Images

Enjoy a visual delight  of historical images and the inscriptions below. - Dr. Sirish

"Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Suryakoti Samaprabhaa.
Nirvighnam Kurumedeva Sarvakaaryeshu Sarvadaa.."

2010 Ganesha Pandal @ Silver Oak
(Click on the image to enlarge)





Akshardham Temple, New Delhi. Recognised as the Largest Hindu Temple Complex in the World by the Guinness Book of World Records, this Swaminarayan Temple was built in the Medivial Style of Architecture, Made in Pink White Marble has 234 Ornately Carved Pillars, 9 Ornate Domes, 20 Quadrangle Shikhars. Image: Courtesy of Ritesh via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the image to enlarge.




  Beloeil Castle (Belgium) by night. Owned by the Princes de Ligne since the 14th century, is completely furnished and houses a rich collection of art objects from the 15th to the 19th century with its famous library with 20000 books. Image: Courtesy of Luc Viatour via Wikimedia Commons. Click onthe image to enlarge.

Angkor Wat is an ancient Hindu temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for the King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple work commissioned by King Suryavarman's son King Jayavarman II,  boasts elaborate carvings of Lord Vishnu laying on the serpent god Ananta, with his wife Lakshmi at his feet and a lotus flower proturdes from his navel bearing Lord Brahma. Image: Courtesy of  Chris via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the image to enlarge.



The expiatory church of La Sagrada Família is a work on a grand scale, which began

on 19 March 1882. Located in the center of Barcelona and visited by millions, the

construction of this architectural marvel is a master-work of renowned Spanish

architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926),  and is expected to continue until 2041, when

it will have 18 towers: 12 dedicated to the apostles, 4 to the evangelists, one to

Jesus and another to Mary. Image: Courtesy of Jullag via Wikimedia Commons.

Click on the image to enlarge.

The Taj Mahal, the stunning monument to the undying love of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan for his wife Mumtaz is located in Agra, India. The construction of this mausoleum was begun around 1632 incorporating Persian and Mughal architecture lasted for over twenty years and was completed around 1653 employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen. Image: Courtesy of Dhirad via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the image to enlarge.

The St. Michael and Gudula Cathedral in Brussels.  Named after the patron saints of

Belgium and is the primary church of the country, the cathedral was completed in

1047 AD. The relics of Saint Gudula are preserved here.  The cathedral was renovated

in the Gothic style in the 13th century. The choir was constructed between 1226 and

1276. The facade was completed in the mid 15th century. All royal weddings and

christenings take place here.  Image: Courtesy of  Luc Viatour via Wikimedia
Commons. Click on the image to enlarge.

Sumatra meulaboh mosque, Indonesia.  A seahawk helicopter of US Navy delivering relief supplies to the Tsunami victims of Meulaboh near the island of Sumatra, Indonesia.  Image: Courtesy of  Benjamin D. Glass, US Navy via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the image to enlarge.



      Eiffel Tower, Paris. Originally planned to be located in Barcelona in

      1888, it was thought that the design didn't fit into the feel of the city.

      Named after the designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was later
      built as the entrance arch for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, a World's
     Fair marking the centennial celebration of the French Revolution.  Image:
    Courtesy of  LIEU SONG  via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the image
    to enlarge.

San Fransisco International Airport (SFO) by night.  Once the sixth busiest airport in the world during dotcom boom, SFO currently is only the second busiest airport in California after LAX. The airport has a world-class aviation library and museum, San Francisco Airport Museums. Image: Courtesy of  Andrew Choy via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the image to enlarge.

Roman Colosseum, Rome.  Perhaps the most impressive building of the Roman empire, the Colosseum is Originally known as the Flavian Amphitheater and it was the largest building of the era. The construction was started in AD 72 by Emperor Vespasian, founder of the Flavian Dynasty, and completed in AD 80, the year after Vespasian's death. The Colosseum could accommodate some 55,000 spectators who could enter through its 80 entrances. Image: Courtesy of  Diliff via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the image to enlarge. 

This square-based stepped pyramid of approximately 75 feet tall known as El Castillo, also called Kukulcan's Pyramid is located in the city of Chichen Itza, Mexico. El Castillo's design is thought to relate to the Mayan calendar. Each of the four faces incorporates a broad, steep staircase consisting of 91 steps that ascends to the top platform. Counting the top platform as an additional step gives a total of 365 steps: 1step for each day of the year.  Mayan calender is of particular interest of late for its perceived prediction of the end of the world in 2012 or the beginning of the new era.  Rated among the most important of the Mayan culture, this archaeological site was built for astronomical purposes.  During the vernal equinox (March 20) and the autumnal equinox (September 21) at about 3 P.M.. the sunlight bathes the western balustrade of the pyramid's main stairway. This causes seven isosceles triangles to form imitating the body of a serpent 37 yards long that creeps downwards until it joins the huge serpent's head carved in stone at the bottom of the stairway. Image: Courtesy of  Daniel Schwen via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the image to enlarge. 

