K O M A L India

VADODARA

2014-09-24T12:48:00.000+05:30

Vadodara

Vadodara, also known as Baroda, is the third largest city in the Indian State of Gujarat, after Ahmedabad and Surat. It is the administrative headquarters of Vadodara District. It is located on the banks of the Vishwamitri river, southeast of Ahmedabad, 139 km from state capital, Gandhinagar. Both the railway line and national highway connecting Delhi and Mumbai pass through Vadodara.

Vadodara has a population of almost 1.6 million people^[7] (as of 2005). It is the site of theLakshmi Vilas Palace belonging to the royal Gaekwad dynasty of the Marathas. It is also the home of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, which is the largest university in Gujarat. Major industries include petrochemicals, engineering, chemicals, pharmaceuticals,plastics and Forex.

SURAT, GUJARAT

2014-02-14T13:16:00.003+05:30

SURAT

Surat is a city located on the western part of India in the state of Gujarat. It is one of the most dynamic city of India with one of the fastest growth rate due to immigration from various part of Gujarat and other states of India.

Surat is one of the cleanest city of India and is also known by several other names like "THE SILK CITY", "THE DIAMOND CITY", "THE GREEN CITY", etc. It has the most vibrant present and an equally varied heritage of the past. It is the city where the British first land in India. The Dutch and the Portuguese also established there business centers in Surat, the remnants of which are still preserved in the modern day Surat. In past this was a glorious port with ships of more than 84 countries anchored in its harbour at any time.

Still today, Surat continues the same tradition as people from all around the country flock in for business and joanbs. Surat has practically zero percent unemployment rate d jobs are easier to get here due to very fast development of various industries in and around Surat City.

*Area*		326.515 sq.km.
*Population*		44,61,026 (2011)
*Density*		13662 Persons/Sq.Km.
*Literacy Rate*		82.91%

Places of interest:
SURAT CASTLE

The Surat castle is one of the ancient monuments of 16th century existing in the city and bears a significant relevance to its history. However, such a great fortification built to provide the citizens of Surat with an adequate defence against the attacks of the invaders seems to have been forgotten from the minds of the present generation. The Ahmedabad king Sultan Mahmood-III (1538-1554), who was very much annoyed by these frequent destructions of Surat, ordered for building a very strong castle and entrusted the work to Safi Agha, a Turkish soldier who had been ennobled with the title of Khudawand Khan. The work of building the castle was completed in 1546. After the capture of Surat by the emperor Akbar (1573) the fortress remained in the charge of commandants appointed from Delhi till it was seized by the Sidhi admiral of the Mugal fleet in 1751. The Sidhi did not hold the castle for long period, as it was captured by the English in 1759 with rest of the city.

Though from the first practically independent, the English held the castle nominally under
the Mugal. In token of this divided command, two flags waved from the castle walls, the
English ensign on the south-west, and the Moorish standard on the south-east bastion.
This practice was continued till, in 1842, on the death of the last of the nawabs of Surat,
the English fleet was removed from the Tapi, and the Moorish standard taken down from
the castle walls. Though, as a defence against any well-equipped enemy, they have long
been useless, the castle buildings initially were being kept in repair, and until the year
1862, were garrisoned by a small body of European and native troops. In that year, as no
longer required, the force was withdrawn, and the vacated rooms were made over for the
accommodation of the various offices connected with the revenue and police departments,
in whose occupation the castle has since remained.

Mugal Sarai,surat

The Building which is used at present as an office complex by Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC)
is one of the ancient monuments of Surat city and was built originally as a 'Sarai' or Musafarkhana
(travellers' inn). It was built during the period of Mugal Emperor Shah Jahan in the year 1644 A.D.
and was popularly known as 'Mugal Sarai'. During 18th century the same building was used as jail.
Since 1867 the building was occupied by the present corporation.

This building with its considerable architectural qualities as disposed by the skilful composition
of its various parts combined with harmonious combination of arches, cornices, decorated
parapets, sculptured patterns on the exterior facade etc. each being disposed in an artistic and
effective manner upon a sound foundation with coherent strength is still intact and is in a very
good state
of preservation.

