Archive for the ‘Maharashtra’ Category
April 24th, 2010 | 
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Situated just on the fringes of Aurangabad are the caves that were carved out during the 2nd to 6th century in Maharashtra. These caves are ten in number and have been shaped out of somewhat soft rock. Tantric Hinduism has been the inspiration of their architecture and iconography. Aurangabad Caves are to be found at two different locations, at a distance of a kilometer. These two locations are referred to as Western Group Caves (Cave 1-5) and Eastern Group Caves (cave 6-10).
Western Group Caves
Regarding Western Group Caves, the architecture is absolutely fascinating. Majority of the caves are monasteries, excluding Cave 4 that is perhaps the oldest cave and represents the prayer hall of Hinayana phase amidst its ridged roof and stupa in the forefront. The monasteries essentially represent the early style of Buddhist monastery having an open court, encircled by open cells. Cave 3 is the masterpiece amongst all, with its beautifully carved pillars and sculptures depicting scenes from the Jatakas. Other caves are essentially monasteries, which usual have an open court encircled by open cells.
Eastern Group Caves
The Eastern Group Caves are no less than the former group in terms of design and architecture. Cave 6 is considerable for its amazing picturization of women, specially their hairstyles and ornamentation. Outside this cave, you can see amazing figure of both, Lord Ganesha and Buddha. Whereas Cave 7 is the most remarkable of all the caves in Aurangabad, principally for its sculptures that portray figures of women meagerly dressed and richly ornamented. It also indicates the augment of Tantric Buddhism during the period. A visit to Aurangabad Caves would give an insight into the rock-cut architecture of India.
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Ajanta & Ellora Caves have the distinction of being counted amongst the World Heritage Sites in India. Located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, these caves are rock-cut cave monuments that represent the Indian rock-cut architecture. Ajanta Caves are about 99 kms, while Ellora caves are sited at a distance of 30 kms from Aurangabad city of India.
Ajanta Caves
In 1819, some British Army officers came across Ajanta Caves when they were on a tiger hunt. Once the monsoon retreats of Buddhist monks, these caves are constructed in an extremely detailed manner. There are thirty caves in total, out of which five are prayer halls (Chaitya) and others are monasteries (Vihara). Here, one can see a distinctive amalgamation of architecture, sculpture and paintings. Built between 2nd and- 4th century, Ajanta Caves depict two phases of architecture, where one is Hinayana phase and the other is Mahayana phase.
Portrayal of Contemporary Society
The interiors of the caves depict the contemporary society of those times. The carvings and the murals represent people, ranging from kings to slaves, women, men and children. These figures are entwined with flowers, plants, fruits, birds and beasts. Figures of ‘Yakshas’, ‘Kinneras’ (half human and half bird), ‘Gandharvas’ (divine musicians) and ‘Apsaras’ (divine dancers), are showcased here in a picturesque manner.
The Caves – Monasteries & Prayer Halls
Dedicated completely to Buddhism, Ajanta Caves are divided into ‘Chaitya Grihas’ (prayer halls) and ‘Viharas’ (monasteries). Out of all the caves, only five are prayer halls (9, 10, 19, 26 and 29) and rest of them are monasteries. From artistic point of view, the Caves worth mentioning are 1, 2, 16 and 17 which truly boast of marvelous pieces of art. These caves are adorned with beautiful paintings depicting the life and incarnations of Buddha.
Wall Paintings
The carvings and the paintings in the caves reveal the creative vision of the artist. The themes of the paintings portray the religious intensity of the sculptors and painters, who depict events from the life of Buddha and the Jataka Tales. In the tempera technique, the paintings are done on a base of mud-plaster. Ajanta caves also throw light on the enlightening history of the times, which includes court scenes, street scenes and cameos of domestic life as well.
Ellora Caves
Built by the Rashtrakuta Dynasty, Ellora Caves present the quintessence of Indian rock-cut architecture. These are 35 cave structures, including Buddhist monasteries, Hindu and Jain Temples, which were excavated out of the Charanandri Hills. Built between the 5th and 10th century, there are twelve Buddhist caves (caves 1-12), seventeen Hindu (caves 13-29) and five Jain caves (caves 30-34) in Ellora. All these caves face the west direction. The exquisite architecture of these caves is worth taking a glimpse.
