Category: A2Z 2021

  • Marina Beach: Longest Sandy Heaven of India

    Marina Beach: Longest Sandy Heaven of India

    Arebian Sea, Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal surround our country by three sides. As a result, we are blessed with more than 7500 km of coastline. Out of this vast coastline, almost half of it is sandy beaches. However, they are scattered all over the coastline. But on the coast of Bay of Bengal, in the city of Chennai, there lies a  longest strip of sandy heaven. Marina Beach. We all have seen many of its aerial shots during the past week as Chepauk Stadium is hosting few matches in the current IPL season. As this COVID is keeping us away from actually being in the stadium and enjoying the beach before the match, let’s visit it virtually through our A2Z bucket-list journey.

    Birth of “Marina”

    Marina Beach is the longest natural beach of about 13 km length. Before construction of the Madras Harbour in 1881, the beach was just a strip of mud. Mudskippers used to be in abundance. As a result of a construction wavebreakers of harbour, the coast witnessed a transformation from muddy strip to the longest sandy heaven of India. The beach fascinated Sir M. E. Grant Duff, then Governor of Madras. He built the promenade along it and named the beach as “Madras Marina” in 1884.

    • A catamaran on the beach
    • Chennai lighthouse, Photo by Amos777eligius Copyright CC BY 4.0
    • View of the beach from the lighthouse, Photo by KARTY JazZ Copyrights CC BY-SA 4.0
    • Marina Beach as seen from the Chennai Lighthouse, Photo by SlowPhoton Copyrights CC BY-SA 4.0
    • Promenade leading to the lighthouse, Photo by Rasnaboy , Copyright CC BY-SA 3.0

    Glory of Marina

    All across the length of Marina, there are many things other than gorgeous sand and roaring sea which attract visitors. Since the independence of India several statues have been placed on the beach. You can see statues of national or local legends like Mahatma Gandhi, Vivekanand, Netaji Subhash, Annie Besent, Thiruvalluvar, Veerama Munivar, Avvaiyar, Kamraj etc. Along with these, there are statues of symbolic importance like the Triumph of Labour statue, Golden Jubilee of Independence memorial pillar and Fishermen at the Buckingham Canal statue etc. 

    At the northern end of the promenade, there are memorials of four former chief ministers of Tamil Nadu,  C. N. Annadurai, M. G. Ramachandran, J. Jayalalithaa and M. Karunanidhi. This part of the promenade is called Anna Square. Just along the Anna memorial, there’s Lilliputian Children’s Traffic Park. There are a couple of swimming pools along the beach. Even the opposite side of the road is interesting to look at. There are buildings and institutions like the Chepauk Cricket Stadium,Dr. Annie Besant Park, the University of Madras, Queen Mary’s College, the Presidency College, Vivekananda House, All India Radio—Chennai, Inspector General of Police Headquarters, etc.

    So, if you plan to go on a walk along Marina, don’t forget to checkout all the things which it has to offer. 

    This brings to the I am participating in A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on ‘M‘ challenge. “M is for Marina Beach, Chennai”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

  • Loktak lake: Freshwater Paradise of Manipur

    Loktak lake: Freshwater Paradise of Manipur

    Today, we are visiting a very gorgeous place in one of our North Eastern states, Manipur. No, we are not visiting another jungle. Neither we are climbing a hill or a mountain even though Manipur is blessed with all of these fascinating natural beauties. From a wide variety of geography of India, I present to you Loktak Lake – the largest freshwater lake of North-Eastern India.

    Specialities of Loktak

    Loktak, which literally means ‘end of streams’ derives its name as it’s end of many streams and rivers from a huge catchment of 980 sq. km. Lake itself is spread over an area of 236.21 sq. km. Majority of the population of Manipur directly or indirectly depends on Loktak Lake. It is a crucial source of livelihood in the form of fishing, foraging etc. Most unique feature of this marvelous lake is floating islands called ‘phumdis’. Largest of these phumdis is spread over an area of 40 sq. km. It houses the world’s only floating national park. Keibul Lamjao National Park is the house of the state animal of Manipur, Sagai. Sangai is one of three endangered subspecies of Eld’s deer.

