Kingfisher

The Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis, also known as Eurasian Kingfisher or River Kingfisher, is a small kingfisher with seven subspecies recognized within its wide distribution across Eurasia and North Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter.

This sparrow-sized bird has the typical short-tailed, large-headed kingfisher profile; it has blue upperparts, orange underparts and a long bill. It feeds mainly on fish, caught by diving, and has special visual adaptions to enable it to see prey under water. The glossy white eggs are laid in a nest at the end of a burrow in a riverbank.

Butterflies

Danaus chrysippus, known as the Plain Tiger or African Monarch, is a common butterfly which is widespread in Asia and Africa. It belongs to the Danainae ("Milkweed butterflies") subfamily of the brush-footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae. It is a medium-sized, non-edible butterfly, which is mimicked by multiple species.

The Plain Tiger is believed to be one of the first butterflies to be used in art. A 3500 year old Egyptian fresco in Luxor features the oldest illustration of this species.

The Plain Tiger can be considered the archetypical danaine of India. Accordingly, this species has been studied in greater detail than other members of its subfamily occurring in India.

Neptis pryeri is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in China, the Asian part of Russia, Korea and Japan.

The length of the fore-wings is 21–30 mm. Adults are on wing from June to August.

The Gray Pansy or Grey Pansy (Junonia atlites) is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in South Asia.

Light trails

Vishal Bakshi and me stop by a roadside and took this shot.

Ramjhula - bridge over the Ganga

Ram Jhula is an iron suspension bridge situated at Muni Ki Reti in Rishikesh in Indian state of Uttarakhand. Built in the 1980s, over river Ganges to cross the river and is a landmark of Rishikesh.

Oxalis

Many of the species are known as wood-sorrels as they have an acidic taste reminiscent of the unrelated sorrel (Rumex acetosa) proper. Some species are called yellow-sorrels or pink-sorrels after the color of their flowers instead. Other species are colloquially known as false shamrocks, and some are rather misleadingly called"sourgrasses"

Lantana

Lantana is a special kind of flower. It is special because flowers usually have petals but Lantana has aromatic flower clusters, also known as umbels, are a mix of red and orange florets.

The leaves of Lantana produce a kind a strong smell which can be easily traced if you are near to the plant or after you touched the leaves with your hand. However, as with almost all plants, the leaves of Lantana are toxic if eaten. 

Butterfly Effect

The Tawny Coster (Acraea terpsicore) is a small leathery winged butterfly which is common in grassland and scrub habitats. It belongs to the Nymphalidae or brush-footed butterfly family. It has a weak fluttery flight. It is avoided by most insect predators.

Sunset at Bhubhan Hill

This is a famous spot in the city of Silchar, Assam. Famous for the Bhubaneswar Temple and also for the idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, this hill is frequented by tourists. It lies around 37km from Silchar. One can reach here by bus and trek it up. The presiding deities here are the Hara Parvati.

Barak River

It rises in the Manipur Hills in northern Manipur state, India, where it is called the Barak, and flows west and then southwest into Mizoram state. There it veers north into Assam state and flows west past the town of Silchar.

The river next splits into two branches, the Surma (north) and the Kusiyara (south), which enter Bangladesh and turn southwest. The Surma flows past Sylhet in a rich tea-growing valley, while the Kusiyara subdivides into two more branches, both of which rejoin the Surma.

A night at India Gate

India Gate. Originally known as the All India War Memorial, it is a prominent landmark in Delhi and commemorates the 90,000 soldiers of the Indian Army who lost their lives while fighting for the Indian Empire, or more correctly the British Raj, in World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War.

Hanger Clips

Barrier