Blogging with mehar_mah

Women climbing a stepwell near Amber Fort in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India Stepping down the ancient stairwells of Jaipur Stairwells  originated in western India over 1,000 years ago as way for people living in that arid climate to get easy and reliable access to fresh water, even during the driest months. The Panna Meena Ka Kund stepwell in Jaipur is a classic example of the beautiful geometric architecture used to produce them. Most stepwells also feature shaded side chambers where locals (primarily women) can gather to escape the heat of the day. In this image, one can see obvious signs of previous high-water marks on the well’s walls as seasonal fluctuations and the changing climate affect water levels throughout the region.

Elephanta Island caves near Mumbai, Maharashtra. Take a step into Elephanta Caves It's the day leading up to Maha Shivratri, we take you to the UNESCO world heritage site of the Elephanta Caves. A short ferry ride away from Mumbai’s Gateway of India takes you to Elephanta Island, where the caves, dating back to the 2nd century BCE depict various forms of Shiva and Parvati, as well as some Buddhist stupas. Most of what you see at the caves is carved out of solid basalt rock. The 20-foot Trimurthi Sadashiva (Three faced Shiva) is the most prominent carving, while Natraj (God of dance) and Yogishwara (God of Yoga) are also celebrated attractions on Elephanta Island. (© Andrey Khrobostov/Alamy Stock Phot)

The interior of the Great Temple of Ramesses II, Abu Simbel, Egypt. It's not always sunny in Abu Simbel… …but when it is, it's pretty spectacular. This tiny lakeside settlement's Great Temple of Ramesses II was positioned on the orders of that powerful pharaoh so the inner sanctum (in this picture, that's the small room at the very back) is lit by the sun only twice a year. On February 22 and October 22 (thought to be Ramesses' coronation and birth dates, respectively), the first light of dawn illuminates the sanctuary and three statues within: one of Ramesses, one of the sun god Ra, and one of the chief god Amun. A fourth statue depicting the underworld figure Ptah is permanently shrouded in shadow. The temple is one of a pair resting on the man-made Lake Nasser's shores, the other honouring the pharaoh's wife Nefertari. When the Nile was dammed to create the lake in the 1960s, the whole complex was painstakingly moved to higher ground. While it...