SKYWATCH FRIDAY - SOUTH BOMBAY HERITAGE WALK



Photo Travelogue :


The south bombay region was previously called 'fort' as it was fortified by walls and only the british colonials had access to ( pre-independence ). The place was accessed only by the port situated in it ( near gateway of india ), and, locals were barred from entering ( in the past ). It has many british era monuments that still stands today. A trip to south bombay feels like visting some european country ( sans the crowd ), because of its typical gothic, victorian and indo-saracenic style buildings and structures that have stood for centuries now. Its intriguing how new concrete structures barely last 40 odd years, while these impressive structures have stood the test of time - such engineering and architectural marvels that they are. They are part of our heritage and is a must visit while in bombay to understand the history and colonial past. While we may condemn the british colonists, we have to acknowledge their valuable contribution in various fields and infrastructure. Of course, when they built these monuments, they had no intention to leave India; but as fate would have it - the freedom struggle and the World Wars did make them leave in the end with the amazing contributions landing in our laps ready-made. I was recently in South Bombay for an event, and could not help but stroll around admiring these structures. It was truly a walk into history.
SOUTH BOMBAY HERITAGE WALK
maharashtra police headquarters building...

SOUTH BOMBAY HERITAGE WALK
david sasoon library...

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street art on display outside jehangir art gallery...


bombay university building...

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another ancient giant standing tall behind that busy signal...

Bombay / Mumbai had over 591 heritage structures registered as of 2012. These include buildings, archaeological sites, colonial, industrial, domestic, architectural sites and public spaces. Most of them were built in the british era and are situated in the fort area of south bombay and are still in use in various capacities. The famous ones are - Gateway of India, David Sassoon Library and Army & Navy Building, Kenneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue, Taj Mahal Palace, Rajabhai Clock Tower, Oriental Building, Royal Bombay Yacht Club, Crawford Market, Victorian style HSBC Building, St Thomas Cathedral, VT or Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, University of Mumbai, Mumbai Corporation Building, Bombay High Court, Wadia Clock Tower, Wesley Church, Prince of Wales Museum , Maharashtra Police Headquarters, Flora Fountain and many more. Don't forget to take the 'heritage walk' in south Bombay if you're in the city to experience the impressive colonial past and legacy :-)

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Address : Fort, South Bombay, Maharashtra.
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BEAUTIFUL SAHYADRIS IN MONSOON - INDIAS OWN GRAND CANYON - A UNESCO HERITAGE SITE


Photo Travelogue :


I have distinct memories of my many train travels ( during college vacations ) to and fro my native city and then Bombay ( now Mumbai ). I'd wait eagerly for the particular 'stretch' when the train would zoom through various tunnels on entering Maharashtra, especially, just after Nashik and before entering Bombay. That'd be the most thrilling part of the otherwise quite tiring journey of almost three days. It was much later, that I actually visited those hills above ~ that housed those long rail-tunnels ( architectural marvels of the british times ) - Sahyadri range as I came to know them. Its basically the towering Western Ghats ( older than the Himalayas ) that run almost 1600km via couple of states from north to south parallel to the western coastline of Indian peninsula. These mountains, as I discovered, are a treasure trove of multiple ghats, ancient trade routes ( between the sea/ konkan and upper deccan regions ), rivers ( godavari, krishna and more ), waterfalls ( thousands ), jaw-dropping cliffs, pinnacles, dense forests, ancient temples, buddhist caves, maratha forts, ruins, ravines, valleys, gorges, fogs, clouds, canyons, rainbows, flowers, grasses, wildlife, birds - anything and everything that can be called beautiful, adventurous as well as having lots of thrills. Its a biodiversity hotspot and paradise for nature lovers, trekkers, rock climbers and yes, even honey-mooners who throng those picturesque locations of Lonavla, Matheran, Mahabaleshwar and many more. In my stay in Bombay, over the years, I have made it a point to visit every nook and corner of the mesmerising Sahyadris. I have visited many places like Malshej Ghats, Kasara Ghats, Igatpuri, Trimbak, Sinhagad, Matheran, Lonavla, Khandala, Khopoli and many more...with yet plenty more waiting to be discovered hopefully soon :-)

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stunning, rugged hilly terrain of volcanic origins - sahyadris is mysterious and beautiful in real - pictures don't do justice...

