Ghumakkad Crosses 200,000 - So What?

Ghumakkad@200,000. So what?

200,000 page views is no big deal.

Internet is full of sites, posts, videos which have millions of views.

So what if Ghumakkad's blog has crossed 200,000 views! It is a miniscule count. Agreed.

Numbers don't matter to us. What gives us joy is our readers' feedback and the fact that Google searches have repeatedly put us on top!

We get a kick when a reader plans a trip to the Andamans after reading our stories of the islands.

We get a high when Google Search selects our story on top! See below three search results two to three years after posting the stories:

We feel excited when readers exchange 'live' messages from places like Bhutan after browsing our stories of the Himalayan Kingdom.

We feel thrilled when readers go to a Tiger Reserve and share their account of first-time-lucky sightings!

We feel humbled when fellow teachers appreciate the use of 'Live' cases (shared by us in the blog) in their MBA classes.

We feel elated when stories like 'Dancing at Eighty' inspire the younger generation of dancers.

We feel blessed when our story of a Covid survivor appeals to 2000+ readers who feel reassured.

We feel great to publish guest stories from teenage readers and senior citizens alike!

A Squirrel Gets A Home by Rohini Tiwari

Fallen but not Forgotten by Trixie Asirvatham

We get a sense of fulfillment when my former-students-turned-entrepreneurs make a mark in their lives!

Proof of the Pudding

Week after week, Kaun Banega Ghumakkad online Contest triggers inquisitiveness and learning about Nature, Wildlife and Travel. Readers wait anxiously once the next Contest date is announced.

Gratitude

We express our gratitude to each one of you. We wouldn't have travelled this far without you. 

The first 100,000 views of our blog took five years. Whereas the next 100,000 came in three years. All because of you. Take a look at our growth and other statistics below:

For those readers who are new to our blog, you can browse to see the spectrum of our stories in the recent post 'Ghumakkad is Eight'.

We firmly believe in sharing of knowledge and experiences as depicted in the PQ- picturesque quote below.

Once again, a big thank you to each one of you! 

Stay connected, stay safe and stay healthy.

   - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Neeta Bhargava/ 6th July 2020

#ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh #200000pageviews #bloggers #travelblog #wildlifeblog #natureblog #picturesquequotes #pq #blogreaders #thrillofsharing #gratitude #joyofsharing #knowledgesharing

Virupaksha- The Living Temple in Hampi

Hampi is a saga in stone. Hampi is history coming alive. Hampi is ruins with a charm.
The only 'living' structure in Hampi- meaning where puja (worship) is performed everyday- is the Virupaksha Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, known in Hampi as Virupaksha, as the consort of the local goddess Pampadevi who is associated with the Tungabhadra River. The temple is also called Pampapathi temple and dates back to 7th Century AD. 

Rising high up in the sky, it can be seen from adjoining hills.

A guide sketch below shows the location of main monuments/sites for tourists.

Ghumakkad had shared a set of ten stories on Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You may browse it by clicking the following links:

Hyderabad to Hampi

Vitthala Temple and Stone Chariot Hampi

Lotus Mahal Hampi

Sunset Point Hampi

Coracle Boating near Hampi- not for the weak-hearted

Hiking in Hampi

Confusion at Hampi- Ugra or Lakshmi Narasimha

Women Warriors of Hampi

Virupaksha Temple Hampi

Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary

One of the most striking features of Virupaksha temple is the usage of mathematical concepts to build and decorate it. The temple has repeated patterns that demonstrate the concept of Fractals. The main shape of the temple is triangular. As you look up the temple top, the patterns divide and repeat themselves, just like you would see in a snowflake or some other natural wonders. See the picture below.

This story takes you around Virupaksha Temple. Photography is not allowed in the sanctum sanctorum. But you can see the remaining pictures and get a feel of life inside the temple including Lakshmi- the temple elephant ! Let the pictures speak.

A Gopuram or gopura (Sanskrit: गोपुरम्, gopuram) is a monumental gatehouse tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of a Hindu temple, in southern states of India.

Lakshmi- the temple elephant who resides inside the temple.

Inside the sanctum sanctorum- no photography please!

The Vijayanagara Dynasty- as painted on one of the temple walls.

Please pardon the typo! Shoes to be removed before entering the temple.

This story concludes Ghumakkad's set of ten stories on our visit to Hampi, a World Heritage Site in Karnataka India. It is indeed a saga in stone.

Hope you enjoyed browsing through. Your feedback or experience of earlier visits is always welcome.

     -   Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 7th Aug 2018 <hbindia@gmail.com>
#hampi #worldheritagesite #virupakshatemple #7thcentury #pampapathitemple #fractals #gopuram #natgeo #lonelyplanet #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadHB #indiatourism #karnatakatourism