However, some changes are made lately in the original building but due care is taken so as not
to harm the overall harmony of the structure. The central courtyard which at present is
used for parking vehicles of the employees of the corporation still have huge trees in it hosting
a wide variety of birds, giving it still the same touch of nature which it would have once enjoyed.

SURAT'S RANDOM PICTURES:

Athawa Gate

Gaurav Path

Ring Road near Majura Gate

New Civil Hospital

Flyover near Majura Gate

Sahara Darwaza

Sardar Market

Belgium Tower

Surat Railway Station

AIRPORT SURAT

Iscon Mall

SMC South Zone,Udhna

Rajhans Theatre

SHOOLPANESHWAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY & ZARWANI WATERFALL,GUJARAT

2013-12-16T05:30:00.000+05:30

Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary

Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Narmada district of Gujarat. This sanctuary has 607.70 Km² area. Best season to visit is from November to March.This sanctuary has vast, undulating terrain, ever-pervading greenery, tall inspiring canopy, deep awesome valleys, somberly silent rocks, gentle youthful streams, majestic waterfalls, breathtaking landscapes, culminating at the congregation of Vindhyan-Satpura hill ranges. The forest area rated as one of the best and thickest in the state, is spread over an area, which includes a major watershed feeding two major reservoirs with the Rajpipla hills as backdrop.

The sanctuary derives its name "Shoolpaneshwar" from a historic temple of Lord Shiva, which once existed in this region on the banks of river Narmada. The temple is now submerged due to the Sardar Sarovar Reservoir. However, a new Shoolpaneshwar temple has since been built near Rajpipla. The word "Shoolpaneshwar" refers to Lord Shiva portrayed as having "Shool" or "Trishul" in his hand i.e. `Pani’.

The area is predominantly tribal with 'Vasavas' as the main tribal community. The local population heavily depends on the forest produce for socio-economic sustenance. A mere glance at the tribal houses and habitations reflects their dependence on bamboos in every sphere of life. Bamboo is indeed `poor man’s timber’.
Large flying squirrel is a nocturnal forest animal. It roosts in tree holes or prepares large leaf nests. Squirrels call during night, which betrays their presence.(source:Wikipedia)

As "Dumkhal Sanctuary"- an important home for sloth bears. Subsequently, in 1987 and 1989, the area of the sanctuary was enlarged to 607.71sq. Km. and it was renamed as "Shoolpaneshwar Sanctuary".

ZARWANI WATERFALL at sanctuary.

Siddhnath Mahadev Temple- the broken shivling...

2013-07-01T16:23:00.001+05:30

SIDDHNATH MAHADEV, OLPAD, SURAT.

Located in Saras Village of Olpad Taluka,Surat GUJARAT.This temple is ancient and its exact date is not known.

Legend: Reference to this temple is found in the Sanda purana

It is said that after slaying ravana, when shrI ramachandra was returning to ayodhya he was passing through this area near the tapti river. It is here that shrI ramachandra needed to perform atonement for the sin incurred in slaying ravana.shrI ramachandra wanted to worship shrIman mahAdeva to be free from sin.

However, no priests were available at that time. Facing this predicament shrI ramachandra asked anjaniputra hanuman to fetch Brahmins from the forests near the tapti river so that he could consecrate the shivalinga. hanuman then went into the forest and brought a group of brahmins who were studying the kanva shakha of the shuklayajurveda there. With the help of these Brahmins, shrI ramachandra installed the Shivalinga there and performed yajnya.

shrI ramachandra thus obtained mukti from the papa of slaying ravana. The Lord was called shri siddhanatha mahadeva. The Brahmins who helped shrI ramachandra attain mukti from papa were called "mauktika" brahmins. There is also a big tank near the temple.

SUVALI BEACH,SURAT

2013-02-22T23:31:00.000+05:30

Suvali is a beach located along the Arabian Sea around 28 km west of the Surat City centre.Suvali has two wells with water rich in iron and sulphur. Suvali beach is fringed by feathery casurina trees.

SUVALI BEACH

CHAMPANER & PAWAGARH, GUJARAT

2012-01-31T01:30:00.000+05:30

Champaner is a historical city in the state of Gujarat, in western India. It is located in Panchmahal district, 47 kilometres from the city of Vadodara. The city was briefly the capital of Gujarat.

