Gangaur Festival

Gangaur, celebrated with great enthusiasm all over Rajasthan.  The women ivoke Goddess Parvati to take her blessings for everlasting marital bliss.

As we were driving through the barren tract to Dundlod, a little known village tucked away in the Shekhavati area of Rajasthan, we saw a brightly attired Rajasthani woman plucking flowers from the acacia tree. We stopped to photograph her and talk to her. She told us that the flowers were an offering to Gaur or goddess Parvati, who is worshipped during the festival of Gangaur which is an annual highlight of the sleepy little village of Dundlod.

We reached Dundlod in the afternoon. This village, located in the Jhunjhunu district of the state of Rajasthan, was founded by Thakur Kesari Singh, who also built the castle in the year 1750 A.D.  There are havelis or mansions of the rich people around the fort. During the Gangaur festival this castle and as well as the havelis in the Shekhavati area, are well decorated with intricate frescoes and murals which attract tourists who come here to enjoy this festival.

Villagers were busy with the preparations for the last day celebrations of the Gangaur festival. Gangaur, which is  widely celebrated all over Rajasthan by the rich and poor people. It is a time when the women of Rajasthan invoke Gaur or goddess Parvati the consort of lssar or Shiva, to ensure everlasting marital bliss.

It is a spring festival, lasting a period of 18 days. Gangaur festival commences on the day after the Holi Festival. According to the mythology goddess Parvati returned to her parental home to bless her friends with marital bliss on this day. She was given a grand farewell by her loved Ones on the last day of her stay.

The farewell given to Parvati on her last day was re-enacted in the form of a magnificent procession on the final day of the festival. This tradition is still a part of the festivities of the Gangaur festival in the Dundlod village.

We decided to visit the  Dundlod Castle where  the main function was going to take place. When we reached the castle the courtyard was the centre of activity where camels, horses and a camel cart were being decorated enthusiastically. The royal family members were personally super vising all the arrangements for the evening spectacle. Inside the castle, the maids were adorning the family images of Gaur and Issar with precious family ornaments and new costumes.  After that guards brought them to the courtyard of the ‘Rawala’ also known as the ladies’ chamber.

Then the ladies and young girls, went down to participate in the celebrations. They were elegantly dressed in red which is considered an auspicious colour for the festival. A large number of village women carrying offerings for the goddess also joined them in the their celebrations.

Finally the ceremony began. First the Thakurani or the senior-most lady of the Dundlod family along with her relatives worshipped the images, followed by the village women. The women offer a kanchli or the traditional bodice to the goddess.

After the ceremony was over, the images were moved to the decorated camel cart with the image of Issar facing the exit and that of Gaur looking towards the castle- symbolic of a girl's longing for her parental home.

With the shaking sounds of drums and showering of coins, the procession slowly started moving out of the castle courtyard. Royal ladies were moving to the high castle terrace to view the grandeur of the procession and the village folk filled the terraces of the buildings on either side of the road to catch a glimpse of the procession. There was festivity and excitement in the air and as the procession moved out of sight, I realized the significance of this joyous festival for the village people of Dundlod.

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Tourist Destinations of North India

Delhi 

National capital territory

History lurks in Delhi behind every pillar and wall. For centuries, the city has watched the rise and fall of dynasties, and it is sometimes referred to as the City of Tombs, for the cenotaphs that mark the passage of sultans and emperors who considered themselves invincible. Legend has it that one of its important attractions, the Old Fort, is built on the site of what was once Indraprastha, the capital of the Pandavas, the heroes of the epic Mahabharata. While glazed earthenware from hoary times has been unearthed here, known history has given Delhi as many as seven cities and a continuous thread of history since the eleventh century.

Its earliest rulers were Hindu kings, the Tomars and the Chauhans, who were displaced by Muslim invaders who stayed on to build themselves the earliest mosques and pillars and capitals, and brought with them Islam to the country. This intermingling also created one of the greatest civilizations in medieval times, when the Mughal Empire was at its zenith. Eventually, the weakening power of the Mughals and British colonisation led to the shifting of the capital of India to the eastern port city of Calcutta (now Kolkata), before t was shifted back to the glittering new capital built by Sir Edwin Lutyens, New Delhi. 

Its long history has given Delhi a plethora of monuments - forts such as the Old Fort and the Red Fort, tombs such as Lodhi Tombs, Safdarjung’s Tomb, and the handsome Humayun’s Tomb, remnants of medieval cities such as Tughlaqabad and Ferozshah Kotla, and other attractions such as Qutab Minar, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Hauz Khas, Chandni Chowk, the riverside memorials of independent India, hosts of museums, art galleries, and chic shopping centres. Today, from theatre to crafts, from opera and music festivals to international exhibitions, everything happens in Delhi. It is the gastronomic capital of the country too, and with shopping malls and flyovers and multiplexes rapidly changing the urban skyline, Delhi is truly a world capital of the oriental world.

The carving of India in 1947 into two countries was also the time its states and centrally governed union territories were given official status. At that time, new names and identities were created, capitals shifted, and a new nation was born as a democratic, socialist republic. Over a half-century later, the transitions continue, as new states are created for linguistic, cultural and geographical reasons, union territories grow into provincial states, and the names of places continue to be changed. Today, the mass of India, governed from the National Capital Region of Delhi, is divided into twenty-Nine states and seven union territories.

