DELHI

TOURISM IN DELHI (CAPITAL OF INDIA)

Delhi is the capital city of India. A fine blend of old and new, ancient and modern, Delhi is a melting pot of cultures and religions. Delhi has been the capital of numerous empires that ruled India, making it rich in history.

Located on the banks of the River Yamuna, Delhi has been known to be continuously inhabited since at least the 6th century BC, though human habitation is believed to have existed since the second millennium BC.Delhi is also widely believed to have been the site of Indraprastha, the legendary capital of the Pandavas during the times of the Mahabharata. It is the site of many ancient and medieval monuments, archaeological sites and remains. In 1639, Mughal emperor Shahjahan built a new walled city in Delhi which served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1649 to 1857.

Being one of the most historic capitals in the world, Delhi has many tourist sites.

The rulers left behind their trademark architectural styles. Delhi currently has many renowned historic monuments and landmarks such as the Tughlaqabadfort, Qutub Minar, Old fort(Purana Quila), Lodhi Gardens, Jama Masjid, Humayun's tomb, Red Fort, and Safdarjung's Tomb. Modern monuments include Jantar Mantar, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Laxminarayan Temple, Garden of five senses ,Lotus temple and Akshardham Temple.

Kaziranga National Park (ASSAM)

Kaziranga National Park is a national park in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam, India. A World Heritage Site, the park hosts two-thirds of the world's Great One-horned Rhinoceroses. The Kaziranga National Park area consists of 429.93 Sq.Km. with an additional area of 429.40 Sq.Km. The total area of the park within Nagaon district is 175 Sq.Km., out of which 135 Sq.Km. falls under Bagori Forest Range office and 40 Sq.Km. falls within Ghorakati Forest Range office. Located on the edge of the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot, the park combines high species diversity and visibility.

It is one of the significant natural habitat for in situ conservation of biological biodiversity of universal value. The values and criteria made Kaziranga National Park to get inscribed in the World Heritage Site List 1985. The park is home to large breeding populations of elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer. Kaziranga is recognized as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International for conservation of avifaunal species. Kaziranga is one of the few wild breeding areas outside Africa for multiple species of large cats, such as Indian Tigers and Leopards.Kaziranga was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006 and has the highest density of tigers in the world (one per five km²), with a population of 86, as per the 2000 census.
Attractions

Elephant Festival at Kohora: Conceptualized in the year 2003, it is held every January end and entails some enticing activities like adventure sports, procession of decorated elephant, cultural shows, food festival etc.

Sightseeing in Kaziranga: You can enjoy a leisurely walk through the lush rubber and coffee plantations of Karbi Anglong, and the tea gardens of Hathkhuli, Methoni, Difalu, Behora Borchapori. A trip to the nearby Karbi or Mising Villages and acquainting with their living style in the hills can also be very interesting. The Kakochang waterfalls are about 13 km from Kaziranga.

TIMING AND FEE

Park charges are Entry Fee : Rs. 20 (Indians) & Rs. 250 (foreigners), Vehicle Entry : Rs. 200, Still Camera : Rs. 50 (Indians) & Rs. 500 (foreigners), Video Camera : Rs. 500 (Indians) & Rs. 1000 (foreigners), Safari : Rs. 120 (Indians) & Rs. 750 (foreigners).

Park Timings are 7:30 AM to 4 PM

The forest guard (can be hired at Baghori & Agaratoli) traveling with you on a safari doubles up as a guide. There are no fixed charges and you can tip him anywhere between Rs. 50-200.

HOW TO REACH KAZIRANGA NATIOAL PARK

AIR:Nearest airports are at Jorhat (97 km) and Guwahati (217 km). Jorhat is well connected by air to Kolkata which has the International Airport. The airport at Guwahati has regular flights to all major cities of India (including Kolkata).

