Resort
The grounds of our resort in Gujarat, India had an ample collection of artistic Buddhas
A Red-wattled Lapwing
Spotted a red-wattled lapwing at our resort in Gujarat, India. The red-wattled lapwing is an Asian lapwing or large plover, a wader in the family Charadriidae. Like other lapwings they are ground birds that are incapable of perching.
Early Morning Reflections
The early morning sun casts a golden glow on the bird reflections at a pond in our resort in Gujarat, India
Photos by Ravi 