Gautam Das

PERSONAL

I love travel. Here are a few pictures of interesting places I have visited. Click on thumbnails for bigger versions.

Australia

Australia conjures images of water, sunshine, and laid-back living. From left:

· Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House

· Gold Coast skyline over water

· Nan Tien Buddhist Temple at Wollongong

All pictures taken between 2006-2008.

Salzburg and Vienna, Austria

Grand palaces, opera halls, Mozart, and the sound of music ... I cannot think of better keywords to describe Austria. The first two pictures are from atop a castle in Salzburg; the second two are the famous Schonbrunn palace and its gardens in Vienna. All pictures taken in 2007.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The left two pictures were taken in the beautiful planned city of Putrajaya, close to Kuala Lumpur. Indian movie aficionados will recognize both the mosque and bridge, which have served as backdrops for many a song and dance sequence :-) On the right, perhaps the most famous landmark of Malaysia, the Petronas Towers, which until recently were the tallest skyscrapers in the world. All pictures taken in 2007.

Beijing, China

Beijing is one of the truly great cities of the world, an amazing smorgasbord of ancient culture and modern consumerism fueled by the economic growth of China. From left:

· Like an enormous dragon, the Great Wall straddles the surrounding hills and seemingly stretches out to infinity

· The Temple of Heaven

· A view of the rooftops of the Forbidden City

· Jostling customers in a Beijing market

All pictures taken in 2007.

Istanbul, Turkey

To westerners, Istanbul with its exotic bazaars and beautiful mosques was the gateway to the mysterious Orient. From left:

· Carpet sellers at the Grand Bazaar

· The Blue Mosque at night. While most mosques around the world have four minarets, this has six

· A day picture of the Blue Mosque

· The confluence of the Bosporus and the Black Sea. Russian oil tankers can be seen in the distance plying this route.

All pictures taken in 2007

Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Exotic India is perhaps best exemplified by the magnificent palaces and forts of Rajasthan. From left:

· Almost a thousand ornately designed windows on the walls of Hawa Mahal

· The huge and sprawling Amber Fort, built with a unique blend of Hindu and Moghul architectural styles

· Nimrana Fort

All pictures taken in 2006

South Island, New Zealand

Arid desert landscapes, alpine vistas, glacial lakes ... the island has it all. From left:

· A remote lake near Arthur's Pass.

· A parting in the clouds reveals the incredible sight of Fox Glacier descending from the heavens.

· Moraine fields of Fran Josef Glacier

· Lake Pukaki near Mt Cook

· Lindis Pass

All pictures taken in 2006

Helsinki, Finland

The land of the midnight sun and Santa Claus! From left:

· The skyline of Helsinki, dominated by the Tuomiokirkko cathedral

· Helsinki waterfront

· Finnish icebreakers form the backdrop of this picture

· Huge cruise ships stop by Helsinki, enroute to the other Baltic ports of Tallin and St Petersburg

· Sailing on a peaceful summer evening

All pictures taken in 2005

Orissa, India

The loveliest state of India! Even after two decades of living in a faraway land, I still feel homesick when I see these pictures. From left:

· Morning mist engulfs a valley in Phulbani district in the Eastern Ghats. (Picture taken 2006).

· The serene Forest Rest House in Belghar, Phulbani district. (Picture taken 2006).

· Monsoon scenery from atop Dhauli Giri in Bhubaneswar. Lush paddy fields, the atmosphere pregnant with rains. This peaceful panorama belies a violent past ... this was a famous battlefield over two thousand years ago when Emperor Asoka massacred the Kalinga army, and the Daya river (in picture) flowed blood. Sickened with the violence, the emperor embraced Buddhism and was responsible for its revival in ancient India. (Picture taken 2004).

· Mukteshwar Temple, Bhubaneswar. Orissa has stunning temples. While most tourist guides gravitate towards towards the majestic Sun Temple at Konark, my personal favorite is this beautiful miniature jewel, with its intricate details and perfect proportions. (Picture taken 2004).

· "Patachitra" artwork adorn walls of artisan village Raghurajpur. (Picture taken 2004)

Ladakh, India

Moonscape at 15,000 ft. Quite easily the most awesome place I have been to. From left:

· Panorama enroute to Lake Tso Moriri.

· The Buddhist monastery of Lamayuru.

· Courtyard of Hemis Gompa

· Fluttering prayer flags stand guard at a valley.

· Confluence of the Zanskar and the mighty Indus. Even these rivers cannot bring life to this wasteland.

All pictures taken in 2004

Iguazu Falls, Brazil

With a discharge of 12 million litres of water per second, comparable to the Victoria Falls in Africa, and vastly larger than Niagara, the Iguazu Falls bordering Brazil and Argentina is an awe inspiring natural wonder of our world. Pictures taken in 2005.

Rome, Italy

The Forum (left) and the Coliseum (right) are truly impressive ruins from the ancient Roman era. Pictures taken in 2005.

South Western United States

The vast and arid desert beauty of the US south west. From left:

· The South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona

· Sedona, Arizona

· Homes blend into the desert, Santa Fe, New Mexico

All pictures taken in 2004-2005

Bora Bora, Tahiti

A beautiful place, with volcanic mountains, lush vegetation, Polynesian over-water bungalows, and that incredible lagoon encircled by coral reefs. Pictures taken in 2003.

Older Photos

On the left, Neuschwanstein, Germany. Built by Mad King Ludwig II of Bavaria, this castle is supposed to have inspired the fairytale castles of Disneyland and Disneyworld. On the right, sunset on top of Stone Mountain, Georgia. Pictures taken in early 90s.