It was founded by Vanraj Chavda, the most prominent king of the Chavda Dynasty, in the 8th century. He named it after the name of his friend and general Champa, also known later as Champaraj. By the later 15th century, the Khichi Chauhan Rajputs held Pavagadh fort above the town of Champaner. The young Sultan of Gujarat, Mahmud Begada, deciding to attack Champaner, started towards it with his army on 4 December 1482. After defeating the Champaner army, Mahmud captured the town and besieged Pavagadh, the well-known hill-fortress, above Champaner, where king Jayasimha had taken refuge. He captured the Pavagadh fort on 21 November 1484, after a siege of 20 months. He then spent 23 years rebuilding and embellishing Champaner, which he renamed Muhammadabad[citation needed], after which he moved the capital there from Ahmedabad. In 1535, after chasing away Bahadur Shah Humayun personally lead some 300 Mughals to scale the fort on spikes driven into rock and stonework in a remote and unguarded part of the citadel built over a precipitous hillside. Large heaps of gold, silver and jewels were the war booty even though Bahadur Shah had managed to escape with a lot to Diu Champaner is today the site of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, which UNESCO designated a World Heritage Site in 2004.

Sultan Begada also built a magnificent Jama Masjid in Champaner, which ranks amongst the finest architectural edifices in Gujarat. It is an imposing structure on a high plinth, with a central dome, two minarets 30 meters in height, 172 pillars, seven mihrabs, and carved entrance gates with fine latticed windows called "jalis"

SANCHI-BHOPAL, MADHYA PRADESH

2011-11-25T21:20:00.000+05:30

Sanchi

Sanchi known for its "Stupas" is a small village in Raisen District of the state of Madhya Pradesh, India, it is located 46 km north east of Bhopal, and 10 km from Besnagar and Vidisha in the central part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the location of several Buddhist monuments dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 12th CE and is one of the important places of Buddhist pilgrimage. It is a nagar panchayat in Raisen district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Toranas surround the Stupa and they each represent love, peace, trust, and courage. This world heritage site is well maintained and is open to public viewing from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It takes about an hour and a half for a non-research visit of the site. Photography is allowed and audio guides are available.

The 'Great Stupa' at Sanchi is the oldest stone structure in India and was originally commissioned by the emperor Ashoka the Great in the 3rd century BCE. Its nucleus was a simple hemispherical brick structure built over the relics of the Buddha. It was crowned by the chatra, a parasol-like structure symbolising high rank, which was intended to honour and shelter the relics. It has four profusely carved ornamental gateways and a balustrade encircling the whole structure.

The Heliodorus pillar is a stone column that was erected around 110 BCE in central India in Vidisha near modern Besnagar, by Heliodorus, a Greek ambassador of the Indo-Greek king Antialcidas to the court of the Sunga king Bhagabhadra. The site is located only 5 miles from the Buddhist stupa of Sanchi.

The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological World Heritage site located in Raisen District in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The Bhimbetka shelters exhibit the earliest traces of human life in India and deliver traces of dance from prehistoric times; a number of analyses suggest that at least some of these shelters were inhabited by hominids like homo erectus more than 100,000 years ago. Some of the Stone Age rock paintings found among the Bhimbetka rock shelters are approximately 30,000 years old (Paleolithic Age).

BHIMBETKA

DANDI, GUJARAT

2011-03-14T04:30:00.000+05:30

Dandi is situated on the coastline, at a distance of 5 kms from the heart of the city, Surat. This is center for salt production. It also has historical importance, as Gandhiji in March, 1930 had performed famous ‘Dandi March Salt Satyagraha’ here, against Salt laws of British Government. Gandhiji and his 78 followers had walked about 241 miles from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi. This was one of the movement, which helped India to get independence.

Dandi beach

SUNSET AT DANDI

DANDI SUNSET

SUNSET AT DANDI

ABU AMBA JI

2010-08-04T22:30:00.000+05:30

Ambaji temple

Ambaji temple is a major Shakti Peeth of India. It is situated at a distance of approximately 65 kilometres from Palanpur, 45 kilometres from Mount Abu and 20 kilometres from Abu Road,42 Kilometer from Shri Amirgadh, 50 kilometer from Kadiyadra near the Gujarat and Rajasthan border.

