Dharwad Ablaze...! Part 1

Folks, Dharwad is ablaze ! And how...!!

The flamboyant Delonix Regia or Royal Ponciana popularly known to us as Gulmohar (Hindi/Urdu) is a native of Madagascar's deciduous forests but is today widely cultivated elsewhere, especially India. 'Gul' means Flower and 'Mohr' means peacock. What an appropriate name for this tree that puts up a spectacular display of yellow-vermilion-orange-red flowers !The Delonix Regia grows up to thirty to forty feet and it could spread even wider. The Gulmohar is considered by many as the most colourful tree ! Rightly so, as the flowers that bloom in attractive shades of yellow-vermilion-orange-red form a stunning canopy that lures you from a distance...

To me the Gulmohar flower is a queerly endearing beauty ! Each individual flower is captivating with a thick, firm n' strong lovely chrome yellow receptacle and sepal with four spoon-shaped orange/red waif-life petals and one upright slightly thicker (more crimped at the edges) petal with yellow white markings. In fact those of you who've relished the subtle tangy taste of the flower petals could recall that this petal was crunchier and sweeter than the others ! The petals have a life of but a day and wilt very soon. If the flower in it's complete avatar is a stunner, the flower in it's latter stage of only the receptacle and sepal combo is utterly attractive and remains fresh and strong for much longer, even after they fall to the ground painting a striking picture against the brown earth...! I'm sure you'd have memories of the "Tiger Claws/Huli ugur" that we made with these sepals and thoroughly enjoyed fixing on our nails and making a big thing of threatening the other kids...

The stunning Gulmohar has lured me since long and the ones in Dhrwad didn't have to do anything much to catch my eye except, be there in all their glorious splendour. Every Spring/Summer I've longed to capture these stunning beauties that right now are ablaze all over Dharwad, but somehow didn't succeed. My Gulmohar Adventures did start last year, when I'd posted a small album here albeit with loads of trepidation... But, that was the first stepping stone and this year, the moment I spied the first few buds, I said to myself- “You have to make it this time ! You've taken the first step, n' now there's no looking back...!!” And boy, since the last month I've been sneaking time when ever I can through all my other work and trailing the Gulmohars of Dharwad...

This album is my first release and just imagine I've barely covered half of Dharwad...! But folks, this is turning out to be one of the most brilliant adventures so far...! I have to thank Mahaboob Bhaiyya and Chandru and their super autos for being with me patiently all throughout, stopping where ever I ask them to, zooming off to a new spot on the shortest notice, sourcing new Gulmohar spots for me, egging me on for more and even helping me get on/climb/balance at some difficult spots like those huge rain water drains and tall compound walls... Kudos to you guys ! Another day a special photo-write up about these two guys and their vaahans. I promise !

Folks, as I said, this, is my first release and there's more to come. In fact I'm off today on the second leg of my Gulmohar Adventure ! Vrooooooooom...

The cycle stand at one end of the DC Office towards the Hindi Prachar Sabha side...

 Looks to me like a portion of a zen garden...

The Vaahana Nondaani Kacheri near the DC's Office...

At the Kargil Martyrs Memorial...

A lovely spreading Gulmohar greets you at the entrance to the DC Office...

Brilliant...!
At the foot of a huge Gulmohar outside the D C Office...

At first glance it looks like he's filling the bright red Gulmohar from the overhanging branch into the tanker... :)

The Water Works Department opposite the DC Office...

Taking the red bus to CBT via the Karnataka College road...

The entrance to the Institute of Engineers...

At the background, in the lil gazebo is the bust of the Late S G Balekundri, (1922-1993) eminent Engineer and Architect, Upper Krishna, Malaprabha, Ghataprabha and other major irrigation projects all over Karnataka !

This blazing Gulmohar shares itself beautifully between the two compounds...!

Sparkling orange Gulmohar spilling all over the quaint old rusted gate of the Institute Of Engineers...

The road to Gulmohar Haven begins here...!

The road that goes past the DC's residence, Baal Bhavan, the Basket ball court, Akkana Balaga, the Swimming pool and the Tennis court to reach Court Circle...

Looking back on the orange trail left behind...

The ledge at the base of the DC's compound wall...

My vaahan on this lap of the Gulmohar Adventures, Mahaboob Bhaiyya's 'Aalmas', waiting in the wings...

Outside the DC's Bungalow...

Namma Dharwadnyaagin Guttergolu yen chanda kaantav antiri...!

Boy, am I glad I caught this stunning spectacle before the rains...! :)

Folks, presenting Dharwad's very own Gulmohar Woods...!

I remember these trees along with the eucalyptus and some other forest trees being planted on Vanamahotsava day when we were maybe in school.

I remember the lil lunch picnics we used to have out here...

And there's Mahaboob Bhaiyya waiting patiently for me to get done with my antics...

Couldn't resist this one ! I have always been fascinated with the raised roots of the Gulmohar. Thay make some stunning compositions. Maybe one day an album of just these...

Wow ! I looked over the fence and what do I see ? More orange/red...!

Looking yonder... At the DC Compound

Perched prettily... At the DC Compound...

Alas ! This stunning tree is no more... !

It was cut down a fortnight back, to give way for some construction I believe... Sad !

Spilling red...

Outside the AIR compound on the road leading from KCD circle towards the Dasankopp circle...

"Barryole, swalp hanik haaki nodun, atlaakade yen nadadaiti...!"

These tall Gulmohars peep out of the All Saints Church on Halyal road, near the old Ice cream factory (Now Ice Gate)

"Hogu barourna nodkonta mast majanyaag dyusa kaliten nodripa..."
At the entrance to 'Kreeda Bhavan' KUD... The via-Barakotri road leading to the Pavte Nagar bus stand...

 On the same road...

Uri bislaag uri kempu...!

The road that comes down from the Malmaddi/Gopalpur cross, cuts across the railway track and heads towards Kalyan Nagar...

The small side road coming from the station..

Going up the Malmaddi/Gopalpur cross to Station road...

The tiled roof of an old old house at Gopalpur...

What's that splash of red...!
At the Head Post/Bashen Mishen (Basel Mission...!)Circle...

Looks like the Head Post has borrowed some red for it's stripes...!

There, you see the new Bharat Book Depot...!

Up UB Hill...

A beautiful old Gulmohar in the Lokur's smart red heritage bungalow... UB Hill

The Hindi Prachar Sabha Circle at UB Hill...

A variety of yellow/orange Gulmohar, Delonix Regia-Flavida. The original DR-Flavida is completely yellow and pretty rare in India... Would be a different experience altogether to watch a Gulmohar with a yellow canopy...!

The road to the University, from Uday Hostel via Barakotri...
This spot is between Keshav nagar that's to the left and Michigan Compound/Jay Nagar to the right...

Notice, how the petals are more slender and wispier than the deep orange/red variety. The bunches of flowers on this variety are more sparse and the leaves a lighter shade of green...

At the Jai Bal Bheem Vyayam Shaala, opposite Uday Hostel...

The Gem Wire Factory (Of Ginger n' my misty morning adventures fame...!) near our house...