Must Know Travel Information on Datia Madhya Pradesh
Datia is on the Gwalior to Jhansi road, 26 kilometers northwest of the city of Jhansi. One has to hire a taxi or take a local bus from Jhansi and plan to spend at least (very rewarding) half clay at Datia.
It is a beautiful site built on a natural outcrop and consists of 16th to 17th century fortification walls, palaces and cenotaphs of the region’s former Bunclelakhandi Rajput ruling family. If unable to visit all the sites, take the short detour off the main Gwalior to Jhansi road that leads to one of the prettiest palaces of Datia.
Datia
The main palace, like the one in Orccha, was built by Raja Bir Singh in 1620. The palace overlooks a lake on the south and east side and from the balconies are also visible the remains of the fort, and other palaces and temples of ancient Datia. The many-storeyed palace is called Govind Mandir. It is square in plan, with towering walls protecting the inner open courtyard. The high enclosure walls and corners are capped with domes. The commanding entrance doorway to the palace is decorated with carved details, painted motifs and the auspicious image of Ganesh—the elephant – headed Hindu deity, the Remover of Obstacles, the Lord of Good Fortune. Entering the palace through a maze of arched, dark passageways and shadowy doorways one emerges into the sunlit courtyard. The open court is occupied by a smaller, square, many-storeyed building which is linked to the outer courtyard by flying bridges. The entire design of the square within a square and the bridged passageways forms an intricate cruciform plan. As you ascend each floor, the carved pillared passageways lead you from room to room, to screened balconies with views of the lake below and cool royal apartments. Every now and again you can glimpse the remnants of brilliant ceramic tile-work mosaics that once adorned the palace walls. The palace is a playful combination of arches and domes acquired from Islamic architecture, and traditional beams and pillars with ornate brackets.
This palace is one of the best examples of royal, domestic architecture, with a perfect understanding of the Indian climate and the intensity of light. There are rooms that receive the delicate light of dawn, that glow with the blazing sunset; there are cool rooms that never receive direct sunlight and areas that are bathed in light; and in the corridors light and shadows play all day. Both the design and the architectural decoration make this forlorn palace one of the loveliest in central India.
For more information on Datia contact Swan Tours, one of the leading travel agents in India.
Things You Must Know Before Travel Bhimtal Uttrakhand
Altitude: 1,370 m
Distance: 21 Kilometers from Kathgodam
Uttrakhand tour packages are very popular both with domestic and international guests seeking a visit to the Himalayas. Bhimtal a quaint hill station before Nainital offers a great quiet holiday experience.
The largest lake in Nainital district, Bhimtal is located 22 kilometers from Nainital. Boat trips to the restaurant on an island in the middle of the lake are a popular attraction. Fishing permits can be taken from the Fisheries Office, in the bazaar at the western end of the lake. The 12-m high Victorian Dam next to the lake is adorned with flowerbeds on either side.
The town is named after Bhima, and the 17th century Bhimeshwar Temple and the Hidimba Parbat (named after the demoness Bhima marries) overlooking the lake, are the other associations the place has with the Pandava.
The recently opened Pt. GB Pant High Altitude Zoo (2,100 m) is 2 kilometers from Tallital Bus Stand.
The Hanuman temple at Hanumangarhi (1,951 m), 3 kilometers south of Tallital, is popular for its magnificent views and spectacular sunsets. A kilometer ahead, on Manora Peak, is Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences or ARIES that provides splendid views of the celestial bodies through its high-power telescopes on clear moonlit nights. Call the institute for a permit.
China Peak (pronounced ‘Cheena’), also known as Naini Peak, is the highest point in Nainital (2,610 m) and is a 5 km-trek from Mallital. While an urban legend claims that you can see the Great Wall of China from here, according to some the peak gets its moniker from a sage by the name of Cheena, who once lived here.
Dorothy’s Seat (2,292 m), or Tiffin Top, is a 4-km walk from the Mall on Ayarpata Hill. It is named after a stonework bench built here by a loving husband in the memory of his wife, Dorothy Kellet, who often came here to paint. Offering a bird’s eye view of Nainital, Dorothy’s Seat is popular with picnickers coming up with packed lunches, hence its alternate name Tiffin Top.
For those interested, the privately-owned Folk Culture Museum on Bhowali Road has an inviting collection of traditional costumes, craft pieces, and even rock art from the region.
For more information Bhimtal Uttrakhand contact Swan Tours, one of the leading travel companies in India.
What can you say about a meal eaten against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and lush green meadows? The simplest of food would taste like ambrosia when the back-ground is this picturesque. And when the food itself is of the most delectable kind, how can a meal in Kashmir not be special?
Cullinary experiences are one of the major motivations for travel to Kashmir. Kashmir holiday packages organized by Swan Tours ensure a close encounter with Kashmiri cuisine. The cuisine of Kashmir is so extensive that it can inspire a thick volume. And that’s not surprising, for the influences are as rich as they are varied. It is said that when Timur invaded India towards the end of the 14th century, he came with a retinue of skilled artisans. Among them were his cooks, who while passing through Kashmir, left behind a legacy of recipes that originated in central Asia. Succeeding Mughal emperors beginning with Akbar would make many contributions to the cuisine. Apart from the Mughal sway, other influences — from Hindu and Buddhist to Sikh — enriched the cauldron. The cuisine also has traces of the Persian and the Afghan in it, to say nothing of the British. And out of these myriad streams, a distinct Kashmiri cuisine has emerged. The state of Jammu & Kashmir has different kinds of cuisine to offer — Ladakh has it own characteristic food which can be sampled while on Leh Ladakh Tours, while the Dogra cuisine of the Jammu region is vastly different from that of the Valley. In Kashmir, food can be roughly divided into two kinds – Kashmiri Muslim and Kashmiri Pandit. There are many similarities and a few differences between the two cuisines. The dishes – from many of the meat dishes to vegetarian delights such as nadru (lotus stem), chaman (cottage cheese) and haakh (local greens) – are common, but the use or absence of a few ingredients marks the difference.
Traditionally, Hindu Pandits do not use onion and garlic in their food. They use hing (asafoetida) instead to temper their food. There was a time when the Muslims used more fat and ghee to cook their food, while the Hindus preferred to use mustard oil. But those lines have blurred over the years.
