Category: Historical

Categories
Architectural Corporate Outings Culture Historical North India

Tryst with Chittorgarh Fort

Chittorgarh Fort popularly known as Chittor Fort is the Pride of Rajasthan. It is one of the largest forts in India and counts as a World Heritage site. It is spread over an area of 691.9 acres over a hill that is 180m in height. The fort is of great historical importance as it was ruled by the Mewar Kingdom since the 7th century. During the rule, there have been three prominent attacks on the fort by Muslim rulers such as Allauddin Khilji, Bahadur Shah and Akbar. The entry of the Chittorgarh Fort is by crossing four gates called ‘Pol’. The main gate is known as ‘Ram Pol’.

What makes Chittorgarh Fort so different from the rest of the forts in Rajasthan is that the build of the fort is pure Rajputana and there is no Mughal Art mixed with it. The architecture and even the stones tell the story of the great Mewar. Unlike Jaigarh Fort or Ajmer Fort, the palace is not in pristine conditions. In fact, most of it seems like nothing but a glorified ruin but those ruins tell the stories of great war and bloodshed. During those times of attacks, firstly by Allauddin Khilji when he defeated Rana Ratan Singh, the fort suffered great destruction and the soldiers lay down their lives trying to protect their kingdom. It is believed that Khilji led the attack in order to make Rani Padmini (wife of Rana Ratan Singh who is believed to be the most beautiful queen of Rajasthan) and make her join his Harem. When it was clear that there was no way to victory, the queen along with other royal women and some commoners decided to accept death as their fate instead of bowing down to some other ruler and facing the dishonour of defeat. They preferred to die in the Rajputana way of Jauhar (dying on a pyre by jumping into the fire). Again with the other two attacks, the walls of the fort heard war cries of soldiers and the echoes of women folk were heard as they took their own lives. Well, ultimately no matter how many times they were defeated, the fort was won again by Mewar rulers.

There is also another Mythological importance of this fort related to a popular figure ‘Meera’ who was a saint in love with Lord Krishna and who spent her life devoted to the same. She believed Lord Krishna to be her husband and there is a temple called ‘Meera Temple’ within the grounds of the fort where she used to chant hymns, dance and worship Lord Krishna. It is said that this is the same temple where she totally submerged herself into holy matrimony with God.

Another part of the fort is the Vijay Stambha (Victory Tower) which has nine-storeys and is 122 ft tall. It was used to keep an eye on the enemy’s army. It ensured their victory in many attacks and therefore was named Victory tower. Among the premises of the fort, there is also a Jain temple and a Peepal tree has been planted. The tree itself is of great importance as it is said to give relief to the many wandering souls in the fort. With such atrocious deaths that occurred between those walls, it brings a sense of calm to the place.

Located nearby is Fateh Prakash palace that was built by Rana Fateh Singh. From there, The Gaumukh Reservoir is visible which offers a picturesque view.

In the end, I would like to add that Chittorgarh Fort is an important part of the History of Rajasthan and anyone visiting there should absolutely walk among those walls.

Categories
Architectural Central India Historical

Bhimbetka –an experience decoding the archeological sites and Indian rock art

Situated right in the heart of Madhya Pradesh, Bhimbetka is one of the most visited tourist places in India. It hosts some of the best archeological sites in the world with the reflection of human traces from the South Asian stone-age. The government of India declared it a world heritage site in the year 2003. We bring you a list of a few good things you can do while you are in Bhimbetka.

Explore Cave Paintings

The Bhimbetka rock art sites are about 45 kilometers southeast of Bhopal. These rock sites have become renowned and are the ones that are always mentioned whenever we talk of the most spectacular Indian rock art.

The place hosts a painted sites and caves with traces of art and paintings by ancient humans. Several archaeological studies suggest that these cave paintings are one of the oldest in the world. You must explore cave painting in Bhimbetka during your stay in the city. The moment you step into a cave to explore the incredible heritage of India, you are literally transformed to a different world. The cave paintings are a great way to understand the people of ancient times, outlook, and their culture.

