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

The Blue Grotto in Malta

The Blue Grotto is a number of sea caverns on the South Coast of Malta, located within the Qrendi village, near "Wied iz-Zurrieq" and right side is alsoacross from the small uninhabited islet of Filfla except for a distinctive species of lizards that live there. There is a unique site every day from sunrise until about 1pm when cave combined with the sunlight lead to the water mirroring showing various shades of blue. There are so many caverns mirror the brilliant phosphorescent colors of the underwater flora; other caverns show a deep dark shade of blue. The Blue Grotto started to get its name in the early 1950’s, when the British army personnel located in Malta, to ask local fisherman to take them for a boat trip to the Blue Grotto sea caves. However, with the passage of time it became so famous that the fishermen started to offer this service to tourists and locals alike. Well, this site should not be confused with its namesake, the Blue Grotto in Capri, Italy. 

Therefore, the Blue Grotto is popular tourists destination on the island of Malta with many boat trips visit the caves, scuba diving snorkeling and rock climbing being the most admired activities here. Moreover the local restaurants are offering delicious food with majestic sea views. This location is very popular between filmmakers, and promotional videos about Malta. The water is incredibly blue, which is attracting more than 100,000 tourists per year. Moreover, there is a massive arch more than 30m and six caves formed by centuries of constant erosion of waves reflects the white sandy beaches giving off a vivid cobalt colors. The natural arch is a unique byproduct of the local coralline limestone, which tends to fracture and erode from the continually pounding waves. This particular spectacle of colors can be seen daily which is presents exceptional photographic backgrounds to picture lovers. So, this wonderful natural Grotto and its neighboring system of caverns mirrors and scenery around are breathtaking. It is highly advised to visit Blue Grotto early in the morning to avoid summer rush. At that time, you can enjoy caves at their best; sea is calmer, sunrises, sufficient time to enjoy this natural wonder. 

Pando: The World’s Oldest Living Organisms

The Pando or “The Trembling Giant” is a massive grove of quaking aspens that takes the “forest as a single organism” metaphor and literalizes it. Although, the grove is a single organism, roughly 47,000 trees are genetically similar having single root system. However, various trees spread through flowering and sexual reproduction; quaking aspens normally reproduce asexually, by sprouting new trees from the expansive lateral root of the parent. So, with their smooth white bark, intense black markings, and tall, thin trunks, aspens are some of the most striking and graceful trees, special varieties possess a very surprising quality. Each separate tree standing above the ground is actually part of one single, enormous plant. Pando is located one mile southwest of Fish Lake on Utah's Route 25, in the Fremont River Ranger District of the Fish-lake National Forest. The Pando aspen clone in Utah is hard to guess age and long-term research would have had to begin when humans were starting to emigrate out of Africa. However, individual trees have a lifespan of somewhere between 200 to 220 years, but clones considered as a single entity can sprawl for acres, all descended from one original tree, and are able to reproduce indefinitely.

Actually, the individual trees aren’t individuals, but their stems of massive single clone. Pando was once believed the largest organism in the world spanning 107 acres and weighing 6,615 tons making it the heaviest known organism, now usurped by thousand acre fungal mats in Oregon. Furthermore experts are also not sure about organism’s age with the level of precision found in tree rings. However, some believes Pando is massive organism and its age is more than one millions years old, could be easily called world’s oldest living organisms. Moreover, the quaking aspen is named its leaves, usually stir without any trouble even in a gentle breeze enable to produce a fluttering sound with slightest provocation. This has impact on Pando’s, multiplied thousands of thousands trees prevalent in massive acres unnerving, giving a real sense of life to the ancient dying, trembling giant. Other things, which can be oldest living organisms, possibly larger fungal mats in Oregon, the ancient clonal Creosote bushes, and strands of the clonal marine plant Posidonia oceanica in the Mediterranean Sea.

According to some ecologist, the future of Pando organisms is in danger due to mature stems is regularly dying from the eternal problems of pests, diseases, drought and regenerative roots of organism are under attacks. Although, The Western Aspen Alliance has been studying the tree in an effort to save it, and the U.S. Forest Service is doing experimenting with numerous five acre sections of it to make an effort to find a means to save it. The roots systems which are mainly responsible for Pando’s resilience are not nourishing. Therefore, ecologists are suggesting of juvenile and young stems to replace the older trunks, blaming overgrazing by animals. The Pando is slipping away due to lack of new growth to replace the old. In fact, the Trembling Giant is vulnerable to a catastrophic, abruptly withering and shrinking. The clone now recognized as Pando was actually discovered in 1968 by researcher “Burton V. Barnes”, who had described Pando as a single organism based on its morphological characteristics alone; molecular techniques and methods developed since that time have largely substantiated those conclusions.

Pando’s needs ideal circumstance of colonizing the area under wet climate into which Pando was born was markedly different from that of these days. Pando is thought to have grown for much of its lifetime under ideal circumstances: frequent forest fires have prevented its main competitor, conifers, from colonizing the area, and a climate shift from wet and humid to semi-arid has obstructed seedling establishment and the accompanying rivalry from younger aspens. Moreover, during intense fires, the organism survived underground, with its root system sending up new stems in the aftermath of each wildfire. If its postulated age is correct, then it may have been as many as 10,000 years since Pando's last successful flowering. The special properties of the quaking aspen, fascination with the beauty, complexity, and continuing mystery of this tree perhaps save clones like Pando from a destiny as firewood.

The Extinct Amboy Crater of California

Amboy Crater is cinder cone type of volcano located in the Eastern Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County California. This is extinct North American crater, rises more than 70 square kilometers lava field in Southern California and about 120 KM between Barstow to the West and Needles to the east and 2.4KM south of historic U.S. Route near the town of Amboy. Amboy Crater was recognized for its visual and geological significance, and an excellent example of a very symmetrical volcanic cinder cone. The crater is projected more than 80,000 years old and formed in layers of mostly vesicular pahoehoe during the Pleistocene geological period. 

Amboy Crater is National Natural Landmark was designated in May 1973. The crater interior has Lava Lake, which flows as old as Amboy Crater. The Amboy Crater blankets the surrounding area, and last recorded eruption was more than then thousand years ago. Moreover, Amboy Crater is 944 feet above sea level and 250 feet above surrounding basalt lava plains. The Amboy Crater is popular sightseeing area due to its scenic beauty for all travelers. Amboy Crater is extinct volcanoes along the entire route 66, could boast traffic that they had climbed a real volcano. Therefore, visitor’s numbers have decreased due to construction of interstate 40. But in the past few years, the tourist’s numbers are increasing again with the adjacent Mitchell Canverns, Mojave National Preserve, and renewed historical tourism interest in old route 66. 

 It is highly recommended using Western Cone Trail to reach the volcano peak’s rim, a very steep and rocking hiking trail. There’s parking area available, a much needed shade and open picnic tables along with public restrooms. The area is apply regular desert precautions, need to high alert of rattlesnakes and old military explosives. So it is suggested to have a hat, sunscreen, sturdy shoes and sufficient drinking water. The Amboy Crater is flat in general appearance, mainly covered with light colored clay, giving the impression of miniature dry lakes. If you want to visit this part of area, then it is suggested to visit in spring months starts from March till May, because desert life is on peak due to wildflowers, blanket of desert primrose and sand verbena offers an excellent for photography. Moreover, the magnificence landscapes found at Amboy Crater have attracted the filming and research industry. Moreover the Needles Field Office is encouraging educational groups and organizations to contact the office prior to their trip to ensure all facilities are available. 

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'.