Spotted deer grazing at the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan.  

Spotted deer - Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan. 

A tree pie - at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan. 

Gangaikondacholapuram, near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.

A few pics of the Shiva Temple at Gangaikondacholapuram, Tamil Nadu. Constructed by Rajendrachola, the son of Rajaraja Cholan who constructed the Brihadiswara Temple at Thanjavur.

The Gangaikondacholapuram temple near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. When I was their a few years back the Archaeological Survey of India was handling some restoration work - so that ugly cap of thatch on the temple dome, which I have partly camouflaged with the palm tree leaves. Maybe I will be luckier on my next visit... sometime. 

A closer view of the sculptures on the temple walls. More detailed view below. 

A view of the Shiva temple at Gangaikondacholapuram, near Kumbakonam Tamil Nadu. The Nandi, in the forefront is made of lime and mortar. 

Another view of the Nandi. Gangaikondacholapuram, near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. 

The Chandesa-anugraha murthy. Shiva blesses one of the saivite saints. A statue at Gangaikondacholapuram, near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. 

The Kamadahanamurthy - the form in which Shiva destroys Kama, the god of love, after being disturbed by Kama while meditating.  

Airavateswara Temple, Darasuram, Tamil Nadu.

I have posted a series of pics that give some details of the sculptures at the Airavateswara Temple at Darasuram. (Check out May 2005 archives that show an overview of this temple and the Devanayaki Amman (goddess) temple next to it.) This was constructed by Raja Raja Chola the second, a descendant of the Raja Raja who constructed the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur.

A hall in the Airavateswara Temple, at Darasuram. The temple was constructed by Raja Raja Chola - II (AD - 1146-1173). This hall is constructed like a horse-drawn chariot. It is believed to have inspired the Sun Temple at Konark, according to the book `Thamizh Nattu-k Kalai Kovilgal.'  

A closer view of the statue. 

A statue of Veerabadran in a niche in the Darasuram temple.  

Sculptures on the Darasuram Temple walls.  

A stairwall sculpture at Darasuram, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. 

I am not surprised. If Hanuman is around (check out October 2005 in archives) can Ram be far behind? 

The Big Temple. Here are a series of pics that give a closer view of the temple.

The entrance to the Big Temple.I was lucky to catch it in the early morning glow. The two massive figures guarding the doorway, `dwarapalakas,' are a common feature in the Chola temples in Gangaikondacholapuram and at Darasuram. 

The outer gopurams seen from inside the temple. The statue of shiva thandavam in pic below is I think on the outer side of the tower to the left. 

The Nandhi facing the temple. This is carved from a single rock. 

A stair wall in the Darasuram Temple (see also May 2005 in archives), not in the Big Temple as I had mentioned earlier, sorry.

A detail from one of the outer towers (gopuram) - Shiva's `urthava thandavam.' 

Saraswati, the goddess of learning.