Unique Places You must Visit

Rakhigarhi, Haryana

Located in Hisar district of Haryana, this village holds a special place in archaeology. The site of Rakhigarhi is popularly known as one of the five biggest townships of Harappan civilization. The archeological excavations of this sight gives an insight about the mature Harappan phase, represented by planned township having mud-brick, burnt-brick houses along with proper drainage system. So, if you are interested in exploring places with historic significance, Rakhigarhi, is the place you should head to.

Rama Setu, Tamil Nadu

The name isn’t new but there are not many people who have planned a trip to it. Popularly known as Adam's Bridge, Rama Setu, is a connecting bridge between Dhanushkodi in India and Mannar Island in Sri Lanka. According to Indian mythology this bridge was built by Rama's Vaanar sena for helping Lord Rama to reach Lanka.

Sundarbans, West Bengal

The Sundarban Delta is one of the mesmerizing places you would come across when it comes to nature and wildlife. It is famous for the Bengal tiger (sadly an endangered species now) and largest mangrove forest. Apart from these two, the main attractions of Sundarban Delta include large reptiles like monitor lizard and olive ridley turtle.

Chiktan Castle, Jammu & Kashmir

Well, it’s not exactly considered as a tourist spot due to its location. It is located in the Kargil region that explains the reason very clearly. Nevertheless, it does not mean it’s not worth visiting. What makes it so amazing is the craftsmanship of the builders from Baltistan, who built this glorious structure in the 16th century.

Kothi at Qila Mahmudabad, Uttar Pradesh

Built in Awadhi architecture, not many people know about this classic structure located in Mahmudabed town of Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh. It was built during the times of Raja Mahmud khan, a descendant of the first Caliph of Islam, however, it was destroyed during the war of independence in 1857 by the British. But it was rebuilt soon again. This structure is now under endangered list of World Monuments Fund due to its deteriorated condition due to seismic events that have caused severe damage to its structure. But still it’s worth watching! 

Kudremukh Travel Guide

Kudremukh also spelled Kuduremukha is a mountain range and name of a peak located in Chikkamagaluru district, in Karnataka, India. It is also the name of a small hill station cum mining town situated near the mountain, about 48 kilometres from Karkala and around 20 kilometres from Kalasa. The name Kuduremukha literally means 'horse-face' (in the Kannada language) and refers to a particular picturesque view of a side of the mountain that resembles a horse's face. It was also referred to as 'Samseparvata', historically since it was approached from Samse village. Kuduremukh is Karnataka's 3rd highest peak after Mullayangiri and Baba Budangiri. The nearest airport is Mangalore International Airport at Mangalore which is at distance of 99 kilometres.

The Kudremukh National Park is the second largest protected region in the Western Ghats that is spread over an area spanning 600 sq km. The region is home to langurs, macaques, barking deer, malabar giant squirrels and chitals. Leopards, tigers, jackals and wild dogs have also been spotted here. The best time to visit Kudremukh is between October and February. The region in and around Kudremukh receives about 7,000 mm of rainfall per year.

With five sacred ponds located near the town — Amba Teertha, Naga Teertha, Vasishtha Teertha, Rudra Teertha and Varaha Teertha — Kudremukh is also a popular pilgrimage. Hanuman Gundi is a famous waterfall the checkout here.

Geography

The southern and western sides of the park form the steep slope of the Western Ghats ridge line, with the altitude varying from 100 m - 1892 m (peak). The northern, central and the eastern portions of the park constitute a chain of rolling hills with a mosaic of natural grassland and shola forests. Kudremukh receives an average annual rainfall of 7000 mm, largely due to the forest types of mainly evergreen vegetation that can be found here.

National park

Well known environmentalist and tiger expert Dr. Ullas Karanth, undertook a detailed and systematic survey of the distribution of the endangered lion-tailed macaque in Karnataka during 1983-84 with support from the Government of Karnataka. He observed that suitable and extensive rainforest habitat for the lion-tailed macaque existed in Kudremukh and that the tract probably harboured the largest contiguous population of lion-tailed macaques in the Western Ghats, outside the Malabar region. He further suggested that lion-tailed macaques could be effectively used as a 'flagship' species to conserve the entire biotic community in the region and prepared a conservation plan for the survival of wild populations of lion-tailed macaques in the region delineating the present national park area as a proposed nature reserve. Based on his report, the Karnataka State Wildlife Advisory Board suggested to the government that Kudremukh National Park be created. Subsequently, in 1987, the Government of Karnataka declared these reserved forests as a national park based on the above suggestion.

Kudremukh National Park is spread partly over the thick hilly forests near the coastal plains on the western portion and the shola vegetation on the Western Ghats uplands, covering parts of three districts, viz., Chickmagalur, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. The Kudremukh peak, by which the national park derives its name, is the highest spot at 1892 meters. The hills, which bear the brunt of the severe monsoon winds, preclude any tree growth added to that the region is known for its rich low grade magnetite soil which primarily inhibits plant growth. As a result, the landscape is covered with grass. The valleys which are tucked in, have reasonable protection from wind and a deep soil profile, as a result of which stunted evergreen forests exist creating a unique microclimate, rich with mosses, orchids, etc. The whole scenery of grassland interspersed with narrow strips of forests provides a fantastic vista.