    In and around Loktak

    Loktak is just 39 km from the capital city Imphal and offers a wonderful experience to tourists with a wide range of attractions. First of all, the lake itself is a beautiful site and completely instagram worthy. View of phumdis of different shapes floating on the lake is gorgeous in itself. There are about 55 hamlets and settlements in and around the lake with a population of about 100,000. There are few floating islands which attract tourists. An important attraction as I mentioned earlier is Keibul Lamjao National Park. One of its kind. Moirang city on the banks of this lake has a historical significance.

    History around Loktak

    At Moirang, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose unfurled the Indian flag on Indian soil in 1944. Later, a INA memorial was created at Moirang in honour of valour exhibited by Indian National Army which exhibits badges, letters, uniforms and several other items used by the INA.

    There’s also a memorial made by Japan in honour of fallen Japanese soilders not far from here in town of Nambol. Site of Maibam Lokpa Ching which popularly known as Red Hills is a small hillock where British and Japanese soilders fought eachother. There’s a small Japanese cemetery of Japanese soilders who fell in the war.

    There are many more things to know about this place, but they are best to be kept for your visit for this amazing Lake Loktak

    This brings to the I am participating in A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on ‘L‘ challenge. “L is for the Loktak Lake, Moirang, Manipur”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

  • Kesariya Stupa: Tallest Lighthouse of Enlightenment

    Kesariya Stupa: Tallest Lighthouse of Enlightenment

    India is the birthplace of one of the major religions of the world. Especially the state of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have many important pilgrimage sites which are very important to Buddhist people around the world. Today, we are visiting one of such important pilgrimage sites in the state of Bihar. World’s tallest stupa, Kesariya Stupa.

    Story time:

    On his last journey, Lord Buddha, spent the night at the mound of Kesariya. Here he made a few announcements. He also said that in his last births he ruled as Raja Chakravarti. Later, people weaved stories around these announcements. We can find these stories in Jataka Tales. 

    At this place, people believe that Lord Buddha gave alms bowls to Licchavis of Vaishali. Later, he guided Licchavis to go back to Vaishali and spread the word of the Enlightened there. Licchavis built the first stupa at Kesariya before Buddha attained Nirvana. It was also known to people as “Raja Ben ka Deora”. People used to know it as ‘Raja Ben ka Deora’.

    This stupa has a connection with Ashoka. The Archeological Survey of India discovered the remains of the capital of Ashoka’s Pillar. The stupa which we can see today is dates back to the Gupta Dynasty between 200 CE and 750 CE. Both of the famous Chinese Travellers, Fa Hien and Hiuen Tsang, visited Kesariya and recorded their experiences in their diaries.

    Rediscovering the Kesariya Stupa:

    First exploration of this protected monument of national importance dates back to 1814. Colonel Mackenzie led that exploration. Later in 1861–62 General Cunningham conducted the first proper excavation. Most recently, A.S.I. conducted the excavation under leadership of archeologist K K Muhammad in 1998. 

    Today Kesariya Stupa is spread with a circumference of about 400 feet. It is the tallest Stupa with a height of 104 feet. This makes Kesariya Stupa the world’s tallest Stupa. The World Heritage site of Sanchi Stupa is just 77.5 feet. However, before the 1934 earthquake of Bihar, A.S.I. reports tell the height of the Stupa to be 123 feet and during flourishing times of Buddhism, Stupa was 150 feet tall.

    This brings to the I am participating in A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on ‘K‘ challenge. “K is for the Kesariya Stupa, Kesariya, Bihar”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

  • Jallianwala Bagh: in Remembrance of Barbaric Massacre

    Jallianwala Bagh: in Remembrance of Barbaric Massacre

    India’s freedom struggle is full of stories of ultimate sacrifices since early days of 1857 revolution till the Independence Day of India. At some points, barbaric massacres tarnished our history. Kanpur witnessed one such black day during revolutions 1857. 102 years before on this day of 13th April, Amritsar saw the horror unfolding during Baisakhi Mela in Jallianwala Bagh. Our today’s destination is the memorial of Jallianwala Bagh.

