Friday, July 31, 2015

Great Andaman

Great Andaman is the main archipelago of the Andaman Islands of India. It comprises five major islands. From north to south, these are North Andaman, Middle Andaman, South Andaman, Baratang and Rutland Island. The three northern islands are the largest of the entire island group, and the islands' capital, Port Blair, also lies in the archipelago.
Great Andaman is often considered the counterpart to Little Andaman, another island in the Andamans.
The Andaman islands consist of two groups i.e.Great Andaman and Little Nicobar. Narrow creeks separate the Great Andaman into North Andaman, Middle Andaman and South Andaman. The Andaman islands form a chain of islands extending from north to south. All these islands are in the form of peaks of a submerged mountain chain. Each island has a central highland surrounded by bordering flat lands sloping in all directiona and finally merged into coastal tracts. ‪#‎india‬ ‪#‎andaman‬ ‪#‎island‬‪#‎tourism‬

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Badami Cave Temples


The first ruler of the Early Chalukya dynasty, Pulakesi I established a new capital for his kingdom sometime around 540 AD. This city was located at the mouth of steep ravine and initially was named Vatapi. Nowadays it is known as Badami.
Great kingdom needed outstanding sanctuaries. Badami Chalukyas built Badami Cave Temples – some of the most exquisite Indian rock-cut temples. The water flowing from the ravine in Badami is gathered in an ancient artificial lake – Agastya tirtha reservoir. High above the water there are towering cliffs of comparatively soft sandstone. 4 Royal shrines were made in these cliffs with grand view opening over the former capital city.‪#‎badami‬ ‪#‎tourism‬ ‪#‎india‬ ‪#‎karnataka‬

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Famous Beaches in Kerala (Part 2)

Cherai Beach is on the western coast of Vypin Island ,25 km from Kochi. Goshree bridges connect the island to the mainland. There are regular ferry services also connecting the two areas . Cherai beach is the longest compared to two other beaches in the island.
Sankumugham Beach is located very close to Trivandrum City. It is one of the evening hideouts for the city dwellers to unwind and relax.
Calicut Beach is another beach that is located close to the city center. I have never seen any other beach where these many ice creams shops operate close-by. I am not talking about the ice cream carts but actual shops.
Kappad Beach is a historically important beach in Kerala. It is the place where Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer landed in 1498. It is 12 kms away from Calicut city and has beautiful sandy beach stretches.
Well, there are many more beaches as Kerala is a coastal state. Depending on where you are traveling in Kerala, you can ask your Kerala tour operator to guide you to the one near that location. ‪#‎India‬ ‪#‎Kerela‬‪#‎Beach‬ ‪#‎tourism‬

Famous Beaches in Kerala (Part 1)

Being a coastline State Kerala has a long western border with Arabian Sea. There are beaches of all types :- wet and wild hilly shores, long promenades, beaches adjoining backwaters and the sea . Take your choice.
Bekal Beach in the northern most part of Kerala Kasargod is a long lovely one. The Bekal Fort in the middle makes it enchanting. View the sea from the ramparts of the fort, or walk, swim, or picnic. The place is a declared tourism spot, so all amenities are provided such as accommodation for all pockets, good roads, clean beach etc. It lies at a distance of 16 km from the town of Kasargod.
Muzhuppilangad Beach is 5 km north of Thalassery. (15 km from Kannur ) An unpaved road winding through coconut groves lead you to the beach. The 5 km long beach curves in a wide expanse: you can even see the Kannur beach to the north. About 200 meters away is the Green Island. But the Prize goes to the 5 acre Dharmadam Island in beauty. During low tide you can walk to the island if you get permission from the owners. The rocky shores are remarkably beautiful.
Kovalam Beach is the most well-known beach in India. The bay created by the jutting promontory is calm and ideal for bathing. The place has everything you need, comfy cottages, high-end hotels, pools, yoga center, places where you can have soothing medicinal oil baths. It is only 12 km from Trivandrum City.
Varkala Beach also known as Papanasam (washing away sins) Beach is unique for the presence of cliffs a strange sight on the flat coast. As the waves dash against them, water spouts and spas are formed. One can bathe and swim also at the beach. There are many shops around to have snacks. The town of Varkala is about 32 miles north-west of Trivandrum.‪#‎India‬ ‪#‎Kerela‬ ‪#‎Beach‬ ‪#‎tourism‬

