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Showing posts from June, 2016

Hampi Stone Chariot(Kallina Ratha)

History The Hampi "Stone Chariot" in kannada known as "Kallina Ratha". This is often referred as the flagship of tourist attraction of Hampi. As the name suggests,this is not a chariot ;  it is a shrine built like a chariot. An image of Garuda was originally enshrined within its sanctum, Garuda accordingly to the Hindu mythology,is the vehicle of Lord Vishnu. There was even a dome like superstructure over the Hampi stone chariot. That too is missing now. We can see them on the first ever photographs of Hampi taken in 1856 by Alexander Greenlaw. This stone chariot is located inside the Vittala temple campus,that is situated in the north eastern part of Hampi. The striking chariot is considered to be the most fascinating sculptural achievement of the vijayanagara era. The stone chariot at Hampi is one of the three famous stone chariots in India. The two chariots are situated in Konark(Odissa) and Mahabalipuram(Tamil Nadu). This ancient structure was built in the 16th

Colourful Orchid(Aerides Maculosa)

Aerides maculosa is a species of orchid endemic to India. The "maculosa" means "spotted",as the colored spots on the tepals. These flowers are moderately perfumed. These flowers petals are with dark pink spots. The family of this Orchid is Orchidaceae. May-August is the flowering and fruiting time of this orchid. The altitude is upto 1400mts. Fox brush orchid is a dwarf orchid species with crystalline pink, spotted magenta, fragrant flowers to 2cm. The spikes are arching to pendulous to about 25cm long with many flowers. They occur mainly in Asia : the Indian subcontinent, Nepal, Southern China, SE Asia, the Philippines, New Guinea. The leaves grow distichously(in two vertical rows). The leaf margins are bilobed and  the apex is emarginate. Scientific Classification: Common Name : Fox Brush Orchid, Cat's tail Orchid. Botanical Name : The botanical name of this orchid is Aerides maculosa. Kingdom : Plantae is the kingdom of Orchid A.Maculosa. Order : Asparagales.

Colorful Orchid(Aerides Crispa)

One of the colorful Orchid Aerides Crispa is a species of epiphytic orchid native to western India. The family of this   orchid is Orchidaceae. The altitude of this orchid is from 300mts to 1600mts. These orchids are endemic to W.Ghats in India, Srilanka & Myanmar. These orchids are common, flowering and fruiting is from May - June. These Orchids are alluringly fragnant. Vandeae is the tribe of this colorful Orchid Curled Aerides is an epiphytic orchid found in SW India at elevations of 800-1200m. It has a thick dull violet purple stem carrying spreading, thick leathery pale green leaves dull-violet purple basally. Leaves are strap shaped, bilobed unequally at the tip with a small tip between the lobes. Inflorescence is a 40-50cm long, erect to arching, branched 20 to 25 flowered cluster, carrying fragrant flowers. Varieties of Aerides Crispa Aerides Crispa var  lindleyanum  is a "charming kind with a large branching spike, bearing blooms of a fine rich color about the same ti