Visit Bhojpur Temple

Bhojpur temple has an Indian mythological significance. According to local beliefs, Bhojpur temple was developed by Bhima, the second son of Pandu in Mahabharatha, while he along with other four brothers and mom was in exile for 13 years.

A staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, Bhima created the temple overnight for his daily offerings of prayers. There is a gigantic Shiva Linga in the temple. Tourists from around the world flock to offer their prayers here. The cave paintings also depict art, music, jewelry, dancing, honey collecting, horse riding, elephant riding, masks, and animal fighting. There are loads of animals carved on the walls of the temple such as dogs, monkeys, elephants, tigers, antelopes, tigers, boars, lions, elephants, and crocodiles among others.

Visit Hoshangabad

Hoshangabad is a place of historical significance in Madhya Pradesh. From some of the most popular temples to a host of cave paintings, this city, a few kilometers from capital Bhopal is a sight to behold. Just like cave paintings in Bhojpur temple, the cave paintings found in Hoshangabad depict ways how the people from ancient time used to live. Cave paintings showcase hunting, dancing, music, art, and animal fighting. A number of animals have also been depicted in these paintings. Some of them include dogs, monkeys, elephants, tigers, antelopes, tigers, boars, lions, elephants, and crocodiles among others.

How to Reach

Flight

The nearest airport to Bhimbetka is the RajBhoj airport which is located at a distance of around 45 kms from Bhimbetka. The airport is well connected to the major domestic airports via regular flights.

Road

Bhimbetka is easily accessible by road too and is just around 46 km drive from Bhopal. One can hire Taxis and Buses which are easily available on this route.

Food

Foodies can tantalize their taste buds right from early morning in Bhopal, as you can find various stalls serving Poha Jalebi. Almost every shop and restaurant in and around Bhopal serves the delicious Poha Jalebi. If you are comfortable with small food chains, you will find many Dhabba which get under way to the caves, where this famous combination is served with a hot cup of team. Local people call it “cut chai”.

The place is famous for its sweet-sour and spicy ‘chaat’ of this city that is loved by all. Since Bhopal is the hub of Mughlai culture, it offers famous delicacies such as chicken tikka, biryani, goat kebabs and goat kebabs.

More about Bhimbteka

Bhimbetka is home to more than 500 rock shelters and caves which comprise a large number of paintings which steal the limelight. The oldest paintings are considered to be 30,000 years old.

The place is of great interest to the tourists of almost all age groups.

Places to Stay in Bhimbetka

There are a plethora of hotels that one can find in Bhopal, situated 40 km away from Bhimbetka. You can find hotels within your budget in the city. Rooms are usually available all through the year.

Categories
Culture Historical North India

Ropar- A Historical Treasure

Lately, Punjab has been working on its tourism and the small town of Ropar (Rupnagar) which was previously unheard of is now a good place for history explorers and nature lovers to spend their time. We reached Ropar by bus from Delhi and it took approximately 6 hours. While we expected Ropar to be a rural slum with no facilities or good hotels whatsoever, the small town surprised us with its unexpectedly good hospitality. We stayed at Hotel City Heart and the facilities were well.

Recent excavations show that the Harappan and Mohenjo-Daro civilization lived prosperously in Ropar and there was also an inscription by Shah Jahan that was discovered in this wetland. So to satisfy our curious mind, we started the history trail at Archaeological museum of Ropar. All the extracted artifacts are displayed there in the form of pottery items, beads, jewelry, toys and Terracotta figurines. It is known that this area belonged to the Indus Valley civilization and the river Sutlej was used in their river system. But this takes you to the history of mankind, if you wish to know more about the history about Sikhism, then this next place we visited is for you.

