Trip to Belpahari, Jhargram

Helloooooooo everybody a very happy new year to all of you. Starting with the famous lyrics of Brayn Adams "Here I am" song.

"It's a new world
It's a new start
It's alive with the beating of young hearts
It's a new day
It's a new plan
I've been waiting for you
Here I am"

With a new resolution in mind stepped into this year. Want to change lot of things, but to start with all those tedious processes I thought of having a road trip to bore me from myself, so that I can concentrate on my work.  On that note me and two of my friends Vikram and Amit decided 31st night that we will have a road trip next morning.  Decided to leave our places at 0700 hours and next morning we started from our places at sharp 1000 hours ofcourse we dont wanted to abuse that traditional myth of indian time.  And the total credit goes to Vikram and his hangover.
        Few days back I got an opportunity to design a logo for Jhargram Tourism and that time I came to know a lot about this place and its surrouding.  The Founder of Jhargram Tourism Mr. Sumit Dutta even gave me a list of places to visit in Jhargram.  So, it was Jhargram which we started for.  Jhargram is  37Kms drive from Kharagpur.  Just before entering into the Jhargram town in its outskirt you have to take a left turn from Ward Memorial Church School.  This road will lead you to Chilkigarh. Its around 12Kms drive from Jhargram.  There is a Raj Palace and a Kanak Durga Temple.  Between the temple and Raj Palace flows the Dulung river.  The temple is surrounded by different types of trees and plants of various species.  These trees draw attention from different places for research.  A typical species of monkey also live here with a black flat hip.  First we reached that temple. A local said one has to cross the river to visit Chilkigarh Raj Palace.  So we did the same crossed the river walked around 2 Kms to reach the Raj Palace and returned the same way. But when we resumed our journey forward we were on the road which is going through that Raj Palace.  So, guys no need to cross the river by foot. There is a road to the Raj Palace.  I think everybody go by road only we were the only fools to cross the river and visit the palace.

Few pics of the palace and the temple.

Chilkigarh Kanak Durga Temple

Radha Krishna Temple in the premises of Chilkigarh Raj Palace

Chilkigarh Raj Palace

in the premises of Chilkigarh Raj Palace

Then we left for Belpahari, 35 km from Jhargram. A forest paradise under the Dolma Hills.  Its a beautiful drive from Jhargram to Belpahari.  Pitch black road thickly forested with a variety of tropical trees from both sides.  That Black and Green combination is a scenic beauty to watch and driving through is an amazing experience.

It was already 1500 hours when we reached Belpahari, and as per our list there were many spots still left to visit. So we decided to visit nearby places of Belpahari and return back to Belpahari so that we dont have to drive at night. But there was no lodging facility at Belpahari one has to return Jhargram for shelter.  You can make an enquiry at Belpahari Block office for lodging as there is Block Guest House.  We tried for that also to add up to our disappointment it wasnt vacant either.  So we decided to return home same day.  But how can we return with visiting just two places.  Our next destination was Ghagra, its a 9 km drive from Belpahari. Land of green hills surrounding dense groves of shaal and eucalyptus trees. Favourite spot is where the 18.3-m. high Tarafeny waterfall cascades down on boulders below.

Ghagra, Belpahari

A short distance downstream is the Tarafeny Barrage. Wild elephants are reputed to inhabit the forests of Ghagra.  You have to drive on kutcha road to visit Ghagra and Tarafeny Barrage. 

Tarafeni Barage, Belpahari

   

And that was our last destination on this trip.  Our two days trip was scissored to one day.  At Tarafeni we decided to return home.  It was alreay dark it is bit risky to drive through the jungle in night.  I would suggest not to drive in that area in night as it is not safe.  You better plan your trip with proper lodging facilities.  There are many places to visit at Jhargram and nearby places of Jhargram.  Just for your knowledge here is the list of places.

Jhargram
  Jhargram Town, Alampur, Chilkigarh Raj Palace and Kanak Durga Temple, Jhargram Raj Palace, Jungle Mahal, Kendua, Sabitri Temple

Belpahari
  Ghagra Water falls, Gurrasini, Kakrajhor, The Hills of Kanaisor, The Spring at Ketki, The Laljal Mountains, Orgnonda, Tarafeni

Gopiballavpur
  Beliaberah Rajj Palace, Bhasraghat, Sahasraling Shivmandir and Chandraketugarh, Chorchita Yogashram and Choreshwar Shiv Mandir, Shripat Gopiballavpur, Hatibari, Jahanpur Pirthan, Jhilibandh, Kuthighat, Nayagram, Rameshwar, Shyamtarangini, Tapoban.



