Gwalior - The Royal Tourist Place

Gwalior in Madhya Predesh state is a heritage location. The history of this city has been moulded by imperial reigns by Rajput clans of the Pratiharas, Kachchwahas and Tomars. You will be transported to the royal world of royals, kings and palanquins while exploring the palaces, forts and temples. Tourism in Madya Pradesh receives a cultural dimension with the tour to Gwalior. Gwalior also grabs prominence among the tourists for its art and handicraft products. This city imbibes its name and saint Gwalipa. The saint had cured Suraj Sen, the head of a clan of leprosy, who in turn established Gwalior.
Gwalior Fort : The history of the Gwalior Fort dates back to over 1000 years when the sage Gwalipa came to know of the disease of the king Suraj Sen. He was infected by the terrible disease of Leprosy, which was considered as a deadly disease and there was no medicine that would cure the disease. Only sinners were supposed to get contaminated with this disease. So, the King was very upset with his condition and the sage came to his kingdom. He gave some magic water to the king, who drank it and felt relieved. He was miraculously cured of his fatal sickness. The king was so impressed with the hermit that he changed the name of his country according to the Sage's name. It was hermit Gwalipa, so the country was named as Gwalior. The hermit renamed the king as Suraj Pal, and also prophesized that if his descendants retained the sir name Pal given by the hermit they would prosper and never loose the kingdom. So the descendants of the king ruled the country for a long time and afterwards when one of his descendants suddenly changed the sir name, he lost his hereditary power. In the year 1938, The Tomar Dynasty was in power and suddenly Sikander Lodi attacked the kingdom. The for had to be surrendered and so, Gwalior Fort went into the hands of the Mughals. The for changed from hand to hand and it was here that Tantia Tope was overpowered and Rani of Jhansi executed in confrontation with the British. The Gwalior For is located in Gopachal, and is above 100 meters from the original town of Gwalior. The fort is encircled by wall that is nearly 10 meters high, and in few places the edge is so stiff that it is impossible to walk or climb over it. The Mughal Emperor Babur described this fort as the "Pearl among the Fortresses in India". Since there are numerous water reserved in this plateau, the fort has an adequate drainage system. You can reach Gwalior Fort from Delhi by a direct flight, because there is an airport at Gwalior. There are alos regular and numerous bus services for tourist. Buses fly from Shivpuri, Agra, Jhansi, Bhopal, Jabalpur and Indore. Since Gwalior is on the main line once can come to station of Gwalior from Delhi by Shatabdi Express. From other places also this place can be accessed by train.
Man Singh Palace : Man Singh Palace, Gwalior is one of the classic works of art in the Gwalior Fort. It was built in the 15th century by Raja Man Singh. It has got a histori9cal significance because it was the place where Aurangzeb imprisoned and killed his brother Murad. It also has the infamous Jauhar Kund where the women of the harem burnt themselves to death after the King of Gwalior was killed in 1232. Man Singh Palace in Gwalior in India share its glory with places like the Teli-ka-Mandir, which has brilliant exteriors; Saas-Bahu Temples, the Karan Palace. The Jahangir Mahal, The Shah Jahan Mahal and the Gurjri Mahal. Man Singh Palace, Gwalior has withstood the taste of time as one of the marvels and enthralls tourists. Man Singh Palace Gwalior is regarded as one of the best tourist attractions because of its aura. It is a delightful whimsical building and is also known as the Painted Palace or the Chit Mandir. The Palace has got this name because of the painted and tiled decoration of elephants, peacocks and ducks. Painted Blue with hints of green and gold they look really captivating. There is a small museum next to the Man Singh Palace, Madhya Pradesh which has a good collection of sculptures and carvings from across the fort.
Saas Bahu Temple : The history of the Saas Bahu Temple in Gwalior is very interesting. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu by the King Mahipala. Lord Vishnu is also known as Sahastrabahu, the one with many hands. But gradually the name changed into Saas Bahu Temple, perhaps by mispronunciation, or misinterpretation. Lord Vishnu is supposed to be the preserver of this universe. He keeps vigilance over this earth and if there is any disobedience among men, he punishes them. But he is also considered to be the most kind hearted among the Hindu Gods, who come to help his followers under any circumstances. King Manipala wished for the success of his kingdom and the overall prosperity. This being ranted by the Lord, an temple was constructed to commemorate Lord Vishnu. So, the name Sahastrabahu was given to this temple which later in course of time changed into Saas Bahu Temple. The construction of this temple was completed in the year 1092 AD by the king Mahipala. At the Gate of the Saas Bahu Temple in Gwalior there is a caption of Sanskrit. The doorway gives the view of the Indian Trinity, Lord Brahma, the creator, Lord Vishnu the Preserver and Lord Shiva or the Destroyer. The temple has rare Quality of architectural skill displayed in it, it has all the qualities of fabulous worship. There are two temples, which are conjointly known as the Saas Bahu Temple. One of the temples is bigger than the other, and perhaps for that reason, one is considered as the Mother-in Law whiles the other as the Daughter-in-Law. Graceful figures are in scripted on the wall of the temple and there are pillars that are also display architectural skills. You can reach here from the Gwalior Station or Gwalior Airport. From all these places you can avail a bus or taxi that are frequest and numerous.