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

उज्जैन सिंहस्थ कुम्भ 2016

मध्य प्रदेश में इंदौर से 55 किमी दूर शिप्रा नदी के तट पर ‘उज्जैन’ (विजय की नगरी) स्थित है. यह भारत के पवित्रतम शहरों तथा मोक्ष प्राप्त करने के लिए पौराणिक मान्यता प्राप्त सात पवित्र या सप्त पुरियों (मोक्ष की नगरी) में से एक माना जाता है. मोक्ष दायिनी अन्य पुरियां (नगर) हैं : अयोध्या, मथुरा, हरिद्वार, काशी (वाराणसी), कांचीपुरम, और द्वारका. पौराणिक मान्यता है कि भगवान शिव ने उज्जैन में ही दानव त्रिपुर का वध किया था. 22 अप्रैल से 21 मई 2016 के बीच उज्जैन के प्राचीन और ऐतिहासिक शहर में कुम्भ आयोजन शुरू होंगे.सिंहस्थ कुम्भ उज्जैन का महान स्नान पर्व है। यह पर्व बारह वर्षों के अंतराल से मनाया जाता है। जब बृहस्पति सिंह राशि में होता है, उस समय सिंहस्थ कुम्भ का पर्व मनाया जाता है।
पवित्र क्षिप्रा नदी में पुण्य स्नान का महात्यम चैत्र मास की पूर्णिमा से प्रारंभ हो जाता हैं और वैशाख मास की पूर्णिमा के अंतिम स्नान तक भिन्न-भिन्न तिथियों में सम्पन्न होता है। उज्जैन के प्रसिद्ध कुम्भ महापर्व के लिए पारम्परिक रूप से दस योग महत्त्वपूर्ण माने जाते हैं।
पूरे देश में चार स्थानों पर कुम्भ का आयोजन किया जाता है। प्रयाग, नासिक, हरिद्वार और उज्जैन। उज्जैन में लगने वाले कुम्भ मेलों को सिंहस्थ के नाम से पुकारा जाता है। जब मेष राशि में सूर्य और सिंह राशि में गुरु आ जाता है तब उस समय उज्जैन में महाकुंभ मेले का आयोजन किया जाता है, जिसे सिंहस्थ के नाम से देश भर में कहा जाता है।
सिंहस्थ महाकुम्भ के आयोजन की प्राचीन परम्परा है। इसके आयोजन के विषय में अनेक कथाएँ प्रचलित है। समुद्र मंथन में प्राप्त अमृत की बूंदें छलकते समय जिन राशियों में सूर्य, चन्द्र, गुरु की स्थिति के विशिष्ट योग होते हैं, वहीं कुंभ पर्व का इन राशियों में गृहों के संयोग पर ही आयोजन किया जाता है। अमृत कलश की रक्षा में सूर्य, गुरु और चन्द्रमा के विशेष प्रयत्न रहे थे। इसी कारण इन ग्रहों का विशेष महत्त्व रहता है और इन्हीं गृहों की उन विशिष्ट स्थितियों में कुंभ का पर्व मनाने की परम्परा चली आ रही है।
प्रत्येक स्थान पर बारह वर्षों का क्रम एक समान हैं अमृत-कुंभ के लिए स्वर्ग की गणना से बारह दिन तक संघर्ष हुआ था जो धरती के लोगों के लिए बारह वर्ष होते हैं। प्रत्येक स्थान पर कुंभ पर्व कोफ्लिए भिन्न-भिन्न ग्रह सिषाति निश्चित है। उज्जैन के पर्व को लिए सिंह राशि पर बृहस्पति, मेष में सूर्य, तुला राशि का चंद्र आदि ग्रह-योग माने जाते हैं।
महान सांस्कृतिक परम्पराओं के साथ-साथ उज्जैन की गणना पवित्र सप्तपुरियों में की जाती है। महाकालेश्वर मंदिर और पावन क्षिप्रा ने युगों-युगों से असंख्य लोगों को उज्जैन यात्रा के लिए आकर्षित किया। सिंहस्थ महापर्व पर लाखों की संख्या में तीर्थ यात्री और भिन्न-भिन्न सम्प्रदायों के साधु-संत पूरे भारत का एक संक्षिप्त रूप उज्जैन में स्थापित कर देते हैं, जिसे देख कर सहज ही यह जाना जा सकता है कि यह महान राष्ट्र किन अदृश्य प्रेरणाओं की शक्ति से एक सूत्र में बंधा हुआ है। ‪#‎india‬ ‪#‎archives‬ ‪#‎ujjain‬ ‪#‎bharat‬‪#‎kumbh‬

