'Please return Indian artifacts/statues/heritage material on display/stored in your museum to India' - by K J S Chatrath

 

A humble request to museums all over the world- Please return Indian artifacts/statues/heritage material on display/stored in your museums to India- the country of origin. 

 

Musee Guimet, Paris, France - a curtain raiser' - by K.J.S.Chatrath.

http://francophilesonly.blogspot.in/2017/08/musee-guimet-paris-france-curtain.html

'From UNESCO Heritage City Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India' - by K J S Chatrath

 From Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The walled city of Ahmedabad has been declared as India's first heritage city by UNESCO.

'Visiting Qutb Minar (12th-14th century A.D.), India, after fifty years' - by K J S Chatrath

I visited the Qutab Complex in New Delhi four years back. The earlier visit was a good 50 years ago. I took Delhi's world class Metro which helpfully terminated at the Qutab Minar Station. A short auto ride and I was there.

 

The immediate reaction was positive. The Complex seemed well kept and neat and clean. Of course one was disappointed to see long queues of people wanting to buy entrance tickets at Rs. Ten each. This is one area which can surely be streamlined. Installation of a ticket vending machines would 

 help.

 

 The foundations of this world famous tower known as the Qutb-Minar, were laid by Qutubuddin Aibak of the Mamluk Dynasty towards the end of the 12^th century. 

Construction was interrupted at the first storey by his death and the remaining three stories were completed in matching material and style by his successor Iltutmish, commonly known as Altamash in 1230 A.D.

In 1368 A.D. the Minar was damaged by lightning. Later Firuz Khan Tughluq (A.D. 1351-88) replaced the top storey by the existing two stories faced with marble. Sikandar Lodi (1489- 1517) also executed some repairs to the Minar in 1503 A.D. when it was again struck by lightning.

 This was the topmost portion of the Minar, before it came tumbling down.

The Tower has a diameter of 14.32m at the base and of about 2.75m at the top with a height of about 72.5m and ascended by 379 steps it is the highest stone tower in India and a perfect example of Minar known to exist anywhere,

 The variegated plan of its three lower storeys, the projecting balconies with stalactites pendentive brackets and ornate bands of inscriptions on its facades heightens the decorative effect.  (Text sourced from the Archeological Survey of India Board at the site)

 And then to the Ashoka Pilllar.

                                           

 And then quite suddenly, I spotted a plane.

 And then another plane.

It appeared to be the normal route for the flights. It was very fascinating to watch. But I had to leave.

 

 

'Please return the heritage art pieces and artifacts stored/displayed in world museums to countries of origin' - by K J S Chatrath

A humble request to museums of the world. Please return the heritage art pieces and artifacts stored/displayed by you to the countries of origin. 

"British museums shine thanks to all the loot from India" ;https://indianexpress.com/article/research/british-museums-shine-thanks-to-all-the-loot-from-india/

Amravati Stupa from India. Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

'Shahi Jama Masjid (1656 AD), Delhi, Part-II' - by K J S Chatrath

Please see my earlier post for a brief write-up on the Shahi Jama Masjid and more photos.

'Shahi Jama Masjid (1656 AD), Delhi' - by K J S Chatrath

https://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.com/2020/07/shahi-jama-masjid-1656-ad-delhi-by-k-j.html

'Nandi (1580 CE?) Basavanna Temple, Leepakshi, India' - by K J S Chatrath

I visited the gigantic bull of Basavvana Temple (Basava in Kannada for Nandi) in Leepakshi in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh in 2019. The word ‘nandi’ means joyful in Sanskrit.  It is a little away from the Veerabhadra Temple.  Leepakshi, a small village is 478 kms from Hyderabad and 124 kms from Bengaluru by road. The nearest railway station, Hindupur is about 14 kms from Leepakshi.

Nandi is the sacred bull calf, gatekeeper, and vehicle (vahana) of the Hindu god Shiva. Sculptures of Nandi are a common sight at Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that Nandi is partly responsible for the Hindu reverence for living bulls has its roots in Nandi being Lord Shiva's vahana.

 This gigantic bull is shown as lying with body resting on the legs and the head raised, or what is known as a couchant posture. It is a grand cut out sculpture of a huge granite rock. This monolithic sculpture is a unique example of its kind in India. It faces west and is looking towards the Nagalinga located behind the Veerabhadra Temple. 

 Nagalinga located behind the Veerabhadra Temple.

It is ten metres in length and six metres in height. It is decorated with a necklace, Muvvahara and a hara (necklace) of bells. The bull is depicted as having short horns. The massiveness in size has not been secured at the expense of artistic beauty. The bull is depicted in the characteristic pose of Nandi. It may be noticed that the head is held aloft at a higher angle than usual. Consequently, the expression of submission which is typical of Nandi before Lord Shiva is conspicuous by its absence here

. From the view point of proper proportions in the sculpting of various limbs and excellent finish secured in the workmanship, this Nandi is an excellent piece of art of the Vijaynagara Period (1336 AD to 1646 AD). 

After the visit to these two temples I went to Lepakshi Haritha Hotel which is located near the temples. It is run by Andhra Pradesh State Tourism Developement Corporation. It has the basic facilities including a restaurant. One can do reservations on line.

Lepakshi Haritha Hotel: Photo by Sarath Raj

  The thali meal that I ordered was neat and clean but just about average in taste and reasonably priced.

'Know more about Indian History & Heritage' - by K J S Chatrath

If you are fascinated by Indian History & Heritage and would like to experience it from the eyes of a 77 years old traveller, then make a free click and subscribe to: http://www.indianheritagephotos.blogspot.com/
 
Photo shows Rajmah-Chawal, a part of rich culinary heritage of India. (Photo source: thebellyrules)

'Magnificent building of Baroda (Vadodra) Museum (1894 AD), India' - by K J S Chatrath

Baroda Museum Building (Photo source: internet)

Here are some photographs taken of this magnificent building by me. One would be focusing on the art pieces housed therein in subsequent posts.

Talking about Museums, one generally discusses the art pieces, artifacts, paintings etc. stored and on display there. One does not usually deal with the building hosting these art pieces. However there are some museum buildings in the world which need to admired and cherished for their own architectural values. I had the privilege of visiting one such Museum in Vadodra (Baroda) India earlier in January this year. 

The Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery in Vadodra (Baroda) was built in 1894 on the lines of the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Science Museum in London.  Major Mant in association with R.F. Chisholm who refined some of Mant's finest works to make genuine Indo – Sarcenic architecture designed the Building of this Museum.

 

 Indo-Saracenic, also known as Indo-Gothic, was a revival architectural style mostly used by British architects in India in the later 19th century, especially in public and government buildings of the British Raj, and the palaces of rulers of the princely states, reflecting and imitating contemporary and earlier high Indian architecture.

It sought to replicate from Imperial Indian architecture, including Rajasthani, Mughal and Maratha eras, which the British regarded as the classic Indian style.

The basic layout and structure of the buildings shared commonalities to that used in contemporary buildings in other styles, such as Gothic Revival and Neo-Classical.

Saracen was a term used in Europe until the 19th century referring to Muslim and/or Arabic-speaking people and regions of the Middle East and North Africa.

Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III belonging to the Gaekwad dynasty of Marathas, founded the museum in 1887. The museum building was completed in 1894, when it opened to the public. Construction of the art gallery commenced in 1908, was completed in 1914, but did not open until 1921 as the First World War delayed transfer of pieces from Europe intended for the gallery.

            Victoria & Albert Museum and the Science Museum, London. (Photo source: internet)

 (Text based on information on the internet)