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Punjab

State - Capital: Chandigarh

Known as India’s granary, this fertile region of the five rivers was always a battlefield, as the entry point to India. First overr un by the army of Alexander the Great in the 3rd century BC, it was invaded by the Mauryans, the Scythians, the Parthians and the Kushans, before founding its own indigenous rulers to hold the land. Muslim !invasions followed. It was the founding of the Sikh faith in the 15th and 16th centuries that led to the creation of an identity particular to the region.

Constant invasions have left Punjab little by way of ancient forts, though remains of the Indus Valley Civilization have been excavated at Ropar. Amritsar, the centre of the Sikh faith, is famous for the Golden Temple. The princely kingdoms of Kapurthala and Patiala have their share of more recent palaces, while its capital Chandigarh is a showpiece of contemporary  town planning.

Jammu & Kashmir 

State - Capital: Srinagar (in the summers) and Jammu (in the winters)

Kashmir has had a troubled history since independence, with Pakistan claiming it as its territory, resulting in three wars between India and Pakistan. Described by the Mughal emperors, who lavished its capital Srinagar with extraordinarily beautiful gardens, as paradise, it truly is one of the most remarkable places on earth. Ruled by both Hindu rajas and Muslim sultans, as well as by Sikh kings, it was ultimately the British who held sway here, even though it remained under a Hindu king who signed accession of the state to India at the time of independence.

While the Dal and Nagin lakes with their houseboats and gondola-like shikaras are recognised by many as Srinagar’s major attraction, its highland towns of Gulmarg and Pahalgam too are exquisite in their beauty, as are Sonamarg and Verinag. Kashmir is the only place outside of Spain where saffron is grown. But the vast state also consists of two more widely disparate regions. Jammu, in the foothills, has beautiful temples, and is the base for pilgrimages to Vaishnodevi’s shrine, considered one of the most important in north India. And Ladakh, the highland desert, is beautiful for its austere beauty. There is almost no vegetation here, and even though the river Indus (or Sindhu) which gave the country its name (Sindh:Hind:lnde:lndia) passes through the desert plateau, there are few oases to be found. Even so, Buddhism arrived and has flourished here, and the palace and monasteries of this stark land cling to high mountainsides in an amazing example of architecture replicating nature.

Ladakhi as well as Kashmiri crafts are distinctive, there is a tradition of silk weaving and embroidering, as well as carpet making, silver jewellery and wood carving. Kashmiri cuisine - and particularly the Wazwan feast - is a celebration as much of the senses as the palate.

Himachal Pradesh 

State - Capital: Shimla

This Himalayan state once consisted of a number of hill states of various sizes that were amalgamated together upon independence in 1947. and then reorganized into a separate state in 1971, when Shimla - the summer capital of the British Raj in India - was chosen its state capital. Five rivers drain its soil - the Ravi, Chenab, Beas, Sutlej and Yamuna - and because of the isolation provided by the high mountain passes, the towns of its former kingdoms have stayed largely intact. No wonder, Himachal is home to ancient temple complexes, and the weight of history rests lightly here.

Shimla, the British summer capital, is full of Victorian buildings, though fires have caused many to be gutted over the last decades. The most important of these is the Vice Regal Lodge, now an institute of advanced learning, while the Mall has the old Gaiety Theatre, as well as the church at - Scandal Point. All around Shimla are places of interest - Mashobra, Kufri and Chail (which boasts the world’s highest cricket pitch). Destination resorts include the valley town of Kullu and the high fastnesses of Manali close by with, in between, the castle of Naggar where there is a museum dedicated to the works of the Russian artist Nicholas Roerich. To another side are the towns of Dalhousie and Chamba, the former known for its walks, the latter for its temples. In between is Khajjiar, a large meadow with a lake.

Visitors will also be charmed by Kangra Valley in the shadow of the Dhauladhar range, and the town of Dharamshala above which is McLeodganj. This is now also home to the Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of the Tibetans, who escaped here from Tibet in 1959. Ever since, this enclave has become a Little Tibet.

 Haryana 

State - Capital: Chandigarh

Here, in the plains of Kurukshetra, the epic battle described in the Mahabharat, between the Pandavas and their cousins, the Kauravas, was fought. Here too, did the Bharata dynasty rule, giving its name to the country, Bharat (before it became known as India). But for all that, Haryana has little by way of topographical interest or natural beauty. Enough that its tourism department created a large number of motel resorts in the seventies and eighties, converting it into the first state to have roadside tourism facilities. To a large extent, that is all that Haryana can boast of, as far as tourist destinations go, but these are calming retreats, often backed by a lake, or in a rocky outgrowth. While this may be restrictive when it comes to sightseeing, it is enchanting for it offers truly relaxing options by way of a holiday. No wonder, tourists travelling along its highways, or weekending from Delhi usually pack Haryana’s resorts. The Yadavindra Gardens at Pinjore, and the Surajkund pool built by the Anangpal dynasty that once ruled from here, are historical attractions. And Kurukshetra has recently been vastly improved to offer a glimpse of its ancient post to visitors. It shares its capital, Chandigarh, with Punjab.