RAIL: The nearest railway station is Furkating, 75 km from the Kaziranga National Park. Furkating is connected to Delhi through the Brahmaputra Mail and Chennai through the Dibrugarh Exp. Another option would be to travel to Guwahati and board trains for the metros and other important cities in India. For further details, you can log on to the official Indian Railway site (http://indianrail.gov.in).

ROAD: The Kaziranga National Park main gate is at Kohora on the NH-37. It is connected with the major cities like Guwahati, Tezpur, and Upper Assam through a network of private buses. Taxis and buses can be hired from Jorhat and Guwahati.

ACCOMMODATION
The southern fringe of the park has lots of good and affordable accommodation for the visitors. Kohora and Baghori have the major accommodation facilities. You can choose from various types of accommodations like Inspection Bungalows, forest rest houses, hotels and lodges.

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ELEPHANTA CAVES INDIA (MAHARASHTRA)

ELEPHANTA CAVES INDIA

The Elephanta Caves are a network of sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island, in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the east of the city of Mumbai in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The island, located on an arm of the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves—the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, the second, a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, representing the Shaiva Hindu sect, dedicated to the god Shiva. These caves house rock cut temples dating back to the 5th century CE. The Elephanta island was so named by the Portuguese, after the statue of an elephant near the landing area of the island. The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. All the caves were also originally painted in the past, but now only traces remain. The main cave (Cave 1, or the Great Cave) was a Hindu place of worship until Portuguese rule began in 1534, after which the caves suffered severe damage. This cave was renovated in the 1970s after years of neglect, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 to preserve the artwork.

The island is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length with two hills that rise to a height of about 500 feet (150 m). The two hills of the island, the western and the eastern, have five rock-cut caves in the western part and a brick stupa on the eastern hill on its top composed of two caves with few rock-cut cisterns. One of the caves on the eastern hill is unfinished. It is a protected island with a buffer zone according to a Notification issued in 1985, which also includes “a prohibited area” that stretches 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from the shoreline.

Main cave (SHIVA CAVE)

The main cave, also called the Shiva cave, Cave 1, or the Great Cave, is 27 metres (89 ft) square in plan with a hall called mandapa. At the entrance are four doors, with three open porticoes and an aisle at the back. Pillars, six in each row, divide the hall into a series of smaller chambers.The roof of the hall has concealed beams supported by stone columns joined together by capitals.Usualy entrance of a shiva shrine is in the east-west but here entrance to the main cave aligned with north-south axis. The northern entrance to the cave, which has 1,000 steep steps, is flanked by two panels of Shiva dated to the Gupta period. The left panel depicts Yogishvara (The Lord of Yoga) and the right shows Nataraja (Shiva as the Lord of Dance). Each wall has large carvings of Shiva, each more than 5 metres (16 ft) in height. The main cave blends Chalukyan architectural features such as massive figures of the divinities, guardians, and square pillars with custom capitals with Gupta artistic characteristics, like the depiction of mountains and clouds and female hairstyles.

SHIVA PARVATI ON KAILASH AD RAVAA LITIG KAILASH

The carving on the south wall to the east of the portico depicts Shiva and Parvati seated on their abode Mount Kailash. The carved panel facing this one is a two level depiction of Ravana lifting Kailash. The upper scene is Mount Kailash, where Shiva and Parvati are seated. A legend relates to both these panels.Once, Parvati was annoyed with Shiva. At this moment, Ravana, who was passing by Mount Kailash, found it as an obstruction to his movement. Upset, Ravana shook it vigorously and as a result, Parvati got scared and hugged Shiva. Enraged by Ravana's arrogance, Shiva stamped down on Ravana, who sang praises of Shiva to free him of his misery and turned into an ardent devotee of Shiva. Another version states that Shiva was pleased with Ravana for restoring Parvati’s composure and blessed him.

TRIMURTI GANGADHARA AND ARDHANARISHVARA

The most important sculpture in the caves is the Trimurti, carved in relief at the back of the cave facing the entrance, on the north-south axis. It is also known as Trimurti Sadashiva and Maheshmurti.Described as  a "masterpiece of Gupta-Chalukyan art".

