Kerala ,Backwaters,india

Kerala (Backwaters)

 The Kerala backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast of Kerala state in southern India.Imagine the creaking sound of the joints in the rice barge's bamboo frame on a moonlit night with the brightly shining stars forming an ethereal canopy overhead as you lie on the upper deck of your houseboat.Envisage a scene where the sound of leaves rustling as the wind blows through the coconut palm and banana trees shading the canal and the early morning chanting that gently fills the air coming over from a far-off Hindu temple wakes you up to a mesmerizing morning view of the misty stretches of backwaters and dim silhouette of the vegetation and surrounding villages.Far from the frenzied atmosphere which is evident in the rest of India, backwaters in Kerala offers unhurried and laid back travel experience along the lush paddy field strewn and coconut grove shaded Malabar Coast.

 

 

 

 What is Kerala Backwaters
A chain of brackish lagoons and canals linking five large lakes, Kerala Backwaters is a maze of water bodies stretching over 900 kilometers. One of the most important aspect of tourism in Kerala, the backwaters were used traditionally as waterways to ferry rice and spices from one places to another in kettuvallams or the traditional rice barges which now forms the major tourist attraction and ferry tourists and visitors from one destination to another.
In the midst of the coconut palm-fringed backwaters are number of tourist destinations, towns and village that serve as the starting and concluding point of the Kerala Backwater tours, cruises and even houses Kerala backwater resorts. Almost all the time, the flotilla of Kerala houseboats and kettuvallams keep gliding through this vast expanse of labyrinth.
 

From tourism point of view, Alappuza (Alleppey)- often compared to Venice shrouded as it is with canals and coconut palm-shaded streets - serves as the gateway to Kerala Backwaters. However, the spellbinding ride from the historical town of Kollam to the Alappuza, which also happens to be the longest, is considered to be as the best aspects of Kerala backwater tourism. The ride not only gives a peek into the soul-quenching greenery that Kerala is blessed with but also a glimpse of the village life and rural economy of the state.
Top Kerala Backwater Destinations
The important Kerala backwater destinations are Alappuza, Kollam, Kasargod, Kozikode(Calicut), Kumarakom, Kuttanad and Thiruvananthpuram. Surrounded by Kallada river, Asthamudi Lake, Sasthamkoda Lake, Munroe Island in Kollam is one of the most popular backwater destinations in Kerala. Vembanad Lake in Kumarakom which also houses Kumarakom Lake Resort, one of the finest luxury hotels in Kerala backwater, is yet another popular backwater destination in Kerala.
 

Kerala Houseboats: Intrinsic Part of Backwaters in Kerala
Kerala houseboats - locally known as kettuvallams - are integral part of the vast expanse of waterways and form the backbone of Kerala backwater tourism. Traditionally these rice barges served the purpose of transportation of locals as well as for ferrying goods like spices and rice from paddy fields to market town and ports. Today these beautiful crafts serve as most popular mode of transportation for tourists and also serve as accommodation in form of Kerala houseboats.

Kerala Backwater Day Tours

Day tours in Kerala backwaters are operated by state tourism department as well as organized privately by tour operators. Full day backwater cruises are available for around INR 1000 per person and lasts for 8-9 hours. The full day Kerala backwater cruise is ideally suited for visitors looking to get a glimpse of the rural village life and local cultural interaction.
Half day cruises as well as sunset cruise are also operated in Kerala backwaters. Most of the houseboat cruises are available from Alappuza, the gateway to Kerala backwaters. Many resorts and hotels also own houseboats and offer sunset cruises as well as overnight trips.

Top Kerala Backwaters Cruise Routes

The most popular and widely used routes for backwater cruises in Kerala are:
Alappuza - Kollam Backwaters Cruise
This is the longest and definitely the best cruise to experience the majestic beauty and charm of the palm-fringed backwaters and rural life of Kerala. The cruise generally last for a day or you could do the overnight cruise from Alapuzza to reach Alumkavadu in Kollam, a manufacturing hub for traditional houseboats made using bamboo, rattan, coir and wood.

Alappuza - Kumarakom Backwaters Cruise
This backwater cruise route features the widest waterways and canals and also takes you to the popular Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. The concluding destination of this backwater cruise is Vembanad Lake. Most of the luxury resorts and best hotels in Kerala are located by the bank of this lake. With its natural setting and soothing backwaters, Kumarakom also happens to be a popular destination for Ayurveda treatments in Kerala housing a number of Ayurveda Resorts.

Alappuza - Kuttanad Backwaters Cruise
Yet another of the spellbinding Kerala backwaters cruise routes is from Alappuza to Kuttanad. This particular route features some of the best glimpses of the farming and village life of Kerala. Kuttanad, also referred to as the "rice bowl of Kerala" is renowned for its paddy fields which intriguingly lie below the sea level.

Top National Parks In India

Carbett National Park:

This is an unbelievably exciting tour that takes you to two of the most amazing and offbeat tourist's destination of India.

 

 

Jim Corbett National Park, which is a part of the larger Corbett Tiger Reserve, a Project Tiger Reserve lies in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The magical landscape of Corbett is well known and fabled for its tiger richness. Established in the year 1936 as Hailey National Park,
 Corbett has the glory of being India's oldest and most prestigious National Park. It is also being honored as the place where Project Tiger was first launched in 1973. This unique tiger territory is best known as the father who gave birth of the Project Tiger in India to protect the most endangered species and the Royal of India called Tigers.

Spans over an extent of 520 square kilometers, its whole area comprises of hills, marshy depressions, riverine belts, grasslands and large lake.
 It is among the few tiger reserves in India that allows overnight stays in the lap of the National Park.
 Nature watch and wildlife viewing in the park is done in an open four wheeler Jeep and on elephant back.