Uttar Pradesh 

State - Capital: Lucknow

The perfect synthesis of Hindu and Islamic cultures, UP is associated with both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, and was part of different kingdoms till it was submerged under Islamic invasions, resulting in the birth of the court of Awadh (Lucknow), while Agra became one of the capitals of the Mughals. Emerging from its mixed history was a court culture that remained unrivalled, and led to the tehzeeb of the Lucknow Gharana (manners, for want of a more apt phrase) that mixed gentility with a profusion of ornate mannerisms. This is best represented in speech, in the excellent cuisine of the state, and the Kathak dance. The greatest tribute to this culture is the Taj Mahal, considered one of the seven wonders of the world. Designed as a memorial for his wife by Emperor Shah Jehan, it was over two decades in the making. Built entirely of marble, it borrows its basic design from Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi.

But Agra, the Mughal capital, is replete with other architectural buildings: the ltmad-ud-Daulah memorial is exquisite, with unparalleled inlay work, Sikandra is Emperor Akbar’s memorial, while his great city, Fatehpur Sikri, built entirely of red sandstone, is a monument to town planning on a 1 grand scale. Agra Fort, from where one can glimpse the Taj Mahal, is huge, and many of its apartments and gardens are still extant.

If Agra is the pearl of the state, Lucknow with its Islamic Imambaras and the British Residency display other facets of architecture. In Allahabad, the rivers Ganga and Yamuna find their confluence, and a mela is held here during the annual festival of Kumbha. One of the largest gatherings of humankind at any one spot together in Kumbh Mela. Varanasi on the banks of the Ganga is considered India’s holiest, and the world’s most ancient city.

Rajasthan 

State - Capital: Jaipur

This desert state in western India was once known as Rajputana, the land of the rulers, and twenty-two princely kingdoms once extended their sway over its sandy wastes, their revenue determined by the protections offered to the caravans that journeyed through their territories. Mostly Rajput, these kingdoms possibly have India’s most enduring cultural and historical legacy, for the people of the state are still governed by rituals and observances as may have existed for hundreds of years.

One of India’s richest tourist destinations, Rajasthan has a plethora of forts and palaces and cenotaphs, of temples and mosques, and a rich ‘ tapestry of music, dance. handicrafts, cuisine, fairs and festivals. What’s more, the maharajas, as heads of their clans, still enjoy a good deal of reverence, and visitors are charmed to meet them, or to stay in their properties that have been converted into palace hotels. Rajasthan was also home to the aristocracy, who built castles, and merchants, who built havelis or large mansions, many of which are part of its movement of heritage hotels.

Jaipur, the capital, was shifted from nearby Amber, and represents Rajasthan in a microcosm, its streets teeming with people in their colourful clothes and dressed to the hilt in silver and gold. An individual listing of attractions would take too much space. Suffice it to say, wherever you travel in Rajasthan, surprises are likely to await you. Other than Jaipur, its important tourist centres are Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and the Shekhawati area. If you can include them, Alwar, Kota and Bundi too are worth the while. The bird sanctuary of Bharatpur and the wildlife sanctuaries of Sariska and Ranthambhor (both tiger reserves) should also be included into your trip.

Rajasthan is the largest exporter of handicrafts in the country, and Jaipur is the world’s largest centre for the cutting and polishing of precious and semi-precious stones. And if you’re through with shopping, you might even want to try to set out on a camel safari!

Chandigarh 

Union territory - Capital: Chandigarh

Independent India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru was keen that the country should sent out signals of its progress, and while he called modern industry the ‘new temples of India’, his attempt to create new cities was part of that vision. French architect and town-builder Le Corbusier was assigned the task of building a new capital for the state of Punjab. Later, Haryana was carved out of Punjab, and Chandigarh has remained the capital of both states.

India’s most modern city, Chandigarh has remained one of its most beautiful and well-planned provincial capitals with residential and commercial sections divided into sectors. Its most impressive buildings, however, consist of the Capitol complex, which consists of the assembly, legislative and administrative centres. The university, museum and rose garden, as well as a lake, make it quite charming, and its Rock Garden consisting of millions of figures made from waste by Nek Chand are a tribute to this wholly international settlement with an Indian heart.

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Tourist Places of Jammu and Kashmir

It is not just tourists who flock to the Dal, avian visitors are attracted by its beauty as well. If you peep outside a houseboat window on a summer dawn, you might encounter the paradise flycatcher, the first feathered friend to break the silence of the dawn. The golden oriole with its melodious voice follows suit, as does the Tickell’s thrush. Simultaneously the ring dove can be heard stringing its harp and cooing the crescendo with the dove in repartee filling the morning breeze with melody and concord. As the day advances, other birds join in with their quota till the concert is in full swing.

Kashmir’s best-kept secret is that the valley is an ideal golfing destination. The Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar, considered one of the best in South Asia, recently played host to Ambassadors’ Cup. Rafael Conde, the Spanish ambassador, had heard about the valley, but said its beauty left him stunned. He has promised to come back and he will get others with him. In a way, a visit to the golf course in the valley has made him almost an unofficial ambassador of the beautiful state. His opinion was echoed by the others captivated with the 76-acre course which boasts natural forests and water bodies. Of course, Gulmarg boasts of the highest golf course in the world dating back to the days of the British Raj.

