Unusual Historic Religious Monuments in India

October 29, 2014

Author – Alina Jersey

India is a country with a history dating back to around 3300 BC, making it an over five thousand year old civilisation. Despite this ancient tradition, for most foreign tourists, India is simply the land of the Taj Mahal, Gandhi and a Hindu sense of religiosity. However, some seasoned travellers know that there is always more to discover in India, a land that is extensively diverse in terms of ethnicity, history and geography, which creates a boundless tapestry of culture. Religion plays a major part in Indian culture and the diversity of faiths is most vividly visible in the country’s religious monuments. Here is a list of historical places and religious monuments in India that are enlightening windows to the vibrant history of ancient India: Before we get into it, and because of Covid-19 most public airports are closed or dangerous, be sure to visit Wijet for the best private jet charter companies, at the moment.

Jama Masjid, New Delhi

New Delhi is where most foreign visitors first land in the country, so the grand Jama Masjid (official name: Masjid-i Jahān-Numā) would be a good place to start. Completed in 1656C.E. under the orders of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, this is the country’s largest mosque, with a capacity to accommodate around 25,000 people. The mosque is a blend of both Mughal and Hindu architecture. The domed structure has two towering minarets of pure red sandstone and white marble and four storeys within its complex. A visit to the Jama Masjid would shatter the notion of India being a strictly Hindu state, especially when you witness the sheer number of Muslims who turn up for the Friday congregation at this mosque.

Mahabodhi Temple, Bihar

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mahabodhi Temple is a Buddhist place of worship located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar. The monument marks the place where Lord Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. On the western side of the temple is the Bodhi Tree, under which Buddha rested and meditated. Assumed to have first built by Emperor Ashoka in 250 B.C.E, this is one of the oldest brick structures in India. The temple has a 55 meter central tower surrounded by four smaller towers. Obviously, this is the holiest of the holy places for Buddhists. During the 11th century and the 19th century, Burmese rulers undertook a major restoration of the temple complex, which was later renovated by the British government in 1880.

Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh

The Great Stupa of Sanchi is the oldest stone structure in India, whose construction was initiated by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd Century, B.C.E. It is a World Heritage Site, which preserves a remarkable specimen of Buddhist architecture and artistry. It has a simple hemispherical brick structure built over the relics of the Buddha, which is crowned by the Chatra, a parasol-like structure symbolising high rank, which was intended to honour the relics. Although Emperor Ashoka laid its foundations, several succeeding dynasties over several centuries added several more inscribed pillars and sculptures to the monument.

Ellora Cave Temples, Maharashtra

The rock cut cave temple of Ellora is truly a unique historic site in India, where 34 cave-like religious structures were excavated into the face of the Chandranari Hills between the 5th and 10th century. Built over several centuries, the UNESCO World Heritage Site displays 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu, and 5 Jain caves, which demonstrate the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture and the prevalent religious harmony in Indian history.

Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

The Khajuraho group of temples is another protected monument that is famous for the Nagara style of architecture and its erotic sculptures and carvings. Built between 950 to 1050 C.E., historical records indicate that there were a vast number of temples in the region (85 original), out of which only 20 survive to this day. Among surviving temples, the largest one, the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is decorated with a profusion of sculptures with intricate details, erotic symbolism and expressiveness of ancient Indian art. The architecture dedicated to both Hinduism and Jainism deities suggest a tradition of religious tolerance between the two sects.

Golden Temple, Punjab

This is the most prominent Sikh Gurudwara (place of worship) that is located in the Amritsar city of Punjab. Built in the 16th Century, it contains the Guru Granth Sahib, the holiest scripture of Sikhism, making it the most hallowed space of worship, which is being visited by over 100,000 devotees daily. The upper floors of the temple and the main dome are coated with pure gold, which gives its distinctive appearance and name.

Leh, Jammu & Kashmir

At an altitude of 3,524m, Leh city in India’s northernmost state is startlingly distinct from typical Indian architecture, which derives all its influence from Tibetan architecture. Ruins of the Leh Royal Palace dominate the city peppered with Buddhist Gompas or monasteries across the city. The Leh Monastery holds a solid gold statue of Buddha, while Tsemo Gompa contains the two-storeyed statue of Buddha in a sitting posture. The Leh mosque, a spectacle of Turko-Iranian architecture stands in its majestic glory in the central bazaar.

Travelling across India can be enlightening, especially when you steer off the beaten track to discover the country on your own. The best time to visit India is generally between September and January, although given the vast area of the country, the climate varies from region to region within the country.

While India does not have an exact equivalent like the US ESTA program, it does allow for visa-on-arrival for about 11 nations now, so check if yours is on the list. Otherwise on an average, an Indian visa should not take more than a week to obtain.

Image Sources –

Factfile –
Article submitted as part of the Indian Cultural Crusader contest!

