Category Archives: Galleries – Nature and Landscapes

White Throated Tits (Aegithalos niveogularis) of Yamunotri

By Somendra | Published January 3, 2013


We reached Janakichatti on a clear and crisply cold December evening at 4pm, about and hour and a half before sunset. Janakichatti is the road head for the trek to Yamunotri, the source of the Yamuna river, and one of the four major centers of Hindu pilgrimage in Uttarakhand (The other three being Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath).

Continue reading »

The Demoiselle Cranes of Kheechan

By Somendra | Published July 6, 2012


We reached Kheechan by first light and made our way to the terrace of a building next to the “Chugga Ghar” (literally feeding house) in the semi darkness. It was a typical cold and silent pre-dawn of a desert village. After ensuring that we had a good vantage point, Ram Narain, our guide went downstairs to organize tea for everyone. Soon we were enjoying a steaming cup of sweet masala chai (Indian milk tea) and biscuits while we waited.

Continue reading »

Shooting tigers in the Bandhavgarh National Park

By Somendra | Published June 13, 2012

The Bandhavgarh National Park boasts of the highest tiger density in the world. It is also tourist friendly, easily accessible, has good visibility and has well made jungle tracks. In short, it is the best place in the world to see tigers in the wild.

During the last couple of years I have had the good fortune of visiting this park many times. I was photographing the Samode Safari Lodge, Bandhavgarh, and my work involved repeated visits.

I must have made at least 25 jeep safaris into the park during this period. Given the number of safaris and the “highest tiger density in the world” one would be forgiven to think that I would have seen a huge number of tigers during this time. Not true. Seeing tigers is not as easy as seeing their more exhibitionist cousins, the lions. In fact the Indian jungle is very different from the staple diet of the “African Savannah experience” tabled by the TV channels every day.

Continue reading »

Looking for Argali (Marco Polo Sheep, Ovis Ammon) in Tso Kar

By Somendra | Published May 20, 2012

Kiangs in a huddle

While in Leh, in September 2011, during a chance meeting with an officer from the Forest Department, I asked him whether it was possible to see wild Argali (Marco Polo sheep, Ovis Ammon) in Ladakh. It won’t be easy, he said, but it is possible. He told me that there was a small population of Marco Polo sheep in the Tso Kar Wildlife Sanctuary. Numbering about 150, this flock lived in the northern regions of the sanctuary. But, he added, the Argali were very shy and difficult to locate.  He said it might be a good idea to look around for the Marco Polo sheep in the Tso Kar wildlife sanctuary on the way back to Manali.

Continue reading »

Jal Mahal – Jaipur

By Somendra | Published March 25, 2012

The Jal Mahal (literally “Water Palace”) is a beautiful Mughal-Rajput style palace located in the center of the Mansagar lake a few kilometers to the north of the city of Jaipur. Designed a pleasure resort, the Jal Mahal is an approximately 60m square multistory building which has chhatris on each corner. When the lake is full only the top floor remains above the water level and the Palace can only be reached by boat. The terrace has a typical Charbagh style Mugal garden. Located on the tourist artery, the Jaipur – Amer road, Jal mahal is one of the iconic sights of Jaipur.

Continue reading »

Abstract Ice Sculptures from the Spiti Valley

By Somendra | Published March 16, 2012

I made an early season trip to the Spiti Valley (Himachal Pradesh) in April 2011. The plan was to survey the valley for Bharal (Pseudois nayaur) and Ibex (Capra ibex). We did have some success with our mission. You can see some images of Ibex from this trip in the “Ibex (Capra ibex) in the Pin valley – Spiti” post. As we were early in the season we saw a lot of ice and I spent some time photographing the ice with my macro lens to get some abstract images. The images presented in this gallery are a selection from these.

Continue reading »

Portraits of Himalayan Birds

By Somendra | Published March 6, 2012

Great RosefinchThe Himalayas are one the few truly wild spaces left in the world where one can spend weeks without coming in contact with civilization. I try and escape into the Himalayas for a few months every year. Trekking, mountaineering, birding, observing wild animals or just driving through. Some of the most cherished moments of my life have been in the Himalayas, many in the company of wild creatures, especially birds. These images are mementos of such moments. Hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed photographing them …..

Continue reading »

Ibex (Capra Ibex) in the Pin valley – Spiti

By Somendra | Published February 13, 2012

Ibex (Capra Ibex)I made a short trip to the Spiti valley, in April 2011, before the summer tourist rush started. The plan was to survey the valley for Ibex (Capra Ibex) and Bharal (Pseudois nayaur). If lucky we might get to see some before they started moving to higher altitudes. If not we would at least have the snow covered Spiti valley to ourselves and enjoy the stunning scenery.

We based ourselves in Kaza (at the only hotel that was open) and we spent the days driving around, enjoying and photographing the stunning landscape while on the lookout for wild animals.

Continue reading »

Kalapathar – Everest base camp – Image Gallery

By Somendra | Published January 1, 2012

Ama Dablam

During the Everest base camp – Kalapathar top trek we were treated to two spectacular sunsets. This gallery contains images captured on these two evenings. According to our guide, spectacular sunsets on Everest are quite rare. The best time for a good sunset is late November or early March.

We witnessed the first sunset while at Lobuche. We had reached Lobuche well in time and after checking into our hotel, we had gone for a short walk towards the Khumbu glacier. After the walk we had almost reached Lobuche again when the sky suddenly cleared up and as the sun went down it gave us a fine display of alpenglow on Nuptse and Pumori.  The second grand sunset happened when we were at the Kalapathar top.

Continue reading »

Reflections in water – the transience of being : Abstract images of flowing water.

By Somendra | Published November 17, 2011

Flowing water is one of the oldest, and to my mind, the most apt metaphors for life. The constant movement, the transient forms, the impermanence, the unity, the apparent confusion, the unstopable progress, the inevitable immersion into the ocean … one could go on for ever.

Movement in water fascinates me. Sometimes, when I look closely, I can see the reflection of my own life in it. This gallery is a collection of such images. They capture a bit of the ever transient mystery of being. From being born: “the beginning”, to the final destination, “peace at last”.

Continue reading »