Sheltering a healthy population of tigers and rare species like Otters and the endemic fish eating crocodile,
 the national park is one of the most sought after destinations for the wildlife buffs. Dhikala, situated at the border of the extensive Patil Dun valley, is the most popular destination in Corbett because of its superb location and sheer abundance of wildlife present. 

 

Kanha National Park:

Kanha Tiger Reserve, also called Kanha National Park, is one of the tiger reserves of India and the largest national park of Madhya Pradesh state in India.
Kanha National Park is nestled in the Maikal range of Satpuras in Madhya Pradesh, the heart of India that forms the central Indian highlands.

The lush sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha providedinspiration to Rudyard Kipling for his famous novel "Jungle Book".The Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh came into being in 1955 and forms the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve, created in 1974 under Project Tiger.The Park's landmark achievement is the preservation of the rare hardground Swamp Deer (Barasingha), saving it from near extinction. Stringent conservation programs for the overall protection of the Park's fauna and flora, makes Kanha one of the most well maintained National Parks in Asia.

A heightened attraction within the Park is Bamni Dadar,  popularly known as Sunset Point that offers the most awe-inspiring backdrop of the sunset against grazing Sambhars and Gaurs, magnifying the natural splendor of the area. Aside from its diverse wildlife and bird population,
 the frequent sightings of Tigers roaming in the wild at Kanha Wildlife Sanctuary remain the most popular draw.

How many of you have seen a tiger before? Most of the answers will be ambiguous because everyone wants to see a tiger.Then where can one spot TIGER? Well, even if there are circuses and zoo's all over India, there's some kind of a thrill you experiences when all of a sudden you came across a TIGER roaming freely in the wilderness of its natural habitat: the fields and forests of India. There are nucious beast,merous Tiger reserves in India, that are preserving this fero but nowhere can
you see them as often, and as regularly as in Kanha National Park.

The climate of this region is tropical. Summers are hot and humid with a maximum and minimum temperature of 40.6°C and 23.9°C.
 Winters are pleasant with an average maximum and minimum temperature of 23.9°C and 11.1°C, respectively. The annual average rainfall is 152 cm.
The park is closed from July to mid-October during monsoon.

Bandhavgarh National Park:

Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the wild life sanctuaries in the Indian state Madhya Pradesh.  

 

 

 The national park is situated at 197 km away north-east of Jabalpur. This wild life park derived its very name from an ancient fort in the area. Bandhawgarh National Park belongs to the Vindhyan mountain ranges of central India and it boasts to have the highest density of tiger population in the country.Now there are about 46 to 52 tigers one can spot here.

 

 

The forests of Bandhavgarh are the white tiger jungles of the yesteryears. However, no white tigers have been reported from the wild in the last 50 years,
 and it is believed that less than a dozen have been seen in India in about a hundred years. And yet when white tigers were sighted, it was right here in Bandhavgarh.
Once a hunting reserve of the royal family of Rewa in more  recent times, Bandhavgarh was declared a park in 1968. This is also the site where the famous  WHITE TIGERS of Rewa were discovered.
Wandering through the Bandhavgarh national park on an Elephant Back, the chances of seeing a tiger are quite good. Among the other wild attractions include, Nilgai, Chausingha, Chital, Chinkara, Wild Boar and sometimes a Fox or Jackal.In the Bandhavgarh National Park the visitors can be entered on elephant back apart from the four wheelers.

 

 

Once a hunting reserve of the royal family of Rewa in more recent times, Bandhavgarh was declared a park in 1968. This is also the site where the fanmous  WHITE TIGERS of Rewa were discovered.
Wandering through the Bandhavgarh national park on an Elephant Back, the chances of seeing a tiger are quite good. Among the other wild attractions include, Nilgai, Chausingha, Chital, Chinkara, Wild Boar and sometimes a Fox or Jackal.

 

 

In the Bandhavgarh National Park the visitors can be entered on elephant back apart from the four wheelers. In the elephant safaris a forest department guide always accompanies the guests who will direct and tell about the flora and fauna of the park.
The best time to visit the park is early in the morning or after 4 pm to spot the animals. The park is closed from 1st July to 15th October,
 which is the monsoon season.

Ranthambore National Park:

Ranthambore National Park is one of the biggest and most renowned national park in Northern India. The park is most famous for it's diurnal tigers.

 

 

The park is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan, which is about 130 km from Jaipur.
Being considered as one of the famous and former hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur,
today the Ranthambore National Park terrain is major wildlife tourist attraction spot that has pulled the attention of many wildlife photographers and lovers in this destination.

 

 

The vegetation of the Ranthambore is the tropical dry deciduous and tropical thorn type due to its hilly track, water is confined from narrow valleys and some lakes. There are several lakes in the park which known as Padam Talab, Raj Bagh Talab and Malik Talab.
Ranthambore National Park is probably the best place in the world to see wild Indian tigers in its only dry deciduous natural habitat.Tigers can be easily spotted even during the day time. Ranthambore is also known for famous heritage site due to ruins and Fort.It is a home for different species of animals and birds.

 

 

The herbivorous population includes chital, sambar, blue bull and chinkara.Samabr deer is the pride of park. There is no park in Asia, where these largest of all Asiatic deer can be seen so frequently during the day time. Wild boars and langurs are common scene , Among the reptiles, crocodiles can be seen basking in the sun near the lake. Other carnivores in the park include leopard, hyena , jackal, caracals, jungle cat ,rattle and the tiger is the biggest attraction of the park. There are more than 300 varieties of birds in Ranthambore National Park.

 

 Timings for entry into, and exit from, the park vary according to the season. In winters, due to the shorter duration of daylight hours, the morning entry time is later and evening exit time is earlier.