The Clubhouse, reminiscent of a Swiss chalet with its quaintly sloping roof, is a place with character and once magnanimously built a separate course for the women as they pestered their husbands at play. There is more to Gulmarg than golf. Remember Shammi Kapoor yodeling chahe koi junglee kahe to a merry Saira Banu? Or Shashi Kapoor wooing Nanda in Jab Jab Phool Khlle? These are just two of the exhaustive list of films enacted in the valley. At one time, this destination was such a Bollywood favorite that one road leading to the town was nicknamed Tonga Road for this was where the ardent hero wooed the heroine sitting astride a tonga. Romance aside, Gulmarg is great for skiing and other winter sports like shimmying down the snow on a snow scooter or tobogganing. If you read Calvin & Hobbes, you would know that this ingenious, impish cartoon character is obsessed with descending downhill on his toboggan. Something you can replicate on the slopes of these verdant slopes.

The romance of Sonamarg starts with the name itself, it means the Meadow of Gold. The drive from Srinagar is through the Sindh Valley which presents yet another spectacular facet of countryside in Kashmir. The Sindh River that meanders through the valley provides an angling opportunity as it abounds with trout and mahseer. This picturesque station is surrounded by snowy, alpine mountains. It is one of the best places to trek but if you would rather not put yourself through the ordeal there are robust ponies who will do the job for you. Sonamarg is just two hour away from Kargil and also is the base for undertaking the yatra to the holy Amarnath cave, during Sawa Purnima. Legend has it that Shiv recounted to Parvati the secret of creation in the Amarnathji cave. Unknown to ‘ them, a pair of mating pigeons eaves dropped on this conversation and having learned the secret, are reborn again and again have made the cave their eternal abode. Man pilgrims report seeing a pair of pigeons trek the arduous route to pay obeisance before the ice-Iingam.

Strange as this may seem, natural beauty is the least of Kashmir’s charms. Perhaps it’s the most obvious on which is why Kashmir has become a by word for beauty, but its lesser known facets - history, culture and people to name but a few are far more special, though no less wondrous than its breathtaking natural bounty.

Houseboats  

Many tourists are attracted to Srinagar by the charm of staying on a houseboat, which provides the unique experience of living on the water in a cedar-panelled elegant bed-room, with all the conveniences of a luxury hotel. Srinagar’s houseboats are moored along sections of the Dal and Nagin Lakes and river Jhelum, each decorated fancifully and named romantically and even whimsically. The well-known tourist sites in the city are Shankaracharya Temple atop the hill called Takht-e-Suleiman. Hari Parbat Fort, is another tourist spot highlight built in the 18^th century by an Afghan governor of Kashmir. On the hill are several famous places of worship: the temple of goddess Sharika, the shrine of Muslim saint Makhdoorn Sahib, and the historical Sikh Gurudwara Chatti Padshahi. Other attractions in Srinagar include Hazratbal mosque and the beautiful Mughal Gardens of Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh. and Chashma Shahi. You must sample wazwaan. It is Kashmir’s most formal meal. Hours of cooking and days of planning go into the making and serving of a wazwaan. The wazas or cooks pound the meat for hours. Guests seat themselves in groups of four and the choicest dish after dish is served, each aromatic with herbs and the fresh produce of the region.

Vaishnodevi

Tucked deep in the Trikuta Mountains of Jammu & Kashmir is the cave shrine of Vaishno Devi. Much revered by Hindus, the shrine finds mention in ancient texts like the vedas. Vaishno Devi is a bustling religious centre that draws pilgrims all through the year. The shrine is located just 61 km north of Jammu at a height of 5,200 feet. Devotees may trek to the pilgrimage tours of India from Katra. The path can also be traversed on a pony.

Midway to the shrine is the Adhkuwari temple, where the Goddess Vaishno is believed to be have spent nine months on her way to the mountains. Inside the 100-meter long cave, the shrine is narrow and pilgrims have to walk through a running stream of cold water called the Charan Ganga to get to the sanctum sanctorum. Within, three rock-cut idols of the goddesses, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati are venerated under canopies of silver and gold.

The yatra follows the path Vaishno Devi took when fleeing from Bhairon. Thousands of devotees make the climb daily to have darshan. It is believed that Vaishno Devi is the elder sister of the other seven Devi Matas (Kangra, iwalaji, Chamunda, Chintapurni, Naina and Mansa).

Patni Top

Bounded by dense forests of pine and cedar, Patnitop is easily the most picturesque hill stations of Jammu. Situated on a hilltop, it offers an excellent view of the stunning vistas of Chenab Gorge. It’s easy to walk around Patnitop - the weather is always pleasant and it is only a 5 km area. Chinar Garden, Picnic Spot and Skating Garden are the three must visit spots. Madha Top and Sanasar, a grassy meadow, called Mini Gulmarg, are a short drive away. 

Also visit the 6th century Nag temple and the Shudh Mahadev ka &Prasad which houses a holy trishul.  Mantalai is lovely with apple and orange groves. Lord Shiva is said to have married Parvati here. 

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The Buddhist Circuit Bihar

Should not we occasionally pause to wonder at the marvel that the Buddha, the Enlightened One, walked upon this land of ours? Bihar is dotted with landmarks associated with the life and teachings of Lord Buddha and these sacred spots link up to form the Buddhist circuit. Patna has an superb museum having many exceptional Buddhist sculptures and manuscripts that throw much light on Buddhism and Lord Buddha. The excellent museum also has several statues of Lord Buddha and Bodhisattvas.

