Archive for the ‘Historical Places In India’ Category
April 3rd, 2012 | 
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Best time to visit
Though the weather in Bangalore is quite pleasant throughout the year, the best time to visit Vidhana Soudha is between the months of October and February when the weather is at its best.
Timing to Visit
Although the building of Vidhana Soudha can be accessed from all the four sides, the entry inside the building is restricted and if you want to tour the inside of Vidhana Soudha then you need to seek a prior permission from the administration.
History of The Place
One of the leading centres of attraction in Bangalore – Vidhana Soudha is a perfect example of fusion architecture, which is based on the neo Dravidian style, with hints of Rajasthani, Chola and Kannada architecture. Conceived and constructed under the patronage of Sri K. Hanumanthaiya, 
the chief minister of the then Mysore, who wanted Vidhana Soudha to represent the legislative sovereignty of the people just like in the House of Commons in London.
Built in 1954, Vidhana Soudha is one of the most impressive buildings, which has been constructed using Bangalore granite that was excavated from the sites around Mallasandra and Hessaraghatta. Architects of the building have used Magadi pink and Turuvekere black to enhance the visual effect and also to break the monotony of Bangalore granite. The whole construction took four years to complete and about 5000 labourers and 1500 chisellers, masons and wood-carvers worked on the project.
The majestic building of Vidhana Soudha with its perfect blending of ancient and modern architectural styles is not only enormous but also outstanding at the same time. The twelve columns with a height of forty feet right in the front of the Assembly Hall makes for a magnificent background for the central dome and other six smaller domes. The central dome, which provides the roof over the State Banquet Hall, is supported by eight pillars that are sixty feet in diameter.
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Located At: : Old Delhi, near Read Fort
Visiting Hours: : Daily from dawn to dusk. Closed during prayer times. (Entry closed for women after 6 pm)
Entry Fee: : Entry is free but tourists will have to pay Rs. 100 if they carry a camera along with themselves.
Best time to visit: : Between October and March. However, there is no specified or advised time because it is a religious place and one can visit at any time of the year.
The Jama Masjid, the Friday congregational mosque, in Delhi is the largest and glorious mosque in India. It was the last architectural extravaganza of the Mughal Emperor, Shahjahan built in the year 1656 AD with the help of 5,000 craftsmen. It was made across the road from the Red Fort. 
The mosque is also known as Masjid-I-Jahanuma, which means ‘mosque commanding view of the world’. The measurement of the mosque is 65 m X 35 m while the courtyard is forms an area of 100 n square. The mosque has the capacity to hold as many as 25,000 devotees. The Lal Qila or the Red Fort stand towards the east of the mosque.
The Jama Masjid was designed as the main mosque of Shahjahan. It stands on one of the two hills, Bho Jhala in the Mughal capital, Shahjahanabad. The mosque has three gateways, four towers and two minarets. It is constructed with alternate use of vertical strips of red sandstone and white marble. The white marble has been used extensively in the three domes and has been inlaid with stripes of black. The structure was situated on a high platform so that its magnificent facade would be visible from all the neighboring areas. The main prayer hall on the west is decorated by a series of high cusped arches, which stand on 260 pillars. These pillars support 15 marble domes at various elevations. The imposing gateways are approached through a broad flight of steps in the north and the south. The hallmarks of this famous mosque are the wide staircases and arched gateways.
The tower is made up of five distinguished storeys, each pronounced by a protruding balcony. Beautiful calligraphy embellishes its adjacent buildings. The first three storeys of the tower are made of red sandstone, the fourth one, while the fifth is again of sandstone.
Location : Delhi
Also Known As : Sansad Bhavan
Area : 6 Acres
Houses : Chambers of Rajya Sabha & Lok Sabha And A Library Hall
Parliament House Estate comprises the Parliament House, Reception Office building and Parliament House Annexe, 36 Gurdwara Rakabganj Road, 23 Mahadev Road and the extensive lawns around it where ponds with fountains have been provided. Special floral decoration is done at important points in the building during sessions of Parliament as well as on other important occasions. By the very nature of things, Parliament House Estate as a whole and the Chambers of the two Houses in particular are subject to strict security precaution all round the year.
Parliament House of Delhi, generally known as the Sansad Bhawan is located at the end point of the Sansad Marg in New Delhi. Parliament House of Delhi is a circular construction designed by Herbert Baker and was opened in 1927. The massive structure of the Parliament House in Delhi has 247 pillars with wide corridor. The Parliament House of New Delhi is the governmental Assembly of the country.
General public can enter the Sansad Bhawan or the Parliament House of Delhi and view sessions in the public gallery by getting permits from the reception office of Raisina Road of New Delhi. 