Three important rivers, the Tunga, the Bhadra and the Nethravathi are said to have their origin here. A shrine of goddess Bhagavathi and a Varaha image, 1.8 m within a cave are the main attractions. The Tunga River and Bhadra River flow freely through the parklands. The area of the Kadambi waterfalls is a definite point of interest for anyone who travels to the spot. The animals found there include malabar civets, wild dogs, sloth bears and spotted deer.

Location

The Kudremukh National Park (latitude 13°01'00" to 13°29'17" N, longitude 75°00'55' to 75°25'00" E) is the second largest Wildlife Protected Area (600.32 km2) belonging to a tropical wet evergreen type of forest in the Western Ghats. Kudremukh National Park is located in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi District and Chikkamagaluru districts of the State of Karnataka. The Western Ghats is one of the thirty four hotspots identified for bio-diversity conservation in the world. Kudremukh National Park comes under the Global Tiger Conservation Priority-I, under the format developed jointly by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and World Wide Fund-USA.

Trekking in Kudremukh

Trekking to the Kudremukh peak is permitted from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm after which you will be not allowed as per forest rules. The Lakya Dam is drained most of the time and is not of much interest for visiting. Hanuman Gundi Waterfalls is a good place to visit but you will be allowed entry only from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Please note If you are found wandering in the forest near the peak in the late hours without a guide or a local accompanying, the forest officers have authority to detain you.

The locals of Kudremukh can be approached for any help and they are also very hospitable. Littering is prohibited everywhere in the Kudremukh area and in the mountains. If found littering while trekking you could be penalized. There are about 13 trekking routes in Kudremukh ranging from easy to tough. The well-known ones are:

Samse - Kudremukh - Samse. The duration from this trek is around 4 days and 3 nights, covering a total distance of about 40 plus km.

Navoor - Hevala - Kudremukh - Navoor. The duration from this trek is around 5 days and 4 nights, covering a total distance of about 60 plus km.

Navoor - Kudremukh - Samse. The duration from this trek is around 5 days and 4 nights, covering a total distance of about 50 plus km.

Horanaadu - Sringeri. The duration from this trek is around 3 days and 2 nights, covering a total distance of about 30 plus km.

Nature Camp in Kudremukh is one of the beautiful places to stay at.

Hanumanagundi Water falls.

Located 32 km (20 mi) from Kalasa, the waterfall spills onto natural rock formations from a height of more than 100 feet (30 m). Getting to the falls involves some trekking. The best time to visit this place is between October and May.

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.


Geography
The pass provides a natural divide between the humid Kullu Valley with a primarily Hindu culture (in the south), and the arid high-altitude Lahaul and Spiti valleys with a Buddhist culture (in the north). The pass lies on the watershed between the Chenab and Beas basins. On the southern side of this pass, the Beas River emerges from underground and flows southward and on its northern side, the Chandra River (flows from the eastern Himalayas), a source stream of the river Chenab, flows westward.

At an elevation of 13,054 ft, Rohtang Pass serves as the gateway to Lahaul and Spiti valleys in Himachal Pradesh. About 53 km from Manali, it connects Kullu valley with Lahaul and Spiti which in turn provide access to Leh. Known for its scenic beauty, Rohtang Pass holds strategic importance for India.

The name Rohtang means ‘ground of corpses’ due to the number of people who lost their lives trying to cross it. The Rohtang Pass is on the Pir Panjal Mountain Range of the Himalayas.

Besides Lahaul and Spiti, Rohtang Pass also serves as the gateway to Pangi and the valley of Leh. Like the Zojila Pass, Rohtang also serves as the gateway to Ladakh.

The Pass offers beautiful sights of glaciers, peaks, Lahaul Valley and the Chandra River. The twin peaks of Geypan are also visible from Rohtang.

The Rohtang Pass is a natural divide between the humid Kullu Valley which has a predominant Hindu culture and the arid, high altitude Lahaul and Spiti Valleys which are predominantly Buddhist.

The pass is on the watershed between the water basins of the Chenab River and the Beas River.

Rohtang remains open from June to October. However, trekkers do head for the pass even before it opens for vehicular traffic.

Rohtang Pass figures high on itineraries of tourists visiting Manali, Kullu, Leh and nearby areas. The road remains jam-packed and delays are inevitable.

Besides sightseeing, tourists can also enjoy sledge rides and skiing. Ski sets and sledges are available on rent.

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN ROHTANG PASS

There are accommodation options in Rohtang Pass unless you bring your own tent and set up camp by the roadside. Manali, which is the closest big town, offers many options.

Manali offers wide range in accommodation which includes luxury resorts, river-side cottages, deluxe hotels and 3-star budget properties. Manali also offers homestays which are a good option to enjoy the nature and culture of the locals.

