I recently visited Kolkata and had amazing experiences about the place... In this post I am posting some pictures of Kolkata and in next post I will update blog post with complete write up...
Friday, 23 August 2013
Tuesday, 4 June 2013
Red Fort Agra
I got chance to go to Agra year before last and get chance to visit Red Fort of Agra.
Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Agra, India. The fort is also known as Lal Qila, Fort Rouge and Red Fort of Agra. It is about 2.5 km northwest from the Taj Mahal.
Agra Fort built by Akbar in Red Sandstone when he was through with the consolidation of his power after accession to power in 1654, Agra Fort worked both as a military strategic point as well as the royal residence.
Architects laid the foundation and it was built with bricks in the inner core with sandstone on external surfaces. Some 1,444,000 builders worked on it for eight years, completing it in 1573.
The fort contains splendid palaces both in red sandstone and white marble built by two generations of prolific builders Akbar and later Jehangir and Shahjahan. Of the nearly 500 Akbari buildings built in the Bengal and Gujarati traditions only a few have survived, arrayed in a band on the riverfront.
Agra Fort built by Akbar in Red Sandstone when he was through with the consolidation of his power after accession to power in 1654, Agra Fort worked both as a military strategic point as well as the royal residence.
Architects laid the foundation and it was built with bricks in the inner core with sandstone on external surfaces. Some 1,444,000 builders worked on it for eight years, completing it in 1573.
The fort contains splendid palaces both in red sandstone and white marble built by two generations of prolific builders Akbar and later Jehangir and Shahjahan. Of the nearly 500 Akbari buildings built in the Bengal and Gujarati traditions only a few have survived, arrayed in a band on the riverfront.
Some Pictures of This Fort
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
Old Fort : Delhi
The Old Fort of Delhi, which is also known from the past as Purana Qila, is a large for that was built in the middle part of the sixteenth century by Sher Shah Suri. This was built after he had defeated Humayun and then conquered the city of Dinpanah. The fort was constructed with red sandstone and was made as a home for the ruler of the land to use. This is a key reason as to why the fort has a combination of both Afghan and Hindu influences in its design.
The fort had been out of use after Humayun's death because Humayun slipped on a stairwell in the Old Fort in 1556 and later died from his injuries. This caused some to believe that the fort was cursed.
The fort features a large build that is more than two kilometers in length and has walls that are at least eighteen meters in height depending on where they are located. There are many square pillars around the fort. The Afghan accents in the fort include a series of domes and arches around many points of the fort.
The three main gates around the Old Fort are very attractive. These gates feature three chhatris on their top spots. These spots are easily noticeable in that they are accents that take up around two stories each. The Forbidden Gate chhatri on the northern gate features a unique carving that features a series of lions in marble.
A beautiful mosque is also located inside the fort. This is the Quila Kuhna Masjid mosque. It features a combination of white marble and sandstone.
The Sher-Mandal is another great point in the fort. This octagon tower features a large plasterwork that was designed by Sher Shah Suri and was used by Humayan as his library. This is believed to be where the stairwell that Humayan fell down on is located.
Monday, 22 April 2013
Devprayag : Confluance of two rivers
Dev Prayag is the confluence of the two holy rivers, the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda. It is the first prayag on the way to Badrinath. After this confluence, the river is known as Ganges. The holiness of this place is considered equal to the famous Triveni sangam confluence at Allahabad where the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers joint together.
Bhagirathi flows with strong currents and meets with calmer river Alaknanda. The confluence got the name tag 'Dev' from a poor Brahmin called Deva Sharma who performed “rigorous religious austerities” here and was blessed by Rama, Vishnu’s incarnation and hero of the epic Ramayana. There are two Kunds or ponds on the banks of the rivers which join here, these are: the Vasistha Kund on the Bhagirathi and the Brahma Kund on the bank of the Alakananda. Legend also mentions about this site being Vishnu’s navel and that Brahma meditated here.
