New Delhi - the city of cities

 New Delhi  is the capital of India. It serves as the center of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is located within the metropolitan city of Delhi, and is one of the eleven districts of the Union Territory of Delhi. Calcutta (now Kolkata) was the capital of India till 1911 during the British rule on India. The British rulers felt that in order to run the country in a better way, it would be better if Delhi is made the capital instead of Calcutta because from here the governance would be more effective. After considering this, the British Maharaja George V gave orders to move the country's capital to Delhi.

The population of the metropolitan city of Delhi was 16.8 million in 2011.  Delhi's population makes it the fifth most populous in the world, and the largest metropolitan city in India. In terms of area as well, Delhi is one of the largest metropolitan cities in the world. After Mumbai, it is the second richest city in the country, and Delhi's GDP is second only to cities in South, West and Central Asia. New Delhi is known for its wide streets, tree-lined avenues and many of the country's top institutions and landmarks.

The foundation of the city was laid by the Emperor of India, George V, on 15 December, during the Delhi Durbar of 1911, and designed by prominent British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker. New Delhi was inaugurated on 13 February 1931 by Lord Irwin, the Governor General of British India.

Although both the names Delhi and New Delhi are colloquially used to refer to the jurisdiction of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, they are two separate entities and New Delhi is a small part of the metropolitan city of Delhi.

Establishment

Calcutta (now Kolkata) was the capital of India during the British Raj until December 1911. Delhi served as the political and financial center of several empires in ancient India and the Delhi Sultanate, most notably during the rule of the Mughal Empire from 1694 to 1857. During the early 1900s, the British administration was proposed to shift the capital of the British Indian Empire from Calcutta on the east coast to Delhi. It would be easy.  Land acquisition for the construction of the new city of Delhi was done under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894. 

On 12 December 1911, the then Emperor of India, George V and his Queen Mary, during the Delhi Durbar, laying the foundation stone for the Viceroy's residence in Coronation Park, Kingsway Camp  (now Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar) announced that the capital of the administration would be shifted from Kolkata to Delhi. On 15 December 1911, during their royal visit to Kingways Camp, George V and Queen Mary laid the foundation of New Delhi at the Delhi Durbar of 1911. The construction of large parts of New Delhi was planned by Edwin Lutyens, who in 1912 first Delhi and Herbert Baker, both prominent British architects of the 20th century. The contract for construction was awarded to Sobha Singh. The construction work was to start from the Tughlaqabad Fort in Tughlaqabad, but it was stopped because of the Delhi-Calcutta trunk line, which passed through the fort. In fact the construction work started after the First World War and was completed in 1931. The city, renamed "Lutyens' Delhi", was inaugurated on 10 February 1931 by the then Governor General of India, Lord Irwin.  Edwin Lutyens built the central administrative areas of the city based on British imperialism. 

Soon Lutyens started considering constructions at other locations. In fact, the Delhi Town Planning Committee, set up to plan the construction of Delhi, with George Swinton as chairman and John A. Brodie and Edwin Lutyens as members, submitted reports for both the north and the south. But, due to the high cost, the Viceroy rejected it. The central axis of New Delhi, which is to the east of India Gate, was to be a north-south axis, which was planned to connect Rashtrapati Bhavan at one end and Paharganj at the other end. During the early years of the project, many tourists believed that it was a gate connecting earth to heaven.

Eventually, due to space constraints and the presence of a large number of historical sites in the north, the committee selected the southern part. was chosen for the construction of what was then known as the Viceroy's House. The reason for this choice was that the hill was located directly opposite the Dinpanah Citadel, which was also believed to be the site of Indraprastha, the ancient region of Delhi. Subsequently, the foundation stone was moved from the Delhi Durbar of 1911–1912, where the Coronation Pillar stood and embedded in the walls of the forecourt of the Secretariat. Rajpath, also known as King's Way, stretches from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Secretariat Building, two of which are the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Ministries of the Government of India, and the Parliament House, both designed by Baker, are located on Sansad Marg and run parallel to Rajpath.

To the south, land up to Safdarjung's mausoleum was acquired to build what is today known as the area of Lutyens' Bungalow.  A circular railway line, called the Imperial Delhi Railway, was built around the Council House (present-day Parliament House) to transport construction materials and workers for the next twenty years, before construction began on the rocky outcropping of Raisina Hill. to be done . The final problem was the Agra–Delhi railway line, which cut through the site earmarked for the hexagonal All-India War Memorial (India Gate) and the Kingsway (Rajpath), which was a problem because at that time the Old Delhi Railway Station, Used to supply the transport of the whole city. The railway line was shifted along the Yamuna River, and it became operational in 1924. New Delhi railway station opened in 1926, with a single platform at Ajmeri Gate near Paharganj, and was completed in 1931 at the opening of the city.When the Viceroy's House (present-day Rashtrapati Bhavan), the Central Secretariat, The construction of the Parliament House and the All India War Memorial (India Gate) was nearing completion, the construction of a shopping district and a new plaza, Connaught Place, began in 1929, and was completed by 1933. Named after Prince Arthur (1850–1942), 1st Prince of Connaught, it was designed by the Chief Architect of the Public Works Department (PWD), Robert Tor Russell.