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CSS3 Box Shadow

With CSS3 coming into play web designing is getting better and saving lot of time for designers, now there is no need of making transparent images for shadow effects, just a simple CSS and u can get a nice shadow effect to ur block elements.
Here's the CSS syntax for any block level elements like Div, Image etc.

Box-Shadow

.boxDiv {
  -moz-box-shadow:    3px 3px 5px 6px #ccc;
  -webkit-box-shadow: 3px 3px 5px 6px #ccc;
  box-shadow:         3px 3px 5px 6px #ccc;
}

Inner shadow

.box {
   -moz-box-shadow:    inset 0 0 10px #000000;
   -webkit-box-shadow: inset 0 0 10px #000000;
   box-shadow:         inset 0 0 10px #000000;
}

One-sided shadow

.box {
    -webkit-box-shadow: 0 8px 6px -6px black;
    -moz-box-shadow: 0 8px 6px -6px black;
     box-shadow: 0 8px 6px -6px black;
}

Now lets discuss the values used in the syntax:

box-shadow: h-shadow v-shadow blur spread color inset;

h-shadow is the horizontal offset of the shadow, both positive and negative can be used positive value means the shadow will be on the right side of the box and a negative value will show the shadow on the left side of the box.

v-shadow is the vertical offset of the shadow, it also accepts both positive and negative values, here positive values put the shadow below the box and negative value means shadow above the box.

blur is the blur radius its optional, if the value is 0 the shadow will be sharp. Higher value means more blurred shadow.

spread is the spread radius of the shadow in simple words we can say it is size of the shadow, this one is also optional, default value is 0 the shadow is same size as blur, positive value increase the  size of the shadow and negative value decreases.

color is the color of the shadow u want, obviously its better to use dark colors for the shadow.

There is another value which you can see above in the syntax. Its inset this one is also Optional value but this can change the shadow from an outer shadow (outset) to an inner shadow.

I hope this much description was enough for you, its great to have this shadow effects in your websites. 

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Custom Select Box using CSS only

I hope you read my last blog, custom select box using jquery and css.  If you haven't  then no need to worry, here I am with a better solution to the same problem.  Customising a select box using jquery and CSS was conflicting with other jquery and javascript codes.  In a single page with jquery dedicated to select box only was working well.  But when I used it in a project it wasn't.  So a little bit of more effort and here's the solution, select box customised using CSS only and with CSS no need to worry about the conflicts and all.

Here's the HTML for the select box:

<div class="styled-select">
   <select>
      <option>Select One</option>
      <option>Blue</option>
      <option>Red</option>
      <option>Green</option>
      <option>Yellow</option>
      <option>Brown</option>
   </select>
</div>

Here's the CSS for the select box:

.styled-select select {
   background: transparent;
   width: 166px;
   padding: 3px 0px 4px 9px;
   font-size: 11px;
   border: none;
   height: 25px;
   color:#efefef;
}

.styled-select {
   width: 144px;
   height: 25px;
   overflow: hidden;
   background: url(selectBG.png) no-repeat;
   border:none;
}

     You can see the HTML, the select box is placed in a div with a class name "style-select".  That  div is styled with a background image selectBG.png.  The image width is 144px where as the select box is with a width of 166px.   The width of the container div i.e. styled-select should be less than the width of the select box, this way you can hide the drop down arrow of the select box which is impossible to style whereas rest of the select box can be easily styled.  Following is the screen shot of the combo box.

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Custom Select Box, using CSS and Jquery

It was July when I posted my last blog.  Was fullllllll busy with work and festivals.   Few days back I was preparing a HTML for a design provided by a client.  And the design was containing a select box with mastttt design.   So styling a select box is not possible with normal CSS.  You can style everything with the CSS except that right arrow.  So, google was the only hope and as usual I found the solution.  So, thought of sharing with you all.

