Winter Wonderland ...

Winter Wonderland ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

A little red man in the winter wonderland !!!

Labuche on the EBC trail, Nepal | 2009.

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That very first step ...

That very first step ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
~ Lao-tzu

To soar up greater heights in life, one just needs to have self-confidence and the mighty motivation to take that very first step towards the endeavor!

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Bathing in golden light ...

Bathing in golden light ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

Blissful morning walk, soaking in the golden light ...

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For the love of mountains ...

For the love of mountains ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

Happy International Mountain Day!!

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An old shepherd ..

An old shepherd .., originally uploaded by £$þ.

Portrait of an old shepherd from the distant mountain lands of Nepal.

Khumjung, Nepal | Year 2009.

Riding along memory lane ...

Riding along memory lane ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

Sunset ferry ride along the beautiful coastline of Mumbai.

Setting sun playing hide and seek behind the clouds and back-lighting the city skyline provided an ideal setting for this frame.

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Sign of a beautiful day!

If you don't think every day is a good day, just try missing one.

~ Cavett Robert

Morning Music ...

A local artist from Jaisalmer playing Ravanhatha, a traditional folk music instrument of Rajasthan!

When the nature smiled :)

When the nature smiled :), originally uploaded by £$þ.

A picturesque location near Jhaka, Himachal Pradesh.

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A fine morning ...

A fine morning ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.
~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Trekkers embarking on their journey to the base of Mt.Everest. Phakding, 2009.

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LOST!

LOST!, originally uploaded by £$þ.

in an uncomfortable and eerie stillness of woods ..

Kokchurong, West Sikkim, India.

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Slice of Colors ...

Slice of Colors ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

in the everyday life of Rajasthan! No wonder it is being referred as land of colors!

Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, 2012.

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Painted Landscape ...

Painted Landscape ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

One of those beautiful mornings where the earth is cozily sleeping under a blanket of fog and the first light from behind the mountains gently wakes her up by removing the blanket cover.

Taken somewhere between Kodaikanal and Munnar, Year 2010.

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From peaceful to polluted ...

From peaceful to polluted ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

Evidently changing world due to pollution through air and water. In no time such a beautiful place will transform into a polluted place, clearly unfit for living! In big picture, this is the same case for our beautiful planet as well!

Slow and steady change ...

Slow and steady change ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

of India's landscape, culture and mindset of people.

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A Peaceful end of day ...

A Peaceful end of day ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

Tshokha, Sikkim, India.

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Dhak Dhol, Dance and Durga

Dhak Dhol, Dance and Durga, originally uploaded by £$þ.

Quintessential elements of Durga Pujo!

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Happy Dussehra!

Happy Dussehra!, originally uploaded by £$þ.

On this auspicious day of Dussehra,
I wish you every happiness
and the fulfillment of all your dreams!

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Wave of thoughts ...

Wave of thoughts ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

Boys in serious thoughts! Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.

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Colors, Camel and Grandeur ...

Colors, Camel and Grandeur ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

Mehrangarh, Jodhpur, Rajasthan

The most fascinating thing about Rajasthan is that throw of bright colors even in simple things of everyday life!

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In the land of festivals ...

In the land of festivals ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

You say good-bye to one God and wave Hello to another! :-)

Shubho Mahalaya! May all the blessings of the Mother Goddess shower down upon you and your loved ones.

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The guardian ..

The guardian .., originally uploaded by £$þ.

Mehrangarh Fort, Rajasthan.

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Dark reflection of our society ...

Dark reflection of our society ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

After a week of grand worship & celebrations, a headless idol of lord Ganesh lies totally neglected in a puddle of dirty rain water! Goes on to show how we operate in this society.

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Contemporary India ...

Contemporary India ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

Holding tight on to old customs & traditions very carefully on one side and let the westernization, modern hi-tech life prosper on the other. Going strong in spite of contrasting thoughts from either side - India!

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Bye bye until next year

Bye bye until next year, originally uploaded by £$þ.

Ganesh idols being taken in a make shift boat off the shore of Girgaum Chowpatty to immerse into the sea.

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Shore temple sunset

Shore temple sunset, originally uploaded by £$þ.

Sunset behind the shore temple complex, Mahabalipuram, TN, India.

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The land of many faith ...

The land of many faith ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof.
~ Khalil Gibran

For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible!

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Feel Special ...

Feel Special ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

As we celebrate "World Photography Day" today, we should remember as photographers we hold a key responsibility to record moments & memories of present and gift them to future! Be wise and bring more smiles :)

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Eid-ul-Fitr

Eid-ul-Fitr, originally uploaded by £$þ.

Eid Mubarak to all my friends!

Taken during Eid-ul-Fitr prayer this morning.

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Because everyone needs friends!

Because everyone needs friends!, originally uploaded by £$þ.

I looked for my God; my God eluded me. I looked for my soul; my soul I could not see. I looked for a friend and I found all three.

Because everyone needs friends to understand, support, depend, hold hands and take us forward in all situations of our life!!

Happy Friendship Day!

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Planet Old City!

Planet Old City!, originally uploaded by £$þ.

This is a "little planet Old City" of our very own Hyderabad, constructed using a 360 degree panorama clicked outside the famous Charminar monument. This is how it would look for a bird flying above the old city on a busy crowded day. Well, I clicked this immediately after Jummat-ul-Vida prayer yesterday, so you can imagine!

