| |
 |
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rejuvenation vacation
India , a land of diversity, a country where celebrations never end, a diaspora mystical and magnificent, a civilization which can be truly called the cradle of human civilization, a dream waiting to be explored. India , with its centuries old civilization, is perhaps one of the few nations, which has a cultural heritage that is so rich, diverse and unique. What better place to recuperate and rejuvenate! In the process, experience the cultural heritage of India , which is not limited to the art and architecture that we see today in the form of many architectural wonders that dot many Indian cities but traverses way beyond that. For example a music concert in the backdrop of the Taj Mahal or a dance festival at the famous Konark Temple leaves visitors enthralled and spellbound. Be it music, dance, fine arts, cuisine, customs or festivals, the cultural heritage of India touches you in more than one way. Experience the age-old customs and traditions followed by Indians on your cultural heritage tour to India .Enjoy the sounds, sights and taste of India . And combine them with the age old Indian science of health and healing, fitness of mind, body and soul, the magic of Yoga and Transcendental Meditation, and you have a deal you just won’t like to refuse.
Tourist Hot Spots
DelhiDelhi is the capital of India, the city with as rich an heritage as you may find any where in the world and yet cosmopolitan enough to keep you wondering and mesmerised both at the same time. It is perhaps one of the most accurate microcosmic representations of the cosmopolitanism that characterizes India. Apart from being the capital of India, Delhi is also a fascinating city with pleasant contradictions. Comprising of Old Delhi and New Delhi, the city is home to famous tourist destinations like the Laxmi Narayan Temple, India Gate, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, and the vivacious shopping bazaar of Chandni Chowk. A tour of the city enthralls the visitor from the magnificent Mughal monuments to the most contemporary malls, from traditional arts and crafts to trendy fashion shows, from astounding skyscrapers to breath taking parks and gardens. Delhi is a city that is a mesmerising mix of both the historic and the modern in its own unique way. Some of the tourist attractions of Delhi are:Rashtrapati Bhawan The president's mansion, the majestic Edwin Landseer Lutyens creation, has been carved at Raisina Hill, a monument which spell bounds you both by its sheer architectural beauty and grandeur. One of the best kept gardens of Asia, the beautiful Mughal Gardens located within Rashtrapati Bhawan are a sight to behold. The gardens are open to the public in spring for a few weeks when the whole city seems to converge to the gardens to get a glimpse of the most breath taking assortments of flowers to be found any where in India. Historical SignificanceTill 1911, the rule over India was exercised by the Britishers from Calcutta. However, on 12th December 1911, during the Delhi Durbar year, King George proclaimed that the capital of India would be shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. The responsibilty of creating an architectural masterpiece was given to the British architect Edwin Landseer Lutyens, a key member of the city-planning process. Then known Viceroy's palace, comprising of more than 350 rooms, it was given an enormous scale and prominent position primarily to affirm the solidity and permaneance of British rule in India. After Indian independence in 1947, the then ceremonial governor-general continued to live there, being succeeded by the Indian President in 1950 when India became a republic and the house was renamed Rashtrapati Bhavan.Until 1950, the Rashtrapati Bhavan was known as Viceroy's House and served as the residence of the Governor-General of India. The DesignThe Rashtrapati Bhavan has a gigantic dome-like structure on top, which in local parlance is known as Chattri. The building is a beautiful fusion of the western and the eastern designs. There exists a traditional Indian chujja or chhajja(terrace), representing a design of a frieze of classical architecture. There are scores of statues of elephants and fountains, sculptures of cobras and other equisite animals in the gardens, as well as grills made from red sandstone called jaalis. On the eastern side, in the front of the palace, twelve unevenly spaced columns have been created. They have a fusion of acanthus leaves with the four pendant Indian bells that are part of the Hindu and Buddhist religions. At the centre, underneath the main dome of the Rashtrapati Bhawan was the Durbar Hall, for