Monday, July 27, 2015

Tilyar Zoo


After closing down the non-viable Mini Zoos scattered all over the State in 2001 by the Government, emphasis was laid on development of Rohtak zoo by Chief Minister, Haryana in the 17th Meeting of Haryana State Wildlife Advisory Board held on 21.12.2000. The zoo at Rohtak has a few attractive birds and animals for public showing. Many birds species have been very common and the attractive animals in the zoo are also very few. Therefore, to elevate the status of this zoo and make it a well sought after recreational destination by the public, a decision was taken to extend it from an area of 16 acres to an area of 44 acres. The government transferred about 28 acres land from Tilyar Tourist Complex to Forest Department on 10th June 2003 to facilitate the expansion of the zoo. Accordingly, the layout plan of the zoo was prepared and submitted to the Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi on 9th April, 2004 for their sanction. The Central Zoo Authority sanctioned the layout plan on 28.3.2005.
As per sanctioned layout plan of Rohtak Zoo, the enclosures for housing Gharial, Crocodile, Hippopotamus, Himalayan Black Bear, Leopard, Tiger, Fox, Hyena, Wolf, Jackal, Otter, Barking deer, Chinkara, Black buck, Sambhar, Langoor, Pig tailed monkey, Macque and Baboon and Bird aviaries for housing a number of exotic and local attractive birds are to be created. Besides, landscaping within the zoo complex will be done providing gardens, hillocks, lakes, waterfalls, visitor trails, paths and roads. For visitors, resting/relaxing places, cafes, toilets, watch towers, drinking water facilities etc. will be provided. For Deer species, fodder parks will be developed. To provide proper after care to the zoo inmates, veterinary facilities along with postmortem room will be developed. The entrance gate of the zoo will be an esthetically created so that entrance looks grand and spacious.

Adjoining Biodiversity centre will be merged with the gate house complex. The parking facility for the visitors vehicle will be provided in large open space in front of the gate house complex which will also have kiosks. The hillocks will be created in such a way that the visitors will have a panoramic view of different animal enclosures. The enclosures will be sufficiently spacious to provide a natural habitat to the animals. The developmental works in the zoo would be undertaken in a phased manner. During the current year, the enclosures for Tiger, Crocodile, Himalayan black bear, Jackal and Wolf would be constructed for which work is being started soon. An outlay of Rs. 187.00 lacs has been sanctioned by the Central Zoo Authority for the proposed expansion of Rohtak Zoo. The financial assistance will be 100% from the Central Zoo Authority. The up-gradation of Rohtak Zoo will prove an added attraction to the visitors coming to the adjoining Tilyar Tourist Complex and will definitely boosh tourism. ‪#‎India‬ ‪#‎sanctuary‬ ‪#‎wildlife‬ ‪#‎birds‬ ‪#‎nature‬‪#‎haryana‬

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Sultanpur National Park & Bird Sanctuary, Gurgaon

Sultanpur National Park & Bird Sanctuary is located in Gurgaon district of Haryana, 46 kms. from Delhi and 15 kms. from Gurgaon on the Gurgaon - Farukh Nagar Road. The Sultanpur National Park is lush with trees, shrubs and clusters of bougainvillea. A good pair of binoculars is a must to clearly see the wildlife from a safe distance, without disturbing them.
To facilitate bird watching, there are four watch towers (machans) located at different points. In addition, there is adequate parking and facilities like toilets and drinking water. The Educational Interpretation Center has been established here to offer proper guidance to the tourist visiting the place.
The Tourist Complex built in the Park has elegant rooms equipped with all modern amenities, a restaurant and a bar.
Sultanpur National Park is essentially a bird watcher's paradise with few trees obscuring the visitor's view of the lake. The birds here can be easily spotted wading, swimming or flying.
Every year 90 migratory bird species arrive here in search of feeding grounds and to spend the winter. In winter, the sanctuary provides a picturesque panorama of migratory birds and even in summer, some species of migratory birds come here. ‪#‎India‬ ‪#‎sanctuary‬ ‪#‎wildlife‬ ‪#‎birds‬‪#‎nature‬ ‪#‎gurgaon‬

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Dalma WildLife Sanctuary


Dalma Mountain Range is at an altitude of 3000 feet. Lurking in the thick cover of its jungle (193 sq. km.) are elephants, barking deer, sloth beer, porcupines, leopard, tigers etc. The steep slope of Dalma are a trekker’s delight. Small hideouts have been made at several places in the sanctuary where one can see wilds animals in their natural habitat. A look from the mountaintop at the city is so visually appealing at the night that it looks as if millions stars twinkling. Dalma provides natural air condition to the fuming steel city and is an important source of fresh oxygen to the citizens. Late Sanjay Gandhi inaugurated the sanctuary in 1975. On the mountaintop are the guesthouse of Tata Steel and Forest Department.
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By Air:  The nearest airport is Sonari.

By Rail: 
Tatanagar Railway station is located on Howrah-Mumbai line.

By Road: 
Jamshedpur is well connected by roads with all important places of Jharkhand and Kolkata.