    Story Time:

    As a result of the arrest of two leaders Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew, agitation grew amongst the public in April 1919. Peaceful protest was planned on the day of Baisakhi, 13th April. Acting Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer, banned all meetings suspecting massive insurrection in Amritsar. However, he failed to disseminate the information about the ban. Many villagers gathered in the Jallianwala Bagh to celebrate the festival of Baisakhi and to protest the arrest of their leaders peacefully. 

    Then, General Dyer entered from the main corridor with his troops and took place on raised banks blocking the main entrance behind them. Without any warning, he ordered to open fire on the crowd who had gathered in the Bagh. Firing continued for about ten minutes and ended only when they almost got out of ammunition. 

    Later while filing the report, General Dyer states, “I have heard that between 200 and 300 of the crowd were killed. My party fired 1,650 rounds”. On other hand, Seva Samitee reports,  of 379 identified dead and approximately 1200 wounded. Whereas Indian National Congress claims over 1000 deaths and 1500 injureds. Because of such gross negligence about reporting the casualties in the massacre, we will never know the exact number of martyrs fallen that day. This incident shocked Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagor. He renounced the knighthood saying “such mass murderers aren’t worthy of giving any title to anyone”.

    Monument: in remembrance of martyrs 

    Flame Monument Photo by Nonica Datta

    Soon after the massacre, a trust was formed in 1920 to create a memorial at the site. After independence, in 1951, Government of India declared the site as a ‘memorial of national importance’. Later in 1961, a martyr well monument designed by architect Benjamin Polk was inaugurated. There are several plaques telling the accounts of events that followed that day. One such plaque is at the bullet marks ridden wall. It reads as follows:

    The wall has its own historic significance as it has thirty-six bullet marks which can be easily seen at present and these were fired into the crowd by the order of General Dyer. Moreover, no warning was given to disperse before Dyer opened fire which [sic] was gathered here against the Rowlatt Act. One Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty Rounds were fired.

    As a result of these barbaric actions of General Dyer, a wide spread Non-Cooperation Movement got strength and it marked the beginning of the last leg freedom struggle of India.

    This brings to the I am participating in A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on ‘J‘ challenge. “J is for the Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

  • India Gate: In the memory of fallen heroes

    India Gate: In the memory of fallen heroes

    Indian Armed Forces are our pride. We salute their bravery and chivalry. Their contribution to the nation during war and peace time is unparalleled and unmatched. Before independence, Indian Armed forces were part of British India Army. At every place of deployment they fought bravely and displayed gallantry. Our today’s destination stands in the Capital City of Delhi. India Gate is one of the largest war memorials in India.

    Story time:

    The Imperial War Graves Commission decided to build a memorial to honour the fallen heroes between 1914 and 1921 on various theatres of World War I and the third Anglo-Afghan war. It commissioned Sir Edwin Lutyens to design the memorial. Following his architectural style, Sir Lutyens decided to keep it free of religious ornamentations and make the universal design. He designed the memorial in the form of a hexagonal complex housing a 42 metres tall triumphal arch. He also designed a canopy which once housed a statue of King George V with all imperial symbolisms and few gardens around. 

    India Gate in 1930s

    On both sides you can see inscription of word INDIA. with dates MCMXIV (1914) and MCMXIX (1919) on either side of it. Just below that, following words are inscribed in block letters.

    'TO THE DEAD OF THE INDIAN ARMIES WHO FELL AND ARE HONOURED IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS MESOPOTAMIA AND PERSIA EAST AFRICA GALLIPOLI AND ELSEWHERE IN THE NEAR AND THE FAR-EAST AND IN SACRED MEMORY ALSO OF THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE HERE RECORDED AND WHO FELL IN INDIA OR THE NORTH-WEST FRONTIER AND DURING THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR'

    India Gate honours 13,218 fallen warriors by their names inscribed on the gate.

