If we talk about tourist spots in Hyderabad, Charminar always tops the list. Inafact, the Charminar is the main landmark in Hyderabad around which the city has its history and has developed its glory. The 400 years old Hyderabad city without the Charminar will be something like Agra without the Taj Mahal.
The Charminar was built by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah in the year 1591, in the heart of the city, after shifting his capital city from Golkonda to Hyderabad.
The Charminar is a beautiful structure built of granite, mortar, crushed marble and lime. If you see the Charminar from a close distance, you will find it to be an elegant and romantic structure, dictating its architectural eminence.
It is a square structure with four towers in the four corners. Each side is of 20 meters length. All the sides open into a plaza through huge arches overlooking four major main roads. The arches are 20 meters tall and 11 meters wide. All the minarets have four storeys and stand 24 meters tall from the roof of the Charminar. The total length of the minarets from the ground to the top is 48.7 meters.
On the roof’s western end is a beautiful mosque, which is the oldest, in Hyderabad. The east has a spacious verandah having large and small arches in the middle. From the beautiful balconies at the first floor, you can have a fantastic view of the Hyderabad city.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Bangalore
The Lalbagh Botanical Garden in Bangalore is one of South Asia’s most abundantly diverse Botanical Gardens. Situated in the Southern part of Bangalore, this beautiful garden was specially made by Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore, in the year 1740. Later, his son Tipu Sultan brought many tropical plants to the garden and was also responsible for completion of the garden.
Spread over 240 acres of land, this garden was made on the lines of the Mughal Gardens. The work on the famous Glass House was initiated by John Cameron, the garden’s superintendent, and its design was derived from London’s Crystal Palace.
The garden has over 1000 species of plants, many trees aging more than 100 years. Many trees and plants were imported from countries round the globe for the garden. Many rare species of plants were also imported from the Kew Gardens in London in the 1870s. Today, the garden has the largest collection of rare plants in the subcontinent. The Glass House is surrounded by pencil cedars and champak trees.
Every year a number of flower shows are organized in the garden. The Karnataka Government also organizes "Janapada Jaatre", in the garden, on the 2nd and 4th weekend of every month. "Janapada Jaatre" means a folk fare, featuring the cultural folklore, the traditional costumes and musical instruments of Karnataka.
Spread over 240 acres of land, this garden was made on the lines of the Mughal Gardens. The work on the famous Glass House was initiated by John Cameron, the garden’s superintendent, and its design was derived from London’s Crystal Palace.
The garden has over 1000 species of plants, many trees aging more than 100 years. Many trees and plants were imported from countries round the globe for the garden. Many rare species of plants were also imported from the Kew Gardens in London in the 1870s. Today, the garden has the largest collection of rare plants in the subcontinent. The Glass House is surrounded by pencil cedars and champak trees.
Every year a number of flower shows are organized in the garden. The Karnataka Government also organizes "Janapada Jaatre", in the garden, on the 2nd and 4th weekend of every month. "Janapada Jaatre" means a folk fare, featuring the cultural folklore, the traditional costumes and musical instruments of Karnataka.
Friday, February 8, 2008
The Aga Khan Palace, Pune
The Aga Khan Palace of Pune was built in 1892 by Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah Agakhan III. He was a well known personality in the fields of politics and sports. He was even elected as the President of the League of Nations in 1938. In 1969 he donated the palace to India as a symbol of admiration to Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophies.
This palace is of great historical importance for India. It is a national monument of India’s struggle for freedom. After the launch of the Quit India movement, Gandhiji along with his wife and secretary were put behind bars in this palace. His wife Kasturba Gandhi and Secretary Mahadevbhai Desai passed away during the imprisonment period. Their samadhis are also located in the campus itself.
In1980 the administration of the palace, its museum and the samadhis within the campus, were handed over to the Gandhi Memorial Society. Since then the society has dedicated itself to make the palace a living memorial to Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi for which they organize a number of activities all through the year.
Now, the palace has become a place of national and international pilgrimage where every year over a lakh of visitors, visit to pay their respect to the samadhis. The palace is surrounded by a big garden which beautifies the palace complex.
This palace is of great historical importance for India. It is a national monument of India’s struggle for freedom. After the launch of the Quit India movement, Gandhiji along with his wife and secretary were put behind bars in this palace. His wife Kasturba Gandhi and Secretary Mahadevbhai Desai passed away during the imprisonment period. Their samadhis are also located in the campus itself.
In1980 the administration of the palace, its museum and the samadhis within the campus, were handed over to the Gandhi Memorial Society. Since then the society has dedicated itself to make the palace a living memorial to Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi for which they organize a number of activities all through the year.
Now, the palace has become a place of national and international pilgrimage where every year over a lakh of visitors, visit to pay their respect to the samadhis. The palace is surrounded by a big garden which beautifies the palace complex.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Khandala – a hill station in Maharashtra
Khandala is a famous hill station in Maharashtra situated on the western slopes of the Sahyadri mountain range at a height of 625 mt. The panoramic beauty of this place decorates it. This place is gifted with abundant natural beauty. Khandala is separated from Lonavala by deep valley on one side and high hills on the other. Industrialization has not yet adversely affected this place due to which tourist fall in love with it at the first glance itself. It is very close to the cities of Mumbai and Pune due to which it is filled with tourist all through the year. Also, it is just 5km away from Lonavala, which is also a very famous tourist spot in India.
Khandala has a pleasant combination of weathers with mild summers and cool winters. Also heavy southwestern monsoon rains occur during the months between June and September. However, the best time to visit Khandala is the time between the months of October and May.
