Friday, August 28, 2015

Dimapur, Nagaland India

Dimapur is the commercial center of Nagaland, and the main entry point into the state. Nagaland's only airport is located there, with flights to and from Kolkata, and Guwahati. Dimapur is also the only city in Nagaland to be connected by train. There are direct trains to and from Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Chennai.
Once the capital of the ancient Kachari tribe, Dimapur has some mysterious 13th century ruins from the Karachi civilization, which ruled there until the Nagas came down from the hills and took over.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Dawki Meghalaya


Dawki is the beautiful town in Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya and a road border crossings between India and Bangladesh. The freely flowing Dawki or Umngot river in Shillong offers one of the most beautiful view of the city and the venue of the annual boat race held in March. The Umngot river also has a bridge known as Dawki Bridge, a suspension bridge over the river build by Britishers.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Mechuka (Arunachal Pradesh)


The Menchukha or Mechuka is a small town nested in the amazing valley of Mechuka and home to Memba tribe. Mechuka is the most popular tourist destination in Arunachal Pradesh and known for its scenic beauty, exotic tribes, gentle hills and snow-capped mountains and River Siyom. A 400-year-old Buddhist Monastery is located at hilltop in the western most part of Mechuka valley.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

National Philatelic Museum

Philately is the collection & study of postage stamps that has many enthusiasts the world over. It is also very popular in India with a number of philately groups active in various regions of India. The National Philatelic Museum in Delhi is a unique initiative by the Indian Government Postal Service to showcase the rich postal heritage of the country & promote this interesting hobby among kids & adults alike. 
The National Philatelic Museum was inaugurated in 2011 to promote interest in philately & also provide a common platform for philately enthusiasts from India to interact with each other. The Museum is located near Connaught Place (CP) on Sansad Marg & is easily accessible by public transport. The museum is part of the Dak Bhavan building and is housed in the basement of the building. 
The museum showcases an extensive collection of stamps, tracing back from the first stamp issued in India which is one of the rarest stamps (issued by the Sindh Dak in 1854) and has been showcased at the museum as well as some other very rare stamps issued before Independence of India by the Princely States of India. The museum has on display various thematic stamps, such as on wildlife, flora, important public figures, science & technology, transportation & armed forces etc. 
In addition to showcasing stamps from India, the museum also displays stamps from the world over. One of the special stamps on display is from the Army Postal Service & India Security Press, Nashik. It is an enjoyable experience for the philatelists to view such rare & priceless postage stamps on display. 
The museum is equipped with an amphitheatre for organizing events for encouraging philately. There is also a reference library which has a lot of books, journals & related literature on philately; it is provided in exchange of a minimal cost and one has to register for membership. 
The postage department has set up an artist’s corner which displays the process & know-how of designing stamps; this corner has plans in the near future to invite artists from various parts of the world for live demonstrations of designing postage stamps. The museum also has an outlet for philatelists interested in purchasing special edition Indian stamps. 
The museum is open for the public from Monday to Friday and the entry is free as of now. It also permits school groups on request on Saturdays. The timings of the National Philatelic Museum are 10 AM-5 PM – a must visit.

Monday, August 24, 2015

Aravalli Range


The Aravalli Range is one of the most popular mountain ranges in the western part of India. Stretching about 300 miles from the northeast to the southwest, the Aravallis intercept the state of Rajasthan on its stretch. The highest point in the Aravalli Range is called as Guru Shikhar, which is located in Mount Abu. At this point, the peak rises to about 5653 feet. 


The northern end of the Aravalli Range is a stretch of isolated and rocky hills and ridges that starts in Haryana and ends in Delhi. The southwestern range of the Aravalli passes through Gujarat and Rajasthan. Ajmer in Rajasthan is located on the southern slopes of the Aravallis. Situated near a narrow gorge, the city of Bundi in Rajasthan is surrounded by the Aravalli Range on its three sides. 

The Aravallis are some of the oldest fold mountains in the world. Beginning from the Rajasthan in western India, the mountain range extends to Delhi. The peaks of the Aravalli range are not pointed as young fold mountains. They have been eroded by the forces of nature like rain, wind and sunshine. 