Kashmir’s meat dishes are legendary. Take the ghushtaba and the rista – in which the meat is pounded with salt and cardamom using a wooden mallet till it is almost white and smooth. The ghushtaba goes into a yoghurt-based gravy flavoured with fennel and dried ginger powder, while the rista gravy is red – coloured and flavoured with dried coxcomb and Kashmiri red chillies. Then, of course, there is the rogan josh (meat cooked with Kashmiri red chilli) and yakhni (thickened with curd and flavoured with spices). And how can one forget the various kinds of karma — marchwagan (chilli) dhaniwal (coriander) kishmish (raisen) korma and so on?
What’s not very well known outside Kashmir is the fact that the region has a very rich heritage of vegetarian dishes too. Whenever you say Kashmiri food, you think of rich meaty food such as tabak-maaz (grilled lamb ribs) or aab gosht (meat cooked in semi evaporated milk). But actually, no meal is complete without a variety of vegetarian dishes.
Among these much-loved dishes is haakh — a green leafy vegetable, Kashmiri spinach, usually eaten steamed or boiled. Equally popular is the palak chaman, cottage cheese with spinach, or nadir yakhni, lotus stems cooked in yoghurt curry.
Then there are dishes such as gongi, or turnip cooked with black cumin seeds, cardamoms, cinnamon and dried coxcomb, manjehaakh, gaathgobicooked with leaves, and a tangy curry of sour apples cooked with tamarind and ginger powder. Waangan, or brinjal, is another vegetable cooked in many ways.
One of the most delicious – and expensive – mushrooms, the morel, comes from Kashmir. The kan gucchi is a delicacy, and often cooked with yoghurt in Kashmiri homes for special occasions.
Speaking of special occasions, you cannot talk about Kashmiri food and not mention the wazwan, a feast of dishes. Waza is the word for cooks, and wan is a shop – literally, wazwan means a cook’s shop. But in fact, it’s a multicourse feast that, once eaten, cannot be forgotten. Seven dishes must be served in a wazwan, and these are tabakhmaaz, rogan josh, daniwal korma, aabgosht, marchwangan korma, rista and ghushtaba.
A royal wazwan can include 36 courses – all carefully prepared by the master chef, or the vastwaza. Guests sit in groups, huddled around a huge metal plate called trami, from which they eat in a spirit of harmony.
What makes Kashmir food special is not just the taste but the delicate fragrances of some of the ingredients that are commonly used in the region. Because of its altitude and weather, almond and walnut trees are common, and the nutsare liberally used in cooking. Its peculiar red chilli – bright red but not very hot – adds colour and aroma to food, as do dried plums. Saffron, which grows in the Valley, is added to food -and many dishes call for fennel (stump, dry coxcomb (mawal) and dried ginger powder (saunth).
Information about Kashmiri Bread
Kashmir has a wide variety of breads, many of which are had for breakfast. Bakeries open early enough for residents to pick up their loaves and buns. The most ubiquitous Kashmiri bread is the baquerkhani: small, circular and available everywhere – from the relatively grand Ahdoo’s bakery in the heart of Srinagar, to small bakeries in the city’s bylanes. The baquerkhani is baked in tandoors and has a crisp, almost biscuit-like texture. Made of flour and usually decorated with a liberal sprinkling of sesame seeds, it is made in the mornings and afternoons, in time for breakfast and tea. Smaller and even more biscuit-like than the baquerkhani is the salty ‘kulchat. Crisp and quite like a rusk, it’s best had dunked in hot tea. Then there is the telvaru, a bun sprinkled with roasted sesame seeds, which also goes well with Kashmiri tea. The Kashmiri naan, meanwhile, is eaten with main meals, and is a lavish affair, thanks to the generous layer of dry fruits that coats (or fills) the regular naan. Tsot – the Kashmiri word for breads – and tsochvoru are small round breads, the crust topped with poppy and sesame seeds, while the lavasa is a piece of flat bread often baked with nuts.
A Kashmir meal ends with some delicious phirni or zafranipulao. A rich and sumptuous repast also needs a bit of kainva tea – green tea flavoured with nuts and saffron – to help you digest the many dishes that a meal usually consists of. Once you have eaten and had your kahwa, you know that paradise is not just about conic beauty – it could be gastronomic too.
With vacations becoming a necessity , travelers are exploring variety of Destinations , but accessibility and distance to the destination remains the prime factor in deciding on where to travel .India is blessed with the choices of countries which are in close vicinity , yet offer a very different travel experience from the domestic destinations , Below is a list of 3 countries that are close by from India :
SriLanka
Capital: Colombo
Srilanka is in south of India , an island nation that offers great diversity of travel experiences , such as the beaches in south of Srilanka – Bentota , Kalutara , Galle , Hambentota , Hikkaduwa , mountain destinations of Kandy and Nuwaraelliya , heritage and buddhism in Dambulla and Kandalama .
Accessibility : SriLanka is connected by air to India from multiple cities , such as Delhi , Mumbai , Bangalore , Trivandrum ,etc.
Tour Package Cost :The air ticket cost from Delhi for a Delhi – Colombo -Delhi ticket is approximately Rupees 25000. The cost of Srilanka tour packages start from USD 390 for a week long itinerary.
Immigration : The Srilanka visa can be obtained online and the cost is USD 30 for a tourist visa .
Bhutan
Capital: Thimphu
Bhutan – Known as the last Shangrila , lies in the east of India and the landlocked nation is surrounded by China , Nepal and India .The three most popular cities in Bhutan are Paro , Thinphu and Punakha . The airport is in Paro and the capital city of Thimphu is just 60 Kms away from Paro. The tiger nest monastery is the most famous sightseeing spot in the country , one can enjoy various tourist spots in Thimphu such as the monasteries , the zoo , Buddha statue , museums , a unique heritage styled post office. Punakha valley is approximately 3 hours away from Thimphu and one goes through scenic Dochula pass to reach the valley.
Accessibility : Tourists can go to Bhutan via land route ,passing through Bagdogra or there are direct flights from Delhi and Kolkata on a daily basis .
Bhutan Tour Package Cost : The air ticket inclusive 5 day tour of Thimphu Paro with transfers , sightseeing and meals would cost Rs.
Immigration : Indian passport holders do not need a visa , for crossing border Passport or an Election ID card is a amust.
Nepal
Capital: Kathmandu
The most popular destination with the honeymooners from India in 1980’s , The most popular destinations in Nepal are : Kathmandu , Pokhara , Chitwan wildlife park and Nagarkot. Nepal is also very popular for tourists who are seeking adventure and trekking experiences . In fact all the major Mt. Everest expeditions start from Nepal . Chitwan national park is world famous for a one horned Rhino.The most popular Nepal Holiday package is a combination of Kathmandu and Pokhara .