No buses are permitted to run near the Sansad Marg but if you need to come to this place you can hire a taxi or an auto rickshaw. Entrance in the Parliament House in Delhi strains a letter of introduction which is a form of official permission.
The Parliament House of Delhi of India is a place where the world’s largest democracy functions. Though photography is not forbidden in Parliament House of Delhi India, prior permission is needed. The Parliament House of Delhi India comprises 3 semicircular halls, namely the Chamber of Princes the Council of State Legislative Assembly.
Size of the Building
Parliament House is a massive circular edifice 560 feet (170.69 metres) in diameter. Its circumference is one-third of a mile 536.33 metres and it covers an area of nearly six acres (24281.16 square metres). The open verandah on the first floor is fringed with a colonnade of 144 creamy sandstone columns—each 27 feet (8.23 metres) high. The building has twelve gates among which Gate No. 1 on the Sansad Marg is the main gate.
Architectural Design
Apart from the fact that the building was built with indigenous material and by Indian labour, the architecture of the building bears a close imprint of the Indian tradition. The layout of fountains both inside and outside the building, the use of Indian symbols the “Chhajjas” which shade the walls and windows and the varied forms of “Jali” in marble are reminders of the story of the craftsmanship displayed in ancient monuments and memorials. With the ancient features of Indian art are mingled modern scientific achievements in acoustics, air-conditioning, simultaneous Interpretation and Automatic Voting etc.
The Masjid Zeenath Baksh, which is known to be Jumma Masjid, Mangalore is a historical mosque constructed in seventh century by Muslim Arab Traders. When the traditional treasons and repulsive rebellions were in active competition between one section of the society and the other, in the coastal belt of then South Kanara and Malabar Districts, due to different castes and creeds, the message of Islam entered this soil to spread Love, Peace and Creedless brotherhood.
The Zeenath Baksh Masjid also known as the Jumma Masjid, is found in Mangalore. It was built in the seventh century by the Muslim invaders.
The Masjid Zeenath Baksh, Bunder, Mangalore is said to have been established in 644 A.D. The masjid was inagurated on Friday the 22nd of the month of Jumadil Avval. The first Khazi appointed was Hazarath Moosa Bin Malik, the son of Malik Bin Abdullah.
In the Seventeenth century Tippu Sultan who was the King of Mysore was ruling Mangalore. He renovated and beautified the mosque by adding wooden carvings and pillars. These carvings are rare pieces of artwork. Tippu Sultan has also built a Masjid in Mangalore 2km away from this Mosque, which is presently known as Idgah Masjid. During the latter half of 18th century he named the masjid ‘Zeenath Baksh’ after his own daughter. The mosque has special religious significance and connotation for the Muslim community because the pioneers who set up the mosque are said to have been the kith and kin of ‘Sahabas’ (or associates) of Prophet Mohammed Rasulullah himself.
Historical View
After the advent of Islam, Muslim Arab Traders had very cordial relationship with the Rulers of Western coastal belt of this country, as well as with the people of this soil. The history revealed that there were many rich traders, from the Muslim Community in the Western Coastal belt dealing with the traders of the Middle East Countries through the Arabian Sea. Consequent on the advent of Islam in the early stage, a team of Arab Muslim Traders, under the Leadership of Hazarath Mohammed Malik Bin Dinar had visited Malabar and landed at Koranganoor, and attracted not only the people of the soil but also the ten ruler, Raja Cheruman Permal by their well behavior in the contact, honesty in trade, discipline in dealings and peaceful religious and pious life within the doctrines of Islam. The then ruler accommodated and provided them proper facilities for living, place for trading and also land for building Mosques.
The spontaneous and splendorous attitude of the Muslim Arab Traders, facilitated to construct the first mosque, in Koranganoor, out of the 10 Mosques established by them in this district and Malabar. The Masjid Zeenath Baksh (Jumma Masjid), Bunder, Mangalore is said to have been established in Mangalore in 644 A.D. and the first Khazi appointed was Hazarath Moosa Bin Malik, S/o Malik Bin Abdullah. This Mosque was inaugurated on Friday the 22nd of the month of Jumadil Avval in 22 of Hijara (644A.D.). That this sacred Mosque was established by not less than the Holy men of Arabia, who were said to be Kith and Kin of “SAHABAS” (Associates) of “Prophet” Hazarath MOHAMMED RASULULLAH (S.A.). Fortunate the people of Mangalore are that they have great Historical Mosque before them and they have the privilege of offering prayer in this Mosque.