Mystic Beauty of Bhuleshwar Temple

Rutuja Chaphekar

October 27, 2014

I got to know about a mysterious temple located on a remote mountain on the outskirts of the city of Pune in Maharashtra state. Eager to find out, we headed towards Solapur from the city of Pune, after approximately 40 kilometres on National Highway 9, a small village called Yawat leads us to this elevated location. The Bhuleshwar Temple stands out at first sight because of the colour of the Shikhara – the high tower of the temple – which is entirely different from the colour of the stone of this barren hill, which was once a fort named ‘Mangalgarh’. Few unattended relics on the way prepared us for the mystic offbeat destination ahead and once we reach there, the whole mystery stands before us and we wanted to unravel it!

Thrilled by the first glimpse of this magnificent structure, I asked the village dwellers about history of the temple. They told me that long ago, during the medieval period, the Yadava dynasty ruled over the Deccan plateau for two centuries. This period is known for the prosperity of the Deccan region and many architectural marvels were built during this time. The architectural and iconographic aspects of Deccan temples reached their zenith during this period and these are collectively identified as the ‘Deccan style’ – a regional variety of ‘Nagara style’, or Indo-Aryan architecture. This temple architecture is characterized mainly by a profuse decoration of figure sculptures, abundance of lozenge-shaped ornaments, arabesque and pilasters resembling temples of Gujarat and Malwa regions, which were built during the reign of the Chalukyas and the Paramaras respectively.

A glimpse of this particular style can be witnessed at Bhuleshwar temple, named after a moniker of Lord Shiva, who is the prime deity. It is situated on a hill in one of the spurs of the Sahyadri mountain range, near Pune. The temple is said to have been built in the late 12th century or early 13th century AD during the reign of King Mahadeva or King Ramachandra of the Yadava dynasty. The exact period remains unknown. It is also said that the place once had a cluster of temples among which, only one has survived today. Interestingly, the style of the temples which were built in this approximate period in the Deccan region is loosely called “Hemadpanthi style”, after the prime minister of Yadava rulers, Hemadpant or Hemadri (1271 AD-1310 AD).

There is clear evidence for the reconstruction of the temple in a later period, probably in late 17th Century. There are differences between the Shikhara where the original temple made of black stone and the two storeyed Nagarkhana – a room made of brick and mortar that is used to store a folk percussion instrument Nagara at the entrance. However, the original construction is almost intact.

The Deccan region in the 17th century was witness to the mighty Maratha Empire, which helped regain the medieval prosperity of this region by fighting against coercive Mughal regime. Fortification of many monuments and heritage sites of the ancient period was provided by the Maratha rulers of this era in addition to their own creations. The repairs and additions to this original medieval temple are attributed to Bramhendra Swami, who was a contemporary of the Shahu, grandson of Chhatrapati Shivaji.

The temples of Bhuleshwar are broadly composed of sections named as Nandi Mandapa – a pavilion for the statue of Nandi, Sabha Mandapa – the main pavilion, Antarala – an antechamber connecting the shrine to the main pavilion and Garbhagriha – the shrine. The original temple of Bhuleshwar vividly displays these temple sections with its own artistic features.

Once we enter the temple through narrow stairs, a large intact Nandi in an independent Nandi Mandapa in front of the shrine seeks our attention. The composition of light here is an interesting phenomenon especially for artists and photographers. It is created by an aisle having ornamental scriptures on the surrounding walls of the Garbhagriha and Antarala on one side and Devkulikas – cells built for various other deities – on the other.

Extravagant carvings of scenes from the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and other Indian epics on the Vedi – dwarf wall – of the Mandapa narrate various stories to us. Sculptures of Saptamatrika – seven mother goddesses from ancient Hindu doctrine – along with an unusual female form of Lord Ganesha called Vainayaki or Ganeshi are found over the cornice of an open part of the cloister.

Every sculpture in this exquisitely decorated monument told us a story – be it a lady with a mirror, or a mridangam, or an ornamental motif, or the goddess Chamunda bearing a scorpion, or the god Bhairava, or a peculiar running variety of hansa (a swan). At the same time, broken and shattered images tell us about the agony of consequent battles between Mughals and Marathas.

Even after we return to the outside world of antennas and vehicles, we are left with a part of the mystery of this celestial world. Nowadays, this place, once unnoticed, is being commercialized at a fast pace just like other religious place in India. Modern haphazard amendments to the place without any aesthetic perspective can be easily identified. Yet, the Bhuleshwar temple stands out prominently due to its beautiful sculptures and architecture, which restore its important position in the array of Yadava monuments of the Deccan.

Check out our Free eBook on places to visit near Pune.
Factfile –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhuleshwar_Temple
http://bhuleshwar.com/photo-gallery.htm

Article submitted as part of the Indian Cultural Crusader contest!

Cracker-free Diwali possible?

Udita Purkayastha

October 22, 2014

BOOM!

I jumped in shock. Before I could turn around to see where the explosion had taken place, I heard giggles. A group of three children aged 8-12 were standing outside the gate of a house with candles and boxes of fire-crackers.

