Kalpvriksh @ Noida Flowe Show 2010

Bonsai is the art of growing trees, or woody plants shaped as trees, in containers. Bonsai is sometimes confused with dwarfing, but dwarfing more accurately refers to researching and creating cultivars of plant material that are permanent, genetic miniatures of existing species. Bonsai does not require genetically dwarfed trees, but rather depends on growing small trees from regular stock and seeds. Bonsai uses cultivation techniques like pruning, root reduction, potting, defoliation, and grafting to produce small trees that mimic the shape and style of mature, full-sized trees. CLICK HERE for more details..

Camel Romance during Sunset @ Pushkar, Rajasthan, INDIA

Yellow Gladiolus ..

Gladiolus is a genus of perennial bulbous flowering plants in the iris family. Sometimes called the sword lily, the most widely-used English common name for these plants is simply gladiolus.

The genus is distributed in Mediterranean Europe, Asia, Tropical Africa and South Africa. However, the center of diversity of the genus is located in the Cape Floristic Region, where most species were discovered. As a matter of fact, 163 out of the 250 species of Gladiolus are from Southern Africa.

For more details CLICK HERE...

Every Night, Hundreds Celebrate their Indian Origin @ India

The India Gate is one of the largest war memorials in India. Situated in the heart of New Delhi, India Gate was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. It is a prominent landmark in Delhi and commemorates the members of the erstwhile British Indian Army who lost their lives fighting for the Indian Empire in World War I and the Afghan Wars. Originally, a Statue of King George V had stood under the now-vacant canopy in front of the India Gate, and was removed to Coronation Park with other statues. Following India's independence, India Gate became the site of the Indian Army's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, known as the Amar Jawan Jyoti.

(Courtesy: wikipedia)

Benches in front of Moti Mehal @ Red Fort, Old Dehi, India : There is a series of benches for tourists to see Lights & Sound show in the evening...

New Avtar of last photograph after some touch-ups

Flowers shot during Noida Flower Show 2010

Every year Flower Show is organized in Noida Stadium near Spice mall (Sector-21-A). Noida Authority organize this event and many organization showcase different varieties of Flower, plants, flower-creations etc. There are prizes for best three florists based on there presented creation/flower/plant in a particular category. I have seen people from villages came to flower with lot of flowers and other creations.

Sheesh Gumbad in the middle of Lodhi Garden (Shot during Scott Kelbey's Second-Annual Worldwide Photo Walk @ Lodhi Garden, New Delhi, INDIA)

As there is little architecture from these two periods remaining in India, Lodi Gardens is an important place of preservation. The tomb of Mohammed Shah is visible from the road and is the earliest structure in the gardens. The architecture is characterised by the octagonal chamber with stone chhajjas on the roof and guldastas on the corners.

Another tomb within the gardens is that of Sikander Lodi, which is similar to Mohammed Shah's tomb, though without the chhatris, it was built by his son Ibrahim Lodi in 1517, the last of Sultan of Delhi from Lodi dynasty, as he was defeated by Babur, First battle of Panipat in 1526, this laying the foundation of the Mughal Empire. His tomb is often mistaken to be the Sheesh Gumbad, and is actually situated in near the tehsil office in Panipat, close to the Dargah of Sufi saint Bu Ali Shah Qalandar. It is a simple rectangular structure on a high platform approached by a flight of steps. The tomb was renovated by the British, and an inscription mentioning Ibrahim Lodi’s defeat at the hands of Babur and the renovation was included in 1866...

Check out More at Wikipeida....

Lake inside Sultaanpur Birds Sanctuary

The park is a popular picnic spot for residents of New Delhi and the NCR (National Capital Region), especially during the winter migration months when thousands of birds visit here from across the globe. There are four watch towers (machans) located at different points, an education and interpretation center, a library, films, slides and binoculars for the benefit of bird lovers. A walk along the perimeter of the park takes up to two hours.

There is public parking, bathrooms, drinking water facilities and a children's park in the reserve. For those wishing to stay overnight, the park also has a well appointed guest house with all amenities

Sea Shells on a Beach @ Thailand

A wonderful shot by Bharat Sharma during his trip to Thailand.

A seashell is the common name for a hard, protective outer layer, a shell, or in some cases a "test", that was created by a sea creature, a marine organism. The shell is part of the body of a marine animal. In most cases a shell is an exoskeleton, usually that of an animal without a backbone, an invertebrate. Seashells are most often found on beaches.