Virasat-E-Khalsa and Anandpur Sahib were locations that mixed history with sacredness. They told the history of how Sikh religion was formed through pictures and tales. It was a clean and well-organised place and the building in itself was stunning. Then we got to see the cultural section and it varied from the popular festivals of Punjab to daily lives around Gurudwara. Then we see the real history of Sikhism along with the history of Gurus. The story is told by a recorded narrative that is a unique sensation in itself and a great way to learn about history.

We wandered around soaking in all the information and the beauty of the place for three hours and then stopped to relax at a Cafe nearby. We decided to skip ordering food in a restaurant and instead ate langar at the nearby Gurudwara. After all, if you are in Punjab, trying Langar is a must.

After knowing the history of the Gurus, we became curious about another place. Ropar which was Gurudwara Parivar Vichhora Sahib. Like the name says, this Gurudwara signifies a great separation. This was the place where Guru Gobind Sahib separated with his family and it was an emotional experience to be there. Though the Gurudwara itself was magnificent, it was the story that the place told that had me welled up.

Then we visited the place of the treaty where Maharajah Ranjit Singh met British Viceroy to sign a treaty dividing the territories. The place is signified with a monument inside the park. The monument is fairly new and was probably not standing when the treaty was actually signed but it does mark an important chapter in the history of Punjab which makes it a place worthy of a visit. Moreover, the park is beautiful.

After we had had enough of historical visitations, we wandered on to the Sadabrat nature trail which is a wetland area and we found beautiful trees and bird there. We saw fruit bats hanging upside down from trees and there was such an abundance of these bats. There were also a few herbal trees around along with Datura tree.

Some other places we saw were Jateshwar Mahadev temple and Gurudwara Bhatta Sahib. We were fairly impressed by what Ropar had to offer and how much it had developed. It is definitely one of the places to visit while in Punjab.

Categories
Architectural Central India Historical

Orchha the capital of the lost kings

Located right in the center of the country, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Orchha is one jewel of a little town. A simple one and half an hour drive from the Jhansi Railway station will bring you to the place. It is full of devotional places for the Hindus thanks to the Bundela kings who ruled the place for a very long time. The man who established the town is known by so many names that people are unsure about his real name but there are folk tales about the man that makes him quite a legendary historical figure in the place. The legends say that he, in an attempt to save a cow from a lion, lost his own life. But he stayed alive in the folk songs of the locales.

Orchha means ‘hidden’ and there are many stories surrounded around the town about how it got its name. There are many different legends related to the city as well. It contains so much history in itself that it is impossible to ignore it. But that exactly is what that is happening. The town remains unknown on the map.

The first thing that grabs the eyeballs once you enter the beautiful town here is the countless number of the tombstones which are here since the 17th and 18th century. They serve more as the memorials of lost kings and queens of the bygone era than the actual tombs where they were buried. Nevertheless, they give out a great glimpse of the time and the way that those people lived and how they were so accomplished artists that it seems like just a dream that any architect today could even come close. The analogy can be made with the pyramids, which were made just to glorify the dead.

Some of the structures belong to the bygone Bundela dynasty, where the kings usually honored their comrades by erecting some structures in their memories. They had their own brand of rugged beauty and most of them are located beside the river Betwa. They are beautiful, if not pretty. The Bundela rulers were quite notorious among the population, but it seems like they did have some great eye for visual aesthetics. Among all those, there was one belonged to Vir Singh Deo which seems like a solid piece of art.

Moving on, there are basically two places that reek of the magnificent grandeur and elegance, the Raja Mahal and the Jahangir Mahal. These two palaces are located right next to each other and provide an eccentric display of the technical and artistic finesse of both the moguls and the Bundelas. On the inside, they even look more mysterious and enchanting. The several bed chambers, fountains and other usual trappings are all there. The walls depict the painting of the Hindu gods and Goddesses. The Jahangir Mahal is even more of a marvel than the Raja Mahal. Both these Mahals along with the Rai Parveen Mahal are collectively known as Orchha Fort.