listening to the woes of the Indian junta then. Visiting ProtocolSpecial permission has to be obtained from Government of India Tourist Office for visitors to enter Rastrapathi Bhavan. The Direction FinderThe monument, due to its central location, can be easily assessed with all modes of convenience. The nearest airport is the Indira Gandhi International Airport located 23 km southwest and the domestic terminal at Palam which is 20 km away. Parliament House Located near the Rashtrapati Bhawan, it is an elegant semi circular building. It is built in an classic Gothic style and has majestic wide pillared walkways and impressive large halls. One can feel the power of these corridors while walking through them, where BackgroundThe Montagu-Chelmsford reforms of 1919 required the creation of a large Legislative Assembly. This is the reason for the Parliament House being also called Sansad Bhawan, which means a large Legislative Assembly. The Parliament House was designed by Herbert Baker. The design has received much criticized in comparison with Lutyens smooth and masterful creations. In January 1931, an article by Robert Byron in Architectural Review describes it thus - "The Council Chamber has been Sir Herbert's unhappiest venture. Its effect from a distance has been described. It resembles a Spanish bull-ring, lying like a mill-wheel dropped accidentally on its side." DescriptionThe massive, spherical building of the Parliament House comprises of three semicircular chambers for both the Legislatures and a Central Library. It is crowned by a 27.4m high dome, which is 173 m in diameter and covers an astounding 2.02 hectares in area, enclosed by a verandah with 144 columns. Originally, the three semi-circular areas were designed for the Chamber of Princes, the Council of State and the Legislative Assembly. Today they house the chambers of the Lok Sabha (House of the People), Rajya Sabha (Upper House) and the library. The boundary wall has blocks of sandstone carved in geometrical patterns that reflect the Mughal jalis. Location and entranceThe Parliament House is situated on the northwest of Vijay Chowk, next to the Secretariat buildings at the end of the Parliament Street (Sansad Marg), New Delhi, India. Official permission is required for visitors, whether Parliament is in session or not. For this, Indian nationals should apply to the Parliament Secretariat. Foreign nationals have to apply through their embassies or high commissions. Visitors can enter the public galleries of the Indian Parliament with prior permission, after receiving an official pass. However, to enter the library, an entry pass can be obtained from the Visitor's reception on Raisina Road by providing a letter of introduction from a Member of Parliament. India Gate:
Delhi has traversed through various experiences and influences over generations and across centuries of heritage turmoil, ranging from Hindus to Mughals, onwards to Britishers and back to a democracy which has all these elements fused togather. This has sculptured the city into what she is like today. The British have left their mark on several of the architectural masterpieces in and around the city. One of these is the India Gate, which, like Gateway of India in Mumbai, can be credited to a large extent for representing India to the rest of the world. It is located at one end of Rajpath, with the Rashtrapati Bhawan being at the other end. India Gate was also designed by Edwin Lutyens. It was commissioned to commemorate the death of 90,000 India soldiers, who were killed in the North West Province during the First World War and the Afghan Conquest of 1919. The foundation stone of the memorial was laid by HRH the Duke of Connaught in 1921 and the monument was dedicated to the nation 10 years later by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin. The memorial is constructed in sandstone and is 160 ft high. The height of its arch is 136' externally and 87'6" internally. The names of the soldiers in whose memory the Gate was constructed is inscribed on its walls, beside which an eternal flame called the Amar Jawan Jyoti is kept always burning brightly. The Amar Jawan Jyoti was added to the memorial after India had gained her independence, in memory of the soldiers of the Indo-Pakistan War of December 1971. Today, the India Gate is one of the most important symbols of India. It is recommended that it is a must as an important part of the itinerary of any tourist visiting the country's capital city. Red Fort:Red Fort, popularily known as 'Lal Quila', is another very important symbol of the country and Delhi in particular. This was the fort from where the Moghuls ruled the country. This majestic fort, made of red