Know more @ Wikipedia

Panchmarhi Lake @ Madhya Pradesh, INDIA

Panchmarhi Jheel is located a few kilometers away from the Panchmarhi main town. You can hire a Jeep to get there. Unlike the other popular lakes, this lake is completely uncommercialized. The only commercial activity being the selling of tickets for boat ride. The waters are silvery.

Roads in Rajasthan

Rajasthan has a lot to offer to the tourist. Heritage, culture, tradition, art, designs, food are a few of the items in the bouquet. Another great thing about Rajasthan is the wide, pot hole free roads. I recently travelled to Ajmer, Pushkar, Udaipur, and Chittaurgarh with my family and we did not come across bad roads even once, not even in the market places or the narrow streets of old Udaipur.

IPL Match @ Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi : MOBILE CLICK

This Stadium was originally a fortress built by Sultan Ferozshah Tughlaq to house his version of Delhi city called Ferozabad. A pristine polished sandstone pillar from the 3rd century B.C. rises from the palace's crumbling remains, one of many pillars left by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka; it was moved from Punjab and re-erected in its current location in 1356.

The Feroz Shah Kotla was established as a cricket ground in 1883. The first test match at this venue was played on November 10, 1948 when India took on the West Indies. Anil Kumble took 10 wickets in an inning on this ground in 1999, only the second time this feat has been achieved in test cricket. It is owned and operated by the DDCA (Delhi District Cricket Association). Since 2008 the stadium has been the home venue of the Delhi DareDevils of the Indian Premier League.

On 27th December 2009, an ODI match between India and Sri Lanka called off because pitch conditions were classed as unfit to host a match. The ICC is currently conducting an investigation, and a possible sanction could include the Feroz Shah Kotla being rejected as a venue for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

Green Leafy

Shades of White, Grey, and Black @ Bhedaghat, Madhaya Pradesh, INDIA

23 kms from Jabalpur, at Bhedaghat, the river Narmada has carved beautiful formation out of the marble rocks. People have managed to recognize familiar shapes out of these formations. Some of them being Shiv Parvati, Bull's head, Elephant's foot etc.

You can book a boat ride to look at these formations.

Moon Shining on the Dome of the Monsoon Palace @ Udaipur, Rajasthan , INDIA

Reflections on a glass table...

Shahi Snan @ Pushkar Ghats, Rajasthan, INDIA

Dalhousie Twon in Himachal Pradesh

Dalhousie is a entry for the ancient Chamba Hill State, which is a District of the state of Himachal Pradesh of India. This hilly region is a repository of ancient Hindu culture, art, temples, and handicrafts preserved under the longest-running single dynasty since the 6th century. Chamba is the hub of this culture. Chamba disctrict is home to the Gaddi and Gujjar tribes and has 84 ancient temples dating from the 7th–10th century AD.

Shiny Dew drops on Rose leaves in early morning @ Jim Corbett National Park

Snow Covered Hills at Solang Valley @ Manali, Himachal Pradesh

Touched Version of "Each flower is a soul blossoming out to nature...."

Each flower is a soul blossoming out to nature....

Safari to Corbett National Park @ Uttrakhand, INDIA

Ritz view @ Shimla after Sunset..

Jama Masjid in totally different colors with lots of birds around...

A couple of Northern Pintails. The one in the front is a male and the one at the back is the female. @ Delhi Zoo, INDIA

   

Black Crowned Crane @ Delhi Zoo

A Small water stream near my Home

180 Degree View from main Entry gate to Taj Mahal...

Man outside Hadimba Temple @ Manali: Waiting for tourists who want to have ride on Yak ...

Orange, Pink, Green. I am not sure whether these colors had any particular significance here.

Orange, Pink, Green. I am not sure whether these colors had any particular significance here.
Originally uploaded by Ripple (VJ)

Three Shrilankan dancers performing @ Kamani Auditorium, Delhi

Shot in very low light conditions and without tripod...

Small Bolts having larger impact for a long duration in past

Small Bolts having larger impact for a long duration in past
Originally uploaded by Ripple (VJ)

Water droplets on Floating Feather...

Water droplets on Feather
Originally uploaded by Ripple (VJ)

The Taj in Water

The Taj in Water
Originally uploaded by Ripple (VJ)