Within a few months in 1912, a temporary secretariat building was constructed in North Delhi, after India's capital was shifted to Delhi. Most of the government offices in the new capital were shifted here from the Old Secretariat in Old Delhi a decade before the new capital was inaugurated. Many employees were brought to the new capital from distant parts of India, including the Bengal Presidency and the Madras Presidency. Also, in the 1920s, houses were constructed for their residence in Gol Market. In the 1940s, bungalows for high-ranking government officials were constructed near the Lodhi Estate. Lodhi Colony, near Lodhi Garden, was the last residential area built by the British Raj.

After Independence

After India gained independence in 1947, New Delhi was granted limited autonomy and was administered by a Chief Commissioner appointed by the Government of India. In 1966, Delhi was converted into a Union Territory, and the Chief Commissioner was replaced by a Lieutenant Governor. The Union Territory of Delhi was formally renamed as the National Capital Territory of Delhi under the Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Act, 1991. Made under the Central Government. Actual enforcement of the law came in 1993.

New Delhi's first major expansion outside Lutyens' Delhi took place in the 1950s, when the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) developed a large area of land, in the southwest part of Lutyens' Delhi, to create the diplomatic enclave of Chanakya Puri. and land was allotted around Shanti Path for embassies, high commissions and ambassadors' residence.

Geography

With a total area of 42.7 km (16.5 sq mi), New Delhi is a small part of the metropolitan city of Delhi.  Since the city is located on the Indo-Gangetic plain, there is variation in elevation across the city. New Delhi and its surrounding areas were once part of the Aravalli hills, today only part of those hills remain, which is the Delhi Ridge, also known as the lungs of Delhi. New Delhi is situated on the floodplain of the Yamuna River. To the east of the river is the urban area of Shahdara. New Delhi lies in the seismic zone-IV, due to which, the region is prone to earthquakes.

seismology

Most of the earthquakes that occur in New Delhi are of mild intensity. The number of earthquakes increased between 2011 and 2015, of which the 2015 earthquake of magnitude 5.4 was the highest, with the epicenter in Nepal. Twelve earthquakes, including a 4.7-magnitude earthquake on 25 November 2007, a 4.2-magnitude earthquake on 7 September 2011, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake on 5 March 2012, and four on 12 November 2013 with magnitudes 2.5, 2.8, 3.1 and 3.3 Returns.

climate

The climate of New Delhi is on the border between a warm semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh) and a dry-winter humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa). There is a high variation in both summer and winter temperatures and rainfall. The temperature in summer is 46 °C. (115 °F) to about 0 °C in winter. (32 °F). The climate here is quite different from cities in other humid subtropical climates. It has long and very hot summers with dust storms, relatively cold, dry and hazy, mild winters. Summer is from early April to October, with the monsoon season occurring in the middle of summer, winter starts from the month of November and January is the coldest. The annual average temperature here is about 25 °C. (77 °F), while monthly daily mean temperatures range from 14 to 34 °C. (57 to 93 °F). The highest temperature of New Delhi was 48.4 °C. (119.1 °F), recorded on 26 May 1998, while the lowest temperature ever recorded was −2.2 °C. (28.0 °F) was recorded on 11 January 1967, both temperatures at Indira Gandhi International Airport (formerly Palam Airport).  The average annual rainfall is 714 millimeters (2,343 ft), with most of Occurs during the monsoon in the months of July and August. 

air quality

In 2015, Mercer's annual quality of life survey of 230 cities ranked New Delhi 154th due to poor air quality and pollution. Of the 1600 cities, New Delhi was the most polluted city.  In 2016, the United States Environmental Protection Agency listed New Delhi as the most polluted city on Earth.

In an effort to reduce air pollution in New Delhi during the winter, in an effort to reduce it, in December 2015 the Delhi government introduced a temporary alternate day travel for cars, using an odd and even-numbered license plate system. The plan was announced. In addition, trucks were allowed to enter Delhi only after 11 pm.The ban was planned to be implemented on a trial basis for an initial period of 15 days from 1 January 2016. Was. The ban was enforced between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and there were no traffic restrictions on Sundays. Public transport service was increased during the ban period.

On 16 December 2015, the Supreme Court of India mandated several restrictions on Delhi's transport system to prevent pollution. The court ordered a stay on registration of diesel cars and sport utility vehicles with engine capacity of 2,000 cc and above till March 31, 2016. The court also ordered all taxis in Delhi to use only compressed natural gas from March 1, 2016 onwards, in addition to banning transport vehicles over 10 years old from entering the capital.

Narmada Yatra - Madhyapradesh

Narmada Yatra: When, why and how it is done, know its importance

narmada yatra

Narmada River is the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, but most of it flows in Madhya Pradesh only. It originates from Amarkantak, the pilgrimage center of Madhya Pradesh and has its navel site in Nemavar Nagar. Then passing through Omkareshwar, this river enters Gujarat and merges into the Gulf of Khambhat. There are many ancient pilgrimages and cities on the banks of river Narmada. In Hindu Puranas it is called Reva river. Its parikrama is very important.

Origin of Narmada

 In Amarkantak, Kotitarth is the origin of Maa Narmada. There are about 34 temples of white color here. Here is Narmada Udgam Kund, from where Narmada river originates from where Narmada flows. The temple complexes have temples of deities like Surya, Lakshmi, Shiva, Ganesha, Vishnu etc. Amarkantak Amarkantak, situated at an altitude of 3600 feet above sea level, is called the mother of rivers. About five rivers originate from here, in which Narmada River, Son River and Johila River are the main ones. Narmada has a total of 41 tributaries. 19 from the north coast and 22 from the south coast. The catchment area of Narmada basin is one lakh square kilometer. It is three percent of the geographical area of the country and 28 percent of the area of Madhya Pradesh. Eight tributaries of Narmada are longer than 125 km. For example – Hiran 188, Banjar 183 and Budhner 177 km. But the condition of many medium rivers like Deb, Goi, Karam, Choral, Beda along with long ones is also serious. Due to the rampant cutting of forests in the catchment areas of the tributaries, they are losing their edge even before joining the Narmada.

Narmada Yatra When

Narmada Parikrama or Yatra is done in two ways. First, Narmada Panchkroshi Yatra is held every month and Narmada is circumambulated. The date of the Panchkroshi Yatra that takes place every month is given in the calendar. This journey starts from the pilgrimage cities of Amarkantak, Omkareshwar and Ujjain. It ends where it starts.

Parikrama route

 Amarkantak, Mai Ki Bagiya to Narmada Kund, Mandla, Jabalpur, Bhedaghat, Barmanghat, Pataighat, Magrol, Joshipur, Chhapaner, Nemawar, Narmada Sagar, Pamakheda, Dhavrikund, Omkareshwar, Balkeshwar, Indore, Mandleshwar, Maheshwar, Khalghat, Chikhla, Dharmarai, Katarkheda, Shoolpadi bush, Hastisangam, Chhapeshwar, Sardar Sarovar, Garudeshwar, Chandod, Bharuch. After this on return via Pondi via Bimleshwar, Koteshwar, Golden Bridge, Bulbulkand, Ramkund, Barwani, Omkareshwar, Khandwa, Hoshangabad, Sadiya, Barman, Bargi, Triveni Sangam, Maharajpur, Mandla, Dindori and then Amarkantak.

Pilgrimages of Narmada Coast

 Although there are many pilgrimages located on the banks of Narmada, but here is a list of some major pilgrimages. Amarkantak, Mandla (this was where King Sahasrabahu stopped the Narmada), Bheda-Ghat, Hoshangabad (here was the ancient Narmadapur city), Nemawar, Omkareshwar, Mandleshwar, Maheshwar, Shukleshwar, Bawan Gaja, Shulpani, Garudeshwar, Shukratirtha, Ankateshwar, Karnali, Chandod, Shukeshwar, Vyastirtha, Anasuyamai Tapa Sthal, Kanjetha Shakuntala Putra Bharat Sthal, Sinor, Angareshwar, Dhayadi Kund and finally Bhrigu-Kachchh or Bhrigu-Tirtha (Bhaduch) and Vimleshwar Mahadev Tirtha.

 

Why do the narmada yatra 

This journey full of mystery and adventure is very important.general rules In Puranas, this river is mentioned in detail with a different name Revakhand. Parikrama has great importance in Hindu religion. Parikrama means going around a general place or a person from his left side. This is also called 'Pradakshina Karna', which is a part of Shodashopachara Puja. Narmada Parikrama or Yatra is a religious journey. Whoever completes the circumambulation of either Narmada or Ganga has done the biggest work of his life. He knew everything before his death, which he would never have known in life if he had not traveled. Parikrama of Narmada has been given more importance. While there are mysteries, thrills and dangers in Narmadaji's Pradakshina Yatra, there is also a storehouse of experiences. Your life will change after this trip. Some people say that if Narmadaji's circumambulation is done properly, then Narmadaji's circumambulation is completed in 3 years, 3 months and 13 days, but some people complete it in 108 days as well. Parikrama residents walk continuously on both the banks of about 1,312 km. Many booklets are available at pilgrimage centers for the information of Shrinarmada Pradakshina.

Narmadaji is the personification of the presiding deity of quietness. Gangaji has come to the world for knowledge, Yamunaji for devotion, Brahmaputra for glory, Godavari for wealth, Krishna for desire and Saraswatiji for establishment of discretion. The whole world respects and worships him with devotion because of his purity and vitality and auspiciousness. Water has special importance in human life. This importance connects life with selfishness and charity. There is a deep connection between nature and humans. This river is the first such river in the world which flows in the opposite direction than other rivers.

 

How do the narmada yatra 

The scriptural instruction for pilgrimage is to do it in the form of pada yatra. This tradition is seen being followed in many places. Earlier, devout people used to go on pilgrimage by making big and small congregations. The routes and stops of the journey were fixed. The villages, settlements, huts, nagle purbes etc. which were found on the way, used to stop, stay, and take rest for the night at some suitable place. Wherever he stopped, discussing religion and telling stories to the people, this process used to go on from morning till evening. Katha Kirtan, satsang was organized in the night halt also. Often these trips start in the middle of November.

General rules of circumambulation

1. Take bath in Narmadaji everyday. Have refreshments only with Reva water.

2. Don't accept donations in  Pradakshina. At least send someone with devotion, because accepting hospitality is the dharma of a pilgrim. Renunciate, disinterested saints do not even eat food, they do alms which is considered like nectar.

3. Don't do pointless debate, slander, backbiting. Maintain restraint of speech. Always be truthful.

4. Always follow physical austerity - Dev, Dwij, Guru, Pragya Pujan, Shauch, Marjanam. Celibacy, non-violence of body's penance.

5. Manah Prasad: Soumya Tham Maunmatma Vinigraha. Bhava Sanshudhirityet Manas Tap Uchyate. (Gita 17th Chapter) The triple penance of Shrimadgavatgita should be accepted by human beings for lifetime. Therefore, it is appropriate for the Parikrama residents to continue reciting Gita, Ramayana etc. everyday.

6. Make a resolution in Narmadaji before starting the circumambulation. Make Prasad like Mai's Kadahi i.e. Halua and send it to girls, saints and guest visitors as per their capacity.

7. Pradakshina of the south coast should not be more than 5 miles away from the Narmada coast and pradakshina of the north coast should not be more than seven and a half miles away.

8. Do not cross Narmada ji anywhere. Don't go where there are islands in Narmada ji, but if it is necessary to cross the tributaries that join Narmada ji, then cross them only once.

9. Don't do circumambulation in Chaturmas. From Devshayani Ashadh Shukla Ekadashi to Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, all the householders observe Chaturmas. Regarding the matter of Masatmase Vaipaksha, the ascetics of the four sides often do Yati. Residents of Narmada Pradakshina do it for three months till Dussehra till Vijayadashi. At that time do mother's embroidery as much as you can. Some remain happy even in the beginning.

10. Don't carry a lot of stuff with you. Keep some light utensils and plates and bowls etc. Keep simple items that can be obtained once or twice with you.

11. Do not get hair cut. Don't cut your nails too often. Take the fast of Vanprasthi, follow celibacy completely. Keep adopting virtue. Never apply oil etc. from the point of view of makeup. Don't use soap. Always use pure soil.

12. Parikrama should start from Amarkantan and end in Amarkantak only. When the circumambulation is complete, then go to any one place and offer water after consecrating Lord Shankarji. Get the puja abhishek done. After getting tonsured, bathe again, do the embroidery of Narmada Maiya according to your enthusiasm and ability. Make sure to send the best Brahmins, saints, visitors, girls also, then after taking blessings, resolve to retire and request Narmadaji at the end.

Ranthambore National park

 

           Ranthambore National Park is located in Sawaimadhopur district of Rajasthan. It is one of the largest gardens in India. A large number of banyan trees are seen in this park spread over 392 square kilometers. Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary was granted the status of National Park in 1980. In addition to tigers, the national park serves as a natural habitat for various wild animals, jackals, leopards, hyenas, swamp crocodiles, wild boars and different varieties of deer, in addition, there are aquatic vegetation such as lilies, Duckweed and lotus abound in the park.

          Ranthambore National Sanctuary is situated on the edge of Hadoti plateau. It is spread over a vast plain to the north of the Chambal river and to the south of the Banas river. There are many lakes in this huge sanctuary, which provide a favorable natural environment and water source for wildlife. Ranthambore Sanctuary is named after the famous Ranthambore Fort here.

           The Ranthambore National Park along with the Ranthambore Fort located here and the surrounding hills and valleys make this place a wonderful tourist destination. For tourists who are wildlife photographers, Ranthambore Garden is like heaven. Spread over an area of 392 square kilometers, Ranthambore National Park is a natural habitat for various exotic species.

              This park is a tiger protected area. This national sanctuary is world famous for its beauty, vast area and presence of tigers. Along with the sanctuary, the historical fort here also attracts tourists. For a long time, this national park and the Ranthambore Fort located near it especially impresses tourists.

