Beautiful Bhutan

Bhutan is a beautiful kingdom in Himalayas bounded in south by India and north by China.  This is the only nation in the world which measures its development in terms of gross national happiness.  

This nation with sixty percent of land under forest cover is the only nation in the world that is carbon negative.  Without giving up their ancient culture and traditions this Buddhist nation is developing as model nation in the world with 100% organic farming.  Agriculture is the main livelihood with farming and animal husbandry.  Tourism and sale of hydroelectric power to India adds to their economy.

Chukka Power project

Bhutanese, though they have their own currency, accept Indian currency as equivalent.  Indians need entry permit to enter this nation which is given on entry.  Visa is not required for Indians.  Usually for tourists permission is given for one week only, to enter Phuntsholing, Thimphu, Punakha and Paro.  To visit other places special permission is required.

King and Queen of Bhutan

Buddha Dordenma, Thimphu.  This is huge and located on a hill top and seen from anywhere in Thimphu

Thimphu, capital of Bhutan

In April this year I had opportunity to visit this nation on photo tour organised by WeChitra.  The journey in this kingdom is scenic.  People are friendly.  They can speak Hindi and educated can speak English well.  Though it is a developing country it is clean and green.  Here are few pictures of Bhutan. 

Monastery in Chubachu, Thimphu

Memorial Chortens, Dochula pas

Confluence of Mo Chhu and Po Chhu rivers, Punakha 

Punakha Dzong

Punakha Dzong in the night

Suspension bridge, Punakha

Rinpung Dzong, Paro

Rinpung Dzong houses district's Monastery and admn. offices

Prayer flags seen on the way to Taktsang.  Prayer flags are seen at many places apart from monasteries even on the road side across a critical junctions and along the bridges on the rivers

Scenery on the way to Taktsang, Paro

Huge prayer wheel on the way to Taktsang, Tiger's nest Monastery, Paro

Small chortens placed in the crevices of mountains.  Gods are invoked and placed to bless people.  These are seen not only at monastaries but in the crevices of mountains along side the roads at critical junctions.  They are mostly light yellow or white or colorful as seen here.

Tiger's Nest Monastery or Taktsang Phalphug Monastery, Paro.
This monastery at the cliff of the mountain is iconic of Bhutan and its culture and tradition.

Small prayer wheels on the way to Taktsang, at the base.  Journey to Taktsang is 4 km trekking.  Depending on one's capability it may take 2-6 hrs.  The path is slippery while coming down and more so when it rains

Offerings to deities at a monastery in Chubachu, Thimphu

Series of prayer wheels seen at monasteries.  This is taken in Thimphu

Clouds seen on the way covering the trees in the forest

A village seen on the way

A man in traditional dress holding 'kamandal' with water.  That is sacred water, 'theerth'

A beautiful house on hill top

Monks at Punakha Dzong, Punakha

Man and woman dressed in national dress. Men wear 'gho' with a belt at waist -kera. Women's dress is called 'kira' clipped at the shoulder with identical brooches called 'koma' and tied at waist with kera.  Long sleeved blouse wonju worn underneath kira

School boys in traditional dress of men

School/college girls in traditional dress of women

Entry and exit gate for vehicles into Bhutan.  This is from Jaigoan, the last village in Kolkota, India

Entry and exit gate. View from Phuntsholing, Bhutan 

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.

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