BEST PLACES TO EAT IN ROHTANG PASS
There are no food stalls or eateries at Rohtang Pass. You will have to carry your own food while crossing Rohtang Pass.

Overview
The pass is open from May to November. It is not particularly high or difficult to cross on foot by Himalayan standards, but it has a well-deserved reputation for being dangerous because of unpredictable snowstorms and blizzards.

This pass is an ancient trade route between the people on either side of Pir Panjal. The local name for this pass is a generic name of pass.[citation needed] There are many other passes in Lahaul and Spiti which have specific names (Kunzam La, Baralacha La, etc.). This is suggestive of the fact that this must have been the oldest and most frequented pass in the region, or the fact that it is the main pass leading from one cultural region to another, quite different one, to the north.

National Highway 21 (NH 21), the road through the Kullu Valley, past Manali and over the Rohtang Pass to Keylong, and Lahul and on to Leh in Ladakh, has become very busy during the summer months as an alternate military route, following the Kargil Conflict in 1999 in addition to tensions in Kashmir. Traffic jams are common as military vehicles, trucks, and goods carriers try to navigate the tight roads and rough terrain, compounded by snow and ice at certain points and the large number of tourists vehicles.


A waterfall on the way to Rohtang
Several episodes of the History Channel's Ice Road Truckers series spinoff IRT Deadliest Roads dealt with truckers crossing the Rohtang Pass to deliver supplies.

With increase in Traffic at Rohtang Valley, Environmentalists fear its impact on the fragile mountain ecology. Rise in Average Temperature and consequent melting of glaciers are also issues of severe concern.

The pass was featured on the Top Gear: India Special.


Rohtang road tunnel
Due to the military significance of the highway and the need to keep it open the entire year, the Indian government began building the $320 million 8.5 km (5.3 mi) long Rohtang Tunnel in 2010 to bypass Rohtang pass for creating a much safer and faster year-around link to Keylong, Lahaul and Spiti and Leh in Ladakh. The tunnel will also shorten the distance by about 50 km (31 mi) and reduce the travel time between the southern and northern faces of Rohtang pass by five hours. While it now takes 4 to 6 hours to ascend, negotiate and descend the Rohtang pass, it will take only about 30 minutes to travel through the Rohtang tunnel.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is situated in the heart of New Delhi's Cannaught Place area. It is loacted on the east side intersection of Ashok Road and Baba Kharag Singh Marg. Originally this place was the Bungalow(haveli) of Mirza Raja Jai Singh, hence the name Bangla Sahib. It's original name was Jaisinghpura Palace. Mirza Raja Jai Singh was an important military leader of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

After the passing away of Guru Har Rai the seventh Sikh Guru, Ram Rai and his masands(masand is derived from Arabic word masnad, meaning delegating authority of the sovereign) instigated Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb to issue a decree summoning Guru Harkrishan to his court. Ram Rai was elder brother of Guru Harkrishan. Guru Harkrishan decided to go to Delhi since he felt that the "sangat", his followers had been misguided and he saw an oppurtunity in this to clear their misunderstandings. Meanwhile Sikhs of Delhi approached Mirza Raja Jai Singh, a strong devotee of Sikh Gurus to prevent any harm coming to Guru Harkrishan either by Aurangzeb or by the masands of Ram Rai.

Ram Rai when learned that Guru Harkrishan had accepted the summons to appear before Aurangzeb in his court at Delhi, started rejoicing since Guru Harkrishan had taken a vow not to appear before Aurangzeb. If Guru Harkrishan Comes to Delhi and refuses to meet Aurangzeb then definitely he will be arrested and suffer humiliation. Now Ram Rai felt that this act of Guru Harkrishan will surely lower his prestige among his followers and will pave the way for Ram Rai to declare himself as the true successor of Guru Har Rai.

Mirza Raja Jai Singh had made elaborate arrangements to receive Guru Harkrishan. Guru Harkrishan was received on the outskirts of Delhi like a royal guest of honor. Guru Harkrishan was accompanied by prominent Sikhs from his darbar and his mother Sulakhni. 

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib  is one of the most prominent Sikh gurdwara, or Sikh house of worship, in Delhi, India and known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan, as well as the pool inside its complex, known as the "Sarovar." It was first built as a small temple by Sikh General Sardar Bhagel Singh in 1783, who supervised the construction of nine Sikh shrines in Delhi in the same year, during the reign of Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II.

It is situated near Connaught Place, New Delhi on Baba Kharak Singh Marg and it is instantly recognisable by its golden dome and tall flagpole, Nishan Sahib. Located next to it is the Sacred Heart Cathedral.

History

Gurdwara Bangla Sahib was originally a bungalow belonging to Raja Jai Singh, an Indian ruler in the seventeenth century, and was known as Jaisinghpura Palace, in Jaisingh Pura, an historic neighbourhood demolished to make way for the Connaught Place, shopping district.

The eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan resided here during his stay in Delhi in 1664. During that time, there was a smallpox and cholera epidemic, and Guru Har Krishan helped the suffering by giving aid and fresh water from the well at this house. Soon he too contracted the illness and eventually died on March 30, 1664. A small tank was later constructed by Raja Jai Singh over the well, its water is now revered as having healing properties and is taken by Sikhs throughout the world back to their homes.

The Gurdwara and its Sarovar are now a place of great reverence for Sikhs, and a place for special congregation on birth anniversary of Guru Har Krishan.

Overview

The grounds include the Gurudwara, a kitchen, a large (holy) pond, a school and an art gallery. As with all Sikh Gurdwaras, the concept of langar is practiced, and all people, regardless of race or religion may eat in the Gurdwara kitchen (langar hall). The Langar (food) is prepared by gursikhs who work there and also by volunteers who like to help out. At the Gurdwara, visitors are requested to cover their hair and not to wear shoes. Assistance to foreigners and visitors with Guides, head scarves, and shoe-minding service can be found inside the compound and are available free of charge. Anyone can volunteer to help keep the shoes in the shoe-minding room, and cleaning the precincts of the Gurudwara.

The complex also houses a higher secondary school, Baba Baghel Singh Museum, a library and a hospital. AirConditioning has been done inside the Gurudwara and also for the Langar Hall. A new "Yatri Niwas", and multi-level parking space have been constructed. A toilet complex is also constructed. The space around the back entrance to the Gurudwara is also being spruced up, so as to give a better view from the roadside.

The Bangla Sahib Gurudwara complex has appeared in several literary works.

Maghar Samadhi Sthal of Sant Kabir Sahib

Maghar is a town and a nagar panchayat in Sant Kabir Nagar district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

Kabir Sahib, the 15th Century mystic poet, is buried in Maghar.Maghar is located at 26.76°N 83.13°E. It has an average elevation of 68 metres (223 feet).

Maghar is beyond religions. Kabir, the 15th century enlightened master and mystic poet from Kashi,the Samadhi of Kabir Sahib is here. Magahar is 78 km from Kausambhi, and not far from Gorakhpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. 

He was loved equally by Muslims and Hindus, and on his death both a mazaar (tomb) and samadhi were built by the Muslims and Hindus respectively. His mazaar and samadhi stand side by side. An annual festival is held here on Makar Sankranti 14th January.

Kabir Sahib chose Maghar above Kashi because as an enlightened soul he wanted to dispel the myth that anyone breathing his last in Magahar is born a donkey in his next life.

The enlightened master, Kabir Sahib left his body in Maghar in Januanry, 1518, Magh Shukl Ekadashi according to the Hindu calendar in Vikram Samvat 1575.

How to reach Magahar

Maghar is a town and a nagar panchayat in Sant Kabir Nagar district in the plains of Uttar Pradesh, India.

Maghar is located at 26°46′N 83°08′E / 26.76°N 83.13°E / 26.76; 83.13.

By Train: Maghar railway station is between Basti and Gorakhpur on the Lucknow-Gorakhpur B.G. Railway line.

By Road: A drive from Lucknow the state capital of Uttar Pradesh, to Maghar takes about 6 hours. …Starting from Lucknow, taking NH28 via Barabanki, Faizabad and Basti.

By Air: Lucknow's Amausi airport is connected by domestic and a few international flights.

People cutting across religions flock this place and bow their heads before the Samadhi of famous poet and social reformer Sant Kabir Sahib,situated on the bank of a highly polluted and little-known Aami river in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Sant Kabir Sahib, the 15th century Saint and poet. would have been lost in the history books like many others had it not been for the place where he chose to leave the world. The place, called “Magahar”’, about 240 km from Lucknow, was then considered to be cursed, something many people still believe.

The powerful “purohits” (the upper caste Brahmin priests) had declared then that any one who breathed his last in the region, would not get a place in the heavens and he would instead take re-birth as a  donkey.

Sant Kabir Sahib, who believed in breaking the myths and whose works tried to demolish the age-old superstitions and the caste system, originally belonged to “Kashi” (the old name of Varanasi), which was and is still considered to be a sacred land and it is believed that those who die there, get a place in  heavens.

Even today, many Hindus hold a similar belief. In fact, thousands of old people, mainly widows, go to Varanasi and await death in the hope of attaining salvation.

Sant Kabir Sahib, however, did not believe in all this and in order to demolish the myth, he chose Magahar to leave his body. His famous lines… ‘jo kabira Kashi mue to rame kaun nihora’ (what is the need for worshipping the God, if one can go to heaven simply by dying in Kashi), aptly sums up his philosophy of life.

Today the place attracts thousands of Sant Kabir Sahib’s followers drawn from across the world. “Sant Kabir Sahib’s philosophy is perhaps the most relevant one in today’s world… it can bring peace on the earth as it preaches equality among all the religions,’’ says  Mahant Vichar Das, the head of the Trust that looks after the tomb, a protected monument.

Spread on 27 acres of land, the place reminds one of the teachings by the Sufi poet, who spent his last days here meditating. The “mazar” and “samadhi” of Sant Kabir Sahib lie side by side.