“Sorry didi,” said one of the children, not looking remotely sorry. I walked away with a wan smile, marvelling at the sort of parents who allowed such small children to endanger themselves and everyone else by literally ‘playing with fire’.

Firecrackers are a menace to everyone concerned despite their beauty when seen from afar. Right from their manufacture in Sivakasi, a town in Tamil Nadu (70% crackers are made in Sivakasi) to their multifarious effects on people, animals and the environment, fire-crackers, negatively impact all those who come in contact with them and even those who cannot help but be in their proximity.

Campaign by Gurmeet Sapal

To begin at the beginning, Sivakasi was declared ‘child labour-free’ years ago, but this claim can easily be challenged by anyone who has witnessed the manufacture of fire-crackers there. Children are no longer seen working on the shop floor of licensed manufacturing units, but in the unorganised sector, children as young as eight can be found in ‘cottage industries’ that function from homes and are largely devoid of regulations. Working nine hours a day, a child earns Rs.120 per day.

Can any of us really claim to have a conscience if we celebrate a festival by helping promote child labour and spreading misery in thousands of lives? Can we not pause to consider what Diwali is like in the lives of these children? The recent Nobel Peace Prize conferred to child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi should open our eyes to the plight of children who suffer agonies and for whom Diwali brings nothing but darkness.

Coming to the nuisance of fire-crackers closer to home, it seems to me that no sensible person can possibly be unaware of the health and safety hazards that playing with fire-crackers entails. If we choose to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the negative impacts of crackers, then very soon the ‘blind eye’ and ‘deaf ear’ will no longer remain mere metaphors.

Campaign by Gurmeet Sapal

Every year after Diwali, smog envelopes the NCR region and reduces visibility to such an extent that even the safest of roads becomes accident prone. For the uninitiated, smog is nothing but smoke and fog. While fog is mostly water and clears quickly, smoke makes it denser and stay longer. Poisonous smoke from the crackers burst in thousands of households accumulates and suffocates the entire area for at least a month and then, it does not simply go away, but causes permanent damage to the atmosphere that takes decades to heal. All this, in turn, comes back to harm us in the form of rashes and skin cancer, irritation and swelling of the eyes, asthma attacks, etc. Do the parents who buy crackers for their children pause for a moment to think about the sort of planet they will be leaving for the same children?

Dr. Harshvardhan, a popular politician and doctor renowned for his work as an ENT surgeon had stated that the number of patients with hearing and breathing difficulties increased every year after Diwali. Among them, children made up the larger fraction of sufferers. Loud noises are especially harmful for very small children who are more prone to experiencing psychological trauma because of it, animals who get frightened and enter a flight-or-fight mode, and old and ailing people.

In Western countries, fireworks are enjoyed on festive occasions but unlike here, in India, there they have specifically demarcated locations, such as open fields, away from populated places, where fire-crackers are burst. We keep being told that we emulate the West but in this regard, it is my opinion that emulating the West would be a good idea.

Finally, when the crackers are burst and rockets are shot, all that one sees is debris. Piles of soiled remains of used crackers can be seen everywhere. Some of this is carried by the wind into our homes. The entire picture is one of mess and filth and certainly not becoming of a ‘festival’.

The Delhi government has been conducting an anti-fire cracker campaign to sensitise residents to the impact of crackers. Well known environmental cinematographer and photographer Gurmeet Sapal has created an eye-catching photo campaign to build awareness about a cracker-free Diwali.

The government and private organisations can only make laws and build awareness. Unless we, the common people, the buyers of firecrackers, the wilfully careless people who spread pollution that comes back to haunt us, choose to put an end to the noise, the smoke, and the fire, no law and no regulation can make a difference. So can this Deepavali be a brightly lit yet noiseless cracker-less festival of lights?

Factfile –
http://www.ndtv.com/
https://www.facebook.com/gurmeet.sapal

Maharashtra – End of Marathi Regionalism? [Infographic]

Priyanka Desai

October 17, 2014

Introduction

The much hyped Maha elections have drawn to a close, and all the major political parties are awaiting the results with a bated breath. This time, there is much confusion among both parties and their supporters due to the collapse of alliances on all sides. On the one side, Sharad Pawar led NCP broke up with Indian National Congress, while on the other, Shiv Sena broke their 25-year old alliance with BJP. While politicians on both sides have their amazingly logical reasoning for this separation, the voters of Maharashtra are today a confused lot.

Maharashtra is the second most populous state in India and also the third largest state in terms of area. Further, the state dominates the Indian economic landscape as well, being the home to the nation’s largest industrial belt and its financial capital. Culturally as well, the Marathi identity is quite established at the national level as the most prominent regionalism movement.
However, the identity of “Marathi Maanus” has been quite a divisive issue in India during 1960-1980s. Since then, Marathi politicians have been playing this identity politics to unite Maharashtrians against the migrants from rest of India, who are often portrayed as bunch of opportunists trying to steal away jobs and economic prosperity.

