Flowers – VAGABOND IMAGES

Two valleys where flowers missed you this lockdown

Upendra SwamiMay 29, 20201570 Views2

India has big number of exceptionally stunning valleys of flowers across its peninsular region, and top among them is definitely the ‘valley of flowers’ in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district inside the Nanda Devi Biosphere reserve. It is so popular that whenever you talk about Valley of Flowers, it is presumed that you are talking about it. But there are many other valleys of flowers and a handful of them are in the Himalayan region itself. They might not be as popular as the Valley of Flowers in the Nanda Devi Biosphere reserve but they are equally beautiful and worth a visit. Yumthang in North Sikkim Har Ki Doon valley in Uttarakhand Well, here I am not talking about all the valleys of flowers. That isn’t the purpose of the post. I am loking at what we have missed this season due t...

IndiaPhotogallery

Lockdown chronicles : Next 10 days and counting

Upendra SwamiApril 14, 20201343 Views8

Things had taken a shape of routine in the next ten days of the lockdown due to COVID-19 spread. Well, I am talking about the photography routine. Although even without photography, watching these trees across and all the avian species moving around had become bit fascinating. Still, nothing can be compared to vagabonding around. That is yet some days away. Hope remained that 21st would be the last day, although all indications point to the contrary. Till then, here are the chronicles of the second set of ten days. (You can follow me on Instagram to see all these as daily feeds.) Also read: Lockdown chronicles : Photo diary of first 10 days of forced sit-in DAY 11 Lockdown Chronicles Day 11 : Almost four floor high neem tree is actually a landing and resting site for most of the...

IndiaPhotogallery

Lockdown chronicles : Photo diary of first 10 days of forced sit-in

Upendra SwamiApril 3, 20201223 Views2

For all travel bugs, it is hard to- not just stay at one place but confined to boundaries of their homes. No different for me. It isn't so that my routine has changed drastically, but it is in your mind that you have been forced to do something by a competitor who is in no mood to give you any chance. With spring travel planes shelved, I had to put camera to some use to keep my hands in habit of holding the five kilogram heavy tele lens. Trees across my first floor balcony became the frames and birds & flowers the characters. So, here are the modest offerings of the first ten days of nationwide lockdown due to coronavirus. DAY 1 Lockdown Chronicles Day 1! : Putting camera to some work during lockdown. A pair of yellow footed green pigeon on the tree right adjacent to my balcony...

AdventurePhotogallery

Flowers of trekking: Sighting of rare Brahma Kamal

Upendra SwamiOctober 21, 20197031 Views10

Had heard a lot about the Brahma Kamal flower earlier. But got to see it blooming for the first time when I went to Valley of flowers and Hemkund trek almost fifteen years back. (But here I will like to remind you that it is not Valley of Flowers, where you will find it normally, but on the Hemkund trek. Everywhere around the sacred lake on the surrounding mountains, you can see this flower blooming.) Thereafter, have seen it on various occasions during high-altitude trekking in Uttarakhand. Watching this flower in its natural habitat is a luxury that only serious trekkers can afford to. Rest all can enjoy this post and the photographs. Kamal is Hindi term for Lotus, but unlike different species of Lotus family, Brahma Kamal blooms amongst rocks and grasses on hillside. Even Brahma Kamal ...

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

Its spring time and lower Himalayas are laden with beauty!

Upendra SwamiMarch 31, 20192639 Views6

I have always felt that spring is the best time to go to hills, specially in the lower Himalayan region. And, that's not just for adventure trips, but also for the leisure trips to hill stations. It's about weather, it's about brightness, it's about colours, it's about nature and its about views. Everything in abundance. It gives such a jovial feeling when you are here during this time. As soon as the winter freeze gives way to the some warmth, the new life comes out of the earth. The whiteness of winter turns colourful with all types of flowers. Peach blossoms are this region's answer to Cherry Blossoms in East Asia during most this time. Peach blossoms turn the surroundings pink in the spring time. Although it's not so as of now, I think that it won't be too long when pe...

