hindureligion

Far view of a lone Hindu temple in the centre of the Gulmarg valley
by shankar s.

Gulmarg market rooftops, parking lot and a Hindu temple in the distance
by shankar s.

A closer view of the lone Hindu temple in the Gulmarg valley
by shankar s.

Pahalgam is one of the starting points for the Amarnath Yatra
by shankar s.

Approaching the base camp for the Amarnath Yatra before we hit Pahalgam
by shankar s.

I was refreshing to see a Hindu temple in Pahalgam, Kashmir
by shankar s.

A Hindu temple across the street from the public park in Pahalgam
by shankar s.

As I hesitate to jump across a narrow brook, my friend clears it and moves on towards the exit
by shankar s.

Assembly point in Pahalgam for those proceeding on the Amarnath Yatra
by shankar s.

Assembly point in Pahalgam for pilgrims of the Amarnath Yatra
by shankar s.

Signage at the entrance to the Avantipora Hindu temple ruins outside Srinagar
by shankar s.

The once grand temple carvings have been completely destroyed
by shankar s.

A broad overview of the Avantipora Hindu temple ruins
by shankar s.

All that is left of the Avantipora Hindu temple are bits and pieces of debris
by shankar s.

Ascending the steps to what was once the main sanctum sanctorum
by shankar s.

My friend corrects my pose and has me pose again!
by shankar s.

I pose against what must have once been the top of a pillar
by shankar s.

A set of steps leads to an inner shrine at Avantipora
by shankar s.

Remains of once grand Hindu temple carvings, now reduced to nought
by shankar s.

My friend and host's turn to pose against the inner shrine at Avantipora
by shankar s.

A closer look at what remains of the inner shrine of the Avantipora temple ruins
by shankar s.

Looking back towards the outer shrine as two tourists prepare to ascend the steps
by shankar s.

Repeat selfie to show that this is the outer shrine, that is the inner shrine
by shankar s.

A selfie against what remains of the inner shrine at Avantipora
by shankar s.

My friend couldn't get enough selfies - of either or us!
by shankar s.

My friend insists I sit and take a more leisurely selfie
by shankar s.

My friend teaches me how to pose- to cheer me up at seeing the ancient temple's ruined state
by shankar s.

Remains of a corridor that once ran around the Avantipora temple
by shankar s.

A pristine mosque overlooks the ruins of the Hindu temple at Avantipora
by shankar s.

Though on a damaged temple part, this ancient Hindu sculpture is relatively intact in comparison
by shankar s.

Some repair and restoration work has been attempted in the Avantipora temple
by shankar s.

How large and grand the temple once was is evident from these steep steps leading to it
by shankar s.

My friend and host strikes a pose on those steep steps
by shankar s.

Broad overview of the ruins of what was once a grand Hindu temple
by shankar s.

It turned out to be a day of multiple selfies in the ruins of the Avantipora Hindu temples
by shankar s.

Another pose by my friend in the ruins of the inner shrine of the Awantipora temple
by shankar s.

Time to leave Avantipora now, this is an overview of the temple from the entrance path
by shankar s.

The military presence is pretty evident in Srinagar
by shankar s.

Here is a final selfie against the Avantipora temple ruins
by shankar s.

It was a sorry sight to see this once grand temple now in complete shambles
by shankar s.

There is a second set of Hindu temple ruins but we did not visit it as it is almost similar
by shankar s.

And the Juggernaut rolls on
by National Library of Ireland on The Commons

References to aviation in India's ancient Hindu scriptures
by shankar s.

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple on Serangoon Rd.
by shankar s.

Video- The drum roll equivalent of the south Indian nadaswaram- done when something auspicious is performed
by shankar s.

Sri Mariamman Hindu temple in Singapore Chinatown- I had last visited here in 2002
by shankar s.

Entering the Sri Mariamman Hindu temple in Singapore Chinatown- I last visited here in 2002
by shankar s.

Sanctum sanctorum of the Hindu temple in Singapore Chinatown
by shankar s.

The faithful offer prayers in the Hindu temple in Singapore Chinatown
by shankar s.

A colourful collage of Hindu godesses in the Hindu temple in Singapore Chinatown
by shankar s.

After visiting a Hindu temple, it's customary to sit awhile in the temple
by shankar s.

The dhwaja stambh or flagpole in the Hindu Temple in Singapore Chinatown
by shankar s.

This local Hindu god on the way to Cameron Highlands is offered beer and cigarettes!
by shankar s.

Statue of the Hindu god Brahma at the Thai Buddhist temple in Ipoh
by shankar s.

A far shot of a Hindu temple as we approach KL
by shankar s.

Just as I was gloating over my successful climb, I spot this poor gentleman climbing up, bearing three heavy cartons of water on his head
by shankar s.

Lucky I missed these tour buses (there was another similar row opposite them) full of gawking Chinese tourists, thanks to my early start!
by shankar s.

Beautiful rainbow steps leading up to a shrine at the base of the Batu Caves
by shankar s.

I have seen something like this back in 2002 but that was inside a proper Hindu temple
by shankar s.

I prepare myself for the second set of steps inside the Batu Caves
by shankar s.