Showing posts with label Telangana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Telangana. Show all posts

Monday, December 11, 2017

Auto Show, Warangal




Various Auto showrooms in different districts of Telangana in collaboration with Eenadu daily news paper had held 'Auto Show' in Hanamkonda, Warangal (U) on 9th and 10th December.  Yesterday, that is on 10th December I visited the show. 

It was full of people, young and old, men and women and children too.  The enthusiasm of people is amazing.  All were enquiring detailed information about different vehicles, the basic and luxury ones.  



The vehicles, particularly the bikes in different colors were attractive and many women might have ordered them for their beautiful colors.  





The luxury cars had many safety features and some were at reasonable price too.  I hope to see variety of motor vehicles in Warangal in the next few months.  Here are few pictures taken at the show.  







As there were was a lot of rush and sun was harsh it was difficult to capture vehicles in all their elegance and beauty.




Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Safe and Style


According to recent WHO report injuries due to traffic accidents are the second most important cause of death in the world.  Though there are traffic regulations and safety precautions to be followed by the people to safeguard their health and also others travelling on the roads, many times these rules and regulations are flouted and result in serious accidents. 
Helmet can become a new style statement

Telangana government decided to implement traffic rules strictly and started imposing not only fine but also adding penalty points for those who flout the rules from first of August this year.  
The type of helmet a person wearing and vehicle he is riding will to some extent reveal the age and status of the person

Helmet for two-wheelers and seat belt for drivers of motor vehicles made mandatory.  Skipping traffic safety precautions by the vehicle drivers is given points 1-5 based on rule jumped, like travelling without helmet or not putting on seat belt will be given one point whereas drunken driving a maximum of five points.  When the cumulative penalty points exceed twelve, for the first time, licence will be cancelled for a year, second time for two years. 
The writing on the helmet may help for some advertisement or spreading a new slogan
It is obvious from his helmet that the man wearing will be in twenties, stylish, thinks he is no less than a cine hero.
If caught third time with more than 12 penalty points the driving licence will be cancelled for lifetime.
People did not mind to pay fine and penalty points but do not want their licence cancelled.  I have seen on visual media, when a reporter interviewed passengers about new rule, one of them said, ‘It’s okay to fine us.  They can give as many penalty points as they want. But cancelling licence is too bad’. Then what for are penalty points I don’t understand.
This elderly man is forced to buy helmet.  So bought it.  Will it safeguard his head or is it just namesake

Anyway as nobody wants their driving licence to be cancelled people started using helmets and seatbelts.  In mid August when I went to Hyderabad for the first time I have seen many people driving two-wheelers having put on helmets.  This rule is strict only in Hyderabad but not anywhere else in Telangana.  It should be same rule not only in our state but also in our entire nation.
When traveling in chaotic traffic it will br good even if the pillion rider also wears helmet.  That will protect head and the person from noise and air pollution too

If the government is serious about decreasing grievous injuries and deaths due to traffic accidents it should also improve the conditions of the roads.  The rules should be followed by law-makers and enforcers alike and not just the common people not having any connections with the persons in high places in the government.
Are women exempted from wearing helmet?  Isn't their head important.  Taking care of eyes is good.  Head is must.

Women whether riding or pillion riders they too should put on helmets to protect themselves from head injuries. Recently one of my lady relative while traveling with her husband on a scooter met with an accident and had head injury. Both fell down and had injuries. Fortunately the head injury was not a serious one and both were safe.
  
When one person is exempted from rule every other person also wants to be exempted.  If the government is strict and everybody is fined and given penalty points for flouting rules, for few years, government will get good amount from fines which can be utilised to improve connectivity and safety of road travel.  People also get used to follow rules strictly for benefit of self and others.
Chaotic traffic in Secunderabad as metro construction is going on
 Here I have posted few pictures of people with helmets.  I think helmet should become new style statement for youngsters on bikes.  Helmet is life saving in traffic accidents as it prevents serious head injuries.  Long, long ago (28-30 years) though helmet was advised but was not compulsory my husband used to wear helmet while riding scooter.  It would protect him from dust.  
There are many, many people still who neglect their safety precautions.  Sometime the loss is irrevocable
Once when I was travelling with him along with my daughter the vehicle skidded I jumped down or fell down along with my daughter I don’t remember but we had no injuries.  My husband fell down and I had to go to him and see if he was conscious.  He was conscious got up with my help.  His helmet had scratches but his head was safe.  He was safe for he was wearing helmet.  He had minimal injuries on the arms.   We always follow safety precautions while travelling on a bike or car. 
Here this man thinks if he has helmet hanging by his side it will protect.  Maybe he can escape fine, but if accident happens his head may not escape

