Last Sunday while roaming the crowded streets around Commercial Street in Bangalore, we chanced upon the St. Mary's Basilica. Amidst the chaos of Shivajinagar and the bustling Russel Market, the church appears like an oasis: a beautiful immaculate structure, the embodiment of peace and harmony. At twilight, the dipping sun created a nice golden glow in the sky as a backdrop to the church.
Built in Gothic style with stained glass windows, arches and ornamental motifs, the oldest church in the city, it was elevated to the status of a minor basilica in 1973. At present, it's the only basilica in the state of Karnataka and only the sixth in the country.
The church was built from 1856 to 1882 and consecrated in September 1882. Dedicated to Mother Mary, it is famous for St. Mary's feast held every year in the month of September. The festivities, attended by thousands from in and around Bangalore across religions, goes on for 10 days culminating in a grand chariot procession on the last day. Looking forward to attending this festival this year.
Wauw, this is just an amazing church, wouldn't expect this in India. Just top.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
Thanks for stopping by. It is indeed in India :)
DeleteWow!!Amazingly captured beauty!!
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteStunning photos -- especially the first outdoor shot! :)
ReplyDeleteThe light was really good for an HDR. So gave it a shot!
Deletebeautiful - I love visiting places of worship. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week, and thankyou for stopping by my blog.
You too have a wonderful week. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteWow...have gone past this church so many times but I got to admire it in a whole new angle from your 1st pic!!! Lovely capture...nxt time i pass by i knw i'll think of your pic..:-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliment. The light was amazing.
DeleteHow did you manage to get that lighting on the church (in the first pic) ? HDR? What technique/effect did you use?
ReplyDeleteThe shot was taken at twilight with the light falling fast. So took multiple exposures and merged into an HDR. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteRemarkable image. It looks a little unreal!
ReplyDeleteStewart M - Melbourne
Probably due to the HDRish effect. It was twilight and with the falling light, it was the only way to go.
DeleteMy eyes popped out when I saw the pictures. BRILLIANT capture Ramakant.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words. I got lucky, the light was amazing.
DeleteNice capture...Dazzling colors..!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words. Hope to see you here more often.
DeleteThe church looks beautiful inside and out, great shots!
ReplyDeleteYes it's a beautiful church indeed! Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteThat does look like a beautiful church.
ReplyDeleteIndeed it is quite beautiful. Thanks for your kind words!
DeleteFantastic works of Art, thanks for your visit and kind comments.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely place to visit. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteCongratulations for your interesting compositions, delicious colors and lights, I really like how you captured this church!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lovely words. They are very encouraging for me.
DeleteIt's very beautiful, inside and out.
ReplyDeleteIt sure is. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteAmazing photography and rendering...thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteDo have a good visit there and share some more amazing artworks with us:)
Thank you Vinaya for stopping by and sharing these encouraging words. I'm already looking forward to the festivities this year.
DeleteTerrific lighting, exposure and frames, Ramakant. Your photography invariably lifts the soul. Important nuggets of information about the basilica too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by. Your words definitely lift the soul :)
DeleteStunning church, amazingly and beautifully captured.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda for the kind words. Happy to know you enjoyed the visit,
Deletereally gorgeous!
ReplyDeletethanks for stopping by!
Thank you :)
DeleteThis is a very beautiful church, and your first photo is simply spectacular.
ReplyDeleteThe church is indeed beautiful and I tried my best to do it justice. I got lucky with the first picture, the light was just amazing :)
DeleteLovely clicks, first time here & I really love the way to captured these incredible shots :) A pleasure I would say ! :)
ReplyDeleteWelcome to my blog Tanya. Happy that you enjoyed your visit. Hope to see you here more often :)
DeleteWow - fabulous shots of this sumptuous church!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much!
DeleteWonderful set of images. I like that first shot.
ReplyDeleteThe church is really beautiful, isn't it? Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteHi There, Thanks for visiting my blog... Hope you come back often. I am enjoying yours. That Basilica is absolutely gorgeous --and you captured it well with your camera... WOW!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by.
Betsy
You had some lovely pictures in your blog. I will be sure to stop by. Happy to know you liked my photography :)
DeleteThese are truly magnificent images.
ReplyDeleteWonderful colors and light.
Thank you Lisa for the kind words. Coming from a fantastic photographer like you, it's high praise :)
DeleteWhat an amazing and unexpected find.
ReplyDeleteIt was quite an exciting feeling when we suddenly turned a corner in the crowded street and there stood the majestic basilica in front of us. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteBeautiful shots of the church.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much!
DeleteFirst time here and your photographs are awesome !
ReplyDeleteWelcome to my blog Pooja. Happy to know you enjoyed the visit :)
DeleteOh, my, what a spectacular place of worship! You got some really great photos!!
ReplyDeleteIt's an awesome place. I just got lucky with the shots :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by.
What an amazing sight and series of captures! It really is a breathtaking place, a real gem!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words. The basilica is truly an amazing place.
DeleteThanks for your visit to my site. The phographs are splendid and resplendant. The Church is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the awesome Haiku's on your blog. Thanks for stopping by and commenting here.
DeleteMy hubby and I may have gone panning for gold, but YOU found it in that first picture. Just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteWell..it was really a gem of a find, wasn't it? :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by.
lovely pics!
ReplyDeleteThank you Renu!
