Monday 17 December 2012

Bidar Tourism

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Bidar Tourism

Bidar Fort was built by Sultan Alla-Ud-Din Bahman of the Bahmani Dynasty., when his capital was moved from Gulbarga to Bidar in 1427 . Architecturally,Architecturally the fort is a specimen of the Persian architectural style having a. 1.21 km in length and 0.80 km in breadth,.

The Historical monuments and sites in and around the Bidar city belong to different periods of history, Pre-Kaktiya, Tughlaq, Bahamani, Barid Shahi, Adil Shahi, Mughal, Nizam. As far the architecture as concerned there is a intermixture of Hindu, Turkish and Persian artisanship. Some of the design and decorative patterns seen in the monuments of Bidar are unique in India

Bidar word is taken from world BIDIRU means bamboo. The huge bamboo production allows local people to trade the bamboo to several parts of the country.

Attraction in Bidar:
Few major attractions for visitors in Bidar are Fort of Bidar, Gumbaz Darwaza, Sharza Darwaza, Takht Mahal, Tarkash Mahal, Rangeen Mahal, Shahi Malbakh, Shahi Hammam, Gagan Mahal, Diwan-I-Am, Solah Khamb Mosque, Hazar Kothari, Old Naubat Khana, Chaubara, Madarsa of Mahmud Gawan, Takht-I-Kirmani, Bahamani Tombs, Chaukhandi, Baridi Tombs, Tomb of Qasim Barid & Qasim Barid-II, Jharani Narasimha Cave Temple, Nanak Jhira Sahib, Bidri Ware, Basavakalyan, Maniknagar, Anubhava Mantapa, and PapnasTemple.

Fort of Bidar: The fort of ancient period is special destination especially for those who want to learn the history of city Bidar. The other name of Bidar fort is Turkish Mahal as the fort is made of Turkish style.

Guru Nank Jhira: the famous Gurudwara of Bidar is the next choice for visitors. Because of gurudwara Bidar is listed in one of the Holiest Places of India. People are reaching Bidar in large amount every year. Special months for celebration of Guru Purv are November and March. As per sources Saint Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited the Bidar. Local people say Sri Guru Nanak Devi Ji performed the miracle of water spring from the hard rock hill burst out. The clear water like crystal is special thing to watch at the Gurudwara. 

PapNash Temple of Lord Shiva: according to sources the big Linga idol of lord Shiva was installed by Prabhu Sri RAM (The Hindu God) during the journey from Lanka to Ayodhya. Outstanding view of the Bidar valley from this shrine can make the holiday memorable. Shivrathri fest is the major attraction and people are reaching Bidar from around the corner of India for Darshanam of Shiva Linga. The pond located in front of temple is Pap Nasha known for natural spiritual flows.

Narshimha Temple and water cave: the most demanding and wonder place of Bidar is Narshima Temple and the water caves. The 300 meters cave is special thing in which people have to cross up to chest level water to reach the temple for darshnam of the deity. The thrilling encounter with bats sitting on the top of roof is most exiting experience for visitors, though bats didn’t harm the devotees.

Deva DeVa Vana or Botanical Garden: the garden with eye-catching flowers and trees is located at just 6 KM distance from the Bidar town. People reaching to Bidar from Hyderabad will get the garden between the town and highway.               


Veer Bhadreshewar Jatra's at Changlare and Humnabad: one of the most ancient temples of Lord Veer Bhadreshwara at Humnabad and Changlara village are major attraction for visitors of Bidar. People reach in large amount in January and November at this place to participate in Jatra (Yatra) and Mohotsav known as cart pulling. The temple located at Humnabad is 287 years old.

Humnabad’s Manik Prabhu Temple: December is the main period when maximum people reach to this shrine for celebrating anniversary of temple. The full night extended Indian Classical Musical gathering is held.

Gumpa (Chidambara Ashram, Shri Siddharudh Math): The Math’s of Bidar are famous in the world like Shri Siddharudh Math, Chidambara Ashram and many more. The available Gumpa gives mental peace to visitors which release all pressure from the mind.

Attaining to Bidar:
The closest big destination to reach Bidar is Hyderabad which is just 135 kms. However, Pune (455 kms) is next, Mumbai (606 kms) is afterward and Bangalore is next big destination for reaching Bidar whereas Bangalore is only 670 kms away from Bidar.

By Air: Hyderabad is properly connected and nearest airport to reach Bidar. Hyderabad airport is linked with many international flights so attaining to Hyderabad for Bidar is best choice especially for people coming from various parts of the world.

By Rail: Indian railways is having big place in world railway networks. The easy and plenty of available trains from various parts of Indian states to reach Bidar allow visitors to attain this Indian tourist place with no worries. Trains from Hyderabad, Bangalore and Mumbai are available.

By Road: Karnataka roadways and APSTRC buses are available for Bidar from several parts of the states. Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mumbai are major bus hubs to reach Bidar. However the local state buses are available from Bijapur, Badami and some more cities.


Gujarat Tour

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Gujarat Tour


Gujarat is world-famous state of India serving various tourist places of India to global tourists. The land area of Gujarat is 196,030 kms and its coastline is 1,600 km. The major part lies in Kathiawar cape where the gross population is more than 60 million. Rajasthan is positioned in the north border and Maharashtra in south where Madhya Pradesh is connected in east and west is connected with Pakistan and Arabian Sea. The capital of this rich state is Gandhinagar and biggest developed city is Ahmedabad. Gujarati is the local language of the state.

Gujarat includes major sites of the early IVC (Indus Valley Civilization) like Dholavira and Lothal. Lothal is recognized as world's first port. Bharuch is the coastline of Gujarat behaved as ports and business center in two great empires Maurya and Gupta. The father of nation Shri Mahatma Gandhi was Gujarati by cast.

Gujarat is having valuable part in economic growth of India and played vital part in history of India as well. Presently it is the rapidly growing economic region of India and the largely developed and mechanized states too. The ancient port of Gujarat is Lothal and ancient city is Dholavira. Reaching Dholavira could be best spot for tourist in India as it is the most outstanding archaeological destination of Gujarat. Recent discovered city for tourist is Gola Dhoro. The historical evidence of India proves that Gujarat was deeply involved in trade with Persian Gulf and Sumer particularly in period of 1000 to 750 BC. The well-known successful empires of states were Gupta Kingdom, Rashtrakuta Kingdom, Pala Kingdom, Gurjara-Pratihara Kingdom, Maitrakas and Solankis. Daman & Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli are two coastlines established near Gujarat and these both are well-developed places for tourism in India.


  Vishal Khadi Eco Campsite Narmada River- Samot. People who love national park and wildlife can reach Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary, Porbandar Bird Sanctuary, Gir National Park, Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, Thol Lake Bird Sanctuary, Hingolgadh Nature Education Sanctuary, Veravadar Blackbuck National Park, and Kutch Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary.

Waterfalls lovers can go for Girmal Falls, Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, Saputara Hill Station- Dediapada Range, and Gira waterfalls where as only wildlife is available at Thol Lake Bird Sanctuary, Purna Wildlife Sanctuary-Gaurishankar, Wild Ass Sanctuary, Hingolgadh Nature Education Sanctuary, Gir National Park, Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary-Northwest Kutch, Isla Pirotan e isla Narala, and Ranmal Lake-Jamnagar.



Many states of Gujarat are covered with greenery so natural beauty in this state is also amazing for visitors. This Indian tourist place is special and served with ample of astonishing spots for tourist. People who love monuments, forts, Haveli, palaces, Stepwell and Gravesite can reach to Citadel, Champaner – Pavagadh, Pavagadh Fort & Early Temples– Pavagadh, Lakhota Palace and Museum- Jamnagar, Gates of the Fort Walls– Pavagadh, Vijaynagar Circuit, Bhujiyo Kotho-Jamnagar, Polo Monument & Vijaynagar Forest-Surat, Uparkot-Junagadh, Taranga Fort-Taranga Hills, Lakhpat-Northwest Kutch, Rani no Hajiro- Ahmedabad, Badshah no Hajiro- Ahmedabad, Patan around the Old City- Junagadh, Muslim architecture, Manekbai Muktidham-Jamnagar, Bohra Hajira-Jamnagar, European tombs-Surat, Brick Tomb and Champaner – Pavagadh, Pavagadh Hill/Kalika Mata Temple and Champaner – Pavagadh, Other buildings- Vadodara, Vadnagar, Heritage Walk- Ahmedabad, Sidhpur, Mehsana, Vijay Vilas Palace Mandvi – Kutch, Vijaynagar Circuit, Polo Monument and Vijaynagar Forest, Darbar Gadh-Jamnagar, Sharad Baug Palace-Bhuj, Peter Scott Nature Park- Jamnagar, Pratap Vilas Palace-Jamnagar, Aina Mahal-Bhuj, Lakhota Palace and Museum-Jamnagar, Prag Mahal-Bhuj, Utelia Palace-Lothal, Dada Harir Vav (Stepwell)-Ahmedabad, Ramkund Stepwell-Bhuj, Helical Stepwell and Champaner – Pavagadh, Adi-Kadi Vav, Rani Ki Vav-Junagadh and Navghan Kuwo-Junagadh.


Beach and coastal lovers can go to Mandvi – Kutch, Somnath Beach, Beyt Dwarka, Ahmedpur Mandvi-Somnath, Chorwad Beach-Somnath, Nargol-Surat, Jamnagar beach, Okha Madhi-Dwarka, Miyani Beach-Porbandar, Pingleshwar Beach and Mandvi – Kutch, Bharuch-Narmada River, Isla Pirotan e isla Narala Marine National Park, Koteshwar Temple-Northwest Kutch, Lighthouse-Dwarka, Nargol-Surat, Veraval-Somnath, Rozi port & Bedi port-Jamnagar.

Garden and lake lovers can go to Pratap Vilas Palace and Peter Scott Nature Park-Jamnagar, Sharad Baug Palace-Bhuj, Waghai Botanical Gardens, Saputara Hill Station, Vansda National Park, Sayaji Baug-Vadodara, Kankaria Lake-Ahmedabad, Ranjitsagar Dam-Jamnagar, Sardar Patel Museum-Ahmedabad, Bardoli-Surat, Indroda Nature Park-Ahmedabad, Narayan Sarovar- Northwest Kutch, Kankaria Lake-Ahmedabad, Hamirsar Lake-Bhuj, Gaurishankar Lake and Victoria Forest-Bhavnagar, Lake-Saputara Hill Station, Gangajalia Lake-Bhavnagar, Sharmishtha Lake-Vadnagar, Sursagar Talav-Vadodara, Gomti Lake-Dakor, Gopi Talav and Nav Sa’id Masjid-Surat.
Archaeology and architecture interested tourist can reach Bharatiya Sanskriti Darshan-Bhuj, Stadium-Dholavira, Ancient Signboard-Dholavira, Lakhota Palace and Museum-Jamnagar, Vijaynagar Circuit, MS University-Vadodara, Polo Monument and Vijaynagar Forest, Bharuch-Narmada River, Sahasralinga Talav-Patan, Archaeological Museum-Somnath, Institute of Indology-Ahmedabad, Rani Ki Vav-Patan, Sarkhej Roza-Ahmedabad, CEPT Campus-Ahmedabad, Kanoria Centre for Arts-Ahmedabad, Vegetable Market-Bhuj, Jhulta Minara-Ahmedabad, Kotishila-Taranga Hills Sidi Sayeed Masjid-Ahmedabad, Sun Temple-Somnath, and Dada Harir Vav (Stepwell)-Ahmedabad.

Visitors will get some special places of Mahatma Gandhi known as Gandhi Circuit. These are Gandhi Ashram-Ahmedabad, Kaba Gandhi no Delo-Rajkot, Gandhi Smriti-Bhavnagar, Rashtriyashala-Rajkot, Kirti Mandir-Porbandar, Samal Das-Bhavnagar, Kochrab Ashram-Ahmedabad, Bardoli-Surat and Dandi-Surat.

Buddhist Footprints are also valuable spots for tourist in Gujarat such as Ashok Edicts-Junagadh, Vadnagar-Mehsana, Institute of Indology-Ahmedabad, Taranga Hills-Mehsana, Talaja Hill-Bhavnagar, Khambhalida Caves-Rajkot, Junagadh Caves-Junagadh, Dev Ni Mori-Shamlaji, Siyot Caves-Northwest Kutch, and Kadia Dungar Caves-Vadodara.
Learning Hinduism is possible by reaching multiple places like Narayan Sarovar-Northwest Kutch, Koteshwar Temple-Northwest Kutch, Sun Temple-Somnath, Takhteshwar Temple-Bhavnagar, Other Historical sites-Somnath, Shrine of Meerabai-Dwarka, Heritage Walk-Ahmedabad, Gomati Ghat Temples-Dwarka, ISKCON Gate and Temple-Dwarka, and Ambaji Temple-Ambaji.

Islam religion can be recognised in at a glance-Ahmedabad, Angar Pir and Palitana – Shatrunjaya, Sikander Shah’s Tomb Halol and Champaner in Pavagadh, Sakar Khan Dargah Halol and Champaner in Pavagadh, Ratan Bai Masjid-Jamnagar, Bohra Hajira-Jamnagar, Around the Old City-Junagadh, Rander and Jama Masjid in Surat, Gopi Talav and Nav Sa’id Masjid in Surat.

Tourist spots of Gujarat are so many so describing each city is not possible with small note. Through this editorial column people will be capable to differentiate the noteworthy places of Gujarat and they can make their trip accordingly. The online portals are offering services like booking online, packages, travel information, accommodation and many other things. Gathering such information will help the visitors to visit the place of their interest. Of course, Gujarat is special and every city and tourist destination is unique then others. The experience of visitors will be diverse by visiting Gujarat.


The Lalit Modi is the CM of Gujarat and he is primarily concerned about the tourism in state. He did lots of developments in the city for local people as well as tourist. This beautiful state is amazing with loads of spots so tourist must visit Gujarat. The Kutch, Ahmedabad, Junagadh, PavaGadh, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Mandvi, Somnath, Morbi, Patan, Porbandar, Rajkot, Surat, Sasan Gir, Wankaner, Gondal, Gandhinagar, Baroda and many other cities are available as tourist places of India. These all cities are properly connected through road so reaching there through taxi or buses is possible. The roads are clean and properly maintained so visitors will not difficulty to reach any of the cities.

Airport to reach Gujarat is possible through Amerli, Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara. Some ports are available with domestic airlines whereas some are connected directly from global countries. 

Taranga Hills

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Taranga Hills are located around 20 km from Vadnagar, on the Aravali range and harbours have the profound connections with Buddhism.

From the banks of the Saraswati, you start on the path that ascends up the Taranga hills. On your way you may see Jain monks striding barefoot. On the peaks above, you sight tiny white chhatris and a little shrine to Devi Taranamata from whom the village derives its name. The idols in the temples of Taranmata and Dharanmata are basically of Buddhist goddess Tara. There are a few images found from here and the broken terracotta images of Buddha, four carved images of Dhyani Buddha on a stone plate, stone and brick walls inside rock shelters are some of them.

As your footsteps ascend upward the Taranga Jain temple, suffused in the fresh air of the hill, welcomes you. This 12th century derasar, is one of the best preserved and least restored temples in Gujarat, and a testament to the devotion and dedication of the Solanki Rajputs. Though a less-frequent stop on the standard tourist trail, it is considered to be one of India’s most treasured works of architecture.

Entering the womb of this magnificent Jain temple, where a five-meter tall sculpture of the 2nd Jain tirthankar, Shri Ajitnath, sits peacefully, may be a portal, for some, into deep unspeakable inner stillness. The teacher, Ajitnath, having transcended action and suffering, transmits an intense and unmoving quiet, beyond the known.

The temple lingers mysteriously in the consciousness of its visitor. The almost absent gaze of the tirthankar inside contrasts with the overflow of fluid sensual movements of dancing maidens, gods and goddesses, lovingly detailed outside in stone. The voluptuous damsels in their intricately carved costumes, as though dancing, both graceful and arousing. In the words of travel writer Philip Ward, “If you thought Jainism would be too intellectual to appeal to you, let this riot of sculptural delights overwhelm you.”



Labels: Architecture, Hills, Jainism, Temple
 
 
Background
Taranga is a three peaked hill in the Mehsana District of Gujarat. The river Rupen flows along the Taranga Hills; and to the east flows the river Sabarmati.

Taranga tirtha is considered one of the most important Shvetambar Jain temples, one of the five most important mahatirthas of the Jains. Of the 108 places known as Siddhachal, where holy people have attained enlightenment, one is called "Tarangir".

Temples of such magnitude as this one are generally built at a siddh kshetra, a holy place where saints are said to have attained enlightment. It is popularly believed that 35,000,000 munis, including Vardutt and Sagardutt, attained moksha here.

Under the guidance of renowned Jain scholar and poet Hemachandracharya, the Solanki King Kumarpala (1145-72), ruling from the capital in Patan, converted to Jainism and laid the foundation for this colossal temple, adding it to his growing legacy, along with the restoration of the ruined Somnath temple and the construction of the walls of Vadnagar. It was renovated on a large scale in the 16th century during the rule of the Mughal emperor Akbar, who supported diversity of religions.

The two hillocks named Kotishila and Sidhhshila have idols of Bhagwan Neminath and Bhagwan Mallinath of Vikram 1292, by the Jain calendar (1235 AD, by the Gregorian calendar). There are 14 Digambar Jain temples and one dharamshala in the foothills. Digambar Jains have been settled on this isolated hill since the time of Ajitnath Bhagwan, the 2nd Jain tirthankar.
 


  By road: Approx. 130 Kms from Ahmedabad, 50 Kms from Ambaji shrine and 56 Kms from Mehsana. Bus service and private vehicle rental are available from Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Patan, Siddhpur and Ambaji. Your bus will drop you off at Timba near Danta. You can get a shared (Rs. 5/-) or private (Rs. 50/-) jeep for the 8 km to Taranga.

By rail: The nearest major railway stations are Visnagar (38 kms), Mehsana (52 kms), Unjha (54 kms) & Vijapur (60 kms) approx. A slow local train also travels from Mehsana to Taranga (2 hrs.) The temple is 5 km from the railway station.

By air: The nearest Airport is Ahmedabad, approx. 125 Kms from Taranga.

Wild Ass Sanctuary - Little Rann


Some places in the world are known for lush greenery, others for steep cliffs and snowy glaciers and others still for refreshing water lapping against hot beaches.  But of all the landscapes in the world, harsh deserts are perhaps the one that fewest people have experienced. Believing it to be not as pleasant as other landscapes, many people miss out on the tremendous beauty found in deserts. Precisely because there are very few people, visiting deserts like the Little Rann of Kutch which gives a traveler the chance to ponder a world before there were so many of us around.

Only after hours blanketed by the deep silences that fall on the salt flats in the middle of the day, when the only sound is the wind scraping along the sand, can you appreciate the sounds that emerge in the evening, the birds singing, insects chirping and the scuffle of small animals rustling in the brush. Only after looking out at the unending flats do you appreciate the greenery and rich wildlife that congregates on the beyts or islands that rise up out of the Rann. And only after getting to know the desert do you begin to understand a secret, that the beauty of life lies hidden in even the most seemingly desolate of places.
 

 
Background
The Wild Ass Sanctuary of the Little Rann of Kutch, spreading across nearly 5000 square kilometers of the Little Rann, is the only place on earth where the endangered Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur), known locally as the ghudkhar, still lives. The only other two subspecies of wild asses live in the high arid plateaus of Tibet, making this the most accessible place to visit wild asses in their natural environs. Standing more than a meter tall at the shoulder and two meters in length, wild asses are very agile and can run long distances at a speed of 50 km/h, making them more like wild horses, and far more captivating than their domesticated cousins. Around 3000 of them live in the sanctuary, and are usually seen in herds, especially around breeding season (foals can be seen with the herds around October and November.)

But the Sanctuary is home to far more than just the wild ass. Among the 32 other species of mammals are the chinkara(Indian gazelle), two types of desert fox (Indian and White-footed), jackals, caracals (African lynx), nilgais(the largest antelope of Asia), Indian wolves, blackbucks, and striped hyenas. From the salty desert, periodically inundated during the monsoons, to wetlands where freshwater rivers draining through the Rann mix into the seawater of the Gulf of Kutch, and the scrub forests found on the beyts, the variety of vegetation types means a similar variety of animals inhabit the area.

Because of the Sanctuary's proximity to the Gulf of Kutch and its location on the migration routes of many bird species, it is a very important site for birds to feed and breed in. Every year, approximately 75,000 birds nest in the reserve. The ceraneous vulture comes from Egypt, the common and demoiselle cranes arrive from Siberia, the blue-tailed bee-eater visits from Europe, and the houbara bustard of Iran and Iraq stops over as well. All of these are commonly sighted in the sanctuary. Also present are sandgrouses, desert wheatears, ten species of lark, the white-browed bulbul, Indian coursers, stoneplovers, shrikes, ducks, geese, three types of ibis, spoonbills, godwits, stints, sandpipers, shanks, moorhens, saras cranes, both Indian flamingoes, and three species of pelican.

The Sanctuary also houses 93 species of invertebrates, including crustaceans, insects, molluscs, spiders, annelids and zooplanktons, as well as four species of frogs and toads, two species of turtles, twelve snakes, fourteen species of lizards and one kind of crocodile. The tidal wetlands along the edge of the Gulf of Kutch are a key breeding area for prawns.

Unfortunately, the Wild Ass Sanctuary is in danger from several sources, and the poachers who have begun to frequent the region are not even the greatest of these. Illegal salt mining tops the list, as a full quarter of India's salt comes from mining around the Little Rann. The noise and air pollution caused by transportation of this colossal amount of salt is gradually eating away at the wildlife habitat. The Indian Army also maintains a firing range of over 200 square km inside the sanctuary borders. (If you find live firing antithetical to a wildlife sanctuary, that's because it is.) Furthermore, the chemical factories popping up in the area, out of the way of where there are people to notice their atrocious environmental practices, are contaminating the region with dangerous industrial chemicals.
 



 
  By road: The Wild Ass Sanctuary is 130 km from Ahmedabad, 45 km from Viramgam, 175 km from Rajkot and 265 km from Bhuj, accessible from all of these by ST buses.

By rail: The Nearest Railway stations are:
  • Dhrangadhra - 16 kms
  • Ahmedabad - 130 Kms
  • Rajkot - 175 Kms

The Sanctuary has three main access points: Dhrangadhra, Range Bajana, and Range Aadeshwar. Range Bajana is the best place to enter in the winter as the wetlands that house migratory birds are closest to it. Dhrandgadhra is the easiest place to find transportation and accommodation (there is a government guest house, as well as private ones).

 

Sunday 16 December 2012

Shamlaji

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The temple of Shamlaji stands on the banks of the river Meshwo, in veneration of Vishnu. The river Meshwo meanders over its rocky bed in the valley immediately below, and the waters of a splendid natural lake, of great beauty sparkle amid the well-wooded hills.

Sakshi Gopal or Gadadhar is a black representation of Vishnu worshipped at the Shamlaji Temple. This is one of the rare temples of Lord Krishna in which cow idols are also worshipped depicting his childhood as a cowherd. For the Vaishnavites Shamlaji is one of the hundred and fifty four most important places of pilgrimage in India.

It is believed that this shrine has existed for at least 500 years. Built of white sandstone and bricks, it has two storeys supported on rows of pillars. It is profusely carved and episodes from sacred epics of the Ramayana and Mahabharata are engraved on the outer walls. Its beautiful domed ceilings and a traditional north Indian spire over the main shrine add to the magnificence of its open courtyard accompanied by the carving of a life-size elephant.


Labels: Architecture, Hinduism, Temple
 
 
Background
There are three very interesting legend behind the creation of this temple.
  • According to one, Brahma once embarked on a journey to find out the best tirtha (sacred site) on the earth. After seeing a number of places, he came to Shamlaji, which he liked the most and performed penance there for one thousand years. Lord Shiva, who was pleased with him, asked him to perform a yajna (ritual). At the beginning of the yajna, Lord Vishnu manifested himself in the form of Shamlaji, and was enshrined at this place.
  • Another legend has it that Vishwakarma, the architect of the Gods, constructed this temple in one night, but as it was morning by the time he completed it, he could not take it with him and had to return leaving it here.
  • According to the third story, an Adivasi found the idol of Shamlaji while ploughing his land. He worshipped it by lighting a lamp everyday and was blessed for his faith by having an abundant yield in his farm. Learning of this, a Vaishnava merchant built the temple and installed the idol therein, which was later beautified by the Idar rulers. More recently, a prominent business family further renovated this temple.
 

Champaner - Pavagadh


Many great cities of antiquity around the world were the center of their civilization for centuries, only to be lost to the ages, and then rediscovered centuries or millennia later, reduced to rubble and ruins, with only the largest structures still standing, and the rest mere shadows.  Other cities continued to grow and change, leading to eclectic mixes of thousand-year-old forts and temples, medieval streets and markets, government buildings put up by colonial powers, and modern high-rises, offices and strip malls cluttering everywhere in between.  But there are not many places in the world that went from being a small place of moderate importance to being the capital of the kingdom to being almost entirely deserted and nearly lost to the wilderness within a century, and in such recent history (a mere 500 years ago.)

Champaner is just such a place. Here you can find an old palace, fort, several mosques, but also walk the ancient streets just as its inhabitants did five centuries ago.  Champaner was an out-of-the-way pilgrimage site for hundreds of years, became the capital of Gujarat, and was then abandoned to be overtaken by the jungle. The city rose and fell almost as fast as the modern stock market, but left behind far more aesthetic remains.  The city is remarkably well-preserved, with Hindu and Jain temples a thousand years old, mosques from the time of the Gujarat Sultanate, and the whole workings of a well-planned capital city still in evidence, from granaries and fortifications to stepwells and cemeteries.  Champaner became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004
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Labels: Archaeology, Architecture, Fort, Hills, Hinduism, Islam, Mosque
 
 
Background
Champaner was founded in the 8th century by King Vanraj Chavda of the Chavda Kingdom. Some attribute the name “Champaner” to his desire to name the city after his friend and minister Champa, while others say it comes from the igneous rocks of Pavagadh, whose light yellow color tinged with red gives the appearance of the champaka, or “flame of the forest” flower. The city and surrounding state of Pavagadh became an important buffer area between Mandu and Gujarat, as well as a key station on trade routes leading from Gujarat to both North and South India. Pavagadh and the city of Champaner were captured by the Chauhan Rajputs around 1300 AD, and they ruled the area for almost the next two hundred years.

Though many of the Gujarat Sultans had attempted to capture Pavagadh, for the strategic reasons mentioned above, it was Mahmud Begda who succeded in 1484, after laying siege to the city for twenty months. He renamed the city Muhammadabad, spent 23 years renovating and enhancing the city, and moved his capital there from Ahmedabad. Champaner’s time as capital was not long, however, as the Mughal Emperor Humayun conquered the city in 1535.

Because the Mughals had captured both Gujarat and Malwa, the city no longer had any strategic value as a buffer, and the capital was moved back to Ahmedabad. For the next four centuries or so, the city was in decline. While at one point it was occupied by the Marathas, it was never given any importance, and some records from this period indicate that while some inhabitants remained, much of the city was overrun by the surrounding forest as the decades and centuries passed. Only scant references exist from a few Islamic (and one Portuguese) writers of the period. Hindu pilgrims also still continued to climb Pavagadh hill to pray at the temple to Mahakali, but took little notice of the ruined city at the foot of the hills.

When the British took control of the area around the beginning of the 19th century, the city was almost completely overrun by the wilderness, and most reports point to a population of only 500. British surveyors took notice of the large monuments lost in the jungle and described of their findings, and later on, limited field studies were undertaken by the German archaeologist Herman Goetz. In 1969 a 7-year study was done by the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, leading to many insights about the growth and identity of the city.

As it was first a strategic center, it has heavy fortifications especially near the upper portions, and grew downward from there through successive fortifications ending down on the plains. The fort walls reach up to ten meters high, with positions at regular intervals for weapons to be fired from atop them, as well as for troops to move below. Near the Atak Gate are several catapult stands; only the stone frames remain, but stone balls found around the site indicate their use as catapults. The principal township at the base of the hill included the Hissar-i-Khas (the royal palace) as well as the Jami Masjid. Arranged in a circle with the Jami Masjid at the center, major arteries ran from there to the nine major gates of the city, with mosques built near many of the gates, elevated to be widely visible. Large reservoirs to store monsoon rains for the rest of the year were built using earthen berms to contain the natural flow of streams coming downhill. The series of created lakes empty into each other as they successively overflow, eventually ending in the largest lake, the Vada Talav, on the plain below the city. In addition, multiple stepwells helped augment the water supply, as did systems of collecting rooftop rainwater into small tanks for individual buildings. The Jami Masjid had a huge open-air tank for its rainwater collection, called the Hauz-i-Vazu. The extent of urban planning that went into developing the city under Mahmud Begda far outweighs the mere two decades that it served as capital.
 


  By road: Champaner is 45 km from Vadodara, accessible by bus or private vehicles.  Cars can be hired in Vadodara to drive to Champaner-Pavagadh, which is the best option if you want to combine the journey with other sites like Jambughoda.
   

Dakor

DAKOR
The city of Dakor is a mythological cauldron, and being there is like taking a drink from fabled waters.

Once a sleepy village, it used to crackle with a large number of khakhra (Butea monosperma) trees and was therefore often called a ‘Khakhariu gaam’. It is said that Rishi Dank had his ashram here, so the temple and the village are named after him as Dankpur or Dakor, and the Danknath Mahadev temple stands on the banks of Gomti Lake. As you approach from faraway you see the swaying flag on the tall and beautiful shikhar of the Ranchhodrai Dakor Temple inviting pilgrims. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Mirabai have both come here to pay homage to its idol.



On purnima (full moon) every month this temple town awakens to thousands of visitors in colorful festivity. Inspired by the revered legend of Bodana, many devotees even today come on foot from great distances. But remember, your Dakor adventure is complete only after tasting its lip-smacking gotas accompanied by tea or dahi (yogurt).
 

 
Background
The legend of Bodana
'Vijayanand Bodana', a Rajput of Dakor, walked every six months to Dwarka to worship Lord Krishna. He did this tirelessly and unfailingly until he was 72 years old, at which point the long journey became increasingly difficult for him. Feeling compassion for this faithful devotee, the idol of Krishna directed him in a dream to bring a bullock-cart on his ensuing visit to Dwarka. At midnight, the Krishna idol broke open all the doors of the Dwarka temple, awoke Bodana and told him to take him to Dakor. Near Bileshwar Mahadev on Dakor-Nadiad road, they rested for some time. Sri Krishna touched the branch of a Neem tree, and to this day that tree is said to have one sweet branch, though the rest of the branches are bitter.

In Dwarka, the angry Gugli brahmins, finding the idol of Krishna missing, chased Bodana and accidentally killed him. The Guglis were not ready to return to Dwarka without the Krishna idol. At last, Krishna asked Gangabai, the poor widow of Bodana, to give gold equivalent to the weight of the idol and ask the Guglis to return to Dwarka. The Guglis agreed, but all she possessed was a gold nose-ring. Miraculously, when weighed, the idol became as light as the nose-ring. The Guglis were disappointed but Krishna mercifully directed that they would find after six months an exact replica of the idol in Sevaradhan Vav at Dwarka. The impatient Guglis looked for the idol sometime earlier than they were told and as a result, found an idol which, though similar to the original one, was smaller. The original idol remained in Dakor. Even today on every purnima (full moon), pilgrims walk here from far away places to commemorate Bodana's devotion.
 

Hidimba Van and Rishi Dank
In the past, Kheda district was known as ‘Hidimba Van’. This is where the Mahabharata hero Bhimsen killed a demon and married Hidimba.

Rishi Dank had his hermitage in the fertile lands of Dakor, then called Dankpur after the name of the rishi. It is said that Shiva, pleased by the rishi's devotion, granted his wish and stayed in his hermitage in the form of a linga. At present the linga stands as Danknath Mahadev temple on the bank of the holy pond Gomti.
 

How to get here
 
   By road: Dakor is in Thasra taluka of Kheda District, 43 km northeast of Anand, and 35 km east of Nadiad. Private and ST buses are available from Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Anand.

By rail: Nadiad and Anand are the nearest major railway stations. There is also a slow-train branch line terminus at Umreth, 7 km away.

By air: The nearest airport is in Vadodara- 78 km south, but the Ahmedabad airport- 90 km to the northwest, is not much further and has far more flights.
 
 

Vadodara

TakeTours
If you seek the stillness of earth before the human empire, then imagine prehistoric times when the humans here on the banks of the river Vishwamitri, were outnumbered by vad, or banyan trees, from which the place derived its name. If you are an industrialist, then revel in the booming production center that is Vadodara or Baroda (as it is also known).

If you are not, and you wish to escape the industrial fumes, then take a breather in Sayaji Baug, the expansive garden in the center of the city, next to the river, before you explore the rest of the city, still pleasant and relaxing.

If you want to be amused by the ostentation of rulers of the past, visit the Lakshmi Vilas Palace, or the now derelict but once lavish Nazarbaugh Palace.

If you are an artist, art historian, or archaeologist, then go see the extensive collection, from ancient to modern, at the Vodadara Museum and the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, the painted walls of the Tambekar Wada haveli, and the Nandlal Bose murals of the Bhagvad Gita in the old Kirti Mandir mousoleum. And to meet artists and students and dip into India's evolving art scene, visit the Maharaja Sayaji University and the Picture Gallery.

If you come during Navratri, the nine night festival of dance in worship of the Mother Goddess, then consider yourself the envy of the rest of Gujarat, for you are in the most sought-after location for the event.

Welcome to the cultural capital of Gujarat. Have your own Vadodara. There’s enough to go around.
 

Labels: Archaeology, Art, Gardens/Parks, Museum, Palace
 
 
Background
Archaeological research shows humans exploring the area around the river Vishwamitri from pre-historic times. There was first a small settlement near a grove of Akola trees so it came to be known as Ankottaka, now called Akota. A kilometer eastward, a suburb came up near an abundant grove of vad, Banyan trees, and hence came to be known as Vadapadraka. The city was once marked by four gates, still standing, but it expanded over the ages into what is now the third largest city in Gujarat, known as Vadodara (also known as its anglicized form Baroda, until the recent return to the original name, as with other cities such as Mumbai and Chennai. Ancient Vadapadraka was ruled by the Chalukya dynasty in the 10th century, followed by the Solankis, the Vaghelas, and then the Sultans of Delhi and Gujarat. In 1674 the Maratha Empire declared war on the Mughal Empire, and defeated them in central and eastern Gujarat in mid-18th century. Their representatives and ruling dynasty in Gujarat, the Gaekwads (meaning “protector of cows”), after having instigated the adivasi Bhils and Kolis to attack the Mughals, occupied Vadodara as their capital. In the early 19th century, after the Anglo-Maratha war, the British had control of much of Gujarat. Meanwhile, the Gaekwads had come into conflict with the Peshwas, the Marathas of Pune. The Gaekwads signed a special treaty with the British for protection from the Peshwas, and to give Baroda a degree of self-rule. The Gaekwad ruler was high in the pecking order under British rule, and was one of only 5 rulers to receive a 21-gun salute. Baroda was thus one of the few places to remain autonomous until Independence, and like Hyderabad and Mysore, one senses that it retains a flavor of the former princely Gaekwad state and never fully integrated into the central administration.

Among the Gaekwads, ruler Maharaja Sayajirao III, reigning 1875-1939, is credited with the most significant development of the city and bold socio-economic reforms. He brought in changes to textile and other manufacturing processes that moved Baroda towards the booming industrial center it is now. He introduced compulsory primary education, even for girls, which was rare in India then, and organized schools for oppressed classes, adivasis, and Muslims, also progressive moves for his time. He was a promoter of adult education, setting up a network of libraries that are still thriving, and are appreciated as a legacy from the Gaekwad rule. He was also a leader among other Indian kings in his patronage of the arts, in a time when the British largely ignored the local arts, judging them with a biased eye as inferior.
 




 
By road: Vadodara, 112 km from Ahmedabad and 420 km from Mumbai, is located on National Highway 8. 
There are various state transport (ST) buses and private luxury coaches from all over Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and Rajasthan. Ahmedabad-Vadodara intercity buses take 2 hours and run every 15 minutes.  There are also several private bus companies on or near Station Road. Tickets vary according to the type of bus, but the average rate is Rs 100/- to Ahmedabad and Rs 200/- to Mumbai. You can also rent a car with a driver to explore the city and its surroundings at the Express Hotel. Rates range from Rs. 650/- without air-conditioning to Rs. 2200/- for luxury vehicles, for 8 hrs or 80 km per day.

By rail: Vadodara, a major railway junction is located on the Western Railway, which connects Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad.

By air: Vadodara is connected by various domestic airlines to Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Daman, and Pune.
 

 

Narmada River

Whatever we tell you, however detailed a description we give, it won't do justice to the body of water that flows from the Amarkantak plateau to Arabian sea, the river we call Narmada. Hinduism sees it as one of the seven most sacred rivers in India, and in fact, most wisdom traditions around the world draw inspiration from rivers and their behavior.

Come stand on the banks of the Narmada, and whatever your faith, you might momentarily be inspired to carry out the Narmada parikrama, a two to three year process of travelling by foot up one entire bank of the river and down the other. For the time being, see how far this spell carries you; put one foot in front of the other and see how far they take you; take in the colorful riverside, the temples, ashrams, bathing sites and warm-hearted people; listen deeply for the river's voice as it tumbles home to the sea, washing humanity clean of its borders, divisions and short-sightedness.
 

Labels: Hinduism
 
Background
Narmada as a mythological being, called Ma (Mother) Narmada by her devotees, means "one who endows bliss". She is believed to have been born from Shiva's sweat as he danced his tandava, and so is referred to as his daughter.

The Narmada river from source to sea is 1312 km long, the largest in Gujarat, and the fifth largest in India. It is often seen as the boundary between North and South India. It originates in the Amarkantak plateau, where the Vindhya and Saptura mountain ranges meet, and continues southwest across the state of Madhya Pradesh, along the northern border of Maharashtra, and then winds through the Gujarati districts Narmada, Vadodara, and Bharuch, before emptying at the city of Bharuch into the Arabian sea through the Gulf of Khambat (Cambay).
 

 
How to get here
 
 
The Narmada river runs through Narmada district, along the border of Vadodara district, and through Bharuch district,  emptying near the city of Bharuch into the sea. There are various sites along the way, and therefore various ways to visit the river.

By road: Bharuch, Rajpipla, Chanod, and Dabhoi are accessible by buses. The Sardar Sarovar dam site can be reached by private vehicle.

By rail: Bharuch is the nearest railway station.

By air: The closest airport is at Vadodara.
 
 

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