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francsico's most emblematic landmark. A brain child of James H. Wilkins, a structural engineer cum newspaper editor of San Francisco Call Bulletin, this archaelogical marvel was later designed and conceived by the civil engineer Joseph Baermann Strauss. A single-decked suspension with two piers, the bridge has a total length of 9,266 ft. The main span is 4,200 ft. long. The two graceful towers are 746 ft. high, the clearance of the six-lane roadway and two passenger walks over the water, 220 ft. In case a hurricane sweeps in from the sea, it can swing 21 ft. out of line without harm. When the sun expands the steel, the towers will lean several feet, the two 36½-in. cables will lengthen 16 ft. Image: Courtesy of  Daniel Schwen via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the image to enlarge. 



Bell at Chersonesos, Sevastopol, Russia.  Situated in a picturesque location overlooking the Black Sea with its mossy surface, this bell was cast in the year of 1776 for the St. Nicholas Church.  The bell was taken as war booty by allied forces of Great Britain and France after Oriental War of 1853. The bell was later returned to Russia as a diplamatic gesture by France in November 1913, an event marked with a large attendance and a religious procession. In return, the Russian government awarded the French consul the order of St. Vladimir of the 4th degree. Image: Courtesy of  Dmitry A. Mottl via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the image to enlarge. 

The Octavio Frias de Oliveira bridge, São Paulo, Brazil. Opened in May 2008, this cable-stayed bridge over the Pinheiros River is 138 metres  tall, and connects Marginal Pinheiros to Jornalista Roberto Marinho Avenue. It is the only bridge in the world that has two curved tracks supported by a single concrete mast. Lights are put up on the cables and illuminated to create color effects like those on a Christmas tree. Image: Courtesy of  Marcosleal via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the image to enlarge.

Niagara Falls.  Renowned for its beauty, this natural wonder is located between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, New York and Niagara Falls, Ontario. Niagara Falls comprises three separate waterfalls: the Horseshoe Falls (Canadian Falls), the American Falls, and the smaller, adjacent Bridal Veil Falls. While not exceptionally high, Niagara Falls is very wide. With more than 6 million cubic feet of water falling over the crestline every minute. A popular tourist site for over a century, it is the most powerful waterfall in North America and possibly the best-known in the world.  Image: Courtesy of  JohnnyAlbert10 via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the image to enlarge.

The Skylon Tower, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, is an observation tower that overlooks

both the American Falls, New York and the larger Horseshoe Falls, Ontario from the

Canadian side of the Niagara River. With a height of 775 ft above the falls, the

panoramic view will take your breath away. The top of the Tower is comprised

of three levels, the Revolving Dinning Room, the Summit Suite Buffet Dinning

Room and the Observation Deck. There are three "yellow bug" exterior elevators

that will take you to the top in only 52 seconds. Image: Courtesy of  Ingelbert

via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the image to enlarge.

A bird's eye view of the Skylon Tower overlooking  the Niagara falls , Ontario, Canada. Image: Courtesy of  BradReeseCom  via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the image to enlarge.

Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.  Named after the 28th Sultan of Brunei, this spectacular mosque is seen as a symbol of the Islamic faith in Brunei and dominates the skyline in the capital city, Bandar Seri Begawan. The golden dome of the mosque stands at 52m (171ft) high and can be seen from virtually anywhere in the city. The building was completed in 1958 and is an impressive example of Islamic architecture, with magnificent mosaic stained glass, as well as many arches, domes and columns. Marble from Italy, granite from Shanghai and chandeliers from England were all used in the construction of Brunei's most ornate building. Image: Courtesy of  Sam Garza via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the image to enlarge.

Frankfurt am Main. Located on the river Main with its futuristic and most imposing skyline, Frankfurt is the financial capital of Continental Europe and the transportation centre of Germany with its biggest airport. Home to the European Central Bank (ECB), Deutsche Börse AG, Deutsche Bundesbank (German FED), The Federal German Financial Services Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – BaFin), and over 267 other credit institutions, over half of which are foreign banks, all the leading players are represented here. It is not just the area of money and currency policies that this city is known for.  Frankfurt also offers many other facets and contrasting variety. Near to the skyscrapers you can find cosy Ebbelwei pubs and at the heart of the bustling city centre you can find historical sights again and again. Frankfurt hosts some of the world's most important trade shows, such as the Frankfurt Auto Show and the Frankfurt Book Fair. Image: Courtesy of  Mylius via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the image to enlarge.

Rainbow formation near Silver Oak captured by

Dr. Sirish using Kodak DC4800. (click on the image to

enlarge)