| BANSWARA |
Banswara - Home to the tribal with Bhils constituting half of the total populations Banswara has its name derived from Bans or bamboo trees, which once grew here in abundance. Maharawal Jamal Singh founded the erstwhile state. With Udaipur and Chittorgarh, forming its boundaries, the district presently comprises of the territories of former Banswara State and the Chieftainship of Kushalgarh. While the central and western portion of the district are fertile plains, the scattered ranges of the Aravali form the eastern region. The ancient town is surrounded by a stone wall, now in ruins. A palace of a former ruler of Banswara stands overlooking the town.
The teak forests are found on the slopes of the Aravalli hills. Mango, Khajur and Mahua trees are also a part of the vegetation of the district. Banswara has rich wildlife including squirrels, lizards, snakes, chinkara, ronj and four horned antelope. Panthers can be seen rarely. The avian variety includes the black drongo, grey shirke, green bee-eater, parrot, jungle crow, wood pecker and common myna. Grey jungle fowl and grey partridge are generally spotted in the remote parts of the forests.
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| JODHPUR |
Jodhpur - This bustling desert city is the second largest city in Rajasthan after Jaipur and has landscape dominated by the massive Meherangarh Fort topping a sheer rocky ridge.
The old city is fenced by 10 km long wall with eight Gates leading out of it. The new city is outside the walled city. Rao Jodha, a chief of the Rathore clan, founded the city in 1459 and it is named after him. |
| VARANASI |
Varanasi, the holy city of India, is also known by the name of Kashi and Benaras. Kashi, the city of Moksha for Hindus since centuries, is known for its fine-quality silks, 'paan' and Benares Hindu University and Avimukta of the ancient days, Varanasi is the most popular pilgrimage point for the Hindus. One of the seven holiest cities, Varanasi city is also one the Shakti Peethas and one of the twelve Jyotir Linga sites in India. In Hinduism it is believed that those who die and are cremated here get an instant gateway to liberation from the cycle of births and re-births.
Varanasi is the oldest city of the world. Varanasi is more than 3000 years old and is famous as the city of temples. In Varanasi, there are temples at every few paces. Looking at the number of temples in Varanasi, it is hard to believe that a large number of them were demolished during the medieval times. Jyotirlinga Visvanatha Temple or Golden Temple, rebuilt in 1776, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Jnana Vapi well (meaning 'Well of Wisdom) is believed to have been dug by Lord Shiva himself. It is believed that the majestic Alamgir mosque has replaced one of the most ancient shrines known as the temple of Bindu Madhava. The thirty-three hundred million shrines fill one with awe and wonder with sheer numbers.
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| KHAJURAHO |
Khajuraho - In the temple architecture of India, the Khajuraho complex remains unique. One thousand years ago, under the generous and artistic patronage of the Chandela Rajput kings of Central India, 85 temples, magnificent in form and richly carved, came up on one site, near the village of Khajuraho. The amazingly short span of 100 years, from 950 AD - 1050 AD, saw the completion of all the temples, in an inspired burst of creativity. Today, of the original 85, only 22 have survived the ravages of time; these remain as a collective paean to life, to joy and to creativity; to the ultimate fusion of man with his creator.
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| DHARAMSHALA |
Dharamshala came into being in 1849, when it was selected as a site to accommodate a native regiment that was being raised in the town. Dharamshala originally formed a subsidiary cantonment for the troops stationed at Kangra was fully occupied by its garrison and there was insufficient space for the civil station , a search for an alternate location was made. The ideal location for the cantonment was found at the slopes of the Dhauladhar, upon which stood an old Hindu sanctuary or 'Dharamshala' the name adopted for the town. Dharamshala stands at the foot of Dhauladhar and has a magnificent view of snowy peaks, deodar and pine forests, tea gardens and beautiful hills. The snow line is perhaps more easily accessible at Dharamshala than any other hill station in India. Dharamshala now really has become international, with a number of Tibetan settlements and the residence of Noble Laureate the 'Dalai Lama'. Dharamshala is devided into two distinct parts : lower Dharamshala the civil and business area with Courts and Kotwali bazar and upper Dharamshala composed of places like Mcleod Ganj and Forsyth Ganj.
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| PUNE |
Pune - The city of Pune is situated near the western coast of India,approximately 115 miles south-east of Mumbai (Bombay). It is one of the many cities situated on the Deccan plateau, which forms the triangular portion of India, below the Tropic of Cancer. Pune lies on lat. 18 30'N and long. 74 55'E and on the confluence of the Mula and Mutha rivers. 'Punaka' is the name by which Pune was known in the ancient times. However, the etymology of the name is uncertain and some believe that it has been derived from the Sanskrit root 'poo', that is to purify. Pune comprises a cosmopolitan community and a wide range of economic and social populace. Pune, a city of 2.3 million, is the seat of North Indian Classical music and it always has been and will be one of the eminent centers of education in India.
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| NANITAL |
Nainital is a glittering jewel in the Himalyan necklace, blessed with scenic natural spledour and varied natural resources . Dotted with lakes , Nainital has earned the epithet of 'Lake District' of India . The most prominent of the lakes is Naini lake ringed by hills . Nainital has a varied topography . Some of the important places in the district are Nainital , Haldwani , Kaladhungi , Ramnagar , Bhowali , Ramgarh , Mukteshwar , Bhimtal , Sattal and Naukuchiatal . Nainital’s unending expense of scenic beauty is nothing short of a romance with awe-inspiring and pristine Mother nature.
Nainital is headquarter of Nainital District. It is also divisional Headquarter of Kumaon Division of Uttarakhand State.
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| BODHGAYA |
Bodhgaya - A Major Buddhist Centre - The Hindu rituals and religion, however, did not impress one particular prince more than 2500 years ago. Siddharta, the prince of Kapilavastu renounced the luxuries in which he was living and decided to travel around this town practicing austerities in search of answers to his questions on human existence. After six long years he discarded this penance and opted for a new path. He procured the shroud of a dead woman, washed and donned it, as a monastic robe and seated himself under the pipal tree making a vow to get up only after acquiring the supreme knowledge or die. His efforts were finally rewarded on the 49th night when he attained enlightenment. Thereon he came to be known as Buddha or the Enlightened one.
Man’s quest for peace and eternal bliss has been linked invariably with penance and self inflicted suffering. Buddha had to undergo a rigorous experience before he saw the Morning Star and attained enlightenment. The essential point about him and his teaching is that he never claimed any connection with a God. The essence of his teaching is the universal question of suffering and the way to seek its eradication. The solution he advocated was individual effort and not ritual reliance on superhuman or external agency- save yourself by yourself.
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| JABALPUR |
Jabalpur - Located at the centre of the State of Madhya Pradesh in India , Jabalpur District, is one of thr most important cities in the State . It is situated in the 'Mahakaushal ' Region of the State and gets its name from history being the native land of the great 'Jabali Rishi'. The holy 'Narmada' river flows through the District which is the major drinking water source for the District.There is a multipurpose 'Bargi Dam' Project on this river. Known world-over for its 'Marble Rocks' and the 'Dhuandhar' water falls,the tourist site 'Bhedaghat' is also located in the district. The 'Madan Mahal fort' is located in the City. |
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