The Enchanting Royal Cenotaphs in Bundi, Rajasthan are located besides a Lotus Lake and surrounded by the Ancient Aravalli Hills.
The Pictures remind me of movies Like India Jones, Tomb Raider and blogs on Angkor Vat.
The Era of Kings and Queens is over, yet these lovely Structures now run over by Nature remind me of an Era long gone by, when they Ruled this very Land under which they lie in Eternal Slumber.
Forgotten and hidden among trees
The Leaves have fallen from the naked trees and turned to dust along with The Maharajas ( Kings) and Maharanis ( Queens) whose ashes lie beneath these lofty Cenotaphs, called Chattris ( literal translation is an Umbrella) in Hindi.
Ancient trees mask the Royal Cenotaphs
Details like the procession of Elephants in stone carved at the based of the Chattrisand the Beautiful Natural Surroundings accentuate the beauty of this relatively unknown region of Rajasthan.
Previous blogs like RIP PRETTY ONE, THE HAUNTED and TRANQUILITY have somehow compelled my subconscious Brain to unveil these ROYAL CHAMBERS of Everlasting Peace.
Hear the Stories of Rajas and Maharajas ( Kings and Emperors) of a Time now long gone by, Once Upon a Time ….
The Forest have covered the Tracks of TimeTrees Upholding the Times Gone ByEven the Mighty Trees are Felled by Time
The StoryTeller is taking a Break and and will return with all the Tales of the Royalty of Rajasthan. Till then be Enchanted by the Trees in the Forests.
I was Inspired , nay compelled, to post these pictures in response to a website posted by a fellow blogger.
The post had River Banks made of concrete and I remember seeing similar landscaped River Fronts in many countries across the world.
All the pictures are of the River Chambal which flows through Central India.
The Reeds are home to numerous waterbirds which hide from Predators in the bushes.
GREEN RIVER BANKS
Sunrays bounce of the surface of the River Chambal and make Natural Rocks and Cliffs Shimmer.
DANCING LIGHTS
Kingfishers (Hint: the blue spot) , Large Egrets and Comorants find a home amongst Rocks and Natural Grass.
SPOT THE KINGFISHER
Can there be a more Enchanting River Bank ? Landscapers let the Urban Water Fronts not be Sealed in walls of Concrete , Robbing millions of their Natural Habitat.
To Fathom and soak in the Majestic Landscape of the Great Canyons of India formed by the River Chambal over Time Immemorial travel with me on a Boat and View the following posts: “Cursed yet Enchanting River”, “Great Canyons of India”, “White as Snow”, “Ghost Tree” and “Blue-Eyed Comorants”.
Tree of Poop
An Enchanting View reminds of a movie titled “The Lost World “. Watch out for Gigantic Dinosaurs.
To see some of the inhabitants of these Glorious Rocky Ravines and Cliffs, do read previous blogs titled ;“Coupled for Life”, “Salt and Pepper”,Egyptian Roost”, “On the Rocks” and “Over the Cliff”.
Spectacular Lost World
The glorious cobalt blue waters of the River Chambal provide a fabulous foreground to the mesmerizing landscape viewed from the Blue Boat.
Setting out to discover the Wonders of Nature
Relax, Soak in the Sun and Enjoy an Enchanting Ride through the spectacular Canyons of the Chambal in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Central India.
Enchanting Entanglements in a Dense Forest in the Heart Of India.
Dense Deciduous Forest
Leafless Branches and Twigs create twists and turns in this Forest in the terrain of the Cursed River Chambal.
Enchanting Entaglement
Flames of the Forest add a tinge of colour to a Brown Deciduous Forest.
Spot the Flames of the Forest
The Featured image is of the Gorgeous Flowering tree” Flame of the Forest” or Palash ( do check a previous blog by the same title to know about this lovely Flowering Tree) .
The River Chambal was cursed by a Lady Born from The Flames of A Fire ( Yagnaseni or Draupadi from the Epic Mahabharatha) . That is only one of the numerous fablesand myths that hover over the Enchanting Terrain through which the river traverses.
A sharp eye will enable you to discern THE GHOST TREE in the picture below .
Eerie Habitat
Bhutia ( Marathi), The Ghost Tree ( English),Gum Karaya, Sterculia urens ( Scientific name)is a deciduous Tree native to India.
All the leaves have been shed by The Indian Gum Tree revealing the pale White Bark which lends it the name Bhutia or GHOST TREE.
The Ghost Tree on the Rocks
This Ghostly looking tree is however extremely Useful not only to the Langurs that can be seen in the picture below, but also to Humans as they are the source of the much sought after “Gum Karaya”.
Even Ghost Trees are Home to Langurs
“Gum Karaya” is the natural alternative to Viagra and has a formidable reputation as an Aphrodisiac.
Be Enchanted and do read earlier posts titled RIVER CURSED YET ENCHANTING and OVER THE CLIFF.
The Eastern Great Egret ( English), Bagula( Hindi), Ardea alba modesta ( Scientific Name) is the Ultimate in Patience.
Am sharing pictures of this Large Gorgeous All in White Bird spotted along the Banks and Rocky Canyons of the Chambal River ( Do read previous posts titled RIVER CURSED YET ENCHANTED, OVER THE CLIFF, EGYPTIAN ROOST etc to know more about the region )
Patiently waiting amongst the Greens
The Large Egret and a bottle of beer. Do observe the Colour of the Beak is Black as opposed to Yellow in the pictures above.
Have written extensively on The Chambal River Basin, which flows in Central India and is home to many Unique and Interesting Species of Flora and Fauna.
