Best of Me Sahyadri

Western ghats, or Sahyadri as we all call it as, is a treasure trove of spectacular landscapes, biodiversity, flora, fauna, some amazing geological wonders and manmade monuments. With the increasing pressure from human encroachment, all these elements are under stress and in turn are under depletion. Western ghats should be left untouched by human beings, to protect their future generations from getting short of resources, such as water, energy and clean air. The important elements of western ghats, which need protection are highlighted in the new version of Photo journal , Me Sahyadri Magazine. The various issues of journal have a brief of inspiring subjects such as birds, mammals, forts, ancient caves, snakes and the ambiance.

On this page all the covers of Me Sahyadri are listed.

Pateshwar or Patheshwar is a small temple complex located on a hill near Satara, Maharashtra. The temple complex consists of three zones. The old Shiva temple complex, rock cut caves and temples around caves and the main Shiva temple. Located high on the hill the most magnificence of the place is in the tranquility here with many interesting shiva linga and the other sculptures. This photoessay covers only a part of the complex. The entire temple complex is covered in four separate photoessays. This is the fourth photoessay of the series and covers the main temple of Pateshwar.

Pateshwar or Patheshwar is a small temple complex located on a hill near Satara, Maharashtra. The temple complex consists of three zones. The old Shiva temple complex, rock cut caves and temples around caves and the main Shiva temple. Located high on the hill the most magnificence of the place is in the tranquility here with many interesting shiva linga and the other sculptures. This photoessay covers only a part of the complex. The entire temple complex will be covered in four separate photoessays. This is the third photoessay of the series and covers the cave complex between two main temples of Pateshwar and surrounding small temples around these caves.

Pateshwar or Patheshwar is a small temple complex located on a hill near Satara, Maharashtra. The temple complex consists of three zones. The old Shiva temple complex, rock cut caves and temples around caves and the main Shiva temple. Located high on the hill the most magnificence of the place is in the tranquility here with many interesting shiva linga and the other sculptures. The previous photoessay in last month covered the main chamber of the old shiva temple complex. This photoessay covers remaining part of the old shiva temple complex. The entire temple complex will be covered in four separate photoessays. This is the second photoessay of the series.

Pateshwar or Patheshwar is a small temple complex located on a hill near Satara, Maharashtra. The temple complex consists of three zones. The old Shiva temple complex, rock cut caves and temples around caves and the main Shiva temple. Located high on the hill the most magnificence of the place is in the tranquility here with many interesting shiva linga and the other sculptures. This photoessay covers only a part of the old shiva complex. The entire temple complex will be covered in four separate photoessays. This is the first photoessay of the series.

Western Ghats south of Maharashtra have many flat table top mountains, with lateritic plateaus at the top. When viewed from distance the hills look so flat as if they were done so artificially. Lateritic plateau of Kaas is one of such many plateaus in the region. The volcanic rock at the top has been eroded over the years due to heavy rains of monsoon. The soft portions of the rock are eroded leaving behind the porous rock with hard elements. The thin layer of sandy soil over such rock does not have much nutrition. Due to this reason, at Kaas, the soil has many unique wildflower plants, herbs blooming in Monsoon, some of them being insectivorous plants. Though many herbs are very tiny, this plateau and the region around get dramatically transformed in the monsoon and in post monsoon season. The area is very scenic with beautiful vistas, and requires special protection for its flora, fauna and landscapes.

This journal introduces you to one of the arboreal mammal of western ghats, "Indian Giant Squirrel" using brief information and photographs.
In India, we are used to see the common squirrel in and around urban as well as rural human habitations. The common three striped palm squirrel seen in south India is about 120-150 mm long (head to body length) and its tail is about 140-160 mm long. Similarly the northern or five striped palm squirrel is 130-160 mm long (Head to body length) and its tail is about 140-160 mm long. So the total head to tail length of common palm squirrels is about 26 to 30 cm.
The size of the Indian giant squirrel is about 350 to 510 mm long (head to body), and its tail is further 600 mm long. So total length can be as large as 110 cm. So the Indian giant squirrel is about 3 to 4 times longer than the common palm squirrel. By weight the giant squirrel is about 15-20 times heavier than the palm squirrel. Hence due to its large size it is called as giant squirrel.