Old States of India before 1956 | Source: Wikipedia

Among the parties, Shiv Sena has been the flag bearer of Marathi regionalism and has taken up numerous campaigns against outsiders who threaten the socio-economic and cultural well being of Marathi-speaking population. It began with protest against a wave South Indians who came into Mumbai during 1960s to run restaurants or to work in industries. Soon this identity campaign widened to cover all outsiders, be it migrants from UP, Bihar or illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

While all this political and social upheaval was underway, Maharashtrians seemed to remain surprisingly nonchalant about it. It is serious doubtful if all these years of campaign for building a powerful unified Marathi identity has created anything of a solid monolithic culture. One simple question can reveal the answer. While Indian states with strong regional language and culture have their own regional party to represent their politics, I was surprised to know there is no single political party that holds sway across the state of Maharashtra!

The sub-regions of Maharashtra have a homogeneity in terms of language, food cuisine, clothing, etc. This large state can be sub-divided into five divisions, each having their own unique cultural identity. Here is a brief description of the major sub-regions in Maharashtra:

Vidarbha

This region lies to the extreme eastern hinterland of the state with Nagpur as its central hub. Vidarbha existed as an independent state during the medieval ages under the Bahmani Kingdom until the Mughal Empire annexed it. After the region regularly changed hands from Maratha rulers to Hyderabad Nizam and finally the British. The Berar region, which is now called “Amravati division” is also part of the larger Vidarbha region. This roughly corresponds to the former province of Berar, which was ceded to Hyderabad Nizam by the Maratha Maharajas of Nagpur in 1803.

During the linguistic reorganisation of states in India, the Fazal Ali Commission recommended creating a separate state for the region. However, sporadic calls for statehood have not strengthened into a major movement unlike the neighbouring Telangana. The region is rich in minerals and Nagpur is now emerging as a major regional hub for industries. With regional parties weakening their grip and BJP strengthening its position in this region, the call for Vidarbha statehood has renewed in vigour.

Marathwada

This dry arid region adjoining Vidarbha lies at the centre of Maharashtra. This is the most neglected and socio-economically backward region in the state. After the Mughal rule declined, this region was ruled by Maratha kings until it was annexed by the Hyderabad Nizam. The region has major historical significance with numerous world heritage monuments in and around Aurangabad, the regional hub. Tourism is the only thriving industry catering to visitors for historical sites such as Ajanta, Ellora, Daulatabad Fort and pilgrimage centres such as Ghrishneshwar Mandir, Nanded Gurudhwara, Shaktipeeth temple, etc.
Marathwada has lagged behind the rest of Maharashtra in economic prosperity due to Lacks natural resources and water scarcity. Since it is a rain-shadow region, it is prone to drought and there are numerous farmer suicides due to inability repay agricultural loans.

Khandesh

Khandesh is also known as Nashik division or Northern Maharashtra. It is one of the lesser known regions of the state. The name “Khandesh” is derived from the “Khan” title given by Ahmad-I of Gujarat (1411-1443) to Malik Nasir Khan, the second of the Faruqi kings. According to some sources, the name comes from the Khandava forest of Mahabharat. After the Mughal rule declined, this region was ruled by Maratha kings until the British took over. Fed by the river Tapti, the Khandesh region is fertile to grow cotton, banana, pulses, etc. Jalgaon is the regional hub which has built a reputation as a major agricultural trading centre.

Desh

“Desh” is the abbreviation for “Maharashtra-desh”, that denotes the historical region of the west-central Deccan Plateau centred on Pune. Marathwada, which was part of it earlier became separate when it was conquered by the Nizam of Hyderabad. Desh is considered the cultural heart of Maharashtra with Pune as its cultural capital. This region was the birthplace of the Maratha Empire in the 17th century, and is home to a number of large cities like Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, that are associated with Maratha history. Today, the region is the most prosperous due to its agricultural production, large manufacturing base and a growing services industry.

Konkan

Konkan is the coastal belt of Maharastra , which is narrow strip of land between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. Stretching from Gujarat border to Goa, the Konkan Coast is known for its rich vegetation, exquisite beaches, delicious food, palm and coconut trees. Native residents of the Konkan region speak the Konkani language or Konkan Marathi, which is a dialect. After the Maratha dynasty lost its hegemony, the Konkani Brahmins inherited the region and expanded their hold to the adjoining parts of India. Fisheries and agriculture were the main occupation, until the British established various manufacturing industries in and around Mumbai. Today, Mumbai dominates the Konkan region, but other districts such as Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg are slowly making their presence felt due to industries and tourism.