Have shared some pictures and information in previous Posts like “TROPHIES”, “RIVER CURSED YET ENCHANTED“, OVER THE CLIFF, BLUE-EYED CORMORANTS etc. which would have already given you a glimpse of the Terrain and the Inhabitants.
The picture below is of an Unusual White Tree on the banks of the Clear Blue Waters of the River Chambal.
Initially I thought White blossoms had covered the branches of this Lovely Tree.
White Tree, Grey Heron
However on a closer look , I realized the Leaves were Coated White.
After some investigations I was informed the tree is not naturally WHITE AS SNOW but covered with the Poop of Indian Cormorants.( do read BLUE-EYED CORMORANTS to know about these Water Birds) .
I wonder if the solitary Sedate Grey Heron (English), Ardea cinerea ( Scientific name) is aware that the Tree above is Laden with Poop.
Under the Tree
The picture below is a reminder of the Gregarious habits of the Indian Cormorants who flock together in vast Numbers.
Gregarious Indian Cormorants
What is amazing is the fact that though the Indian Cormorants or Indian Shags as they are also called made many Trees their Roost, I spotted only One Tree which was covered in Poop and was WHITE AS SNOW.
When you travel through India and see the Beautiful and Majestic Palaces and Forts you will also see countless “Stuffed Animals” which were heartlessly Hunted to decorate these Royal abodes.
Many species like the Asiatic Cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus ventaticus) have been driven to extinction in India, whereas some species like Tigers are now restricted to Wildlife Parks and Sanctuaries.
Stuffed Heads of Animals are mounted onto wooden boards ,as is the Head of the Gaur ( English) , Bos gaurus ( Scientific Name) in the picture below, and are called “TROPHIES”.
These “Trophies” are then proudly displayed in the abodes of esrtwhile Maharajas and Kings symbolizing the valour of their Forefathers.
INDIAN BISON
The Featured Photograph has Mounted Heads of the Graceful and Majestic Deer “Bara Singhas” ( that with 12 horns) , Swamp Deer ( English), Rucervus duvaucelli ( Scientific Name) which is now constricted to the Terrai region ( Dudhwa Wildlife sanctuary) , a spot in Central India( Kanha Wildlife Sanctuary) and Assam( Kazhiranga ) . This Unique Deer once roamed across the entire Indian Subcontinent but is now extinct in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Indian or Asiatic Lion ( English). Panthera leo persica ( Scientific name) can today be found ONLY in the Gir Sanctuary in Gujarat, India. The Indian Lion is still Endangered and was on the verge of Extinction.
This Specimen is now in a Glass Box marked Number 26 and must survive on Grass.
Asiatic Lion in a Box
The River Monster , the Giant Devil Catfish (English), Goonch Fish, Bagarius yarrelli ( Scientific Name) also inhabits the fast flowing and deep waters of the Chambal River .
A Stuffed Indian Leopard ( Panthera pardus fusca) can be seen in the background in the picture below.
Fortunately both are neither Endangered or Extinct.
GOONCH Fish on the Table as a Leopard looks On
While Smoking did not Kill the Gharial ( English) , Gavialis gangeticus ( Scientific Name) in the picture below, hunting for “Trophies” surely has driven them to be Critically Endangered.
The Gharial is a unique fish eating crocodile which is Native to India and now found in the Wild in the Chambal River. ( please checkout earlier posts titled CURSED YET ENCHANTED RIVER , OVER THE CLIFF, EGYPTIAN ROOST and THE GREAT CANYON OF INDIA)
Gharial
If you are Enchanted by Trophies , skip going on Safaris as you may not find what you seek in Forests.
The Chambal River Basin is unusual and host to numerous Unique species of Flora and Fauna. ( do check out previous posts titled CURSED YET ENCHANTED RIVER and GREAT CANYONS OF INDIA )
The Blue-Eyed Indian Cormorant ( English) , Pan Kowwa ( Hindi), Phalacrocorax fuscicollis ( Scientific name) resides in large colonies as can be seen in the picture below.
Leafless Tree Covered by Indian Cormorants
Indian Cormorants can easily be confused with Lesser Cormorants , however the key distinguishing factor are their Blue Eyes.
Cormorants enjoy the Morning Sun
Indian Cormorants inhabit Inland water bodies like the Chambal River below, unlike the Greater Cormorants which are primarily seen on the Coasts of Oceans .
Casting a Shadow over the pristine Chambal River
The picture below shows up the difficulties faced by amateurs like me in Identifying Birds. The Juveniles vary to the adults as does the Breeding Plummage.
The key characteristics of the Little Cormorant( English), Microcarbo niger ( Scientific name) are exhibited by the Cormorant on the Left. It has black eyes and a brownish plumage and No Yellow Gular.( part near base of lower beak )
Curious look of a Juvenile Cormorant or the Lesser Cormorant ?
The Sun lights up the Rocky habitat of the Indian Shag or Indian Cormorant . They flight past the Rocky Ravines in search of Fish or a Mate.
In flight against the background of the Rocky Cliffs of the Vindhyas
The Indian Cormorants have no Oil Glands to waterproof their Feathers , unlike Ducks and thus stretch out their wings to Sun Dry them. ( do see the featured Image)
Blue Eyed Adult in non-breeding Plumage
Am sorry to have made this post so lengthy, however was fascinated by numerous features of this bird called “Sea Crow” by scientists and ” Paan Crow “ by natives in India as well. Enchanting is it not?
Enchanted Forests 