Author Archive
Red Fort
June 16, 2011 | 
Author
Through the pages of history…..
The Red Fort stands as the result of the decision of Shahjahan in 1639, to shift his capital to New Delhi from Agra. Within eight years, Shahjahanabad was completed with the Red Fort-Qila-i-Mubarak (fortunate citadel)-New Delhi’s seventh fort.
Specimen of artisitic brilliance- red fort:
The Red Fort stands witness to the glorious Indian history and architecture. This fort built behind red sandstone walls gives the fort its name. The Red Fort or Lal Qila reiterates the period of Moghul magnificence. This famous citadel comprises of massive audience halls and marble palaces. The architecture was accentuated with precious stones when constructed.
The two main gateways are the Lahore Gate and the Delhi Gate.
The Red Fort is to be entered by the Delhi Gate, that leads to the Hathi Pol or Elephant Gate.
The Diwan-e-am and the Diwan-e-khas are pavilions from where the king addressed the common people and the elite respectively.
The Rang Mahal is a water-cooled apartment for the royal ladies and in the basement of the fort there is a market where one can buy traditional Indian goods at very competitive rates.
The Khas Mahal and Sheesh Mahal are exquisitely decorated halls, that radiate the brilliance and splendor of Mughal royalty.
The Lahore Gate opens to Chatta Chowk which as once a royal market . The arcade was also known as Meena bazar.
Moti Masjid (pearl mosque) was a private mosque built by by Aurangzeb (Shahjahan’s son) for his personal use.
Spotlight on red fort:
It was here that he first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, unfurled the Indian flag on 15 August 1947 commemorating the end of the British colonial rule.
Every year on Independence day, the Prime minister addresses a huge crowd assembled in the Maidan (ground) overlooking the fort, from its Lahore gate.
» Every evening a sound and light show recreates the Red fort’s history. There are shows in English and Hindi, and tickets are available from the Fort. The show is highly recommended.
Trip Time:
One day is convenient to look around Red Fort. If desired, the trip can be extended to discover other monuments of Delhi.
Delhi Weather:
Summer: During summer temperature shoot to about 47 C once in a while, though the average maximum temperature is about 42 C.The days are extremely hot and often accompanied by dust storms. Winter: Winters are very pleasant. The mornings are very foggy, the nights cold. The maximum temperature on a very cold Delhi afternoon would be about 12 C and the minimum would fall to about 2 C.
Transport Accessibility:
» Air : All the major National and International Air Lines have their flights operating from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
» Rail : The Indian Railway with their modern and organised network connects Delhi to all major and minor destinations in India. There are three important Railway Stations in Delhi namely New Delhi Rly. Station, Old Delhi Rly. Station and Hazarat Nizamuddin Rly. Station.
» Bus 
elhi is well connected by road to all major destinations in North India. The Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) are located at Kashmiri Gate, Sarai Kale-Khan and Anand Vihar. Delhi Transport Corporations of the neighbouring states provide frequent bus services.
Posted in 
Nainital
Nainital is a beautiful hill district situated in the Central Himalayas. Situated in the Kumaon hills, Nainital is popularly known as ‘chatka’ or a city of 60 lakes. Nainital is known as India’s ‘Lake District’ because numerous lakes are spread across it’s boundaries. It is situated at an altitude of 1,938 m. and it is spread over an area of 11.73 sq km. The plush greenary and the majestic mountains enhance the beauty of the hill resort. An English traveller discovered this alluring hill resort in 1839. Encircled by seven hills, this resort was the erstwhile summer capital of the Uttar Pradesh government. Nature’s delightful beauty and the charm of the exotic locales besides the cool weather make Nainital the ideal place to be in during the summers.
Overview of nainital:
One of the most sought-after summer destinations of India, the picturesque locale of Nainital encompasses tree covered hillsides, enchanting lakes, quiant cottages and rich pastureland. Nainital is divided into two segments, Tallital and Mallital, at the lower and upper ends of the lake, respectively. The North Mall running along one side of the lake, and the South Mall along the other, connect the two parts. The famous temple of Nanda Devi is situated on the shores of the lake. Another popular landmark in the area is the Church of St John – in – the – Wilderness, which is one of the earliest structures of Nainital.
Popular Sites:
Naini Lake:
It is this lake around which the town of Nainital is situated. The lake is shaped like an eye or crescent and is surrounded by hills on all side. The lake is said to be one of the emerald green eyes (Naina) of Siva’s wife which fell at this site and hence the name Naini Tal.
Naina Peak
Situated at an altitude of 2,611 m, is this highest point within Nainital and commands superb views of Nanda Devi mountains and the mountains on the Tibetan order.
» Naina Devi Temple: This temple of Naina devi is situated on the northern end of Naini Lake, after whom the town is named. “Naina” means “eye” and “tal” means “lake”. It is believed that the eye of the goddess Parvati fell into the lake as her spouse Shiva was carrying her back to his dwelling on Mount Kailash. There is festival here during August/September in honour of Nanda Devi, who is patron goddess of Kumaon.