In Pune district, in Pawana Maval region, there is a fort known as Tikona. The fort is also known as Vitandgad. The mountain is pyramid shaped and hence the fort is called as Tikona. On the top of the mountain in the fort there is a small group of rock cut caves. In the same mountain, on the back side towards Kashig village at the lower level, there is another cave. These caves at the lower level have been recently excavated and cleaned. The sri Shivdurg Samvardhan NGO from Pune have done the excavation and trail work to reach these caves with the help of local villagers. Interestingly the fort is looked after by two village youth, under the guidance of village committee and NGO. This has helped in maintenance of the fort cleanliness, and guidance to the visitors and tourists.

This journal introduces you to one of the Buddhist rock temple through brief information and photographs. As the location is unsafe due to habitat of honeybees, please do not venture to the location without professional approach, and local support. Some rock cut caves west of Junaar are located in Maanmodi hill about 1.5 km south from Junnar. There are three groups of caves in Maanmodi hills, viz Bhut leni, Ambika and Bhimashankar.Bhut leni and Ambika caves are facing north, Bhimashankar caves are facing east. The cave is called as Bhutling caves. It has beautiful Torana on its facade.

This journal introduces you to one of the Buddhist rock temple through brief information and photographs. As the location is unsafe due to habitat of honeybees, please do not venture to the location without professional approach, and local support. Some rock cut caves west of Junaar are located in Maanmodi hill about 1.5 km south from Junnar. There are three groups of caves in Maanmodi hills, viz Bhut leni, Ambika and Bhimashankar.Bhut leni and Ambika caves are facing north, Bhimashankar caves are facing east. The cave is called as Ambika caves because there is a Ambika deity shrine in one of the caves.

Some rock cut caves west of Junaar are located in spur of Tulajaa hill about 2.5 km from Junnar. The caves are facing north east, and one can see a beautiful view of Lenyadri Ganesh hills at the distance from here beyond the Kukadi river basin. The cave is called as Tulaja caves because there is a modern Tulajaa deity shrine in one of the caves.

Junnar is located on the deccan plateau, 20 km east of the main western ghat ridge. The town is surrounded by hills from all the sides. There are mountain forts and old rock cut caves all around the Junnar town. One of these many caves is Suleman caves . The cave has beautiful ornamental facade.

Western ghats, or Sahyadri as we all call it as, is a treasure trove of spectacular landscapes, biodiversity, flora, fauna, some amazing geological wonders and manmade monuments. With the increasing pressure from human encroachment, all these elements are under stress and in turn are under depletion. Western ghats should be left untouched by human beings, to protect their future generations from getting short of resources, such as water, energy and clean air. The important elements of western ghats, which need protection are highlighted in the new version of Photo journal , Me Sahyadri Magazine. The various issues of journal have a brief of inspiring subjects such as birds, mammals, forts, ancient caves, snakes and the ambiance.

The plants had kept the distance from each other. The leaves were places along the spherical surface. It was surprising to note that these plants were more disciplined in their growth,nlike most of the plants and trees which we see show randomness in their growth. Otherwise the symmetry in nature is not surprising. We see it in flowers, leaves and animals These spherical plants are called as Pleocaulus ritchei. The plant flowers once in 7 years. It is endemic to western ghats. One plant had flowered. All kind of insects were on the plants. Small honeybees were hovering on the plant with purple flowers. There were occasional pink flowers stemmed out of the semi sphere of Pleocaulus ritchei. These pink flowers were of Impatiens lawii. We observed the honeybees, the little insects around the flowers for a while.

10 important aspects about frog are
1) Frogs are indicators of water pollution. The population of frogs is reducing due to water pollution. Water pollution takes place due to use of pesticides and other chemicals.
2) Frogs live in microhabitats within the larger forest habitat. These microhabitats can be streams, rocks, trees, bush, puddles, soil, low foliage. Conservation of every such element within the larger forest habitat is important.
3) Western ghats has many endemic species of frogs. Conservation of western ghats is important for survival of these species.
4) Water pollution, agricultural development, tourism, fungal infections, loss of habitat are the main reasons of reduction in numbers of frogs.
5) Frog is important part of food chain. They feed on insects, mosquitoes.
6) Frogs hibernate most of the time in year during non monsoon period.
7) Most of the frogs in western ghats breed in Monsoon.
8) Many species of frogs in western ghat appear as Threatened as per IUCN red list. The species are protected as per Indian Wildlife act.
9) Govt is spending funds on tigers and lions but not on frogs.
10) Many species of frogs in western ghats are being discovered. The research on the frogs is under progress by various research organizations.

