Tag: travel

  • जिंदगी एक सफर है सुहाना – a Wonderful Hindi Travel Guide Book

    जिंदगी एक सफर है सुहाना – a Wonderful Hindi Travel Guide Book

    Books have a very important place in my life and I love to travel. In the last year, I was fortunate to grab quick trips to nearby places when places opened up between these two COVID waves. But today I am talking about a book which encourages you to travel. Recently while browsing through the library of Blogchatter eBooks, I came across a book by Hitendra Gupta. Titled with a lively old Bollywood number “जिंदगी एक सफर है सुहाना”, it immediately takes you on a road trip. 

    Why should you pick this book up

    Hitendra has described many places in northern India ranging from glorious temples to the natural beauties in North Eastern states of India. He has presented important information about things or places which you should not miss if you happen to visit that particular destination in a very easy to understand Hindi. I have not come across any Hindi travel language book on Blogchatter eBooks library. He gives the best route to reach and best time to visit the destinations at the end of the chapter. This makes it easy for readers to plan their travels accordingly.

    I found this book interesting for a couple of reasons. First highlight was the inclusion of COVID appropriate checklist for travelers during and post pandemic situation. This will definitely come in handy while preparing for our upcoming travels. And next one is the weekend getaway or one day destinations in and around the capital city of our country, Delhi. These weekend get-aways are a very important part of youth from metro cities of India. Have you have recently shifted to Delhi to study or to work? Then, I will definitely recommend you to go through the details of amazing weekend destinations around Delhi described by Hitendra. You will save a lot of world wide web searches while planning your itinerary.

    The only thing which I would have liked more was the visual appeal through the photographs. If there were more photos in the book, it would have helped us readers to create an image of what to expect when we visit the destination.

    Blurb:

    इस ई-बुक से आपको देश के प्रमुख पर्यटक स्थलों के बारे में जानने समझने में आसानी होगी और आप सैर-सपाटे का भरपुर आनंद ले सकेंगे। इस ई-बुक में सैर-सपाटे के बारे में जो जानकारी दी गई हैं, उसे पढ़कर आप सैर का पूरा मजा ले सकेंगे।

    About Author:

    Hitendra Gupta – Travel Blogger, Explorer, Nature- Music Lover, Vegetarian Delhi- Noida

    My rating: ★★★✰✰

    You can get your copy from this link.

    Want to know more about my favorite books? Checkout my bookshelf.

  • Vikramshila – The Knowledge House of Medieval India

    Vikramshila – The Knowledge House of Medieval India

    Medieval India had witnessed very powerful centres of learning spreading light of knowledge. Today we are visiting ruins of one of those knowledge hubs. Vikramshila is one of the two important Mahavihara of the 8th century.

    From the pages of history of Vikramshila

    By the 8th century, people started believing the quality of scholarship of Nalanda was going down.  Responding to this belief, Emperor Dharmapala of the Pala Empire established the Vikramshila University. According to the Tibetan sources, Vikramshila grew to prominence in this period and formed an elite club with four other important knowledge centers, Nalanda, Somapura, Odantapura, and Jagaddala.

    The university prospered for the next four centuries. It contributed to the Buddhists body of knowledge through its large number of thousand scholars and hundred teachers. During the invasion of Turko-Afghan military gemera; Bakhtiyar Khilji Vikramshila University was destroyed.

    Gallery

    • Pillars of vikramshila Photo by Rakesh Ranjan Copyrights CC VY 2.0
    • Seating and meditation area at Vikramshila Ruins
    • The view of the entrance from the Stupa
    • Main Stupa at Ruins of VIkramshila Photo by Prataparya Copyrights CC BY-SA 3.0

    About the ruins

    Today, we can visit the ruins of Vikramshila in Antichak village, Bhagalpur district in Bihar. Prof. B. P. Sinha of Patna University undertook the first methodical excavation of this site in the 1960s. A few years after that, the Archaeological Survey of India started a second excavation. Over the period of two decades, archaeologists revealed a site spread over more than a hundred acres. Huge monastery with a cruciform stupa in its centre, a library building and cluster of votive stupas formed the campus of this medieval university of India.