Differences in Regions of Maharashtra

Region	Geography	Staple food	Language
Vidarbha	Deccan Plateau with adequate rain	Wheat	Hindi, Marathi
Marathwada	Arid Deccan Plateau	Jowar	Marathi
Khandesh	Deccan Plateau with adequate rain	Wheat	Marathi
Desh	Deccan Plateau with adequate rain	Wheat	Marathi
Konkan	Coastal	Rice	Konkani, Marathi

Factfile –
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
http://www.discoveredindia.com
http://www.mapsofindia.com
http://www.rediff.com/news
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com
http://www.rediff.com/news
http://upload.wikimedia.org
http://www.rediff.com
http://jalgaon.gov.in
http://www.world66.com

Borra Caves Near Vizag – A Natural Wonder

Gayatri Devulapalli

October 13, 2014

Typically, travellers in India go aboard to see natural wonders; however, there are some wonders in our country that haven’t got the attention they deserve. Particularly, caves in India have not been considered a major offbeat tourist destination. The rock cut temples of Ellora, Badami and Pattadakal and the Buddhist Chaityas of Ajanta are few of the prominent examples.

Most caves in India have either been inhabited during pre-historic times or modified as religious structures later during recorded history. Rarely, we find a natural cave in India that remains in pristine conditions untouched by humans. Among them, the ‘Burra Caves’ or ‘Borra Guhalu’, as they are called in Telugu language, are the most prominent. Located in the Visakhapatnam district in Araku Valley of the Ananthagiri Hills – which is part of the Eastern Ghats mountain range – they are barely known by people outside the coastal region of Andhra Pradesh. Being a native of Vizag, I knew that these do caves exist! Borra Caves are truly one of a kind in India; both scientists and laymen need to visit them to understand its uniqueness.

Fascinating train journey Borra Caves

There are two ways to reach Borra Caves: You can take the road from Vizag meandering through the Eastern Ghats, which is quite scenic. However, the second option of travel by train is much more beautiful. The Vizag-Kirandul passenger train climbs the Eastern Ghat mountains passes through many tunnels and bridges on the way, which literally transports you to another world altogether. The serene scenery and mountain landscape are breathtaking and you can’t keep away from clicking your camera!

The real treat, however, lies at your destination. The train reaches the Borra Caves station after three hours’ of journey. Numerous private tourist operators eagerly approach travellers as soon as they get down from the train to carry them to the caves and then on a tour of the famous Araku Valley. Although I was visiting the caves for the second time, it seemed as if I was coming here for the first time! The freshness in the air and anticipation was palpable!

Borra Caves straddle the valley created by the Gosthani River. The meandering route with rocky banks reminded me of the Beas River in Manali. Once you enter the wide cavernous opening, we began our descent into the caves with bated breath. The cave entrance have spacious steps descending, going in an almost spiral way, taking us down to the nether world. I must say that the steps were built in such a way that we could hardly feel that we were going below 25 feet.

Enter the Borra Caves

The first thing that hits us was the cool temperature inside even though it was scorching hot outside. It seems the temperature inside the cave is always around 24-25 degrees C. Monkeys are a bit of a menace here; you must watch out for them if you are carrying food. They are known to snatch packaged food and cold drinks. Somebody should study the effect of junk food on monkeys’ health!

We found a tour guide at the entrance and he took our group to show us around. We were glad to have taken a guide because he told us things which we might not have known had we chosen to go alone. The caves have myriad beautiful structures of stalagmites and stalactites. The guide told us was that the caves were discovered when a cow fell into the caves and, shockingly, showed up alive in the Gosthani River (meaning cow’s udder in Sanskrit). Realising that the caves must have saved the cow, locals revered the cave and some of the Shiva Lingam-shaped structures are worshipped by the tribal natives during Shivaratri.

The caves are geologically active; that is, we can still see drops of water dripping from the top to form the stalagmites below! When we reached the bottom, we noticed that it was quite dark and there were artificial lights set up to show the way for tourists. Some of the stones were shining in the light like diamonds. When we asked our guide, he told us that these stones were combination of marble and limestone, which gave them the sparkle. One interesting part was, there is a point where the railway line goes right on top of the Borra Caves. The railway line has not harmed this marvel of nature!

Our guide entertained us by showing various formations in the cave, which he named Sai Baba, Mother & Child, Lion and so on. We also added one or two to his collection. However, the most fascinating thing was the brain like formation deep inside the cave.

There is a tiny stream with yellow-hued water running through the caves. The colour is apparently due to the presence of sulphur. There is also a huge staircase built all the way to the top of the cave where there is another temple. The roof is full of bats and we had to watch out for bat droppings! We took a lot of pictures but our images we took could not justify the marvel that our eyes saw.

I feel you must visit this enchanting place to know what treasures in stored in the remote corners of our country. Today, as we look at all our pictures, we began to wonder if God was indeed an expert architect for making our earth so beautiful.

Factfile –

How to get there: There is a passenger train available from Visakhapatnam station as well as daily bus services to Araku Valley.
The ideal way to visit these caves would be to take the train from Vizag (leaves 6:50am) and reaches Borra Caves around 10:30am. The whole tour takes around two hours, if you are a brisk walker. You can finish the entire trip by 1:00pm and then have lunch at just outside the caves. There are some spectacular view points from which one can look down the Gosthani River. On my first visit the monsoon waters were gushing through the river; we trekked down to the river and had a whale of a time! However, the strenuous trek while returning is tough.