» St John-in-the-Wilderness Church: It is one of the earlieat buildings erected in Nainital and possibly the finest church in any Indian Hill station. The church was named by the bishop of Calcutta who came to Nainital in 1844, when the place was still very much a wilderness
» Snow View : This is a scenic place at an height of 2,270 m. It is accessible by foot, on horse back or by a chairlift (ropeway). Peaks of Nanda Devi peaks can be seen through a powerful binocular telescope fixed here.
» Lakes: There are numerous lakes (tals) that accentuate the charm of this wonderful hill station. Lakes like Bhim tal, Naukuchia Tal, Sat Tal, Khurpa Tal and many more that are worth a visit.
Shopper’s Stop:
Nainital is known for it’s beautiful candles and Bal Mithai sweet. Mallital and Tallital are the main markets of Nainital where Kumaon woolens and locally tweed made shawls are extremely popular. For local handicrafts Gupta Gift Emporium, Bara Bazaar, Mallital can be visited which offers cane sticks, candles, wood craft and many other items.
Climatic Condition:
Winter: Maximum is 15.6 degree and minimum can plunge to 2.8 degree. Summer: Maximum temperature in summer is 26.7 degree Celsius and minimum is 10.6 degree.
Travel Connectivity:
» Airway: The nearest airport is at Pantnagar, 71 km away. It is connected by Vayudoot services with Delhi.
» Railway: The nearest railhead is at Kathgodam, 35 km away. Nainital is connected by rail to Delhi, Agra, Bareilly and Lucknow.
» Roadway: Nainital is connected by good, all-weather roads to Delhi (322 km), Bareilly (141 km), Almora (66 km) and Ranikhet (60 km). Public and private bus companies ply regular bus services between Nainital and Delhi, Lucknow, Bareilly, Hardwar, Dehradun, Almora, Ranikhet, Ramnagar and other important towns in the state.
Golden Temple
Amritsar, literally means the Pool of Nectar. Amritsar derieves its name from Amrit Sarovar, the holy tank that surrounds the fabulous Golden Temple. The Sikh cult largely dominate the city. During centuries, this complex of Sikh culture grew from a sacred village pond into a spiritual-temporal center. The passionate pilgrims of the faith of Guru Nanak (15th century), who united Hindu and Muslim elements and initiated a reformation, flocked here generation after generation.
History unfolded:
Guru Arjan Sahib, the Fifth Nanak, conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship for the Sikhs and he himself designed the architecture of Golden temple also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib. Guru Arjan Sahib got its foundation laid by a muslim saint Hazrat Mian Mir ji of Lahore in December 1588. The construction work was directly supervised by Guru Arjan Sahib himself and he was assisted by the prominent Sikh personalities like Baba Budha ji, Bhai Gurdas ji, Bhai Sahlo ji and many other devoted Sikhs.
Front View of Golden Temple
Side View of Golden Temple
Golden Temple- ‘The Shining Splendor’:
The temple is located on a small island in the centre of a pool called the amrit-sar (‘pool of nectar’) and is connected to land by a marble causeway.The golden colour comes from the overlay of gold foil, hence the name. Golden Temple has a unique feature, here the devotees have to step down to offer their homage unlike other temples where the devotees have to climb up to offer their salutation.
This wonderful temple of God has been built at the lowest level because it represents the humility of Guru Nanak. The architecture of the temple is considered as the epitome of dexterity and creativity and it represents a unique harmony between the Muslims and the Hindus. Patrolling guards are present all the time to ensure that visitors respect the basic rules when visiting the temple. As long as the rules are respected, visitors of all religions are given a warm welcome. Symbolically, it has entrances on all four sides to show that it is open to worshippers of all castes and creeds.
Around golden temple:
Akal Takht- All commandements affecting the community as a whole were and still are issued from here.
Baba Atal- A nine storeyed tower built in the memory of the Atal Rai, son of Hargobind.
Guru Ka Langar- Cooked food is serviced in the kitchen of the Golden temple24 hours to all visitors irrespective of their caste, creed or nationality. Everyday approximately around 40,000 visitors share their meals here.
Sri Guru Ram Das Niwas- this is a free hostel for the pilgrims maintained by the temple authorities. There are plenty of niwas to make your stay comfortable such as Guru Nanak Niwas, Akal Rest House and more.
Central Sikh Museum- This museum has paintings of Sikh Gurus, saints, Sikh warriors and other prominent leaders who have contributed towards the development of Sikh religion.
Plan Your Trip:
The magnificent Golden temple can be seen in one day, while the stay can be extended if desired.
Climate:
Summer – Max: 34 Min: 15
Winter – Max: 18 Min: 0
Amritsar has extreme climate with very hot summers and very cold winters.
Transport:
» By Air: Amritsar is connected by air with Delhi and Shrinagar.
» By Rail: Amritsar is connected by rail with Delhi, Calcutta, Bombay, Varanasi, Wagah (Attari Border) and some other places in India.
» By Road: Amritsar is connected by bus with Ambala, Chandigarh, Delhi, Ferozepur, Jammu etc. Some of the road distances are as follows:- Jammu 216 kms, Ferozepur 160 kms, Chandigarh 235 kms, Delhi 435 kms and Wagah 29 kms.