Uploads from PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views), with geodata

Aphrodite Fritillary Butterfly, Speyeria aphrodite ( Fabricius, 1787), Nymphalidae

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Thu, 23 May 2013 09:29:38 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

This picture was taken at Boat Club, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India.

The Government Botanical Garden Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:09:16 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

The Government Botanical Garden, Udhagamandalm (Ooty) was established in 1848. Its architect was William Graham McIvor. The Marquis of Tweedale prepared the initial layout during the late 1840s. During that time Ootacamund (Ooty) was under British control.

The Gardens have around a thousand species, both exotic and indigenous, of plants, shrubs, ferns, trees, herbal and bonsai plants. In the centre of the Gardens lie a fossilized tree trunk estimated to be 20 million years old.

Honeybee foraging on Purple Dahlia Flower

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:56:19 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

This picture was taken at Sim's Park, Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, India. This area comes under Nilgiri Hills in Deccan Plateau of India.

Beautiful Flower garlands, Flower market, Mallesvaram, Bangalore

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Mon, 20 May 2013 02:47:58 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

Delicious Raspuri Mangoes (Fully mature, yet to ripe)

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:10:39 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

Bird of Paradise Flower, Strelitzia reginae Aiton (Strelitziaceae, Zingiberales)

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Tue, 14 May 2013 05:12:30 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

Strelitzia reginae is a flowering plant indigenous to South Africa. Common names include Strelitzia, Crane Flower or Bird of Paradise. Its scientific name commemorates Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, queen consort of the United Kingdom. It was first introduced to Europe in 1773, when it was grown at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Since then, it has been widely introduced around the world.

May Flower, Scadoxus multiflorus (Martyn) Raf.; Family, Amaryllidaceae

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Sun, 12 May 2013 09:14:50 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

Also known as, African Blood Lily, Foot Ball Lily, and Powderpuff Lily.

Totapuri (= Bangalora) variety of mango

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Sat, 11 May 2013 08:43:45 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

India grows the finest mangoes in the world. Although more than a thousand varieties exist, only around 20 varieties are grown on commercial scale out of which Totapuri is one of the outstanding specimen. Totapuri Mangoes are oblong with prominent beak in shape and about 6 - 8 inches long.

Clarity, Courage and Confidence - Young India

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Fri, 10 May 2013 02:08:18 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

I liked the expressions of this young girl who was helping her mother in selling flowering plants. She could be a great business women of India.

Nature's Creation - Balancing Rocks near Savandurga

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Thu, 09 May 2013 09:42:30 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

Veerbhadreswara or Veerbhadra at Veerbhadreswara Temple, Savandurga, Karnataka, India

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Wed, 08 May 2013 09:29:43 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

Veerbhadreswara was a Super being created by the wrath of Rudra (Shiva) when he stepped into destroy the Yagna of Daksha after his daughter (Sati) self immolated in Yagna fire. He was aspect of Lord Shiva and his consort was Bhadrakali

Chariot Stone wheel of Savandi Veerbhadreshwara Temple, Savandurga

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Wed, 08 May 2013 09:18:16 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

Indian Rock Lizard, Psammophilus dorsalis (Gray,1831) - Male in Breeding colors

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Tue, 07 May 2013 09:53:13 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

Common Names: Rock Lizard, South Indian Rock Agama
Synonyms: Agama dorsalis Gray,1831; Charasia dorsalis (Gray,1831)

This species is widely distributed in India and known to occur in Bihar , the rocky hills of the Eastern Ghats and southward to Kanyakumari . This species is known to occur up to 2,000 m above sea level.

These lizards basks on bare rocks where they are hidden by their cryptic colouration. They feed on insects. The male in the breeding season assumes bright colours. The upper parts become fine vermilion red or yellow. The under surfaces, limbs and tail are black.

Kamadhenu Cow

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Mon, 06 May 2013 09:35:17 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

Kamadhenu also known as Surabhi is a divine bovine-goddess described in Hindu mythology as the mother of all cows. She is a miraculous "cow of plenty" who provides her owner whatever he desires and is often portrayed as the mother of other cattle as well as the eleven Rudras. In iconography, she is generally depicted as a white cow with a female head and breasts or as a white cow containing various deities within her body. All cows are venerated in Hinduism as the earthly embodiment of the Kamadhenu.

Indian Monkey (Macaca mulatta) in Pensive Mood -Threatened Survival

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Sat, 04 May 2013 22:44:41 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

These Homo sapiens destroyed our habitats and left us of nowhere. "Conflict between man and monkey"

Indian Alphonso mango

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Sat, 04 May 2013 05:26:33 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

The Alphonso Mango is named after Afonso de Albuquerque. This was an exquisite and expensive variety of mango, that he used to bring on his journeys to Goa. The locals took to calling it Aphoos in Konkani and in Gujarati and Maharashtra the pronunciation got further transformed to Hapoos. This variety then was taken to the region of Maharashtra, South & central Gujarat and other parts of India.Alphonso is considered as one of the best in terms of sweetness, richness and flavor.

Savandurga Hill - Largest Monolithic Hill in the World

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Fri, 03 May 2013 23:22:53 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

Situated in the Deccan Plateau of India.

Jewel Bug, Chrysocoris stolli (Scutelleridae,Hemiptera)- dorsal view

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:31:09 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

Scutelleridae is a family of true bugs, which are commonly known as jewel bugs or metallic shield bugs due to their often brilliant coloration. They are also known as shield-backed bugs due to the enlargement of the last section of their thorax into a continuous shield over the abdomen and wings.

Rock climbing in Savandurga Hill, Karnataka

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 23:28:42 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

Savandurga is one of the popular picnic destinations situated in the vicinity of Bangalore at about 75 km away towards its West, off the Magadi road. This place, which lies on the Deccan plateau, is located at an average elevation of 1226 m above sea level.

Savandurga is famous for the Savandurga Hill, which is regarded as the largest monolith hill in the world. This rock is of prehistoric origin and made of basic dykes, granites, gneiss, and laterites. Savandurga Hill also consist of two minor hills Karigudda (Black Hill) and Biligudda (white hill). Rock climbing is one the popular options here, given the challenge involved in this activity.

As per early records that date back to 1340 AD, Savandurga Hills was known as Savandi Hills. The region of Savandurga was a prominent territory under various rulers such as Hoysalas, Kempegowdas, Wodeyars, Tipu Sultan, and the British.

Mud-Puddling behaviour of Common Emigrant (Catopsilia pomona) butterflies

nobody@flickr.com (PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views)) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:31:41 -0700

PL Tandon (Thank you friends for 200K+ views) posted a photo:

Mud-puddling is the phenomenon mostly seen in butterflies and involves their aggregation on substrates like wet soil, dung and carrion to obtain nutrients such as salts and amino acids. This behaviour is restricted to males in many species.Males seem to benefit from the sodium uptake through mud-puddling behaviour with an increase in reproductive success.