Cave 1-12
Shaped between the 5th and 7th centuries, these Buddhist caves are essentially monasteries embracing shrines, living quarters, sleeping quarters, kitchens and other rooms. Most of them are engraved so finely that it seems difficult to make out, whether it is stone or wood. Vishwakarma Cave (Cave10), popularly called Carpenter’s Cave, is the most famous multi-storey prayer hall that boasts of impressive carvings on ceiling. Unlike the other caves that are intricately carved, the Buddhist Cave 12 has quite a simple edifice and austere pillars. Amazing feature about this three-storey cave is that it is crafted in such a manner that its floors and the ceiling are absolutely smooth.
Caves 13-29
Dating back to the 7th century, Hindu caves depict absolutely different and stunning creative work. Amongst all, Kailasanath Temple (Cave 16) is of paramount importance amidst its striking monolithic sculptures. Not a single edge or corner is left plain, rather festooned with exotic carvings and relief work. Earlier stone bridges used to connect the columned galleries to the central temple, but now have been ravaged by the time. Super achievement of Dravidian art, this temple is estimated to have taken 100 years of construction. Dashavatara Cave (cave 15) is another remarkable cave that represents 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu, while figurines of river goddesses are depicted in Ramesvara Cave (cave 21). The architectural design of Dhumar Lena (Cave 29) appears similar to that of Elephanta Cave in Mumbai.
Caves 30-34
Represent the definite dimensions of the Jainism philosophy; Jain caves portray simplicity and a sense of asceticism. These caves are not very big, but showcase unusually detailed works of art. Indra Sabha (Cave 32) is a shrine and has superb carvings of the lotus flower on its ceiling. Creative vision seeks no bounds in these caves and artists have given their excellent work. A commanding ‘yakshini’ seated on her lion under a mango tree, laden with fruits is an excellent example of the creative work. Intricate detailing is the quality of majority of the Jain caves. Here fragments of paintings on the ceilings are still very much visible.
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Soaring peaks, breathtaking valleys. Lush flora. Cool, crisp mountain air. This is Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra’s most popular hill station, and once the summer capital of the Bombay Presidency during the British Raj. |
| Mahabaleshwar means ‘God of Great Power’ in Sanskrit. Indeed, the place is great and bountiful, rewarding the visitor with a mix of old-world charm, natural beauty and modernity. |
| A tour of Mahabaleshwar town and the surrounding countryside would take at least a couple of days as there is much to see and experience. The town bazaar is called Malcolm Peth after the then British Governor of Bombay, Sir John Malcolm. It lies at the heart of Mahableshwar with its hotels, shops, restaurants, outlying bungalows, government offices, and jostling crowds. |
| Mahabaleshwar has proper, motorable roads to every point worth visiting. So one could tour the place by car, jeep, or even horseback. There are many buildings and sites that take one back to the days of the Raj. There’s Mount Malcolm, the one-time residence of Governor Malcolm; Moraji Castle, where Mahatma Gandhi lived during 1945; and the Mahabaleshwar Club. |
| As short drive from town is the beautiful Venna Lake, where one can go boating, fishing, and pony riding. Or indulge oneself at the entertainment center with its numerous food and game stalls. Near the lake, further down the road on the way to neighbouring Panchgani, are the great strawberry fields. |
| Mahabaleshwar is known for its numerous sightseeing points, each providing a unique perspective of the majestic hill range. En route to Babington Point is Dhom dam, which is a good place to take a break. Or one could visit Old Mahabaleshwar and the famous Panchganga Mandir, which is said to contain the springs of five rivers: Koyna, Venna, Savitri, Gayatri and the sacred Krishna River. There’s also the Mahabaleshwar Mandir, revered for its Swayambhu Lingam |
| Mahableshwar is a great holiday destination throughout the year, except for the monsoon months. During the late-June to mid-September period, torrential rains virtually shutdown this hill station, so travel is not advised at this time. |
SIGHTS
| Mount Malcolm |
| Built in 1829, this was one of the famous buildings of its time. |
| Holy Cross Church |
| The stained glass windows of this old Roman Catholic Church still retain their beauty. |
| Mahabaleshwar Club |
| Built in 1881, the Mahabaleshwar Club offers a peaceful retreat for those wanting to get away from it all. The Club offers many recreational facilities, including a badminton court and a mini golf course. Facilities are available to everyone at a very low fee. For those who prefer the quiet outdoors, there is a jogging track encircling the premises, edged with beautiful rose bushes. The Club also offers a clear view of Venna Lake below. Every year, Christmas is celebrated here with much fervour and pomp by the club members. |
