Sunday, December 19, 2010

Kempfort Shiva Temple

A landmark location in Old Airport Road, Bangalore is Kempfort Shiva Temple. During one of my recent visits, I took a few close ups of the magnificent and majestic 65 foot open air idol of Lord Shiva. Sharing the same here.
All of the Shiva photos were shot by me with Panasonic Lumix TZ3 camera in broad day light.

The mega idol is portrayed in sitting posture or padmasan, with all others spares in proportional sizes. There is also ganga on the 'jada mudi' of the lord (which was off when I captured these photos). I was told that, during various occasions the 'ganga' is set of and it looks even more magnificent to see water flowing from that height.... 



The full view of the lord. Click on the image (any image) to see their original size...

Few more views of the lord 


Look at the magnitude of the view from right beneath him.



Close up view of Ganga Devi on the topknot of Shiva (in Off mode)

A close up of the Jada Mudi, Trinetra, Chandra and Ganga..... 
Look at the curls of his hair....awesome is not the word

A close up of the his extra right hand - holding the trishul

The snake in his neck.

 The left hand holding the 'Udukkai'

A beautiful close up of the padmasan posture....
Note the shape of the thighs, the calf muscle and legs....they are so realistic... even the nails and the back of fingers in both his legs and hands....

The massive rudraksh garland... Each ball of rudraksh is made of many hundreds of normal sized rudraksh to get that size.....

On the right side of the Shiva idol, is a massive Ganesha


The huge moonjur with a big modak at the foot of Ganesh



Saturday, December 18, 2010

Mysore Trip - Set 3 - Lalit Mahal Palace

The Lalit Mahal Palace, is very close Chamundi Hills (which we could not visit during this trip). We were told my its manager, that it was built in 1921 by Krishna Raja Wadiyar (1884 - 1940), the then Maharaja of Mysore, excusively for the stay of then Viceroy of India.


Below are few of the photo taken by me in the palace.


A view of the chandelier 




This carpet was stitched by our freedom fighters in the jail and was used in one of the halls. After independence, as a respect to all those freedom fighters, this carpet has been hung on the wall outside the main bedroom, which is now like the presidential suite.



A beautiful night lamp...in that suite....

Dressing table in that room


A teak wood cupboard in that room


Bath tub with shower setup used by the Viceroy

Myself and Rakesh in the teak + silk sofa in the main suite...
The Master Bed


The paneled lift with sofa..... wow!!!! what a feel it was to go in it......This lift was imported from Otis England and is still maintained by the Hotel in working condition.


The identity plate inside the lift..






This is the main stairway made of Italian Marble


Ashok John & I with Raghuraman Sir (2nd from left; next to me)