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although the highest peak of the entire range is in kerala ( anamudi ), maharashtra boasts is own mt.everest called Kalsubai at 5400 ft, in its portion of the sahyadri...its a popular trekking spot...

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sahyadris in maharashtra is home to over 400 historical forts, mostly made famous by chatrapati shivaji maharaj...

the marathas used these forts as watch towers, in trade and defence and in various guerilla warfare with the mughals and british...they proved to be perfect in giving them edge over the enemy as neither british or mughals were adapt in all these rock climbing activities which the marathas were a pro at. Finally, after lots of fierce battles the British destroyed steps of many of these impressive hilltop forts, so that the marathas couldnot use them again. Its fascinating to go through their incrediable archtectual feat in current times and wonder really how on earth they managed to construct such monuments at top of such hair raising cliffs.
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wind, rain and natural elements like erosion has carved the rocks to perfection...


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These range blocks the monsoon from going eastwards, thus, has plenty of rainfal in its western parts while rains are scarce in the eastern part of it - called deccan plateau. The reservoirs and catchments areas provided by the Sahyadri's massive 'rain-shadow' forests is most crucial to almost all the major cities in the region like Bombay, Pune, Nashik etc for their water needs. From June to early Sept, the golden hills become blue-green filled with foliage; and the winter months, it becomes golden again as the tall grasses that appeared during monsoon dries up giving off a golden glow in the hills.

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asia's 2nd largest and deepest ( and darkest ) valley with practically no sun-light penetrating - the sandhan valley...

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the 4761 ft plunging deep konkankada...a giant concave cliff with a vertical drop and reverse waterfall...


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mountain roads...

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plentiful meandering ghat sections with hair-pin curves...

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fog laden twisting ghat roads...

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incredible technology and jawdropping engineering...the konkan railways...



waterfalls galore - sahyadris is home to thousands of waterfalls that come alive especially during monsoons...
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simply wow...

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greener than green...the mesmerising 1200 ft multi-tiered kalu waterfall located in deep lush forest...

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While quarrying, mining and other construction activities in the name of 'development' has threatened the fragile eco-system of the Sahyadris, its essential to preserve the heritage by all for all the benefits it provides, as well as the 'dramatic' visual pleasures. Also, there's an urgent need not to litter the beautiful mountains and keep them gorgeous as they are.

The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri, is a mountain range that stretches 1,600 km along the western coast of the Indian peninsula. Covering an area of 160,000 km², it traverses the Indian states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu ( wiki ).
Address : Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu
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( Images - Google - respective owners & ©Mine. )
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LANDSLIDES SPOTS ON GARHWAL HILLS


Photo Travelogue :


If you've read the headline, by now, you might have guessed already what its all about. If not, just go through the pictures below. Mountains are beautiful. But, mountains are dangerous too. Come monsoon, and they become deadly. But, to be honest - most of it is man-made. These disasters, often always happen around nearby the roads that have been cut on edges of the mountains to make way. And the Himalayan hills being the youngest of all hills, it's soil is most fragile and loose. So, when it rains we start seeing those 'breaking news' of landslides everywhere. Its tragic, but, inevitable.


top, we see nature's endless beauty; bottom - and we see - nature's fickleneness...


boulder walls constructed at the base doesnot stop the rubbles from falling up there...


sometimes, entire portion of the road just collapses and vanishes...


narrow 'unpredctable' lifeline for those living up there...


mountains are no doubt beautiful, but, these sad and scary sights are also a glaring part of it...


silence... before all hell breaks loose?


leftovers piled up from the last tragedy...


can a man-made wall withstand the forces of nature?


doesn't seem so...


Till man keeps cutting or drilling those hills to make roads, unplanned and haphazard urbanization, deep unchallenged mining activities in the hills, relentless traffic vibrations from people going up the hills in their vehicles - there's no stopping landlisdes from happening. Most of these landslides are not natural ( very few infact ). Although there can be natural causes too eg. water, erosion, slope angle, rock type, jointing and orientation of bedding planes, arrangement of the rock layers, weathering processes, vegetation or lack of, volcanoes and earthquake activities etc. As monsoon arrives yet again its time to become ever aware! Don't rush to trample on these fragile hills recklessly and instead spread awareness and be cautious.

Address : Garhwal, UK, Outer or Lesser Himalayas
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