    Honouring the post independence war heros

    After the Bangladesh war in 1975, Government of India built Amar Jawan Jyoyi. Reversed L1A1 self-loading rifle capped with war helmet over black marble plinth makes the monument. It has four urns, each with the permanent light from compressed natural gas flames at all four corners of the plinth. It acts as India’s memorial of immortal soldiers. Till recently, on every Republic Day, Vijay Diwas, and Infantry Day, the Prime Minister and the Chiefs of the Armed Forces place wreaths at the Amar Jawan Jyoti.

    Recently, Government built a new National War Memorial and Museum around the canopy. Four concentric circles of monument named as Amar Chakra, Veerta Chakra, Tyag Chakra and Rakshak Chakra, are based on the concept of Chakravyuh war formation. It also houses the second Amar Jawan Jyoti at the centre.

    Hon President Ram Nath Kovind paid tributes at at Amar Jawan Jyoti at the National War Memorial, independence day and republic day. Following the tradition set by Hon President, Prime Minister paid his tribute at the new Memorial on Republic Day.

    If you visit the New Delhi, do not forget to visit and pay tribute to our heroes at these memorials. Let’s all try to be a good citizen worthy for their sacrifices.

    This brings to the I am participating in A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on ‘I‘ challenge. “I is for the India Gate, New Delhi”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

  • Hampi: Ruins of Glorious History

    Hampi: Ruins of Glorious History

    Our Incredible India witnessed some glorious empires in history though ruled by various dynasties, they maintained the form of an Empire. In the north, we had an Empire of Magadh, and Delhi Sultanate.

    Central India witnessed the rise and fall of the Maratha Empire while the South saw the rise and fall of Yadavas of Devgiri. But, today’s story is about another Empire from South India and our destination is their capital city. Hampi of Vijayanagara Empire.

    Story time:

    In 14th century India, an empire rose to power in the Deccan plateau. Brothers, Harihar and Bukka Raya from Sangama Dynasty, put the foundation of this empire which rose to the pinnacle of glory in the time of Krishna Deva Raya of Tulava Dynasty. But before that, the empire witnessed two coups and power changed hands from Sangamas to Sulavas and subsequently to Tulava Dynasty.

    Krisha Deva Raya during the reign commissioned many of the important monuments of Hampi. It was the world’s second biggest city of mediaeval era following Beijing. It was prosperous and wealthy attracting travellers and traders. We can find the descriptions of Hampi and the empire in chronicles of Persian and European travellers (especially Portuguese)

    • Garuda Chariot at Vitthala Temple, Photo by Sriharsha
    • Beauty of Hampi
    • Ugra-Narasimha Photo by Dnyaneshwar Vaidya
    • Virupaksha temple
    • Matanga Hill photo by fraboof
    • Ruins of Hemakuta hills, Hampi by Siri Iyer
    • Elephants stable

    Never miss these at Hampi:

    Ruins of Hampi cover around 4100 hectares. It is near modern day city of Hospet. There are hundreds of spots you can visit and enjoy the glorious carvings, architecture and sculpting from the golden days of Vijayanagara. However, there are few of them which you can’t afford to miss. There are main temples like Virupaksha temple, Achyutaraya Temple, Krishna Temple, Vitthala Temple etc. You can see the ruined market area adjacent to all these temples. In Krishna temple, the shrine of Ugra Nrusinha or Laxmi Nrusinha is one you should definitely check out. Shrine or temple of Nrusinha is a rare thing in India. Garuda Chariot from Vitthala Temple complex is donned with intricate ornate carvings.

    Along with these, there are several hill temple complexes. At some spots, you can reach only if you take a ride on famous Coracles, the circular boat. The Archaeological Museum of Hampi is also a good documentation center. It provides us an idea about the glorious past of the VIjayanagara Empire.

    Today, let’s roam in these ruins and try to imagine the golden days of Hampi when its street used to be bustling with crowded markets.

    This brings to the I am participating in A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on day 8 challenge. “H is for the Ruins of Hampi, VIjayanagara District”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.