Accessibilty : Both Land and Air , Nepal borders can be reached through Bagdogra in west Bengal and there are regular flights from Delhi , Mumbai ,Kolkata and the other metro cities in India.
Immigration : Indian travelers must carry a passport to enter Nepal.
Diwali time is vacation time for schools and colleges . The people of Delhi take a break between Diwali and Dushehra period , some of the close by destinations that could be visited are as below :
1 Agra
The city of Taj offers great deals for short visit holidays , The top sightseeing spots are : Agra Fort , Taj Mahal and Fatehpur sikri . The best hotels in the city are Taj , ITC , Oberoi and Radisson. For more information visit Same Day Agar Tour By Car
2 Jaipur
Just 250 Kms from Delhi , The capital city of Rajasthan offers an insight into the art, craft and handicrafts of India . The city is very easily accessible through Road , Rail and air . the top hotels in the city belong to Taj , ITC ,Marriott, Radisson , Lebua.
200 Kms from Delhi , The city sightseeing includes number of lakes , a breathtaking museum and wildlife sanctuary . The most popular hotel is managed by the international hotel chain- Aman.
4 Mussoorie
Known as the queen of hills , is the closest hill station to Delhi . The destination has number of good hotels and resorts , the most popular being : ITC , Marriott and JP residency Manor.
The city of Lakes is 300 kilometres from Delhi , the nearest airport is Pantnagar and the railhead is Kathgodam . Manu Maharani , Nabha Residency and Naini Retreat are the most popular resorts in Nainital.
Corbett National park is extremely popular with Delhiites because of the wildlife ,birding and angling experience and also because of the easy proximity from the city of Delhi.There are a number of resorts and wildlife lodges in corbett such as Corbett river view retreat , Corbett Hideaway , Taj , Namah , Ahana Resorts , etc. For more information visit Corbett Hotels
7 Ranthambore
The wildlife sanctuary is in Rajasthan and is popular for the sighting of tigers . The destination is connected very nicely by train from Delhi .The popular resorts in the area are Treehouse , Taj , Oberoi and a lot of local smaller lodges.
At a distance of 550 Kms from Delhi . The city of Dalai lama is connected by air via Gaggal airport and also the Himachal tourism operates overnight buses from Delhi to dharamshala on daily basis . The most popular area in Dharamshala is Mcleodganj and Surya Resorts is the highest rated hotel in the area.
If you are looking for a longer holiday , the destinations of Dalhousie , Dharamshala and Khajjiar form a wonderful itinerary . The nearest railhead is pathankot and the bestBest honeymoon tour hotel in the region is Grand View hotel in Dalhousie. Book Now Dalhousie Dharamshala Amritsar Tour
10 Shimla
The summer capital of the British offers a glimpse into the british colonial architecture and the culture during the Raj days . The toy train , meter gauge train is a highlight of the journey. Oberoi hotels manage three resorts in the area – Wildflower Hall in Mashobra , Cecil and the Clarkes.
Politics and nation Interests have been inextricably and inevitably linked with religion in Ladakh. The success of Buddhism here was not simply a matter of vanquishing its adversaries outside Ladakh – Brahminism in India and the Bon Chos in Tibet. It was the unifying role it played in enlarging autonomous tribal clans into centralized feudal kingdoms.
Buddhism in Ladakh
When fleeing monks and the laity met with strong resistance from local principalities, they were forced to assume a martial character, which ironically added a warlike dimension to a pacifist religion. Forts and monasteries grew apace as expansionist kingdoms consolidated their temporal and spiritual powers by extending their frontiers, so establishing Buddhism in Ladakh. Song-sen-gam-po, a legendary figure, was one such tribal chief, and in stories about him it is often difficult to sift fact from fiction. Yet it is true that he made deliberate use of religion by contracting marriages with Buddhist princesses from Nepal and China to secure his position, and so founded the first Buddhist kingdom in Tibet. In strategy, he was an inspiration for later Ladakhi kings.
Ladakhi Buddhism is usually identified with Tibet, although the original inspiration came from Kashmir, probably during the Kushan period. It was later that the Tibetan branch established itself under what is termed the Second Advancement. This was Buddhism in its more developed and institutionalized form, inspired by the teachings of the Indian monks, Padmasambhava and Atisa. They had sought asylum in Tibet when Buddhism lost its royal patronage in India, and wanted to reflect the teachings of Sakyamuni as sincerely as possible.
Central to the Buddha’s teaching was the belief that every soul has the capacity to reach a state of enlightenment without the assistance of priests or rituals. Nirvana could be achieved by following the reformist or middle path. Mahayana Buddhism adds a further condition to the Noble Path by demanding the virtue of compassion. Thus, no Boddhisattva can contemplate Nirvana selfishly while other souls are still bound to the wheel of mundane existence that is the source of their suffering.
Ladakh Mahayana Buddhism
The complexity of Buddhism lies in this concept, where the Bodhisattva returns to the world in several incarnations, striving for the liberation of mankind. A thousand Buddhas, of whom Sakyamuni is the fourth, will have to seek rebirth for the liberation of human souls. With the development of the Vajrayana school — the vehicle of the Thunderbolt — Tantric elements from Hinduism also merged into Buddhism. In Particular, the feminine principle of power was introduced. As Buddhism spread, it did not suppress the well-developed cosmology of the earlier, Bon Chos, but absorbed its gods, demons and its rituals. Perhaps these are the inspiration for the Dharmapalas, the fierce-looking guardians of the law, who feature in the gompa dance-dramas.
The theological shift from Hinayana’s ascetic mould to the more practical Mahayana ideal of the Bodhisattva removed for Nirvana-seekers the necessity of giving up their worldly concerns. The Mahayana ideal explains the attitude of the lay Buddhist who holds back his own salvation to help others reach the right path. As a consequence, Mahayana Buddhism helped intensify the contact between the monk and the community. In this process, the representational aspect of the Buddha was deified, and a pantheon with personified forms (a departure from earlier practice) was the logical consequence. Under the influence of the Bhakti movement, Buddhist practice underwent major changes. The oral tradition came to be systematized into written texts, and the laity to be socially organized into congregations.
As rituals became more elaborate, the Sutras or canonical texts were compiled, and the emphasis in the religious orders shifted from missionary work to academic learning. Since State protection was ensured, the process of building an intellectual foundation was begun through the efforts of Ring-chen-zang-Po when links with India were renewed. Ring-then-zang-po’s translation of Indian texts gave rise to several sects among the Tibetan Buddhists.
