In February of this year we rode the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) toy train from Coonoor to Ooty in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This railway is a meter gauge, or cog, railway, having a middle rail with a rack that allows a train to climb steep inclines.
Our tour company had arranged to get us tickets for the afternoon run, but a taxi drivers’ strike scheduled for that day threw our plans in disarray. Our guide, who lives in Coonoor, worked his magic to get us tickets for the earlier train, but even then it was uncertain whether the train would run at all that day.
We arrived early to be sure of a seat, since two trains-worth of passengers could be expected to queue for the one train ride (if it happened at all). We were early enough that the morning’s haze had not burned off yet, but swirled mistily a few feet above the ground. Any object photographed even a short distance away was muted by this mist. The water tower shown below finally rose above the mist that enveloped the shrubs below it, but the sky beyond was featureless.
Coonoor Station Water Tower
This photo was taken on February 5, 2019. Specs are:
In 2013, we visited the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai in the South India state of Tamil Nadu. The Hindu goddess Parvati and god Shiva are known here as Meenakshi and Sundareswarar, respectively. Just outside Sri Meenakshi is a large statue of Nandi, the bull that is the vahana (vehicle) of Shiva. The body of the bull is white, symbolizing purity and justice. While I could not find the reason for the blue highlighting on Nandi’s body, I think that its source is the same poison drunk by Shiva, that also turned Shiva’s throat blue during the Churning of the Cosmic Ocean.
Nandi Statue, Sri Meenakshi Temple, Madurai, India
This photo was taken on March 11, 2103. Specs are:
Olympus TG-1, ISO 100, f/4, 1/1250 sec, 7.9 mm
(With apologies for any inaccuracies in describing the Hindu religion.)
Since today is Easter Sunday, the featured topic is places of worship from around the world. The pictures are presented alphabetically by country.
Since, by necessity, the description of the religious significance of each site is very short, the interested reader is encouraged to research further.
Cambodia
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
This photo shows the sun rising behind Angkor Wat in Cambodia. During its long history, Hinduism and Buddhism have both been practiced here.
This photo was taken in March, 2013.
Egypt
Temple of Kom Ombo, Aswan, Egypt
The Temple of Kom Ombo is located in Upper Egypt for the worship of two gods: the crocodile god Sobek (god of fertility, who created the world) and the falcon god Horus (son of Isis and Osiris; god of the sky, war and hunting). Images of Hathor, depicted as a cow goddess, are also prevalent here.
This photo was taken in February, 2013.
France
Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France
This photo of the historic Catholic Notre Dame Cathedral was taken in October, 2015.
India
Here are photos of Indian temples for each of three ancient religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism) and two newer religions (Islam and Sikhism).
Sree Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, South India
The Sree Meenakshi Amman Temple is located in Madurai in the state of Tamil Nadu in South India. It is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and named for his wife, the goddess Parvati. Shiva is the destroyer, recycler and regenerator of universe and all life. Parvati is the goddess of love and devotion. Shiva and Parvati are the parents of Ganesha and Kartikeya.
There are 14 towers; the tallest tower is the southern one, at 170 feet.
This photo was taken in March, 2013.
Jain Temple at Ranakpur, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
This photo shows pillars in the interior of the Jain Temple at Ranakpur, in the city of Udaipur in the state of Rajasthan, India.
This photo was taken in October, 2014.
Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India
This photo shows the Dhamekh Stupa in Sarnath, about 13 kilometers north-east of Varanasi, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Sarnath is the site of Buddha’s first sermon after his enlightenment.
This photo was taken in October, 2014.
Jama Masjid, Old Delhi, India
This photo shows the Jama Masjid in Old Delhi; it is one of the largest Muslim mosques in India. The photo is taken from a window at the top of one of the towers, a twin to the taller tower reaching above the skyline. The two (shorter) minarets visible in the middle are 130 feet high.
This photo was taken in March, 2013.
The Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab, India
This photo is of Sri Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple, which is the holiest Gurdwara (place of worship) of Sikhism. The Golden Temple is located in Amritsar in the state of Punjab, India.
This photo was taken in October, 2014.
Spain
Sagrada Família, Barcelona, Spain
This photo shows part of the exterior of the Sagrada Família, a Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Spain, designed by Antoni Gaudi.
This photo was taken in April, 2015.
Thailand
Buddha statues, Wat Arun, Bangkok, Thailand
This photo shows a row of Buddha statues inside Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand. The photo was taken in March, 2013, before the restoration of the wall behind the statues.
Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand.
This photo shows the Reclining Buddha in Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand.
This photo was taken in February, 2016.
Vatican City State
Sistine Chapel ceiling, Vatican
This photo shows part of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Roman Catholic Vatican.