The image, 20 feet (6.1 m) in height, depicts a three-headed Shiva, representing Panchamukha Shiva, The three heads are said to represent three essential aspects of Shiva — creation, protection, and destruction.

The Gangadhara image to the right of the Trimurti, is an ensemble of divinities assembled around the central figures of Shiva and Parvati, the former bearing river Ganges as she descends from the heaven. The carving is 13 feet (4.0 m) wide and 17.083 feet (5.207 m) high.

SHIVA SLAYING ANDHAKA AND WEDDING OF SHIVA

The central figure, which is much ruined below the waist, is measured at 11.5 feet (3.5 m) high, and shows Bhairava, or Virabhadra, a frightful form of Shiva. he niche image carved on the south wall is an ensemble of divinities assembled around the central figures of Shiva and Parvati shown getting married.

YOGISHVARA AND NATARAJA

The panel to the east of the north portico is Shiva in a Yogic position called Yogisvara.The panel carving in the west niche opposite Yogishvara depicts Shiva as Nataraja performing the Tandava (cosmic dance). The niche is 13 feet (4.0 m) wide and 11 feet (3.4 m) in height and set low on the wall.

TIMINGS: OPEN DAILY BETWEEN 9AM TO 5.30 PM (EXCEPT MONDA

ENTRY FEE: Rs.10 FOR INDIAN CITIZENS ABOVE 15 YEARS AND Rs.250 FOR OTHERS ABOVE 15 YEARS

ACCOMMODATION:THERE ARE SO MANY FIVE STAR,THREE STAR AND BUDGET HOTELS IN MUMBAI AVAILABLE FOR ACCOMMODATION.

HOW TO REACH ELEPHANTA CAVES

The Elephanta Caves can be reached by a ferry from the Gateway of India, Mumbai, which has the nearest airport and train station.

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LODHI GARDEN OR LODI GARDEN (DELHI)

Lodi Gardens is a park in Delhi, India. situated between Khan Market and Safdarjung's Tomb on Lodi Road. It is beautiful and serene, and is a hotspot for morning walks for the Delhiites. Spread over 90 acres (360,000 m²), Lodi Garden is famous among the joggers of the Delhi city of India.Itcontains, Mohammed Shah's Tomb, Sikander Lodi's Tomb, Sheesh Gumbad and Bara Gumbad, architectural works of the 15th century Sayyid and Lodis, a Pashtun dynasty which ruled much of Northern India during the 16th century, and the site is now protected by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).
MOHAMMED SHAH TOMB
The tomb of Mohammed Shah, the last of the Sayyid dynasty rulers, the earliest of the tombs in the garden, was built in 1444 by Ala-ud-din Alam Shah as a tribute to Mohammed Shah.
The architecture is characterised by the octagonal chamber, with stone chajjaas  on the roof and guldastas on the corners.
SIKANDER LODI TOMB
Another tomb within the gardens is that of Sikander Lodi, which is similar to Mohammed Shah's tomb, though without the chhatris, it was built by his son Ibrahim Lodi in 1517, His tomb is often mistaken to be the Sheesh Gumbad, and is actually situated in near the tehsil office in Panipat, close to the Dargah of Sufi saint Bu Ali Shah Qalandar. It is a simple rectangular structure on a high platform approached by a flight of steps. In the centuries, after the 15th century Sayyid and Lodi dynasties, two villages grew around the monuments, but the villagers were relocated in 1936 in order to create the gardens. During British Raj, it was landscaped by Lady Willingdon, wife of Governor-General of India, Marquess of Willingdon, and hence named the 'Lady Willingdon Park' upon its inauguration on April 9, 1936, and 1947, after Independence, it was given its present name, Lodi Gardens.
BARA GUMBAD
In the middle of the gardens is the BARA GUMBAD ("Big Dome"), it consists of a large rubble-construct dome, it is not a tomb but a gateway to an attached a three domed masjid (mosque), both built in 1494 during the reign of Sikander Lodi, there is also a residence surrounding a central courtyard, where the remains of a water tank can be seen.
SHEESH GUMBAD
Opposite the Bara Gumbad is the Sheesh Gumbad ("Glass dome") for the glazed tiles used in its construction, which contains the remains of an unknown family, this was also built during the reign of Sikander Lodi.
ACCOMMODATION
There are lots of Luxury and Budget Hotels/Resorts near Lodhi garden, available at affordable prices.