How to reach Orchha

Here are the most convenient ways to reach Orchha. Instead of Orchha, you can board your flight to Gwalior Airport on the regular basis. The distance between Gwalior and Orchha is 120 km. You can take the train from Gwalior to Orchha, however, no regular trains are there from other major cities to Orchha. The nearest train station is Barwa Sagar. It is important to know that Orchha does not have a bus stand. The nearest option is Jhansi.

If you wish to reach this beautiful place, not a thing to worry as people can opt for airways as Gwalior airport is located 120 km away from the place. Numerous private and Government Transport bus services also provide the services to reach Orchha conveniently.

Travel Tip

The winter season is perhaps the best season to visit Orchha. October, November, December, January, February, and March are the ideal months to visit Orchha. The temperature remains comfortable for tourists and is apt for exploring the places of interest in Orchha. Also, try to arrive here in the spring. The place is at its best with the lustful trees and blossoming flowers all around.

There are many other attractions over here to keep the tourists entertained for a few weeks at least. The Jhansi Fort, the Orchha wildlife sanctuary, and the Laxmi Narayan temple are a few among many places that one can visit in Orchha.  

Categories
Adventure Historical South India

The Wonders that are Badami Caves

India has always been the center of curiosity for the history enthusiasts as being called one of the most historical countries across the world comes with its perks. The Badami Caves located in Karnataka are among the best historical marvels in that part of the country. Bagalkot district houses them and it’s not very hard to reach. The train will take you to the Bagalkot district and the bus routes are easier from the capital city of Bangalore. The time between October and February is the best time to visit these caves.

The place is known as Badami nowadays where these caves are located. Out of the total four Badami caves, there are three Brahminical caves and one Jain cave. The three Brahminical caves are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu while the last one belongs to the Jain monks.

Cave 1

The oldest of all the four caves, this one was built in about 578 AD. Made of red sandstone, the cave is an exceptional showcase of the Indian architecture of those times. The tourists are left spell blinded as they see the intricate carvings and the paintings on the walls of the cave. The roof of the caves is laced with the paintings and the carvings of the Hindu lord Shiva and his wife Parvati.

Cave 2

The second cave dedicated to Lord Vishnu will give you a good glimpse of how he used to get worshiped in the country in different shapes and forms. In one of the many artistic wonders, lord Vishnu is seen covering the earth with one foot and the sky with another. The boar incarnation of the lord, known as Varaha is also there. But the painting that takes the cake is the one where the lord is seen riding Garuda.

Cave 3

This, for many reasons, is the best caves among all, the reason being it containing some great paintings of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. This beautiful cave is about 70 feet wide and also contains some wall paintings and inscriptions about the way people lived back in those times. Many avatars of Shiva and Vishnu have been portrayed here making it a sure shot delight for the history and mythology enthusiasts.

Cave 4

The last one dedicated to the Jainism followers was created about 100 years after the first three caves were built. The main centers of attraction in the cave are a statue of Mahavira and Lord Parshavnath. The paintings and carvings also belong to Padmavati.

Other places to visit

During the visit to Badami, one can also visit the Agastya Lake which faces all the caves of Badami surrounded by the red sandstone temples. The place is also said to possess healing powers.

The religiously inclined can pay homage to four interconnected cave temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.

At Badami, you can look out for rock climbing, cave exploring, and trekking. You can even enjoy picnic lunches with your family. The red sandstone cliff system is perfect for rock climbing as its surface is not very rough. Trek lovers hunting for trek adventure can also visit the Kalhatti falls for trekking and picnics with their family.

Badami caves are an important reminder of how rich our historical culture is, and always have been. While raking in more tourists that any other place in the state of Karnataka, these beautiful structures are masterpieces of architecture and human efforts.