“Sant Kabir Sahib had dared to challenge the supremacy of the purohits at a time when none had the courage to do so…. the purohits did not like him,’’ points out Dr Harisharan Das Shastri, who teaches philosophy at a local degree college.

Sant Kabir Sahib's followers included Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and others, who may be following different religions. “Sant Kabir Sahib  belongs to all…. his teachings are universal,’’ Shastri told Deccan Herald.

According to the legend, Sant Kabir Sahib chose to leave the world at the age of 120. There was a fight between his Hindu and  Muslim followers after his death over his taking possession of his body. “When they lifted the cloth that covered his body all they found was some flowers, which they divided between them’’, he said.

A few hundred metres away from the “samadhi”,  lies a “gufa” (cave), where Sant Kabir Sahib used to meditate. The Trust also runs a “Sant Kabir Sahib Shodh Sansthan” (research foundation) that promotes research on the works of Sant Kabir Sahib, Mahant Vichar Das says. It also runs a series of educational institutions where Sant Kabir Sahib’s teachings have been included not only in the curriculum but also implemented in practice.

“We teach the students to be rational and shun orthodoxy and superstition’’, he said adding that the followers also take up ecological issues. Only recently, they 

organised a demonstration to protest  rising pollution in the  Aami river, which is the life line of the local people.

The town seems to have adopted Sant Kabir Sahib’s philosophy in true spirit. The  Hindus and Muslims can be seen to be living in the town in perfect harmony and peace. At a time, when communal harmony has become a rarity, the Sant Kabir Sahib’s teachings can greatly help the mankind.

Palace on Wheels

Since it started in 2010, Maharaja Express, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation's (IRCTC) luxury train has attracted a lot of eyeballs.

The train which operates on five circuits, covering more than 12 destinations across North-West and Central India between the months of October and April, has garnered extra curiosity due to being voted 'World's Leading Luxury Train' thrice in a row at the World Travel Awards, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

The occupancy in the Maharajas Express comes under various categories which include deluxe cabin, Junior Suite, Suite and a Presidential suite spanning over an entire carriage and the journey costs from Rs 36,000 ($800 USD) to Rs 112,500 ($2,500 USD) per day, based on your choice of cabin.

The Palace on Wheels is a luxury tourist train. It was launched by the Indian Railways in association with Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation to promote tourism in Rajasthan.

The train service was refurbished and relaunched in August 2009 with a new decor, itinerary and cuisine.It was voted the 4th luxurious train in the world in 2010.

The Palace on Wheels started on January 26 in 1983.

The concept of the Palace on Wheels was derived from the royal background of the coaches, which were originally meant to be the personal railway coaches of the erstwhile rulers of the princely states of Rajputana, Gujarat, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Viceroy of British India.

Interiors

Each saloon highlights the cultural ethos of the state, represented through the use of furniture, handicrafts, painting and furnishings. Delhi-based interior designer Monica Khanna did the interiors of the train.

Coaches  

You'll be delighted you chose to see Rajasthan by the Palace on Wheels. On board, you'll feel like an erstwhile monarch, traveling in regal splendour. Each Coach named after the erstwhile princely state has 4 twin bedded chambers, thoughtfully decorated in ethnic Rajasthani decor. Channel Music, intercom, attached toilets, running hot & cold water shower and wall to wall carpeting are some of the facilities to make you feel at home. Each saloon has personal attendants or Khidmatgars, who are to your beck and call to extend a courteous helping hand, should you need anything. The 14 coaches are named after former Rajput states matching the aesthetics and interiors of the royal past. Each saloon has a mini pantry and a lounge to ensure availability of hot and cold beverage, and refreshments and a place to relax and get together.

Facilities

You'll be delighted you chose to see Rajasthan by the Palace on Wheels. On board, you'll feel like an erstwhile monarch, traveling in regal splendour. Each Coach named after the erstwhile princely state has 4 twin bedded chambers, thoughtfully decorated in ethnic Rajasthani decor. Channel Music, intercom, attached toilets, running hot & cold water shower and wall to wall carpeting are some of the facilities to make you feel at home. Each saloon has personal attendants or Khidmatgars, who are to your beck and call to extend a courteous helping hand, should you need anything.

The 14 coaches are named after former Rajput states matching the aesthetics and interiors of the royal past. Each saloon has a mini pantry and a lounge to ensure availability of hot and cold beverage, and refreshments and a place to relax and get together.

Route

The train has a 7 nights & 8 days itinerary departs from New Delhi (Day 1), and covers Jaipur (Day 2), Sawai Madhopur and Chittaurgarh (Day 3), Udaipur (Day 4), Jaisalmer (Day 5), Jodhpur (Day 6), Bharatpur and Agra (Day 7), return to New Delhi (Day 8)

Madurais streets

We dwell into the explanations behind the attention-grabbing names given to the streets within the temple city

Among the various alternative distinctive aspects of the town, one is that the attention-grabbing names of the roads in Madurai. a decent variety of lanes and bylanes within the town are names once attention-grabbing things. Here's a ride through the roads.