In the holy temple of "Arasuri Ambaji", there is no image or statue of goddess the holy "Shree Visa Yantra" is worshiped as the main deity. No one can see the Yantra with naked eye. the photography of the Yantra is prohibited.

The original seat of Ambaji mata is on gabbar hilltop in the town. A large number of devotees visit the temple every year specially on Purnima days. A large mela on Bhadarvi poornima (full moon day) is held. Every Year from all over the country people come here walking all over from their native place just to worship MAA AMBE in July. The whole Ambaji is lighted up as the whole nation lights up at the festive time of Diwali.

SARDAR SAROVAR DAM,GUJARAT

2010-04-24T22:31:00.000+05:30

Sardar Sarovar Dam

Near Rajpipla,Gujarat 1163 km away up the river from the sea, is Sardar Sarovar dam. At the reception center there is a map and an interpretation center. You can book a guided tour which will take you through six points around the dam site: a garden; the foundational stone laid by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1961; a site with a side view of the flow of the water from the dam; a lake where boating takes place; the first lock gate of the main canal; a trekking site with a nature education camp for students. Near the site is also the Surpaneshwar Shiva temple that the Government had built to replace the original ancient temple that was submerged by the dam. At the foot of the dam is the Kevadia colony, where the employees of the dam live and where there are also places for visitors to stay.

At a height of 128 m and growing, Sardar Sarovar dam is the largest dam on the Narmada. The dam builders state their mission as "harnessing the untapped waters of the Narmada for survival of millions of people and environmental sound sustainable development of the western India by providing the essence of life-Water and Energy.". The dam provides water for irrigation and drinking water supply, hydropower, and flood protection across the state of Gujarat.

The Narmada river runs through Narmada district, along the border of Vadodara district, and through Bharuch district, emptying near the city of Bharuch into the sea. There are various sites along the way, and therefore various ways to visit the river.

By road: Bharuch, Rajpipla, Chanod, and Dabhoi are accessible by buses. The Sardar Sarovar dam site can be reached by private vehicle.

By rail: Bharuch is the nearest railway station.

By air: The closest airport is at Vadodara.

way to RAJPIPLA

NARMADA RIVER

Model room of dam

Canals of Narmada

Main canal

Reservoir

PATNITOP, J&K

2009-10-28T12:57:00.000+05:30

Patnitop or Patni Top, is a hill top tourist location in Udhampur district, in Jammu and Kashmir, India, on the National Highway 1A, on the way from Udhampur to Srinagar, 112 km from Jammu. Situated on a plateau in the Shiwalik belt of the Himalayas, Patnitop sits at an altitude of 2024 metres. The river Chenab flows in close proximity to this location.

Origin of the name 'Patnitop' is a distortion of the original name of Patan Da Talab meaning "Pond of the Princess". In olden times a pond existed in the meadows and the kings princess often used to have her bath there. Part of the pond still exists near the youth hostel. It may be that the British had difficulties recording an English spelling of an Indian name correctly in their revenue records. Over the years the name changed from "Patan Da Talab" to Patnitop.

Way to patnitop

Nag temple,Patnitop

Pathankot

Pine trees

VAISHNO DEVI, JAMMU

2009-10-27T03:00:00.000+05:30

Vaishno Devi

Katra or Katra Vaishno Devi, as it is popularly known, is a small town in Reasi district of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir situated in the foothills of the Trikuta Mountains, where the holy shrine of Vaishno devi is located. It is located 42 km from the city ofJammu.

KATRA CITY

Katra city from top.

way to vaishno devi temple

Vaishno devi temple

DWARKA & SOMNATH

2009-08-09T06:30:00.000+05:30

Dwaraka, is a city and a municipality of Jamnagar district in the Gujarat state in India. Dwarka is one of the seven most ancient cities in the country.

SOMNATH

The Somnath Temple located in the Prabhas Kshetra near Veraval in Saurashtra, on the western coast of Gujarat, India, is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of the God Shiva