Travel India

Charminar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

admin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:05:03 +0000

Charminar which means “Mosque of four minarets” is the most famous monument in the city of Hyderabad, capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh. The Charminar was constructed in 1591 by Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah, the 5th Qutub Shahi ruler shortly after he had shifted his capital from Golkonda to what now is known as Hyderabad. He built the Charminar to mark the end of plague in the Hyderabad city. He is said to have prayed for the end of a plague that was ravaging his city and vowed to build a masjid (Islamic mosque) at the very place where he was praying. In 1591 while laying the foundation of Charminar, Quli prayed: “Oh Allah, bestow unto this city peace and prosperity. Let millions of men of all castes, creeds and religions make it their abode, like fish in the water.” Since the construction of the Charminar, the Hyderabad city has almost become synonymous with the monument. The Charminar is a massive and impressive structure with four minarets at the heart of Hyderabad. The Charminar looks even better in the even when it is lighted with bright colours. A beautiful mosque is located at the western end of the open roof and the remaining part of the roof served as a court during the Qutb Shahi times. Charminar has the signature style of Islamic architecture. This great tribute to aesthetics looks sturdy and solid from a distance but as one moves closer, it emerges as an elegant and romantic edifice proclaiming its architectural eminence in all its detail and dignity. Each side measures 20 m, and each of the corners has a tall, pointed minaret. These four gracefully carved minarets soar to a height of 48.7 m above the ground, commanding the landscape for miles around. Each minaret has four stories, marked by a delicately carved ring around the minaret. Unlike the Taj Mahal, Charminar’s four fluted minarets of Charminar are built into the main structure. Inside the minarets 149 winding steps guide the visitor to the top floor, the highest point one can reach, which provides a panoramic view of the city. The monument overlooks another beautiful and grand masjid called Makkah Masjid. The area surrounding Charminar is also known by same name. A thriving market still lies around the Charminar, attracting people and merchandise of every description. In its heyday, the Charminar market had some 14,000 shops; today the famous markets known as Laad Baazar and Pather Gatti, near the Charminar, are a favourite of both tourists and locals alike for jewellery, especially known for exquisite bangles and pearls respectively.

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Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, West Bengal

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:42:31 +0000

Victoria Memorial is located in Kolkata, West Bengal and is a memorial to Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom who was also the “Empress of India” for 25 years from 1876 A.D to 1901 A.D. After then end of the British rule in India, the monument was made a museum and a tourist attraction. The Memorial is situated on 64 acres of land with the building covering 338 ft by 228 ft. The Victoria Memorial is made of white marble and it is a blend of British and Mughal architecture. The Memorial was built with Makrana marbles from Rajasthan and it was built in the period 1906 A.D. to 1921 A.D. Lord Curzon, who was the Viceroy of India at that time placed the question of setting up a “stately memorial” for Queen Victoria on her death in 1901 A.D. The princes and the people of India responded generously to his appeal for funds and Lord Curzon derived the total cost of construction of this monument amounting to one crore and five lakhs of rupees from their voluntary subscriptions. The Prince of Wales, King George V, laid the foundation stone on January 4, 1906 and it was formally opened to the public in 1921. The memorial was designed by Sir William Emerson, President of the British Institute of Architects in an architectural style similar to Belfast City Hall. Earlier asked to design the building in the Italian Renaissance style, Emerson was against the exclusive use of European styles and used Indo-Saracenic style, incorporating Mughal elements in the structure. Vincent Esch was the superintending architect while Lord Redesdale and Sir David Prain designed the gardens. The work of construction was entrusted to Messrs Martin & Co. of Calcutta. A black bronze Angel of Victory, holding a bugle in her hand was placed at the apex of the dome above the Memorial. It is fixed to its pedestal with ball bearings and acts as a weathercock when the wind is strong enough. This Victoria Memorial presently houses a museum of British India memorabilia like a large collection of oil paintings and water colours by famous European artists like Charles D’oyly, Johann Zoffany, William Hadges, William Simpson, Tilly Kettle, Thomas Hickey, Bultzar Solvyns, Thomas Hickey, Emily Eden and others. Besides these, the Memorial also houses the largest collection in the world of the paintings by the Daniells. The Royal Gallery is a storehouse of oil paintings of Queen Victoria receiving the sacrament at her coronation in the Westminster Abbey in June 1838; her marriage with Prince Albert (1840), the christening of the Prince of Wales, the marriage of the Prince of Wales (Edward VII) with Princess Alexandra and others. The Memorial’s grandeur at a height of 200 feet (184 ft up to the base of the figure of Victory, which is again 16 ft high) is accentuated by the serenity that engulfs you in its corridors. The groups of figures above the north porch represent Motherhood, Prudence and Learning. Surrounding the main dome are figures of Art, Architecture, Justice, Charity etc. The vastness and splendour of Victoria Memorial can be comprehended from the fact that it has been divided into different divisions like the garden, library and others for maintenance and also houses a host of valuable articles like the dagger of Tipu Sultan, a cannon used in the battle of Plassey, rare books that date back to 1870, valuable manuscripts like the Ain-i-Akbari by Abul Fazal, rare postage stamps and Western paintings to entice the visitors to this awesome monument.