A short history
Since time immemorial, Madurai has been a strategically town in terms of construction of roads and buildings. The streets in Madurai were said to possess been designed by the Pandya kings centuries ago. Be it the design or the roads within the recent areas of the town, the residents are all praise for his or her ancestors.

Months
N Sulaiman, retired regional assistant director of art and culture department offers us an insight into a number of the popular streets within the town and also the reasons for his or her existence. He begins, "Meenakshi Amman temple is that the centre purpose for the formation of all the roads. The roads not like the opposite major cities are sq. formed. the primary road known as 'Aadhi Veethi' is situated within the temple campus. This street is solely for religious purpose.

Common folks are not allowed to use it. The chithirai street, Masi Street, avani moola street and also the consequent streets lay in consecutive squares round the temple." If an individual begins touring a street, he would land on an equivalent road in an hour. He can't be diverted anywhere, apart from the slender cross cuts between the streets. "The streets surrounding the temple are named once Tamil months. {the town|the town|town} has been described as 'lotus shaped' city in one in all the Tamil literatures. An ariel read of the place are going to be breathtaking," he adds.

Occupation
Names of some streets conjointly denote a selected occupation. as an example, some cities have localities named once profession of individuals living there. Back here in Madurai, that was specifically what was done. Sulaiman continues, "In precedent days, the artists and also the painters operating within the temple and also the king's palace got homes in an exceedingly specific street. Hence, the road came to be known as 'chithrakarar theru' (a street of artists). The 'kollanpattarai theru' (a street of iron workshops) was the abode of ironsmiths. they might create weapons for the palace army. the road where musicians dwelled was baptized 'Mettukara theru' (a street of music composers)."

Businesses
Some streets conjointly pointed to the character of business worn out the corresponding premises.
curiously, an equivalent is being followed until currently. Priya G, a frequent visitor to the present space, says, "Starting from the 'valayal kaara theru' (the street of bangle sellers), the character of every business may be identified from their names. The gold merchants, gold jewelry outlets are in an exceedingly street known as 'nagaikadai theru' (street of jewelry shops). a number of the opposite attention-grabbing streets are Pathirakaara theru ( street of utensil sellers), Vethilai pettai (street of betel leaves) and nel pettai (street of rice wholesalers). These street names are self explanatory."

History
aside from the streets named once the regional flowers and national leaders, there are some vital numbers of streets that denote the historical events in their names.

Travise, a student says, "A classic example is that the 'Barathiyaar Ula Veethi (the walking street of Barathiyar). The national poet Barathiyar used to run in that exact road throughout his teaching reign at a faculty nearby. This incident dates back to the age of pre-independence."

Skiing at Auli the land of gods

After seventeen hours of tiring and rather an ordinary road journey, the primary sight of serene surroundings with snow clad mountain peaks and alpine trees was sufficient to create the tiredness and tedium depart at intervals moments. If the primary sight was a sign, the mere thought of learning skiing for ensuing fifteen days in such enthralling backdrop was conjointly adequate to assure myself that my rather risky call of taking a sabbatical and beginning it with traveling out of mad metropolitan crowd was worthwhile.

Well, the beginning of this journey expedition on behalf of me was an journey in itself too. I set-off for the journey by bus as there's no rail network beyond Haridwar / Dehradoon in Uttarakhand. the actual fact that this lack of infrastructure deters various domestic and international tourists and robs them of some really picturesque destinations together with hampering state's economic growth is another matter.

From Haridwar (which takes approx five hours to achieve from Delhi), one will either rent a fashionable non-public taxi, or take a shared cab or a neighborhood bus to Joshimath that is 275 kms uphill. All along the means, I had been craving for mountain peaks with snow however was disappointed as I couldn't see any, however as soon as we tend to approached Joshimath there have been several snowy peaks in sight-the read was awesome.

i used to be booked at GMVN guest house in Joshimath for the night however was glad to understand that they'd the sole 4x4 gypsy which might go right up to the skiing resort in Auli. However, the chilly morning was to a small degree dampening too after I came to understand that the gypsy wasn't coming back down from Auli. I had to require a personal taxi that may drop me mid means and from there i used to be imagined to trek up. Hardly left with another, I took taxi and got off when 5-6 kms and commenced on my very own on the snowy trek and now carrying the 2 serious luggages became a humongous task. I sought a porter's facilitate when to a small degree whereas and gave him the trolley with myself carrying the backpack. Though he charged a major quantity however i used to be relieved additionally as overawed and galvanized by him. it absolutely was then I realised that life in mountains isn't simple. He lured me into taking the steps as that may take less time however the steps were terribly slippery and for an instant I questioned my adequacy for ensuing fortnight. we tend to were profusely sweating by the tip of stairs and continued for the trek when a brief break. we tend to lined the previous few meters that had snow until the ankle level and at last reached the skiing resort, by now my lungs' capability had been tested to the hilt and also the porter appeared simply very little tired. i used to be very starting to admire him and his fellows for hunting such hardships for a living and still smiling.

