Asian Openbill-Stork

You will not fail to identify an Openbill Stork, if you see one in a huge flock of different species of storks. The reason is obvious: its peculiar huge bill with arching mandibles leaving a narrow open gap between them. They are grayish white with black in their wings.

We spotted few of them at Ranganathittu bird sanctuary. The chicks had very short bills and we found them clamoring around the mother bird each time she would come with a catch in her bills.



Their diet usually consists of frogs, crabs, large insects, snails and small living things. The unique structure of their bills help them to crack open the thick shell of the snails and separate the soft body. Their nests that we saw at close distance were just like a circular platform of twigs. The chicks were slightly grown up with new feathers and a face that only a mother can love. Do click on them to get a better view.

Answers to Camouflaged

I got the most overwhelming response for the tiny ‘spot the critter’ contest, camouflaged last week. Almost everybody gave the right answers for at least one of them. Some of course had both answers right.


Hitchwriter was the first with both answers right. Others who got both answers right were Keats The Sunshine Girl, Ribbon, Rajesh, Anu, Deborah Godin, Adrienne in Ohio, Carletta, Julie, Karen, Ajeya Rao, Pratiksha Kulkarni, Ravishankar, Hilary.
The frog was spotted rightly by:
Dora, carmat, Baron’s Life, Esther Garvi.


The spider was spotted rightly by:
Sylvia, Ladynred, Reader Wil, Destination Infinity, Anya.


You can download and put the pics in your blog if you wish. I hope you are enjoying this as much as I am.

Bara Kaman, Bijapur

Have you seen crumbling arches? Arches those are silently crumbling, yet graceful? Bijapur has the remains of one such monument. In fact it is the incomplete mausoleum of Ali Adil Shah (1656 to 1686).



Ali Adil Shah of the Adil Shahi dynasty wanted to build a mausoleum of unmatched quality of architecture. As per the plan twelve arches will be placed vertically as well as horizontally surrounding the tomb of Ali Adil Shah. However due to unknown reason the work on the structure was left incomplete and only two arches were raised vertically. The remains of the twelve arches placed horizontally can be seen.


The thought of visiting mausoleums gives me a very uneasy feeling. The sight of structure of tombs dampens my spirits, and the profound mood continues a long time after the visit too. Yet, I toured. I was curious to see all that I learned in my history classes for real.

Bijapur(530 km northwest of Bangalore) is dotted with many such mausoleums and the architecture there, though many of them are crumbling, is stunning. The stern elegance of the discolored monuments is is in complete contrast to the colorful Rajasthan we visited a couple of months back. But then India is a country of many contrasts!

To see the World visit other participants at: That's My World Tuesday.

Camouflaged

This happened while taking a walk in the banks of the Kabini backwaters.

Thick growth of trees and plants make the walk easy even at 11 and 12 at noon and there I was simply looking at this nature. It was healing and calming. The rustle and crackle of dried leaves under my feet was like music to my ears. But then suddenly, there was a distracting rustle among the dry leaves… as if some creature was trying to flee the stamp of my mighty foot. I stood still, very much afraid now to put the next step. What could it be? A snake? If it was a snake I better flee. I mustered up some courage and put my next step… no sound…Then the next step and I saw it, staring innocently at me. I smiled to myself, ‘How could I be scared of this tiny fellow?’


Can you spot him? He is so well camouflaged. At least can you guess who he is? And as I continued my walk I came across another well camouflaged creature, sitting cosy in the bark of a tree. This should be easy to guess and spot. Let me know your guesses, you will have the answers soon.

Ibrahim Rauza, Bijapur

“Ibrahim Rauza, the garden tomb of Ibrahim Adil Shah II, was the inspiration for the construction of the great Taj Mahal by Shah Jehan,” our guide very proudly declared. Shah Jehan was fascinated by two structures during his search for an architectural plan to construct a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaj, one was the Tomb of Mandu at Madhya Pradesh and the other was this Ibrahim Rauza.

We were at Bijapur, 525kms from Bangalore. A district in north Karnataka, it is dotted with several sight seeing spots, over 50 major mosques and some 20 palaces, mostly ruined, and a host of tombs and other structures.

Mausoleum of Ibrahim Adil Shah II, the structure in the right houses the tomb and the one in the left, the mosque. Ibrahim Adil Shah II was a visionary king who sought to bring Hindus and Muslims together. He spoke the local languages, had a Hindu temple built in his palace and composed verses dedicated to Saraswati and Ganpati.




The cornices and cupolas, the minarets and parapets, the decorated walls and the beautiful stone windows have become old and worn out, yet they are so beautiful and captivating. The entire structure is over a basement and our guide showed us the secret passages in the basement. Some of the points were closed and are rumored to have treasures. I guess he told us that to see our eyes open wide with surprise. We went through some of the dark tunnels taking care not to knock our head against the sharp stones jutting out from the low ceiling.



The tomb of the Persian architect of this mausoleum, Malik Sandal too was there in the courtyard. His last wish to lie beside his Sultan fulfilled. The arched structure behind the tombs served as elephant stable once.


An inscription on the north door reads, "Heaven stood astonished at this building when its head rose as it were from the earth to another heaven. The garden of paradise has borrowed its beauty from this garden and every column in this building is graceful as a Cyprus tree in the garden of purity. An angel from heaven told the date of building in words `This heart-gladdening building is the memorial of Taj Sultana."

To see the World visit other participants at: That's My World Tuesday.