DeleteWow, this place is amazing. Would love to see it one day :)
ReplyDeleteThere are many beautiful places in India. I am pretty sure you will be covering them in your travel website some day :) Thanks for your kind comment.
DeleteBeautiful images! The first one is my favourite - I love the detail in the church, and the light shining from behind it.
ReplyDeleteThe twilight hour added the lovely colours to the background and HDR did the rest :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and leaving your kind comment.
Beautiful images and interesting history behind it!
ReplyDeleteIt had quite a bit of checkered history around it. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteGreat picture
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As others have mentioned, the first picture has come out quite well. I am not sure why we humans have a fascination for anything tall/large...
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It's quite natural I guess...tall buildings, tall people, you name it :) Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteAwesome one!...have seen the church everytime i pass by the place. Never knew it such history. Next time will try to spend sometime in there.
ReplyDeleteSure do. When you find some time for yourself :)
DeleteOh my gosh what stunning pictures! The top one looks like a painting -- and if churches used publicity shots (which I assume they do not) this would certainly be perfect.
ReplyDeleteThank you for such amazing words. Your words sure make me full good about the pictures :)
DeleteNice of you to stop by.
Thank you Ashwini for the kind words. It was a lovely sight.
ReplyDeleteWow! Stunning captures, the church indeed is an embodiment of beauty and tranquility. Looking forward to the festivities through your lens :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Arti for taking some time to leave this beautiful comment. I hope I get some good shots from the festival this year.
DeleteGorgoues and stunning! Been to Bangalore years ago, stayed for nearly 2 months there but never saw this church. I must not pay attention enough.
ReplyDeleteIts gorgeous for sure. I have been living in Bangalore on and off for almost a decade now and this was the first time I came across St. Mary's basilica :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by.
What a beautiful place to hold a festival. Your pictures are spectacular!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words :)
DeleteAwesome pictures...
ReplyDeleteThank you Vineeta :)
DeleteA beautiful church sunset.
ReplyDeleteIt was quite a beautiful sight to behold.
DeleteWOW!!! Such awesome photography!! Love the pics!
ReplyDeleteThank you Veronica for your kind words. Hope to see you here more often.
DeleteSt. Mary's Basilica looks stunning in your photo
ReplyDeleteThank you Glen for dropping by.
DeleteWow - very impressive shots of the cathedral! Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda :)
DeleteSuperb photography!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much :)
DeleteI was about to say "Wow", and noticed many of them have said that :)
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are amazingly taken. I particularly loved the first one - HDR'ish with golden background...speaks volume! WEll done!
Thank you Anu for stopping by and leaving a wonderful comment. With the falling light, I thought of getting multiple exposures to try out a HDR. And it came off pretty decent :)
DeleteI never knew this basilica is THIS beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely piece of architecture. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteAmazing....But dont hate me if I say that in the first picture...I did not notice the church. I was too mesmerized by the orange sky.!
ReplyDeleteThe glow of the setting sun did lend a different aura to the picture. It was a beautiful moment. Thanks for stopping by.
Deleteamazing clicks
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteWOW! WOW! WOW! Such beautiful shots. I stared at them for quite sometime before reading the post. :)
ReplyDeleteI got lucky with the light. Thanks for leaving a wonderful comment :)
DeleteThe first picture is just amazing! lovely captures :)
ReplyDeleteThank you very much :)
DeleteThese are wonderful photos. I especially like the vivid colors.
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Thank you Joyce for stopping by and leaving a lovely comment :)
DeleteGosh yes. It is a little bit of quiet in the midst of all the craziness of Shivajinagar. It often goes unnoticed when you get stuck in between those crowds, right? It's so cool that you got a good shot of the outside.
ReplyDeleteI'd never stepped in, so it was really nice to see the inside of the church in the second shot.
Nice pictures, all.
The place is always over-crowded. So it's not unusual if someone hasn't noticed the church at all. I was actually surprised when I caught my first glimpse of the towering structure through a break in the crowd.
DeleteNice of you to stop by :)
Absolutely gorgeous! I am not a church goer, but I love looking at the beautiful architecture of old churches! You took some very wonderful shots!
ReplyDeleteThank you Theresa for the compliment. I have never been one to be considered too much into religion. But have always loved visiting churches, temples, mosques; they have such fantastic architecture and provide a very serene environment.
Deletebeautiful colours & composition...lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kalyan for stopping by and leaving a nice comment :)
DeleteHi, You have a Very Nice Blog :) I had Just Started Following it. . . :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for liking this blog and following it. Hope you will enjoy your visits here :)
Deletestanding tall :)
ReplyDeleteThat it does :) Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteSome beautiful pictures, inside and outside of the Basilica.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouraging words :)
DeleteWow... i enjoy your blog !! Real nice photos !!
ReplyDeleteThanks für the nice comment on my blog... Now i follow you !!
Have a nice week..
Greetings from Germany
Good to know you enjoyed your visit here. Hope to see you here more often. You too have a nice week ahead!
DeleteA surprise to see this where you are! Thanks for sharing. Your pictures are luminous!
ReplyDeleteIndia has a fair number of old churches, of historical importance, especially in Goa and Pondicherry. Some of these are a photographer's delight :)
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ReplyDeleteThank you Aparna. It's quite an honour.
DeleteThis one is fantastic! I have shot here many a times, but never good this good images.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words. I guess I just got lucky with the light. Being at the right place at the right time as they say :)
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