Location : Hampi
Karnataka Height : 8/9 Metres Tall
Represents : The Benign Aspect of Lord Vishnu
his is the largest statue in Hampi. Narasimha is sitting on the coil of a giant seven-headed snake called Sesha. The heads of the snake acts as the hood above his head. The god sits in a cross-legged Yoga position with a belt supporting the knees.
Sometimes this is referred as Ugra Narasimha (i.e. Narasimha in its terrifying form). The protruding eyes and the facial expression are the basis for this name.
Narasimha (means half-man’half-lion in local the languages) is on of the ten incarnations (avatar) of Lord Vishnu.
The original statue contained the image of goddess Lakshmi, consort of the god, sitting on his lap. But this statue has been damaged seriously during the raid leading to the fall of Vijayanagara. Even the damaged portion of such a large statue of Lakshmi carved on his lap is missing. 
Probably it may be laying around in tiny pieces. But the goddess’s hand is visible resting on his back in embracing posture. If you get a chance to go inside this enclosure, it is possible to see the hand of the goddess. Even the nails & the rings on her fingers are so perfectly executed.
Lion face of Lakshmi Narasimha also sometimes called as Unganarasimha (the ferocious Narasimha)
Somehow this single statue alone can demonstrate at the same time how creative and destructive the human mind can be.
The Hindu mythology has a tale of Narasimha’s origin.
“Lord Vishnu takes the form of Narasihma in his fourth incarnation, the previous one being that of a Boar (Varaha). Vishnu kills the demon Hiranyaksha during his Varaha avatar. Hiranyaksha’s brother Hiranyakashipu wants to take revenge by destroying Lord Vishnu and his followers. He performs penance to please Brahma, the god of creation. Impressed by this act, Brahma offers him any thing he wants.
Hiranyakashipu asks for a tricky boon. That he would not die either on earth or in space; nor in fire nor in water; neither during day nor at night; neither inside nor outside (of a home); nor by a human, animal or God; neither by inanimate nor by animate being.
Brahma grants the boon. With virtually no fear of death he unleashes terror. Declares himself as god and asks people to utter no god’s name except his. However his son Prahlada (who a devoted worshiper of Lord Vishnu!) refuses. Repeated pressurization on him yields no results for Hiranyakashipu. Prahlada declares the omnipresence of Lord Vishnu.
Once Hiranyakashipu points to a pillar and asks if Vishnu is present in it. Prahlada nods in affirmative. Angered at it, he draws his sword and cuts the pillar; Narasimha appears out of the broken pillar.
Language : Hindi, Urdu, Kashmiri, and English
Best time to visit : April-June
STD Code : 0194
About The Place
Beat the heat in the hill resort of Srinagar. Srinagar is the summer capital of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The scintillating hill resort is ideally located in the Kashmir valley. Srinagar offers the spectacular sights of the lovely lakes and the houseboats on them. The dry fruits and the traditional Kashmiri handicrafts are the other major attractions of the hill resort. The natural beauty of the hill resort of Srinagar will surely sweep you off your feet. Jahangir, the Mughal emperor was left spell bound by the beauty of Srinagar. He exclaimed “Gar firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin asto” i.e. If there is a heaven on earth, it’s here, it’s here, it’s here in Srinagar. Get ready to be captivated by the Chinar trees of Srinagar.
Major Attraction
While visiting Srinagar, visit the famous lakes . The popular Dal Lake is one of the most beautiful and visited lakes in the world. The lake surrounded by mountains,
blossoming gardens and orchards, leaves you speechless. Try a pleasant ride in Shikaras and Houseboats . Subsidiary to the Dal, another famous water body is Nagin Lake, mostly visited for swimming, diving and boating.
As you walk over the Takht-e-Suleiman hill, you will find the Shankaracharya Temple. This temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is supposed to be the oldest shrine of Kashmir valley.
The landscaped Mughal Gardens are a paradise for nature lovers. Developed by the Mughals, Chashmashahi Garden, Nishat Gardena and Shalimar Garden are the three places that blossom with some of the rarest flowers in the world.
The nearby hilly areas provide opportunities for Fishing, Golf, Mountaineering, Skiing, Trekking, River Rafting, Paragliding, Aero Sports, Backpacking, Canoe Trips, Camping and Kayaking.
How To Reach
By Air: Srinagar has a domestic airport connecting it to other parts of India.
By Rail: Jammu is the nearest ralhead.
By Road: J&K State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC), private Super deluxe buses or taxis.
Location: Intersection of Chowringhee and Theatre Road.
Time to Visit: 1230hrs – 1830hrs.
Preferred Timings: Evening time is the best, between 1500hrs – 1700hrs.