And albeit Auli is connected to Joshimath via Asia's longest and highest air gondola, owing to the neglect of State Government, it's not functioning for over a year currently owing to that tourists got to face plenty of issues.

The resort provided for this GMVN skiing trip was a decent one. All my meals were planning to be within the restaurant rather than the mess that couldn't be operated as i used to be the sole one during this specific batch of the skiing course. i used to be never complaining.

On {the initial|the primary} day itself I witnessed and experienced my first snowfall conjointly and my love with the character began to deepen. however it conjointly drew the day to a detailed for any session because it became heavier and lasted until the evening. when unwinding with some soulful music within the evening,

the primary skiing category followed the breakfast though i used to be lucky to complete the sessions with simply one or two of falls however even those falls brought giggles to many casual tourists additionally as myself. obtaining up on your own when falling on the soft snow could be a very little troublesome for the primary few times however it is easy once you're taught the technique for an equivalent on the primary or the second day. ensuing number of days showed gradual improvement however it absolutely was clear that a seven day course though would are equally enjoyable however not sufficient to amass correct skiing skills one would really like to travel back with. i used to be patting myself for coming back at leisure with heap of your time at my disposal.

With three native children from Joshimath aged 12-16 joining me from fourth day onwards i started to pick-up pace too. they'd already attended basic seven day course the previous year were before me in terms of skills additionally as stamina which motivated me too to stretch myself. number of these children, one among whom was a lady used to trek to Auli on a {daily basis|day to day|everyday|commonplace|daily|routine|usual|each day|day when day} within the morning and went back in evening after the post lunch session which in itself is such a massive effort. Few of the kitchen employees members, the cable automotive and ski raise operators conjointly followed an equivalent schedule and hats off to any or all those individuals for the efforts they place in daily. I had my share of fun with them additionally as next batch of eleven those that joined for a week's course throughout my second week. I suddenly become a senior albeit i used to be only one week older than the new batch mates. however it absolutely was a lot of fun watching them (than myself) fall typically whereas sliding, banging into one another and from time to time falling even whereas standing. we tend to all used to crave for the drink breaks throughout the morning session where they used to serve the chilled Rhododendron Juice.

The temperature at Auli drops upto -7 Celcius. The faucets {and the|and therefore the|and conjointly the} entire pipeline at the dormitory also freeze throughout most mornings. The days' long power cuts and no mobile signal virtually provide you with a sense of "Ice Age" literally. And though somewhat inconvenient all this is often truly amusing and adds to the tremendous enjoyment.

The team of instructors at GMVN is extremely well experienced with one or two of National and Asian Skiing Champions conjointly being a locality of the lineup. they're conjointly terribly humble, committed and pay individual attention to any or all the batch members no matter age and gender. we tend to had a forty five year recent girl, one forty six years recent and another fifty five years recent gentleman who all were equally dependent on the course and at the same level of learning the game as their mates aged virtually 0.5 than them. They conjointly created it a degree to stay the spirits and morale of entire cluster up by being rather friendly and enjoying together with all. By the tip of the course, I had become capable of skiing down the one.3 km long slope on my very own, though i used to be still falling from time to time however whenever the soft snow kisses your face it's lovable to mention the smallest amount. except for skiing there's not abundant to try and do in Auli, really except for one or two of resorts and tea-shops and temples, there's not abundant around. However, it's known just for its long, wide and natural skiing slopes. If one appearance around, its nested in nature's lap, surrounded by awesome Nanda-devi (India,s 2nd highest peak at 7800 meters), Haathi Parbat, Ghori Parbat and lots of a lot of peaks(in the vary of 5500 meters and 7500 meters) that kind a scenic beauty that may not be captured in exactly words.

There are many alternative such patrons we tend to were told and that i felt there was a powerful chance of 1 a lot of name being added to the list within the future such was the expertise on behalf of me. I had the solitude I required, the fun within the sport after you ski down at perhaps sixty kmph, met many similar temperament individuals and got galvanized from many too and grew my love for mother nature and God. This was far more than I had expected to require back from trip. One wonders why everyday of our life cannot be the maximum amount to treasure because the time spent there and that i wasn't the sole one thinking like this, the complete cluster was. Maybe, if we tend to don't stress ourselves with materialistic aspirations and rather attempt to follow our interests we will. perhaps there's an even bigger lesson that would be learnt from this voyage and perhaps I even have learnt that. Time solely can tell that however i feel this try would be surely worthwhile too similar to this expedition.

Charminar in Hyderabad

The stalled implementation of the 13-year-old Charminar Pedestrianisation Project forces one to marvel what the continued Heritage Week is celebrating?