    Residential quarters of the monastery is a huge square structure with 52 cells on each side opening in a common verandah. They also found few brick arched underground meditation chambers below few residential cells. Main stupa is at the center of the monastery. It is a brick structure with mud mortar. Archeologists also found a few Hindu and Tibatian temples on the northern side of the monastery.

    I am participating in the A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on the ‘V’ challenge. “V is for the Vikramshila University, Bihar”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

  • Thiksey Monastery – A Lighthouse of Buddhism in Ladakh

    Thiksey Monastery – A Lighthouse of Buddhism in Ladakh

    Ladakh is one of the beautiful regions of India. And Buddhism is an integral part of Ladakhi life. There are many Gompas (monasteries) scattered all across the region. Today we are visiting one of the glorious and important Gompa of Ladakh. Thiksey Gompa, situated on top of the hill in Thiksey near Leh. This monastery is attached to the Gelug sect of Tibatian Buddhism.

    Something from the history of Thiksey

    Founder of Gelug sect tasked one of his students, Jangsem Sherab Zangpo, with seeking permission of the King of Ladakh to spread the teachings of Gelug Buddhism in Ladakh. Soon he reached the King with the message and gifts from the founder of Gelug sect. King was pleased with the gifts. He directed his minister to help to set up a monastery of Gelug sect in Ladakh. This is how the first monastery was built in Stagmo village. 

    Legend of the Thiksey tells a story of start of Thiksey Monastery. Once Sherab with his disciple Palden Zangpo was performing sacred rituals of torma offerings. Suddenly, two crows appeared from somewhere and took away the offerings. Palden and other disciples went on the lookout for torma offerings. Soon after, they reached Thiksey. As soon as they reached Thiksey, they found out that crows had put the tormas on a rocky outcrop in perfect orders and in an undisturbed condition. Considering this as a divine direction, Palden decided to build the monastery at this place. And this is how Thiksey monastery came in existance.

    Glory of the Thiksey monastery

    Situated at an altitude of 3600 meters in the Indus valley, Thiksey Gompa is a huge twelve storey complex. It houses many buddhis items like stupas, wall paintings, thangkas (fabric paintings), weapons, sculptures, etc. Buildings in the complex are in ascending order on a hill slope and have a good spacing between them. This monastery shows an architectural resemblance with the Potala Palace in Lhasa. As a result, Thiksey Gompa has title of “Mini Potala”. This house of 60 lamas is red, ochre and white in color. This is a fort monastery of a Central Tibatian Pattern. 

    Maitreya buddha Thikse Photo by Redtigerxyz Copyrights CC BY-SA 3.0

    The monastery has a temple erected to commemorate the visit of the 14th Dalai Lama to the Thiskey Gompa. The temple houses a 15 meter high statue of Maitreya Buddha. This is the largest statue of Maitreya Buddha in Ladakh. Generally, we find Maitreya Buddha in a standing position or seated on a high throne. However, the statue in Thiksey is an unusual depiction of Maitreya seating in a lotus position. Shilp Guru Nawang Tsering of the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (Leh) guided the local artists to make this statue in clay, copper and gold paint. In addition to this temple, there are temples of goddess Tara and several guardian divinities including Cham-spring – the protector deity of Thiksey.

    Recently, the Archeological Survey of India completed the activities of restoration the monastery. However, it created some controversies. Hence, they achieved a balance to the restoration and renovation works to retain the old order in consonance with the new works.

    Glimpse of Thiksey
    • Front of the Thiksey Monastery Photo by Caesardeka Copyrights CC BY-SA 3.0
    • Shakyamuni Buddha in inner sanctum of the assembly hall Photo by Redtigerxyz Copyrights CC BY-SA 3.0
    • Thiksey Monastery Gompas Photo by Anilsh59 Copyrights CC BY-SA 4.0

    Festivals

    Monastery celebrates its annual festival from the 17th to 19th day of the ninth month of the Tibetan calendar (October–November). People perform sacred mask dances as a part of the rituals. Villagers from all over the Ladakh gather at the base of Thiksey monastery and trade their goods during this festival.