Netarhat


A plateau, four miles long and two and a half miles broad. It is in the extreme of the district, the highest point of which is 3,800 feet above the sea level. It is in Mahuadanr police station and is 96 miles west of Ranchi across seven hills. This is the highest point on the plateau of Chhotanagpur. Netarhat is a place of peculiar charm which has a laid its spell on many casual visitors. The stillness of the jungle and the cool and refreshing air brings relief from the dust and heat of the plains.The sight of the sunrise near the Palamu dak bungalow and sunset at Mangolia point about six miles from the Public school. It is advisable that tourist must see the SUNRISE and SUNSET in Neterhat. Presently Neterhat is situated in new created district LATEHAR from PALAMU.

Netarhat has a wonderful climate and in the July and August it does not become moist. In summer Netarhat has a very cool climate. The
  plateau is : ringed by forest and the rainfall usually does not exceed 60 inches per year. There are patches of pines and cypresses grown by
  the Forest. Department and both the species have taken to the soil  very kindly. Apples and peaches are grown but the fruits are not very big.
  English vegetables could easily be grown. The place has now been freed from malaria. There are a number of flowering trees particularly of
  Bauhinia and Cassia species. Season flowers could be grown throughout the year. It has been held the flowering trees of different species
  could be very well grown on the plateau which will ensure a feast of flowers throughout  the year.
  

  
The development of Netarhat will open the neighbouring  Chhechhari valley and other hill tops such as Jamirapat (3,747 feet above sea level
  ) and Gulgupat (3,819 feet above sea level ). Jharkhand’s second highest fall, the Burhaghagh with a sheer drops of 466 feet is also near
  Netarhat but at present accessible only to the hiker. Netarhat offers plenty of big game shooting with permission from the Forest Department.
  Tigers are common in certain sections. With the development of Netarhat which has been taken up, it will have great attraction to the general
  tourists, hiker, shikari and anthropologists. There is one important beauty  spot in Netarhat. 

Friday, July 24, 2015

Gobind Sagar Lake



The vast reservoir that forms the lifeline of Himachal Pradesh, Gobind Sagar Lake is a popular tourist destination too. It is an artificial lake, which is a direct outcome of world famous Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej River. India’s first Prime Minister had the vision to turn all the dams and power projects of the country into tourist destinations. When you visit the Gobind Sagar Lake, you see that the vision has become a reality.

It is 90 km long and encompasses an area of approximately 170 sq. km. Harvey Slocum was the mastermind behind the successful design and work of this lake. To maintain the level of water, the flow of the river Beas is channeled to the Gobind Sagar, by the Beas-Sutlej Link that was completed in 1976. Though a power generation unit, the lake is also the host of various water sports. Fishing is a regular activity here and more than fifty species and sub-species can be seen in the water.

Some of the major species include Tor Putitora (Mahasheer), Labeo Dero (Gid), Mystus Seenghala (Singhara) and mirror carp. Department of Fishers at Bilaspur gives licenses for fishing here. Water sports like speedboat and ferry rides are also available in Gonbind Sagar Lake. In October and November, when the water and water level of the reservoir is at its peak, the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation organizes a series of regattas. Water-skiing, sailing, kayaking, and water-scooter racing become available at this time.

Named after the 10th Guru (Teacher of Sikh community) - Guru Gobind Singh, the lake becomes more popular during winters. The surroundings of the lake reflect the true beauty of Himalayan ranges. The lush green mountains surround the lake and the river definitely add greatly to its beauty. The nearby destinations around the Gobind Sagar Lake comprise of Anandpur Sahib. This holy place is 83 kms from here. The place is of vital importance for the Sikh people, as Guru Teg Bahadur established it.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Khajjiar


Khajjiar, located in Chamba district and just 24 kilometers away from Dalhousie, Khajjiar is another popular hill station that is tucked at an altitude of 2,000 meters. Khajjiar is long-familiar for hosting a picturesque ecosystem with lakes, pastures and forest. If you are looking for camping in Himachal Pradesh then this is it… where you can pitch your tent in the midst of wilderness. #india #himanchal

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Himalayan Quail


Himalayan Quail: The Himalayan Quail is medium-sized quail found only in western Himalayas and north-west India. The threatened birds is one of the rarest birds in the world and very unique to India. The Himalayan Quail inhabiting damp grassland, steep hillsides particularly stands of tall grass and look similar to the Manipur Bush-quails. The Quail found in coveys of five or six and fly only to close quarters. #india #indianbirds #nature

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Malabar Parakeet


Malabar Parakeet: The Blue Winged Parakeet known as Malabar Parakeet is endemic to the Western Ghats of India. The Malabar Parakeet has beautifully colored plumage, female Malabar Parakeet has a grey face, a black beak and a single black collar and The male has bluish-green on the front of his face, a red beak and a double collar of black with luminous bluish-green. The Malabar parrot is one of the most beautiful colored bird of India.