             Ranthambore is known under the 'Tiger Conservation Project' and it also has a sizeable number of tigers. From time to time, tigresses give birth to cubs here. So such occasions are no less than a festival for the officers and employees of the forest department here. This sanctuary is called the "tiger sanctuary" but there is also the presence of a large number of other wildlife. The sanctuary is home to a wide variety of flora, fauna, flora, vines, small fauna and diversity of birds.

              Apart from animals around 264 species of birds can be seen here. Many migratory birds come here in winter. Among birds, eagles, crested serpent eagle, great Indian horned owl, pheasant, painted pheasant, quail, spurfile peacock, tree pie and a variety of storks can be seen. Here beautiful places like Rajbagh Talab, Padam Talab, Milak Talab attract many types of animals and carnivores try to hunt them. There are also crocodiles in the lakes of this park.

           According to a survey, a total of 35 species of reptiles, 40 species of mammals and 320 species of birds (including migratory) are found in this park.

            Jeep safari can also be enjoyed here. Here the forest authority has constructed roads for the tourists so that they can roam in the park. The forest authority has made special arrangements for photography and videography. You can book either a 6-seater Gypsy SUV or a canter for a jungle safari. If you are an Indian citizen, you will be charged less, while for foreigners the charges are higher.

                Ranthambore Park was established by the Government of India in 1955 as 'Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary'. Later, worried about the decreasing number of tigers across the country, the government declared it a 'Project Tiger Sanctuary' in 1973 and started the exercise of tiger conservation. The project benefited the sanctuary and the state, and Ranthambore became a major center for safari tourism. Due to this, Ranthambore was declared a National Sanctuary in 1984. The sanctuaries and forest areas of the state were protected continuously since 1984. In the year 1984, 'Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary' and 'Keoladeo Sanctuary' were also announced. Later both these new centuries were also linked to the tiger conservation project.

          

           After Sawaimadhopur to Ranthambore became part of Project Tiger, there are total 50er reserves in India. In 1973, a total of 37 tigers were left in the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve tig, but after so many years of tireless efforts, today there are a total of 70-80 tigers in this Ranthambore National Park.

            

           This national sanctuary is one of the largest national sanctuaries in North India. The nearest airport to this sanctuary is Kota, which is only 110 km from here. It is located at a distance of 130 kms while the Sanganer Airport of Jaipur is 130 kms. Is at a distance of. Located in the southeast of Rajasthan, this sanctuary is located in Sawaimadhopur district, which borders Madhya Pradesh. The sanctuary is 11 km from the railway station of Sawaimadhopur city. Is at a distance of. The nearest junction from Sawai Madhopur Railway Station is Kota, from where Ranthambore can also be reached via Mega Highway.

             

           Most of the land of Rajasthan is either desert or plain, due to the presence of Aravalli ranges in the rest of the area, some areas are also mountainous. Ranthambore National Park located in Rajasthan is mainly a hilly area, but due to its proximity to the Thar Desert, this area has to depend only on monsoon rains. It receives only monsoon rains throughout the year, so most of the vegetation found here is dry deciduous.

              

            Ranthambore National Park remains open from the months of October to June. The best time to visit is during the winter months (October – December). You can visit Ranthambore from October to April. The climate here is very hot during the summer season but the chances of spotting tigers increase in summers. This park remains closed during the monsoon season.

Taj Mahal, the symbol of India's pride and love - Uttar pradesh

                                                   Taj Mahal History

Kankariya lake - Ahmedabad

               Kankaria Lake The largest lake in Ahmedabad, formerly known as Hauz-e-Qutub. From Balloon Safari and Zoo to Toy Train and Amusement Park, Kankaria Lake situated near Maninagar area in Ahmedabad has everything that attracts everyone from kids to adults. For adventure enthusiasts, Kankaria also offers options like archery, gymnastics and water rides in the lake. This picturesque lake is perfect for an evening stroll with multi-coloured lights twinkling around its periphery. The most fearsome festival- Kankaria Carnival is celebrated with utmost enthusiasm and fervor. It also provides you a great platform to showcase your talent in various competitions. Kankaria Lake is a place where entertainment, culture, knowledge and talent blend perfectly with each other.

History of Kankaria Lake

Kankaria Lake is the largest lake in Ahmedabad which was constructed about 500 years ago. According to researchers and inscriptions on the lake, the construction of Kankaria Lake was started by Sultan Muizz-ud-din Muhammad Shah in the 15th century and was completed in 1451 during the reign of Sultan Qutb-ud-din Ahmad Shah II. According to the inscription, this lake was earlier known as "Hauz-i-Qutub" (Pond of Qutub) which was later named as Kankaria Lake.

Architecture of Kankaria lake 

Spread over 76 acres, Kankaria Lake has a very unique shape. The shape is reminiscent of the Mughal architecture of the time. The well-planned lake is a splendid example of Indian styles, with flights of water sluices at regular intervals crisscrossing the stones and barring the steps. There is a garden in the middle of this lake, which is appropriately known as Nagina Wadi – or Jewel of the Lake. Though the lake has been subjected to several renovations by the kings, the British and the post-independence government, it has managed to retain its original elements.

