Archive for the 'History' Category
Travel India Travel India Mahabalipuram – Site of a Lost City
Author: Binoy Gupta
Mahabalipuram
Site of a lost City
On 26th December 2004, the killer Tsunami waves struck the shores of Mahabalipuram. When the waters receded, there were rumours that they had left behind some statues, rock carvings and remains of what could be the work of human hands.
All this stirred up expectations. Once again, archaeologists, historians and scientists began wondering whether there indeed was an ancient city which now lies buried under the sea.
The Archaeological Survey of India and the Indian Navy have just completed joint underwater excavations for this year. Alok Tripathi, a Deputy Superintending Archaeologist from the Archaeological Survey of India, and leader of the expedition team, told the media that the Tsumai had given Mahabalipuram a lot of publicity but nothing in terms of archaeology.
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read comments (11)Travel India Kodaikanal – the Gift of the Forest
Author: Binoy Gupta
Kodaikanal
The Tamil word Kodaikanal which means ‘Gift of the Forest’ aptly describes this quaint, little, hill station. No other name could describe this place better!
Nestling deep amidst thick forests, Kodaikanal is a unique hill station where you would love to spend a few days. You would love to walk through the wooded forests. Perhaps take a bath in one of the splashing waterfalls. Row in the lake. Try horse riding. Or simply admire the endless varieties of flaura and fauna.
Covering an area of 21.45 square kilometers, Kodaikanal is situated on the southern tip of upper Palani hills in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu at an altitude of about 2133 metres. Except during the monsoons, from October to December, when the monsoons really pour, the weather is fairly uniform throughout the year.
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Thanjavur – the most magnificent temple of India
Author: Binoy Gupta
Thanjavur
The most magnificent temple in India
Thanjavur (or Tanjore) is a small town in South India. It has more than 74 temples. But it is famous for the imposing Brihadeshwar Temple – the grandest and most magnificent temple in India.
Over two thousand years ago, the Chola kings ruled Thanjavur. Their rule can be divided into two phases – separated by five centuries.
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Travel India Ranthambore – the land of the Tiger
Author: Binoy Gupta
An Amalgam of Antiquity and Nature
How about a vacation under the shadows of one of the oldest fort in India – with tigers for company at breakfast and tea ?
Ranthambore is the place I selected.
History
The magnificent Ranthambore Fort is one of the oldest forts in India. The Fort was built by the Kachhwaha Rajputs (Chauhans) but there is no certainty about the time and who the actual founder was. Some historians tell us that it was built by King Sapaldaksha in 944 A.D. Others historians say it was built by King Jayant of the same dynasty in 1110 A.D. There are other historians who give the credit to some one else.
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Travel India Yercaud – Lake amidst the Forests
Author: Binoy Gupta
Misnamed the Poor Man’s Ooty
The coffee is not an indigenous plant. Where did it came from?
Coffee was introduced into Yercaud from Arabia in the 1920s by Mr. M. D. Cockburn, then Collector of Salem. Yercaud is a small hill station perched on the Shevaroy Hills in Salem District of Tamil Nadu.
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Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal – cradle of Chalukyan Architecture
Author: Binoy Gupta
Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal
The Chalukyan Temple Architecture
WHO designed the first Hindu temples? Who constructed them? Where were they built? What were they made of? Why did successive rulers make them more and more magnificent? These are some interesting questions relating to temple architectural history.
Indo-Aryan Nagara style of architecture
One comes across three principal types of temple architecture that were prevalent in different parts of India around the same period. Between A.D. 320 and A.D. 650, the Gupta Kings started building temples in North and Central India in what is known as the Indo-Aryan Nagara style of architecture.
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Travel India Goa – the land of the sun, sand and feni
Author: Binoy Gupta
Goa
The Old Portugese Settlement
Goa is a dream world of fun, frolic and leizure – rolling stretches of silver sands, wonderful golden beaches and waving palm trees.
Travel India Lonavala and Khandala
Author: Binoy Gupta
The most popular week end get aways from Mumbai
Lonavala and Khandala are two twin hill stations in Maharashtra eight kilometres from each other. They are just over a hundred kilometres from Mumbai (Bombay). The National Highway No. 4 from Mumbai to Bangalore passes through these two hill stations offering travellers a most enjoyable two hour motoring from Mumbai.
Tirupati – Lord of Seven Hills
Author: Binoy Gupta
Tirupati
Abode of Lord Venkateswara
The temple of Lord Venkateswara, Lord of the Seven Hills, in Tirumala, commonly called Tirupati, is the richest and most revered temple in India.
It is located amidst picturesque surroundings – 860 metres above sea level on a hill named Venkatadri – the last of the seven hills – one has to cross to reach the temple from the small town of Tirupati.
Please remember that Tirupati is a small town from where the climb to the temple begins. The Tirupati temple is not in Tirupati, but in Tirumala.
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Belur and Halebid – Unique Temples
Author: Binoy Gupta
Belur & Halebid 
A must-see for all students of architecture, history and fine arts
I have visited numerous temples in India. But the temples of Belur and Halebid built by the Hoysala kings are unique.
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