Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts

Monday 23 May 2016

The Jaisalmer Fort of Rajasthan



The Jaisalmer Fort is built in 1156AD by the Ruler Rawal Jaisal. The fort name is derives from Rajpur ruler, is one of largest fortifications in the world. Jaisalmer Fort is situated in the city of Jaisalmer, in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Jaisalmer’s is an exclusive fort is a living urban center, with more than four thousand people residing within its walls. It’s honeycombed with narrow, winding lanes, lined with houses and temples along with a large number of handicraft shops, guesthouses and restaurants. The Jaisalmer Fort is 1500 feet long, 750 feet wide actually built on a hill that raises above a height of 250 feet. The basement of the fort has 15 feet tall wall forming a double line of defense has four entrances to the town side, one of which used to be guarded by cannon.

The Fort is one of Rajasthan's most popular tourist attractions with as many as 500,000 to 600,000 tourists visiting it annually abuzz with commercial activities and has seen a phenomenal growth in both human and vehicular traffic. In fact, this is oldest and massive fort of remote Thar Desert of Rajasthan. In the medieval times, the ancient Jaisalmer fort came to be celebrated for the chivalry and bravery of its rulers and also for the aesthetic sense represented by its palaces and Havelis. There are five palaces inside the Jaisalmer fort and are known as Sarvottam Vilas, Akhai Vilas, Gaj Mahal, Rang Mahal and Moti Mahal. Therefore the most famous of all the palaces, the Rang Mahal also has mural paintings to attract the tourists. So, it is thought, the winter months between October and February are most definitely the best time to visit Jaisalmer Fort. 

In 2013 the massive fort is declared UNESCO World Heritage Site stands amidst the sandy expanse of the great Thar Desert, on Trikuta Hill, and has been the scene of various battles. The Fort walls changes the color by yellow sandstone are tawny lion color in the middle of day, however fading to honey gold close to the sun sets thereby camouflaging in the yellow desert. Therefore, for this particular reason, the fort is also famous as the “Sonar Quila” or “Golden Fort”.  The fort is known a formidable monument in this region as it is located in the middle of the city. The Fort contains three layers of wall, made out of solid stone blocks and strengthens with loose rubble of Trikuta hill. 

The Jaisalmer Fort has an ingenious drainage system called the “ghut nali” lets the easy drainage of rainwater away from the fort in all four directions of the fort. But in last fifty years or so, haphazard construction activities and building of new roads has greatly reduced its effectiveness. Moroever, 6 forts of Rajasthan, namely, Jaisalmer Fort, Gagron Fort, Amber Fort, Chittorgarh Fort, Kumbhalgarh and Ranthambore Fort were included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in June 2013. They were recognized as a serial cultural property and Rajput military hill architecture. The colorful art forms and royal heritage made it appear paler in comparison. Though, the craftsmen were generally Muslims who were induced on their journey to exhibit their skills. The results were architectural purity that cannot be seen elsewhere.

The Jaisalmer Fort began in 1196 and it took 7 years to complete, and subsequent rulers kept making additions and alterations to it. The Jaisalmer Fort was once home to the Rajputs a warriors and trader tribe for many centuries, prospered by levying taxes on the merchants who wound between Egypt, Persia and India built a network of intricate fortresses to defend themselves and their accumulated wealth. In 1276, the King Jetsi strengthened the fort against Sultan of Dehli, who was incessantly invading with his trained soldiers and destroyed the castle. 

However, in 1306 the brave Dodoo was taken control of Fort, and subsequently started building the fort. Moreover Muslim king Ala-ud-din Khilji attacked and captured the fort in the 13th century and managed to hold it for nine years.  In 1541, another Muslim Mughal Emperor Humayun attached the fort city and captured the fort. After that Muslim Mughal Emperor Babur and subsequently seeded Akbar in 1570 take the control of fort. So, Fort was under control of Muslims Mughals until 1762, when Maharawal Mulraj took control of the fort. After the death of Mulraj in 1820, his grandson Gaj Singh took reigns of the fort. 