sandstone, from which it got its name, was built during the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan's reign. History states, that the Red Fort was built when Shahjahanabad replaced Agra as the capital of the Mughal rule. Located in the eastern end of Shahjahanabad, the Red Fort is symbolic of not just the pomp and splendor of the Mughals but also their architectural prowess. The Lahori Gate which is the main gate of the fort is in itself a structure that attracts thousands of visitors. This is also traditionally the location from where the Prime The fort is also famous from a historic perspective as it gives us a fair amount of idea of the system of governance. For example, there were separately assigned halls and spaces for the public and the nobility, ie , the Diwan-i-aam and the Diwan-i-khaas respectively. Jeweled and marbled at their time of origin, the Red Fort has, however, fallen, in later times prey to the vandalism that has been carried out by the invaders of the country. The famous Peacock Throne, that served as a source of pride in the days of the Mughal supremacy was removed to Iran by Nadir Shah in 1739 after a successful loot in the Indian capital. The Rang Mahal or the palace of colors is another of the remarkable attractions of the Red Fort, noted for its beautifully Lotus-shaped fountain. Though the Red Fort is but a faint image of its former glory today, it still manages to hold its visitors spell-bound with images of its regal charm. Light and sound shows are arranged at the fort that is sure to transport you to the medieval era of the Mughals. Tickets for the show which are organized in Hindi as well as in English can be bought from the Fort. Qutab Minar: The construction of the Qutab Minar was started by Qutab-ud-Din Aibak in 1199 and it was finished by his successor and son-in-law, Iltutmish. The Qutab Minar was named after the Sufi saint, Khwaja Qutabuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki. Though the exact purpose of the Qutab Minar is not known but it is believed that it served as a minaret to the adjoining mosque and was used by the muezzins to call the faithful to prayer. Near it can be seen the ruins of Kila Ri Pithora, the fort of Prithviraj Chauhan, and an amazing iron pillar from Gupta times which has not yet rusted. DescriptionIt is constructed in red and buff sandstone and is covered with intricate carvings and verses from the Holy Quran. Qutab Minar has five storeys surrounded by a projected balcony and buttressed by stone brackets, which are decked with honeycomb designs. The Qutab Minar is 72.5 meters high and there are 379 steps. The diameter of the base is 14.3 meters while the top floor's diameter measures 2.7 meters. Of late, the entry inside the minaret has been stopped due to number of accidents and suicide attempts made from its parapet. However, recently hi tech cameras have been installed at its upper floors to enable the visitors a birds eye view of what he could have seen had he been permitted to climb up the steps and go to the top of the minar. There are numerous inscriptions on the Qutab Minar in Arabic and Nagari characters. The inscriptions state about the repair work done on the Qutab Minar by different rulers like Firoz Shah Tughlaq, Sikandar Lodi, as well as by Major R. Smith. The Qutab Minar was built on the ruins of Lal Kot, the Red Citadel in the city of Dhillika, the capital of the Tomar and Chauhana Rajputs, the last Hindu rulers of Delhi. There are many other remarkable buildings and structures in the Qutab Minar complex, including the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, the first mosque built in India. It was constructed by Qutab-ud-din Aybak using materials of 27 Jain and Hindu temples. There is also the famous Alai Darwaza at the entrance of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, built by Ala-ud-din Khalji. To the west of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque is the tomb of Iltutmish. Close to the mosque is the 4th century Iron pillar, one of Delhi's most interesting structures. TopHumayun's Tomb:It was built by Humayun's wife, Hamida Begum, in 1556, after Humayun's death, whose promising reign was tragically cut short by a freak accident on the stairs of the Sher Mandal Library. It is a beautiful and serene, well proportioned tomb, set on a platform amidst a garden. The tomb is an architectural masterpiece forming the basis of the definition of Mughal architecture that is characterized by high arches and double domes. It is Built around 1562-1572 AD, Humayun's Tomb is one of the leading attractions of Delhi today, drawing thousands of visitors everyday. It exhibits a very obvious influence of Persian architecture that owes its origin to its Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyuath, and has been built on the banks of the Yamuna River, next to the shrine of Sufi saint of Chisti Silsilah, Nizamuddin Auliya. A number of other Mughal luminaries are buried here like: - Hamida Begum, Akbar's mother - Dara Shikoh, Shah Jahan's son - Bahadur Shah II, the last Mughal Emperor Bahai(Lotus) Temple:
This grand temple, sculpted in white marble, termed by many as the Taj of modern India, belongs to the Bahai sect. It is also popularily known as the 'Lotus Temple', as it is built in the shape of a lotus, set amidst, lakes and green lawns. It is a serene house of meditation, within which there are no idols and total silence prevails, so all can meditate in complete peace. BackgroundOne of the most beautiful architectural temples in India, construction of the Bahai Temple was completed in 1986. At night, one can enjoy its elegant beauty even from a kilometer away. The temple represents the Bahai faith, which is broad in its outlook, scientific in the influence it exerts on the hearts and minds of the people. It signifies the purity and the universality of the lord and people of any faith can enter this temple to offer their prayers. This temple happens to be the seventh and most recent Bahai House of Worship in the world. Over four million people visit the temple annually. DescriptionThe structure of the Bahai Temple is made of pure white marble in the shape of a half-opened lotus, reaching a height of more than 40m, and is surrounded by beautifully groomed lawns. This architectural wonder is made of a combination of marble, cement, sand and dolomite. One can see 27 giant white petals of marble in a lotus shape, springing from nine pools and walkways indicative of the nine unifying spiritual paths of the Bahai faith. Location and EntranceThe Bahai Temple is located on Bahapur Hills in South Delhi. This gleaming structure remains closed to tourists during morning and evening prayers. Jama Masjid: This is one of the largest mosques in India. It was built during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1656 AD. The Jama Masjid's large courtyard, onion domes and central tank are built of red sandstone and white marble in the Indo-Islamic style. India is known for her relegious tolerance, cultural richness and the power of unity in diversity. People belonging to different faiths and cultures co-exist in the country with perfect harmony within themselves, contributing thereby to the strength of the Indian fabric in general. Their places of worship too, are thus sacred not just to themselves but to their fellow-countrymen as well, irrespective of the faith they follow. One of these is the Jama Masjid in Delhi. Generally considered to be the largest and most respected mosque in India, the Jama Masjid is one of the most famous landmarks of the country, symbolizing for the country's Muslim population a guide to the religious doctrines. Architecturally, the Jama Masjid is similar to many other mosques that the wizard of architecture, the genius emperor Shah Jahan built all around his realm. These include mosques by the same name in cities like Ajmer, Agra and a number of others. The courtyard of the Jama Masjid, which is completely built of red sandstone, is accessible from the east, north and south by three different flights of stairs. These steps are used to house markets, entertainers as well as food stalls. Facing west, the Jama Masjid is covered on three sides with open arched colonnades with a tower like gateway in the center. Also called Masjid-I-Jahanuma or the 'mosque commanding view of the world', the Jama Masjid is a constructional wonder with alternating strips of red sandstone and marble. The mosque owes much of the respect associated with it to the relics of Mohammad, which it houses. These include Quran written on deerskin, a red beard-hair of the prophet, his sandals and his footprint, embedded in a marble slab, all of which are still preserved. Top |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
India's lawmakers and statesmen decide the destiny of India, the place where the Indian Parliament meets and from where the world's largest democracy functions. 
Minister of India addresses the nation every Independence Day, ie 15 th of August. The Diwan-e-khas, and Diwan-e-am, the weaponry museum and the sound and light show are all worth seeing at the Red Fort. 
believed to have influenced the design of the Taj Mahal. The first example of the garden tomb, it is in the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites as well. The Tomb is maintained by the Aga Khan Trust that has to a large extent restored its lost glory to the tomb.