Fee: The cave entrance ticket is quite nominal. For a group of seven, the guide charges Rs.100.

Food: Outside the caves, there is the Andhra Pradesh Tourism restaurant, which is basic but good. There are restaurants in Araku valley as well where more variety can be found.

Lodging: There are numerous resorts available in Araku valley with good amenities.

Article submitted as part of the Indian Cultural Crusader contest!

Image Courtesy – Abhijith Rao

Caleidoscope Cultural Photographer Contest!

Caleidoscope

October 13, 2014

Contest Closed!

Do you have an eye for Indian art & culture?

Here is a wonderful opportunity to get paid to be culturally sensitive!

Caleidoscope Cultural Magazine is seeking out Cultural Crusaders who are always on the hunt to discover something unique about India and tell the world about it.

What we want our Cultural Crusaders to do –

Seek and dig out the hidden secrets of an offbeat travel destination
Understand a region’s art & culture and write about it crisply
Click vivid pictures that entice viewers to visit the place
Keenly participate in all kinds of cultural events and concerts

There are some exciting prizes to be won for all this crusading for culture!

Who said art & culture doesn’t pay?

Indian Cultural Photographer

Create a photo feature on a particular cultural theme
The theme can be related to culture, fine art, heritage, history, etc.
Composition, lighting and timing of the moment captured will matter most
First prize – Rs.10,000 | Second prize – Rs.5,000 | Consolation prizes – Rs.2,000

Rules of the contest –

Photo features must have 6 images at least
All images must be own copyright and proof of ownership must be proven if needed
Pictures uploaded by friends & relatives can be submitted, but get their written permission
Each photo must a detailed caption of minimum 30 words
Images must be submitted in JPG format with a minimum size of 800×600 pixels

The contest ends on 7th November 2014. So hurry!

Please send your entries to info@caleidoscope.in

Judges have the right to reject any image that does not conform to Caleidoscope’s editorial policy.

A panel of eminent writers will judge and select the winning articles and photo features.

All the articles and images sent to Caleidoscope become our property, which will be published in whatever way we deem necessary.

All the contest entries will be published on Caleidoscope after the contest results are announced.

*Note: If we do not get a minimum of 10 entries for each contest, we will be forced to cancel the announced cash prizes. However, the participants who have already sent their entries will be assured of a consolation prize.

Pune Sightseeing Guide – Free eBook on Places to Visit Near Pune

Caleidoscope

October 10, 2014

Most cities in India have one particular terrain as their focal point of attraction. It could be a beach, a mountain range, religious places or some significant monuments of historical value. Seldom do you come across a city that boasts of such diverse locations within a striking distance, offering you an ultimate holiday destination list!

Pune, being a city steeped in ancient traditions, loves its religious and cultural festivals. As the cultural capital of Maharashtra, the city hosts various Hindustani classical music concerts and folk art festivals. The city and its surroundings are dotted with numerous archaeological remains and historical monuments that are a treat for history buffs.

Download Free eBook

Surrounded by the Sahyadri mountain range, Pune has a lot to offer for adventure trips and trekking enthusiasts. Even within the city limits, one can find some good sightseeing spots to visit. The nearby mountain ranges offer a range of options – right from serious rock climbing to just fun and frolicking under a waterfall, to lazing at the beach. From, from clear sunny beaches to foggy mountain tops, from river rafting to serene boat rides, this city offers you everything you want all within a radius of 500km.

Authentic food, religious places, street shopping, museums, forts, palaces, you could spend a couple of days just exploring this city. Spend some more time and try to get to know the people as well. Proud Punekars love to talk, and they would love give you some tips about their city and help you go around. But be careful, Punekars are extremely frank; you might just find yourself lost for words while having a conversation with them!

Have a look at our Pune Sightseeing Guide to check out the places to visit near pune that you could visit while you are in Pune. Your holiday could be a short weekend getaway or a long stay, we are sure you will easily find a suitable holiday destination.

Check out our Bengaluru Sightseeing Guide as well

Kuveshi – A small village with big lessons

Mamta Naidu

October 6, 2014

During a conservation outreach road trip with a few friends, I was on a mission to find pretty and endemic snake species of the Western Ghats like the Hump-nosed Pit Viper, Ornate Flying Snake etc. Kuveshi was one of the destinations we visited. It is 12 km from Castle Rock and 64 km from the famous Dudhsagar Falls and is surrounded by Dandeli Tiger Reserve protected area. As such, from time to time, gaurs, sambars, spotted deer, mouse deer and leopards can be seen in the village. It is a haven for botanists and wildlife enthusiasts as the Flora and Fauna of this place is pristine.