The many legendary kings who did penance here were, Rama - to atone for his sin of killing the demon-king Ravana, a Brahmin - as well as his father Dasaratha. Legend also states that Vishnu entreated the demon-king Bali for 3 steps of land here. Legend also states that Rama, before attaining salvation, vanished from here. Vaishnavites consider it as one of the 108 Divya Desams (sacred abodes of Vishnu) for undertaking a pilgrimage during their lifetime.
A famous temple dedicated to Rama called the Raghunath Math is located above the confluence. A 15 ft (4.6 m) high, black granite image of Rama is worshipped here as the central icon. It is believed to be installed in the temple about 1250 years ago. A Shiva temple is also located nearby.
Ancient stone inscriptions have also been traced here. The stone inscriptions dates the temple’s existence to the first century AD. The temple, which is 72 ft (21.9 m) in height, has a quadrilateral pyramidal shape with width narrowing towards the top of the temple tower. The top is surrounded by a white cupola. The sloping roof over the cupola is supported by wooden pillars. The roof is made up of copper plates adorned by plated ball with a spire. An image of Garuda (a mythical bird in human form with a beak and wings to fly, which is the vahana or vehicle of Vishnu). On the festive days of Ram Navami, Vasant Panchami and Baisakhi, which are special occasions at this temple, the god is placed on a stone thrown for worship. A stair way from the temple of Deva Prayag of Panch Prayag, leads to the confluence of Bhagirathi and Alakananda rivers where a distinct demarcation of the churning muddy stream of Alakananda mix with the saffron clear flows of Bhagirathi is seen to evolve as Ganges, the holiest river for Hindus. Brahmins and pilgrims feed the fish specie Cyprinus denticulatus (4–5 ft (1.2–1.5 m) length) at this site.
Bhagirathi flows with strong currents and meets with calmer river Alaknanda. The confluence got the name tag 'Dev' from a poor Brahmin called Deva Sharma who performed “rigorous religious austerities” here and was blessed by Rama, Vishnu’s incarnation and hero of the epic Ramayana. There are two Kunds or ponds on the banks of the rivers which join here, these are: the Vasistha Kund on the Bhagirathi and the Brahma Kund on the bank of the Alakananda. Legend also mentions about this site being Vishnu’s navel and that Brahma meditated here.
The many legendary kings who did penance here were, Rama - to atone for his sin of killing the demon-king Ravana, a Brahmin - as well as his father Dasaratha. Legend also states that Vishnu entreated the demon-king Bali for 3 steps of land here. Legend also states that Rama, before attaining salvation, vanished from here. Vaishnavites consider it as one of the 108 Divya Desams (sacred abodes of Vishnu) for undertaking a pilgrimage during their lifetime.
A famous temple dedicated to Rama called the Raghunath Math is located above the confluence. A 15 ft (4.6 m) high, black granite image of Rama is worshipped here as the central icon. It is believed to be installed in the temple about 1250 years ago. A Shiva temple is also located nearby.
Ancient stone inscriptions have also been traced here. The stone inscriptions dates the temple’s existence to the first century AD. The temple, which is 72 ft (21.9 m) in height, has a quadrilateral pyramidal shape with width narrowing towards the top of the temple tower. The top is surrounded by a white cupola. The sloping roof over the cupola is supported by wooden pillars. The roof is made up of copper plates adorned by plated ball with a spire. An image of Garuda (a mythical bird in human form with a beak and wings to fly, which is the vahana or vehicle of Vishnu). On the festive days of Ram Navami, Vasant Panchami and Baisakhi, which are special occasions at this temple, the god is placed on a stone thrown for worship. A stair way from the temple of Deva Prayag of Panch Prayag, leads to the confluence of Bhagirathi and Alakananda rivers where a distinct demarcation of the churning muddy stream of Alakananda mix with the saffron clear flows of Bhagirathi is seen to evolve as Ganges, the holiest river for Hindus. Brahmins and pilgrims feed the fish specie Cyprinus denticulatus (4–5 ft (1.2–1.5 m) length) at this site.
Gulmarg hotels
Gulmarg
Friday, 12 April 2013
Allahabad Mahakumbha - 2013
In this February I got chance to go Allahabad to attend Mahakumabh 2013. Some of my moments I am sharing with you all…
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