An afternoon in the sun

Bow Wow friends,

This is Sheeba.

Yesterday I was not well and cried out in pain several times

in the afternoon.

I did not eat any breakfast too

and even refused my favorite cookies.

My mistress gave

(read forced down my throat)

a Paracetamol tablet and a

herbal capsule which did

the trick and I felt much better

and even had a late supper. Miss Holly shared this nice free graphic

on BannerHaus News .

She thinks this doggie resembles me

and I agree with her whole hearted.

Thank you kindly Miss Holly.

And now I will let my mistress tell

her story about an outing at the Museum and Park.

___________

January brought cold and foggy weather

forcing us to stay indoors

to escape the biting chill.

But when the sun made a feeble appearance

occasionally , we seized the opportunity

of taking the boys (my nephews)

out to see various places of interest in the city.

One afternoon we went to see the Allahabad Museum and

Alfred Park also called Company Bagh (British Park), now renamed

Chandrashekhar Azad Park after

a freedom fighter .

Namrita outside the Museum.

We were not allowed to take photos inside.

The Allahabad Museum is one of the best kept and well maintained museums in India. The uniqueness of Allahabad Museum is that it has separate galleries dedicated and devoted to natural history exhibits, archaeological findings, art gallery and artifacts donated by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The Museum, was inaugurated in the year 1947 by the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The Allahabad Museum, proudly exhibits a huge collection of displays that are scattered across a whopping 18 galleries. The beautiful items that are on display include prehistoric and Indus Valley antiquities, textiles, terracotta, stone sculpture, weapons, bronzes, seals, miniature paintings, Buddhist artefacts medieval land grants and much more. The museum also displays the documents and the personal effects of Nehru and the freedom movement.The other picturesque objects that are exhibited in the Allahabad Museum, Uttar Pradesh include beautiful stone images, lintels and intricately carved temple pillars dating from the 3rd century BC to the 12th century AD. These objects represent and portray important dynasties, both ancient and medieval. The museum also displays antiques from nearly all the well known and renowned schools of sculptures which include Mathura, Gandhara, Sarnath and Kausambi.All said and done, the most interesting and intriguing part of the display consists of the magnificent terracotta collection of this museum. The coin collection of Allahabad Museum in Allahabad in India is also brilliant. The coin collection includes Kushana and Gupta gold coins.

On top a British cannon

Mishael photographically captured a mongoose on the lawns

A lawn where people practise yoga.

Behind it is the old British Public Library.

This park was built to commemorate the visit of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, to Allahabad. It forms a quiet and refreshing tract of greenery in the heart of the city. It was later renamed in honour of Chandra Shekhar Azad, a freedom fighter who lost his life at this place during the struggle for independence. It contains a white marble canopy which was formerly a memorial to Queen Victoria.

Alfred Park is a must visit tourist destination in the city of Allahabad. Apart from the fact that Alfred Park is the largest park in Allahabad, it has historical significance as well. The park is marked by huge statue of George V and Victoria that were installed in the very center. The Park was the site for official ceremonies at the time of British that were often followed by musical performances of the Police Band. The park became famous during the Indian Freedom Struggle. This was the same place where the famous encounter between the British police and Indian revolutionary took place. Chandra Shekhar Azad had taken the vow that come what may, he will never let himself in to the hands of imperial police. Therefore he took the pseudonym 'Azad' that means 'Free' in Hindi. It happened so that Azad got cornered in the Alfred Park while he was escaping out after an act. A full unit of the then Allahabad Police cordoned the park and cut the escape route. An hour-long exchange of fire followed but when Azad found that he has only one bullet left in his pistol, he preferred to shoot himself than breaking his vow. After independence this park was renamed as Chandra Shekhar Azad Park and a bust statue of Azad has been erected where he died.

My Dad and I used to come here

regularly for our daily morning walks

when my legs were good.

I was once bitten by a feral monkey

while exercising.

I had to get a shot after that

for the sake of precaution.

Namrita and the boys in front of the marble canopy

which housed the statue of

Queen Victoria.

The central bandstand.

The gazebo like canopy over it

has also been removed.

A canine visiter snoozing in the

pleasant winter sun.

The park is spread over several acres and

accomodates the Museum, several speciality gardens,

a scientific research centre, library ,several orchards and groves,

an aviary, small vineyard, plant nurseries,

a ladies club building,a stadium,

tennis courts ,an Indian music school

and a cultural centre.

This is a grave/shrine of a Muslim mystic.

It looks rather ghostly in the foggy afternoon haze.

My Dad 's younger brother has an interesting story

about this place.

One night (when he was young)

he was taking a short cut through the park

on his bicycle. It was midnight when he passed

the grave and there was darkness everywhere.

He saw a figure in a white sari

following him rather swiftly.

It was a mysterious woman with flowing long hair.

He knew that it was not a normal thing for a woman

to take a walk in the park at midnight.

He sensed that it was a ghost or an apparition.

He somehow managed to reach the busy street

where the woman disappeared.

By the time he got home he was suffering from fright fever.

He was a young boy then.

(My uncle went to be with the Lord 10 years ago)

There is also a grave of a British army officer in the Park.

And when I came here for walks with my American lady

friend years ago we met

a Hindu man there who was

rather devoted to the grave.

He used to clean and decorate the grave

and lit candles around it.

I found that rather amusing.

Maybe he thought the soldier was a saint!

Outside the gate there were

several snack stalls.

Of course the boys were hungry

and wanted their favorite bhelpuri

and chaat.

The sugarcane man was eager to be

photographed too.

We had a lovely afternnon.

On Feb 20th I visited the Prk

again for the Horticultural Show.

I have another post for that.