Monday, July 20, 2015

Rohtang Pass


Rohtang Pass...is a high mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas around 51 km (32 mi) from Manali. It connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh, India. Manali-Leh Highway, a part of NH 21, transverses Rohtang Pass.

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Dilkusha Kothi (Lucknow)

Dilkusha Kothi is the remains of an eighteenth-century house built in the English baroque style in the quiet Dilkusha area of Lucknow in India. Today there are only a few towers and external walls as a monument, though the extensive gardens remain. The house was shelled during its involvement in the Lucknow siege in 1857 together with the Residency and the nearby school of La Martiniere. The Archaeological Society of India has done work to prevent further decay, carrying out gardening and small repairs. The site is considered to be deserving of further publicity by the ASI, subject to funding.  It is claimed that "Dilkusha Kothi is probably one of the most beautiful monuments in the historic city of Lucknow."\

Indian Flying Fox

Habitat: This species roosts in large colonies of hundreds to thousands of individuals on large trees in rural and urban areas, close to agricultural fields, ponds and by the side of roads It feeds on a wide variety of fruits and flowers, both wild and cultivated. A single young is born between April to early June. It travels long distances, up to 150 km to and from its roost, a night in search of fleshy berries.
National Parks: Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, Palamau Tiger Reserve and Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary in Jharkhand, Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh, Molem National Park in Goa, Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Chilka (Nalaban) Wildlife Sanctuary in Orissa and Indravati National Park in Chattisgarh.
Status in the Wild: Least concern
More Facts At: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Specieshttp://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/18725/0

Saturday, July 18, 2015

The Huddleston Gardens Of Theosophical Society, Chennai


The aim behind the establishment of Theosophical society is to create universal brotherhood where there is no distinction among human beings. The essence of the society is to blend the best of teachings of all religions to elevate the quality of humanity and its power. The world headquarters of Theosophical society is in Chennai. Located in Adyar, a part of Chennai, it commands respect from people belonging to all faiths. The society was established here in the year 1883. The 260-acre Huddleston Gardens is a birdwatchers’ paradise. You will find a wide range of migratory birds here. The banyan tree at the center of the garden immediately comes to mind amongst the people of Chennai, as the 450 and odd year old tree is one amongst the largest trees the world over. The tree covers a massive 59500 sq. ft area of land. This is one of the few places to feel one with nature and enjoy fresh air. This place elevates your soul.
The library inside the campus has great collections exceeding two lakh books. Other collections include palm-leaf manuscripts and many ancient books of various faiths. ‪#‎india‬ ‪#‎chennai‬ ‪#‎tourism‬

Friday, July 17, 2015

Birla Planetarium, Jaipur


The planetarium is on the Statue Circe and is made of white marble. One can get a view of the cosmos with the production and sound system of the planetarium.

Birla Auditorium and Convention Centre
Over 9.5 acres, it houses a museum, auditorium, (with a seating capacity of 1,300), a library, a planetarium and a big exhibition area. The convention centre hosts major conferences. The entrance facade is a replica of Ganesh Pole of Amber Palace. ‪#‎india‬ ‪#‎jaipur‬ ‪#‎planetarium‬

The Buddha Statue of Hyderabad


The Buddha Statue of Hyderabad is a monolith located in India. It is the world's tallest monolith of Gautama Buddha. This statue is located at Lumbini Park in the Hussain Sagar Island can be reached by boat in 15 minutes.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Ranchi


Nakshatra Van: is situated in the heart of the City.It is divided into various sections. There is a big circle in the center of the park which is divided into arcs.The tree that represents the particular nakshatras in the zodiac has been planted in each of the corresponding arcs.

Muta Crocodile breeding centre : is situated at a distance of 23 km from Ranchi on Ranchi Ramgarh Road near Ormanjhi. There are around 50 crocodiles.
Birsa Jaivik Udyan : is situated at a distance of 16 km from Ranchi in Ranchi Ramgarh Road near Ormanjhi. Many species of animals,trees and plants can be seen here.
Ranchi Lake: Located at the base of Ranchi Hills is excavted in the year 1842.
McCluskigunj : It is famous for European style bungalows and a tribal museum.
Tribal Research Institute and Museum : :Located in Morhabadi . It shows tribal culture of Chotanagpur plateau.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Pataleshwar Caves (Pune)


Pataleshwar Caves on Jungli Maharaj Road are 8th century cave temples dedicated to Lord Pataleshwar, God of the Underworld. Believed to have been cut out from a single rock, the place has massive pillars, which are the grandeur of the temple caves. The shrine out there is dedicated to Shiva and the Nandi. This religious shrine on Jungli Maharaj Road, housed in caves, that dates back to 700-800 AD has rather grand statues of Nandi, Sita, Ram, Lakshman, Lakshmi, Ganesh and an over-sized shivalingam under its roof.