The famed fort has withstood earthquakes and sandstorms for a millenia, but now shifts and crumbles. The ever increasing population is a major threat and putting pressure on fort existence. The water seepage, inadequate civic amenities, derelict houses, seismic activity around the Trikuta Hill is mainly impacting on fort. Jaisalmer Fort has been built with a weak sedimentary rock foothill, which makes its foundation particularly vulnerable to seepage. Due to seepage, the substantial proportion of the Fort like, Queen’s Palace or Rani Ka Mahal and others outer boundary wall and lower pitching walls has collapsed. 

The fort is deteriorating, and dire need of extensive water-management infrastructure could not have been foreseen by the builders of this desert city, and changing weather patterns increasingly frequent and severe monsoons are jeopardizing the fort. In 1996, the World Monuments Fund included the Fort in his report due to the threats posed to by ever increasing population and up surging number of tourists who visit every year.  Nowadays, the Rajasthan Urban Infrastructure Project, a joint government of Rajasthan and Asia Development Bank project, is now in the process of providing the needed upgrades to the fort’s drainage systems. And in 2010, WMF provided support for the emergency stabilization of the structure. So, it is a must-visit for history buffs and those keen on learning about the heritage of Rajasthan. Source: Charismatic Planet

Monday 16 May 2016

The Murud-Janjira Fort

The Murud-Janjira Fort is situated on an oval-shaped rocky island in the Arabian Sea, near the coastal town of Murud, 165 km south of Mumbai, India. Once the stronghold of the Abyssinian Siddis, who played an important role in the history of Mumbai, later in the 17th century, Janjira is regarded one of the strongest marine forts in India, and the only unconquered one along India’s western coast. The fort was famous for its three gigantic cannons, weighing over 22 tons each that were feared for their incredible shooting range. Therefore, the words “Janjira” steal from Arabic word “Jazeera”, which means an island. Murud is a Marathi word for the Siddis, an ethnic group originating from Abyssinia, a historical nation in modern day Ethiopia.

So Murud-Janjira basically means “island of the Siddis”. The fort was originally built not by the Siddis, but by a local Maratha-Fisherman Chieftain, Rajaram Patil, in the 15th century, albeit on a smaller scale. At that time the fort was recognized as "Medhekot” and was built to defend his people from pirates and thieves. This was captured by a general of Nizam Shah of Ahmednagar, and later strengthened by Malik Ambar, the Abyssinian-origin Siddi regent of Ahmednagar kings. From then onward, the Siddis became independent and extraordinarily influential as autonomous state, and the fort continued to be occupied by them. Throughout history, several attempts were made by the Portuguese, the British and the Marathas to pacify the power of the Siddis, but badly failed.

However, the great Maratha leader Chhatrapati Shivaji tried unsuccessfully to scale the fort’s 40-feet high granite walls. Although in ruins now, Murud-Janjira was a full-fledged living fort in its heydays with all required facilities such as palaces, quarters for officers, mosque, fresh water tanks, etc. The outer walls and all the rounded bastions of the fort are still intact. Other attractions for history buffs include the Palace of the Nawab, because this lavish cliff-top mansion built by the former Nawab of Janjira commands a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea and the Janjira sea fort. Moreover another special attraction of this fort is three gigantic cannons named Kalalbangdi, Chavri and Landa Kasam. These cannons were said to be feared for their shooting range, another gate to the west is sea-facing, called 'Darya Darwaza'.

Friday 29 April 2016

The Great Banyan Tree of India



Well, The Great Banyan is a banyan tree; also called Ficus Benghalensis belonging to the family Moraceae, is more than 250 years old tree, which date of birth is yet not confirmed. The Banyan tree is located in Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden Howrah near Kolkata India. The tree has mentioned in several travel books of 19th century, but no clear history of tree, when was it planted. The Great Banyan tree has survived many difficult situations, like two severe cyclones of 1864, and 1867. Therefore, few main branches were broken with its large number of aerial roots, which grow from the branches and run vertically to the ground and looks like is has so many trunks. The great banyan tree has drawing ever increasing visitors to the garden than its collection of exotic plants from five continents. The Great Banyan used to induce the interest of photographers is perhaps the most photographed tree in the world. Amusingly, one would find barely any difference if one compares the photographs taken in 1850s and those being taken today.

You can easily called The Great Banyan looks more like a forest than an individual tree. The present crown of the tree has a circumference of 486 m with a highest branch is 24.5 m. The Banyan tree has 3,772 aerial roots reaching down to the ground as a prop root and occupied area is about 18,918 meters. The most interesting point is that, the tree still lives in perfect vigor without its main trunk, which decayed and had to be removed in 1925. Although, in 1925 it became diseased struck by lightning and was excised to keep the remainder healthy left it as a clonal colony rather than a single tree. Moreover, a long over 330 meter road was built around its circumference, but tree is continuously spreading beyond it. The tree fruit is not edible and is red when ripe. A monument has been erected to the dead trunk, but is hardly accessible to visitors, who only have access to the perimeter of the tree. 

Saturday 16 April 2016

The Mysterious Rock of Mahabalipuram India



All across the world peoples encounter enigmatic ancient monuments, buildings, structures or artifacts rock formations that are somehow related to know The Power of Real God. One such intriguing structure can be found in India. The mysterious rock which is not rolling more than 1300 years steel dare stand under his teetering 250 ton rock in India. The rock perches precariously on hill defied gravity hasn’t stopped daredevil visitor taking pictures under it. Indeed it is a miracle and science has no answer to how such huge rock weighing 250 tonnes, has managed to stay on a base- area of just 4 ft.

The Krishan’s Butter Ball also called Vaanirai Kal has been sitting on a 45 degree slope in Mahabalipuram more than 1300 years.  The robust 20 feet rock clearly defy gravity, seems will roll at any moment, and all efforts gets in vain so far. There’re various superstitions among the local peoples, who believes, this is fixed by Gods who wanted to prove their power. However, researchers believe simply as a natural formation nothing else. Moreover, geologists argue that natural corrosion is perhaps to have produced such an abnormal shape. 

Thus, the Hindu religion has notions of different opinions. The Pallava King “Narasimhavarman” actually ruled Southern India from 630 to 668 AD, tried to dislodge the round stone but couldn’t succeed.  Therefore, the various peoples put in their efforts to move on rock, from time to time, but no one gets succeed. A similar endeavor was undertaken in 1908 by the Governor of Madras Arthur Lawley, but their mission was unsuccessful. 

He wanted to save his locals peoples at the base of hill, and eventually he has used seven powerful elephants to roll in rock, but without any luck the mission failed. Now a days, the rock has becomes very famous tourist place to pose photographs under its base.  Both children and adults are eager to see this mysterious rock that just cannot be moved by any means. Even number of daredevil tries to pull it down. Moreover, so many tourists used the base as sun shield. So far, it has proved to be totally impossible to move the boulder. Source: Charismatic Planet

Friday 26 February 2016

The Stunning Photos of Hidden Indian Landscape



Well, here you’ve a chance to see incredible India, probably you’ve never seen. Photographer Neelima Vallangi has unearthed stunning photos of country’s stunning forests, snowcapped mountains in Himalayas and islands far away from the bustling metropolises. Most of photorgraphers, concentrate on Indian crowded streets, ancient temples, roads, and colorful fabrics. But, this is breathtaking hidden side far away from the usual bustle. The daredevil photographer has discovered India’s peaceful and serene corners of the country, capturing beautiful images in Karnataka in the South and Himalayas in the north.

The brave photographer spent massive time for hiking and travelling to remote corners of the country to explore India's natural diversity. The 30 years old lady photographer said, for the longest time I shield away from travelling in India, therefore, when I travelled in 2008 to Himalayas I found India’s silent places. Although places full of character yet devoid of the crowd that has become synonymous with our loving country. The magnificent landscape was a revelation from Himalayas to deserts and evergreen forests to pristine beaches. My aim is to explore natural beauty to show that India’s is one of great picturesque place.  Therefore, in my quest my avoid throngs of people as much as possible, I being straying away as far as possible from the mainstream and thus started my journey to discover another India. I’m sure everyone would be inspired with my work.