Photographer’s Note
Here are Two Pillars Of Faith : A Pile of Stones and Chaukhamba for two religions, Buddhism and Hinduism respectively...
As Buddhism spread across the Himalayas, Buddhist monks travelled far and wide. Whenever they crossed a high-altitude pass, they put a stone at the highest point and so over the years these piles of stones were formed.
It is customary to add another stone to such a stone pile, whenever you cross a pass. It is to acknowlegde your belief in God that you have safely reached the highest point with His help and that you have faith in Him that the rest of your journey will be successful.
Chaukhamba (also known as Badrinath) is one of the most sacred peaks named after the holiest shrine of Hinduism.
Chaukhamba(meaning Four pillars) is the highest mountain group of Western Garhwal. The four peaks have heights of respectively 7138 mts(23500 feet), 7088m, 6995m and 6854m. On its western slopes starts the Gangotri glacier, one of the largest in the Himalayas. The Gangotri glacier is the source of River Bhagirathi, one of the two main tributaries of the holy River Ganga.
rich, postvikram, arnabchat, teacozie has marked this note useful
Critiques | Translate
rich
(1199) 2006-01-20 4:06
Sometimes a picture tell the whole story and sometimes it needs a note to support it. Looking at the picture alone I felt the rocks got in the way of a beautiful mountain shot; having read your note I can understand the thinking that went into this composition.
rima
(265) 2006-01-20 5:04
GREAT CAPTURE!!!...the mountain looks amazing...
if you wanted the picture with the rocks in front then you should have worked with a smaller aperture to get a greater depth of field...
but still its a great shot!!!....
postvikram
(1199) 2006-01-20 6:54
Hi Amol,
Good capture.the farthest mountain is excellent with the bright color.You could have gotten more out of the foreground.Maybe a smaller aperture.But backed with a good note.congrats.Nice one. Thanks for Sharing.
arnabchat
(7052) 2006-01-20 7:56
the note -- first few lines read excellent.
love the molten metal colors on the Chaukhamba. they are calling me now.
MIG13
(0) 2006-03-17 8:42
Hi, Amol! What to say about this pic? Just beautiful! A wonderful landscape! Nice perspective and colours. Congratulations! Miguel.
teacozie
(1371) 2008-06-11 7:43
Hey Amol!
It is a lovely photo with the background catching some beautiful golden sun. Even though I understand what you are trying to portray in the photo by including the Pile of Stones in the foreground I think it distracts from the lovely landscape in the background. Perhaps it could have been interesting using a filler flash to light up the rocks in the foreground?
Thanks!
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Amol Herlekar (amol)
(952) - Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2005-10-10
- Categories: Nature
- Map: view
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Theme(s): Trekking in the Himalayas, Uttaranchal Peaks [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2006-01-20 3:42