    I am participating in the A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on the ‘T’ challenge. “T is for the Thiksey Monastery, Ladakh”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

  • Palitana Temples – Glorious Pilgrimage of Jainism

    Palitana Temples – Glorious Pilgrimage of Jainism

    India is a birthplace of religions like Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Even though Jainism started way back in ancient India, Buddhism and Jainism took root in India around the same time. Mahavira, the twenty fourth and the last tirthankar of this age, gave the present day form to Jainism. Over the period, Jainism spread through central and westen parts of India forming a vibrant community. Then, this community created marvelous temples and shrines of tirthankars across the country. Our today’s destination is one of the holiest temples of Jainism. Palitana Temples, Shatrunjay Hills, Palitana.

    From the history book of Palitana

    During the reign of King Kumarapala of Solanki Dynasty, original construction of Palitana temples started in the 11th century and took 900 years for completion. During 14th century Turkish Muslim invasions, these temples were destroyed. Even though rebuilding started soon after the raid, most of the temples which we see today are from the 16th century. In 1593, Tapa Gaccha, the largest monastic clan of Jainism, organized a major pilgrimage on the occasion of consecration ceremony of the temple dedicated to Rishabhnath built by a merchant named Tej Pal Soni. As a result, momentum of the construction shifted.

    During the reign of Shah Jahan, Murad Baksh granted a Palitana village to Jain merchant Shantidas Jhaveri, and a complete tax exemption to this temple town. This helped the town to prosper further. Shantidas Jhaveri founded the Anandji Kalyanji Trust to manage the temples. Leadership of the trust is with the same family even today.

    • Palitana Temples in 1860
    • Shetrunjay Palitana Jain Temples From Archieves of The Bitish Library 1866
    • Palitana Jain Temples 1913

    Splendour of Palitana Temples

    Spread on the Shatrunjay Hill in Palitana, the temple complex has 863 temples forming nice clusters. Wealthy merchants from the community constructed many of the temples. Temples are known by the names of merchants. All temples are constructed with marbles. Large temples have marble halls supported by columns and many openings. Many of the smaller temples are only 3 square feet with Jain emblems. 

    Main temple sitting on the apex of the northern ridge of the hill. This temple venerates Adinath or Rishabhnath who was the first tirthankar of Jainism. Because it’s a main temple, it is made as the grandest of the complex. Temple has ornate architectural motifs of marble. Ornamental friezes of dragons adorn prayer halls of this temple. There are three ‘Pradakshina’ routes for this temple. India Post has also issued a postal stamp in 1949 with depiction of the Adinath Temple.

    • Sheth Motisha Tonk – Photo by Bernard Gagnon – Copyrights CC BY-SA 3.0
    • Carved walls of Palitana Temples – Photo by – Copyrights CC BY-SA 4.0
    • Adinath temple depicted on 1949 Indian postage stamp
    • Panorama of Palitana temples Photo by Pratap Tur Copyrights CC BY-SA 3.0

    Other than the main temple, there are many important notable temples in the complex like Adishvara temple, Chaumukh temple, Vimal Shah temple, Saraswati devi temple, Narsinh Kesharji temple, and the Samavasaran temple. Recently in 2016, they installed a 108 feet idol of Adinath in the complex.

    Do not miss this architectural marvel carved in marble when you plan to visit Bhavnagar District of Gujarat. 

    I am participating in the A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on the ‘P’ challenge. “P is for the Palitana Temple Complex, Palitana, Gujarat”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

  • Orchha Fort Complex – All about royalty in one place

    Orchha Fort Complex – All about royalty in one place

    Before our independence, India was dotted with hundreds of small and big princely states. 565 of them to be precise. Current state of Madhya Pradesh has quite a few of them. We all are aware of big names like Indore, Gwalior and Bhopal. However, today’s destination is from a different princely state of Orchha. We are visiting Orchha Fort Complex from the capital city of Orchha Princely State. Town of Orchha is on the banks of River Betwa and in today’s Niwari District of Madhya Pradesh. 

    From the pages of history of Orchha

    In 1501 CE, Bundela Rajput Rudra Pratap Singh sensed political instability and carved his own kingdom with his fortress at Garh Kundar as power center. In 1531, he moved his capital to the town of Orchha. He died in the same year. His successors in 1570s agreed to become a tributary state of Mughal empire. Later when British raj came, Orchha became a part of a Bundelkhand Agency of the Raj. In the year of 1950, Orchha state merged into the Union of India as a part of Vindhya Pradesh state. Subsequently, Vindhya Pradesh state was merged into the state of Madhya Pradesh in 1956. Orchha fort complex took today’s shape with the building of various palaces over the period of century since its foundation as a capital.