 The attached museum is dim, dank and dusty and not worth wasting time over, apart from an exhibit that has made the Guinness Book of World Records - a grain of rice engraved with some 5000 characters 

Getting there: Open daily from 08.00 to 17.30, this is located in the middle of the busy thorughfare of Jangli Maharaj Road. Gettting there with most rickshaws willing to ply there! #india #pune #indiantourism #bharat

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Indore


There are a number of places in Indore that should be visited while on a sightseeing tour of the city. Indore has a rich cultural heritage. The city was ruled over by some of the greatest rulers, who have given it their legacy in the form of various historical monuments and religious places. Today, the Indore city of Madhya Pradesh has a lot to offer to the people who come here on tours. The place is all set to fascinate you with the charm of its architectural grandeur and historical enigma. 

Chokhi Dhani
Chokhi Dhani and Nakhrali Dhani are Rajasthani heritage resorts on the outskirts of Indore. These resorts are given the appearance of a Rajasthani village in India. The villages provide people the precise atmosphere of the village, along with the modern day facilities and entertainment. 

Central Museum/ Indore Museum
Central Museum, also known as the Indore Museum, is one of the most interesting buildings in Indore. It is a treat for the people who are genuinely fascinated by the history of India and the rich civilization that flourished here in the pre historic age.

Chhatris
The Maratha Rulers were skilled in the field of architecture. An exquisite example of their architectural style comprise of the Chattris of Indore. These chhattris are the cenotaphs built in the memory of the Holkar rulers. The memorials are built in stone and have stood the test of time. 

Lal Baag Palace
Lal Baag Palace is one of the most spectacular buildings in Indore. It stands on the outskirts of the town, towards the southwest. It is a three storey building on the bank of the River Khan. The palace was built by Maharaja Shivaji Rao Holkar during 1886-1921. 

Kanch Mandir
The Kanch Mandir, as the name suggests, is a temple which is entirely made up of glass and mirrors. It is also known as the Seth Hukamchand Temple, as it was built by the "Cotton King" Sir Hukamchand Seth in the early 20th century. It is primarily a Jain temple and is a wonder in glass. 

Rajwada
Rajwada is the historical palace of the Holkars. It was built about two centuries ago and is located near the Chhatris in the main square. It is a seven storied structure, which serves as the living example of the grandeur of the Holkars. Rajwada stands in the centre of the city. 

Town Hall or Mahatma Gandhi Hall
The Town Hall or Mahatma Gandhi Hall is one of the prettiest buildings in Indore city of India. Built in 1904, it was originally named King Edward Hall. In 1948, it was renamed as Mahatma Gandhi Hall. It has a remarkable Indo-Gothic structure and is made in Seoni stone. Its splendid domes and steeples are the landmark of the Indore city. It has a clock tower in front and is popularly known as Ghanta Ghar. The central hall can accommodate 2000 people at a time and is the venue of book, painting exhibitions and fairs throughout the year. The building also has a library, children's park and a temple. 

Nehru Park
Another well known tourist spot in the city is Nehru Park. It is the oldest park in Indore, located centrally. Built by the Britons, it was earlier known as Biscow Park and was open only to British before independence. After independence, it was renamed as Nehru Park. The park has a variety of roses and offers facilities like library, swimming pool, children's hobby centre, a mini train and battery operated cars. #india #touristspot #tourism #indore #madhyapradesh

Monday, July 13, 2015

Museum - Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar


*) - Himalay Darshan Gallery - The Himalayas has been a center of attraction, not only for the hermits and Yogis but also for other curious people of the world, from time immemorial. The glory of it has been vividly described in various ancient Indian literatures. Though, in the modern age of scientific development it has become easy to have a look of
the Himalayan peaks, a travel beauty of nature but still it remains a mater of imagination for the common people …. 
Misc.Section which comprises beautifully executed sketches of the by gone ages, hair dresses of different historical periods, charts showing development of ancient Indian scripts, meticulously depicted birds of the Kalidas times and etc. 

*) - Manuscript Gallery - More than 333 manuscripts of different languages, ranging in time between 16th century AD to 20th century AD and of various writing materials have been displayed in this gallery. This includes manuscripts of Bangla, Sanskrit, Farsi, Gurumukhi, Tibet, Urdu, Hindi-Urdu, Sanskrit-Hindi, Devanagari (Hindi), Sharda, Sanskrit-Urdu. Various manuscripts written on the Tarapatra were also displayed.