Ideas and icons
The deification of the Buddha developed a complex and fascinating iconography. The basic idea is that of the five Dhyan Buddhas and their related Bodhisattvas, which are elaborated in the mandalas, The Tantric additions of the female deities are not fully evolved in the older temples or gompas.
The gompa is the living vehicle of Ladakhi Buddhism and iconography The entrance of the du-khang or the main temple is guarded by the Lords of the Four Quarters. They can be identified by their colours and attributes: North: Kuvera -yellow banner and mongoose; South: Vimdhaka – green or blue, elephant head and sword; East: Dhritarashtra – white, playing the lute; West: Virupaksha – red, carrying a chorten.
The sidewall of a gallery also has the Wheel of Life represented by three concentric circles. The innermost signifies anger; desire and ignorance, represented by the cock, the serpent, and the pig respectively. The middle circle represents the six states of existence – the worlds of the gods and death, hell, animals and men. The outer circle represents the chain of causation through 12 symbols.
Popularly, the Buddha is represented as Avalokiteswara (the Compassionate One), endowed with I I heads and a thousand arms; Manjusri (the Wise One) sitting in the lotus posture with a sword and a book; and Maitreya (the Buddha-to-come), depicted standing or enthroned. In all representations, we see the Precious Adornments: Earrings, chains at the neck, chest and waist; bracelets on the wrist and upper arms – signifying the virtues of generosity, patience, energy, meditation, wisdom and self-discipline.
Importance is also attached to the Dharmapalas: Mahakala (time), Yamantaka (death), Shugdan and Vajra Bhairava. These are usually to be found in the la-khang or the go-khang, both inner sanctuaries where women were forbidden access. The female deities are represented as Green and White Taras on either side of the Amitabha figure. They appear on the ceiling of the Kaikani chorten, The Dolma Dolkar and the Dolma — Tara images — are often found in the du-khang. Sometimes a special temple is dedicated exclusively to the Taras, like the shrine of Tara Doljan at Spituk, where on days ordained by the Tibetan calendar, glass bangles are offered as part of a fertility rite.
Living at close quarters with the supernatural, in a cosmology populated with a host of gods, demons and spirits, Ladakhis continue to believe in the efficacy of ancient secret rites of propitiation. Ladakhi folklore warns against the 24 dangers by which a hundred thousand spirits endanger life. Nooks, crannies and rocks painted in mineral tones to ward off the evil eye are visible everywhere. For the same purpose, skulls of dogs and sheep, ibex horns and spears and, of course, prayer flags, dot the countryside around every settlement. This animistic belief in totems and taboos, cutting across ethnic and religious divides, evolved from the Bon Chos rituals of local tribes. As in many societies, which have developed in relative isolation, there is no apparent conflict between civilized religion and the continuing beliefs of more primitive times; permitting co-existence. This is true of their broader vision of life itself. Take for instance modern medicine. Though it was brought by Christian missionaries and is now available throughout the region via the large-scale presence of the Army, a number of Ladakhis still prefer the indigenous system practiced by the Amchis and the Lha.
Delhi –The focal point in Golden triangle tour packages offers a variety of sightseeing and experiences .The city of Delhi has evolved over centuries and as a tourist one just is amazed by the contrasting lifestyles that co exist in Delhi.
Modern Delhi has turned its back on the River Yamuna. But the waters played a crucial role in the sitting of some earlier cities. Landlocked forts stand amid offices, stadia and modern memorials. The main thoroughfare, Mahatma Gandhi Road, is a major dual-carriageway, so it is worth setting off early to explore the north end first.
Start outside the back walls of Lal Qila—this was where the public congregated to check on Shah Jahan’s well-being each morning; the emperor’s balcony juts out from the marble palace facades. North of it, the ramparts and bastions of Salimgarh Fort (1545-54) were built by Sher Shah’s son Islam Shah Sur, who failed to consolidate his able father’s achievements.
Lal Qila has lost its riverside views to a large tract of new land where some of India’s recent heroes are remembered. It is an oasis of peace. First of the memorials is Vijay Ghat dedicated to Lal Bahadur Shastri, India’s second prime minister (died 11 January 1966); then Shanti Vana (forest of peace) where Jawaharlal Nehru (died 27 May 1964) and his daughter Indira Gandhi (assassinated 31 October 1984) were cremated, and where her sons Sanjay and Rajiv are remembered. Finally, Raj Ghat is at the south end, a serenely peaceful place. This is where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated (died 30 January 1948) on the memorial platform which is now set in a sunken psquare garden surrounded by caves and high ramps, the design of Vanu G Bhuta. The Gandhi Memorial Museum is nearby, where the Mahatma’s life and achievements are movingly remembered with photographs, descriptions and quotes such as ‘I shall work for an India in which the poorest shall feel that it is their country in whose making they have an effective voice’.
The Red Fort
Built by: Shah Jahan
Built: 12 May 1639 – 6 April 1648; (8 years 10 months & 25 days) (Source: wikipedia)
The next city is Feroz Shah Kotla, really just the riverside (now landlocked) citadel of Feroz Shah Tughluq’s vast and wealthy city that stretched from the North Ridge of Old Delhi down to Haus Khas in south Delhi. In its heyday the palaces, mosques, hunting-lodges, reservoirs, hospitals and colleges buzzed with princely and intellectual life. Then, in 1398, Timur (Tamburlaine), ancestor of the Mughal conqueror Babur, sacked and laid waste this fifth great Delhi city, leaving with elephants, stone masons and such booty that, according, to one account, ‘they could scarcely march four miles a day’. Today, hoopoes hop about the blossoming gardens which link the ruins of a mosque, palace, living quarters and baoli (step-well); the entrance is on the west side, on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg.
Information about Feroz shah, Delhi
Feroz Shah (ruled 1351-88) was the third sultan of the Tughluqs (1320-1413). Son of a Rajput princess and cousin of the previous, madcap ruler Muhammad, he was politically weak but a great builder, intellectual and antique collector. He had translations made of Sanskrit texts into Persian and Arabic. And here, on top of his Kushk-i-Firuz (Feroz’s place) he put one of the two remarkable Ashoka pillars (273-236 BC) he found, transporting them from Meerut and Topla to Delhi down the Yamuna (the other is up on the North Ridge). When the Mauryan emperor Ashoka’s ancient Brahmi script, a forerunner of modern Devnagari, could not be unravelled (that was James Princep’s feat in 1837), Feroz Shah was told it was a magic charm used in religious ritual. In fact, it bears Ashoka’s messages and promotes dhanna (the Buddhist teachings) and the welfare and happiness of the people.