 Legend of Kankaria Lake

The actual origin of the name Kankaria is unknown, yet various stories are told about it which are quite interesting. The name 'Kankaria' is derived from 'kankar', as a large amount of limestone was extracted from here in the formation of the lake. Other anecdotes suggest that the lake was named after Saint Hazrat-e-Shah Alam. Legend has it that Saint Hazrat-e-Shah Alam was passing through the excavation site during which he was injured by a pebble. After which he accepted that pebble and named the lake as Kankaria Lake.

Attractions of Kankaria Lake

kankariya zoo

                  Spread over an area of 31 acres, Kankaria Zoo is the prime attraction of Kankaria Lake which is also known as Kamla Nehru Zoological Park. 450 mammals, 2000 birds and 140 reptile species are found in this zoo, which you can see here.

Kindergarten

Balvatika is a beautiful children's park situated on the banks of the Kankaria Lake, named after the country's first Prime Minister, Chacha Nehru. This park has many sports areas, slides and swings for the entertainment of children, besides this the park also has a bird museum based on Indian birds and animals. Another attraction of Balvatika is Nabhi Darshan Planetarium.

Amusement park

           Kankaria Lakefront Amusement Park offers a number of thrilling rides and attractions for the kids. With the recent safety and security measures, the rides have become thrilling and fun. The amusement park's thrilling rides are Boomerang Roller Coaster, Flipping Arm, Towering Tower, Dis-O-Pendulum and Merry-Go-Round.

Stone Mural Park

          Stone Murali Park is another special place situated on the banks of Kankaria Lake. It houses various attractive murals depicting the history of Ahmedabad in pink sandstone.

Dutch and Armenian Tombs

           On the left side of Kankaria Lake is an ancient cemetery with some Dutch and Armenian graves. Beginning in the seventeenth century, these tombs were embellished with stylized domes and pillars, indicating a noble heritage. The inscriptions are in Dutch and Latin. The most notable tomb here is that of a nobleman who established the Dutch East India Company's factory in Ahmedabad in 1615.

Balloon ride

           Balloon ride is one of the most preferred activities at Kankaria Lake which gives you an opportunity to have a panoramic view of Ahmedabad city while flying at a height of about 350 feet. Super thriller tethered balloon ride is available at Kankaria lakefront from where you can take off.

Toy train

            Toy train is the most liked ride by kids, if you are going to come here with your kids then don't miss ride on toy train. The Atal Express, named after Atal Bihari Vajpayee, takes a round of the Kankaria Lake on a 2.3 km long track. This train can carry 150 passengers at a time, which attracts children as well as adults.

Boat ride

            Boat ride is another most attractive activity of Kankaria Lake which is loved by tourists and couples alike.

Kankaria Carnival  of Kankaria lake

             The week long Kankaria Carnival is the most awaited festival of Ahmedabad which promises to be full of fun and excitement. Held every year in the last week of December, many competitions and events like magic show, rangoli making competition, debate, essay or painting competitions, dog show, scuba-diving, laser show and gymnastics are organized in this festival. 

 Best time to visit Kankaria Lake 

          By the way, you can visit Kankaria Lake at any time of the year. But if you want to visit Kankaria Lake as well as other tourist places in Ahmedabad, then you should avoid the summer season because it gets very crowded during this time. That's why winter months are the best months to visit Ahmedabad. If you come here in the month of December, you can also attend the Kankaria Festival.

Andaman And Nicobar Islands History

          Andaman And Nicobar Islands History Information 

          Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Andaman and Nicobar Islands are considered an important part of India. This group made up of islands is located between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. This union territory has made a huge contribution in the history. It is said that earlier the British used to rule this Andaman and Nicobar. There used to be big jails near them. Those who did any work against their East India Company, they were kept captive in this jail. Those people were sentenced to life imprisonment. At that time it was called 'Kalapani ki Punishment'. Many revolutionaries were kept in the 'Cellular Jail' here.

 Andaman and Nicobar Islands History Information

          The history of this union territory is also very old when the East India Company used to rule here. Here the East India Company used to arrest the criminals and put them in jail.

 

          History tells that the first migrant named Marco Polo came to this island. Maratha ruler Kanhoji Angre also once ruled this island in the 18th century. But in a war, he was defeated by the naval forces of the English and Portuguese together and with that his rule also came to an end.

          In 1789, the British established their colony on this island, but later in 1796 they left the island. But then later in the 19th century the British took over the island. In the 19th century, the British used to keep criminals in the jail here and hence it was later named 'Kalapani'.

          History tells that whoever committed any crime against the East India Company was sent to Andaman and Nicobar jail and was sentenced to life imprisonment. In this way he had to live alone for the rest of his life.