The driver seems to be overconfident, but the pillion rider doesn't want to take any risk

As a woman she may confident of multitasking, but on the road it is safe to follow road safety principles. 
 All the photographs except the last two and the photograph of helmets are taken as we were driving from Uppal to Secunderabad.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Kaleshwaram


Shri Mahadeva /Shiva Those people who do not enter the temple can have darshan of Shiva outside the temple
Kaleshwaram is a village in Bhupalpally district of Telangana, India.  This village is famous for its temple – Kaleshwara Muktishwara temple on the banks of river Godavari.  Here river Godavari merges with its tributary Pranahita. 
People taking bath before performing certain rituals
It is believed that underneath this area of merger is Mystical River Saraswathi flows.   This makes it confluence of three rivers, hence called ‘Triveni Sangamam’ – confluence of three rivers giving it greater sanctity. 
A view of the river
This temple complex has temple of Shri Ganesha, Shri Mahadeva and Shri Yamadharmaraja.  People believe that worshiping Yama and Shiva together will lead them to moksha. 
Boating in the river.  Diya lit and let in water in reverence of  deceased ancestors
This temple mainly devoted to Shri Mahadeva in picturesque location on the banks of river is one of ‘Trilinga temples’,  the other two - one is Srishaila Mallikarjuna Swamy in Srishailam and Bhimeshwara Swamy in Draksharamam, both being in Andhra Pradesh. This temple is about 277Km from Hyderabad.  It can be reached by RTC buses or own vehicles.  The journey through forest areas will be pleasant.  Temple dormitories provide rooms for night stay.

In Hindu culture it is believed that after death of a person if his ashes are mixed in river he will attain moksha.  In Telangana most people visit Kaleshwaram and after special rituals and sanctification of ashes in the urns, the ashes are immersed in the river at Triveni Sangamam.
Sanctification of ashes
Offerings to deceased ancestors.  They are made of rice flour and after appropriate ritual will be offered to cow or dropped in river or lake
. 
Carrying ashes for immersion at Triveni Sangamam
In Telangana most people visit Kaleshwaram and after special rituals and sanctification of ashes in the urns, the ashes are poured at Triveni Sangamam.
This family looks like have come for a jolly trip.
The visit to the temple gives peace and calmness to the mind and soul.
These are made alongside the banks in reverence to Shiva, decorated and worshiped



Thursday, March 24, 2016

A Visit to Hyderabad


I live about 135Km away from Hyderabad, capital of Telangana.  I visit this city of mine very frequently either for shopping or social functions.   As a child when I lived in this city I heard about some places of tourist interest and visited few of the prominent once.  In the recent times I hear about new places that have come up and are developing as tourist spots.  So I made it a point to visit these new places once.
As I was itching to use my DSLR I wanted to visit gardens or lake which can present nature in all its splendour.  I read about the beauty of Durgam cheruvu, forest in the middle of concrete jungle – KBR Park, wonderfully developed botanical gardens in the outskirts of Hyderabad.
I was very enthusiastic about this visit and bought one extra memory card thinking that I will be able experiment with various modes of camera and take loads of photos.  But I returned home very much disappointed for memory card in my camera was not filled even by 10%.

Durgam Cheruvu


This supposedly beautiful fresh water lake is considered as secret as it is surrounded by mammoth granite rocks of few thousands million years old.  The residents of Golconda used this as source of drinking water during the rule of Qutub Shahi dynasty (1518-1687).    In 2001, the then Andhra Pradesh Government initiated to promote it as tourist destination by developing attractions such as fishing zone, artificial waterfalls, floating fountains, sculptor parks and art gallery for artists and encouraging rock climbing and trekking for tourists.  Amphitheatre with a capacity of 1500 people also constructed.  Few pictures I have seen on the net also showed some beautiful water birds too.
Rock canteen
Keeping the scenery in view I decided to visit it after 3PM so that I can see the sunset if possible, and the waters and birds in the sunset light.  I asked the driver (we engaged cab and driver in the city) to take us to Durgam Cheruvu.  His expression was bit puzzled.
Bench to sit and relax