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Narora Atomic Power Station

Narora Atomic Power Station is located in Narora, Bulandshahar District in Uttar Pradesh, India. Commercial operation of unit 1 began on 1 January 1991. Unit 2 began commercial operation on 1 July 1992. Each unit has a capacity of 220 MWe . Narora is situated in the state of Uttar Pradesh and in the district of Bulandshahr. Narora is 68 kilometers from the district headquarters Bulandshahr, 135 km from Meerut.

Friday, August 21, 2015

Indira Sagar Dam


Indira sagar dam built on the Narmada river with a height of 92m. is concrete gravity dam, located in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. Indira sagar project was the key project on Narmada river providing excellent storage site of water. Indira Sagar Dam has the biggest reservoir in India.
Height: 92 m
Length: 653 m
Type: Concrete Gravity Dam
River: Narmada River
Location: Madhya Pradesh
Installed capacity: 1,000 MW

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Bhavanisagar Dam

The Bhavani Sagar Dam constructed across Bhavani river, is located 80 Km away from Coimbatore city, Tamil Nadu. This dam looks very beautiful and one of the important tourist place in the district of Erode. The Bhavanisagar dam is 8 km. long and it is the longest masonry dam in the world.
Height: 105 ft
Length: 1700 meters
Type: Earthen dam
River: Bhavani River
Location: Tamil Nadu
Installed capacity: 1,920 MW

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Tehri Dam

Tehri Dam is the biggest dam in Asia. It is situated on Bhagirathi river in Uttarakhand, India. It is rock and earth filled massive water barrier. Tehri Hydro Development Coorporation (THDC) was formed in 1988 to manage the dam. The dam started working in 2006.
Electricity generation
Tehri dam generates 1000 MW of hydroelectricity along with an additional 1000 MW of pumped storage hydroelectricity. The Tehri Hydropower Complex also includes 400 MW Koteshwar dam downstream.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Jammu


One of the most visited destinations in North India, Jammu is a beautiful city dotted with a number of tourist attractions including temples. While the architectural beauty of the temples leaves you mesmerized, the scenic beauty and pleasing ambiance of the city is not less, it makes you visit again and again. Jammu is best known for housing Vaishno Devi, which is one of the most sacred sites of the Hindus. When it comes to tourist attractions in Jammu, temples dominate the destination Jammu. Apart from the popular shrine of Vaishno Devi, Raghunath Mandir, Bawey Wali Mata Temple, Ranbireshwar Temple, Mahamaya Temple, Peer Kho Cave Temple and Panchbakhtar Temple are popular shrines in Jammu.
Jammu is also popular for housing a number of historical structures like Mubarak Mandi Palace, Bahu Fort and Amar Mahal Palace. These structures showcase different architectural styles such as European, Mughal and Rajasthani. To sum up, Jammu is a great destination if you wish to explore the religious and scenic side of India. ‪#‎india‬ ‪#‎jammu‬‪#‎tourism‬ ‪#‎destination‬ ‪#‎nature‬ ‪#‎history‬

Matheran



Your toy train chugs along slowly without a care in the world. During the two hour ascent, food vendors and monkeys jump on and off as the valley glides by sedately.
Sprawling languidly at an altitude of 800 metres is Matheran - an undulating hilltop cloaked in green.
The cliffs of Matheran with incredibly steep drops to the plains below offer stunning viewing points. These panoramic vistas, by day and night, leave you feeling light headed. Standing at Hart Point in pitch darkness you get a breathtaking glimpse of the lights of busy Bombay. Matheran abounds in such quixotically named points. popular sites for picnics and fireside revelry.
The old world charm of the British and Parsi home capitavtes you all the way up to the Charlotte Lake. On each trip through the main bazaar you purchase some of its attractions - care and leather articles, hats, chappals and the irresistible chikki loved by young and old alike.
Temperatures vary from 16° C in winter to 32° C in summer with an annual rainfall of 524 cms. It is a place to visit round the year, monssons included, for the young at heart. MTDC provides accommodation facilities, the total capacity being 83.

