Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Gauhati University botanical garden......

A creeper-covered wall with a tiny window....it was in Gauhati University botanical garden...After attending a conference, along with some friends I had visited the garden...quite a good collection of flora...



Night-blooming jasmine..........

A bud-laden shrub of night-blooming jasmine...
It may not look that enticing during the day....but wait for the evening...and the heady fragrance will saturate the air...
We have one or two in our house...
For me, its ethreal scent, breezy and moon-lit night makes perfect recipe for happiness..

Anyway, for plant enthusiasts, it belongs to the vast Solanaceae family, to which tomato, potato, brinjal, chilli and tobacco belong to........

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Water hyacinth threat to fresh water bodies and fields of Assam...

A large number of water bodies in India, in fact reservoirs around the world are under the threat of this invasive weed called water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)....the plants grow fast and choke them..
I have taken this picture, somewhere in Assam...as I was travelling in train across the state..it was monsoon time and the flooded fields were carpeted with these weeds..
Awareness and integrated approaches are needed to protect the shrinking fresh water sources from such pests....


Chambal valley..

It's a picture of Chambal valley, in central India....this barren land with myriad mounds used to be a stronghold of bandits...took the picture from a running train...

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Fauna@IITG..............

This cat was not my pet but a resident of the same hostel where I stayed in Guwahati. She was a regular visitor to my room, in the hope of getting some food. I enjoyed feeding her with some of my own snacks. In exchange of the eatables  offered, all I wanted from her was few pictures of her.:)

A murder of crows, dotting the sky. Though the azure, cloud-speckled sky looks beautiful with these birds, the ground below tells an altogether different story. It is the garbage dumping area in the backyard of the hostel,  piled with variety of leftover foods. These hovering scavengers are having a feast!!

Gorgeous bridal sarees........

A saree shop in Ludhiana, a major garments hub in North India. My marriage was few months away and i was selecting some of these trademark Indian garments for the ceremony. It was difficult to select,  left amidst a sea of glittering, sequined, embroidered bridal sarees. Though i knew these expensive clothes will adorn the wardrobe only after the brief use in the rituals,  i was confused, seeking a friend's suggestion.

Monsoon and rain in India.....(I)...

Arrival of monsoon in India is an annual phenomenon of overwhelming importance. It had been years, I make it a point to witness it as the periodic wind sweeps across the parched Indian peninsula, accompanied with rain-gravid, smudgy clouds fast spreading across the sky and rumbling thunders creating a dramatic scenario. 
Dense monsoon clouds descending on my village home in India. The veil of moisture-gravid, nimbus clouds accompanied by roaring winds looks scary, but brings cheer to the parched land, sun-blighted flora and fauna. I enjoy watching the stunning annual phenomenon. And who can deny the fun of drenching in the drizzles after the prolonged summer and getting intoxicated with the vanilla smell of wet earth? I am already feeling nostalgic.




Neighborhood....


The moisture-laden sky..

Its a picture of the monsoon clouds diffusing across North-East India, photographed from the window of the moving Saraighat Express. Not only for the paddy fields, the deciduous forests and grazing cattle, it elates me and imparts respite from the sultry, muggy summer months..I enjoyed staring out of the window, occasionally sticking my hands out to feel the wind and drizzles, photographing the nature in its new incarnation, till darkness makes the vista obscure...

North-East India gets abundant rain...
When I was residing in Guwahati for my studies,  I used to enjoy the monsoon clouds, ample showers, cold winds, swaying branches, myriad bubbles....
Some pictures from archive...


Rourkela memories.........

Among all cities in Odisha....Rourkela holds special place in my heart....
A 75 feet tall, imposing Hanuman statue in the tourist attraction Hanuman Vatika in the steel city....It is believed that this super-powerful, mythological character in Hindu scriptures protects the city from natural calamities. Apart from the immaculate carving and vivid colors, what attracts attention is the huge bee hives hung from the left arm pit and the rear part.:)



Other statues in the complex...