HTML for the select box

<select class="select" title="Select one">
                <option></option>
                <option>Blue</option>
                <option>Red</option>
                <option>Green</option>
                <option>Yellow</option>
                <option>Brown</option>
</select>

CSS for the select box

/* setting the width and height of the SELECT element to match the replacing graphics */
select.select{
        position:relative;
        z-index:10;
        width:166px !important;
        height:26px !important;
        line-height:26px;
}

/* dynamically created SPAN, placed below the SELECT */
span.select{
    position:absolute;
    bottom:0;
    float:left;
    left:0;
    width:166px;
    height:26px;
    line-height:26px;
    text-indent:10px;
    background:url(selectBG.gif) no-repeat 0 0;
    cursor:default;
    z-index:1;
    }

you must make an image of size 166px X 26px.  The size of the select box and the background image which you are going to place as the select box should be same.  You can see the CSS for span.select{...}, I have used a background image selectBG.gif.

      Finally, the javascript you should use to make your customized select box. Use the following javascript and don't forget to include latest jquery file.

<script type="text/javascript">
    $(document).ready(function(){   

        if (!$.browser.opera) {   
            // select element styling
            $('select.select').each(function(){
               var title = $(this).attr('title');
                if( $('option:selected', this).val() != ''  ) title = $('option:selected',this).text();
                $(this)
                    .css({'z-index':10,'opacity':0,'-khtml-appearance':'none'})
                    .after('<span class="select">' + title + '</span>')
                    .change(function(){
                        val = $('option:selected',this).text();
                        $(this).next().text(val);
                        })
            });
        };       
    });
</script>

Following is the screen shot of the select box.  The black rounded select box in the screen shot is selectBG.gif which I used in the background of the select element.

I hope it is going to help you!! Byeeeeeeeeeeee and and dont forget to......

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Rasmancha Vector

Last weekend i had a trip to Bishnupur, there was this Rasmancha the architecture of this temple is a combination of three different architectures.

Image Courtesy Venkat Sridhar

 
 I tried to copy the architecture in my way.  Here it is the vector of Rasmancha, Bishnupur

 

FYI a little about Rasmancha, Bishnupur copied from WIKI, GOOGLE....................

This amazing spepcimen of architecture was established by the Malla King Birhamvir in the year 1587.  This pavilion was used for housing of Idols of Krishna from other temples during the Rash Festival.  It consists of a small square central shrine enclosed by three gallerires and provided with an emposing pyramidial roofs.  There are ten openings on eac side of its outer most corridor which are elegantly surrounded by Bengal roof structures.  This large architecture proclaims the glory of Malla Dynasty to the Tourists in Bishnupur.

Bishnupur - Town of Terracotta

A small town which i m sure many of you havent heard about this, its just 97 kilometres from kharagpur.  Best way to reach bishnupur is Rupasi Bangla Express which departs around 0600 hours at Kolkata and reach around 1000 hours.  I heard a lot about this town about the famous Baluchuri saree about those terracota temple. Trip to bishnupur came out to be a complete bundle of surprise.  Main attraction of Bishnupur is Terracotta temples, all these temples are dedicated to lord Krishna and Radha.  one s is not enough to describe the pluralness of this town it should be templessssssssssss.....many terracotta temples are spread across the town peeping out of every corner of town.  Many temples were like place of ADDA for the adults.

(Thanks to the ticket examiner Bamdev Dutta Da at ShaymRai Temple, he told us everything he know about this town) 
Bishnupur was the capital of Malla kings of Mallabhum, or the warrior kings, which was an important dynasty that ruled Bengal for a long time with its beginnings in late 7th century that lasted till early 19th century.  This is more than 1100 years and 55 generations. Most temples belong to the 17-18th century. It is said that the dynasty was originally a Shaivik i.e. they used to follow the lord Shiva but king Bir Hambir who ruled in 16th century converted to Vaishnava (who follow Lord Vishnu) and that lead to construction of all these temples dedicated to incarnations of Vishnu and most prominently Krishna.

These temples are not carved out of stones or something, these were constructed from the clay that is locally available.  All these temples are made of bricks and were decorated with terracotta work tiles.  From Bishnupur station you can hire a cab or a cycle rickshaw to visit all the temples of bishnupur.  It would be better to hire a cab you can save lot of time.  The cab will cost you around 400 to 500 rupees.  It depends on the cab driver which direction he is going to show you the town.

