Good Travel Reads

An Evening With Ram Kumar

"kai mhantos...kuthe aahes" me vicharla

"sewri hun train board keli aahe. paach vaje paryant VT la pohochen" asa ek mahitpurvak vakya mitra mhanala

sandhya kaali sade paach la prince of wales museum madhe Ram Kumaranchi "Longing"navachi documentary dakhavli jaanar hoti...saade paach la museum chya baher bhetaycha tharla...me sadharan 5 vajta office hun nighalo...horniman circle la aslelya office hun Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) majhya saathi 10 mins walk..Mumbai cha haa bhaag jaanu kahi itihasani purna bheejlela...Asiatic Library...Horniman Circle...Bombay House...Bombay Stock Exchange...Kala Ghoda...ashya ek se ek aitihasik buildings aani locations...hya ashya itihasik imaaratinchya gallyan madhun aaj Ram Kumaran cha itihas baghayla jaat hoto...

barobar 5.15 la museum chya gate baher pohochlo...masta peki...paus jhalela...aani thoda thoda toh padat hi hota...sandhya kaal chi te vel...janu kahi ekdum perfect settingach hoti...Ram Kumaranchi documentary baghayla...me mitrala phone karnar eetkyat mala ëekde eekde" ashi haak aiku aali...valun pahila tar majha mitra, rahul inamdar, disla...kaali cotton chi half pant, black round-neck t-shirt...haatat laamb dandyachi kaali chhatri and pathivar american tourister chi bag...tee pan vishesh mhanje kalyach rangachi...janu kahi kalya rangashi majhya mitra cha jhalela chuupa kararach asel...abstract painting chi chatak hyanech mala lavli...aani hyach eka dhyasa madhun aamhi ramkumar chi film pahayla raja shivaji vastu sangrahalayat aalo hoto...

( abstract che ubharte sitare - Rahul Inamdar)

Lalit Kala Academy ni modern artists var commission kelelya documentaries madhali hi ek film hoti...screening chya dishene amhi gelo...Raja Shivaji Vastusangrahalaya chya garden chya ujwya bajula he auditorium aahe...auditorium chya dishene valaatach baher thevlelya chaha pannachya soyee ne manala ek ahladdayak anand jhala...pavsane gaar jhalelya tya mantarlelya vatavarnaat...garam samosya chi ubb kahi veglich hoti...tyatach samorcha museum cha hirwa gaar parisar tya vatavarnat chamatkarik vatat hota...

kadhi na sampava asa tya chaha cha shevatcha ghoat ghetla aani cup washing crates madhe thevun aamhi auditorium chya dishene nighalo...ek sadharan private screening saathi pure astil ashya pannas-saath khurchya audi madhe asatil...amhi ujwya bajula pudhun teesrya ranget basalo...suruvatila...evening host mhanun lalit academychya baieeni ek paach minitancha...ek intro talk dila...pudhe audi che lights madhyam jhale aani bhimsen jinchya aalapa madhe documentary la suruvat jhali...

samor screen var navvaditle na vatnare Ram Kumar canvas var chitra chi suruvat karat hote... "...these r just guidelines...brief structure of what i want to draw...but as the painting progress i may override them.." asa hey tyancha vakya ekach kshana madhe tyanchya shaili baddhal barach kahi bolun gela...pudhe Ram Kumarancha survati cha pravas, tyancha france madhe jhalela shikshan...teethlya samajik jeevannacha tyanchya chitrakale var jhalela prabhav...tyanchi hussain shi asaleli dosti...asa vidvid ghatnanni ranglela RKencha charitra pahayla milala...tasa avghya 40 mintachya chitrikarna madhe hya digghaj kalakar baddal sangne ke kathinach...pan tari hi documentary madhe tyanchya vyakmatwa che barech barkave tip nyacha prayatna kelela disla...tyancha te saadha rahana...usavlela...shirt...kadhi kaali ekdum fit asleli pan aata pattyachya sahayane basnari tyanchi ti pant...80s chi chasmya chi frame...hya saglyatna hya tapasvi mansacha darshan jhala...saadhi rahani uccha vichar...hyacha RK he agadi jwalant udhaharan...