I am a city dweller and belong to a place where all my necessities are a simple phone-call or a click of a button away. Kuveshi took my traditional beliefs on a roller-coaster ride and restructured them for good. Kuveshi comprises 29 closely knit families – 29 houses spread over a small area. Farming is the chief occupation here, paddy being the major crop. The area witnesses heavy rainfall during the monsoon season, which explains the dense rainforest that shelters the village. Every family has its own livestock and two men volunteer each day to graze the livestock twice a day. Every household has a dog, primarily to chase monkeys. However, they ensure that the dogs sleep in the house at night so as not to fall prey to the leopards that frequent the village. One of the villagers nonchalantly told us that from time to time leopards pick up their cattle, but they have learnt to live with it. The sense of community is very strong and evident in the village.

They have two primary schools for their children – old houses turned into educational institutes. There are two teachers, one per school, who come from a nearby village to teach. There are six and twelve students, respectively, studying from 1st to 5th grade. What is interesting is all the six/twelve students sit in the same classroom with its four rows of benches. The teacher customizes the syllabus for each student. I was glad to know that women also complete their primary education so they can read and write. I guess we could say that this village is 100% literate. After the completion of primary school, children go to Castle Rock for their secondary education.

The school in Castle Rock has about 60 children and has a hostel which is run by people from nearby villages. One family takes turn every month and volunteers to tend to the children at the hostel and facilitate their education.
There are no means of transportation and the villagers travel 12 km by foot to reach the only shop that sells essential goods. In my opinion, introducing horse-drawn or bullock carts here would be quite a good idea.

Although electricity was first introduced in India in 1899, my jaw dropped to the ground when I found out that this little village still survives without it. Only in the recent past, Hypnale (named after the Latin name of the Hump-nosed Pit Viper), a private wildlife research organization based in the village, introduced the children to solar lanterns. I wonder how children in the big cities playing Temple Run all day on their private tablets would react to this. The solar lanterns have helped the villagers in preventing snakebites and other such accidents while stepping out in the night.

TVs run on batteries for one hour daily. Although many facets of modern civilisation are yet to touch the village, cricket mania has somehow made it in. Every time there is a live match on TV, the whole village gathers at one place with all the batteries available and watches it together. Truly, India is a cricket crazy nation.

What really stirred my soul was how happy the villagers seemed despite their modest way of life. Of course, they have their predicaments. But what is commendable about this village is that they are self-sufficient, something most people living closer to modern civilisation forgot centuries ago. The villagers never once complained about not having good roads, fast moving vehicles or electric power. Ignorance truly is bliss, I realized.

When Anant, our cook, told me stories about the village life and the lifestyle of the villagers, it dawned on me that we spend most of our valuable time on things that actually have no impact and very little relevance in living a good life. Most of the troubles we fret about are self-inflicted such as, using cars for the smallest of distances and whining about traffic, skyrocketing fuel and commodity prices and low salaries. We cut down trees to expand our roads to accommodate the rising vehicle population and then worry about pollution and hair fall.

I spent one night under starry skies while the glow-worms played hide and seek in the paddy fields, and the calls of toads and crickets provided soothing background music. It will take me months of meditation to experience the kind of peace I experienced here.

Although I spent very little time in this village, I came out feeling very inspired. For me, it has been a feast for all the senses. Kuveshi is the very epitome of the adage – ‘if we fasten our attention on what we have, rather than on what we lack, a little wealth is sufficient’.

Factfile –
wiki/Castle_Rock,_Karnataka
Mhadei research center located in Goa.
http://bskarthik.blogspot.in

Indian Cultural Crusader contest! [Closed]

Caleidoscope

October 6, 2014

Are you culturally sensitive?

Do you think being culturally sensitive can pay you good returns?

Here is a wonderful opportunity to get paid to be a Indian Cultural Crusader!

Caleidoscope Cultural Magazine is seeking out Indian Cultural Crusaders who are always on the hunt to discover something unique about India and tell the world about it.

What we want our Indian Cultural Crusaders to do –

Seek and dig out the hidden secrets of an offbeat travel destination
Understand a region’s art & culture and write about it crisply
Click vivid pictures that entice viewers to visit the place
Be active in cultural forums to discuss cultural nuances
Keenly participate in all kinds of cultural events and concerts

There are some exciting prizes to be won for all this crusading for culture!

Who said art & culture doesn’t pay?

There are Rs.30,000 worth of prizes to be won under three categories

1. Indian Cultural crusading writer

Write a brief cultural travelogue or an article on cultural issues
Bring out the unique aspects of a place or a region
Identify the unifying thread that makes a place Indian
Discover the diversity and cultural heritage of a place or a region
First prize – Rs.8,000 | Second prize – Rs.4,000 | Consolation prizes – Rs.2,000

2. Indian Cultural crusading photographer

Create a photo feature on a particular cultural theme
The theme can be related to culture, fine art, heritage, history, etc.
Composition, lighting and timing of the moment captured will matter most
First prize – Rs.8,000 | Second prize – Rs.4,000 | Consolation prizes – Rs.2,000

Rules of the contest –

Articles must be written within 800 words and sent in MS-Word doc
Articles must be accompanied with pictures taken by the authors
Pictures uploaded by friends & relatives can be submitted, but get their written permission
Photo features must have 6 images at least
All images must be own copyright and proof of ownership must be proven if needed
Each photo must a detailed caption of minimum 30 words
Images must be submitted in JPG format with a minimum size of 800×600 pixels

The contest ends on 7^th November 2014. So hurry!

