Tag Archives: India

Ganesha and Kali

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An interesting sculpture of Ganesha with Kali on the back at our resort in Gujarat, India.

Ganesha, also spelled Ganesh, also called Ganapati, elephant-headed Hindu god of beginnings, who is traditionally worshipped before any major enterprise. Lord Ganesha clears the obstacles and paves the way for us to move forward in life. 

On the back side of Ganesha is the depiction of Kali. Alongside being the Goddess of darkness, destruction, and death, Kali is also a symbol of Mother Nature because she is believed to be timeless and formless, representing the creation of life and the universe as well.

Ganesh in the Garden
Kali Behind Ganesh

Tadoba – Water Bodies

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Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) is one of the most sought after tiger-sighting and watching destinations in India. Tadoba is a wonderful habitat and the state flagship tiger reserve. Its most important asset is its ever present water resource in a geographical area that is a byword for water scarcity. It has a wealth of water bodies and lakes, both big and small, and the whole area is drained by the Irai and Andhari rivers, with the Tadoba draining into the Irai reservoir. 

Reflections on the Lake

Tadoba – Langurs

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Gray langurs, also called Hanuman langurs and Hanuman monkeys, are Old World monkeys native to the Indian subcontinent. The langurs make great sentinels given their elevation in the tree tops and raise an alarm at the first sign of danger (especially from tigers). They are also a provider of fresh fruit and flowers as they feed in their trademark untidy manner, generously dropping the same for the chitals (spotted deer) to enjoy. 

Here are langur images from Tadoba National Park, India.

Langur Hugging a Tree
Langur Focused

Tadoba – Birds

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The existence of River Andhari inside the Tadoba National Park in India gives way to a wide diversity of water birds, and raptors. There are approximately 195 species of birds that have been recorded in the park, including three endangered species, including the grey-headed fish eagle, the crested serpent eagle, and the changeable hawk-eagle. Not a big bird watcher, but captured some bird images in the park.

Facing Away
Bird Silhouette
Indian Black Ibis

Tadoba – Spotted Deer

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The spotted deer, or chital, is the most common deer species in Indian forests. With a lifespan of about 20 to 30 years, it stands at about 35 inches tall and weighs about 187 pounds. The deer’s golden-rufus coloring is speckled with white spots, and it has a white underbelly.

Here is an image of female spotted deer in the deep forest of Tadoba National Park, India.

Deer Deep in the Woods

Tadoba – Gaur

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The gaur, also known as the Indian bison, is a bovine native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. The gaur has been recognized by wild life experts as the largest of all wild cattle, bigger even than Asian wild Water Buffalo and American Bison. A gaur herd includes females and one dominant male. Bulls often congregate into bachelor herds while older males occasionally prefer living solitarily. 

Here is a gaur in Tadoba National Park, India.

Gaur with Broken Horn
Gaur at Tadoba

Tadoba – Female Sambar Deer

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Sambar deer are light brown or dark with a grayish or yellowish tinge. Despite their lack of antlers, female sambar readily defend their young from most predators, which is relatively unusual among deer. 

These female and young sambar deer were captured in Tadoba National Park, India. 

Female Sambars Posing
A Sambar Family

Tadoba – Male Sambar Deer

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The sambar is a large deer native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia that is listed as a vulnerable species. Deer is a group of mammals with more than 60 extant species, whereas Sambar is one particular species of deer with eight subspecies. The male sambar bears long, three-tined (or pronged) antlers. Here are images of the male sambar in Tadoba National Park.

Male Sambar Collage

Visiting Tadoba Tiger Reserve

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Located in the state of Maharashtra, India, the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve is one of India’s preeminent reserves. Its tropical dry deciduous forest ecosystem harbors at least 80 tigers, and there are over 200 tigers in the larger landscape. This is known to be the fastest-growing tiger population in the country. Tadoba also supports several other carnivore species, including the leopard and dhole, with the sambar, chital, wild pig and gaur being the most common prey species.

We went on four safaris, but could not spot tigers due to the abundance of available water from the rains, and tall grass and dense vegetation providing hiding spaces. Will post images of the other wildlife that we captured.

A Path Through the Jungle

Indian Flowers – Blend of Colors

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India has always been exalted and remembered fondly as the country of symbolic colors. The symbolism of color stands out and controls every aspect of life in India, be it religion, politics, festivals, or celebrations. In India, be it the north, south, west, or east, color and culture go hand in hand. Flowers in India are no exception. Here is a sample of the traditional deep orange and yellow color combination in a flower.

Blend of Colors

Indian Flower Water Bowl

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In Asian countries such as Bali, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand it is quite common to find a water bowl filled with an arrangement of floating flowers and foliage as a form of reverence towards nature, a sign of welcome to visitors and a way to adorn your home with something beautiful.

Flower Decorations

Flowers in India – Plumeria

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In India, the most commonly found plumeria are the Palba (white flowers with yellow center) and P. Rubra (deep pink with white petals). Because they continue to produce leaves and flowers even after being uprooted, Plumeria has earned the distinction of being ‘immortal’ in the Indian context.

Plumeria
Flowers in India – Plumeria

India’s National Flower

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Lotus is the national flower of India. It is a sacred flower and occupies a unique position in the art and mythology of ancient India and has been an auspicious symbol of Indian culture since time immemorial.

Here is a lotus flower with its reflection in a pond ….

A Lotus Flower and Its Reflection

Colorful Flowers in India

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Will be posting images from a trip to India in October 2022. We start with a series on flowers in India.

India, the land with many landscapes; here, you’ll find the green mountains as well as the blue seas and the yellow sandy deserts so the flower variety of this country ranges from one state to another due to the soil quality.

Flowers in India – Colorful