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Few years back Bangalore had the best climate in the country. In summers the temperature never used to raise beyond 30 degree Celsius. It was a paradise in all seasons. But it has been changing since couple of years at a rapid phase. The Mercury has been steadily raising every year in the summer. In summer now it is hovering around 35 degree Celsius. This year it has recorded the highest temperature of 37.6 degree Celsius in the past 25 years. (Click on the images for bigger picture)
But, last week has been a pleasant surprise. Parts of Bangalore witnessed sudden and heavy showers for a period of one hour.
With it arrived this year’s first hailstones. They were fast and plenty. Entire road got covered by small hailstones. The white spots in the above image are hailstones falling down. By enlarging the image they are clearly visible.
Shekhawati region in western India, is famous for its mural paintings. It is like a huge open air gallery of painted walls, havelis and palaces in the vast expanse of the desert of Rajasthan in India. Every nooks and corner of the each town, street, home has been painted with frescoes. The homes built by the people of the region feature exquisite paintings that decorate their walls, doors, and interiors. The themes of these frescoes depict gods, kings, flowers and scenes from daily life. (Click on the images for bigger picture)
The technique of Fresco painting in Shekhawati is very similar to the Italian Fresco technique of the 14th century. Mostly vegetable pigments were used for coloring. Some of the main ingredients are kajal for black, lime for white, neel for blue, geru for red, kesar for orange, yellow clay for yellow.
The above image is interior courtyard of haveli in Mandwa taken in the night. This technique has been used since 1580 in this region. So this paintings in this area are around this period.
We left from Shivpuri early morning. After visiting Survayi Ki Grahi, we proceeded to Datia which is at a distance of 106 kms. (Click on the images for bigger picture)
Govind Palace is the seven-story palace built by Raja Bir Singh Deo in 1614. Out of this only five levels are visible and other two levels are underground hidden from view. The main entrance is on the eastern side, while the south opens out to a lake, the Karna Sagar. A central dome rising to 35m caps the palace.
It has more than 440 rooms and several courtyards. What makes this palace special is that it is made entirely of stones and bricks with no use of wood and iron. This palace is one of finest example of a style of architecture that arose in the late 16th and early 17th centuries in the Bundelkhand area under the reign of the Bundela Rajputs. It is a fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture.
Survaya Ki Grahi is a big auditorium of stone. There is a Shiva temple with the idol still inside it. The temple has beautiful carvings on the exterior as well as on the ceiling. The below are the images of the Shiva temple. (Click on the images for bigger picture)
Above is the entrance to the temple. The idol can be seen inside and the carvings are all around the entrance.
Above is the intricate carvings in the ceiling of the temple.
Above is the carvings on one of the external walls of the temple.
Survaya Ki Grahi is one of the ancient place. In those days this place was a Gurukul, what is now known in modern terminology as residential school. There are 3 beautiful temples and some residential place for the pupil to stay. The fortress around it was built at a later stage to protect it from invasions. (Click on the images for bigger picture)
Out of the 3 temples one of the temple is for Lord Shiva. Other temples do not have idols at present. The temples are beautifully carved.
The place of stay for the Guru (Teacher) and his students is a simple double stories building. There is also a underground water source inside the fortress.
Next day morning from Shivpuri we proceeded to Survaya Ki Grahi which is at a distance of 20 kms on Shivpuri - Jhansi road. This is a historical place with several old temples inside the fortress. (Click on the image for bigger picture)
We shall explore more about this place in the subsequent posts.
Vidhana Soudha houses the State Legislature for Karnataka, and is the largest Secretariat in India. Below is the picture of the front view huge central dome of the building. (Click on the image for bigger picture)
In Shivpuri there is a historic site of Scindia's cenotaphs. In the formal Mughal garden facing each other across a water tank are the cenotaphs (Chhatris) of the Maharaja Madhav Rao Scindia and the Maharani Sakhya Raje Scindia. The cenotaphs are blended with architectural idioms of Hindu and Islamic styles with their shikhara-type spires and Rajput and Mughal pavilions. (Click on all the images for bigger picture)
The King Madhav Rao Scindia cenotaph has the glittering white marble surface inlaid with lapis lazuli and onyx. This creates a spectacularly rich effect.
The memorial contain life-size image of the King. It is rendered extreme devotion by ceremonially dressed retainers who perform the rituals of placing flowers and incense before the statue each day. The above snap of the interiors is taken during the day time.
The above snap was taken during he night when the interiors were lighted. At the far end the statue of the King can be seen.
In Shivpuri, we went for boating in the Sakhya Sagar lake which is one of the important support system in the Madhav National Park. It is situated on the edge of forests of Madhav National Park. The lake is habitat of variety of reptiles. Species that can be seen here are marsh or mugger crocodile, Indian python and the monitor lizard. (Click on all the images for bigger picture)
While boating here our boatman showed us the crocodile resting on the rocks in the lake. He stopped the boat nearby for us to click some snaps.
The technique of Fresco painting in Shekhawati is very similar to the Italian Fresco technique of the 14th century. Mostly vegetable pigments were used for coloring. Some of the main ingredients are kajal for black, lime for white, neel for blue, geru for red, kesar for orange, yellow clay for yellow.
The above image is interior courtyard of haveli in Mandwa taken in the night. This technique has been used since 1580 in this region. So this paintings in this area are around this period. 
Govind Palace is the seven-story palace built by Raja Bir Singh Deo in 1614. Out of this only five levels are visible and other two levels are underground hidden from view. The main entrance is on the eastern side, while the south opens out to a lake, the Karna Sagar. A central dome rising to 35m caps the palace. 
It has more than 440 rooms and several courtyards. What makes this palace special is that it is made entirely of stones and bricks with no use of wood and iron. This palace is one of finest example of a style of architecture that arose in the late 16th and early 17th centuries in the Bundelkhand area under the reign of the Bundela Rajputs. It is a fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture.
Above is the entrance to the temple. The idol can be seen inside and the carvings are all around the entrance.
Above is the intricate carvings in the ceiling of the temple.
Above is the carvings on one of the external walls of the temple.
This is a temple beautiful carvings all around it.
The above structure is in front of the temple.
The above structure is on the top of the residential area of the students and teacher.
Out of the 3 temples one of the temple is for Lord Shiva. Other temples do not have idols at present. The temples are beautifully carved.
The place of stay for the Guru (Teacher) and his students is a simple double stories building. There is also a underground water source inside the fortress.
We shall explore more about this place in the subsequent posts.
The King Madhav Rao Scindia cenotaph has the glittering white marble surface inlaid with lapis lazuli and onyx. This creates a spectacularly rich effect.
The memorial contain life-size image of the King. It is rendered extreme devotion by ceremonially dressed retainers who perform the rituals of placing flowers and incense before the statue each day. The above snap of the interiors is taken during the day time.
The above snap was taken during he night when the interiors were lighted. At the far end the statue of the King can be seen. 
While boating here our boatman showed us the crocodile resting on the rocks in the lake. He stopped the boat nearby for us to click some snaps. 