                                                             
Weather 
Temperatures vary from 16° C in winter to 32° C in summer, with an annual rainfall of 524 cms. October to May is the best time to visit.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves


The caves, 6 km west of Bhubaneswar, on the two low hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri, date from the time of Jain occupation of the region, at least the second century BC. A narrow valley winds between the hills, the route of an early Buddhist pilgrim track leading to a stupa which probably stood on the present site of Bhubaneswar. The coarse- grained sandstone which forms Khandagiri ('broken hill') and Udayagiri ('hill of the sunrise') rises nearly 40 m above the surrounding lateritic and infertile plain. The crumbling nature of the sandstone into which the caves were dug has exposed them to severe damage, moderately repaired by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The Jain caves are among the earliest in India. Furthermore, some of the rock inscriptions found above the Hati Gumpha (Elephant Cave, No 14) and elsewhere, speak of the Chedi Dynasty who ruled over Kalinga from their capital, probably at Sisupalgarh, 9 km southeast of Khandagiri.

Kharavela, according to his own record, extended his rule across a large part of North, Central and South India. At home he made great efforts to improve canals, rebuild his capital city of Kalinganagara, and also to excavate some of the caves at Udayagiri- Khandagiri. Probably all the caves now visible were constructed during the 150 years before Christ. Designed for the ascetic life of Jain monks, they simply provided dry shelter, with no concessions to any form of comfort. Too low to stand in, the cells are no more than cramped sleeping compartments.

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Bhilai Steel Plant


The Bhilai Steel Plant was established by the assistance of the Soviet Union in the year 1959, which is counted as a major step of India towards industrialisation. The major productions of the plant include rails, structurals (beams, angles, channels, crossings, sleepers), plates and wide rods.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Goa State Museum


This spacious museum east of town houses an eclectic, if not extensive, collection of items tracing aspects of Goan history. As well as some beautiful Hindu and Jain sculptures and bronzes, there are nice examples of Portuguese-era furniture, coins, an intricately carved chariot and a pair of quirky antique rotary lottery machines.

The most interesting exhibit is in the furniture room: an elaborately carved table and high-backed chairs used by the notoriously brutal Portuguese Inquisition in Goa during its reign of terror. The table’s legs feature carved lions and an eagle on one side and four human figures on the other.

Satpura National Park


Satpura National Park is one the areas of this landscape preserved marvelously for protection of flora and fauna.

Satpura National Park is spread over 1427 sq km and was formed in 1981 after joining Satpura, Pachmari and Bori sanctuaries and the altitude ranges from 300 to 1,352 metres (980 to 4,436 ft). The terrain of the national park is extremely rugged and consists of fascinating deep valleys, sandstone peaks, narrow gorges, rivulets, waterfalls, thick dense green forest of Sal and other medicinal herbs, it also has large tracts of Teak forests. 

Its fauna comprises Spotted Dear, Indian Bison(Gaur), Tigers, Leopards, Wild boar, Wild dog (locally called Dholes), Sloth bear, Black buck (unique attraction), Porcupine, Sambhar, Four Horned antelopes (Chowsingha), Otters, Crocodile, Malabar squirrels, Langurs etc. 

Indian Giant squirrel and White Bison are a special feature of Satpura National Park. It offers good birding opportunity due to its unique terrain and many water bodies including the Tawa reservoir. From November to March it also hosts a variety of migratory birds in the Tawa reservoir and fields around the park.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Chandoli National Park