   

(figurative shailitli RKenchi paintings. france madhe astanachya tyanchya ekate panacha prabhav hya chitranmadhun spashta disato. ranga suddha monochromatic aani thode faar dull aani industrial)

hya vayat hi...rangaan cha achuk mishran...brushcha alagat pan damdar rekhatna...he sagala kamalicha hota...pudhe RK ni aaplya varanasi chya prabhava baddal sangitla...figurative te abstract...ha pravass RK ni aaply varanasi chya vastavya nantar kela...varanasi chya aadhi...tyanchya paintings madhe france madhe rahilya mule tyanchya chitravar ek vegala asa industrial shaili cha prabhav hota...paintings genrally monochromatic hoti...pan varanasi ne matra hya chitrakarachi ranganshi khari saangad ghalun dili...varanasi chya ekandarit asalelya sanskrutik jeevannacha RK var jabardast prabhav jhala...teethe aslele...ghat...vesha vyavsay...ghat varil smashan bhoomi...mandira...varanasi chya gallya...market...ashya saglya vichar manthanatun RK encha abstractcha pravas suru jhala aani nantar te salag daha varsha fakta varanasi-themed titlesach kadhat hote...

(varanasi madhe rahtana RKenna bharatiya sanskrutiche vividh ranga jawalun pahayla milale...teethlya anubhavane janu tyanna ranganchi navi olakh karun dili...abstract shailitil ranganchi udhalan asaleli hi RKenchi taieela chitra (oil paintings))

pudhe eka prasna madhe filmmaker ne RKenna tumchi style kai asa vicharla asta RK mhanale "i dont go for any particular style...or colours...painting is continuous process...one painting leads to the next one...its all about finding YOURSELF" asa mhanta-mhanta audi che lights ujaal jhale aaani bhimsenjinchya tya awaazat aamhi RKenchya duniye tun baher aalo...

audi madhun baher padtana RKenchya tya vakkyane...documentary cha naav "Longing" ka aahe he samjavun dila..."its all about how much you long to find YOURSELF"

SPACE

"give urself some space
to gather some pace
to ace thru the race....

Seasons Greetings

Hello Friends,

Wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year...2015!!!

habbit of

getting out of bed in the morning...

well a typical scene goes like this...u've got to wake at 5.30 am in the morning...you set alarm of 5.25...and when the alarm goes on u hit the snooze button thinking that "darn! the alarm...arh its 5.30 already...let me catch a wink for another two mins" and u doze of again...but we all know whats the next scene is "goddddd!!!! its 7 o'clock !!!!"

;-P ;-P

i am sure we all have gone thru this umpteen number of times...but it keeps on happng again n again n again...so whats the cure...well here is what i've beeing doing off late...

when the alarm goes off and there is that temptation to go back to sleep for next two minutes...this is what i say to myself..."budz...if the last five and half-six hours couldnt give you a good sleep then what the next two minutes are going to do...so better get of the bed and get running..." and there i am off the bed...brushing my teeth in front of the mirror...

u might say does that work...well so far so good...off to bed... good night ZZZZZZZZZZ


p.s: let me know if this works for you...would like to hear from you in the comments section

Udaipur Diaries - IV

Kumbhalgarh Fort

one of the most humongous, imposing and huge fort complex i've ever seen...where do i begin...it was one of the most auspicious day in Hindu calendar - Maha Shivratri - the day of Lord Shiva...and i had my eyes set on visiting Kumbhalgarh, 86 kms from Udaipur. An enquiry, two days before, at Roadways Information Center had equipped me with the information that bus to Kumbhalgarh was at 8.15 in the morning. well that meant an alarm of 5.30 in the morning. it was still dark and i was up on my feet heading for my sadhana on breezy terrace.
Done with my sadhana and morning rituals, I was all set for the day ahead. To go to Kumbhalgarh, one has to take roadways bus till Kelwara and from there a 6 km cab ride up to the citadel.

Reaching Fort :

After a three and half hours of bus ride, where one comes face-to-face with the countryside of Rajasthan, i reached Kelwara. Longing for that first sight of the Fort, I searched for the taxi stand. After teaming up with two other travellers, we were on our way up the hill to reach the fort. Three kms down the ride and we had our first sighting of the magnanimous Fort, which has stood like faithful custodian safe-gaurding the history of Rajputs for hundreds of years.

First Glimpse

Standing tall against the blue backdrop of sunny sky, the fort was a shining example of the rich cultural heritage left by the great Rajputana Rulers. The Fort not only the symbol of unrelentless, strong will of the Rajput's fight against the Mughal onslaught but also the grand vision they had for their kingdom.

Fort Complex:

The fort is surrounded by 36 km long boundary which can be called as India's Chinese Wall. Built as the protection wall, it also has gates to enter the Fort complex. As you make entry through one the main entrance gates, Vijay Pol (pol - gate), you come across colossal out wall of the Fort built along with massive circular bastions. The sight is over-whelming and the enormity of the rotund bastions just engulfs you.