The National Rose Garden, glorious in February-March, is in the south-east corner of Feroz Shah Kotla, while by the entrance stands Khuni-Darwaza (bloody gate), possibly a gate to Sher Shah’s city, the next to see downriver. Mathura Road, the royal route to Mughal Agra, leads down to it and has several good buildings either side. Not far along, the Abdu’n Nabi’s Mosque (1575-6) on the right was built by Akbar’s ecclesiastical registrar who went to Mecca to distribute money to the poor but failed to account for it on his return, for which he was finally murdered. On the left, a parade of concrete newspaper offices ends with the charming International Dolls Museum. Under Tilak Railway Bridge, modern Pragati Maidan opens on the left. Here is the Crafts Museum, an essential stop if you are interested in India’s cultural, village and craft life (see page 98). Charles Correa designed the museum buildings; Raj Rewal’s pyramidal engineering feat, the Hall of Nations (1970-2), rises behind. Closed Monday.
To the south there are splendid views of Purana Qila. Closer to it, the great walls belie a chequered history. This is not one city site but several. The earliest may well have been the sacred site of Indraprastha (city of Indra, Hindu god of rain and thunder), founded by Arjun, one of the Pandav brother heroes in the epic Mahabharata. Excavations on the southern slopes are now revealing the reality behind the myth. Next, the second Mughal emperor, Humayun (ruled 1530-40, 1555-6), returned from Agra to the traditional capital and in 1533 founded Dinpanah (shelter of the faith), Delhi’s sixth city. Its surviving two kilometers (1.2 miles) of walls pierced by three giant, double-storey gateways were surrounded by a wide moat opening into the Yamuna. Although he dreamt of ruling a liberal empire with Dinpanah as a cultural capital to rival Samarkand, the aesthete Humayun was too self-indulgent and politically indecisive to consolidate
Mughal power. After crushing defeats at Chaunsa (1539) and Kanauj (1540), he was ousted by Sher Shah.
This remarkable Afghan was a talented organizer and skilful general who, before his death in 1545, was encouraged by Persian renaissance thought to set up an administration which was in effect the blueprint for Akbar’s Mughal government. He enlarged Purana Qila and extended his prosperous city northwards, calling it Shergarh; one gate is thought to be near Feroz Shah Kotla. Two buildings inside /* Purana Qila survive: Qal’a-i-Kuhna-Masjid (old fort mosque, 1541) whose five great arches, decorated mihrabs and marble-inlaid sandstone facade mark the change from Lodi to Mughal architecture; and the octagonal Sher Mandal, possibly built as a pleasure house but soon to witness tragedy.
Qal’a-i-Kuhna Masjid, Purana Qua Humayun had wandered India and then taken refuge at Shah Tahmasp’s court in Persia for ten years, paying for his keep, it is said, with the Koh-i-Nur diamond and other jewels. In 1555, when Sher Shah’s followers were split into warring factions, he won Delhi back. The next year, having made the Sher Mandal his library, he was standing at the top of its steps directing his astrologers to watch for the transit of Venus, an especially auspicious moment, when he heard the muezzin’s call. He tripped on his robe, fell and died three days later. Looking past the south gate of Purana Qila, you can see his tomb in the distance.
white-Tiger-Delhi-Zoo
Between Humayun’s city and tomb there are several good things to see. Delhi Zoo fills most of the space, its entrance right beside the Purana Qila gateway. This is India’s biggest and most important zoo. Beautifully landscaped grounds house a few of the world’s rare white tigers as well as one-horned rhinoceroses from Assam, Asiatic lions from Gujarat, crocodiles, a ravishing assortment of exotic birds, storks, elephants and a rogue Mughal pavilion perfect for picnicking in and enjoying the swum squeaks and soaring views up to Purana Qila. Its ravishing setting and bird-watching opportunities do not make up for the zoo’s unsatisfactory management. (Closed Friday and government holidays). As you go back onto Mathura Road, you will espy a Shergarh gate opposite. Next to it is Khairu’l-Manazi-
Masjid (the most auspicious of houses, 1561), built for Maham Anga who, as wet-nurse to Akbar, became head of the harem and achieved almost royal stature and influence—her son became an army general (see page 105). Steps lead up to good rooftop views. On the way down to Humayun’s tomb the Sundar Nagar antique shops are on the left.
information about Humayun’s Tomb
Humayun’s tomb (1562-75) is the first great Mughal garden tomb. This is the blueprint which reached maturity in the Taj Mahal at Agra. His senior widow Bega Begum, known as Haji Begum, probably built it, although new arguments suggest Humayun’s son Akbar was involved. Its architect was a Persian, Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, who had worked in the Timurid tradition at Herat and Bukhara. Here in Delhi, he used local materials and carving skills, together with the mixture of red sandstone and marble found in some Sultanate buildings. These he used to realize a design inspired by the monumental but simple Timurid tombs and by the ancient Persian idea of the spacious, formal royal garden and the Qur’an’s description of paradise. He also added a new element: a double dome whose two skins made possible a lofty exterior and a well-proportioned interior. The huge size and formality of Humayun’s tomb proclaim the newish dynasty’s might.
Humayun’s Tomb
Together, widow and architect achieved ‘one of the most arresting examples of the building art in India’ and ‘an outstanding landmark in the development of the Mughal style … the synthesis of two of the great building styles of Asia—the Persian and the Indian’ (Percy Brown).
Successive gateways finally open into a charbagh (four garden, see page 134) where the domed memorial sits on a high plinth. Clamber up onto it for more good views back to Purana Qila and to more monuments scattered nearby.
Inside the mausoleum, the emperor is not alone. Other Mughals here include Bega Begum, Shah Jahan’s son Dara Shukoh and Mughal emperors Farrukh-siyar (ruled 1713-19) and Alamgir II (ruled 1754-9). The last emperor, Bahadur Shah II (ruled 1837-58), was found hiding here during the mutiny. outside the gateway, the aptly named Sabz-Burj (green dome) on the roundabout gives an idea of how luxurious the Mughal buildings looked when first built, as does the tiled Nila-Gumbad (blue dome, 1625), at the south-east corner of the tomb walls. On the way there, you will pass Bega Begum’s so-called Arab-Serai, which probably housed the Persian craftsmen working on the tomb. Near here is another Mathura Road monument, the massive square tomb of Khan-i-Khanan (died 1627). It has lost its exterior decoration to Safdar Jang’s tomb (see below), but held onto its delicate incised and painted plasterwork inside.