Allahabad - Confluence of Holy Tourist Places

Allahabad is only place where the remains of the dead take rest and leave for the ethereal abode, and get rid of their eternal cycle of birth and rebirth. Allahabd is also the land where some of India's most charismatic people have either taken birth or made it their Permanent abode. Situated in Utar Pradesh, at a distance of 238 km from the state capital Lucknow, Allahabad is one of the holiest cities of India and prominent centre for culture, administration and education. The city finds mention in the sacred scriptures, including the Vedas, Puranas, and the Ramayana and Mahabharata, as Prayag. The city is especially sacred for the Hindus, as it is here that the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati meet. Because of the confluence of three rivers, it is also called the Sangam. The Kumbh Mela is held here after every twelve years. Being a city with a rich history, Allahabad offers many sight seeing options to the tourists. History buffs tourists would have a great time visiting the Allahabad Fort and Khusrau Bagh while the spiritually inclined tourist would find peace of mind at the ghats of the Sangam, Patalpuri Temple and Hanuman Mandir, Besides, there are various places that are associated with India's freedom struggle like Anand Bhawan and Swaraj Bhawan. The vicinity of Allahabad is dotted with many places of tourist attractions, both historical and religious. Jhusi (also Prathishthanpuri) is a serene place dotted by ashrams and temples. Barely 9 km from Allahabad, it is a hot favourite among the tourists. Another notable place is Kaushambi (62km), which finds mention even in the Mahabharatha, Kara (70 km), sringverpur (40 km), and Bhita (20 km) are some other places that are worth visiting.
1) KUMBH MELA: Held once in every 12 years. It attracts millions of devotees from all over the world who congregate at Allahabad on the banks of holy river to wash their sins and gain redemption. A dip in the Sangam at that moment is supposed to increase the spiritual benefits manifold. 2) SAMGAM : It is one of the most sacred places, and is the meeting point of three holy rivers - Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. The Sangam becomes a hub of activity after every 12 years when it hosts the Kumbh Mela. 3) ALLAHABAD FORT : The strategic location of Prayag proved decisive in motivating Akbar to build the Allahabad Fort near Sangam in AD 1583. One is awed by the art, architecture, design and craftsmanship of the fort. The Indian army now uses the fort and only a part of it is open to the visitors. This huge majestic for has three magnificent galleries flanked by high towers. Visitors are allowed to see the Ashoka Pillar, Saraswati Kup and Jodhabai Palace. 4) PATALPURI TEMPLE AND AKSHAYA VAT : This is an underground temple located inside the Allahabad Fort. The temple is famous as the place where Lord Rama worshipped once. It also finds mention in the travelogue of the Chinese traveller Hiun Tsang, who visited India in AD 644. The famous Akshaya Vat, one of the most revered trees of the Hindus, is also located. 5) ANAND BHAWAN : Ancestral home of the Nehrus. Anand Bhawan now houses one of the finest museums of India and a memorabilia of the Nehru-Gandhi family. 7) SWARAJ BHAWAN : Lying close to Anand Bhawan, is the house where the former Prime Minister of Indira Gandhi was born. 8) KHUSRAU BAGH : This is a large gerden where the tombs of Khusrau, his sister, and his Rajput mother are located. Khusrau was the son of emperor Jahangir. 9) HANUMAN MANDIR ; The Hanuman Mandir is a unique temple in the vicinity of the Allahabad Fort. It is renowned for the superfine image of the monkey-god Hanuman. This is the only temple to have Hanuman is a reclining posture. Though a very small temple, it is thronged by hundreds of devotee's everyday. 10) ALLAHABAD MUSEUM : Located near Chandra Shekhar Azad Park, the key attractions of the Allahabad Museum are the paintings of Nicholas Roerich, Rajasthani Miniatures, terracotta figurings, coins and stone sculptures from the second century BC to modern times. The museum has eighteen galleries. 11) SIGHTS WORTH VISITING : Bhita : An archeological site. A museum housing stone and metal seals and various terracota statues is also located here. JHUSI : Find many ashrams and temples. KARA, KAUSHAMBI, SHRINGVERPUR etc.