Gigantic rotund Bastions of the Outer wall.
One can also see the part of 36 km long periphery wall at the bottom of the photograph.

History:
Attributed to Rana Kumbha, this fort was built between 1443-1458 AD under supervision of famous architect Mandan. It is believed that the fort was built over the remains of earlier structure associated to Jaina Prince Samprati of the second century B.C. The palatial complex at the top of the Fort is approached through Aaret Pol, Nimboo Pol, Paghra Pol. The complex also have ancient Jain and Hindu Temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishnu, Jain Tirthankars and other miniatur shrines.
Other important buildings inside the complex are birth place of Maharana Pratap, Ruins of Kumbha palace, Badal Palace, Royal Chhatris, and water reservoirs. Badal Mahal is one of the most important and attractive building built by Rana Fateh Singh.

Pictorial tour of Fort Complex:

Palatial bastion rising into blue sky

Top view of the bastion wall , temples and shrines inside the Fort Complex

Beautifully carved chamber of Hawa Mahal

View of chinese wall from the Fort

Chamunda Maa Temple near the Kumbha Palace

Complex view from Kumbha palace

View from Kumbha palace

Ruins of Kumbha Palace

Courtyard of Kumbha Palace

Backside view of Hawa Mahal

Picturesque Palatial Complex

Guardians of the Fort

Return Journey:

Though physically demanding, as one has to climb up and down to go through various building complexes, the one and half hour spent trekking and meandering, through the complex, was worth every moment spent inside the fort. As I walked back to taxi, I turned my head back for one last glimpse of the gentle giant -  KUMBHALGARH.

As we reached the taxi stand at foothills, the fort was nowhere in sight but what was were the memories firmly etched in mind for the lifetime.

After a sumptous luncheon at near hotel, I was on my way back to Udaipur. It was one of most fulfilling and satisfying experience of my trip.

Udaipur Diaries - III (contd...)

City Palace, Udaipur

As you enter the City Palace, the guided tour of Palace museum begins. One can either hire a local guide, if you are interested in hearing out stories and nuances behind each part of fort, or you can take audio guide, which is an audio instrument that comes along with headphones and guides you through the palace. Apart from this the Palace Authorities have placed ample pointers and description throughout the museum so that all the tourists have a informative walk through the Palace.

Tour of the Palace :

Weaponry Room :

Array of arms impeccably mounted on wall

Hand weapons : Swords and Shield

Royal Symbol of Shining Sun capturing essence of 

Suryavanshi Lineage of House of Mewar

Gun Cartridges

Amar Vilas: Amar Vilas is highest point in palace and has wonderful hanging gardens with terraces, fountains.

Fountain area

Intricately carved terrace Corridor

View of Udaipur - The White City (rightly so)

Sheesh Mahal and Library Room : 

Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) - Mirror work is simply awe-inspiring
and is glimpse of artistic finesse of the by-gone era

Door and Walls depicting chinese art form

The Library room has fine wall frescoes depicting stories and characters from various Hindu mythological scriptures. What amazes is the detailing that has gone into the paintings with minutest of minute detail captured into the painting, whether expressions on the face of the characters or weapons held by the deities, everything is painted with precision to the last brush stroke.

Lord Brahma

Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati

Goddess Durga

Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi

Lord Ganesha

Local deity

Lord Eklingji - the presiding deity of Udaipur

White City

Chinese art form depicting King and his ministers

Chinese art form on ceiling

Open air terrace adjoining the Sheesh Mahal

Serene view of Jag Niwas(now Hotel Lake Palace, Taj)
from one of the terraces of City Palace

Mor Mahal (Peacock Palace) : Peacock palace is part of Zenana Mahal and has peacock designs on the walls which are entirely made from colourful glass pieces.

Art work in Mor Mahal is more delicate given the fact that it is in Ladies Chamber

Fine art work made out of glass pieces

Courtyard of Mor Mahal with peacock designs on walls

Each feather is made of thin finely cut glass thread
(just zoom and see it for yourself)

Delicately carved door with floral glass work border

 I hope you enjoyed the pictorial journey of City Palace. But believe me this not even half of what the beautiful City Palace offers. (infact i ran out of mobile battery and couldnt click any further :-P ) There's history in every stone of the Palace enough to fill out volumes. Mewar Paintings gallery, silverware museum, music gallery and on and on and on.

The City Palace visit is soul enriching and immerses you in the rich cultural heritage of Mewar. Fills you with sense of pride and you walk out with feeling of wanting more of it...