Please send your entries to info@caleidoscope.in

Judges have the right to reject articles or images that do not conform to Caleidoscope’s editorial policy.

A panel of eminent writers will judge and select the winning articles and photo features.

All the articles and images sent to Caleidoscope become our property, which will be published in whatever way we deem necessary.

All the contest entries will be published on Caleidoscope soon after the contest results are announced.

If we do not get a minimum of 10 entries for each contest, we will be forced to cancel the announced cash prizes. However, the participants who have already sent their entries, will be assured of a consolation prize.

Hiking Around for Heritage – Royal Mysore Walks

Levine Lawrence

October 1, 2014

Present day travellers are fed up of the regular sightseeing tours, which drag them to all the main spots in a historical place, without allowing you to absorb anything. Such tourists are fascinated about understanding the history behind a place that they visit. They are also eager to discover the intriguing details of a bygone era that are now lost in the narrow bylanes of a city. The cultural capital of Karnataka, Mysore has something interesting to offer for such offbeat travellers who would want to go an experiential trip and discover some hidden gems lost in the pages of history.

Talking to Vinay Nagaraju of Royal Mysore Walks, I realised that people do have an interest in history and historical sites. Vinay clarifies, “Most of us learn history in terms of dates and people – Who did what and when? But if we learn about history as a story, wouldn’t it be much more interesting? There are numerous trivia that we can talk about Mysore’s history. For example, why does the space organisation NASA display a painting of Battle of Srirangapatnam? Or how are the American War, the French Revolution, and the Battle of Waterloo related to Mysore? Such intriguing questions make us wonder what lies beneath.”

Established in 2009, Royal Mysore Walks take travellers on a guided tour of interesting spots in and around Mysore, either on foot, on jeep or on a cycle. They organise 20 different kinds of themed tours ranging from the Colonial Mysore Tour to the Artisan Tour. There is even a Gravity Tour where travellers need to walk, cycle and trek up the Chamundi Hill!

But why walking tours? Vinay explains, “Tourists are no more interested in whirlwind tours across the city, which cover all the main spots in a day. They would rather walk down interesting avenues and narrow bylanes of the city and understand the culture, and imbibe the smells and sounds of a place. Discovering new things certainly gives a richer experience; so to cater to this need, we devised our Offbeat Tours”.

Offbeat Tours are more of an experiential trip where people interested in a particular theme such as fine art, music, spirituality are taken to specific places in the city. These customised tours are ideally done for a group of like-minded people who can choose either half or full day option. Under the Artisan Tour, travellers are introduced to Mysore’s renowned stone carving and wood inlay work artisans, who have fine tuned their skills through the knowledge tracing back to generations. Similarly, another fine art tour introduces you to the intricate art of Mysore Style Painting.

Yet another offbeat tour takes tourists on a journey to understand how Mysore Silk became the most famous export from this cultural capital, which has nurtured the art of silk worm rearing to weaving the purest form of silk sarees. Under the Colonial Mysore Tour, one gets to see the various palaces of Mysore the king built and understand the different architectural styles of the British Raj. Of course, there is the Food Tour that caters to the gastronomically inclined tourists! Since Mysore is well known for its culinary delicacies such as Mylari Masala Dosas, Mysore Pak, this theme is quite popular.

Royal Mysore Walks has an eco-friendly aspect as well. Its Cycle Tours are quite popular among foreign tourists who are accustomed to riding bicycles around the city, unlike we Indians! Moreover, cycles help in navigating narrow by lanes in the older parts of the city such as Agrahara – which still hold a lot of fragments of the bygone era. Seeing artisans skilfully producing handmade incense sticks and inhaling the intoxicating smell is a truly memorable experience!

The most basic tour is the Royal Walk, which covers some of the major attractions around the Mysore Palace such as town hall, Devaraja Market, etc. The Best of Mysore Walk provides an insight into the best features of Mysore, the colonial connection, the era of the Mysore Maharaja, the stories and the people of Mysore. The basic package begins at Rs.600 and the higher end themed tours can cost you up to Rs.2,000. Tour activities are organised throughout the week and interested travellers can log onto the company’s website to book the tour of their interest.

Vinay states that finding guides who will explain the historic aspects in detail was never a hassle. Everyone at Royal Mysore Walks has left their mainstream job as an engineer, architect or as a company secretary to become a guide, mainly because of their passion. They have devoted themselves towards building awareness and promoting the cultural heritage of Mysore, a city which is close to their hearts. One tends to wonder, how a young team of working professionals can be so fascinated about history and archaeology!

Factfile –

First published on Deccan Herald
http://www.royalmysorewalks.com/tours/offbeat-tours

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