shrine – GOPS Creativ

Oct 28

by GOPAN NAIR in Indian architecture & Heritage 9 comments tags: architecture, blog, buddha, buddhism, buddhist, caves, cut, elephanta, ellora, ferry, gateway, gharapuri mural, gop.org, gopan, gopan g nair, gops, gops photography, heritage, hindu, hinduism, india, MUMBAI, of, photography, rock, shiva, shrine, site, temple, Temples, tourism, unesco, WORLD

EXQUISITE ELEPHANTA CAVES

The relentless bombardment from the artillery persisted for weeks and months, despite the absence of any actual enemies in the vicinity. Surprisingly, it was the Portuguese soldiers who were using the cannons to target the imposing rock sculptures in Elephanta Caves as part of their training exercises. Reflecting on the historical timeline of explorations, invasions, and colonization, it becomes evident that bloodshed and devastation were the unwelcome companions of each successful event. Descendants of the ruthless invaders who reduced the treasures of a magnificent country to mere rubble and sand should feel remorseful for the actions of their ancestors. While we proudly extol the rich culture and heritage of India, it is disheartening that these distressing truths are frequently overlooked. The ancient island kingdom near Mumbai harbour was known as Gharapuri, which translates to ‘City of Caves’ in Marathi. Evidence of early settlement dating back to the 2nd century BC can still be seen on this little island. For travelers in Mumbai, it offers a quick escape from the bustling city life. The island is made up of two small hillocks on its eastern and western sides, separated by a narrow ravine. Carved caves and sculptures made of Basalt rock, […]

May 18

A SNEAK PEAK INTO HOYSALA HISTORY : BELAVADI & ARSIKERE

‘Hoy, Sala !” in Kannada means “Strike Sala!”, a phrase derived from Kannada folklore. Legend has it that a young boy named Sala fought a lion (or tiger) to save his Jain Guru named Sudatta. This valiant warrior later founded the Hoysala empire, with the depiction of this event becoming the emblem of the Hoysala dynasty. The Hoysala Empire governed the Deccan Plateau area in Southern India from the 10th to the 14th centuries. They crafted a unique architectural style and constructed numerous remarkable structures throughout their realm, thereby influencing the culture of the region. Many of these architectural marvels can still be found in Karnataka, with the most notable ones listed as follows: Click the name of a temple to go through a photo tour. TEMPLE / PLACE YEAR KING Chennakesava Belur 1117 Vishnuvardhana Hoysaleswara Halebidu 1120 Vishnuvardhana Kedareshwara Halebidu 1200 Veera Ballala II Veeranarayana Belavadi 1200 Veera Ballala II Ishvara (Shivalaya) Arsikere 1200 Veera Ballala II Kesava Somanathapura 1268 Narasimha III Click the name of a temple to go through a photo tour. VEERA NARAYANA TEMPLE, BELAVADI Belavadi, a quaint village positioned 10 kilometers to the northwest of Halebid (Halebeedu), the former capital of the Hoysala kingdom, […]

Apr 23

by GOPAN NAIR in Indian architecture & Heritage 14 comments tags: aihole, Badami, bangalkot, Bhaje, cave, caves, chalukya, fort, Ganapatim, gop.org, gopan, gopan g nair, gops, gops photography, hindu, india, jain, karnataka, mahakoota, mahakuta, Malegitti, Nataraja, pattadakal, pattadakallu, RAVALPHADI, RAVANA PHADI, RAVANAPHADI, Shivalaya, shrine, Temples, tour, tourism, vatapi

BADAMI : MAGNIFICENT CAVES OF ANCIENT INDIA

BADAMI, (ಬದಾಮಿ or Vatapi as it was known originally), is a historic temple town situated in the Bangalkot district of Northern Karnataka, India. The town mentioned as ‘Badiamaioi’ by Greek Geographer Ptolemy (150 AD) has been recognized as Badami. Badami served as the seat of power for the Chalukya dynasty, which held sway over various regions of Karnataka from 540 to 757 AD. Located 460 kilometers away from Bangalore, the town of Badami is nestled at the entrance of a gorge shielded by massive red sandstone cliffs on both sides, featuring the picturesque Agastya lake at its center. It is said that the town of Badami derived its name from an asura named Vatapi, who was defeated by the sage Agastya. The Chalukya rulers strategically fortified the hills near the town and constructed numerous temples in the vicinity. The architectural marvels found at Badami, Pattadakkal, Aihole, and Mahakuta serve as prime illustrations of Chalukya craftsmanship. The rock-cut cave temples constructed between the 6th and 8th centuries AD are the most renowned within this group of temples. The celebrated Carnatic recital “Vatapi Ganapatim Bhaje” dedicated to lord Ganesha at Vatapi, was composed by Muthuswami Dikshitar. After the Chalukyas were vanquished by […]

EXQUISITE ELEPHANTA CAVES

A SNEAK PEAK INTO HOYSALA HISTORY : BELAVADI & ARSIKERE

BADAMI : MAGNIFICENT CAVES OF ANCIENT INDIA

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