Chandoli National Park in Sangli District Maharashtra state, India, established in May 2004, Earlier it was a Wildlife Sanctuary declared in 1985. Chandoli Park is notable as the southern portion of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, with Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary forming the northern part of the reserve. Chandoli National Park is located near the Chandoli Dam between longitudes 73°40' and 73°53' E and latitudes 17°03' and 17°20'N near Sangli in Western Maharashtra. It is located at the junction of Sangli District, Kolhapur District, Satara District and Ratnagiri District. It lies between the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary and Radhanagri Wildlife Sanctuary and forms the southern part of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve.
The historical places of the park include the 17th century Shivaji's Forts, Prachitgad and Bhairavgad, of the Maratha kings Shivaji Maharaj and his son Sambhaji Maharaj. Ruins of the Bhavani temples palatial buildings in Prachitigad and Kalavantin vihir depict the ancient glory of the Maratha Empire. Most of the protected area was used an open jail for the "prisoners of war" of the early Imperial Maratha Conquests during Shivaji Maharaj's rule. Sambhaji Maharaj used Prachitgad as an observation point and recreational place. The forest types seen here are a mix of Malabar Coast moist forests and North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests. In the dwarf evergreen forests, some tree species commonly seen here are the anjani ironwood tree, jamun, pisa (angustifolia), fig, Olea (diocia), katak spinous kino tree, nana or Crape myrtle (lanceolata), kinjal, kokum tree and phanasi false kelat (brachiata). Other trees dominating the landscape include asan wood or ain or Indian laurel, amla or Indian gooseberry, umbar or devil fig (hispida) and harra or chebulic myrobalan.
Grasses commonly seen here include bangala or bluestem grass sp., dongari or golden beard grass (fulvus), black spear grass, kalikusli or tangle grass, anjan grass or buffel grass, grader grass or karad or kangaroo grass (quadrivalvis) and grasses belonging to Poaceae family, like saphet-kusli or Aristida funiculata. Insectivorous plant species like sundews and bladderworts sp. are also found in this protected area. Nearly 23 species of mammals, 122 species of birds, 20 species of amphibians and reptiles are known to be resident in the forests of Chandoli.
Bengal Tigers, Indian leopards, Indian bison, leopard cats, sloth bears and Indian giant squirrels are quite conspicuous here.
Many prey species of ungulates such as barking deer, sambar deer, mouse deer and blackbuck are present. A census carried out in 2002 by the Forest Department showed a rise in the number of tigers, leopards, gaur, barking deer, mouse deer, sloth bears and blackbuck. A similar census carried out in 2004 showed a rise in gaur population in the Kolhapur Wildlife Division from 88 to 243. ‪#‎india‬ ‪#‎nationalpark‬ ‪#‎nature‬‪#‎bharat‬ ‪#‎flora‬ ‪#‎fauna‬

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Dadra and Nagar Haveli


Situated on the foot hills of Western Ghats, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, the Union Territory, not only boasts of rich natural beauty but also of an interesting history. The land, which was ruled by Koli chiefs later came into the hands of Marathas who offered Portuguese the right to collect revenues from here to seal their support to fight Mughals. After Indian liberation the land was still under the control of Portuguese until it was freed in 1954. The Union Territory merged with India in 1961. Dense forests, magnificent mountain ranges, serene valleys, stunning ranges of flora and fauna, breathtaking rivers – if this is the package you expect on your holiday, head for Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Your expectations will be more than adequately fulfilled.

Friday, August 7, 2015

#Birds

Oriental white-eye at Malakkapara, Trichur, Kerala July 2015, pic by Sanalkumar Sreevalsan ‪#‎India‬ ‪#‎Birds‬ ‪#‎Kerela‬


*) - Lesser Florican, July 2015, Sokhaliya, Ajmer, Rajasthan ‪#‎india‬ ‪#‎rajasthan‬‪#‎birds‬

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Mysore Palace


Mysore Palace, also known as Mysore Maharaja Palace is one among the largest palaces in India. It is situated in the city’s center. The palace was built in the year 1897 using wood, which was damaged due to fire. It was later reconstructed in the year 1912. The architecture is a blend of Hindu, Islam, Gothic and Rajput styles. The stunning interior is a display of intricate craftsmanship. While it is a feast to your eyes during daytime, you will be completely mesmerized by the sight of the palace illuminated by over 98000 bulbs in the night.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Ajanta & Ellora Caves


