Our Recent Motorcycle Tour of Kinnaur-Lahaul-Spiti

[sury]

These look much better to me but you are the judge since you were there.
Some of these locations can be quite vivid. I saw similar strong colors while
photographing Polychrome Pass in Denali National Park, Alaska.

[Shelika Gaur]

From Nako we took the dusty road and climbed higher and higher. After sometime we crossed the Mallinga Nullah. And then the so called road started descending. Spiti was gurgling along. It had slate color. The turns were blind. Passage so narrow that two vehicles cannot cross each other. We were to reach Tabo around 60 kilometers from Nako. Tabo is at a height of around 3280 meters. It took us around 6 hours in reaching the place at an average speed of 10 to 15 kilometers an hour.
It seemed to be a comfortable place to stay as this village with its monastery is in a kind of valley. The Dalai Lama, it is said, may live here after his "retirement" as the monastery is one of the holiest for the Buddhists and is around 1000 years old.

Tabo Range-I.jpg

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We stayed at Tabo for a week. One morning we went to the school that the monastery runs. The morning light was falling on the Buddhist icons and the praying flags were fluttering in the light breeze. The deer and other symbols shone like gold and the dark shadows of flying clouds were shifting on the rocky range.

Buddhist Icons-I.jpg

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When we came out we saw the ancient caves on the slopes wherein it is said the monks used to meditate and do spiritual exercises for hundreds of years.

Tabo Monastery & Caves.jpg

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[sury]

Very nice shots and interesting narrative. Thank you. You have given the photos another dimension
with your explanations. Much appreciated. I am seeing India that I did not know existed through your
photos.

Sury

[Birma]

Wonderful photographic tour! Looking forward to the next instalment

[Shelika Gaur]

Thanks for your encouraging words Mr Suri and Mr Birma.
Mr Suri I saw a post of yours only yesterday and from that photograph of a lake I have come to know that your hometown is Hyderabad. So I thought it proper to provide a link to an article by my husband written on the tombs of Hyderabad.--http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/200309 ... travel.htm
If you wish to see more articles Arun has about 50 travelogue pieces published in the Specturm The Tribune Chandigarh covering many parts of India.
Mr Birma that was long tour. I would try to post more pictures. That tour was tough. Not easy going. We had specifically bought this motorcycle for this particular tour. We are not bikers. So it was tough for us. Somehow we managed to finish it. In fact we could hardly call it a tour. Every half an hour on bike was a test for us whether we wished or could proceed further. We proceeded and proceeded since after a stage practically we were left with no choice but only to proceed and proceed. No possibility of halting and turning back Thanks for your kind words.

[sury]

Shelika,
Yes, I am from Hyderabad, Deccan. Thank you for the link. I will certainly will check it out.

Sury

[Shelika Gaur]

Three pictures of the Tabo Monastery dealing with the architectural elements

Tabo Monastery-A Dragon Variant.jpg

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Tabo-Monastery Praying Flags.jpg

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Tabo-Stupa.jpg

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[sury]

Nice juxtaposition of man made and natural elements.

Sury

[Birma]

Love the gold against the blue in #2

[Shelika Gaur]

We spent most of the week studying the ancient Buddhistic sculptures and paintings in the more than 1000 years old monastery. Before we could enter the main temple we had to pay obeisance to Dwarpal, i.e., the door-keeper who is ever guarding the entrance so that no evil force may not enter and disturb the main temple. His ferocious self is daunting enough. Without his permission no one can enter the temple. Like all other figures this figure too stands in the dim interior as light is permitted to get into the temple only through little openings in the roof.

Tabo-Dwarpal.jpg

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Around two dozen figures of Taras line the interior walls of the temple. The backdrop of these Taras is the space full of ancient paintings. Tara is a female form of the Buddha and is known as female Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism. Tara signifies protection and is a form of primeval energy.

Tabo-Tara 1.jpg

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Another image of Tara----

Tabo-Tara 2.jpg

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[sury]

Nice addition, Shelika. I did not know about Tara. Thanks for the information.

Sury

[Dr. Harout]

I have to admit that this is becoming a very informative and pleasant thread. Keep them coming.

[Shelika Gaur]

Apart from the main temple Tsug Lhakang of the monastery of Tabo which was founded in 996 A.D.,there are four subsidiary temples with their own unique and individualized paintings. The images of the three paintings given below are from the temple Serkhang (The Golden temple).

The painting shows the well-known story of the predatory Garuda and the Nagas in the female forms. There is always an animosity between the two.

TABO MONASTERY---SERKHANG (THE GOLDEN TEMPLE)---God Garuda and Nag (serpents in female forms).jpg

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There is a special symbolic relationship between the deity and his/her animal seat or carrier. Here is a variant from of deer that has a very special significance in the Buddhistic lore. The color of the Boddhisattava is deep blue that suggests the vastness and unshakeability of the sky. This is also a very important symbolical stage for the attainment of Nirvana.

TABO MONASTERY---SERKHANG (THE GOLDEN TEMPLE)--- Boddhisattava on his vahana (carrier) of a deer like animal.jpg

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This shows the Mandala Tara goddess. The color shades of brown depicts the middle state of enlightenment that proceeds from black to white, i.e., from darkness to light.

TABO MONASTERY---SERKHANG (THE GOLDEN TEMPLE)---Tara Mandala Goddess.jpg

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[sury]

Very vivid colors. Very nice. Thank your for the description and background information.

Sury

[Dusty]

The colors are very vivid and strong! Are these repainted from time to time or just that well preserved?

Dusty