*) - Painting Gallery - This gallery is also an extra attraction for the art lever as well as common people. A variety of styles, subjects and themes enrich this collection. It includes Rajasthani Nathdwara style, Jaipur-Amer styles, Pahari-Kangra style and local Kankhal style, which has been preserved as its eye copies, prepared by this museum.

*) - Metal Sculpture Gallery - In this gallery, metal sculptures relating to Brahmanical and Buddhist religions and various types of birds and animals are being displayed.amongst the Buddhist icons, images in Dhyana (meditation) and Bhumi-sparsha mudra (earth-touching posture) are common.

*) - Coins Gallery - This gallery is also one of the most important and attractive galleries of this museum. The rich collection of the coins is more than 4000 in numbers ranging in date from the earliest known punch marked coins to the modern times. 

Other Galleries - Terracotta, proto-historic, stone sculpture etc. 

Government Freedom Struggle Museum, Meerut


Government Freedom Struggle Museum, Meerut was establish in 1997. It is located in the Shaheed Smarak compound on Delhi Road, about 6 km north-east from the city railway station and at a distance of about 200 meters from the Delhi Bus Station. Visitors can stay in various guest houses, private lodges and hotels.

The Museum's main aim is the collection, preservation, documentation and exhibition of cultural property and to make it available for educational activities as well as for creation of awareness about our glorious past. Presently two galleries are on display in this Museum. They depict important episodes of the War of Independence 1857 through paintings, relief, dioramas and postal stamp, photographs and also having a collection of archeological objects in meerut region.

For more Information Please visit:
www.upmuseum.org #meerut #uttarpradesh #museum #historical #india #bharat 

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Madhubani Paintings


Madhubani Paintings - Mithila painting, as a domestic ritual activity, was unknown to the outside world until the massive Bihar earthquake of 1934. House walls had tumbled down, and the British colonial officer in Madhubani District, William G. Archer, inspecting the damage "discovered" the paintings on the newly exposed interior walls of homes. Archer - later to become the South Asia Curator at London's Victoria and Albert Museum - was stunned by the beauty of the paintings and similarities to the work of modern Western artists like Klee, Miro, and Picasso. During the 1930s he took black and white photos of some of these paintings, the earliest images we have of them. Then in a 1949 article in the Indian art journal, Marg, he brought the wall paintings to public attention. Then a second natural disaster, a severe draught in the late 1960s, prompted the All India Handicrafts Board to encourage a few upper caste women in villages around Madhubani town to transfer their ritual wall paintings to paper as an income generating project. Drawing on the region's rich visual culture, contrasting "line painting" and "color painting" traditions, and their individual talents, several of these women turned out to be superb artists. Four of them were soon representing India in cultural fairs in Europe, Russia, and the USA. Their national and international recognition prompted many other women from many other castes - including harijans or dalits, the ex-"untouchables" - to begin painting on paper as well.

By the late 1970s, the popular success of the paintings - aesthetically distinct from other Indian painting traditions - was drawing dealers from New Delhi offering minimal prices for mass produced paintings of the most popular divinities and three familiar scenes from the Ramayana. Out of poverty, many painters complied with the dealers' demands, and produced the rapid and repetitious images known as "Madhubani paintings." Nevertheless, with the encouragement of a number of outsiders - both Indian and foreign - other artists working within the same aesthetic traditions continued to produce the highly crafted, deeply individual and increasingly diverse work, now known as "Mithila Painting."

Mithila had long been famous in India for its rich culture and numerous poets, scholars, and theologians - all men. For women, it has been a deeply conservative society, and until painting on paper began 40+ years ago, most women were confined to their homes and limited to household chores, child rearing, managing family rituals, and ritual wall painting.

Painting on paper for sale has changed this dramatically. Aside from generating important new family income, individual women have gained local, national, and even international recognition. Artists are being invited to exhibitions across India, and to Europe, the United States, and Japan - no longer as "folk artists," but now as "contemporary artists." Where once their paintings were "anonymous," now they are proudly signed. Along with economic success, opportunities for travel, education, radio, and now television are expanding women's consciousness and engagement with the multiple worlds around them. Gender relations are shifting. A few men continue to paint within what is still defined as "a women's tradition," but their work tends to be personal and anodyne. In contrast, the women's paintings are increasingly socially charged, critical, and edgy.