IndiaPhotogallery

On the Neelakurinji trail at Eravikulam National Park

Upendra SwamiOctober 28, 20181872 Views2

It was heartening to see the long queues even if it meant long waiting for us to board the bus that takes you inside the Eravikulam National Park. It was after all good to witness tourists returning in large numbers to Kerala just weeks after devastating floods, said to be most fierce in last almost hundred years. Indeed, most of the tourists might be locals or from nearby places as that was the long weekend because of Dussehra falling on Friday. Initially, I had planned this visit for August. As, the only motive was to document the blooming of Neelakurinji flowers, hence the visit was timed as per their expected blooming. Strobilanthus kunthiana, commonly known as Neelakkurinji (Blue Kurinji), grows in colonies stretching to acres and acres across the Neelgiris – a name ascribed...

IndiaPhotogallery

Tulips blooming! Kashmir calling!!

Upendra SwamiMarch 27, 20181332 Views0

Asia's biggest Tulip Garden at Siraj Bagh in Srinagar, Kashmir is now open for the year. Normally the garden opens with the start of April. But this year it has opened a week earlier owing to favourable weather conditions. We can also say that because the winter winded up a bit early and it brought the spring before time in the valley, hence the tulips also started blooming early. Hence the garden at Siraj Bagh on the banks of the Dal Lake was thrown open for the tourists on 25th March, a week earlier than last year. These are images from the park from the first day itself. Blast from the past: Tulip garden at heaven!Not all the bulbs have bloomed, still some to go. It would be full by the start of April. It is indeed once in a lifetime chance to see more than a million tulips of differ

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

Satsar to Gangabal : Photo journey to the climax!

Upendra SwamiMarch 1, 20182238 Views4

After a satisfying fourth day, it was time to move towards the climax on the 5th day of the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek. It was supposed to be the last day of climb. Satsar campsite is at an altitude of 12,000 ft and Gangabal campsite is at a an altitude of 11,500 ft but on the way we have to cross the Zach pass at an altitude of 13,400 ft. How to prepare? Read: Thajiwas is a perfect acclimatisation for Great Lakes Trek So, lets travel through the day's trek in photos. Starting right from the first light of the day- Its early morning after a wonderful night of stargazing. You just can't imagine, how this sky looked like in the night. Its cold still, but all ready to move. Its getting brighter and campsite is buzzing with early morning activities. Also Read: Kashmir Great Lakes-...

InternationalNewsPhotogallery

Its Japan all over at the Grand Place in Brussels, in flowers!

Upendra SwamiAugust 12, 20162478 Views13

We said some time back that it would be Japanese Kacho-Fugetsu & Koi at Brussels Flower Carpet this year. So the time has finally come and its Japan all over the Brussels Grand Place, and with beautiful flowers. This year's Flower carpet is now open for the visitors today. The Brussels Flower Carpet is one of the most amazing flower shows in the world and also one of the most awaited ones. Hence here it comes. A look at the this years's carpet- After two years of preparation, the 20th Flower Carpet is finally on show in the Grand Place at Brussels for visitors to admire over the next three days. This year’s carpet at the Belgium capital celebrates 150 years of Belgo-Japanese relations and features a Japanese design in honour of the occasion. Flower carpet making is a very

InternationalNews

Japanese Kacho-fugetsu & Koi at Brussels Flower Carpet this year

Upendra SwamiMay 12, 20161520 Views5

In its 20th year, the world famous floral carpet of Brussels will be decorated in the colours of Japan to celebrate its expertise in floral art. This year, Japan and Belgium are celebrating their 150th anniversary of friendly relations, established in 1866 with the Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation. On this special year, Japan has been given the honour to be invited as guest country to the world-famous Flower Carpet in Grand Place. The 2016 flower carpet is showcasing nature in Japanese tradition with its numerous good luck talismans: flowers, birds, the wind and the moon are symbols of the natural beauty (Kacho-fugetsu); Koi (Japanese carps) represent strength and growth; pine trees and bamboos are signs of good omen; and the cherry blossoms, of course. This ephemeral tapestry w