hello

testing

Sunderbans National Park – Sunderbans Wildlife Sancturay

The Sunderbans national park is spread over and area of 1,000,000 hectors and is also known as the worlds largest delta. It is formed by the rivers Ganges, Meghana and Brahmaputra. The swampy delta is covered with a number of mangroves which covers a large area of the swamp. The forest and swamp are together linked to form a tangled network of rivers and streams. It is also a home for the one of the largest big cats the royal Bengal tiger and also a home to the largest mangrove covered area in the world. The forest has derived its name from the sundari trees that once did cover a much larger portion in these forests.

The archipelago of nearly 54 islands that are continuously watered by the Bay of Bengal is a dump of alluvial soil mostly contributed by the Ganges and Brahmaputra. The northern boundary of the Bans is formed by the islands of Basanti, Sandeshkali and Goasaba. The forest is surrounded by the sea to its south and the west side is surrounded by the Matla and Bidya rivers and east is run along with the international boundary of Bangladesh.

The Sanchi Stupas are world famous for their designs and their age

The Sanchi Stupas are world famous for their designs and their age when calculated on a historical time frame. They were built around the third century BC by the great emperor Ashoka.

The Stupas are located in the Sanchi district of Madhya Pradesh; India. The nucleus of Sanchi Stupa had been built around the relics which Gautama Buddha left behind. A crown had been placed over the area as a mark of respect and preserves the relics of Buddha. At some point of time the relics of the Buddha had been destroyed by certain vandals. This took place during the period of the Sunga rule. Agnimitra, a Sunga ruler reestablished the Stupas by repairing it and replacing it with slabs which were twice in size as the original ones.

Sanchi Stupas

The domes were renovated by building parasols and the three tiers of parasol were superimposed over one another. The tiers represent Dharma or the rule of law. The Satavahana period was another important phase for the stupas and the exact timing is around 70 BC. During this period many renovations were brought about in the Sanchi Stupas. The life of Lord Buddha began to be depicted using carvings made on stones. Buddha has been depicted by combining Buddha with many common lives events. This was done to make people understand the true essence of Buddha.

Gangotri Dham – Char Dham Yatra Uttarakhand

Gangotri Dham is located at the vicinity of the Himalayas and is considered as the first place where Ganga, the stream of existence, first stroked the earth. Goddess Ganga is the daughter of heaven according to the Hindu mythology. She transformed herself in the form of a river to pardon King Bhagirath’s ancestors of their sins with his harsh reparation of 5500 years. To lessen Ganga’s impact Lord Shiva put her into his matted hair. The Dham Gangotri means Ganga Uttari or Ganga fell. This memorial is situated at 3200m. There is an auspicious day on which the temple is unlocked, Akshaya Tritiya at the last week of April or the first week in May. When the temple is unbolted, a Puja takes place on both the inside and the outside of the temple. A closing ceremony is held when it closes on Diwali.

Gangotri Dham Pictures

 

 

Gangotri Dham is located at the vicinity of the Himalayas and is considered as the first place where Ganga, the stream of existence, first stroked the earth. Goddess Ganga is the daughter of heaven according to the Hindu mythology. She transformed herself in the form of a river to pardon King Bhagirath’s ancestors of their sins with his harsh reparation of 5500 years. To lessen Ganga’s impact Lord Shiva put her into his matted hair. The Dham Gangotri means Ganga Uttari or Ganga fell. This memorial is situated at 3200m. There is an auspicious day on which the temple is unlocked, Akshaya Tritiya at the last week of April or the first week in May. When the temple is unbolted, a Puja takes place on both the inside and the outside of the temple. A closing ceremony is held when it closes on Diwali.

Gangotri Dham Pictures

 

Beaches of Tamil Nadu

Beaches of Tamil Nadu

The southern most state in India also boasts the home of the world’s second longest beach. Relaxing along the Bay of Bengal is only made better when it is done in Tamil Nadu. The best part is that there are a number of great water sports available along these beaches as well, especially windsurfing.

The longest beach in Asia as well as being the second longest beach in the world is none other than Mariana Beach which extends 12 kilometers in length along the Bay of Bengal. Offering golden sand and excellent conditions for windsurfing, Mariana Beach is one of the most popular beaches in India.

Dhua Dhar Jabalpur Madhya Pradesh

River Narmada, making its way through the world-famous Marble Rocks, narrows down and then plunges in a waterfall known as Dhuandhaar or the smoke cascade. The plunge, which creates a bouncing mass of mist, is so powerful that its roar is heard from a far distance. The falls and the breaking of the volume of water at the crest present an awesome spectacle of Nature's power unleashed.

Marble Rocks at Bhedaghat

varied beauty of the rocks :

"the eye never wearies of the . . . effect produced by the broken and reflected sunlight, now glancing from a pinnacle of snow-white marble reared against the deep blue of the sky as from a point of silver, touching here and there with bright lights the prominence of the middle heights and again losing itself in the soft bluish grays of their recesses. . .
Here and there the white saccharine limestone is seamed by veins of dark green or black volcanic rock; a contrast which only enhances like a setting of jet, the purity of the surrounding marble."  

Places to visit

Marble Rocks
The perpendicular magnesium limestone rocks fringe the crystal clear placid waters of the Narmada providing a fascinating site. Boating facilities are available between November-May. Boating on a moonlit night, when the whole stretch of water is transformed into a sheet of liquid silver is absolutely magical. In the narrow channel of the mighty river, there is a place approached so closely from the opposite banks that the local people have aptly named it the "Monkey's Leap" .
Dhuandhar Falls
The Narmada, making its way through the Marble Rock,s narrows down and then plunges in a waterfall known as Dhuandhar or the smoke casade. So powerful is the plunge that its roar is heard from a far distance. The falls and the breaking of the volume of water at the crest present an awesome spectacle of Nature's power unleashed.

Chausat Yogini Temple
Situated atop a hillock and approached by a long flight of steps, the Chusat Yogini Temple commands a singularly beautiful view of the Narmada flowing through the jagged Marble Rocks. Dedicated to goddess Durga, this 10th century temple has exquisitely carved stone figures of deities belonging to the kalchuri period. According to a local legend, this ancient temple is connected to the Gond Queen Durgavati's palace through an underground passage.

Soapstone Artefacts
The soapstone revealed by the Narmada provides occupation to families of carvers of gods and goddesses, lingas, crosses, madonnas, ashtrays and trinket boxes.

Access

By Air : Jabalpur (23 km) is the nearest airport.

By Rail : Jabalpur, on the Mumbai-Howrah via Allahabad main line, is the main railhead. All mail, express and passenger trains halt here.