The Ellora Caves and the Ajanta Caves are near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Chalukya and Rashtrakuta kings ruled over the Deccan from the middle of the 6th century AD to almost the end of the 12th century. The former were tolerant of all religions and, under their liberal patronage, the technique of excavating rock-cut temples reached a high degree of perfection. With the rise of the Rashtrakuta and other powers in the Deccan, there was a decline of Buddhist influence, but artistic activity continued unabated.
Rock-hewn architecture reached its zenith in western India as the Western Ghats provided suitable sites for excavation and carving. No existing caves as such were used. Thus architecture was sculpture on a mass scale. The solidity of the rock obviated the need for periodic repairs, and many of the temples are in a state of good preservation to this day.
An aesthetic vision and advanced technical knowledge combined in the architects. It is interesting to note that the excavation usually proceeded from the top downwards—the natural rock-surface below providing a platform and eliminating the necessity of scaffolding.
The Ajanta Caves, accidentally discovered by a shooting party in 1829, are excavated out of amygdaloid trap rock, and situated in the scarped side of a deep ravine that is shaped like a crescent. They are entirely Buddhist and date from about 200 BC to approximately 650 AD. It is of interest to note that the Chinese Buddhist travellers, Hiuen Tsang and Fa Hien, refer to Ajanta in accounts of their travels.
Of the 29 excavations, four are chaitya halls (all differing in design) and the rest are viharas. The decorative motifs differ with the age of the excavations.
The Hinayana and Mahayana phases are also well defined, the first being simpler the second being much more decorative and characterised by images of the Buddha. The caves are unique in that they combine three forms of art—architecture, sculpture and painting.
The technique employed in the frescoes was to spread on the rough surface of the rock a layer of clay mixed with cow- dung and rice-husks. Sometimes pounded brick mixed with fibre was added.
Over the plaster was spread a coating of white lime plaster, and the surface was kept moist while the colour was applied. The outlines were first drawn in red. The colours used were local pigments and all the colours except blue could be obtained from neighbouring hills. The paintings sought their inspiration from the Jatakas, legendary Buddhist stories.
Caves No. 13, 12, 10, 9 and 8 (according to chronological sequence) belong to the Hinayana period; No. 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 18, and 20 and perhaps No. 6 and 7 belong to a later Mahayana period ending approximately AD 580 No, 1 to 5 and 21 to 29, also Mahayana in character, came into existence between AD 500 and 650. Caves 19 and 26 (chaitya) and 1 and 16 (viharas) are good representative specimens. No. 16 is one of the most important caves, being the most elegant architecturally. The shrine has a large statue of the Buddha preaching.
This cave contains the famous fresco of ‘The Dying Princess’. The Ellora Caves are unique because the visitor can see three styles of architecture at one place, 12 Buddhist, 5 Jain and 17 Brahmanical caves being located here side by side. Unlike the Ajanta cave temples, they are excavated in the sloping sides of a hill and not in a perpendicular cliff.
As a result, most of the temples have courtyards and sometimes an outer wall or rock with an entrance through it. The 10th century Arab geographer Masudi and the European Thevenot who visited the temples in 1667, have left accounts of these cave temples in their writings.
The Buddhist temples were excavated between AD 350 to 700 Compared with the Brahmanical temples, they are austere and solemn. Cave No. 10, the only chaitya at Ellora, is in the form of a chapel, reminiscent of Ajanta and Elephant. It is called Vishvakarma, the name indicating its dedication to the patron saint of the craftsman.
Caves No.11 and 12 are some of the few caves in India with more than one storey.
The next group consists of Brahmanical caves, excavated between the seventh and the early eighth century. No. 14, Ravan ki Khai (Excavation of Ravan) is different from the Buddhist temples, having a front aisle of 4 pillars, 12 columns enclosing a central hall and, beyond, a shrine standing by itself at the end of the hall.
The south wall has Shaiva sculptures; the north wall has Vaishnava (i.e. pertaining to Vishnu) sculptures, representations of Durga, Lakshmi, the Varaha or boar incarnation of Vishnu, etc. Inside the shrine is a figure of Durga. Cave No. 15 is the Dasavatara cave.
The Kalidasa temple, dedicated to Shiva, is considered to be a magnificent achievement of the ancient Hindus, and represents Shiva’s celestial abode, Mt. Kailasa. It was executed under the patronage of the Rashtrakuta king, Krishna I. It is one of the grandest monolithic excavations in the world. The architects worked from above downwards, until they struck one gigantic solid rock which they shaped into a temple. The hillside was cut down to the level of the base of the hill and it has been estimated that 3 million cubic feet of rock were chiselled out.
The remarkable imagination which conceived it, the unstinted labour which was spread over an uninterrupted period of a hundred years and finally, the sculpture with which it is adorned have been aptly summed by Percy Brown: “This plastic decoration is something more than a record of artistic form, it is a great spiritual achievement, each portion being a rich statement glowing with meaning.”
Kailasa stands in the middle of a vast court in which are carved colossal elephants and other animals. The main temple is dedicated to Shiva. The temple proper stands on a plinth and has an impressive frieze of boldly carved elephants and lions.
The temple is approached by flights of steps and is double- storeyed with chapels and monastic halls hewn out of the rock. Over the temple rises the tower in three tiers, with a projecting gable front surmounted by a cupola.
The interior consists of a pillared hall with a cruciform central aisle. The friezes on the wall have scenes from the Ramayana executed with superb artistry and craftsmanship. The pavilion has Shiva’s bull, Nandi, in front. The two pillars on either side of the Nandi shrine are called dhvajastambhas (flag-staffs). They have symbolic carvings pertaining to the cult of Shiva and are fine works of art.
In the final group of five Ellora caves (the Jain group), the most interesting are the Indra Sabha (assembly hall of Indra, king of the gods) and Jagannath Sabha (assembly hall of the lord of the universe).
The Indra Sabha is a two-storeyed shrine cut into the rock to a depth of over 200 feet and is approached through a rock-hewn doorway leading into a square courtyard. To the right is an imposing statue of an elephant. The Jagannath Sabha is similar in plan to the Indra Sabha but smaller. The shrine is a small antechamber with a well proportioned torana (arch), and within it is a seated Mahavira. The walls are recessed for figured sculptures, and the pillars are richly carved in the best Jain traditions.
The upper storey is borne on 12 profusely sculptured pillars and these and the broad surface dividing the two storeys are profusely carved, the upper one having images of the 24 Jain tirthankaras. The ceiling over the large altar is in the form of a large lotus. At each end of the hall is a large shrine containing a statue of Mahavira. This temple is possibly the earliest of the Jain group.
On the top of the hill in which the Jain caves are excavated is a rock-hewn statue of Parasnath.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Sattal, Nainital