Categories
Architectural Central India Culture Historical

A walk through the Humayun’s Tomb – one of the most remarkable structures of the Mughal empire

Close to the Muslim center of Nizamuddin, Humayun’s Tomb is located at the crossroads of the Lodi and Mathura roads in Delhi. Late afternoon is the best time to visit the place. It was constructed to store the remains of the second Mughal emperor, Humayun, and was built under the guidance of Haji Begum, mother of Akbar, who stayed here for the duration and was then buried alongside her husband.

Made of red sandstone, inset with black and white marbles, it is situated in the center of the formal charbagh, looking towards the Yamuna River. The octagonal tomb is crowned with a double dome that has a height of 38m.

The Tomb is certainly beautiful but there are several other key architectural features that make this tomb so significant in India. It was the first tomb to have been constructed on the Indian Sub-Continent. The classic four walled design was taken from Persian architecture and has been appreciated all over India. Its dome is an inspiration for many components of the Taj Mahal.

As it is a Garden Tomb, there is a large exterior wall that has an enormous entry gate.The wall covers all four sides of the compound.On the other hand, there are many apparent locals that seem to be taking in the serenity of the site.

During Partition of India, in August 1947, the Purana Qila and Humayun’s Tomb, became major refugee camps for Muslims who were migrating to the newly founded Pakistan and were later managed by the government of India. These camps stayed open for almost five years and caused considerable damage to the extensive gardens, water channels, and the principle structures.

Just like other Garden Tombs, the property is divided by channels of water which represent the rivers of Paradise with the main tomb sitting at the center of the site on a raised platform. The lines leading up the building create an interesting effect that makes the building look smaller than it actually is.

Unlike the Taj Mahal and other tombs, visitors are allowed to freely roam inside the mausoleum and click photographs. The nature of detail on the interior of the building is incredible.

One of the most remarkable things about the site is the quality of preservation. The major part of the site was left untouched throughout history as opposed to other famous sites that were ransacked for their riches. The simplicity of the construction allowed the site to remain unique over the centuries. While the main tomb covers areas that have been fully restored from the destruction caused over time, there are some other tombs and structures on the site that have been left unharmed.If one is visiting during the summer days, they must plan their visit either early or late in the day as the mid-day heat can be suffocating. The easiest route to visit the site is to take the metro to Khan Market Metro station and then ride in an auto-rickshaw to cover the last 2.5 kilometers.

If one is visiting during the summer days, they must plan their visit either early or late in the day as the mid-day heat can be suffocating. The easiest route to visit the site is to take the metro to Khan Market Metro station and then ride in an auto-rickshaw to cover the last 2.5 kilometers.

Categories
Architectural Historical North India Relax

Epitome of Love – The Tajmahal

The final product of the involvement of about 22,000 workers comprising masons, painters, stonecutters, carvers, inlayers, dome-builders, calligraphers and other artisans, from all over Central Asia and Iran is a sight to behold! It is the Taj Mahal, a monument which has a unique blend of Islamic, Persian and Indian architecture. An ivory-white marble mausoleum on the southern bank of river Yamuna in Agra, it is designated as one of the “Seven Wonders of the World.”

The charisma of the structure then created is such that even years after its establishment, it is still regarded as one of the most magnetic and eye- catching manmade monuments of the world. Not only the Taj but also the structures alongside it are extremely charming and add to the artistic wonder and architectural grandeur of the place.The entire Taj complex consists of the following major constituents.

Darwaza – The Main Gateway

The main sandstone gateway adorned in calligraphy with verses from the Holy Quran and having a domed central chamber, was constructed in between 1932 and 1938. The door of the gateway was originally made out of solid silver to prevent outsiders from catching sight of the tomb until they are right in the doorway itself.

Charbagh – The Taj Garden

On entering the Taj Gateway, you can view a garden stretching in front of you up to the plinth of the Taj and it occupies most part of the Taj complex- 300 m X 300 m out of the total area of 580 m X 300 m. Symmetry is the guiding principle in creating this garden and it can be experienced everywhere.