These changes have provoked an argument in Mithila and beyond between cultural conservatives who claim that commercialization and the loss of its ritual functions has debased Mithila painting, versus those who see Mithila Painting as a contemporary art form rooted in the expanding experience, concerns, and freedoms of Mithila's women. Viewers of Mithila Painting: The Evolution of an Art Form are encouraged to form their own judgments. #art #india #madhubani #indianart #paintings

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Central Braille Press, Dehradun

Situated in one of the pristine parts of Dehradun known as the Rajpur Road, the Central Braille Press is the first press of its kind in India and one of the oldest braille presses in Asia. It was set up in Dehradun, Uttarakhand in 1951 after independence by the Government of India, Ministry of Welfare to make braille literature available to the blind. This was followed by the setting up of NIVH (National institute for the Visually Handicapped) in 1967 in an area of about 43 acres on Mussoorie-Dehradun Highway. It is a training centre for the blind.
If you are in Dehradun for a day or two, you should not miss this place. The old British styled house gives a serene feeling and once you are inside the building there are many things to see, just like a museum. The old manual printing, cutting and perforating machines to the new age digital printing devices - all under the same roof. And if you visit the press after 9 in the morning, you will be lucky enough to meet the good people who will gladly give you a tour of the printing, proof reading, editing and binding rooms inside the building.
Central Braille Press is the largest producer of Braille text books in India. The press produces braille books in different languages including Hindi, English, Punjabi, Urdu, and Sanskrit. It supplies text books from Class I to VI free of cost and at highly subsidized rates from Class VII and onwards. The press also brings out regularly magazines for blind readers to keep them abreast about latest developments. These magazines are “Braille Times (Weekly), News magazine, Nayan Rashmi (Monthly in Hindi) and Braille Digest (Bi-monthly in English)”.
Source - withjim.in

Friday, July 10, 2015

Nameri National Park

Comprising more than 600 species of plants, the Nameri National Park which shares its northern boundary with the Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh covers an area of about 200 square kilometers in Sonitpur district of Assam. It consists of mainly semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forest with cane and bamboo brakes and narrow strips of open grasslands along several water bodies. Established as an elephant reserve… today it is home to several other endangered species like tigers, leopards, dholes and Himalayan black bears. Other common animal species that are found in Nameri National Park are pygmy hog, gaur, wild boar, sloth bear, capped langur and Indian giant squirrel. The park is also a haven for bird lovers. 
The white winged wood duck, great pied hornbill, wreathed hornbill, rufous necked hornbill, ibis bill, babblers, and plovers are the major attractions amongst the bird species. The park is also a great destination for an angling and fishing holiday in India as it is fed by many small rivers and water bodies. River rafting in Nameri River and guided hiking tours in the surrounding areas of Nameri National Park are some major adventure activities on your wildlife tour to North East Indiathat you can look forward to. The best time to visit the Nameri National Park is during the winter season.

Lahaul and Spiti valley


Heading from manali ,Rohtang Pass(altitude 3978 m) is the gateway to Lahaul and the Kunzum Pass (altitude 4,551 m; 14,931 ft) is the entrance pass to the Spiti Valley from Lahaul. The highest Pass in Spiti Valley .Kunzum is situated at a distance of around 125 Kms from Manali and it takes an 8 Hrs drive to be there.After crossing the Rohtang pass and heading 20 kms ahead comes Gramphoo. One will have to take a right turn. While going to this pass, the panoramic view of Bara-Sigri glacier (second longest glacier in the world) which lasts upto 55 kms connecting Manali- Bara Shigri- Keylong is enthrilling and inspiring.
At kunzum pass is a temple known as the Kunzum devi temple. As per a local tradition, all vehicles stop at the temple to pay obeisance to the deity.

Kunzum is also popular with trekkers and adventure seekers.  The 12 km trek to Chandratal is very popular. It have a lunar and rugged landscape. The terrain is also inhospitable. A 12 KM trek to chandratal is very popular.Also trekking from Demul to Komic (14,000 ft) through the Kibber National Park lets the climbers &trekkers to explore the wilderness and grandeur of the inner Himalaya.

On way back from Gramphoo one can either return to Manali or can go to Leh via Keylong , Darcha, Baralacha la, Sarchu, Tanglang la by road The Kunzum Devi Temple at Kunzum Pass. 
- Prince Mishra

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Unexplored India # 02



*) - The biodiversity hotspot regions of India are one of the richest in the world in terms of endemic species of mammals, birds and reptiles. The Western Ghats, Eastern Himalayas and North-Eastern India region are home to a wide ranges of flora and fauna, including the well-known large mammals Asian Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Lion, Leopard, Sloth Bear and greater one-horned rhinoceros.


*) - The two Indian union territories Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are major sea island,located in the Arabian sea and the Bay of Bengal. Lakshadweep has 36 islands and islets and Andaman Islands consists of 204 small islands, which are now a days one of the major tourist destinations in India.