Sattal is another excellent tourist and picnic spot with seven lakes, each in a different hue of green and blue. Bhimtal, 23 kilometres away, is a large lake with an island restaurant in the middle that’s accessible by boat. While visiting Sattal you should also visit Naukutchiatal, a placid lake with nine corners, which is located about 26 kilometres away.

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Maitri Bagh (Chhattisgarh)


'Maitri Bagh' means Garden of Friendship. This is a result of cooperation between Indian and Russian governments. Maitri Bagh was established by Bhilai Steel Plant. The zoo cum park offers various attractions and it is one of the famous picnic spots in the state. There are beautiful lakes and gardens and the musical fountains in the garden is a feast to eyes. It is the biggest zoo in Chhattisgarh. ‪#‎India‬ ‪#‎Chhasttisgarh‬ ‪#‎destination‬‪#‎tourism‬

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Art Gallery - Nature Morte

The staple of contemporary Indian art scene, the gallery Nature Morte was originally opened in 1982 in New York and revived 15 years later in New Delhi by Peter Nagy, a gallery owner and an artist himself. Nowadays, the gallery is based in a multi-level space in central-south Delhi. The gallery showcases a variety of contemporary art forms, with special focus on conceptual art, installations, Pop Art and photographs. The gallery represents a number of well-known and established contemporary Indian artists such as a multimedia artist Jitish Kallat and installation artist Anita Dube.