Nizamuddin is opposite, a medieval Sufi village replete with Muslim atmosphere, living on quietly in the Imistle of India’s capital. Stalls lining the lanes sell kebabs, Qur’ans, rose petals, lace caps and the latest cassette tapes of qawwalis to the visiting faithful. The village heart is the dargah (shrine) of the Sufi saint Shaikh Nizam-ud-din Chishti (1236-1325), whose royal followers included two Tughlucts, Muhammad and Feroz Shah, and several Mughals. (The Akba-rnama recounts how, after Akbar’s visit, an assassin’s arrow failed to kill the king ‘as the Divine protection and the prayers of the saints were guarding him.’ This shrine was one of the reasons Shah Jahan chose Delhi for his new city). The sacred land surrounding the shrine attracted other important tombs including those of court poet Amir Khusrau (died 1325), who contributed much to the qawwali form of singing; Shah Jahan’s daughter Jahanara, who laid out Chandni Chowk; and emperor Muhammad Shah (ruled 1719-48). Humayun’s tomb is significantly close, too. The daily qawwalis at the dargah continue all night during the Urs festival.
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“The main streets are the principal Bazaars; on each side, under the arcades of the palaces, temples and houses, are the shops of the artisans who are seen working almost in the open air at their trades: the tailors, shoemakers, goldsmiths, armourers, pastry cooks, confectioners, coppersmiths…”, wrote Victor Jacquement, a guest of the Governor General of India in 1832, in his Impressions of Jaipur and Amber.
Few other cities can offer the range of opportunity to encounter so many artisans practicing skills centuries old, and for this the credit must go to the art-loving rulers of Amber and Jaipur. They not only invited craftspeople to the city from as far as Iran, but provided the environment in which to develop and refining their arts. Jaipur’s founder, after completing his palace, concentrated his treasure on building shops and bazaars and luring traders, bankers and craftsmen from Delhi, Udaipur and other regions to settle down in Jaipur.
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Over the years the crafts of Jaipur have become major earners of foreign exchange and have had an impact on the city’s economy. Rambling through the bazaars of Jaipur is an education in the 40 variety and diversity of Rajasthan’s handmade goods. – Also Visit :
The oldest and busiest market of the walled city is Johari Bazaar. Laid out between Sanganeri Gate and Bari Chaupar (the main square of the city), the market has temples, vegetable sellers and grocers side by side with emerald dealers. It is the main shopping area for the local people as well as an internationally known Centre of the S lapidary trade. Most of the leading dealers of precious and semi-precious stones are located either in Johari Bazaar or its by-lane, Gopalji ka Rasta. Gems and jewellery are one of the major export industries of the country, and the contribution of Jaipur’s artisans here is immense. The country imports the raw material which is then hand-cut, polished and re-ex-ported. Almost all of the country’s cutters and polishers live in the walled city of Jaipur. Employing traditional tools, they achieve perfect angles, and their dexterity turns the least promising rough stones into gems worth thousands of rupees. An outlet of the wholesaler is popularly known as a gaddi, named for the mattress on which one sits cross-legged in the traditional Indian manner. One of the best outlets for fine jewellery is the Gem Palace on M.I. Road, established in 1852. The Kasliwal brothers who run the shop have a list of clients that runs from Hollywood stars to Parisian fashion houses. They have opened a small showroom/museum above the shop, in a beautiful room decorated using traditional techniques.
Inlay of gems in gold jewellery in the style referred to as Kundan has been exclusively practised in Jaipur. One of the best-known dealers is located in Haldiyon ka Rasta, another by-lane of Johari Bazaar: the dazzling shop of Bhuramal Rajmal Surana is romantically housed in a medieval mansion. Closely linked with Kundan is the art of enameling which travelled from Persia via Lahore. Of the five Sikh enamellers brought to Jaipur by Raja Man Singh I in 16th century, the descendants of one continue to practice the art in a narrow lane—Jadiyon ka Rasta. Sardar Kudrat Singh is a master craftsman of the art of enameling and has several inter-national awards to his credit. The artist is willing to display his pieces at his place of work — which happens also to be his home.
Another art which flourished in Johari Bazaar is tie-dying. Though the artists practice their craft in their colonies some distance away, Johari Bazaar itself is the major outlet for their creations. A large portion of the market is occupied by dealers in tie-dyed textiles. The Rangrez, the traditional Muslim community of Jaipur dyers, have included various techniques in their creations but they are famous for laharia – the striped tie-dye — and mothra, a criss-cross pattern, both customarily worn for the monsoon festival of Tij.
Also on Johari Bazaar is Rana Saree, a family business which has been dealing in fabrics for over 250 years. This is an excellent place to find zardosi-work saris — silk saris elaborately embroidered with gold and silver thread.
Passing through the square of Bari Chaupar offers a vivid glimpse of local life: flower sellers, shops of attar, and dealers in traditional silver jewelry and block printed textiles throng the area. On one side, under a banyan tree, are wayside shops selling simple but beautiful bangles, local shoes and rustic jewelry. There are tailors here who can stitch traditional dresses within hours of order. A road from the square leads to the Ramganj Bazaar, known for the hand-crafted slip-on shoes called juti. A fascinating range of traditional shoes from all over Rajasthan is available here. The most comfortable are made of camel hide. From this road the settlement of the dyers can be approached, if one is interested in witnessing the intricate process of tie-dying.
Past the square, all around Hawa Mahal is the tourist market. Shops have sprung up like mushrooms with the advent of tourism. Here, you can buy embroidery, gems and jewelry, jutis and curios, but tourists should be on guard against poor quality and over-priced goods. Ahead, a labyrinth on the right of Subhash Chowk unfolds the world of carpets and durri weavers. Jaipur is an exporter of a large number of carpets and rugs. An outlet with a good reputation for quality is Maharaja Carpets based in Samode Haveli.
Jaipur markets are overflowing with miniature paintings on paper, silk and ivory, predominantly reproductions of old masterpieces. A careful eye is required to differentiate the painting of a skilled miniature artist from one produced in the mass production factories. Some painters excel in painting on ivory, but with the worldwide restriction on ivory they are switching to the traditional medium of paper. These can be seen at The Collection Painting School on Mount Road, and at the Friends of the Museum Master Craftsmen and Artists in the City Palace (this is also a good place to see traditional tie-dyed fabrics and hand-made paper).
A more contemporary view of Rajasthani life can be seen in the paintings of Jaya Wheaton, who can be contacted at C80 Subhas Marg. Her work is distinguished by the use of just one or two complementary colors.