Sunderbans National Park:

Sunderbans national park is located at the South Eastern tip of the 24 Paraganas district in the state of West Bengal.

 

 

It got its name from one of the mangrove plants known as Sundari (Heritiera Minor).
The Sundarbans are a part of the world's largest delta formed by the rivers Ganges,Brahmaputra and Meghna. Sundarban is a vast area covering 4262 square kms in India alone, with a larger portion in Bangladesh. 2585 sq. kms of the Indian Sundarban forms the largest Tiger Reserve and National Park in India. The total area of the Indian part of the Sundarban forest, lying within the latitude between 21°13'-22°40' North and longitude 88°05'-89°06' East, is about 4,262 sq km, of which 2,125 sq km is occupied by mangrove forest across 56 islands and the balance is under water.

 

 

The park is surrounded by a buffer zone of 885 square kilometers. This also mainly consists of mangrove forests. The core area of the park has it's own natural boundaries with the river Matla on it's West, the river Haribhanga on it's East, with Netidhopani and Gosba in the North.
The four Sunderbans national parks have been lumped together as they all share common features of the estuarine mangrove ecosystem.

 

 

The main attractions of the Sunderbans are the Tiger, of which the delta harbor large reptiles like the Monitor Lizard, Estuarine Crocodile and the Olive Ridley Turtle, for which there is a conservation programme in the Indian park. The Leopard, Indian Rhinoceros, Javan Rhinoceros, Swamp Deer, Hog Deer and Water Buffalo have all become locally extinct from the delta in recent decades.

 

 

The best time to visit Sunderbans is during winters between December and February.although the park is open for longer from September to March. This is the period when the maximum migratory birds are also present here.

Red Fort ,Red Fort Delhi,Famus Fort In India

Red Fort:

The Red Fort was the residence of the Mughal emperor of India for nearly 200 years, until 1857. It is located in the centre of Delhi and houses a number of museums.

 

                        Address: Netaji Subhash Marg, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi 110006

The Red sandstone walls of the massive Red Fort (Lal Qila) rise 33-m above the clamour of Old Delhi as a reminder of the magnificent power and pomp of the Mughal emperors. The walls, built in 1638, were designed to keep out invaders, now they mainly keep out the noise and confusion of the city.The main gate, Lahore Gate, is one of the emotional and symbolic focal points of the modern Indian nation and attracts a major crowd on each Independence Day.

 

 

 

 In 1638 Shahjahan transferred his capital from Agra to Delhi and laid the foundations of Shahjahanabad, the seventh city of Delhi. It is enclosed by a rubble stone wall, with bastions, gates and wickets at intervals. Of its fourteen gates, the important ones are the Mori, Lahori, Ajmeri, Turkman, Kashmiri and Delhi gates, some of which have already been demolished. His famous citadel, the Lal-Qila, or the Red Fort, lying at the town's northern end on the right bank or the Yamuna and south of Salimgarh, was begun in 1639 and completed after nine years. The Red Fort is different from the Agra fort and is better planned, because at its back lies the experience gained by Shahjahan at Agra, and because it was the work of one hand. It is an irregular octagon, with two long sides on the east and west, and with two main gates, one on the west and the other on the south, called Lahori and Delhi gates respectively. While the walls, gates and a few other structures in the fort are constructed of red sandstone, marble has been largely used in the palaces.

 

 

 

From the western gateway after passing through the vaulted arcade, called Chhatta-Chowk, one reaches the Naubat- or Naqqar-Khana ('Drum-house'), where ceremonial music was played and which also served as the entrance to the Diwan-i-'Am. Its upper storey is now occupied by the Indian War Memorial Museum.
The Diwan-i-' Am ('Hall of Public Audience') is a rectangular hall, three aisle deep, with a façade of nine arches. At the back of the hall is an alcove, where the royal throne stood under a marble canopy, with an inlaid marble dias below it for the prime minister. The wall behind the throne is ornamented with beautiful panels of pietra dura work, said to have been executed by Austin de Bordeaux, a Florentine artist. Orpheus with his lute is represented in one of the panels here. Originally there were six marble palaces along the eastern water front. Behind the Diwan-i-' Am but separated by a court is the Rang-Mahal ('Painted Palace'), so called owing to coloured decoration on its interior. It consists of a main hall with an arched front, with vaulted chambers on either end. A water-channel, called the Nahr-i-Bihisht ('Stream of Paradise'), ran down through it, with a central marble basin fitted with an ivory fountain. The Mumtaz-Mahal, originally an important apartment in the imperial seraglio, now houses the Delhi Fort Museum.

 

 

The Diwan-i-Khass ('Hall of Private Audience') is a highly-ornamented pillared hall, with a flat ceiling supported on engrailed arches. The lower portion of its piers is ornamented with floral pietra dura panels, while the upper portion was originally gilded and painted. Its marble dias is said to have supported the famous Peacock Throne, carried away by the Persian invader Nadir Shah. 

 

 

 

The Tasbih-Khana ('chamber for counting beads for private prayers') consists of three rooms, behind which is the Khwabgah ('sleeping-chamber'). On the northern screen of the former is a representation of the Scales of Justice, which are suspended over a crescent amidst stars and clouds. Adjoining the eastern wall of the Khwabgah is the octagonal Muthamman-Burj, from where the emperor appeared before his subjects every morning. A small balcony, which projects from the Burj, was added here in 1808 by Akbar Shah II, and it was from this balcony that King George V and Queen Mary appeared before the people of Delhi in December 1911. 