These lovely, flowers with heavenly fragrance are night flowering jasmine (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis), commonly called shefali or Ganga shiuli ... These flowers with white corolla and deep orange pedicel bloom in the night, spread divine, intoxicating aroma and fall by the morning. It is bliss to pick the dew-touched, strewn flowers from the ground.Numerous poems and fictions have been dedicated to this amazing flower. This is my collection of platter-full flowers from my sister's shrub, in an autumn morning....
A herd of buffaloes grazing peacefully in a pasture in Rourkela. Cattle egrets were roaming around with the grazers and picking off the ticks and flies from their furs. A classic picture of 'commensalism' portrayed. It was amusing to watch and listen to the noise of the buffaloes chomping on the green grass. Ability to see such innocent sights more often is what I call happiness.

City cattle ...devouring  on the discarded garlands and flowers used in the Diwali decorations. At least, it is not eating the polythene bags strewn on the roads by reckless people....

An adorable pair of tabby kittens. I saw the duo basking in the morning sun and practicing their acrobatic and arboreal skills on the the drumstick tree. As I paused from my morning walk to have a better look at them, they are eying me suspiciously.

Meghalaya memories.....

Most of North East India is blessed with serene natural beauty. Those who have savored the untouched charm of this region will never be able to escape from its spell, like me. During my three years stay in this part of India,  I got many opportunities to soak in these heavenly places.
Hre I will recount my Meghalaya memories.........
Ethereal charm of Shillong, the hilly getaway in North-East India...I have been lucky to visit twice....The pleasant memory lingers...
The mirror smooth, placid lake reflecting the overcast sky.....

Ethereal beauty of Cherrapunjee....
If a place receives  highest rain in the world, such verdant greenery is quite expected..

The low-hanging clouds feels divine..

Moisture-laden grey sky and chilly air, even in the peak of summer.....

Such a stunning place to rejuvenate the frayed nerves..

Cloud-draped lush valleys.........

More clouds....and the meandering ravine...

The freshness of verdant greenery and the veil of clouds conjure the image of paradise...

The hilltop vantage point........

The murmur of cascading waterfalls...

Vast nature....somehow yet untouched....
Are not this sculptures eye-catching? I instantly fell in love with these handicrafts chiseled from pine wood and cones. I saw these decors displayed in a merchandise stall in Cherrapunji, Meghalaya and lost no time in purchasing it.
Three vultures perched on a bare tree with sinewy branches...........

Two birds perched atop a tree house......


The sleepy Shillong city cradled by nature...

Aroma of pine forest and precious wild herbs...

Umtru is such an awesome retreat, lurked deep in the forest of Meghalaya. The craggy rocks, the milky foamy water of the rapids rushing with murmuring sound, the lush forest with diverse flora, the areca nut plantations, the sloping hills covered with tea bushes, the rope bridge, the hiking trails, the bamboo cottages and the myriad varieties of fascinating mushrooms create a paradise on earth for nature lovers.

Tea fields ..the shrubs were pruned (not in peak pf their foliage), yet what an awesome experience it was to hang out by the slopes, stroll among the neat rows and gaze at the tender leaves..








I have a strong interest for the lifestyle of tribal folks and their age-old, precious traditions and occupations. So, when a opportunity to land in the Topatoli forest  along with the picnic troupe came my away, I decided to make the most of the occasion. Accompanied with a like-minded friend, I ventured into the nearest locality. As we walked uphill along the spiraling path hugged by the hilly forests, overlooking the areca nut and pineapple plantations, momentarily our urban stress gave way to pure bucolic bliss. Soon we were at the locality. I saw this multi-purpose bamboo platform and shed in front of a house. I was impressed with the  rows of handmade grass brooms hung for drying. Some ginger roots were laid for sun drying as well. As I posed for a photograph clutching the wooden pillar, looking all content, I could not stop appreciating the sustainable lifestyle of these hard-working people..
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