The pride of the Patna Museum is the holy relic casket of Lord Buddha that contains his ashes. No wonder, Buddhist scholars and others interested in Buddhism and its history make it a point to visit the Patna Museum.

There is Bodhgaya, where the Buddha attained Enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. The magnificent Mahabodhi temple is a great source of peace.  It is also a World Heritage Site declared by the UNESCO.  The Kesaria Stupa is the highest stupa among the excavated Buddhist stupas in Bihar.

Pilgrims also stop at Nalanda, an ancient centre of Buddhist learning and a flourishing university Rajgir, 19km from Nalanda, was the ancient capital of the Magadha Empire. Lord Buddha visited this monastery many times to meditate and to preach. Vaishali, on the circuit, was one of the world’s earliest republics and it was here that the Buddha delivered his last sermon. To traverse the Buddhist circuit of Bihar is to walk in the footsteps of the Buddha himself.

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Alluring Agra

The city of the Taj is also a window to the architectural splendours of an age gone

A was on  one day Agra Tour from Delhi , the city of the Taj Mahal is a pilgrimage , as much for its architectural beauty, as the celebration of an emperor’s love and the wondrous monument he built to perpetuate it. Verbal efforts generally fail to convey the incredible beauty, the sheer poetry, the romance and the legend that should the Taj Mahal.  Rabindranath Tagore called it ‘ a teardrop glistening on the cheek of time. Edwin Arnold came equally close  when he remarked that it was Snot a piece of architecture, pilgrimage architectural as other buildings are, but the proud passion of an  emperor’s love wrought in living stone. Sha Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, built in 1631 as a loving tribute to the memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

I stand inside the main gate of the Taj  and my eyes take in the massive, arched gateway that frames the marble edifice. The dazzling white marble tomb stands out bold relief against the backdrop of the sky.  This back- ground employs the colours of the sky to its own advantage. It gives the Taj a gentle, pink hue in the morning, a dazzling bluish white at midday and the patina of old gold at sunset.

Here, within these portals, lies the quintessence of loveliness, created to exalt the memory of a beautiful woman and an emperor’s passion for his love. Early the next morning I head for the Taj Mahal’s nearest neighbour, the Red Fort. I recall that many historians have claimed that it was originally a brick fort built by the Chauhan Rajputs. With the Lodhi power destroyed, and the Mughal star in ascendancy, Akbar realised the strategic importance of Agra’s central locat ion, and made it his capital. He redesigned and rebuilt the Rajput fort in 1565, using red sandstone. He surrounded it by a 70-ft-high wall, with a radius of three kilometers. 

City Tours of India

The fort’s outer wall is 2.5 km long, 20 ft high, and surrounded by a deep, 20-m-wide moat. The citadel has four gates and double ramparts, with formidable, circular bastions at regular intervals. Though Akbar began the construction of the fort, it was Shah Jahan who completed the fort, after introducing many changes to its original plans.

The Diwan-i-Aam, dating back to 1628, was Shah Jahan’s hail of public audience, where he heard the petit ions of his subjects. The throne room, with inlaid carvings and panels of marble with floral motifs, display Shah Jahan’s distinct style. Moti Masjid, or Pearl Mosque, constructed in white marble, is one of the most stunningly beautiful mosques in India. The Diwan-i-Khas was Shah Jahan’s hail of private audience where he received heads of state and other important dignitaries. The famous Peacock throne was kept in this hall, before Aurangzeb had it moved to Delhi. Jahangir’s Palace was built by Akbar for his son Jehangir. This is the largest priv ate residence in the fort. The palace has a remarkable blend of Hindu and Central Asian architecture.

Trans-Yamuna and not too far from the Taj Mahal, stands the small, but incredibly beautiful, Itmad-udD aula mausoleum, built by the Empress Noor Jahan in memory of her father Mirza Giaz-ud-din Beg, Emperor Jahangir’s prime minister. This marble structure is similar to the tomb of Jahangir, which his wife built near Lahore.  Approximately one kilometer north of the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula is the square tomb called Chini Ka Land of wonder: (clockwise from below) Jail work at Agra fort; The imposing exteriors of the red-sandstone fort; Itmadu d-Daula’s tomb; Sikandra, Akbar’s final resting place Rauza. 

It is the mausoleum of Afzal Khan, a poet and a high-ranking officer in the court of Shah Jahan. The exterior of the tomb is covered with brightly-coloured     enameled tiles, which has contributed to its name. It has seen considerable renovation in recent times. Situated on the banks of the Yamuna, it is surrounded by an ambience of quietude and serenity.

Emperor Shah Jahan built the Jama Masjid in 1648. An inscription over the main gate of the mosque indicates that Shah Jahan built it as a gift to the people of Agra, from Jahanara, his favourite daughter. Sikandra, the final resting place of Akbar, the greatest ruler of the Mughal dynasty, is located 10km from Agra. The mausoleum is an exquisite amalgam of Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist and Jam motifs. The tomb sports a row of beautiful arches and doorways, which often sends photographers into transports of creative frenzy. Akbar started the construction of the tomb and his son Jahangir completed it. Regrettably, Jahangir was ill-advised into modifying the structure, and this contributed to the distortion of the original design. 