How to reach : By Air : Allahabad hdoes not have an airport of its own. The nearest airports are at Varanasi, 147 km, and Lucknow, 210 km. By Rail : Allahabad is situated on the Delhi-Kolkata route and can be reached from any part of India by rail. It is connected with Delhi and Kolkata by several superfast trains in India. By Road : Allahabad has a good road network. Other cities of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh are easily accessible through road.

Tourist Place - Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer, The famous Tourist Place, the birth place of Emperor Akbar is famour for its carved mansions and Jain temples. Even during the British days Jaisalmer was the last to sign the document of compromise with the British regime.

Jaisalmer Fort : With its golden sheen this fort is visible from miles away. Satyajit Ray has produced a film titled Sonar Kila (Golden Fort) which is based on this fort. This fort is roughly 100 meters above the ground level. Ganesh Pole is the main point of entrance to the fort. Ohter major entrance points include Suraj Pole, Bhuta Pole and Hawa Pole. There are number of Jain Temples in the inner circle. Manka Chowk and Havelis are the hub of market activities of local main market. Manak Chowk is the gateway to those alleys where famous carved mansions can be seen. The Haveli of Nathmaji, the Haveli of the Patvas and the Havelis of Saleemsingh are among the famous ones. Apart from this Amar Sagar, Bada Bagh, Mool Sagar, Loduva, Aakal Saim and Dnels, National Park are among other sites of outing.

How to reach Jaisalmer by Air : Jaisalmer has an airport, which is located 5km from the city center and is well linked by air with New Delhi, Jaipur and Jodhpur. However it is managed by the Indian Air Force and is operational only from September to March. So Jodhpur airport at a distance of about 285 km is the better option.

How to reach Jaisalmer by Rail: Jaisalmer is well connected by rail with Jodhpur as well as other major cities of India including Agra, Jaipur, New Delhi and Mumbai.

How to reach Jaisalmer by Road: Jaisalmer has a good network of roads and is well connected to other cities of Rajasthan including Jaipur, Jodhpur and Bikaner and major cities of India.

