Since this is a forum of people who love history, inscriptions, sculptures, art - a suggestion.
How about a trip to Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Andhrapradesh - covering the archeological wonders of these states? We will make a grand plan for 2006, 2007 - spreading the trip into 5 or more trips spread over these two years. Each trip could be of 1 week to 15 days even!
If advance planning and intimation is given, many members would be able to participate.
SB Sir, please give a thought and activate the group!
It is a good suggestion,if we go to Maharashtra,the must see places are Ajantha and Ellora.Ajantha and Ellora are amazing places.Most of the paintings in Ajantha are partially decayed(This was six years back when i visited). I don't know whether ASI is doing anything to digitize those paintings and conserve.
In my feelings,Ellora more or less resembles Mahabalipuram.Never know may be Pulikesin took the inspiration from Mammallapuram and could have built it.But it is real wonder.
> In my feelings,Ellora more or less resembles Mahabalipuram.Never > know may be Pulikesin took the inspiration from Mammallapuram and > could have built it.But it is real wonder.
Ellora is quite different from in the treatment and methodology - sometimes even richer. It was the work of rashtrakutas
For a striking similarity, compare mahamallapuram and badami caves + structural temples). The cave temples are sort of comparisons to m.puram but the structural temples are strikingly similar. Esp there is one structure which is quite same as the shore temple(s). This observation of mine is quite primitive by the way and awaits scholars confirmation.
And as you know badami temples are older than mahamallapuram - they were built by mangalesan the villan of pulikesin's life.
And one will be forced change the opinion of the villanic pulikesin after visiting badami.
And after razing badami to flames, narasimha retured - leaving all those beautiful sculptures intact and without inflicting slightest damage.
Compare this with the M.Kafur & associated invations of later times.
There is one company called Sun Tourism at Chennai. There is one guy Nagarajan 98408-34528 there. Theyo organize tour packages. They have tour packages for locations such as Ajanta etc., May be we can contact them. We are utilizing them for our company's next tour program.
I like to travel and see places - my interests may not "totally" match those of other members, but I am always ready, able and willing to join any trip along with my wife. In India or abroad.
right now I live in Bangalore whereas my wife lives in Singapore but we can always join a trip at a week's notice.