Photographer's Note
After Puri and Konarak I continued to Bhubaneswar, the capital and largest city of Orissa (Odisha) state on the Indian east coast. There are many temples in Puri, one very famous temple in Konarak, but Bhubaneswar (population about 840.000 in 2011) is virtually packed with temples, many of them dating back more than 1.000 years.
This photo shows the largest and most famous of them all, the Lingaraja temple mainly built during the 11th century. It is dedicated to Shiva, one of the principal deities of Hinduism. It is one of the many temples in Orissa where non-Hindus are not allowed to enter, but tourists can look across the wall surrounding the temple compound from a viewing platform outside.
I noted in my diary that I was asked for a donation to climb the platform, and after some haggling I was allowed to stay there for less than 2 percent of what they tried to make me pay. After their first suggestion of 50 rupees, after a while they accepted my loose change of 85 paise.
Bargaining was one of my favourite hobbies in India in those days.
The platform was originally built for a visit by George (Lord) Curzon, British Viceroy of India around the turn of the last century. He probably wasn't asked to pay anything.
I discovered only yesterday that I had already used this photo as a workshop a few years ago. I don't think I am breaking any rules by promoting it to a main upload, and in any case this is a new scan and to my mind much better than the old one.
You can see that the ground is wet. This was during the northeast monsoon, which usually meant a few heavy showers every day. They normally didn't last very long and were usually followed by a bright sky and a humid heat like in a sauna. Occasionally I had to seek shelter to avoid being drenched, or I had to wait in my hotels before I could go out.
In the WS is a photo of a temple lake close to the Lingaraja. Both photos were scanned from Kodachrome slides.
pajaran, ikeharel, alvaraalto, ChrisJ, Royaldevon, jhm, pierrefonds, Fis2, PaulVDV, jimmyjimmy, jean113, COSTANTINO, adramad marcou esta nota como útil
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pajaran
(102532) 2021-01-13 0:15
Pozdrav.
Lepe fasade i detalji, lepa stara arhitektura, dobro pokazana sa lepim bojama, kontrastom, perspektivom i dobrim tekstom.
lepi stari Hramovi.
Lepa fotografija i uhavceni trenutak.
Dobar rad sa lepom fotografijom u radionici.
Zelim vam lep i uspesan dan, sve najbolje.
Paja.
ikeharel
(105841) 2021-01-13 0:37
The rain had given a shining colors through the temple premises, Gert, and the outcome has wonderful depth and colors cast.
Picture is superbly clear, enliven and scaled.
Have a nice new day,
Ike
lousat
(129885) 2021-01-13 0:46
Hi Gert,a 98% discount is really a record, not even I have ever succeeded in such a feat..ehhee .. but the African countries I visited have always been an excellent opportunity to pay with the fake euros that I used to take at the bar .... ehehe ... and it is a great satisfaction to cheat those who at the same time tried to cheat you and thought they had succeeded. The photos are wonderful, there is a really big choice of temples here although the site is not among the most celebrated by tour operators, nice view over the lake in WS too, just a little dark but I read about rapid rain showers in the notes. Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano
alvaraalto
(42234) 2021-01-13 2:06
Hello Gert,
It is inconceivable that these temples were already built in the 11th century. Obviously all with the same main shape, but varying widely in size and details.
Your excellently scanned photo made me fantasize for a moment about a place where we would similarly collect a variety of European church spiers.
The workshop photo shows how modern technology disrupts the image.
Well done
Have a nice day, groet Rob
Silvio1953
(205581) 2021-01-13 2:23
Ciao Gert, great view of fantastic tempo e, lovely composition with Wellington people, fine details, excellent clarity, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio
ChrisJ
(159946) 2021-01-13 3:27
Hi Gert,
An impressive group of very old temples that from this angle bear some resemblance to Prambanan outside Jogjakarta in central Java. Indian traders were in Java long before the Arabs or the Dutch. The recent rain has brought out the tones and colours of the stone stupas and prangs. The people add scale. Tfs!
Royaldevon
(75284) 2021-01-13 3:57
Hello Gert,
I know how hard it is to make good scans of slides and though I was interested in the details on this scene, I found it a little morose. For that reason I did a little workshop, which I hope you will like.
It is amazing that such buildings were created so long ago and are still used regularly.
The details of the rain are clear to see and add atmosphere to the temple setting. You were very fortunate in more ways than one: first to have reduced the cost of the donation by 98% and secondly to have so many figures wearing red, in the temple.