The Main Tomb

Although Taj was built to epitomize Shah Jahan’s love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, but later it was decided to make it their final resting place also. The southern face of the tomb is the prime entrance to the interior. A finely cut marble screen, decorated with precious stones, scatters light over the cenotaph of the wife in the centre and that of the husband too beside it. The 99 names of Allah embellish the top of Mumtaz’s tomb and rest of them into Shah Jahan’s -the ones that are the indicator of a male ruler.

Naqqar Khana – The Rest House

The Taj Mahal Rest House, also referred to as the Assembly Hall or the Naqqar Khana, is established on the eastern side of the Taj and Taj Mahal Mosque’s replica  lies exactly opposite, on the western side. It is believed that the rest house was built to provide a ‘jawab’, as it balances the architectural symmetry of the entire structure.

Best time to visit

There is no time of the year when the monument’s grandeur and magnificence fade away but comparatively better months to visit the Taj Mahal are from October to March. It comes to the peak of its luminescence during the sunrise, sunset and the full moon nights. Night viewing is permitted on full moon nights, plus minus two days, but tickets need to be booked one day in advance for the same.

 

 

Categories
Central India Historical Rejoice Travel Trends

An Insight to Ghughua Fossil Park

Ghughua Fossil Park, a National Park, is situated near Shahpura in Madhya Pradesh. The site was founded in the 1970s by Dr. Dharmendra Prasad, the then honorary secretary of the district’s archaeology unit and was announced a National Park in 1983 after the Indian Government identified the greatness of this natural wonder.  It is spread in an area of about 2,74,100 sq. metres across the villages of Umaria, Chargaon, Barb Spur, Deorakhurd, Ghuguwa and Deori Kohani. Ghughua Fossil National Park is the second largest Fossil Park in the world and the largest in Asia.

Here, plant fossils which are a part of 31 genera of 18 families have been recognized.   A number of plant, seed, fruit, leaf and shell fossils can be spotted in this park, some of which are 65 million years old. Palm fossils are the most prominent amongst them. Other fossilised plants include ancient forms of jackfruit, date palm, aonla, jamun, neem, banana and rudraksh. Although most of the plant and animal fossils do not have living relatives now, some of  them here have relatives existing which continue to live in Sikkim, the Western Ghats,  north- east India, Australia, Madagascar and Africa. Fossils of Eucalyptus trees have been found here which are native to Australia.

There is an interpretation centre in the park which has comprehensive information on the fossils which are found here. Also, you should visit the self-guided fossil trail to see them in their natural setting although the dinosaur egg is the main attraction.

Hundreds of tourists mainly scientists, paleo-botany students and archaeologists visit this place every year. According to scientists and archaeologists, Ghughua in ancient times had an equatorial and humid climate with a uniform temperature range throughout the year with an annual rainfall of above 2,000 mm.

How to reach:

  • ROAD: Ghughua Fossil Park is located on National Highway 11, 76 km from Jabalpur. The nearest Bus stand is at Niwar and the closest town from it is Shahpura (13km). It is located on a slight diversion between the route connecting Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks.
  • AIR: The nearest airport is at a distance of 115 km in Jabalpur which has good connectivity with the cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Indore and Bhopal.
  • RAIL:  Umaria (65 km) and Jabalpur (115km) are the nearest railway stations to the National Park.  It is well connected by rail to the major tourist destinations and cities like Delhi, Howrah, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Pune, Varanasi, Indore, Agra, Jaipur, Gwalior, etc.

Most suitable time to visit:

The months between October and February are the best ones to visit the Ghughua Fossil Park.

Accommodation:

Tourists usually do not stay here as they conclude the visit to this park within 45 minutes. Still, the forest department has made arrangement for a stay which is a paid service and a limited number of rooms are there. Alternatively, you can visit this park while staying at hotels in Jabalpur, Shahpura, Mandla, Umaria  Bandhavgarh, etc.

Timings:

The National Park is open throughout the year from 8 in the morning to 5 in the evening.

Exit mobile version