There are a lot of places to see in Khandala, and near by Lonavala, like the beautiful hills, huge lakes, deep green valleys, waterfalls, historic forts etc. You can see Mother Nature’s pristine beauty in this place and feel like in heaven when you see the spectacular views.
Khandala has a pleasant combination of weathers with mild summers and cool winters. Also heavy southwestern monsoon rains occur during the months between June and September. However, the best time to visit Khandala is the time between the months of October and May.
There are a lot of places to see in Khandala, and near by Lonavala, like the beautiful hills, huge lakes, deep green valleys, waterfalls, historic forts etc. You can see Mother Nature’s pristine beauty in this place and feel like in heaven when you see the spectacular views.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri is a city which is situated 37 kms from Agra. It is a city which was primarily built of Red Sandstone, during 1571 and 1585, by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Akbar had actually planned to make this city his capital, but as there was shortage of water in this place, his plans were abandoned. About 20 years later the Mughal capital was shifted to Lahore.
Although the city is now in ruins, yet the remains showcase some of the finest examples of Mughal architecture. Most probably this place is the best example of the mixture of Hindu and Muslim architecture. It is believed that the Fatehpur Sikri Mosque is same as the Mecca Mosque and the designs in it are taken from the Hindu and Persian architecture.
The prime attractions of Fatehpur Sikri are Diwan-I-Am (Hall Of Public Audience), Diwan-khana-I-khaas (Hall Of Private Audience), Turkish Sultana’s House, Ankh Michauli (the Treasury), Daulat khana-I-khas (the emperor’s private chamber), Palace of Jodha Bai, Hawa Mahal (the Palace of Winds) and Nagina Masjid, Birbal’s Palace, Sunehra Makan (palace of Akbar’s Rajput wife, Mariam-Uz-Zamani), Panch Mahal (airy 5 storeyed pavilion), Dargah Of Sheikh Salim Chisti, The Jami Masjid, and Buland Darwaza.
The Dargah of Sheikh Salim Chisti is one of the most famous places in Fatehpur Sikri. It is believed that childless women came here to offer prayers and get the blessings of the saint so that they are blessed with children. It is said that even Akbar was blessed with three sons after he visited the dargah. The pattern of work present in the Dargah is one of the finest works that can be found in India. Equally famous is the Buland Darwaza which was built in 1602 AD to celebrate Akbar’s victory over Deccan. It is not only the highest and grandest gateway in India but it is also ranked among the biggest in the entire world.
Although the city is now in ruins, yet the remains showcase some of the finest examples of Mughal architecture. Most probably this place is the best example of the mixture of Hindu and Muslim architecture. It is believed that the Fatehpur Sikri Mosque is same as the Mecca Mosque and the designs in it are taken from the Hindu and Persian architecture.
The prime attractions of Fatehpur Sikri are Diwan-I-Am (Hall Of Public Audience), Diwan-khana-I-khaas (Hall Of Private Audience), Turkish Sultana’s House, Ankh Michauli (the Treasury), Daulat khana-I-khas (the emperor’s private chamber), Palace of Jodha Bai, Hawa Mahal (the Palace of Winds) and Nagina Masjid, Birbal’s Palace, Sunehra Makan (palace of Akbar’s Rajput wife, Mariam-Uz-Zamani), Panch Mahal (airy 5 storeyed pavilion), Dargah Of Sheikh Salim Chisti, The Jami Masjid, and Buland Darwaza.
The Dargah of Sheikh Salim Chisti is one of the most famous places in Fatehpur Sikri. It is believed that childless women came here to offer prayers and get the blessings of the saint so that they are blessed with children. It is said that even Akbar was blessed with three sons after he visited the dargah. The pattern of work present in the Dargah is one of the finest works that can be found in India. Equally famous is the Buland Darwaza which was built in 1602 AD to celebrate Akbar’s victory over Deccan. It is not only the highest and grandest gateway in India but it is also ranked among the biggest in the entire world.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Delhi’s Akshardham Temple
Delhi’s Akshardham temple is a Hindu temple situated on the banks of river Yamuna, near the Nizamuddin area. Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS (the organization behind Akshardham’s creation), sanctified the temple in November 2005. The temple is very close to the Commonwealth Games Village that is being developed. In the temple compound there is a huge monument of stone with beautiful carvings, exhibitions on Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Hinduism, an IMAX cinema for showing religious short documentaries, a musical fountain which is very popular and a large garden which is very well maintained.
The main monument is dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and stands141ft tall. The design on the monument is according to Sthapatya-Shastra, which are ancient Vedic texts. The architectural style is a mixture of styles from all over India. The building is constructed of pink sandstone of Rajasthan and Carrara marble of Italy. This huge monument can be sighted from far away and the visitors who see it from close distance are left without any words to describe its beauty.
The sunken garden of Akshardham Temple is of a lotus shape when viewed from top. The garden has big stones which are engraved with quotes by renowned personalities from all over world right from Shakespeare, Martin Luther King to Swami Vivekananda and Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
The main monument is dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and stands141ft tall. The design on the monument is according to Sthapatya-Shastra, which are ancient Vedic texts. The architectural style is a mixture of styles from all over India. The building is constructed of pink sandstone of Rajasthan and Carrara marble of Italy. This huge monument can be sighted from far away and the visitors who see it from close distance are left without any words to describe its beauty.
The sunken garden of Akshardham Temple is of a lotus shape when viewed from top. The garden has big stones which are engraved with quotes by renowned personalities from all over world right from Shakespeare, Martin Luther King to Swami Vivekananda and Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
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