The w/s was also an interesting capture. It's ironic that the people come to cleanse themselves in water that is highly polluted.
My warm regards,
Bev :-)
jhm
(202883) 2021-01-13 5:56
Hello Gert,
We get a wonderful view, the time have no consequence on your nice picture
You did very well addition the people for the scale.
Colours and sharpness are excellent done.
Very well photographed, TFS.
Best regards,
John.
pierrefonds
(103446) 2021-01-13 6:25
Hi Gert,
The presence of the persons is animating the scene. The point of view is showing the details of the temples. The cloudy sky is giving a good contrast to the colors. Have a nice day.
Pierre
Fis2
(155519) 2021-01-13 9:23
Witaj Gert!
Another very interesting set of photos.
Interesting place, your photos make impression.
Good frames and curious colors.
I love it.
Good evening.
Krzysztof
Tue
(82146) 2021-01-13 10:29
Hej Gert,
Sikke et imponerende sted med de mange store templer, menneskerne der går mellem byngninger danner en god ide om hvor stort det hele er. De grønlige farver står også tydeligt frem, især på den skyede dag.
Lars
jmdias
(102802) 2021-01-13 11:29
gert
I never liked bargain, this is something irritate me..
a marvelous sample of hindu architecture, different the temples I saw at northwest..the rounded towers in stone created a fabulous visual effect.
take care
jorge
PaulVDV
(54777) 2021-01-13 11:30
Hello Gert,
Bhubaneswar's temples are very famous. I see why here. It's a pity that they cannot be visited by non-Hindus.
The viewing platform invites us to see even more of the temple.
The stones have a greenish hue. Maybe this is because of mosses that grow on the temples. It's certainly not copper that we see.
Your note tells me that October is not the best travel period for Odisha.
Best regards, Paul
GyurMaster
(21309) 2021-01-13 12:04
Dear Gert,
Utilizing my WS photos as main uploads is something I do from time to time eg. in case of some photos of my Zakopane memories series. Nothing wrong with that. Regarding your photo I have to say that it is a well-taken one. I like the human presence, especially those wearing red clothes and stand well against the greenish environment.
Best Wishes,
Gy.
jean113
(21983) 2021-01-13 12:22
Hello Gert, what a fascinating place.
I can’t recall seeing a view like this before.
I guess that the green/turquoise colouring of the stone is a kind of lichen due to the damp atmosphere?
The viewpoint gives us a very good impression of the site.
The few people add a guide to the scale.
An interesting view of the temple lake, thanks.
Kind regards,Jean.
COSTANTINO
(104051) 2021-01-13 22:48
Hello dear Gert and have a pleasant day
thanks for sharing this photo with us
presenting the largest and mostfamous
of them all...I have the feeling that
these temples need a refreshment....
the atmosphere has a hidden mystery
full of melancholy...
regards
Costantino
jemaflor
(135326) 2021-01-13 23:41
Hi Gert,
Interesting photo of these monuments, good POV and composition, a picture well balanced, good human presence, interesting to give a scale at your view, tfs.
emka
(152102) 2021-01-14 11:25
Hello Gert, Also this place I have marked in Google map as the place I would like to visit. Interesting view of these temples of the kind I haven't seen. Even in the rain and gloomy day they look beautiful. There are only a few visitors there. Impressive view.
After almost two weeks, against I put the mask :(.
Best regrads MAlgo
adramad
(66950) 2021-01-15 11:14
Hi Gert.
Wow ..... impressive this set of temples is like a small religious city, they seem quite well preserved for their great antiquity, this kind of stupas are totally different from other of the many temples in India, I don't think I have seen this style in my trips.
A fantastic photo, with beautiful natural colors, very good lighting and excellent sharpness.
Well done. I love it.
Enjoy the weekend, but taking all precautions against Covid.
Very best regards.
Luis.
kasianowak
(15762) 2021-01-18 12:35
Both this and the workshop photo reflect the mood of a dark rainy day and the puddles certainly speak of wet weather. The red human figures contrast nicely with the greens and brown of the temple.
Wish I were there!
Have a nice evening.
Kasia
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Gert Holmertz (holmertz)
(92774)
- Genre: Lugares
- Medium: Cor
- Date Taken: 1987-10-17
- Versão da Foto: Versão Original, Workshop
- Date Submitted: 2021-01-13 0:12
Discussions
- To Royaldevon: ws (1)
by holmertz, last updated 2021-01-13 05:32 - To emka: emptiness (3)
by holmertz, last updated 2021-01-15 06:18