Admission Fee: Rs.15/-
How to Reach: Local buses, mini buses and metered taxis are readily available from various parts of the city. One can also avail the efficient underground metro rail.
Photography / Video charges: Strictly prohibited.
Nearest Railway Station: Howrah.
Nearest Metro Station: Maidan.
Nearest Functional Metro Station: Maidan.
Nearest International Airport: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.
Time required for sightseeing: 1 hour.
For those who have always loved star gazing ever since their childhood with an urge to explore the fascinating realms of outer space , or aspire to be a rocket scientist, the M.P. Birla Planetarium,
Kolkata is just the place for you to venture, as it extends your celestial fantasies beyond your horizon.
Birla Planetarium, Kolkata is located towards the end of the Jawaharlal Nehru Road (formerly Chowringhee) and is in itself an enigmatic structure with its milky white façade and dome shaped roof. A popular Kolkata tourist landmark, the strategic location of this majestic Planetarium, within walking distance from Victoria Memorial, St.Paul’s Cathedral and Maidan, makes it a popular tourist destination.
Birla Planetarium, Kolkata has been projecting the fascinating celestial world of astronomy and space science to the discerning public ever since its inception, back in the year 1963. The planetarium is equipped with various state-of-the-art gadgets like the Celestron C-14 Telescope, Solar Filters, the Cal Zeiss Universal Planetarium projector and wide range of special effects projectors, which unravel the mysteries of the outer space in its dome shaped miniature sky every day.
When in Kolkata, do not miss this truly awesome celestial display.
Location : Himachal Pradesh
Area: 47sq.Kms
Altitude : 2,510 m
Discovered in : 1819
Main Attractions : Annual Winter Sports Festival and the Carnival
Climate: Summer 20°C – 30°C, Winter 10°C – 10°C
Places of Interest : Mashru Peak, Himalayan Nature Park, Indira Tourist Park
Best Time To Visit : April to June & November to February
Kufri is a famous hill station just 16 kms from Shimla in Himachal Pradesh well known for its ski slopes. Kufri gives paranomic view of the deep valleys, dense forests and lofty mountains. 
National Snow Statue Competition is held at Kufri every year in January.
Kufri along with Shimla and Chail forms the Golden Triangle of Himachal Pradesh. Tourists are fascinated by the breathtaking views of Kufri, Shimla and Chail along with the luxurious resorts like Toshali Royal View available for the tour to Shimla, Kufri and Chail.
Standing at an altitude of 2510 meters above sea level at Southern Himachal, Kufri was discovered in 1918 by the British people.
A small hill station of Himachal Pradesh, Kufri is 19-kms from Shimla connecting by national highway no. 22. Popular for its hiking and skiing trails in Himachal Pradesh, Kufri is at its natural best during winters. Skiing and tobogganing can be enjoyed along snow-capped slopes.
Skiing buffs and adventure seekers look forward to the annual winter sports festival held in February at Kufri to participate in it.
The Himalayan Nature Park is one of the major tourist attractions near Kufri. This Park offers numerous endangered birds and animals such as goral, serow, musk deer, leopard, black bears and so on.
Major Attraction
Fagu : This village is little forward and it is peaceful very good for undertaking a short trekking tour. The village overlooks the Giri valley and delivers a three km trek till Chharabra. 
Fagu can be a great picnic spot.
Skiing : Skiing is the most effective adventure activity that will be loved in Kufri. In the course of winters, when snow spreads its blanket over the slopes of Kufri, lovers of skiing know that they’ll have an thrilling time forward. Ski courses for novices are carried out each winter by Himachal Tourism. It also offers essential equipments for skiing.
Simla Water Catchment Sanctuar : Simla Water Catchment Sanctuary is situated adjacent to National Highway 22 and immediately north of Kufri, which lies some 12km by road east of Simla. The area under this sanctuary is 951ha using digitised maps with an altitude ranges from 1,900m to 2,620m. The sanctuary is connected by a forest corridor to Chail Sanctuary in the south. This sanctuary comprises a moderately steep catchment which is the main water supply for Simla. Nine perennial streams flow from this area, the main ones being Churat Nala and God Ki Nala. Mean annual rainfall is 1600mm and temperatures range from 5.4 C to 32 C.
Meteorological data are also available from nearby at Simla at 2,200m. Here, annual precipitation is in excess of 1500mm, over half of which falls during the summer monsoon. Mean monthly maximum and minimum temperatures range from 8.6 C in January to 24.1 C in July and from 1.9 C to 15.7 C, respectively. The sanctuary is closed to visitors. There is one rest house inside, and three outside the sanctuary.