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Into The Jungles Of India

India is a paradise for nature lovers. Indian forests also play an important role in the conservation of endangered species like the Snow Leopard, Lion, Asiatic Elephant, the Bengal Tiger and Siberian Crane. Spread across the entire country, the reserves and forest areas, right from the Nanda Devi National Park in upper Himalayas to the Periyar Tiger Reserve in South and the six national parks in Andaman, Kaziranga in the east to Ranthambore in the west; the Indian wildlife trail is an incredible treat, unsurpassed by any other experience.

India’s wildlife is no doubt both rich and varied. More than four percent of India’s land is under forest cover and there are 103 national parks and 537 wildlife sanctuaries. The country is one of the 12 mega diversity areas in the world. India boasts of two-dozen Tiger reserves. India’s national animal, Tiger, happens to be a symbol of strength and speed as well as the joy and pride of India.

The Royal Bengal Tiger is amongst the most majestic species of Tiger. Sixty percent of the total population of the wild Tigers in the world resides in India. Amongst the best-known Tiger reserves in India is the Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh. It is often referred to as the crown of the wildlife heritage of India.

Indian wildlife has its share of native birds along with migratory birds also. Several hundred species of birds can be spotted across India. The Himalayan region is known to be the natural habitat for the Pheasant, Griffon Vulture and Ravens. The Keoladeo Ghana National Park popularly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan is home to indigenous water birds waterside birds, migratory water birds, land migratory birds, and domestic land species. The region of Andaman is home of the rare species of birds like the Narcondum Hornbill, Nicobar Pigeon and the Megapode.

India can be divided into three regions according to the geographical location:

The forested area or the Himalayan foot hills, of the Himalayas from Assam to the eastern part of Kashmir, the higher altitude of the western Himalayas - from Kashmir including Ladakh to the hills and the eastern Himalayan sub-region and the Indian Peninsular region, which comprises of the area from the base of Himalayas to Kanyakumari including the Thar desert exclusive of the Malabar coast.

Travelers come here to enjoy the wildlife of India from all over the world and show their interest in Tiger Tour of India, Bird watching Tour and wildlife photography tour.

National Parks in India

Hailey National Park is a first National Park of India.  It was set up in the year 1935 in the foot hills of Himalayas in Uttar Pradesh.  Today, It is known as Corbett National Park. In 1970, there were only five national parks, namely Taroba, Shivpuri, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Corbett. Now the numbers have been increased to about 87 National parks in India.

Northern India 

The Great Himalayan National Park (Himachal Pradesh) 

The great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is an investment in the physical, mental and spiritual well being of Indians as individuals, and Himachal is in particular. It is a gainful investment in something as simple and fundamental as good citizenship, love for the country and an appreciation of the natural and historic fabric of the Western Himalayas.

The feature initially attracted and led to the preservation of this area as the GHNP was its enormous biodiversity representative of the Western Himalaya. From the critically endangered Western Tragopan to the rare and elusive Serrow and Ibex and the most beautiful of the big cats, the Snow Leopard; they are all here, amidst the entire range of vegetation and ecological complexes. The GHNP is true wilderness, one of the few large natural areas remaining intact in this part of the world. Here, you meet nature on its terms, not yours.

Nanda Devi National Park (Himachal Pradesh)

Nanda Devi National Park is situated in Chamoli district of Uttaranchal. The spectacular panoramas of peaks encircling the national park are Trishul (7120 m), Dunagiri (7066 m), Nanda Devi (7817 m), Nanda Devi East (7430m), Bethartoli (6352 m) etc.

Its inaccessibility gave Nanda Devi the aura of a forbidden territory, an untouched and unseen holy space. The first explorers to step inside the inner sanctuary were Eric Shipton and HW Tilman, who discovered a route up the Upper Rishi-Ganga Gorge in 1934.

Sir Edmund Hillary has described that the “Nanda Devi Sanctuary is God-gifted wilderness-India’s-training ground for adventure”

Pin Valley National Park (Himachal Pradesh) 

Pin Valley National Park encompasses the Pin valley of Spiti in Himachal Pradesh and is a typical cold desert. A considerable part of the area of this national park is covered by snow. The elevation of the national park ranges from about 3,500 meters near Ka Dogri to more than 6,000 meters at its highest point. The Pin Valley National Park represents the biogeography of the Trans-Himalayan cold desert with its characteristic flora and fauna. The park forms the natural habitat of a number of endangered animals including Himalayan Ibex, Snow Leopard, Bharal, Wooly Hare, Tibetan Wolf and Snow Cock. The apparently scanty vegetation in the park contains many plant species of high conservation value.

Spiti’s populace is Buddhist and does not believe in killing animals, resulting in the relative preservation of the wildlife of the area. Large herds of Ibex and Bharal or Blue Sheep can be easily spotted; the density of Ibex is reported to be 2.29 per sq km. Well known as one of the last remaining habitats of the Snow Leopard, the park is believed to have 12 members of this highly endangered species.

