BSAP Umamaheshwaram Trip June2014

Umamaheshwaram in india Umamaheshwaram (Telugu: ఉమామహేశ్వరము, also known as Maheshwaram and Umamaheshrum) is a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is in the picturesque Nallamala forest range around 100 kilometers away from Hyderabad on the Hyderabad-Srisailam highway. Umamaheshwaram is the northern gateway of Srisailam — one of the jyotirlingas. It is mentioned in many Vedas that visit to a Srisailam without Umamaheswaram is incomplete. It is atop the hill properly covered by huge trees. Hill ranges shields the temple and 500 metres of stretch to PapaNasanam. Through the day hardly any sunlight falls on this stretch, thus maintaining the temperature below normal year round. It is popularly known as Poor Man’s Ooti.(wiki)

Kushmi Forest

Earth day 

Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year.

In 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco, peace activist John McConnell proposed a day to honor the Earth and the concept of peace, to first be celebrated on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. This day of nature's equipoise was later sanctioned in a Proclamation written by McConnell and signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations. A month later a separate Earth Day was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970. Nelson was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award in recognition of his work.^[3] While this April 22 Earth Day was focused on the United States, an organization launched by Denis Hayes, who was the original national coordinator in 1970, took it international in 1990 and organized events in 141 nations. Numerous communities celebrate Earth Week, an entire week of activities focused on environmental issues.(wikipedia)

kushmi jungle in india Kushmi, Dense forest mainly of Shorea robusta also known as shala tree, It is situated near Gorakhpur Air force Station.

Hyderabad Bird Race 2014

Hyderabad Bird Race 2014 in hyderabad

Hyderabad Bird Race 2014 in hyderabad A bird race is a day long fun event where teams of 4 members go around the city at various places (List will be provided) where birds maybe seen. The Teams check a tick mark against a list of birds they have seen around and submit it for review to a panel of judges. The Team with maximum number of birds will be the winner.

The winners of the Hyderabad Bird Race 2014 were 1) First - Team Name Geese with participants Manipal, Prasad, Eva, Bindu 2) Second - Team Name: Eagles with participants Asif, Ashwin, Siddharth and Hemant 3) Third - Team Name: Falcons with participants Prashant, Suryatej, Manjoy and Gururaju

Mozamjahi Market

Mozamjahi Market in hyderabad

It was constructed in 1935 during the reign of the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan. It was named after his second son Moazzam Jah. Jambagh flower market was a part of the market. The fruit market was shifted to Kothapet Fruit Market in 1980s.

At Sangam, Kumbh 2013

At Sangam. Kumbh 2013 in india

One such Triveni Sangam, in Prayag (Allahabad) has two physical rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and the invisible or mythic Saraswati River. The site is in Prayag, India. A place of religious importance and the site for historic Kumbh Mela held every 12 years, over the years it has also been the site of immersion of ashes of several national leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 The three rivers maintain their identity and are visibly different as they merge. While the Yamuna is deep but calm and greenish in colour, the Ganga is shallow, but forceful and clear. The Saraswati remains hidden, but the faithful believe that she makes her presence felt underwater. During the monsoon, when the rivers are in full flow, the confluence of the rivers is seen clearly due to the force of the water, but the same force makes having a dip at the confluence difficult. While the Ganges is only 4 feet deep, the Yamuna is 40 feet deep near the point of their nexus. The river Yamuna merges into the Ganges at this point and the Ganges continues on until it meets the sea at the Bay of Bengal. At the confluence of these two great Indian rivers, where the invisible Saraswati conjoins them, many tirtha yatris take boats to bathe from platforms erected in the Sangam. This, together with the migratory birds give a picturesque look to the river during the Kumbha Mela, in the month of January. It is believed that all the gods come in human form to take a dip at the sangam and expiate their sins. (Wikipedia)

Sri Krishna Temple, Hampi

Sri Krishna Temple. Hampi in karnataka
Sri Krishna Temple. Hampi in karnataka This temple was built by the king (Krishnadevaraya) in 1513 AD to celebrate the conquest of the eastern kingdom of Udayagiri or Utkala (in the present day Orissa state). The main idol installed in the temple was the figure of Balakrishna (Lord Krishna as infant). This idol is now displayed in the state museum at Chennai. A huge slab installed inside the courtyard of the temple states the story of this temple and the conquest of Ulkala.(hampi.in)

Ananthagiri Hills

ananthagiri hills in india
Anantgiri Hills 2 in india Ananthagiri Hills are hills located at Vikarabad, Ranga Reddy district, AP, India. The water flows from these hills to Osmansagar and Himayathsagar. It is one of the dense forests in Andhra Pradesh. Ananthagiri Temple is located in this forested area. It is the Birthplace of Musi river, which flows through Hyderabad.

