hindureligion

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

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

A selfie against the second set of steps deep inside the Batu Caves
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.

The temple atop the second set of steps inside the Batu Caves
by shankar s.

Here I am, whimpering about the 272 step climb, and here's this lady crawling up those steps on all fours!
by shankar s.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All creatures big and small- a frog inside the Batu Caves
by shankar s.

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

As I prepare for my descent, I spot this monkey on a large trash can
by shankar s.

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

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

Look back at the cave entrance- in 2002, I had pictured that statue up close
by shankar s.

Someone offered to take a selfie on my way down the second set of steps
by shankar s.

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

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

Time to head back down- view from the head of the second set of steps into the main cavern
by shankar s.

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

A little further into the cave, the massive cavern is open to the sky
by shankar s.

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

Looking down the 272 steps towards the shrine at the base of the steps
by shankar s.

Bats, frogs, roosters- they are all there inside the Batu Caves
by shankar s.

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

A look at the Hindu god of war Murugan before the 272 step climb to Batu Caves
by shankar s.

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

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

Hundreds of pigeons at the base of the Batu Caves hill
by shankar s.

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

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

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

A subsidiary shrine in one of the many receptacles inside the Batu Caves
by shankar s.

A final look at the cave mouth as I descend from Batu Caves
by shankar s.

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

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

Decorative entrance to the rainbow steps up to Batu Caves
by shankar s.

Call it a divine calling, but even at age 64, the climb up the 272 steps wasn't all that bad, really
by shankar s.

The massive cavern at the second level of the Batu Caves is open to the elements
by shankar s.

I remember this strangely phallus shaped rock from my 2002 visit
by shankar s.

Here goes nothing- I start to tackle the 272 steps going up
by shankar s.

I remember seeing this statue from way back on my first visit here in 2002
by shankar s.

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

Sanctum sanctorum of the first temple inside the Batu Caves near KL
by shankar s.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Looking out towards the outer shrine from the ruins of the inner shrine
by shankar s.

I turn back to take a final look at the entrance cavern before I descend
by shankar s.

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

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

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