| Pratapgad Fort |
| About 24 km. away from Mahabaleshwar lies Pratapgad, the pride of the Maratha Empire. Built in 1656, it is a maze of ponds, chambers and long dark walkways, some of which lead to trap doors that open to a 100 meter fall! It was here that Afzal Khan, the mighty general of Bijapur, met his untimely death at the hands of Shivaji. Since Pratapgad lies slightly off the road to Mahabaleshwar, a visit to this historic monument is recommended in all travel itineraries |
| Mahabaleshwar has many points offering great views of flat-topped ghats, dense forests and lush green valleys. Lodwick Point, towering almost 1,240 meters above sea level, is one of the most visited Points and holds a monument in memory of General Lodwick Arthur’s Seat is well liked too for its great view of the Jor Valley. About a kilometer away lies Tiger’s Spring, and if you venture further down you’ll come to a ledge named The window – a point that’s famous for its mesmerizing view. |
| There are many locations offering pleasant views of the plains below: Wilson Point, Carnac Point, Helen’s Point, Elphinstone Point, Babington Point, Bombay Point, Falkland Point, and Kate Point are all well known |
| There are pleasant waterfalls also worth visiting, such as Chinaman’s Falls, Dhobi Falls and Lingmala Falls, the latter being the most impressive, cascading amost 600 ft from a cliff! |
| Another tourist attraction is the Sangam, or the confluence of the five rivers that flow over the Deccan Plateau. There are many old temples too, which become the focus of attention during the festive season. |
| Welcome to the city that never sleeps! Pulsating, Alive, On the Move, Vibrant, Fun — this is Mumbai or as it is still frequently referred to — Bombay. The most modern city in India, it captures the spirit of the changing pace set by liberalization and modernisation. |
| Once a cluster of seven islands, Mumbai was presented to King Charles II in 1661 as part of the dowry when he married Princess Catherine de Braganza of Portugal. |
| Over the years, as colonialism gave way to independence, Mumbai has transformed itself into an entity with thriving markets, business houses and many different communities reflecting a cosmopolitan and trendy atmosphere rarely seen elsewhere. On the surface, it represents the ever-changing face of today’s India — the old coupled with the dynamic new, and yet at its very core, the heart of the city is steeped in Indian customs and values. |
| It is the capital of Maharashtra state, and its official language is Marathi although English and Hindi are widely spoken and understood. The fast-paced life has given rise to hordes of “fast-food outlets” on almost every road, offering lip-smacking choices of Mumbai’s very own pau bhaji, bhel puri and kababs. There is no dearth, though, of multi-culinary delicacies dished out in posh restaurants by expert chefs. Mumbai is a shopper’s delight with bargain buys, exclusive boutiques, ethnic markets and mini bazaars. This busy city is also the hub of a thriving cultural life, with a constant stream of performances in music, dance and drama. The seat of the Hindi film industry, known locally as Bollywood, it produces the largest number of films in the world. Mumbai caters to the adventurous and the romantic through its sporting activities, nightclubs, pubs, theatres, beaches and restaurants. Old and new, rich and poor, classical and modern — its all here for you to savour and enjoy! |
Juhu beach is one of the most attractive sea beaches of Mumbai. This flat beach is located almost at center of the Mumbai town. Located 18-km north of the city centre, it’s a major beach site on the shores of Arabian Sea and is one of the posh localities of Mumbai where one can find the bungalows of the famous film personalities of Bollywood. It’s also a favourite shooting site among the filmmakers as many film shootings are also held over here.
On the southern end of the Juhu beach one can find many Luxury hotels and apartments, which are regarded as a favourite haunt of Mumbai’s movers and shakers. The beach, which almost seems deserted during weekdays, always tends to get very crowded on weekends. One of the major attraction of Juhu beach is Sunset.
Juhu has the specialty of being the largest as well the most frequently visited beaches in India. Climate being uniform that is warm, except during monsoon rains from June to September, Juhu is a wonderful resort for the tourist. Juhu is the best place to bring the entire community (Mumbaikars – residents of Mumbai) on common social grounds and much interaction takes place amidst the natural ambience provided by the beach. Children, adults and aged, locals and tourists all make up the population that inhibits the beach especially on weekends.