         But after the end of the British rule, the idea of the name Kalapani also ended from this island in independent India and since then it has been made a beautiful island. In 1947, it was declared a Union Territory of India. Today, the name of Andaman and Nicobar is also added to the seven Union Territories of India.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands Language

          Andamanese people and Nicobarese people live on this island for a long time. There is a lot of diversity in the language and culture of all the people here. The people living on this island speak Onge, Andamanese, Sentili, Jarawa and Nicobarese languages.

 Andaman and Nicobar Islands Culture

          That's why people living in Andaman and Nicobar belonging to different castes, religions and speaking different languages, yet the culture of the people here is the same, there is a lot of similarity between them. The most special thing about the people here is that even after there is so much diversity in these people, all the people live together. There is no violence here in the name of caste and religion.

        The people who live here have lived here for thousands of years. It is said that the people here have been living here for 60,000 years. The people here do not interact with the people of the outside world at all. Not only this, the people here do not even use money in their behavior. They still use the old barter system. The people here are very backward in technology. Generally people here do hunting, collecting fruits, honey. Some people take up fishing as a profession.

Tourism of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

          This place is most appropriate for the tourism of those who are environment lovers. The Cellular Jail, Rose Island and Havelock Island are the main attractions on this beautiful island.

          The forest of Andaman remains green throughout the year. Here you get a chance to see beautiful beaches, snake-like creeks, different species of flora and fauna in the sea. After seeing all these things closely, it becomes a memorable moment in the life of any tourist.

           The tourism department has made complete arrangements for the guest house for the tourists to stay here. Main tourist centers like Anthropological Museum, Marine Museum, Water Sports Complex, Gandhi Park, North Bay, Viper Island, Rose Island, Chidiyatapu, Red Skin Island, Corbin Cove Beach, Neil Island, Havelock Island, Panchak, Little Andaman, Diglipur are present. 

                      

               How to reach Andaman and Nicobar Islands

          To come here, complete arrangements have been made to come by plane and ship. Indian Airlines, Air Deccan, Jetlite flights are available from Kolkata and Chennai. There are also regular ships from Chennai, Kolkata, and Visakhapatnam.

Sabarmati Aashram - Ahmedabad

 History and Story of Sabarmati Ashram

The Sabarmati Ashram is an ashram established by Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation. Whose old name was Satyagraha Ashram. It is located on the banks of the Sabarmati near Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India. Since it was situated on the banks of the Sabarmati river, it was named Sabarmati Ashram.

History of Sabarmati Ashram

It was established in 1917 in Ahmedabad. Some time after the establishment of the Satyagraha Ashram, its name was changed to Sabarmati. On one side of the Sabarmati Ashram is the Central Jail and on the other side is the crematorium, yet one can be surprised to see the peace here. Mahatma Gandhi spent 12 years together with his wife in this ashram.

When Gandhiji returned after completing his studies from South Africa, he first established an ashram on May 15, 1915 at a place called Kochrab in Ahmedabad, which was named Satyagraha.

But after 2 years this ashram had to be shifted because Gandhi ji wanted that work like farming, animal husbandry, khadi should be done here but due to less space this ashram was shifted to the banks of Sabarmati river and it is named after this river. The name was kept Sabarmati. Mahatma Gandhi ji fought the freedom struggle in 1930 by staying in this ashram and also did Dandi march from here and broke the salt law after reaching Dandi.

When this ashram started, there was no proper living space here and the number of people living here was 40, but slowly everything changed and Sabarmati Ashram became bigger and people were not facing any problem in living here.

Mahatma Gandhi ji was about non-violence, self-restraint, truth and he wanted to change the country through social and economic revolution. By creating unity among the people there, Gandhi ji tried to improve the economic condition through khadi, charkha and rural work and tried to get freedom for the country only through non-violence. Due to which he also got success in that.

Sabarmati Ashram was made such a school in Gandhiji that considering agriculture, literacy and human labor as the center, he started talking about everything. After some time, when the freedom struggle progressed, Mahatma Gandhi took oath on March 12, 1930 and he said that I will not return to Sabarmati Ashram until India gets independence.

After a lot of struggle with Mahatma Gandhi and freedom fighters, India got independence on 15th August 1947 but Mahatma Gandhi died on 30th January 1948 and Gandhiji could never return to the ashram he had built.

Presently located places in Sabarmati

After the death of Mahatma Gandhi, the Sabarmati Ashram was converted into a museum in his memory. At present it is also known as Gandhi Memorial Museum. Different places of this ashram have been given different names which are as follows –

heart arch

This is the place of the ashram where Gandhi used to live which is in the center of the ashram. The name of this place was given by Hriday Kunj Kaka Saheb Kalekar. Gandhiji also started the Dandi march from here.

Nandini Guest House

The place where people coming to the ashram used to stay has been called Nandini Guest House. This is a guest house at a short distance from the ashram. Many great people have lived here like Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru, C. Rajagopalachari, Rabidranath Tagore and many others have lived here.

prayer ground

The people living in this ashram used to start their suhab with prayer and this is the place where everyone used to pray everyday.

