Bhimbetika caves

 Visited the Bhimbetika caves .These are  the earliest evidence of human settlement in the Indian subcontinent and are about forty five kilo meters from Bhopal. Here we can see the first evidence of humans and their art and culture as they move from hunting and gathering to agriculturalist. Standing near the caves  one can almost connect to the past and imagine the life of these ancestors some thousands of years back and see  how we have progressed as a civilization.The Bhimbetka Rock Shelter has the oldest-known rock art in India, as well as is one of the largest prehistoric complexes to be seen. An archaeological treasure, Bhimbetka has around 243 rock shelters and have earned the honour of UNESCO World Heritage Site. In its bid to rewrite the colonial history from an Indian perspective, the Sangh Parivar has turned to archaeologists like Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar, who had discovered the Bhimbetka caves.

 

 

Udaygiri caves

 Udaygiri caves are about sixty miles from Bhopal near Vidhisa and are on the banks of Betwa River and Bes River. Ashoka's wife belonged to this region. These caves, made of a single rock are dated around fourth to  fifth century A. D. and are one of the earliest example of iconography in India. One can see beautiful sculptures of Vishnu, his avatars all carved out of a single piece of rock. It was an amazing experience seeing all  this rich  cultural heritage of our country.

The Great Stupa at Sanchi

 

Visited this Stupa on 1st April, 2018. The Great Stupa at Sanchi is one of the oldest stone structures in India, and an important monument of Indian Architecture. It was originally commissioned by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka the Great in the 3rd century BCE. Its nucleus was a simple hemispherical brick structure built over the relics of the Buddha. is about forty six kilo meters from Bhopal. It has some amazing sculptures depicting the scenes from the life of Buddha. It is built on a flat-topped sandstone hill that rises some 300 feet (90 metres) above the surrounding country stands India's best-preserved group of Buddhist monuments, collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1989. The most noteworthy of the structures is the Great Stupa (stupa no. 1), discovered in 1818. A large number of Buddhist tourists from Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal could be seen at the site.

 

The lord of the Rings tour

 The lord of the Rings tour which we had on 28th Novemeber, 2017, was  a great tour and we could go and see the places where the film is shot. I have not seen any of these three films but I know for sure that my children loved all  the three film. We had a lovely tour guide who just takes a small group of six people in a personalised tour and had so much information on the film. She told us about how the film was shot, how they got extras, how the leaves were painted golden by school children and many of her friends who did small roles in the film. Glenorchy is a small sleepy town of about 300 residents, but at its base is the lake  and the awe inspiring Mount Aspiring world heritage area where Middle earth of the film came to life. We saw the Hobbit locations, Loriarisen forests where many of the war scenes take place, the Misty mountains, paradise. The tour operator also carried the swords, the ring and other tid bit props of the film. Peter Jackson the Director is a New Zealanders and loves his country and showed its natural beauty. He had shot all the three sequences simultaneously and though today more than seventeen years have passed the films still appeals.  The Mount Earnshaw stood tall and imposing. We had awe inspiring and breath taking beauty of nature spread in front of us. Amazing tour and I have to go back and see all the three movies and relive this experience.

Cruising on lake Wakatipu

 Cruising lake Wakatipu on a Twin Screw Steamer Earnshaw, which is now more than hundred years old, ship known as Lady of the lake. Constructed in 1912 it was earlier a cargo ship but now a passenger ship. Amazing sights . Also saw a sheep being sheared. Lovely flowers at Walter Peak. The house at Walter Peak was constructed in 1902 and is beautiful.