We started from Rasmancha which is towards east, one has to buy tickets there for entrance to Rasmancha, Jorbangla and Shyamrai temple. Rasmancha is a unique structure combination of 3 architecture in a single building.  Pyramid roof, then typical indian Bengal Roof structure - do chal char chal roof and the corridor architecture is very much mughal style.  Main purpose of this Rasmancha was for housing idols of Krishna from all other temples during the Rash Utsav.

Ras Mancha Temple

 Madan Mohan temple, built by Malla King Durjan Singha in the AD 1694

Madan Mohan Temple

Shaym Rai Temple, built by Raghunath singha in 1643 AD.  Five shikhara temple.  The terracotta art on the body of the temple expresses the activity of God Krishna and the Rash Utsav.  Even the architecture of Dakshineswar kali mandir is also inspired from this temple only.

Shyam Rai Temple

Rash Utsav expressed on the wall of Shyam Rai temple

Radha Laljiu temple, built by Bir Singha 1658 AD, is one of the best examples in laterite of this type with a single sikhara on a curved bangla chala roof.

Radha Laljiu Temple, Image courtesy Jaydharclix

Main Gateway of Bishnupur also known as Pathar Darwaja is built by dressed laterite blocks.  This was the northern entrance to the royal residence, and was built by Maharaja Bir Singha.  There are narrow slits for the archer and gunman.

Main Gateway of Bishnupur, Photography Venkat Sridhar

 Radha Shayam temple, built by chaitanya singh in 1758 AD

Radha Shyam Temple, Photography Venkat Sridhar

 Jor Bangla Temple, built by Raghunath singha in 1655 AD,  also known as Krishna Rai Temple.

Jor Bangla Temple, Photography Venkat Sridhar

Just opposite to Radha shyam temple, there is a temple one should say oldest temple in Bishnupur.  People say that Maharaja Jagat Malla established this temple and the image of the goddesss Mrinmoyee in 997 AD after getting diving command from the Goddess.  The statue of the goddess is made up of Ganga Mati (mud from ganga river)  One can see abandoned royal residence adjacent to the temple.  And all these Radha Laljiu, Jorbangla, gateway are in the same cluster.
      There is another temple Chinnamasta temple of goddess kali.  Chinnamasta means beheaded, the statue of goddess is beheaded. photography is prohibited at both the mrinmoyee and chinnamasta temple.  Near the Chinnamasta temple you can see Dalmadal cannon was used by Malla King Gopal Singh to defend himself against the Maratha commander Bhaskar Rao in 1742 AD.  But people say that the Lord Krishna himself came as a boy of 18 years  and used this cannon to protect Malla Dynasty.

Dal Madal Cannon, Photography Venkat Sridhar

Terracotta handicrafts for sale, Image courtesy Jaydharclix

Terracotta handicrafts for sale, Image courtesy Jaydharclix

 There are few other places like LalBandh, LalGarh,  GumGarh which you can visit.  It will take 3 to 4 hours to visit all the places.  You can buy terracotta handicraft items near Madan Mohan temple and chinna masta temple.  The handicrafts are sold at fixed price but very reasonable.  One more thing for which Bishnupur is famous is Baluchuri saree.  If you travel in town you can find many shops and showrooms of Baluchuri sarees. While coming back i saw few on LalBandh road.

The terracotta temples have made Bishnupur a remarkable place in the history of Bengal as well as of India.


 Image Courtesy By Venkat Sridhar

Ahhhh its been long time...

I was searching for some papers on my beautifully chaosed bed, right then i saw my brushes and color palettes below my bed.  i asked myself and after a while i realized that i wasn’t after painting anything from long time, i was abusing my brushes, i had a very straight answer.......han be barso beet gye unko hath lgaye (yes u a** **** its been long time u have touched them). After a little more thought i decided to paint something.  I took out my album and ended with a image of a lady whom i clicked long back in 2005 in GOA, she was selling flowers and coconut near Shanta Durga temple. I am not a trained or professional  painter to use fabric colors or oil paints.  From school days I have been using water colors only.

 

And this was something I ended up with!!