    • Jahangir Mahal, Orchha – Photo by Vadaykeviv – Copyrights CC BY-SA 3.0
    • Paintings in Raja Mahal – Photo by Arun Sagar – Copyrights CC BY 2.0
    • Orchha Fort and Bridge – Photo by Mandy – Copyrights – CC BY 2.0
    • Palaces in the Orchha Fort complex – Photo by Pavek Suprun – Copyrights CC BY-SA 3.0

    Within the Orchha fort complex

    As you enter the complex through an arched causeway, you land in a quadrangular open space. This place is surrounded by various palaces, gardens and pavilions. Out of the numerous palaces in the complex, Raja Mahal was the first to be built during the reign of Madhukar Shah (1554 to 1591) and Jahangir Mahal and Sawan Bhado Mahal were built during the times of Vir Singh Deo. 

    Phool bagh is the royal garden in the fort complex with an underground summer retreat. This summer retreat has a unique cooling system with a water ventilation system. It showers droplets through the roof creating rainfall. Buildings in the complex have a particular style of architecture with projected balconies, windows with intricate jali work and big open terraces.

    Once you visit Madhya Pradesh, don’t forget to include Orchha in your itinerary. Other than Fort Complex, it has many other attractions like Royal Chatris, a number of temples and a beautiful Betwa River.

    This brings to the I am participating in A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on the ‘O’ challenge. “O is for the Orchha Fort Complex, Orchha, Madhya Pradesh”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

  • Nandi Hills – Perfect Weekend Getaway from Bangalore

    Nandi Hills – Perfect Weekend Getaway from Bangalore

    All young Indians dream about high-paying jobs and life in metro cities. As you start slogging in the industry during the whole week, you crave for a perfect weekend getaway. Thankfully, Incredible India has gifted such sites to every metro city. Our today’s destination is one such weekend getaway from Bangalore, Nandi Hills. Today, it is a favorite destination for tourists to watch the sunrise. However, once it used to be an impregnable fortress.

    Story Time

    Nandi Hills are at today’s Chikkaballapur Distict of Karnataka. In medieval India, Rulers of the Western Ganga Dynasty recognized the importance of this hill and built a fortress on it. During the subsequent time of Chola period this place was recognized as the Hill of Happiness with the name of ‘Anandagiri’. In later period, Tipu Sultan of Mysore enlarged and strengthened the fortress. During the first war against Tipu Sultan of Mysore, army of General Cornwallis had to take the fortress by storm. This became the place of retreat for officers of the British Raj. Sir Mark Cubbon, British Commissioner of Mysore even built his summer residence on the hill.

    • Overlooking Tipu’s Drop – Photo by Andreas Metz – Copyrights CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
    • Nandi Hills Trekking Path – Photo by Wise Droid – Copyrights CC BY-SA 4.0
    • View from Nandi Hills Photo by Koshy Koshy Copyrights CC BY 2.0
    • Sunrise at Nandi Hills Photo by JzG Copyrights CC BY-SA 4.0
    • Bhoganandishvara temple Photo by – Dineshkannambadi Copyrights CC BY-SA-3.0

    When you visit Nandi Hills – 

    Trails and trekking paths of the Hills are famous amongst hikers and trekkers. There are various points and sites to visit once you reach the top of the fortress. Tipu’s summer residence, a small two story building with pond and park is one of the main attractions along with “Amrit Sarovar” a rectangular water storage pond. If you are able to reach before time, the sight of sunrise from the top of the Hills is completely captivating. There’s a cliff known as Tipu’s Drop. Back in the days, Prisoners punished with the death penalty were pushed from the cliff. There is a garden with a play area for kids and families to play and relax. A very ornate and sculpted temple of Bhoganandishvara at a nearby village Nandigram and a temple of Yoganandishvara on top of hills.

    So, if you are looking for a perfect weekend getaway from your hectic life of Bangalore or you are planning for a trip in the region, don’t forget to think about Nandi Hills.

    This brings to the I am participating in A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on ‘N‘ challenge. “N is for Nandi Hills, Chikkaballapur District, Karnataka”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.