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Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab, India

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:26:57 +0000

Golden Temple is the most important place of worship for the followers of Sikh religion and is one of the oldest gurdwaras in the world. Golden Temple is situated in the town of Amritsar in Punjab. Amritsar itself was built by the fourth guru of the Sikhs, Guru Ram Das Ji and the word “Amritsar” originally referred to the pool around Golden Temple which means “Pool of the Nectar of Immortality”. Golden Temple is also known as Harmandir Sahib or Temple of God. The golden plates which cover the exterior of the Gurdwara’s upper floor and domes, as well as its exquisite marblework was done under the patronage of Maharaja Ranjit Singh the leader of the Sikh Empire of the Punjab. Also called Sher-e-Punjab (Lion of the Punjab), the Maharaja was a heavy donor of wealth and materials for the shrine and is remembered with much affection by the Punjabi people in general and the Sikh community in particular. The temple is surrounded by a large Sarovar (manmade lake), known as the AmritSar (Lake of Holy Water or Immortal Nectar). There are entrances to the temple on all four sides, signifying the importance of acceptance and openness; ostensibly, this concept is reminiscent of the tent of Abraham in the Old Testament—his tent was open on all four sides in order to be able to welcome travelers from all directions. Inside the temple complex there are many shrines to past Sikh Gurus, Saints and martyrs (see map). There are three holy trees (Bers) each associated with a historical event or Sikh saint. Inside the temple there are many memorial plaques that commemorate past Sikh historical events, saints, martyrs and includes commemorative inscriptions of all the Sikh soldiers who died fighting in the two World Wars. For a new visitor the first recommended place to visit is the information Office highlighted (4) on the map and followed by visiting the Sikh Central museum near the main entrance called the Ghanta Ghar Deori (clock tower gate). Anyone who wants to enter the Harmandir Sahib may do so, irrespective of religion, colour, creed or sex. The only restrictions are that the person must not drink alcohol, eat meat or smoke cigarettes or use other non prescription drugs while in the shrine. Visitors are, as well, expected to dress appropriately and everyone must cover their heads as a sign of respect, remove their shoes and socks and enter the temple barefooted. Visitors must wash their feet in the small pool of water as they enter the Harmandir Sahib premises. Head scarves are provided.Most Sikh people visit Amritsar and the Harmandir Sahib at least once during their lifetime, particularly during special occasions such as birthdays, marriage, birth of children and other important occasions and festivals.

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Jal Mahal (Water Palace), Jaipur, Rajasthan

admin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:42:25 +0000

The Jal Mahal or the Water Palace In Jaipur was built by Maharajah Sawai Partap Singh in 1799 A.D.
in the middle of Man Sagar Lake as a pleasure spot. The palace is built with yellow sandstone. The Nahargarh hills form the backdrop of the beautiful palace. The palace was used for the royal duck shooting parties. Developed as an evening enjoyment spot, it is entered through a causeway situated in the middle of Lake.
The palace is five-story high. However the first four floors are submerged under water. Now this location has become a bird watcher’s paradise as many local birds and the migratory birds are seen around this lake.

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Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India – Wonder of the World

admin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 09:13:29 +0000

Taj Mahal is undoubtedly the most popular and the most beautiful monument in India. Any travel or visit to India is regarded incomplete without a visit to the majestic Taj Mahal. It is one of the seven wonders in the Medieval World as well as the Modern World. Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Begun in 1632 AD, it took 20,000 men working every day over 22 years to complete. It is so popular that the famous writer Mark Twain once remarked that the world is divided between two types of people: those who have seen the Taj Mahal and those who have not. The Taj Mahal is also a World Heritage site and it is a favorite of travel enthusiasts around the world. It is estimated that an approximate 1.4 million people visit this majestic monument every year.

Beautiful snap of Taj Mahal at evening time from betta design

Another majestic snap of the Taj from endoking

Taj is not only beautiful but enormous too

Splendid architecture on white marble

Side View of the Taj

Another side view of the Taj

Entrance to the Taj Mahal

The five photos above are used under Creative Commons from bbjee

NOTE: All the images on Travel India and Indian Travel pictures website are copyright of their respective owners. Travel India website does not claim ownership on any of the photos. Proper credits to the photo owners have been provided under the respective licenses as mentioned in the photos.

Charminar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh