Dharamshala Tours Cultural Heritage

Dharamshala is a popular hill station that lies at a height ranging from 1250 meters to 2000 meters. The town is divided into upper and lower sections due to its immense height difference. These two sections are separated by a 3 km distance. The temperature of Dharamshala never crosses the 25 degree mark. You can plan out Dharamshala tours to explore this uncharted region's unique cultural and natural beauty.

A leisurely walk through the lush deodar and pine forests while undergoing Dharamshala Tours gives a marvelous experience in the lap of picturesque nature. Dharamshala is the town of hot springs, lakes and waterfalls. Dal Lake is the most beautiful picnic spot of this town. Bhagsu Waterfall, located 3 km from the quaint town of Dharamshala is also a beautiful tourist option.

Dharamshala is well known for its magnificent gompas. The Tashijong Gompa is one of the most visited gompas of Him`achal Pradesh. Tsuglagkhang Complex is another of the attractive Buddhist monument. It is the largest Tibetan temple outside Tibet, also known as Dalai Lama Temple. Tibet Museum, Tibetan Library and Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts are other reflections of predominant Tibetan culture in Dharamshala. However, though Tibetan community dominates the entire Dharamshala region; it is the one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimage destinations found in northern India. Chamunda Devi Temple, Jwalamukhi Temple, Brajeshwari Devi Temple and Bhagsunath Temple are the ancient Hindu temples of Dharamshala.

To get a better feel and insight of Dharamshala India Tours you must explore the region's rich cultural heritage. The Kangra Art Museum is famous for its fifth century artifacts., and 17^th century miniature paintings from the Kangra School. It showcases the arts, crafts and history of the people of Kangra valley, down the ages. The War Memorial of Dharamshala holds the memory of heroes of Himachal Pradesh, who died in the Indo-China and Indo-Pak war. St. John's Church of Dharamshala is built in the memory of Lord Elgin, the British Viceroy of India. It is also known as St. John in the Wilderness.

Macleodganj area of upper Dharamshala is the home to numerous Buddhist monuments. It is the seat of the exiled Tibetan government with His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama residing here, and the focal point of Tibetan culture. Kangra Fort is located on the banks of Ganga and Manjhi rivers, and even though it now stands in its ruins, it manages to resonate its erstwhile glory. Macleodganj and Kotwali Bazaar are the main areas to hang out for shopping during Dharamshala tours. Wooden carvings, woolen and silk woven accessories are the main shopping items of Dharamshala. The woolen garments of Dharamshala are available in vibrant styles, and at reasonable rates. Wooden carving on bamboo and cane found in Dharamshala will give exquisite look to your homes. 

Travel Blog by :- Easy Tours Of India

Experience the Real Village Life of India in the Pushkar Fair

Fairs are a signifier of country's cultures and traditions. The tradition of fairs is more or less erasing from our lives as the world is moving ahead towards modernization. Fairs are an integral part of village life. But, in modern cities and towns, people don't any time to visit these fairs and experience the roots of their culture. Instead of going to see a fair people prefer going to the shopping malls or watch a movie. But all the assumptions of the people will be proved to be wrong once the person experiences the Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan. The charm of Pushkar fair is such that cannot be compared to any fair in India Tours.

But before knowing about Pushkar fair details, let us first know some facts about Pushkar. Pushkar is small town 13 kilometers away from Ajmer, Rajasthan. Several local taxis, tongas, buses and cars can take the tourists to the fair. Five rivers, Kanaka, Suprabha, Prachi, Saraswati, and Nanda flow here. The climate is pleasant here. Pushkar is also famous for its Pushkar Lake and temple that is the only temple of lore brahma in the world. A large number of tourists come from different parts of the world to witness the fair.

The fair is so popular that including many localities, various internet websites also serve as a guide to Pushkar Camel Fair

The fair is held every year in the month of Kartik. It is one of the largest cattle fair in entire Asia. Thousands of camels and other cattle are bought and sold here. Men come in traditional Rajasthani attire, turban and dhotis; and women come mirror embroidered ghagras with colorful jewelry. It is seven day fair where the first five days are completely devoted to buying and selling of animals and the last two days are the days of enjoyment. Some of the major attractions of the fair are the Pushkar camel safari and cattle races.

This calm peaceful village settlement will be transformed into a carnival of lively colours again on November 22nd, 2012. Pushkar fair dated 2012 will continue till 24th November 2011. Tourists will surely mesmerize in the real enchanting, beautiful, and mysterious Pushkar fair and festival Tours of India.

 

Every year, this fair is held either in the month of October or November. Witnessing the Pushkar fair is a true experience of vigor and dynamism. So, if one is planning a trip to India, plan it around Pushkar fair 2011, so that the tourist can really experience the Pushkar fair details that are given almost everywhere when we talk about the fairs and festivals of India. The tourist can experience everything; the holy Pushkar Lake, camel safari, folk dances, amazing cuisine, real village life, buy lak Bangles, ghagras, footwear, enjoy the races, and of course see amazing variety of cattle.

Taj Mahal Varanasi Tour Get Pleasant Experience

There are many interesting temples in Varanasi and each one speaks its own story. Durga symbolises power and the Durga Temple is a favourite among the devotees. A characteristic feature of the Durga Temple is the profusion of monkeys, which has given the temple a not so gratifying title of Monkey Temple. The Bharat Mata temple is another unique temple dedicated to the nation. It evokes a sense of unity among the Indian tourists and reflects the diverse and rich cultural heritage of the country. The Tulsi Manas Temple is dedicated to Lord Rama. The other important temples of the city are the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the Sankat Mochan Temple.

Also known as the Golden Temple, it is dedicated to Lord shiva, the presiding deity of the city. Varanasi is Said to be the point at which the first jyotirlinga, the fiery pillar of light by which shiva manifested has supremacy over others gods, broke through the Earth’s crust and flared towards the heavens. More than the Gaths and even the Ganga, the Shivalinga installed in the temple remains the devotional focus of  Varanasi

Early morning visit the sacred river Ganges before sunrise, to see how the Hindus of Varanasi pray to the rising Sun and then pray to the river Ganges. Enjoy a boat ride on the Ganges and see the cremation grounds from the boat. Return to your hotel for breakfast. Later visit the Golden Temple, Bharat Mata Temple and Birla ( Shiva ) Temple. In the afternoon transfer to Airport to fly for delhi. Upon arrival farewell dinner at Restaurant followed by Indian folk dances from different States. After that transfer to International Airport to fly onward your Sweet Home.

On your India to Varanasi you can not only partake of the unique experience of seeing all this happening in the ghats of Varanasi but also actively participate in them. The air reverberates with the chants of the Sanskrit slokas and as one offers prayers the mind is filled with a certain serene calm which makes one think that he or she has been partly cleansed of his sins and purified. The ghats do have a quaint charm that is simply not explicable in words. It can only be savored on Tours to Varanasi. One can have the best view of these ghats when enjoying boat rides in the middle of the Ganges.

On India Tours to Varanasi do make sure to visit the temples in Varanasi. The gold plated spire on the Vishwanath Temple is sure to impress any onlooker. The architectural features of some of the others are also quite admirable. A few of the monuments in Varanasi also deserve to be a part of your sight seeing trip. And do make sure to keep some time reserved for visits to the museums which house a very interesting collection of arts and artifacts and for shopping so that you can buy some exquisitely beautiful Benarasi saris.

Word Heritage - Qutab Minar in Delhi

Qutab-Minar in red and buff sandstone is the highest tower in India. It has a diameter of 14.32 m at the base and about 2.75 m on the top with a height of 72.5 m.Qutbu'd-Din Aibak laid the foundation of Minar in AD 1199 for the use of the mu'azzin (crier) to give calls for prayer and raised the first storey, to which were added three more storey’s by his successor and son-in-law, Shamus’s-Din Iltutmish (AD 1211-36). All the storeys are surrounded by a projected balcony encircling the minar and supported by stone brackets, which are decorated with honey-comb design, more conspicuously in the first storey. 

Numerous inscriptions in Arabic and Nagari characters in different places of the minar reveal the history of Qutb. According to the inscriptions on its surface it was repaired by Firuz Shah Tughlaq (AD 1351-88) and Sikandra Lodi (AD 1489-1517). Major R.Smith also repaired and restored the Minar in 1829.

Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, to the north-east of Qutab Minar was built by Qutbu'd-Din Aibak in AD 1198. It is the earliest extant mosque built by the Delhi Sultans. It consists of a rectangular courtyard enclosed by cloisters, erected with the carved columns and architectural members of 27 Hindu and Jaina temples which were demolished by Qutbu'd-Din Aibak as recorded in his inscription on the main eastern entrance. 

Later, a lofty arched screen was erected and the mosque was enlarged by Shamus’s-Din Iltutmish (AD 1210-35) and Alau'd-Din Khalji. The Iron Pillar in the courtyard bears an inscription in Sanskrit in Brahmi script of fourth century AD, according to which the pillar was set up as a Vishnudhvaja (standard of god Vishnu) on the hill known as Vishnupada in memory of a mighty king named Chandra. A deep socket on the top of the ornate capital indicates that probably an image of Garuda was fixed into it.

The tomb of Iltutmish (AD 1211-36) was built in AD 1235. It is a plain square chamber of red sandstone, profusely carved with inscriptions, geometrical and arabesque patterns in Saracenic tradition on the entrances and the whole of interior. Some of the motifs viz., the wheel, tassel etc., are reminiscent of Hindu designs.

Travel Blog by :- Easy Tours of India

Rajasthan is Popular Dilwara Jain Temple

Mount Abu, also said to be 'the paradise of Rajasthan' is one of the popular Jain pilgrimage sites. This beautiful and fascinating city is famous for its Dilwara Caves and its natural beauty. Named after the Arbuda Devi, the city is also known for being the headquarters of the Brahmakumaris religious sect. Mount Abu, the only hill station in Rajasthan, is also said to be the God's abode. There are many temples in this region and the place is said to be an important place of penance for the sages in ancient times.

Built between the 11th and 13th century, the Dilwara Jain Temples are known for their intricate carvings and the white marble used to build the temples. The temples are dedicated to the Jain Tirthankaras. Vimal Vasahi, Lun Vasahi, Shri Risha Lhdeo, Shri Parshvanath and Shri Mahavir Swami are the other five Jain temples. Two brothers - Vastupal and Tejpal, built the Lun Vasahi temple, which is most sacred among the five. The unique feature of this temple is the marble dome in the porch, which is made up of a cluster of half open lotuses, which appear to be almost transparent. You can too enjoy the nature basking in its glory through the IndiaTour Packages for Mount Abu.

Built in 1031, by Bhim Deva, the first Solanki ruler of Gujarat, the Vimal Vasahi temple is oldest and is also known to be the first Jain temple. The temple is built with pure marbles and its carvings reflect the excellence of artistry of its time.

The other main attraction of the tourists is the Guru Shikhar, the highest peak of Mount Abu. There is also a temple at the top amidst the beautiful lush greenness of the peak. In the heart of the town, at one end of the Mall is Nakki Lake. With the hills overlooking the beauty of this lake from all sides, the road that leads to the lake appears as if contemplating to take a dip in the lake.

Travel Blog by :- Easy Tours of India

Rajasthan Camel City Of Bikaner

Bikaner is popularly referred to as the 'Camel City of Rajasthan'. Bikaner lies on the ancient caravan routes that linked Western/Central Asia and North India with the seaports of Gujarat. Bikaner thus flourished as a major trade center during the medieval period. The kingdom of Bikaner was established by a Rathore Prince, Rao Bikaji, son of the founder of Jodhpur, Rao Jodhaji in 1488 A.D. He was able to carve out a state named after him after hardship of 30 years.

Tours to Bikaner comprises of visit to some of the major attractions of the city. Lal Garh Fort is 3 km from the city. It houses the Shri Sadul Museum in the first floor established in 1076 AD. The rich treasure house of the artifacts and personal possessions of the Maharajas of Bikaner will impress you. Most remarkable artifact in the museum is the brass vessel known as a tokna, which was used to collect revenue and then transported to the Bikaner State Treasury by camel. The Royal Train of the Maharaja looks elegant in the front of the palace.

Junagarh Museum cannot be missed while on Tour to Bikaner. Raja Jai Singh, a General in the Mughal Army of the Emperor Akbar constructed the Junagarh Fort. It was started in 1588 AD and was completed by 1593 AD. The huge fort has a 986 m-long wall with 37 ramparts, a moat and two entrances of which the Surajpol or the Sun Gate is the main entrance.

Shiva Bari Temple is at a distance of 6 km from Bikaner. You must visit the beautiful temple with carvings and perfect finishing while on tour of the city. The bronze statue of Nandi and a Shiva lingam are noteworthy.