There are particular crafts which are identified with particular areas of the walled city. The Silawats or marble sculptors have been practicing this art since the inception of Jaipur in the lane named after them, Silawaton ka Rasta, also referred to as the Khazne Walon ka Rasta. The craftsmen have excelled in sculpting, single marble slabs into images of the deities of Hindu pantheon, adhering to the principles laid out in the ancient canons. One of the principles requires them to abandon the unfinished statue if it should undergo any damage. Hindu temples all over the country and overseas have installed statues carved by the Jaipur Silawats. Today they make statues to order as well as intricate marble arches, balconies and wall panels. One of the best places to see marble carving is Shashi Arts and Crafts, a family-run business that has been producing work in the same haveli for over 150 years.
Turning lac bangles is another colorful craft of Jaipur. The lac bangle makers, known as Manihars, inhabit Maniharon ka Rasta. Lac bangles are of great significance in the life of Rajasthani people: women are given special bangles on auspicious occasions such as marriage and childbirth. Some of the bangle makers here also make designer jewellery for the export market.
Certain other crafts patronized by the former rulers of Jaipur flourish beyond the walls of the city. These include block printed textiles, blue pottery and paper making. Near the airport lies the village of Sanganer, well known for its block printed textile and handmade paper. It also has a blue pottery factory.
The ceramics artist Kripal Singh Shekhawat was largely responsible for reviving the art that was brought to Jaipur by Sawai Ram Singh II. His creations, adhering to traditional skills and shapes, are on sale at Kripal Kumbh on Shir Marg in Bani Park. Other outlets for blue pottery, also interesting, are the Blue Pottery Art Centre on Amer Road, and Neerja International on Bhawani Singh Marg. The ensemble of crafts of Rajasthan has been presented under one roof by the government-sponsored emporium Rajasthali, just off M.I. Road — this is the way government-approved store. You can shop there at a fixed price.
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As the seat of power of successive dynasties that ruled India, Delhi has always attracted great painters, musicians, dancers and craftsmen from all over the country, but perhaps never more so than today. When the princely states and great landed estates were abolished after Independence, Indian artists lost their traditional patrons, and ever since then have found their new patrons — politicians, government cultural institutes, broadcast media, industrialists and diplomats —concentrated in Delhi. As a result Delhi offers the most varied cultural life of all Indian cities, with the best of court and local traditional styles in dance, music and theatre.
The best way to find out what’s on in a particular week is to look at the cultural pages of the newspapers — the Indian Express on Saturday and the Times of India on Friday carry comprehensive listings, as do the listings magazines the Delhi Diary and The Delhi City.
Delhi’s cultural hub is in the centre of town, between Barakhamba Road and Ferozeshah Road, concentrated around Mandi House Chowk. Here are located the Kamani and FICCI auditoriums and the Shriram Kendra, venues of major cultural performances. Nearby is the Triveni Kala Sangam with its art galleries and theatre; and Rabindra Bhavan, the government-funded cultural academy, which holds art exhibitions and festivals of dance, theatre and music.
Among the big annual events that Delhi stages are four “classical” music and dance festivals —the Shankarlal and Dhrupad festivals in February and March, the Vishnu Digamber festival in Au-gust, and the SPIC-MALAY festival in September. The greatest musicians in India, representing the different gharanas (schools) of Hindustani (North Indian) music, participate. The concerts often beginning late and continue into the night, way beyond the schedule, as the musician warms up and the audience responds. The music most often heard is that derived from the music performed at the North Indian courts.
The gharana (male lineages of musical instruction, usually hereditary) of the court musicians generally traced their ancestry back to Tansen, a musician at the court of Akbar (1556-1605). He is said to have been one of the greatest performers of dhrupad, a vocal genre held by many musicians to be the “purest” form of raga music. Although initially very popular at the courts, during the time of Muhammad Shah (1719-48) dhrupad was sup-planted by khayal. Muhammad Shah’s court musician, Niyamat Khan, is usually credited with popularizing the form (which legend says was invented by Sultan Husain Shargi in the 15th century). – Enjoy Golden Triangle Tour – Including Delhi, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Khayal is now the vocal genre most commonly heard in the concert hall. A khayal composition (bandis or ciz) comprises two short sections, known as sthayi and antara, which are in contrasting registers. Usually two compositions are presented, the first in a slow tempo, known as a “big” (tiara) khayal, the second, a “small” (chota) khayal in a faster tempo, which speeds up towards the end of the performance. A khayal concert starts with a short unmetered section introducing the raga (mode or pitch collection), followed by the ciz, which is in tala (rhythmic cycle), the most common of which is the 16-beat tintal. It is accompanied by the tabla (paired kettledrums) and, traditionally, the bowed lute, sarangi (this is now usually replaced by the harmonium, a small hand-pumped organ introduced to South Asia by French missionaries). The dronelute tambura provides a constant background, sometimes played by a supporting singer and usually tuned to sa and pa (roughly corresponding to the Western doh and soh). The compositions are explored in 0 series of elaborations and improvisations.
Another popular genre often performed on the concert stage, particularly by female vocalists — is thumri. This is a “light-classical” form which developed at the courts of Avadh (present-day Lucknow), consisting of a sung poem performed in a slow tempo with a highly melismatic melodic line. The Hindu texts are highly charged and devotional—even though the singers were usually Muslim — and often mildly erotic and written in a dialect of Hindi called Braj Bhasa. The accompaniment is the same as for a khayal performance.
Instrumental music, particularly of the sitar and sarod (both plucked lutes), follows a slightly different pattern, and draws on both khayal and dhrupad traditions. Compositions are known as gat (analogous to those of khayal); they are preceded by a long alap section, an unmetred presentation of the raga introducing each note in turn, in a similar fashion to that of dhrupad singers. The soloist then uses a variety of improvisational techniques to explore the material presented in the gat, and will usually present two different compositions, the second of which is faster. Instrumentalists usually consider themselves part of the Seniya gharana, which is traced back to Tansen.
Leading dancers of all the main “classical” styles — bharata-natyam, kathak, kathakali, kuchipudi, manipuri, mohiniattam and odissi —give regular concerts in Delhi. Delhi society turns out in force at these events, to see and be seen, and afterwards to catch up on all the gossip and intrigue of the cultural world.
The dance-style you are most likely to see advertised is bharata-natyam. Although it originated in Tamil Nadu, it is now taught and performed across India as well as overseas. It is derived from Tamil temple dance and has been a concert form since the early 20th century.