“Madam it is for couples” he said.
I was with my husband.  I understood what he meant by saying it is for couples.  He meant it is for lovers, probably who want to be secretive.  I didn’t say, “Are we not a couple”?  and embarrass him.  We have to be with him for two more days. 
”I heard about the lake.  So I want to visit it.  Today after lunch we will visit that place”.  I told him.
That day, after 3Pm we started to Durgam Cheruvu.  Reached it by 4Pm.There were few people.  A group of boys and two (?) ‘couples‘ were there.  The staff in the cabin asked us to take entry tickets and said that we should come out by 6Pm.  The most disappointing instruction is not take any camera inside.  They said no photography allowed inside. “Can we take a mobile phone and take pics?” I asked.  They said okay.  My plans shattered I walked in with disappointment written all over my face.  My husband encouraged me that we can take photos with our mobile.  He always uses his mobile and shares his photos immediately.  Many times I don’t carry my mobile in my outings , or else I keep it safely inside my bag.  I like to use digital camera which I own since 2007.  I never took interest in mobile photography.  I felt the rule as weird.  Mobile photography is allowed but no other gear to be used for photography.  In fact we have to deposit our gear with them and collect before leaving it.
Rock Sculptures

This is a lake beautified with various tourist attractions.  People who visit beautiful places want to keep memories of it forever by taking family photos.  It’s an open place and Google maps show details of our interior streets too.  What secrecy do these people want to maintain I don’t understand.  As ‘couples’ frequent here, do they want to protect them or any other illegal activity?  Photographers are bound by rules about photographing people.  If they do any illegal activity action can be taken against them.  When the place doesn’t hold any national or security secret is there any sanity in allowing mobile photography but not others.  Anyway this incident made me take interest in this modality.  I decided to know various functions of camera in my mobile.
Lotus Pond

Though summer hasn’t started the lake was dry.  I saw only water hyacinth with patches of water here and there surrounded partially by the encroaching concrete jungle.  The less said about the maintenance the better.
Stage and amphitheatre area

KBR Park - Kasu Brahmananda Reddy Park

This is a jungle amidst concrete jungle of high profile residential area in Hyderabad.  Azam Jah had built Chiran Palace in 1960 in 400 acres area and presented it to his son Mukaram Jah on his coronation in 1960.  Then in Andhra Pradesh, the state government got permission from central government to declare it as National park in 1968.

Finally an agreement is reached between the Nizam and state government to exclude an area of 6 acres and 16 other pieces of scattered areas over Park exclusively for Mukaram Jah; forest department and general public will not have access to these areas.  Rest of the area including Chiran Palace is notified as part of National park and land to be handed out to the prince was struck out of the part.


This park has 600 species of plant life, 140 species of birds and 30 different varieties of butterflies and reptiles.  There are also few water bodies that supply the needs of beings in the park.
Here also photography is prohibited but mobile photography is permitted!  We can keep our gear with us.  If we use it CC cameras will record it and we have to pay a fine of Rs. 25,0000.
The maintenance of the place is good.  Ticket is must for entry.  The hours are for the benefit of walkers of that elite area, few hours in the morning and evening.  Plantations were good.  I could only see peacock and two or three bird species.  Couldn’t spot any butterflies.

Hyderabad Botanical Gardens

This known as Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy Botanical Gardens occupying an area of 120 acres is developed by forest department in Madhapur village in the outskirts of Hyderabad to preserve natural flora and fauna in this region.  This is divided into 19 vanams or sectors each with different types of plant species including medicinal, ornamental, bamboo, palm and aquatic plants. Has more than 600 species of plants.   It has natural rock formations and water bodies.   


As the state had no rains in the past two years the water bodies dried up.  Because of lack of water the small plants were withering away.  The maintenance is poor.   Few bird species were seen.  Bamboo palms were attractive. 
Entry ticket essential.  Also ticket price is variable depending on the type of camera.  Mobile camera doesn’t need a ticket. 




The drought that affected Telangana had its effect on these gardens and lake.  I felt I visited it in the wrong period.  Once rainy season starts I hope Durgam cheruvu fills up and the gardens will turn green hosting birds and butterflies.



The information about the parks and lake is from Wikipedia.