My Article in a Local Newspaper

Moving Train

These 2 photographs have been taken while travelling on the train making a journey from Jammu to Pune. During the journey the route passes through a very beautiful area of Madhaya Pradesh & Maharashtra (the 2 states in Central India). I was sitting in my seat when I realized that the terrain has changed & we are passing from a very beautiful area. Immediately I grabbed my camera & went to the door of my compartment & leaned outside while standing on the doorwell with the train travelling at around 90 Kph. Well this is forbidden under the law but then people who have the fascination for photography would agree with me that we have to take chances & risks to click good photos. I had to avoid the Railway Protection Force Personnel as they are sometimes very rigid & don't allow the photography on the train.

This photo shows the close up of the engine & the driver’s compartment & most probably driver is sounding the horn (the way driver has his right hand, but I’m not sure).

Focal Length - 180 mm; f - f/4.8; Speed - 1/400 seconds; Exposure Compensation - +0.3 EV

This photo shows the engine from a bit far away, which is going all out with its might. One can see the smoke that has been released from the diesel engine. This particular track is still waiting for the electrification to be done.

Focal Length - 70 mm; f - f/9; Speed - 1/320 seconds; Exposure Compensation - 0 EV

India Gate

All India War Memorial

India Gate is constructed as a memorial and was built in the memory of 90,00 soldiers who laid down their lives during world war I. Located at Rajpath, India Gate is 42 m high and is popular relaxation area during the summer evenings. India Gate also act as popular pinic spot during winter. Also known as the All India War Memorial, India Gate was designed and constructed by Lutyens. He was the who is considered the chief proclaimer in designing the New Delhi plans.

Quick bytes
Location : New Delhi
Famous As : All India War Memorial
Designed By : Edwin Lutyens In 1921
Height : 42m

The Architectural Marvel.A tour of Lutyens’ Delhi just has to kick off with the stately India Gate at the east end of the broad Janpath (earlier Kingsway) that leads to the Rashtrapati Bhawan. 13,516 names are engraved on the arch and foundations form a separate memorial to the British and Indian soldiers killed on the North-West Frontier in the Afghan War of 1919. The foundation stone was laid by HRH the Duke of Connaught on 10th February, 1921 and the monument was dedicated to the nation 10 years later by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin.
Another memorial, Amar Jawan Jyoti was added much later after India had said goodbye to its imperial rulers. It is in the form of a flame that burns day and night under the arch to remind the nation of soldiers who perished in the Indo-Pakistan War of December 1971. It was dedicayed to the nation on 26th January 1972 by the then prime minister of India Smt. Indira Gandhi.
The entire arch stands on a low base of red Bharatpur stone and rises in stages to a huge cornice, beneath which are inscribed Imperial suns. Above on both sides is inscribed INDIA, flanked by MCM and to the right, XIX. The shallow domed bowl at the top was intended to be filled with burning oil on anniversaries but this is rarely done.

The Breathtaking View of India Gate Nowadays, if you drive down the smooth wide expanse of Rajpath on a midsummer night, you might be excused for assuming that a huge glittering carnival is in progress at India Gate. The entire boulevard up to the monument is lined with cars, scooters & motorcycles. The air is thick with chatter, laughter and the cries of assorted vendors peddling their wares. You can snack on anything from fruit chaat (fruit salad with hot, spicy dressing), through bhelpuri (a snack of puffed rice, spices and hot, sweet and sour chutney), chana jor garam (spicy chickpeas), dal ka pakodas (fried lentil-flour dumplings), potato chips to ice cream, candy floss and aerated drinks.

fotograph from the moving or should i say running train (rajdhani express - b'lore - delhi). many critics would say that in the foto there is flare. yes i do agree but i think that is what making this foto mystic. there is a sense of movement..........& the shepard making way back to home with his herd.

Train to Udhampur

It was one of those days when you make the decisions in the spurt of moment.
Dr. Manish Singh suggested that we make this day worthwhile & make a trip to Udhampur by train.
Udahmpur is a small town nestled amidst the trikuta hills in the state of J&K & is 56kms by train from jammu with journey taking 1 hr 40 min.
Govt. of India took a bold step in deciding to extend the railway line to udhampur & ultimately to the summer capital of the sate, Srinagar. I wrote bold because the track would pass from a very hostile terrain & would require world-class engineering.

(mountainous terrain - a lonely hut)

The train started chugging in 2005 & this was my first but not the last trip on this train. I got my beloved D70 from home in the anticipation of great shots during the trip but all plans were foiled by the RPF Personnel.
To believe what has already been written about the picturesque journey it is, one really has to make this 11/2 hrs trip. The change of topography is breath taking & amazing. From the concrete jungle it’s sudden onslaught of lush green mountains (being monsoons) & the river Tawi flowing right besides you almost through out the whole journey.

(lush green cover)

(river tawi)

(river tawi - upstream)

(Acharya Shree Chander College of Medical Sciences & Hospital)

We soon passed right below ASCOMS, the hospital & college & soon after shot this small waterfall.

We spent whole of the journey in the door well & it was worth doing so. My advice to a person who loves landscapes: - Make sure that you spend whole of journey in the door well only.
On reaching udhampur station we found that it is surrounded by mountains on all the sides that were at that moment covered with clouds, a breath taking view to hold in your mind forever.

Udhampur is not of very big importance but is of extremely important from strategic point of view. No details please, I could find myself behind bars.

Return journey was also spent in the door well.

Something about the Train:- It has two engines on both the ends working in synchronization to make the ascent of almost 330m from jammu to udhampur.

Dr. Manish Singh, Dr. Devinder Pal Singh & Yours truly made the journey on 8th August, 2006.

courtship

on my visit to ranganthettu (bird sanctuary) near bangalore. well the birds were cuddling and looked very pretty. shot at an aperture of f7.1 & exposure of 1/640 seconds.

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