 

The Hammam ('Bath') consists of three main apartments divided by corridors. The entire interior, including the floor, is built of marble and inlaid with coloured stones. The baths were provided with 'hot and cold water’, and it is said that one of the fountains in the easternmost apartment emitted rose water. To the west of the Hammam is the Moti-Masjid ('Pearl Mosque'), added later by Aurangzeb. The Hayat-Bakhsh-Bagh ('Life-giving garden'), with its pavilions, lies to the north of the mosque, and was later considerably altered and reconstructed. The red-stone pavilion in the middle of the tank in the centre of the Hayat-Bakhsh-Bagh is called Zafar-Mahal and was built by Bahadur Shah II in about 1842.

In 1644, Shahjahan commenced in Delhi his great mosque, the Jami'- Masjid the largest mosque in India, and completed it in 1650. Its square quadrangle with arched cloisters on the sides and a tank in the centre is 100 m. wide. Built on a raised plinth, it has three imposing gateways approached by long flights of steps. Its prayer-hall, with a facade of eleven arches, flanked by a four-storeyed minaret on either end, is covered by three large domes ornamented with alternating stripes of 'black and white marble.

Entrance Fee:
Citizens of India and visitors of SAARC (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan) and BIMSTEC Countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar) - Rs.10 per head.

Others:
Rs. 250/- per head (Free entry to children up to 15 years)

 

 

Bhangarh The 'most haunted' place in India?

 

Bhangarh:

The 'most haunted' place in India

 

 

 If you are one of those people that love to get scared then check this out. India has some of the world’s most haunted places. In fact, if you thought that India was a country of many Gods and Goddess then you might in for a surprise. India has a dark and spooky side as well. Indians believe in all sorts of ghosts, ghouls, spirits, black magic and unnatural things. You might wish to read about the types of ghosts believed in India. If are one those travelers who likes to explore haunted places then why not visit the Bhangarh Fort that has the reputation of being one of the most haunted places in India and is listed as one of the most haunted places of the world. Sadly, this place is not the most visited of places in India and neither do foreign tourists know about this place. But the place has a reputation of its own and is considered as India’s “most haunted” place. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, why not check this place out for yourself.

 

 

 

 About Bhangarh Fort

The Bhangarh Fort is a 17 century fort built by a King called “Madho Singh” of Rajasthan. The fort is situated in Bhangarh, a deserted town near the famous tourist destination of Jaipur in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. Why not take the opportunity and visit this place as well while you are in Jaipur. The town of Bhangarh was established by Bhagwant Das the son of Madho Singh, the younger brother of Emperor Akbar’s general called Man Singh. Historical archives suggest that he and his father fought many battles and Bhangarh town had a population of more than 10,000.
The decline of Bhangarh started when the next ruler of the place, his son Chhatr Singh died. This collided with the decrease in the strength of the Mughal Empire particularly after Emperor Aurangzeb (son of Mumtaj Mahal for whom the Taj Mahal was built). Today the fort is deserted and nearby town (almost a village) of Bhangarh has about 200 households with a population of around 1500 people. The town and the fort were supposed to be a precursor of the city of Jaipur.

There are temples, shops, havelis (palaces), and courtyards, built around the fort. If a lavish fort could be built in the town of Bhangarh then this indicates that it must have been a prosperous place but sadly nothing remains of the town and the fort other than the ruins and a few temples. Today a handful of local tourists visit the place simply out of curiosity. Bhangarh is not even advertised a tourist destination for foreigners. The Bhangarh Fort is lovely and while standing on the terrace of the fort, you can see the vast expanse the place. When you enter, you will find temples dedicated to Hanuman and Shiva as soon as you enter the fort and the residences of the priests which lie in ruins. It has four gates namely Lahori Gate, Ajmeri Gate, Phulbari Gate and Delhi Gate. Outside of the gates, there is a Muslim tomb. It is thought that it is one of sons of Hari Singh who had converted to Islam

Getting to Bhangarh Fort

 

 

The fort is about 300 km drive away from Delhi. If you leave Delhi in the early hours of the morning then you will be able to get there in about 4 hours. If you want to visit this place then ask your tour operator or the hotel to organize you a taxi and a driver for the day. My estimate is that it should not cost you more than 10,000 Rupees for the entire trip depending on the type of car you hire. The TATA Indigo is the most popular of cars for hire in India but I prefer an SUV as it’s more conformable for the dusty Indian roads. If you are driving from Delhi, you will need to go via Gurgaon and then head towards Bhiwadi and then take the turning to Alwar district in Rajasthan. From Alwar, you will have to cross the Sariska reserve and then Ajabgarh where you will then enter the Bhangarh territory. It’s a nice but long drive from Delhi. The fort is about 80 km away from Alwar city and 50 km from Jaipur. Sadly the roads are not good at all and you will find the ride bumpy and uncomfortable
There is a belief about Bhangarh that the place is haunted and no one dares to go after sunset there.

Bhangarh is a place between Jaipur and Alwar in Rajasthan state of India. Bhangarh is known for its ruins, but still worth a visit; the place is beautiful and tranquil. What remains though, is a shadow of a once beautiful kingdom.
The Bhangarh Story
The story (and the history) of the Bhangarh began in the year of 1573 when the fortress was established. Built by Raja Bhagawant Das, the ruler of the city of Amber, Bhangarh Fort has become the residence of Madho Singh, ruler's second son who fought alongside his father and brother in many wars. The decline of Bhangarh Fort started in 1630 after Chhatr Singh, son of Madho Singh got killed in a violent attack. The decline continued until 1783 when the fortress and the city were completely abandoned following that year's famine.

 

 

It is said that the city of Bhangarh was cursed by the Guru Balu Nath, causing the towns evacuation. Balu Nath sanctioned the establishment of the town but said: "The moment the shadows of your palaces touch me, the city shall be no more!" Ignorant of such foreboding, one ambitious descendant raised the palace to such a height that its shadowed Balu Nath's forbidden retreat and thus the town was devastated as prophesied. The small samadhi where Balu Nath is said to lie buried is still there.
The other myth is as follows: The charm of princess of Bhangarh Ratnavati was said to be matchless in all of Rajasthan.

 Being eighteen years old, the princess started getting matrimonial offers from other states. In the same region there lived a tantrik, a magician well versed in the occult, named Singhia who was desperately in love with the princess knowing that he would never be allowed to even see her, let alone meet her. One day, he saw the princess' maid in the market buying scented oil for her. Seeing this, he got an idea by which he could meet the princess. He used his black magic and put a spell on the oil which would hypnotize the princess by her merely touching the oil, and she would surrender herself. The princess foiled this plan though. She had seen the tantrik enchanting the oil, and she therefore threw it away, whereupon the flagon rolled over a stone. As soon as the oil touched the stone, it started rolling towards the wicked tantrik and crushed him. While dying, Singhia cursed the palace with the death of all who dwelt in it, without any rebirth in their destinies. The very next year there was a battle between Bhangarh and Ajabgarh and Ratnavati died.

Famous And Beautiful Fort In India ,Red Fort,Agra Fort,Amber Fort,Chittorgarh Fort

Famous fort in india :

• Chittorgarh Fort

• Jhansi Fort

• Gwalior Fort

• Junagarh Fort

• Golkonda Fort

• Daulatabad Fort

• Jaisalmer Fort

• Agra Fort

• Amber Fort

• Red Fort

• Mehrangarh Fort

• Gwalior Fort

Chittorgarh Fort: 

Chittorgarh Fort is one of the largest forts in India and probably the grandest in the state of Rajasthan. It is a World Heritage Site.

 

 

 

 The fort, popularly known as Chittor, was the capital of Mewar and is today situated in Chittorgarh CityChittorgarh, also called Chittaur, from the 7th century to the 16th, was the capital of Mewar under the Rajputs. Chittaur evokes memories of great heroism and sacrifice by Rajput men and women in the intermittent battles that they had to fight against invaders from Northwest or Delhi. Chittaur witnessed both the ravages of war and the triumphs of the spirit. Allaudin Khilji who coveted Queen Padmini of Chittaur, invaded the city in 1303 A.D. Queen Padmini and the women of the court sacrificed themselves in a pyre of fire rather than submit to anybody.
This supreme sacrifice has been called 'Jauhar' and epitomises the fiery spirit of the Rajputs of the day. The city stands strewn with monuments and battlements as evidence of the blood and gore that it went through in medieval times.

 

 

 

 The Chittaur Fort is the best known fort in Rajasthan. Its origins are traced to the Pandavas of Mahabharata. It is said that Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers, built the fort. Standing on 180 meters high hill, the fort covers an area of 700 Acres. Inside it is the Meera and Khumba Shyam Temple. It is associated with Meera, a mystic poetess devoted to Lord Krishna
whose life and bhajans have become part of the folklore and literary traditions of the region and several parts of India.

 

Water Fort :

 

 

 Chittorgarh fort is also called as Water Fort. The fort had 84 water bodies, out of which only about 22 exist today. These Include talabs (ponds), kunds (wells), and baories (stepwells). All the talabs have a natural catchment. The kunds and baories are located below the talabs, so that even the seepage from the latter is not lost.The fort spreads over 700 hectares, 40 per cent of which are given over to water bodies. The average reservoir depth is about 2 m. Taken together, this means these reservoirs can store about 4 billion litres of water.

In a year of more than normal rainfall (average annual rainfall: 700 mm), enough water would be stored to last the next 12 months. Even after water loss due to seepage and evaporation and other causes, an army of 50,000 could live in the fort for four years without fear of thirst. 

 

Tower of Victory - (Vijay Stambh) :

 

 

 

Built in 1440 AD by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his victory over Mohamed Khilji this 9-storyed tower is adorned by sculptures of Hindu deities around.
There are around 157 narrow steps leading to the terrace where the balconies give a beautiful top angle view of the whole town. When illuminated in the evening, the tower reflects a mesmerizing effect and the view is worth capturing in the camera.

Tower of Fame - (Kirti Stambh)
Dedicated to Adinathji the 1st Jain Teerthankar adorned by the naked figures of the Digambars [Adherents of the Digambar sect who does not believe in covering the natural body] A narrow stairway goes through seven stories of the tower to the top. The 22 metres high tower was build by a wealthy jain merchant in the 12th century A.D.  

 

Seven Gates of the Fort:

To enter in to the Fort Of Chittorgarh, the person has to go through seven huge gates(Pol). Each gate is different in its name, design and its size. Below is the list of these gates:
1. Padan Pol
2. Bhairon Pol
3. Hanuman Pol
4. Jorla Pol
5. Ganesh Pol
6. Laxman Pol
7. Ram Pol

 

history of Chittaur fort: 

The history of Chittor is one of the most stirring chapters in Indian history for it was there that the flower of Rajput chivalry sprang to life and the immense stretch of its sacred walls and ruined palaces relate the saga of innumerable sieges and heroism which has almost become a myth now. 

 

Rana Kumbha

 

 

 

 Rana Kumbha (1433-68) was a versatile man a brilliant, poet and musician. He built mewar upto a position of assailable military strength building a chain of thirty forts that girdled the kingdom But, perhaps more important was a patron of the arts to rival Lorenzo de Medici, and he made Chittorgarh a dazzling cultural center whose fame spread right across Hindustan.

 

Rana Sanga

 

 

 

  Rana Sanga (reigned 1509-27) was a warrior and a man of great chivalry and honor reign was marked by a series of continual battles, in course of which he is said to have lost one arm and had been crippled in one leg and received eighty-four wounds on his body. The last of his battles was again Mughal invader, Babur, in 1527. Deserted by one ofgenerals, Rana Sanga was wounded in the battle and shortly after. 

Maharana Pratap 

 

 

 

 

 Over the next half-century, most other Rajput rulers allowed themselves to be wooed the Mughals; Mewar alone held out. In 1567 Emperor Akbar decided to teach it a lesson: he attacked Chittorgarh razed it to the ground. Five years later Maharana Pratap (reigned 1572-97) came to rule Mewar - a king without a capital. He continued to defy Akbar, and in 1576, confronted the imperial armies at Haldighati.

The battle ended in a stalemate and Maharana Pratap and his followers withdrew to the craggy hills of Mewar, from where they continued to harrass the Mughals through guerilla warfare for the next twenty years. Maharana Pratap made his descendants vow that they would not sleep on beds, nor live in palaces, nor eat off metal utensils, until Chittorgarh had been regained.In fact, right into the 20th century the maharanas of Mewar continued to place a leaf platter under their regular utensils and a reed mat under their beds in symbolic continuance of this vow.

 

Rani Padmini 

 

 

 

 

 

 In 1303 Allauddin khilji, Sultan of Delhi, intrigued by tales of the matchless beauty of Padmini, Rani of Chittor, of her wit and charm, decided to verify this himself. His armies surrounded Chittor, and the sultan sent a message to Rana Rattan Singh, Padmini's husband, to say that he would spare the city if he could meet its famous queen. The compromise finally reached was that the sultan could look upon Padmini's reflection if he came unarmed into the fort. Accordingly, the sultan went up the hill and glimpsed a reflection of the beautiful Padmini standing by a lotus pool. He thanked his host who courteously escorted Allauddin down to the outer gate-where the sultan's men waited in ambush to take the rana hostage.

 

 

Top Beaches In India,Goa,Kerla,Odisha

Radhanagar Beach, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

 

 

Radhanagar Beach is situated 12 km from Havelock's ferry pier. The beach is undoubtedly one of the best beaches of Andaman Islands. Fine white sand, turquoise blue waters and a lot of peace and serenity are ehat defines this beautiful landmass. Radhanagar Beach is not a huge island to explore. It has an overall length of 2 km and width of 30-40 meters.Radhanagar is also a great place to spend some quality time with family and friends.
Beach number 7 (or more commonly known as Radhanagar Beach) was bestowed with the title of 'Asia's Best Beach' in 2004 by the TIME magazine.
Known for its picturesque sunset, white sand and turquoise blue waters, the beach is a very popular hub lying on the western coast of Havelock Island.
There's a watersports centre at the beach where visitors can hire snorkelling and scuba equipment and boats.

Cavelossim Beach,Goa

 

 

Cavelossim beach is a beautiful beach known for its contrasting black rocks and white sand, it is also a quiet and peaceful beach that has lately seen many shacks mushroom in the area.People from far and wide come here to spend a little time with nature on this beautiful beach.Cavelossim is a small coastal town in the South Goan sub district of Salcete. It has got a really long beach with Carmona to the North and Mobor to the South.

The way to Cavelossim is fairly easy, if you’re going South along National Highway, turn left at Chinchinim, follow the road and take a left at the Orlim Main Road, follow this road till you reach Cavelossim.This is probably the cleanest and safest beach in Goa.this beach is in south goa approximately 30 kms from Airporg and far from the popular Bagha, kalangoot beach.beaches in south goa are less populated compared to north Goa.This is the reason why it is very clean. this beach has all the 5 star and expensive resorts near by. So all the people who can afford to stay at such people visit this beach.You will find families of foreigners, Indians. If you are a foreign tourist and if you are looking for a peaceful and safe beach to visit with your family,this is the best option.You will mostly find families here Which will make you feel safe. You can never find the cheap annoying college boys crowd and groups of men here at this beach.this beach closes by 6/6.30 pm.
life guards are very strict about the discipline and will not let anyone misbehave while they are at the beach.a police petrolling jeep also does its job on the beach to ensure safety of the tourists.life guards on duty do not allow anyone to cross the danger flag.

Varkala Beach,kerala

 

 

Location: 51 km north of Thiruvananthapuram city in Thiruvananthapuram district and 37 km south of Kollam, south Kerala.
Varkala, a calm and quiet hamlet, lies on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram district. It has several places of tourist interests like a beautiful beach, a 2000-year-old Vishnu Temple and the Ashramam - Sivagiri Mutt a little distance from the beach.The Papanasam beach (also called as Varkala beach), which is ten kilometers away from Varkala, is renowned for the natural spring. It is considered to have medicinal and curative properties. A dip in the holy waters at this beach is believed to purge the body of impurities and the soul of all sins; hence the name 'Papanasam beach'.A two thousand year old shrine the Janardhanaswamy Temple stands on the cliffs overlooking the beach, a short distance away. The Sivagiri Mutt, founded by the great Hindu reformer and philosopher Sree Narayana Guru (1856 - 1928) is also close by. The Samadhi (the final resting place) of the Guru here attracts thousands of devotees every year during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days - 30th December to 1st January. Sree Narayana Guru propagated the ideology: "one caste, one religion and one god", in a society torn by the taboos of caste system.Varkala offers excellent accommodation facilities for tourists and is fast becoming a popular health resort with many Ayurvedic massage centres.Attractions: Beach, mineral water springs, the Sivagiri Mutt and a 2000-year- old Vishnu Temple.

Candolim Beach,Goa

 

 

Candolim beautiful section of beach in the continuum of Calangute has been largely overrun by tourist shops, restaurants and hotels. Nice area to stay for people interested in shopping and dining close to beach front accommodation. A bit too expensive for the backpacker crowd though.
The best way to travel in Goa is a two-wheller. Rent-a-bike is widely available all around the area and price of one day rent would be somewhere 250-300 rupees for a scootie and 500-700 rs for a motorcycle (prices grow dramatically in Christmas and New Year holidays). Remember that if you are not an experienced driver or not used for driving in Asia it might be not the best idea.Helmet is compulsory only on highways but valid driving license is a must.
Candolim itself is a small (but populated) village and it can be covered by brief walk in 20 mins. Walking or bicycling along roads is not a great pleasure as its crowded with cars, extremely noisy and dusty. Proper walking passes yet to come.Two, three and four wheeler taxis are widely available but make sure to discuss the price before taking the service as no one uses meter so be ready to bargain hard. Drop to airport is around 1200 rupees and Panaji 600 rs for a car.
Candolim beach is another relatively busy soft sandy beach that due to erosion can be narrow in some places. Hawkers selling mostly cheap clothes and along with masseurs offering massages makes the beach a lively spot. A polite but firm no always works ~ though these people can be very interesting to talk to. There are a variety of beach shacks providing plenty of food and cold drink choices along with rickety sun beds and the odd rustic "loo". Towards the Sinquerim end of the beach you can get most forms of water sport activities including para sailing and "See the dolphin boat trips". This is a tour operator tourism place, though it gets very busy with locals at weekends and holidays.
The bulk ore carrier River Princess ended up being grounded some 100 meters from the beach during the 2001 monsoon. Despite numerous pledges by both local and central government, she still lays rusting. Various attempts have been made to salvage or re-float the ship.
As of March 2009 the boat is still there. Over the years it has managed to accelerate coastal erosion which has resulted in the changed shape of the shoreline and makes swimming nearby very dangerous due to the strong undercurrents that are caused by the presence of the ship. Promising efforts to remove her started in 2005/2006 but due to the severe rusting the work stopped as the 2007 monsoon arrived. Recently a number of protests by locals and tourists has led to a High Court action calling for the River Princess to be declared a State Disaster. In the last 6 months work has begun on the break up of the River Princess. This is to be completed in early 2012.

Puri Beach,Odisha

 

 

Fine white sands, roar of the breakers rolling in from the Bay of Bengal and countless devotees flocking the place for a purification dip are the synonyms to the Puri Beach. The beach has continued to be a sacred venue for an endless number of pilgrims coming to pay homage to Lord Jagannath.With the annual Beach Festival taking place in November, the beach has now become a favorite haunt of both Indian and foreign beach lovers. Located at a mere distance of 35 kms from the Sun Temple and 65 kms from Bhubaneshwar, the beach is an ideal place for an introvert holiday maker for the scarcity of crowd here.The beaches of Puri are also renowned for the sand sculptures created particularly by the internationally famed Sudarshan Patnaik. The subjects are generally inspired by sculptures covering the temple walls, characters and episodes from the mythology and also the contemporary events. An entire beach stretch can be completely yours given the immense number of beaches in Odisha (Orissa) and a comparatively lower number of fun lovers, the city being a popular pilgrimage point for Indians.The beach at Puri offers a unique opportunity to witness the striking sunrise and the sunset on the same beach. Often crowded with holiday makers bathing in the afternoon, and enjoying the brightly lit kiosks in the night, the stretches, parallel to the main Marine Drive Road, form the domain of the domestic tourists, with a row of hotels, food stalls and kiosks selling souvenirs.
A comparatively clean and quite place for sunbathing and a relaxed swim can be found at the eastern end. Local fishermen easily distinguishable by their triangular straw hats and dhotis serve as lifeguards on the beach, and take visitors out to sea in their boats to watch the sunsets. On the Chakratirtha side, the long stretch of golden sand is more tranquil and pleasant place to stroll. Take enough precaution while swimming as the currents can be treacherous in Puri.

Yarada Beach,vishakapatnam

 

 

Yarada Beach is situated on the coast of Bay of Bengal, in the Yarada village, at a distance of 15 kilometres from the city of Visakhapatnam. It is located near Gangavaram beach, Dolphin's Nose, and Gangavaram Port.Yarada Beach is surrounded by hills from three sides and Bay of Bengal on the fourth side. Located in close vicinity of the destination, the beach is dotted with lush green surroundings and soft golden sands. The beach is an ideal tourist spot for nature lovers as they can capture beautiful views of sunrise and sunsets on this huge coastline.This place may be the best of the lot. The road condition is too bad. Not many people know about this place. But when you reach here should feel like a Goa Beach if not a foreign one. This is a Virgin Beach. The sea blue water gives your mind a fresh touch of rejoice.This beach is more of private time type. This is away from city and near to the steel plant. This has no commercial activities like eateries, toilets and shopping.
This can be a good destination for good private time like for a couple, love-birds and for group of friends.This beach is very neat and clean. Quite far from the city and isolated area.Prefer to go with group to have fun...this beach is better than RK beach and Rushikonda beach interms of scenic beautyIt's a calm and natural beach. Limited options food is available to buy at Agrigold resort with small entry fee. Best thing is to get a packed food/lunch from outside and enjoy the beach and water then stay till evening. Strictly avoid drunk and drive. can be approached by road from Gangavaram side if you are coming from Gajuwaka and from Dolphin nose
 if you are coming from Vizag city. also plan to visit light house at dolphin nose if you are coming from Vizag. Timings evening 3:00 to 5:00

Ganpatipule Beach,ratanagiri,mharashtra 

 

 

Ganpatipule has a fine blend of religion and recreational activities.
 This is the land of the 400-year old Swayambhaoo (a naturally formed idol) Ganpati and a glittering white sand beach. Ganapatipule is ideal for family outing. The temple is 400 years old and is at the foot of a hillock Most pilgrims believe in taking a 'Pradakshina' around the hill instead of just the temple (Pradakshina is a form of showing obeisance wherein devotees walk in a circle around the idol of the deity or around the temple in which the idol is housed). Lord Ganpati of Ganpatipule is also called as the ‘Paschim-Dwar Devata' (Western Sentinel God). Two grand festivals are celebrated every year - one is Bhadrapad Shuddha Chaturthi (Ganesh-Chaturthi) and another is Magh Shuddha Chaturthi (Vianayaki Chaturthi).Ganpatipule is situated along the western coast of Maharashtra 375Km south of Mumbai, along the Konkan coast. Ganapatipule is one of the most spectacular beaches along the Konkan Coast - an idyllic gateway that attracts peace-seekers, beach lovers, and pilgrims alike.The temple of Swayambhu (Self-originated) Ganesh is much frequented by thousands every year. The God is considered to be the Paschim Dwardevta (Western Sentinal God of India), and those who visit Ganapatipule, make it a point to pay their respect to this great deity.Aside from its clean beach and clear waters, Ganapatipule is rich in flora, including mangroves and coconut palms. Here, you can leave the hectic world behind as you laze around on golden sands or explore the many trails that lead from the beach.

The winter season is most pleasant, with temperature dropping at nights, the ideal months to visit being November to January.

Ramakrishana Beach,vishakapatnam

 

 

The Rama Krishna Mission Beach is one of the most popular beach parks in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
A visit to Visakhapatnam is surely incomplete without a visit to the Beach. The Rama Krishna Beach, or RK Beach as it is commonly called is the closest beach park you can reach from the heart of the city. Of course, the beach is one of the best tourist spot in Vizag.Spreading through the edge of the sea, the R.K.Beach is a great picnic spot to spend time with your loved ones. Singles of course always get mersmerized in the dreams sitting at the beach shores. People from round the world come here to enjoy the cool breeze. Young Children spend their Sunday and Holiday evenings here playing with sand.A visit to the beach will surely free your mind of tensions and bring in new energy. Sipping a soft drink or biting corn, you can walk on the beach sands or just lie down and de-stress your mind experiencing the cool breeze, looking at the waves and the ships that appear to be moving as slow as a snail.It gets its name from the Ramakrishna Mission ashrama across the Beach Road from the park.
The Rama Krishna Beach, or RK Beach as it is commonly called, is one of the best known beaches and tourist spots in Vizag, attracting a large number of visitors.
 Swimming, sunbathing and beach volleyball are popular activities on the beach. An aquarium, the Kali temple, Visakha Museum, roadside restaurants offering seafood are other attractions.The best known attraction is the INS Kursura Submarine Museum, which preserves the eponymous submarine for public display and access on the beach.The city administration has taken additional care to make the beach a more entertaining place. R.K.beach is jointly developed
 by Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation(GVMC) and Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority

Agonda Beach,Goa

 

 

Agonda is a great spot for sunbathing, relaxing and swimming, with still relatively few tourists. Agonda is a nice long pristine stretch of beach. Though the waters here might not be the most ideal place for swimming (you have better beaches with calm waters in Goa), Agonda is definitely a place for those who want to quit on a Monday morning. Most mobile connections do not work here (of those having SIM cards easily available to foreigners, only Vodafone does), so that is an added bonusfor those looking forward to a quiet and relaxed holiday. Or, if you do need to party sometimes, Palolem is just 15 minutes by motorbike (10 km) away - but Agonda is generally cheaper, quieter, hassle-free and has much less "touristic" feel.Agonda Beach basically has one long road parallel to the beach line, most rooms and bungalows for rent are located either between them or on the opposite
 side of the road. In the center of the beach, there is Agonda Church and even a local school/college (funny enough called Agonda University) to the right of it. Many local children go from/to there in the morning. Another road goes up from the church, crosses the river shortly afterand goes through the village to the junction with a main road from Chaudi and Palolem, which are both to the right.
To the left, this bigger road crosses the village until the beach road joins it near the river mouth and northern end of the beach, then continues on in the direction of Cabo da Rama.Agonda's beach is very simple and natural. There are some sunbeds but when the tourist police or Canacona local government officials appear, any beach shades, sunbeds,chairs etc which are outside the confines of the shacks disappear pronto and the beach looks even more gorgeous and makes you realise why you went there and not to some built up resort.Agonda beach is famous as a Ridley turtle nesting site. These animals are endangered. Please keep the noise level and the lights down at night at the beach to give them a chance to nest. The Panchayat ( village administration) is very invested in not allowing Agonda to become another overcrowded Palolem. Anything you can do to minimize waste, safe water or electricity will be much appreciated since the village isstruggling to avoid environmental degradation and preserve it's beauty for the next generation. It is very quiet place, not suitable for the party crowd.

Nagoa Beach,Daman and Diu

 

 

No doubt it is the best beach in Diu but for those who are comparing it with the beaches in Goa i would say that it not even close to those beaches. The beach is nice and clean with so many adventurous water sports activities. I would recommend it only for those who are going their with family.
The drive towards this beach on Diu Island is smooth & pleasant with enchanting greenery along the way. Clean white sands, unusual branching palms, water sport facilities & well - maintained resorts with excellent food - all add up to make this an exclusive week-end getaway for visitors with family or friends.Avoid water sports at Nagoa Beach.They didnt forewarn me to take off my spectacles before going for my water ride. We were not properly fastened with the ride (inflated sofa)and worst of all, poor handlers let our ride go upside down, nearly drowning me and my 6 year oldson. Was very scary and touch and go kind of situation. Later my hotel staff mentioned that there have been some serious accident (rope getting broke while para sailing) in past at this beach. So please be very cautious and if possible avoid water sports at this beach.