I have always been fascinated by trees – the variety, the shapes, their forms and the way they set off my crazy imagination. We went on a two day trip to Mysore in the middle of last week – an unexpected last minute plan that turned into a fabulous break. I noticed Mysore had an abundant number of banyan trees and bamboo trees.
Steeped in history and culture, Mysore is a great place – we are fortunate to be just a three-hour drive from it. Although we’ve visited it in the past, it is always a pleasure to go back. Lots of palaces, temples, monuments, museums, lakes, a zoo, a gorgeous bird sanctuary, natural beauty – what else could one ask for? This time we only visited two temples, the zoo and the bird sanctuary. But I’ve got to tell you that the palaces are beautiful! There’s a gold throne. Yes. 😀 … Continue Reading
So today, I’ve picked photos of a few trees that I loved looking at. I’d really like to show you lots of photos of the bird sanctuary – one of these Sundays, eh?
Trees have special religious significance in India. For example, each temple has its own special tree. and is specially worshipped. We believe neem trees heal. Peepul trees have their own importance and we believe trees are the homes of the Gods 🙂 But hey, that’s a whole different post!
But first, a haiku for trees:
Trees, symbol of life
Perpetual growth. Treasure
Trove of nature’s gifts
Here we go, then: (click the photos to see their original size)
 |
| Banyan trees freak me out! |
 |
| This one was just outside the guest house we stayed at. |
 |
| Abundant Bamboo – We kept expecting pandas to peek out from them |
 |
| At the bird sanctuary – the greens took my breath away and so did the birds |
 |
| So peaceful to watch the reflection |
 |
| Bamboo, everywhere! |
 |
| I found this everywhere – bamboo, again. There were HUGE ones like this everywhere |
 |
| Beautiful to see this – the tree was at a height – its branch arched and leaned into the water, and came up again to go back into the water |
And now, let’s travel the world. Our next stop is Unknown Mami’s blog, where she kindly hosts this lovely link up and also has our itinerary waiting. Here we come, Unknown Mami!
Thank you for subscribing to my blog! Do consider leaving a comment – or just reply to this email! I’d love to know what you think.
Cheers!
Vidya
41 comments
Wonderful photos, I like them all but the first tree is really fantastic. Greetings.
Thank you, Leovi! Yes, banyan trees are mesmerizing!
Yes, I love trees too!
Bamboo is one of my favorites. Trying to learn how to paint it with Chinese ink….
Happy Sunday!
Wow, that sounds great, BLOGitse – bamboo looks wonderful as a painting! I hope you’ll post pictures of your painting!
Hi Vidya. Love the photos. Love the trees! Banyan and Bamboo trees are also plentiful in Hawaii where I lived for a few years when my youngest was a baby. I fell in love with the banyans…had never seen anything like them before. They have a giant one at the Honolulu Zoo and I have a movie of my oldest son (he was 9 at the time) and his friend swinging on some of the branches/vines. I don’t think they allow that now, which is probably wise. Not good for the trees. Thanks for sharing with us once again! Fabulous post!
Terri
Wow, I’d love to see that video, Terri! We have a great many banyan trees that are reputed to be hundreds of years old. But the ones I saw in Mysore were simply mesmerizing. The branches seem perpetual you know – growing in and out of the ground – and some of them were spread over a substantial area, looking like a huge place with pillars. Really lovely. I could stare at them all day! And yes, there were lots of people swinging from the branches 😀
Thanks for your lovely comment, Terri!
Trees are truly a gift from God. I love the first one.
Thank you, dear Laurie – I feel the same way!
I think the Banyan tree is truly magical… it looks like it holds a million secrets
Mollyxxx
Oh, Molly, that’s precisely what I thought when I saw all the banyan trees. Charming, mesmerizing and setting my imagination on fire!
All the different shades of green is amazing. The banyan trees are very beautiful, so strange.
Hi Tara – I love the gnarled look – so mysterious and secretive. This place had millions of banyan trees and I just couldn’t get enough of them. Thank you for commenting – the greens were very pleasing, especially near the water!
Egads that’s a lot of Bamboo. Nature has it’s own class of beauty. I enjoyed your pictures.
Thank you Tami – the exciting thing was – the bamboo ranged in size and there were some really massive ones at the zoo.
What a great set of photos. I love trees as well.
Thank you, Wayne. Trees are great. There’s something so solid and reassuring about them.
I love trees, and take and post many photos of them here in Canada. I see we are kindred spirits on this:) Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting. I appreciate that, and hope to see you there often. Tomorrow (Monday) will be the letter “O” on my Alphabet series. Please drop by, as I will do here. Kaarina
Hi and welcome, Kaarina! What a pleasure to have you here! Glad we connected. And yes, I enjoyed the “O” post at your blog. 🙂
Trees give me a wonderful sense of security – does that make sense?