Sisodia Rani ka Bagh is 8 km from Bikaner on the Bikaner - Agra road. It is a garden palace constructed for the second wife of Jai Singh. The pyramidal gardens looks beautiful over the small hillock with watercourses. There are pavilions also in the garden ornamented with wall paintings.

Camel Research Farm is a government-run camel station nearly 8 km from Bikaner. It is probably one of its kind of a farm in whole of Asia. There are about 230 camels at the research farm and three different breeds are reared here. Enjoy the camel ride, look at the baby camels and explore the small museum.

Tour to Bikaner is more enjoyable at the time of the much-famed Camel Festival. The Department of Tourism, Art and Culture of the Government of Rajasthan organize the festival every year in the month of January. It is an exclusive camel festival where sale and purchase of camels takes place. The festival is made entertaining by the song and dance festivals and other competitions.

 

Travel Blog by :- Easy Tours Of India

Khajuraho Group of Monuments

The Khajuraho Group of Monuments in Khajuraho Hindi, a town in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, located in Chhatarpur District, about 620 kilometres (385 mi) southeast of New Delhi, are one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous for their erotic sculpture. The Khajuraho group of monuments has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is considered to be one of the "seven wonders" of India. The name Khajuraho, ancient "Kharjuravahaka", is derived from the Sanskrit word kharjur meaning date palm. 

I recently set off for a Heritage Tour in Khajuraho and rejuvenated myself with sights that were both mystifying and soothing. The expedition has imprinted memories that often drives me back to that era of Chandela Dynasty. The Temples in Khajuraho tell tales of the affluent culture and architecture of the then dynasty. The expedition was quite an experience that flavours my Heritage.

Nestled among the timbered plains of the Centrally located state of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is now a world heritage site under UNESCO. My Khajuraho Temple Tour was an expedition which I never wanted to put an end. There were lots to explore and sight see and I earnestly wished that I had planned a longer vacation in Khajuraho. The pastoral vibes, the humble and cordial hospitality from the village folks made the jaunt more memorable. Besides sight seeing I did enjoy shopping amidst the local bazaar sipping a refreshing cup of tea.

My Khajuraho Heritage Tour started off during early March and it was perhaps the best season to visit the Temples. I wandered myself among the Temples discovering many sights that were both enthralling and marvellous. The structures of the Temples sometimes seem to me frozen and spell bounded humans artistically carved and preserved so as to depict many untold tales that contemporary world would never get to know. My Khajuraho trip was part of my India Tours Heritage Packages and hence I could not stay longer to explore and unveil every secret concealed among the various architectural works in the temples.

It was always my life long dream to pay a visit to the famous Khajuraho Temples and I have made that dream come true. I went back from the trip loading sacks of memories of the marvellous and breath taking sights the temples offer. Khajuraho Temples are quite an ideal heritage site for a heritage tours.

Darjeeling Mountain Railway of India

Darjeeling is a town in the Indian state of West Bengal. A popular tourist destination, it is located in the Mahabharat Range or Lesser Himalaya at an average elevation of 6,710 ft (2,050 m). It is noted for its tea industry and the Darjeeling Mountain Railways, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Darjeeling is the headquarters of Darjeeling district which has a partially autonomous status within the state of West Bengal.

The development of the town dates back to the mid-19th century, when the colonial British administration set up a sanatorium and a military depot. Subsequently, extensive tea plantation was done in the region, and tea growers developed hybrids of black tea and created new fermenting techniques. The resultant distinctive Darjeeling tea is internationally recognised and ranks among the most popular of the black teas. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway connects the town with the plains and has one of the few steam locomotives still in service in India.

Darjeeling has several British-style public schools, which attract students from India and neighbouring countries. The varied culture of the town reflects its diverse demographic milieu consisting of Nepalese, Tibetan, Bengali and other ethno-linguistic groups. Darjeeling, with its neighbouring town of Kalimpong, was a centre of the Gorkhaland movement in the 1980s. The town's fragile ecology has been threatened by a rising demand for environmental resources, stemming from growing tourist traffic and poorly planned urbanisation.

The opening of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in 1881 further hastened the development of the region. In 1899, Darjeeling was rocked by major landslides that caused severe damage to the town and the native population.

Travel Blog by :- Easy Tours of India