The female hereditary temple dancers (devadasis) took part in rituals in praise of the temple deity and were considered “married” to the god. This made them auspicious women as they could never become widowed. They would also be the sexual partners of the temple priests and local king (sponsor of the temple). It was this aspect of their duties that outraged Victorian sensibilities and an “anti-nautch” (from the Sanskrit naca, “dance”) was started, culminating in the banning of temple dancing. At the same time, growing Indian nationalism was seeking to legitimise claims for independence by presenting elements of South Asian culture as evidence of a strong national identity. Led by the Brahman dancer and teacher Rukmini Devi, moves were made to establish a “pure” form of the dance on the stage, the result was present-day bharata-natyam. Explore Delhi Sightseeing Tour by Car
It is a solo dance, still performed largely by women, with an accompaniment of Karnatak (South Indian) music played by an ensemble known as the cinna melam and led by the nattuvanar, who keeps time with a pair of cymbals and calls out the dance patterns, or jati. The dancers wear pellet bells (ghungru) around their ankles which add to rhythmic texture of the music. A bharata-natyam performance ideally consists of seven pieces: the introductory alarippu which is a prayer to the presiding deity; a jatisvaram, a technical piece using nrtta (abstract movement); the sabda, which introduces nrtya (movement expressing emotion); a complex dance known as varnam, that uses both nrtya and nrtta; a padam, a piece expressing love through nrtya; a technical and fast tillana; and a concluding sloka (rhythmic recitation of a religious verse).
The other “classical” dance-style widely per-formed in Delhi is kathak. The origins of kathak are closely linked to the rise of Hindustani music at the North Indian courts, particularly khayal, thumri and dadra. Traditionally danced by courtesans, it is characterized by its fast pirouettes and rhythmic patterns created by pellet bells (ghungru) worn on the ankles. Regular concerts are held by the Kathak Kendra in Bahawalpur House on Bhagwan Das Road.
Theatre in Delhi offers a variety that ranges from Moliere and Brecht translated into Hindi, to the best of contemporary regional theatre selected and brought to the capital — experimental plays as well as traditional forms, like puppet theatre from Karnataka and Rajasthan.
The Pragati Maidan exhibition ground is another hub of cultural activity, from art cinema to regional plays and performance by the most promising young dancers.
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Nainital, developed around the picturesque Naini Lake, is nestled amidst high peaks — Naina (2,615 m) to its north, Deopatha (2,438 m) to the west, and Ayarpata (2,278 m) to the south. The beautiful lake is over 3 kms in circumference and 28 m at its deepest. Some geologists hold that the lake is the crater of an extinct volcano.
Nainital is the most important destination when covering Best Uttarakhand Tour Packages. Nainital was discovered by the British when a trader named Barron stumbled upon the lake while on a hunting expedition in 1839.
The beautiful bowl-shaped valley, with the emerald-green waters of the lake appealed to the homesick British who made it a holiday destination in 1841. Gradually, the town saw a mushrooming of British bungalows, rest houses and clubs, together with administrative units. It also became an important center of education: Diocesan Boys; School (later renamed Sherwood College) and St. Joseph;s College (popularly known as SEM) are important institutions even today.
Naini Lake finds mention in the Skanda Purana as the Tri-Rishi Sarovar. According to lore, a dip in the Naini Like, the lesser Manasarovar , earns merit equal to a dip in the great lake. Naina Devi Temple marks the spot where, according to local belief, Sati’s eyes or nain, are said to have fallen, making it a shaktipeeth.
Popular for boating, the Naini lake is dotted with rowboats, paddle boats and yachts in fair-weather days. Nainital Boat Club, on the northern edge, hires out boats and yachts even to non-members. Established in 1890, it is one of the oldest clubs in India. Tourists can avail of the club’s temporary membership and gain access to its lake-facing bar, restaurant, billiards room and library.
The 1.5 km-long Mall Road, now named GB Pant Marg, runs along its eastern periphery of the lake. Lined with hotels, restaurants, shops and roadside stalls, this is the commercial hub of the town. There are markets both at Tallimal and Mallital, the two ends of the Mall Road, where one can shop for handwoven Kumaon woollens, handcrafted wooden items, freshly made jams and squashes, and Nainital’s lovely scented candles.
The Flats, locally called maidan, was built after the landslide of 1880, and is Nainital sport arena of sorts. It also has band stand, a skating rink and several bazaars, including the Tibetan Market, adjoining it.
Nainital Mountaineering Club, opposite Hotel City Heart, hotels rock-climbing courses and arranges guides for nature walks. The club also rents out tents and sleeping bags at a nominal charge.
Nainital Mountaineering Club
Located in Mallital, the recently-opened Eco Cave Park, a KMVN enterprise, is a huge attraction for kids.
A chairlift ropeway, called the Aerial Express, takes one to Snow View, at a height of 2,270 m. From here, one can see the Nanda Devi peak (7,817 m) which, as an old brass plate here states, was the highest mountain in British empire. The ropeway is operational from 7am to 7pm. Alternatively, a 2-km trek to Snow View from the Mall, past the Tibetan Gandhan Kunkyop Ling Gompa is very pleasant.
From Jama Masjid at the north-west corner of the lake, one can take a 30-min walk up to Gurney House, which was Jim Corbett residence in Nainital. This charming, two-storey wooden dwelling is now a private residence, but the caretaker may let you look inside. It has a private museum that showcases the life of Jim Corbett and his sister, Maggi.
(It is important to time your visit well. The peak season, i.e. the summer months of May and June, when Nainital is packed with tourists and hotel prices doubled, is best avoided.)
Nainital Colonial Heritage
The colonial heritage of Nainital is seen in its churches, St John, St Francis and the Methodist Church, that give the place a unique charm.
St.-John-Wilderness-Church,-Nainital
St.-Francis-Catholic-Church-Nainital
Asia’s-first-Methodist-Church,-Nainital
The majestic Governor House or Raj Bhawan, built in a Victorian-Gothic style, is an architectural marvel. Once the summer residence of the Governor of the United Provinces, it is now the official residence of the Governor of Uttarakhand.
The Governor’s House – Source: Youtube Image
Sherwood College (1869) and St Joseph College (1888) are among the best schools here. Sherwood is best known for its most famous alumnus, Amitabh Bacchan.
Nainital also has several heritage hotels like Balrampur House, which was converted into a hotel in 935, Palace Belvedere and KMVN Snow View, which recreate the colonial era for the tourists.
Luxury Resort and Hotels in Nainital
Note : The 18-hole Raj 8hawan Golf Course, founded in 1926, is now open to public. Entry is with prior permit as it lies in the military area.
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