Jim Corbett National Park (Uttaranchal) 

Corbett has rightly been described as the ‘Land of the Tigers’. It speaks about a scenic beauty. Jim Corbett National Park, a Tiger reserve, lies in the Nainital, Pauri Garwhal and Bijnore districts of Uttaranchal. Varied topography and vegetation give Corbett a rich diversity in habitats and natural beauty. Flat valleys are interspersed with hilly ridges and the parks rolling grasslands known as the ‘Chaurs’ provide visitors with an excellent view of its inhabitants.

Pugmarks, of course, are the classic tell-tale signs of Tiger activity here. But there are also signs of Wild Boar, where the undergrowth and soft ground has been churned up by their snuffling snouts, as well as deer-droppings and hoof-prints where Cheetal, Sambar, and tiny Muntjac or Barking Deer have left their mark.

Ranthambore National Park (Rajasthan) 

The Ranthambhore National Park is situated at the intersection of the Aravalis and the Vindhyas. It is a unique combination of natural and historical richness, standing out conspicuously in the vast, arid and denuded tract of eastern Rajasthan. It spreads over a highly undulating topography varying from gentle to steep slopes; from flat-topped hills of the Vindhyas to the conical hillocks and sharp ridges of the Aravalis; from wide and flat valleys to narrow and rocky gorges. An important geological feature, the “Great Boundary fault’, where the Vindhyas were brought against the much ancient Aravalis passes from here. Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve was among the first nine Tiger.

Reserves declared in 1973 at the launch of Project Tiger in India. This national park stretches across an area of 1,334 sq km on the eastern edge of the Thar Desert. Once the hunting grounds of the erstwhile ruling family of Jaipur and later the British, today it is one of the last sanctuaries of the big cat, the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Central India

Panna National Reserve (Madhya Pradesh)

Carved out of the shikargahs (hunting reserves) of the erstwhile princely states of Panna, Chhatarpur and Bijawar, Panna National Park, India’s 22nd Tiger reserve, is one such awesome wilderness which stimulates that primordial hunting instinct in man, be it with a gun or camera. Established as a National Reserve in 1981 and made part of Project Tiger in 1994, Panna is one of India’s youngest Tiger reserves.

There are a few villages inside the park’s boundaries, and it hasn’t achieved the fame of nearby Kanha or Bandhavgarh, where the forest staff can (or could until very recently) virtually guarantee a Tiger sighting. In some respects, that is a blessing.

More than 20 species of mammals are found in Panna. The list includes two species of Antelope - the Nilgai and Chowsingha; the lone Indian Antelope - Chinkara; two species of Deer - Sambar and Chital; five species of Cat, which include the Tiger and Leopard; and four species of Canids (Dog family) and several other large and small creatures including Obelix’s favorite - the Wild Boar.

Bandhavgarh National Park (Mad hya Pradesh) 

Bandhavgarh lies in the heart of Madhya Pradesh- traditional Tiger country. The density of the Tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest in India. This is also White Tiger country.

Once It was a hunting preserve of the royal family of Rewa, where an upsetting number of Tigers were hunted down at the time of  pre-independence India, Bandhavgarh was mercifully declared a national park in 1968. Today, the Bandhavgarh National Park is a compact reserve where about half of the Park is covered with fine stands of Sal, while mixed forests are found in the higher reaches of the hills. Stretches of bamboo and grasslands extend to the north. The main viewing area is still in the core of the park with its 32 picturesque, wooded hills. An ancient fort up on a precipice, 800 meters high, dominates the park. Bandhavgarh’s history goes back 2000 years in time and the earliest signs of habitation can be seen in the Nilgai Caves excavated from the cliffs to the north of the fort. Brahmi inscriptions here date back to the 1st century BC. Wandering through the park on elephant back, the chances of seeing a Tiger are quite good. Also to be seen here are Nilgai, Chausingha, Chital, Chinkara, Wild Boar and sometimes a Fox or Jackal.

About 150 species of birds are also found here and include the migratory birds that arrive in winter like the steppe eagle and various water-birds.

Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh) 

Kanhas Sal and Bamboo forests, rolling grasslands and meandering streams stretch over 940 sq km in dramatic natural splendour. This is original Kipling jungle, of which he wrote so intensely in his Jungle Book. The same abundance of wildlife species exists today in Kanha National Park, which forms the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve created in 1 974 under Project Tiger. The park is the only habitat of the rare hard ground Barasingha (Cervus Duvaceli Branderi). Depletion of the Tiger population in the years that followed led to the area being made an absolute sanctuary in 1952. Since then, sincere efforts by administration and series of stern conservation programmes for the protection of the  flora and fauna of Kanha has made it one of the finest and best managed national parks in Asia.

East India

Kaziranga National Park (Assam) 

It is located on the banks of the river Brahmaputra in the Assam (far north-east of India). Kaziranga National Park covers an area of approximately 435 sq.km. with its marsh and tall grove of Elephant grass making it perfect habitat for the Indian One-Horned Rhino.

Alongside One- Horned Indian Rhino, the other major wild pull includes a large population of Indian Elephants, Wild Boar, Pythons, Swamp Deer, Monitor Lizards, Indian Bison, Jackal, Wild Buffalo etc.

Kaziranga National Park is also a birding paradise as well; One can enjoy the bird watching on safari and it is a remarkable experience including birds like Black-Shouldered Kite, Fishing Eagle, Black Kite, Grey-Headed Fishing Eagle, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Brahminy Kite, Pallas’s White Tailed Eagle, Himalayan Griffon etc. Huge numbers of migratory birds like Bar- Headed Geese, Red- Crested Pochard , Ruddy Shelduck, Gadwall, Greylag Geese, Falcate Duck, and Northern Shoveller come here  and can be seen at park’s lakes and marshy areas during winters.

Namdapha National Park (Arunachal Pradesh) 

Namdapha is a  a tiger reserve and national park having enchanting beauty of lush green vegetation and impenetrable pristine and virgin forests with an area of approx. 1985 sq.km. Having diverse flora and fauna, it lies in the Namdapha National Park is located a few km. away from Miao amidst misty blue hills along the turbulent Noa-Dihing River that lies in the sprawling tropical rain forest. It was declared a Tiger Reserve by the Government in Namdapha’s birdlife includes the Giant Hornbill, Forest Eagle Owl, Satyr Tragopan, Kalij and Monal Pheasants and the rare White-winged Wood Duck. Principal reptiles include the Indian Reticulated Pythor, King Cobra and Python. For mammal watchers, it is the only park which boasts of no fewer than four large Cats; Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard and Snow Leopard!

West India

Gir National Park (Gujarat) 

It is situated about 68 km south-east of Junagarh district in the state of Gujarat in south-west of India, the Gir National Park was established in 1965 as a Forest Reserve, primarily to preserve the Asiatic Lion - categorized as one of the World’s most endangered species. Gir National Park is the only left over place in the world now where one is likely to spot the Asiatic Lion.  Their numbers are nearly 300 in the park. The sanctuary covers a total area of approx. 1,414 sq km of which 260 sq km at the core forms the  national park.

The land is rugged with deep ravines, steep rocky hills and plenty of rivers. The vegetation, mainly along the main river and streams, is mixed deciduous with Teak, Acacia, Jamun, Tendu and Dhak trees. Interspersed with large patches of grasslands, it offers the visitor long pleasant drives through the thick forest cover.

Apart from the Asiatic Lion, other wild attractions in the sanctuary are Sambhar Black Bucks , Nilgai, Chinkara, Wild Boar, the four-horned Antelope, Indian Flying Foe, Grey Musk Shrew, Crocodile, Indian Hare, Small Indian Mangoose , Pale Hedgehog, Indian Porcupine, Indian Fox , Small Indian Civet, Indian Pangolin, Ratel and Jackal. The forest is also rich in bird life, and an estimated 300 species have been found inhabiting Gir National Park over the years, the most common being the Peafowl.

Pench National Park (Maharashtra)

The Pench National Park and Tiger Reserve covers an area of approx 258 sq. km.  It reaches of the Satpura hill ranges in lower southern part, along the northern boundary of Nagpur district. It was stated a National Park by the Government of Maharashtra in the year 1975 and received the official status of a Tiger Reserve in 1999.

While primarily a reserve for Tigers and Panthers, Pench is also home to Sambhar, Chital, Barking Deer, Nilgai, Black Buck, Gaur, Wild Boar, Chausingha and Flying Squirrels, to name a few.

Here, birdlife is equally numerous. The feathered denizens of Pench include both resident and migratory birds like Ospreys, Grey- headed Fishing Eagles, Malabar Pied Hornbills, White-eyed Buzzards, Indian Pittas,  Storks, Waterfowls, four endangered Vulture species, and the Green Pigeon, which is the State Bird.

South India

Bandipur National Park (Karnataka) 

Bandipur National Park is one of India’s best known wildlife sanctuaries located in the Chamaraja nagar district of Karnataka in South India and covers a forest area of 865 sq.km. It was declared a National Park in 1974 and is one of the original 9 Project Tiger reserves. It is home to approx 70 Tigers and over 3000 Asian Elephants, along with Dholes, Gaur, Leopards, and Sloth Bears.

Bandipur National Park contains a huge variety of animals, birds and reptiles within it. Primarily the population consists of Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Sambar (Deer), Asiatic Wild Dog, Striped Hyena, Chital, Mouse Deer, Wild Boar Barking Deer, four-horned Antelope, Hyena, Spotted Deer etc. Over 230 species of birds have been identified in the park. Some of the most notable ones are the Heron, Stork, Falcon, Sandpiper, Woodpecker, Drongo Grey Junglefowl, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Honey Buzzard, Red-headed Vulture, Egret, Kite, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, lowerpecker and the Warbler.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) 

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary has a scenic lake in the middle of the sanctuary. It was formed along with the building of a dam in the year 1895, this reservoir meanders around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a permanent source of water for the local wildlife.

Apart from Elephants, the other animals to be seen in the Periyar Sanctuary are Gaur, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Dole or Indian Wild Dog and very rarely, a Tiger. According to a recent survey approx 40 Tigers are here. Four class of primates are spotted at Periyar - the Nilgiri Langur , Common Langur, rare Lion-tailed Macaque and Bonnet Macaque.

The birdlife consist of  Kingfishers, the great Malabar Hornbill , Darters, Cormorants, and Racket-tailed Drongoes.   Here, reptiles like Lizards that can be spotted basking in the Sun, on the rocks along the lakeshore. Python and sometimes even a King Cobra have also been seen here very often.

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