On our planet there are 6000 species of Lizards. The small reptiles with legs can be roughly be classified as Lizards and Agamas, Geckos, skinks. The large reptiles include snakes, shieldtails, crocodiles, and turtles. India has about 79 species of Geckos, 59 species of lizards, 56 species of skinks. Out of 59 species of lizards found in India, “Fan throated Lizard”, also called as Sitana ponticeriana is singular for its display and behavior.

Let us understand what the Sahyadri frogs mean from Amphibian enthusiast Ninad Gosavi,
"Sahyadri , a land of forest , rich in biodiversity. This land has , mysterious variety of frogs. More than 50% species of frog of India are found in Sahyadri hill range. Lots of frogs are still unknown and scientists are working on it. Frogs are the super animals, they can live on land , under water and some species live on trees also. Frogs are one of the important stage in food chain. They eat pest of cultivation and help to control it. Their call is said to be the indicator of rain in most of the villages of Konkan. After first rain of monsoon , some of them gather around small pond and start music concert with their unique call. Scientists are now working on documentation of these calls in western ghats. After breeding , female lay eggs according to habit of species. Some deposit eggs in water , some on land under rocks , some deposit on large leaves and some make nest by folding leaf. But now a days we are loosing these beautiful creatures . Lots of reasons are behind it. Loss of habitat is one of the main threat faced by frogs. Loss of water ponds , marshes , grass lands , forest causes vanishing of these little life. Frogs are very sensitive to their environment , they show change in their body according to the vital changes in their niche. Dermal fungal infection on frogs is also affecting on the population of frogs in Sahyadri. Frogs are beautiful , amazing. We know very little about it. Sahyadri has lots of unknown frogs. We should not loose them. "

Most of the urban people are not aware of the wildlife, particularly the one which is lost due to urbanization. One such bird is Nightjar. Nightjars are the nocturnal birds. They are active in the night and take rest in the day time. These birds feed on moths and insects in the night or during early morning. They are very well camouflaged. The camouflage is like dried leaves or tree bark. This helps these birds to remain undetected during the day time when these birds take rest. These birds are seen roosting on the rocks or on the ground during night. There are about 80 species of nightjars on our planet. They vary in their shape, size, plumage and habitat. There are nine species of nightjars seen in India. These include, Indian nightjar, Large-tailed nightjar, Grey nightjar, Syke’s nightjar, Savana nightjar, Jerdon’s nightjar, Great eared nightjar, Eurasian nightjar, Egyptian nightjar. Out of these nine species, about 5 species, namely Indian nightjar, Savana nightjar, Grey nightjar, Jerdon’s nightjar, Great eared nightjar are seen in western ghats. Though none of these birds are endemic, they play a vital nocturnal role in the forest clearings and open country habitats in western ghats. Indian nightjar (Caprimulgus asiaticus) is a widespread resident nightjar, It is a small but brightly streaked and dotted with brown patterns. It is seen in open country and at the foothills. Nightjars are often heard in the night than they are seen. Due to nocturnal nature of these birds many superstitions are associated with the bird all across the world.

Oh Sunlit Morning,
wash me with the Light rays of yours
Oh the beautiful sunlit morning,
wash me with the springing light rays of yours and
remove the dust which has covered my true self,
Oh the beautiful sunlit morning,
wash me with the beautiful light rays of yours and
The one within me who is still entangled within the net of sleep,
you gently touch his forehead with your golden wand and wake him up.
Today wash me with these rays of joy, coming from the vast universe,
so as to wash away all narrowness and darkness from every corner of my mind.
Within the veena of my heart is sleeping the song of immortality,
which has neither words, nor rythum or notes; touch the innermost chord with this awakening of joy in this morning.
- Rabindranath Tagore
Visit the Photoessay published in April 2014, by clicking on the image