Monsoon strikes Mathura

Creepy crawlies emerge

The Jageshwar Temple Complex

The deodar pine that is purported to be the tallest tree in Asia

The Jageshwar valley with a hoary,yet sylvan, pine forest

The babbling brook behind the Temple

The Kuber Temple is part of the Jageshwar Complex but sited slightly apart; as if commerce and religion don't mix - the irony!

The Lotus blooms in Congress-ruled Uttarakhand

Traditional house falling apart due to the influx of tourists infesting the street leading to the Jageshwar Temple

Quaint Kumaoni craftsmanship

Bugs

This winged beastie could down an F-16 fighter

The midget sized male tagging along with his larger female counterpart

Antennae that are twice as long as the beetle

Intimidating, conforming to the cliche "bug-eyed"

Fierce yet cute (click photo to see his compound eyes in detail)

Those mandibles

Flattering profile for facebook

Bullet-proof carapace

Ready for launch

Talons for ripping apart his prey

Sunset

Flora from Uttarakhand

Immature pine (deodar) cone

Dahalia

Rhododendron

Honey Suckle?

Lichen

Ferns

Dense oak forest of Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary