Destinations in india

Tuesday 5 December 2017

Jaipur

December 05, 2017 No comments

Jaipur

Jaipur. the capital of the Indian state Rajasthan was founded by Jai Singh II in 1727. The city name Jaipur was named after him. He was the ruler of Amer and decided to shift the capital from Amer, from Jaipur to accommodate the growing population and also the increasing scarcity of water. While planning the layout of Jaipur, he consulted several books on architecture and architects. By taking the guidance of Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, Jaipur was planned based on the principles of Vastu shastra and Shilpa Shastra. The city construction began in 1726 and it took near about four years to complete the roads, offices and palaces. The city was mainly divided into nine blocks. Two of them contained the state buildings and palaces, with the remaining seven were allotted to the public. Large barricades were built, pierced by seven fortified gates. Jaipur is outstanding amongst the most culturally rich tradition urban areas in India. Jaipur is also known as “the Pink City”.

Tourist Places in Jaipur to visit :

1. Hawa Mahal :

The enormous monument of Hawa Mahal stands at the crossing of the main road in Jaipur, Badi Chaupad. It is also regarded as the signature building of the city and was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in the year 1799. Hawa Mahal derives its name from its unique structure, which is a mesh of small windows that allowed cool wind to enter the palace and hence kept the palace comfortable during the hot summer months. The main reason behind the palace's construction was to allow the women of the royal house to observe the festivities on the streets being unseen from the outside. Hawa Mahal in english means "Palace of winds") is a palace in Jaipur, it is named so because it was mainly a high screen wall built for the women so that they can observe the festivals unseen form outside. Hawa Mahal is constructed of pink and red sandstone. The palace is located on the corner of the City Palace, Jaipur, and extends to the chambers. The Hawa Mahal was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. He was inspired by unique structure of Khetri Mahal and he built the historical Hawa Mahal.

2. City Palace :

The City Palace is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the city Jaipur. It was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh during the period of 1729 to 1732, the enormous complex of the palace engaged one seventh of the walled city. The grand complex of the palace was used to be the seat of the Maharaja of Jaipur. The palace was divided into series of courtyards, buildings and gardens along with the Chandra Mahal and the Mubarak Mahal and other palaces. This Mahal is now a museum but the big part of it is still the royal residence. The museum advertises various handcrafted products and other things that belong to the royal heritage of the City Palace. It is a historical importance structure and a memory of the past. Two architects, Vidyadhar Bhattacharya who was the chief architect in the royal court and Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob, was a keen architectural enthusiast who are credited for the best layout of the city.

3. Amer Fort :

Amer Fort (also known as Amber Fort) is a fort located in Amer, Rajasthan. Amer named after a town Amer with an area of 4 sq. kms. located 11 kilometres from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. It is located high on Aravali hill, it is the main tourist attraction in Jaipur as it forms a beautiful reflection across the Maotha Lake. Amer town was originally built by Meenas, and later was ruled by Raja Man Singh. It is an architectural masterpiece with a significant reference in the Indian history. It is visited by over five thousand tourists daily. This Fort is clad in pink and yellow sandstone and is also a part of an extensive complex. The Fort gives a memorising view from the bottom of the hill when it is lit up every evening. It was built by Man Singh who was one of the most trusted general of Akhbar, who had a huge impact on the Indian politics and society in the sixteenth century. Amber Fort or Amer Fort as it is mainly referred is photographer's paradise.

4. Nahargarh Fort :

Nahargarh Fort is located at the corner of the Aravalli Hills, overlooking the city of Jaipur. This Fort was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in the year 1734. The fort was basically named as Sudarshangarh, but it became known as Nahargarh, which also means 'abode of tigers'. The famous belief is that Nahar here stands for Nahar Singh Bhomia, whose spirit haunted the place and hamper the construction of the fort. His spirit was pacified by building a temple in his memory in the fort, which became known by his name. It is embellished with soft carvings and stonework The Nahargarh Fort is an indestructible fortification that stood as the strong defence of Jaipur city together with its two neighbouring forts, Amer Fort and Jaigarh Fort. The Nahargarh Fort is known for its extended wall which connects it to Jaigarh Fort. The main attractions in the premises of the Nahargarh fort is the Madhavendra Bhavan, which is a big hall designed with tricky murals and adhesive work.

Shimla

December 04, 2017 No comments

Shimla

Shimla also known as ‘Simla’ is the capital of the north Indian State, Himachal Pradesh. It is also a district which is bounded by Mandi and Kullu. Shimla was declared as the summer capital of the British India in 1864. Once was the capital of Punjab after independence, is presently the capital of Himachal Pradesh. It is the educational centre of the hilly regions of the State. Shimla has been blessed with all the natural bounties. Shimla is built over many hills and ridges. The main hills are Jakhu, Observatory Hill, Elysium Hill, and Summer Hill, and Prospect hill. The architecture, Churches, the temples and the natural environment of the city attracts tourists. Some of the main attractions also include the Viceroy Lodge, the Christ Church, the Jakhoo Temple, the Mall Road and the Ridge, which together form the city centre. The Kalka–Shimla Railway line built by the British. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also a major tourist attraction in Shimla. Shimla also hosts the mountain biking race, it started in 2005 and is also regarded as the biggest event of its kind in South Asia. The Asia’s largest natural ice skating rink is in Shimla. The city is also an educational hub with a number of colleges and research institutions.This city is covered with a lot of greenery all over and snow covered mountains which is the main attraction for tourists th The state Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the most prominent tourist destination in the country. Also the toy train from Kalka to Shimla passes through beautiful valleys and is also one of the beautiful train routes in the world. Tourists who come to Shimla also visit Chail, Kufri, Naldehra, Mashobra, Tattapani and Narkanda.

List of main attractions in Shimla are as follows :

1. The Ridge :

The Ridge is located at the heart of the British Capital Shimla is an open street located on the side of mall road. The Ridge has a fabulous view of the snow-capped mountain ranges and also many shops. It is famous for many things, but best known for shopping. This place is a satisfaction for all kinds of tourists, and the old British establishments beckon visitors from all over to this centre of the beautiful hill station. The Ridge is also the social hub of the city. This wide open space is thronged by locals and nature enthusiasts as well as travellers bored of the sightseeing. The road is lined with cafes, bars, boutiques, shops and restaurants attracting the huge crowd that visit the famous Mall Road. It runs from east to west on the side of the Mall Road and connects it to the famous Scandal Point on the west end. On the east end, it is connected to the Lakkar Bazaar, which is the most famous wooden crafts market in Shimla.

2. The Mall Road :

The mall Road is the main street that is lined up with restaurants, clubs, banks, shops, post offices and tourist offices. At the same time, the place boasts of the other exciting attractions that it houses, such as the Scandal Point and Kali Bari Temple. Mall Road celebrates the spirit of Shimla, its tourist rush and valleys and hills covered with houses and hotels. The stores located on the Mall Road are mainly famous for their woollen clothes and mainly handcrafted works, apart from the usual books and jewellery. The wooden furniture shops are particularly well-known; so do not forget to buy some exquisite wooden articles, which look like antiques, when you shop from here. Vehicles are not allowed on this street, which makes the Mall Road an ideal place to stroll around in the evenings, without concerning about the traffic. The overall environment of the site remains unpolluted.

3. Kufri :

Kufri is also one of the most visited place in Shimla, just 13 km away from the main town. The views and sceneries here are better, and the landscapes are a bit untouched with the tourist rush. However, now Kufri is also becoming popular with the visitor, mainly due to presence of zoo here. The zoological park in Kufri is famous for having rare species of Bears and birds including Himalayan Monal, which is also the state bird of Himachal Pradesh. In Kufri, Mashru peak is the highest point and one can reach there by trekking. Kufri is very cold and is mostly used as a ski ground during winter season.

4 . Kalka Shimla Toy Train :

Kalka Shimla toy train is an enjoyable train ride from Kalka to Shimla. This is a must try experience while present here. This route is one of the most beautiful train routes in the world and it passes through hundreds of tunnels in its way. It is a narrow gauge train route and it connects Kalka to Shimla. This route has also been declared as a World Heritage Site.