Thursday, January 31, 2013

VBO and following things – Javadu Hills

Following, checking the VBO’s largest telescope inside the Vainu Bappu Observatory, we drawn back to the 6 inch telescope for watching the celestial objects on space. This is a facility impended only if there is a clear sky and the observatory is open to public only on Saturday, to visit the telescope between 2 to 5 pm and staring starts and planet viewing adjoined for 6.30-10 pm. We waited for nearly an hour until the dusk disappeared and twinkle stars get to sight, the place sounds quiet except the resonant of our batch waiting to watch through telescope, the winter cold wraps around under the open sky and moist meadow. We saw guards wander with rifle to keep away the wild animals entering the campus: elephant, bison and wild boar are found commonly around VBO’s forest area, belong to Javadu Hills.

6” Inch Telescope shed
The observatory is located at an altitude of 700 meters and quarter distance from Bangalore compared to about 210 km from Chennai. VBO is one of the field stations of Bangalore based Indian Institute of Astrophysics, which is primarily devoted to research activates using the optical telescope. There are about 6-7 telescopes built around the campus of VBO, except for the 1 and 2.3 meter telescopes; others are small domes and shed. The 6 inch telescope that allowed viewing for public was kept inside a shed (that u see in the above picture), which top is pushed aside while using the telescope and its position is fixed to view specific celestial objects on sky. That, what has become an obstacle for me from observing through telescope; as the view point has kept high from ground, I couldn't keep up to being tough.

There were more than 100 students waiting behind us, so I kept a quick out of the shed realizing the difficult. My parents who got the opportunity to watch through telescope found Jupiter and three shining stars closer. The students who lined behind us were those exits during our entry, seemed waited for long time at the gateway to view via telescope. The security is tight inside the observatory and guards wore a moody mask, but the officers are kind enough to slender tie for me and encouraged indirectly for taking the course.

Mini observatory
It was pitch dark, when we left the telescope shed and there were no lights to lead us to entrance. Except following the road for few hundred meters, I rode the wheel chair tracing the center white line torched by my cousin, using his cell phone. Being winter, the darkness settled early from the pink shades the sun left behind the forest scene. It was adventurous driving back to Jamunamarathur from VBO through the thick adjoining forest road where one or two vehicle only passed.  The village town doesn’t have great hotels except only one pure vegetarian mess; all are non-vegetarian teashops preparing traditional Tiffin’s like: idly, dosai, pongal, parotta… and biriyani for lunch. There are many Biriyani shops in funny names and almost different in taste from one another… u may wonder how I know. For the lunch next day, we brought biriyani from more than couple of shops to taste which is best and getting there for remain of us.

You see something IMG_3435
For the dinner that night, we brought Tiffin from one of the tea-shops  That wasn't so bad or good at taste but enough to keep content the stomach and somehow hygiene hopefully. Gladly the night went off peacefully and comfort since the suite and mattress become favorable, kept away the sleep difficulties, I used to experience in absence of home comfort. We also had some fun that day, watching the monkeys business while waiting at the entrance of the VBO for some time. There was this cute little monkey perched to a branch (check picture above), behold through its gestures and behavior unlike the elder one which was trying to steal something from a bike pouch. 

12 comments:

George said...

It sounds as if you had a very interesting visit to Javadu Hills. I'm glad your parents had the opportunity to view Jupiter through the telescope, but I wish you could have seen it as well.

TexWisGirl said...

the little monkey in the tree is so cute!

Destination Infinity said...

There is monkey falls near valparai and the monkeys know where to search for anything in bikes and they will take all food materials! They will even snatch food packets/covers from visitors.

Destination Infinity

Optimistic Existentialist said...

That would be so neat so see a monkey!! It's also really cool that your parents got to see jupiter.

Dawn said...

Never heard of the Javadu Hills but the way you have walked me through ...it indeed sounds like a beautiful place to be at! Loved all the pictures... never heard about bison until I came to California they are real hunks I believe as a male version :)
Keep writing and enjoy mother nature :)
Cheers
Dawn

Anonymous said...

What fun - and you got some good pictures of the monkeys too.

Indrani said...

Great place to visit for sure.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Sorry you didn't get to view Jupiter and other stars/planets.... Hopefully you can go back sometime. BUT--they need to put some outside lights there for your protection....

Cute little monkey.

Have a good weekend.
Betsy

deeps said...

welcome change to the look of the blog ...
this looks like a great place for any nature lovers to spend a day

Kalyan said...

That was quite an experience...guess you had a wonderful time...nice pics too!

eden said...

What a beautiful place to visit! Love those monkeys

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