India Travel - Tour guide

India Travel - Tour guide

Tourist Place Sanchi - Masterpieces of Buddhist Art

The famous tourist place in India, Sanchi is known for its Stupas, monasteries, temples and pillars dating from the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D. world renowned stupa of Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh designated by UNESCO as a world heritage site for tis archaeological and historical monuments. The most famous of these monuments, the Sanchi Stupa 1, was originally built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, the then governor of Ujjayini, whose wife Devi was the daughter of a merchant from adjacent Vidisha. Their son Mahindra and daughter Sanghamitra were born in Ujjayini and sent to Sri Lanka, where they converted the King, the Queen and their people to Buddhism.
The Sanchi hill goes up in shelves with stupa 2 situated on lower shelf, Stupa 1, Stupa 3, the 5th century Gupta Temple No 17 and the 7th century temple No. 18 are on the intermediate shelves and a later monastery is on the crowning shelf. The balustrade surrounding Stupa 2, carved with aniconic representations of the Budha, was added in the late 2nd century BC unde rthe Satavahanas. The adjacent Gupta Temple No. 17 was hailed by Sir John Marshall as one of the most rationally organized structures in Indian architecture. Though small, it was a herald of all the principles which went into the engineering of an Indian temple in the early medievel period. The Buddhas in the perambulatory surrounding Stupa 1 are not contemporary with the Stupa but beling to the Gupta period in the mid 5th century AD. The monastery and the temple with the tall pillars adjacent to Stupa 1 and the temple near the monastery on the crowning shelf illustrate the evolution of the architectural form after the 5th century Gupta temple. Below the hill, the Archaeological Survey of India Museum houses some of th earliest known stone sculptures in Indian art from the 3rd to the 1st century BC.Great Stupa No. 1 The oldest stone stucture in India. 36.5 mt in diameter and 16.4 mt high, with massive hemispherical dome, the stupa stands in eternal majesty, the paved procession path around it worn smooth by centuries of pilgims.

The Eastern Gateway : Depicts the young prince, Gautama leaving his father's palace on his journey towards enlightenment and the dream his mother had before his birth.
The Western Gateway : Depicts the seven incarnations of the Buddha.
The Northern Gateway : Crowned by a wheel-of-law this depicts the miracles associated with the Buddha as told in the jatakas.
The Southern Gateway : The birth of Gautama is revealed in a series of dramatically rich carvings.

Stupa No. 2 : The stupa stands at the very edge of the hill and its most striking feature is the stone balustrade that rings it.

Stupa No. 3 : Situated close to the great stupa. The hemispherical dome is crowned, as a mark of its special religious significance, with an umbrella of polished stone. The relics of Sariputta and Mahamogallena, two of the Buddha's earliest discriples, were found in its inmost chamber.

The Ashoka Pillar : Lies close to the Southern gateway of the Great Stupa, and is one of the finest examples of the Ashokantions and exquisite structural balance.

The Buddhist Vihara : The sacred relics of the Satdhara STupa, a few km away from Sanchi, have been enshrined in a glass casket on a platform in the inner sanctum of his modern monastery.

The Great Bowl : Carved out of one block of stone, this mammoth bowl contained the food that was distributed among the monks of Sanchi.

The Gupta Temple: In ruins now, this 5th century AD temple is one of the earliest known examples of temple architecture in India.

The Museum : The Archaeological Survey of India maintains a site museum at Sanchi. Noteworthy antiquities on display include the lion capital of the Ashokan pillar and metal objects used by monks, discovered during excavations at Sanchi.

How to reach : Bhopal the capital city of Madhya Pradesh is the nearest airport to sanchi. Which is served by several airlines. Sanchi to Bhopal is 46 Km.. A well laid rail network link to Bhopal.

Ajanta Elora

AJANTA ELORA, The tourist place near Aurangabad, the Historic city, in the state of Mahrashtra. The caves made are really beautiful. The great architecture were built thousands years ago. The stones are carved into many deities, like Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Buddha etc. The most amazing I like in the caves is Temple of Shiva. Wonderful, wonderful and wonderful. Nearly 200 meters high temple. And it is carved out of single stone. Believe it or not. There are several sculptures in the temple. The entire mahabharata and Ramayana is carved on the walls of temple.

Devotional Blog - Mantras, Devotional Songs, Slokas, Devotional Pictures, Videos, Stotrams: Akshardham Temple Complex Image Front View

Devotional Blog - Mantras, Devotional Songs, Slokas, Devotional Pictures, Videos, Stotrams: Akshardham Temple Complex Image Front View