HOW TO REACH LODHI GARDEN

Lodi Gardens being located in the capital city, So you can easily reach from any where by means of road transport .

Nearest International Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport
Nearest Railway Station: New Delhi Railway Station
Nearest Metro Station: Central Secretariat
Nearest Bus Stop: Local buses from various points

JAMA MASJID (DELHI)

The Masjid-i Jahān-Numā the 'World-reflecting Mosque commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi, is the principal mosque of Old Delhi in India. Commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal, and completed in the year 1656 AD, it is the largest and best-known mosque in India. It lies at the origin of a very busy central street of Old Delhi opposite to RED FORT, the Chawri Bazar Road. The courtyard of the mosque can hold up to twenty-five thousand worshippers.

The foundation of the historic Jama Masjid  was laid on a hillock in Shahjahanabad by fifth Mughal Emperor of India, Shahjahan, on Friday, October 6, 1650 AD, (10th Shawwal 1060 AH). The mosque was the result of the efforts of over 5,000 workers, over a period of six years. The cost incurred on the construction in those times was 10 lakh (1 million) Rupees. Shah Jahan built several important mosques in Delhi, Agra, Ajmer and Lahore.Jama masjid has three gates ,four towers and two minarets of about 40 m height built by red sandstone and white marbles. The northern gate of the mosque has 39 steps. The southern side of the mosque has 33 steps. The eastern gate of the mosque was the royal entrance and it has 35 steps. These steps used to house food stalls, shops and street entertainers.

The mosque stands on a platform of about five feet (1.5 m) from the pavement of the terrace, and three flight of steps lead to the interior of the mosque from the east, north, and the south. The floor of the mosque is covered with white and black marble ornamented to imitate the Muslim prayer mat; a thin black marble border is marked for the worshippers, which is three feet long and 1 ½ feet wide. In total there are 899 such spaces marked in the floor of the mosque.

Tourists can enter the Masjid from the North or South gate and it is mandatory for both men and women to remove their shoes and cover themselves modestly, from head to toe.

VISITING TIME: On all days from Sunrise to Sunset

Summer/ Winter: 7.00 am-12.15 pm & 1.45 pm till sunset/ 8.30 am-12.15 pm & 1.45 pm till sunset.

ENTRY FEE: Free to all

HOW TO REACH JAMA MASJID

BY AIR:

Indira Gandhi International Airport of New Delhi is directly connected to all the important cities in the world with all the majors in the airlines industry.

Palam Airport is the Domestic Airport which connects Delhi to the other cities of India. From both airports you can hire vehicles like taxi or auto rikshaw.

BY RAIL:

Being a capital, Delhi is very well connected to every part of India by train. Old Delhi, Hajrat Nijamuddin and New Delhi are the main railheads in Delhi. You have an exclusive option of metro railway to roam in the city for your fast moving nearest METRO STATION  is Kashmiri Gate metro station

BY ROAD:

By road you can come to Delhi by numerous bus options or taxi. All types of vehicles will take you here. You can hire a taxi, auto rikshaw or cycle rikshaw to reach Jama Masjid. You also have an option of public transport buses for cheaper way of transportation. 

Accommodation:
As the Jama Masjid is situated in the heart of the capital city of India, you are served with numerous options. In old Delhi i.e. around Jama Masjid you can get many low cost and medium cost hotels and lodges. If you head towards New Delhi, you can have numerous options of 3 star, 5 star and 7 star hotels.

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