The State Tourism department could also be celebrating the Heritage Week, however the stalled Charminar Pedestriani-sation Project (CPP) that begs for attention, forces one to raise the question - how dedicated are AP Tourism and GHMC at the ground-level, when it involves protecting, preserving and cherishing Hyderabad's "heritage"? This terribly month a year ago, GHMC drew the ire of Hyderabadis for the shoddy job that was done owing to the hastening of the CPP before the visit of the Unesco team to award the globe Heritage standing to Charminar. And rapidly, the project went back to the state of limbo that it's been in since 1999.

INTACH Hyderabad Chapter Convener, Anuradha Reddy, who visited Charminar last week, says, "The road between Gulzar House and Charminar is in a very deplorable state. Last year, GHMC suddenly wakened to implement the CPP and did a ghastly job by laying ugly multi-colored granite tiles round the space. there's no correct co-ordination between the departments. An in-house committee that's focussed solely on this should be discovered within the municipality. Before enterprise the work, there should be an understanding concerning the folks, the realm and its culture and a comprehensive study should be distributed."

HMDA Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) officer, Ziauddin, washes his hands off the matter by saying, "The previous GHMC Commissioner Mr Sameer Sharma was terribly hooked in to the CPP. once he got transferred, not a lot of is going on. we do not have something to try to to with it." The Heritage Conservation Committee has nothing to try to to with Charminar and its conservation? Mr Ziauddin remains non-committal on the project that aims to de-congest Charminar.

The Department of Tourism too plays the blame game. Principal Secretary (Tourism) Chandana Khan directs us to Tourism commissioner Sabyasachi Ghosh, who in turns asks Hyderabad Times to contact further Commissioner (Planning) K Dhanunjaya Reddy.

The Additional Commissioner but, remained unavailable for comment in spite of repeated makes an attempt to succeed in him since Friday, April 20, citing 'busy in a very meeting' because the reason.

With no work being done on the bottom level, the bold `300-crore and project that aims to preserve the 400-year-old monument, appearance no but an overseas dream even once thirteen years of its inception.

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Places to Visit near Delhi

Tired of the same old, monotonous and boring life? Do one thing totally different this weekend. opt for a mini-vacation together with your loved ones and rejuvenate yourself. Jayshree Pyasi lists down a number of the choices you'll contemplate. 

Alwar 

Travelling160 kms from Delhi can take you to Alwar. The place offers you peaceful lakeside views, lush royal gardens and temples. far from the hustlebustle of the town nestled within the arms of Mother Nature, is not that one thing we have a tendency to all foresee to? build the foremost of your weekend and head towards Alwar. we advise a ride to the place by the 'Fairy Queen', the oldest engine within the world, that runs from Delhi. 

Kasauli 

A 325 km drive from Delhi can take you to the place where Hrithik danced to the tunes of 'Koi Mil Gaya'. do not be shelve by the distance; the weariness of the journey can wear off once you're here! The cobbled streets, the stunning frontage homes, the chestnut laden trees and tiny gardens at short distances are a haven for solitude lovers. If you're probing for a relaxed weekend far from the scorching heat of Delhi, Kasauli welcomes you. 

Nahan 

If Shimla looks too way then alittle hill station which works by the name Nahan may simply be good for you. A five-hour, 260 km drive transports you to the lap of Himachal Pradesh. Rani-tal, the middle of the city with a water tank, temple and a garden may be a must-visit. On the thanks to Nahan, ensure you stop at Suketi Fossil Park that homes fossils of pre-historic animals dating up to the Jurassic-era that were found at the positioning.The sprawling fruit orchard of Dhaula Kaun is another spot that you would not need to miss out on! 

Unchagaon 

Delhi offers variety of web sites for the heritage lover however if royalty is what you're searching for, the heritage hotel of Unchagaon is your best bet. Situated 118 kms from Delhi, the place is laden with stunning archways and towering minarets. The verdant lawns give you a peaceful reprieve from the town. If you wish to be transported back to the 50s, you'll hitch a bullock cart ride through orchards and farms or maybe raise for a Peshawari horse ride this weekend! 

Bharatpur 

If you're a bird lover, Bharatpur can surely prime your list of getaways. likelihood is you have got already experienced the delights the place should offer! If bird watching is not your most popular plan of a getaway, you may simply amendment your mind once visiting this place. Located a hundred and eighty km far from Delhi, The 'Keoladeo-Ghana bird sanctuary', a world heritage website, offers you an opportunity to visualize upto 350 species of birds at a time. The sanctuary has became one amongst the best heronry of the world; upto seventeen species are known to breed at Keoladeo. If you're a historian, a visit to the Lohgarh Fort here can regale you. 

Sariska 

Set at a distance of a hundred and eighty km from Delhi, the Sariska wildlife sanctuary provides the most effective chance to identify tigers. The 'Tiger Gate of Rajasthan' offers you a visit to the wild aspect of our country with chitals, hyenas, neel gais, wild boars, leopards, sambars all creating their presence felt, not in a very cage pleasingly, however in their natural habitat. the assorted waterholes and lakes give the proper getaway from the sweltering heat for the animals within the vicinity. The regal charm and atmosphere of the Sariska Palace may be a excellent place to place your feet up and relax once an exciting day amongst the wildlife.

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