Chowmahalla Palace, Hyderabad

Chowmahalla Palace in hyderabad
Chowmahalla Palace. Hyderabad in hyderabad Once regarded as the center of Hyderabad, the magnificent Chowmahalla Palace was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty where the Nizams entertained their official guests and royal visitors. Built over 200 years ago, Chowmahalla Palace is renowned for its unique style and elegance.A synthesis of many architectural styles and influences, the Palace Complex has been meticulously restored.(wikipedia)

Vittala Temple , Hampi

Vittala Temple. Hampi in karnataka As the epicenter of Hampi’s attractions, Vittala Temple is the most extravagant architectural showpiece of Hampi. No amount of words can explain this spectacle. The temple is built in the form of a sprawling campus with compound wall and gateway towers. There are many halls, pavilions and temples located inside this campus. Vittala, after whom the temple is known, is a form of lord Vishnu. This aspect of Vishnu was worshiped in this part of the country as their cult deity by the cattle herds. (hampi.in)

Tal Chhapar

Tal Chhapar in india Tal Chhapar Sanctuary is a sanctuary located in the Churu district of Northwestern Rajasthan in the Bikaner division of India. It is known for black bucks and is also home to a variety of birds. The sanctuary is 210 km from Jaipur on the fringe of the Great Indian Desert and situated on road from Ratangarh to Sujangarh. The Tal Chhapar sanctuary lies in the Sujangarh Tehsil of Churu District. Tal Chhapar is a refuge of the most elegant Antelope encountered in India, "the Black buck".(wiki)

Vittala Temple, Hampi

Vittala Temple. Hampi in karnataka As the epicenter of Hampi’s attractions, Vittala Temple is the most extravagant architectural showpiece of Hampi. No amount of words can explain this spectacle. The temple is built in the form of a sprawling campus with compound wall and gateway towers. There are many halls, pavilions and temples located inside this campus. Vittala, after whom the temple is known, is a form of lord Vishnu. This aspect of Vishnu was worshiped in this part of the country as their cult deity by the cattle herds. The temple was originally built in the 15th century AD. Many successive kings have enhanced the temple campus during their regimes to the present form. Yon can even see the remains of a township called Vittalapura that existed around this temple complex. The highlight of Vittala temple is its impressive pillared halls and the stone chariot. The halls are carved with an overwhelming array of sculptures on the giant granite pillars. The stone chariot located inside the campus is almost an iconic structure of Hampi.(hampi.in)

Virupaksha Temple

virupaksha temple hampi in karnataka The temple's history is uninterrupted from about the 7th century. The Virupaksha-Pampa sanctuary existed well before the Vijayanagara capital was located here. Inscriptions referring to Shiva date back to the 9th and 10th centuries. What started as a small shrine grew into a large complex under the Vijayanagara rulers. Evidence indicates there were additions made to the temple in the late Chalukyan and Hoysala periods, though most of the temple buildings are attributed to the Vijayanagar period. Under the Vijayanagara rulers, in the middle of the 14th century, there began a flowering of native art and culture. When the rulers were defeated by invaders in the 16th century, most of the wonderful decorative structures and creations were systematically destroyed. The cult of Virupaksha-Pampa did not end with the destruction of the city in 1565. Worship there has persisted throughout the years. At the beginning of the 19th century there were major renovations and additions, which included ceiling paintings and the towers of the north and east gopura.(wikipedia)

Vittala Temple Hampi

Vittala Temple Hampi in karnataka As the epicenter of Hampi’s attractions, Vittala Temple is the most extravagant architectural showpiece of Hampi. No amount of words can explain this spectacle. The temple is built in the form of a sprawling campus with compound wall and gateway towers. There are many halls, pavilions and temples located inside this campus. Vittala, after whom the temple is known, is a form of lord Vishnu. This aspect of Vishnu was worshiped in this part of the country as their cult deity by the cattle herds. (hampi.in)