The Banyan is probably the strangest of all trees, but the Baobab is right behind it!
The tree which dips up and down through the water could be mistaken as a sea serpent, no?
I’ve heard of Baobab trees. So beautiful. I’ve seen photos of rooms created in the trunks of the trees.
Ah yes, I thought of a massive serpent when I saw the tree meandering through the water. There were so many of those. Some looked downright scary.
Thank you for commenting, Keetha – always a pleasure to see you here.
Check this on Baobab discovered in Hyderabad
Baobab found in Hyderabad
desi Traveler recently posted…Boat to Nagarjunakonda Island Museum in Nagarjuna Sagar
Love the water reflection shots and those top two bamboo shots are lovely.
Thank you, Maggie. I loved your Sunday post! The sprouting seeds looked fantastic. We had a great trip you know – and I have hundreds of photos from it.
This must be one of my favorite posts of yours. I love trees. I have also been fascinated with them. Thanks for sharing your special photos with us.
Have an amazing week ahead!
Evelyn
Thank you, Evelyn! those trees were indeed beautiful. Glad you liked them. Happy week to you, too!
A very visually appealing post along with a perfect Haiku:)
Welcome and thank you, Rahul! 🙂 I appreciate your comment!
Oh, Banyan trees are amaaaaaaaaaaaazing.
Whenever I see roots like this, I think of Me & Kay. “The Roots of Sisters”
Absolutely stuuuuuuuuuuuuuunning.
Love Love Love coming your way, dear Vidya. Xxxxxx
Wow, Kim – what a beautiful point of view you have! Lives intertwined for eternity. Hugs – and I love it when you come over. Hugs. Some day, for real?
I never knew how bamboo grew until we visited Hawaii. It is an amazing site to see for sure! And they’re super light too. (Don’t worry, I didn’t pluck them out of the ground. I picked up the ones that were on the ground already
He he he, Kimberly – I love you! Seriously though, I felt like uprooting a few and bringing them home. And the variety? oh, there were abundant – from the thin ones to the massive ones. They look so very pretty! Sigh.
Hugs to you!
I love bamboo. Here, we see bamboo in small clumps, but in Hawaii, I walked through a bamboo forest–it was enchanting. Also in China around the panda preserve. Wow.
Oh, Galen, I can visualize what you must have seen. And imagine a panda peeking out around the bamboo – so sweet. Bamboo has a gorgeous look – and I really envy those who have a lot of bamboo fittings in their houses. I only have living room furniture made of bamboo – it is amazing how durable it is.
I would love to walk through a bamboo forest.
Thanks for visiting, Galen and sharing your experience!
That was such a lovely post. Mysore indeed is a wonderful place with a rich history and lovely places to see. And you have beautifully captured some lovely trees. So serene yet so majestic. 🙂 And that Haiku was so cute and beautiful. 🙂 Lovely post.
Welcome and thank you, Raj! Nice to see you here! I appreciate your comment. Mysore is a lovely place that we enjoy visiting often!
I would not like walking around a banyan tree in the middle of the night. Some banyan trees give off an ominous feeling. Anyway, I love bamboo. On my father’s plantation, there are seven very large bamboo clusters, each named after a day in the week! All type of little critters live in there. Did you know that bamboo is categorized in the family of “grasses”?
Thank you for sharing your pictures 🙂
Ah, Ajen – banyan trees are associated with all sorts of scary stories about ghosts and whatnot. 😀 They appear to be whispering secrets, you know! I doubt if i would like to walk around one at night, either! Bamboo – yes, lovely. And yes, I know bamboo is classified as “grass”. I’d love to see photos of the seven bamboo clusters on your father’s plantation. How pretty to name them after the days of the week!
Thank you, Ajen, for visiting! Love to have you here!
Gorgeous, interesting, and intricate trees. I love trees as well. There is a tree in my back yard that is my very good friend. It has seen me through many situations and it brings me so much joy.
Now, Unknown Mami – I understand that completely. I’ve seen my grandmother talk to all the trees and plants we had in our garden. Sadly I don’t have a garden now – but I get by, by looking at the canopy of branches from my terrace. Soothing, is it not? Hugs. Trees spell support – and staying power!
Not surprising I share the same fascination! LOVE that first tree, freaky cool! LOL! Very nice post Vidya! And Shane wants to grow bamboo but I heard it takes over everything very quickly.
Hi Sheila! So lovely to see you here. You should have seen the city – so many banyan trees all over the place and lots of bamboo too. Bamboo is believed to be lucky – i used to have one in a little glass bowl – but I no longer have it. I think i’ll get another one. Apparently it should be gifted and not bought for oneself :D.
Interesting about bamboo taking over everything quickly! I didn’t know that. On the other hand – has so many uses. 😀 Renewable.