The beach was in news in mid 2005 following the diamond rush. It is believed that high tides had brought with it colored crystals called Ámerican diamonds’ and people next day joined in great numbers for the treasure hunt. The American diamonds were for sure recovered but their worth goes no more than 10 rupees.
Built around 1785, the history of this temple is supposedly connected with the building of the Hornby Vellard. It is said that when Britishers failed in their repeated attempts to connect Mahalakshmi area to Worli by building Breach Candy on account of ferocious tides, they had almost surrendered. The problem was fixed only by divine intervention when the goddess Lakshmi appeared in the dream of chief engineer and asked him to remove the three statues from the sea bed and establish them in a proper shrine.
A search operation was launched to recover the statues and a temple was built. After this, the work on the vellard could be completed without a hitch.
The Temple contains images of Goddess Mahalakshmi, Mahakali and Mahasaraswathi. All three images are adorned with nose rings, gold bangles and pearl necklaces. The image of Mahalakshmi is shown riding a tiger and a demon (Mahishasur) in a tandem. Beyond the ornate gate is the shrine wherein resides the buxom goddess of Lucre — Laxmi. The compound of this temple is abuzz with stalls selling flower garlands and pious paraphernalia.
The known history of the temple dates back to early nineteenth century. This temple has been renovated thoroughly in the late 1900s in order to accomodate the needs of the surging crowds of devotees that throng the temple during festive occasions.
The narrow lane outside the temple is the ‘Phool galli’ lined with innumerable stalls selling tulsi flower garlands, coconuts, an array of sweets including the pear shaped favourite yellow sweet of Lord Ganesha, the ‘modak’, and a range of religious paraphernalia. Here beggar men women and children alike, abound.
There are some people who earn their daily bread by guarding the footwear of the devotees while they are inside the temple. Security guards are present at the gates and inside the temple as well. There is a statue of a squatting nandi or the sacred cow, which is the mode of transport of Lord Shiva. Thousands throng the mandir everyday. Popular belief goes that Ganapati, as Lord Ganesha is
called, does not disappoint his devotees. The upper floors house the residential
quarters of the priests.
The sanctum here houses a small mandapam enshrining Siddhi Vinayak. The inner roof of the sanctum is plated with gold, and the wooden doors to the sanctum are carved with images of Ashta Vinayak. The most prominent landmark Prabhadevi attracts many devotees from all over the city. Tuesday is considered the most auspicious day and devotees stand for hours (even before the crack of dawn) in long winding queues to seek blessings of Lord Ganesha. On special days the line can be s long as 3000 people or more.
Mumbai is the center of India’s huge Hindi film industry, producing 120 feature films a year. Much of the glamour associated with the city stems from its celebrated position as the dream-factory of the nation. The local film industry is known as Bollywood. It’s a ragtag speculative trade, flush with
black money and low on innovation. The films it produces tend to be spectacular melodramatic fantasies. They are known disparagingly as ‘masala movies’ because they are made to an established formula that mixes a variety of ingredients – action, violence, music, dance, romance and moralizing – into one outrageous blend. While plenty of thought- provoking ‘artistic’ Indian films are appreciated in the west, masala movies are largely viewed with contempt. It’s
not hard to figure out why. Stock characters, exaggerated acting, self-conscious editing, implausible, narratives and heroines who burst into song every five minutes are just the beginning of a long list of unlikely features that you are going to have to accept at face value if you want to enjoy a Bollywood flick. 
Despite being dismissed as escapist claptrap, plenty of masala movies get their narrative drive from social issues like communalism, ethnicity and caste. Many also address the effects of modernization and urbanization on traditional Indian
institutes such as the family and marriage. As you’d expect from any vibrant cultural form, masala movies are a reflection of India’s social and political milieu. This doesn’t diminish their appeal or (thank goodness) unduly imbue them with profundity, but it does mean they have an astonishingly direct feed into the lives of their audiences that outsiders may find hard to fathom. On the surface it may be Rambo, Romeo and Robin Hood, but the subtext is likely to be
the Mahabharata, dharma, and social justice. In this context , it’s not surprising that masala movies have been one of the most potent forces shaping Indian ideas of nationhood.