View from Bhongir Fort

View from Bhongir Fort in india At the foot of the fortified rocks 609.6 meters above the sea level stands the town of Bhongir, it has a unique egg-shaped construction with two entry points protected by huge rocks, so the fort was considered practically impregnable by invading armies. The splendid historical fort with the awe-inspiring rock and the aesthetically fortified courts which have stood the ravages of time stir the imagination of tourists. A moat that encircles the fort, a vast underground chamber, trap doors, an armoury, stables, ponds, wells etc., make for fascinating viewing. The view from the top of the surrounding countryside is simply breathtaking. The Bala Hisar or citadel on the top of the hill gives a bird's eye view of the neighbouring area. The fort is associated with the rule of the heroic queen Rudramadevi and her grandson Prataparudra.(WIKipedia)

Kuntala Waterfall

Kuntala Waterfall in india
Kuntala Waterfall in india Kuntala Waterfall is waterfall located in Kuntala, Adilabad district, Andhra Pradesh. It is located on Kadem river in Neredigonda mandal. It is the highest waterfall in the state of Andhra Pradesh with a height of 147 feet (45 meters). According to the popular and prevalent local belief Kuntala Waterfall got its name after Shakuntala, the beloved wife of King Dushyanth; the pair fell in love with each other and were mesmerized by the scenic beauty of the surroundings. The locals also believe that Shakuntala used to bathe by the waterfall. Formed by Kadam River, Kuntala falls cascades down through two steps and can be seen as two separate adjacent falls after the peak rains. It is one of the famous one day outings from Hyderabad. There is a motorable road till the entry point of falls from where steps are available to reach bottom of falls. The falls is about 10 minutes (one way) walk from the entry point. Monsoons and post-monsoons are the best seasons to visit Kuntala Falls. It is dangerous to get into water at the bottom when the water flow is high due to sharp rocks and twists. Public transport is available till Neredikonda from where private vehicles can be hired. Nirmal & Adilabad are base stations. (Wikipedia)

Tal Chhapar Sanctuary

Tal Chhapar in india Tal Chhapar Sanctuary is a sanctuary located in the Churu district of Northwestern Rajasthan in the Bikaner division of India. It is known for black bucks and is also home to a variety of birds. The sanctuary is 210 km from Jaipur on the fringe of the Great Indian Desert and situated on road from Ratangarh to Sujangarh. The Tal Chhapar sanctuary lies in the Sujangarh Tehsil of Churu District. Tal Chhapar is a refuge of the most elegant Antelope encountered in India, "the Black buck".(wiki)

Golconda Fort

Golkonda fort in hyderabad
Golconda fort in hyderabad
Golconda fort in hyderabad Golconda Fort is one of the most wonderful monuments, located 11 km. from Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh. The name of Golconda originates from the telgu words "Golla" and "Konda" which means 'shepard's hill'. One of the most important features of this fort is that the sounds of hands clapped at the entry gate can be heard quite clearly at the top of the hill.(Wikipedia)

Bhongir Fort

Bhongir Fort in india

Ameenpur, Hyderabad

Ameenpur in india
ameenpur in india
Ameenpur in india
Ameenpur in india

Vittala Temple, Hampi

Hampi in karnataka
Vittala Temple. Hampi in karnataka
Hampi in karnataka
Vittala Temple. Hampi in karnataka
Vittala Temple Hampi in karnataka As the epicenter of Hampi’s attractions, Vittala Temple is the most extravagant architectural showpiece of Hampi. No amount of words can explain this spectacle. The temple is built in the form of a sprawling campus with compound wall and gateway towers. There are many halls, pavilions and temples located inside this campus. Vittala, after whom the temple is known, is a form of lord Vishnu. This aspect of Vishnu was worshiped in this part of the country as their cult deity by the cattle herds. The temple was originally built in the 15th century AD. Many successive kings have enhanced the temple campus during their regimes to the present form. Yon can even see the remains of a township called Vittalapura that existed around this temple complex. The highlight of Vittala temple is its impressive pillared halls and the stone chariot. The halls are carved with an overwhelming array of sculptures on the giant granite pillars. The stone chariot located inside the campus is almost an iconic structure of Hampi.(hampi.in)