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Jummat-ul-Vida ...

Jummat-ul-Vida ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

Submission is not about authority and it is not obedience; it is all about relationships of love and respect.

Muslims offering Jummat-ul-Vida (the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan) prayer outside Mecca Masjid, Hyderabad.

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Season of merriment!

Season of merriment!, originally uploaded by £$þ.

With the Ramzan festival fast approaching, the festival fever has already hit the old city of Hyderabad quite strong! Who wouldn't like to shop till they drop and enjoy their favorite Nawabi cuisines after that? :)

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Into the old ...

Into the old ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

A ride through the slice of history!

Golconda Fort, Hyderabad.

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Like change, learning is constant!

Like change, learning is constant!, originally uploaded by £$þ.

Some learn by observing others,
some learn by guidance from elders,
and some learn by discussing it with others.
But what remains constant in all this process is learning.
When we are through learning, we are just through!

Learning is the beginning of wealth.
Learning is the beginning of health.
Learning is the beginning of spirituality.
Searching and learning is where the miracle process all begins.
~ Jim Rohn

Ramadan Friday prayer, Hyderabad, India.

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Tradition from old times ...

Tradition from long times ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

Ladies carry offerings in these colorful pots decorated with flowers and neem leaves on their head all the way to the temple to worship the lady goddess. Some tranced women even dance with balancing pots to the rhythmic beats of drums in honour of the local Goddess.

More info about this festival here -
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonalu

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Golconda Bonalu

Golconda Bonalu, originally uploaded by £$þ.

When I went to Golconda Fort today to experience the celebrations of Bonalu festival, least did I knew the extent to which it is celebrated here! I was totally blown away by the scale and energy with which people celebrate this festival. Easily it is one of the major gatherings for celebrations in Hyderabad!

More information about this festival here.

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The freshness after the rain ...

The freshness after the rain ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

After the rain the air is sweet
With glistening pools beneath my feet
Raindrops dripping down from the eaves
Tear drops slipping off shining leaves

After the rain comes a fresh dawn
After the rain new hope is born
After the rain has touched my soul
After the rain I shall be whole!

~ Valerie Dohren

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Transition to warmth ...

Transition to warmth ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

An early morning scene at Dal lake, Kashmir.

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Maybe some sun will do me good!

Maybe some sun will do me good!, originally uploaded by £$þ.

If not a lot, a bit of Sun will certainly help adding a dash of excitement to the dullness of monsoons ...

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Blurred Reality!

Blurred Reality!, originally uploaded by £$þ.

Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.
~ Mahatma Gandhi

Today is International Justice Day, to recognize the emerging system of international criminal justice. On this day it feels bad to say that our society is just becoming money minded and more corrupt by the day. The very money we spend has the words "Satyameva Jayate" inscribed on it, which means "Truth Alone Triumphs"! But hardly anyone seems to give any thought about it before putting all their wrong efforts to fetch it in the wrong way. Hope our governing system and the society becomes corrupt free some day!

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Divine Bliss ..

Divine Bliss .., originally uploaded by £$þ.

The mind is everything. What you think you become.
~ Buddha

Luckily came across this wonderful scene around the sunset time yesterday. Sun hiding behind the clouds cast this wonderful slant rays on Buddha which was perfect for creating this photograph!

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Life's a journey, not a destination!

Life's a journey, not a destination!, originally uploaded by £$þ.

Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
~ Lao Tzu

Taken during my trek to Goecha La in Sikkim, India.

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Ramadan Mubarak!

Ramadan Mubarak!, originally uploaded by £$þ.

In this holy month of Ramadan, may you be blessed with good health and prosperity!

May the spirit of Ramadan illuminate the world and show us the way to peace and harmony!

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Kanchendzonga Sunrise

Kanchendzonga Sunrise, originally uploaded by £$þ.

View of Kanchendzonga (highest peak of Indian subcontinent) and the neighbouring peaks, just when the sun appeared from behind the mountains. The soft morning light gorgeously lit the peaks and valley with golden yellow color.

This is a panoramic image taken from the summit of Dzongri, Sikkim, India.

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Peaceful end of day!

Peaceful end of day!, originally uploaded by £$þ.

It is a pleasure sipping a hot cup of coffee (referred locally as Kaapi) and watching the sun go down slowly! A not-so-fast and peaceful town life experience!

Rock Fort Tank, Tiruchirapalli, India.

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Architectural Splendor ..

Architectural Splendor .., originally uploaded by £$þ.

Thousand pillars, each with unique and grand architectural work bringing out the signature skills of the craftsmen and the rich heritage of this state! Did you notice how the piercing sword is skilfully crafted there?!

Srirangam Temple, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu

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Dusk View!

Dusk View!, originally uploaded by £$þ.

Evening view of the main temple tower (Rajagopuram) of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam, from my terrace.

More info about this famous temple here.

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A sad empty pot ...

A sad empty pot ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

From my childhood days, always remembered river cauvery (pronounced as Kaveri) to be overflowing with water. After all, it is the longest perennial river of the state! Today it looks so dry with no speck of water anywhere in its huge stretch of flow in Tiruchirapalli city. It looks so sad like this empty pot with no water to offer to the thirsty!

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Slopes of Sonmarg ...

Slopes of Sonmarg ..., originally uploaded by £$þ.

A horse quietly grazing the meadow on a pleasant sunny day at Sonmarg, Kashmir, India.

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