Vinoba- Meera Kutir

The name of a place in the Sabarmati Ashram is Vinoba-Mira Kutir. Its name was Vinoba Bhave and Gandhiji named his disciple Vinoba Bhave as Meera. Vinoba Bhave spent a few months in this ashram, hence the name of this place is Vinoba-Mira Kutir.

Udyog Mandir

This is the place in the ashram where Gandhi ji had set up charkhas to make Khadi clothes to practically change the economic situation. Along with Gandhiji, his followers also used to come here and spin the charkha and Gandhiji used to teach everyone to make Khadi clothes. On the same basis it was named Udyog Mandir.

tourist places

Sabarmati has now become a tourist destination, where about 7 lakh people come to visit every year. And this ashram remains open from 7 am to 8 pm. Here the spinning wheel used by Gandhiji is still preserved and the people coming here are shown all the things there.

All the things of Gandhiji's life have also been kept in this ashram. There is also a library in the Sabarmati Ashram, in which 34,000 manuscripts of Gandhiji, 6000 photo negatives and 200 photostat files have been kept. Also there are 35000 books in this library.

History of city palace - Jaipur

 History of City Palace, the pride of Jaipur city

City Palace - The City Palace is situated in the heart of the city of Jaipur, as well as the palace complex is also built on high hills, which is five miles to the south of the city of Amber.

The history of the City Palace is intertwined with the history of the city of Jaipur and its rulers, beginning with Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, who ruled the city from 1699 to 1744.

The credit for the construction of the palace is first given to him, because he was the one who started the construction of the wall spreading over a lot of acres in the palace here.

Initially, the Maharaja ruled Jaipur from his city of Amber, which is located at a distance of 11 km from Jaipur.

But in 1727, due to the problem of population and lack of water in Amber, he made Jaipur his capital. According to Vastu Shastra, he had planned to divide this city into 6 different parts.

He did all this at the behest of his mentor Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, a Bengali architect living in Nainital. Initially he was the account-clerk of the treasury of Amber and later the king made him the chief architect of the court.

After Jai Singh's death in 1957, the Rajputs of the region were at war with each other but maintained cordial relations with the British Raj.

Maharaja Ram Singh also sided with the British in the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 and established himself as the imperial ruler.

It is said that this is the reason for all the heritage of Jaipur being pink, according to the sources, according to the plans of the ruler, the city was named Pink City aka Pink City. Since then this color has become the trademark of the city of Jaipur.

Man Singh II, the adopted son of Maharaja Madho Singh II, was the last Maharaja of Jaipur, who ruled the Chandra Mahal of Jaipur. From the very beginning, this palace has become a place of residence of royal families, in fact, in 1949, despite joining the Indian Union of Jaipur Kingdom along with Rajasthan's Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Bikaner, the royal family lived here.

After this, Jaipur was made the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan and Man Singh II was made Rajpramukh and later he was also made India's ambassador to Spain.

The City Palace is located in the central-northeastern part of the city of Jaipur, whose complex is quite spread. Its complex is surrounded by many palaces, gardens, pavilions and temples. The most famous monuments inside the complex include Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Mukut Mahal, Maharani Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and City Palace Museum.

City Palace Entrance gates

The main entrances to the City Palace include Virendra Pol, Uday Pol and Tripolia Gate. Out of which only the people of the royal family enter from the Tripolia Gate.

The general public and travelers are given entry inside the City Palace through Virendra Pol and Uday Pol or Atish Pol. After entering from Virendra Pol, it directly takes us to Mubarak Mahal. The entrance to the City Palace is adorned with ancient architecture.

Mubarak Mahal

Mubarak Mahal meaning 'Auspicious Palace', was built as a reception center by Maharaja Madho Singh II in the 19th century based on the ideas of Islamic, Rajput and European architectural styles.

It is a museum: in which the costumes of the royal family and their clothes, shawls, Kashmiri clothes, ancient sarees, etc. have been displayed. There is also a display of the clothes worn by Sawai Madho Singh I, which is 1.2 meters wide and weighs 250 kg and is said to have had 108 wives.

Pritam Niwas Chowk – Pritam Niwas Chowk

 This is the inner courtyard of the palace, from where we can Mahal. There are also four small gates, decorated with the theme of Hindu Gods.

These gates are mainly the North-Eastern Peacock Gate (Peacock motif is made on this gate) which also represents autumn and this gate is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the South-Eastern gate is the Lotus Gate, which represents the summer season. represents and this gate is dedicated to Lord Shiva-Parvati, the north-west gate is the green gate, also known as Laheriya and this gate is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and the last gate is the Gulab Dwar which is dedicated to the goddesses and this last The shape of flowers has also been made on the door.

Diwan-e-Khas

The Diwan-i-Khas is an enchanting hall, whose ceilings are decorated in rich red and gold colors, which still seem alive to us today. This is the main attraction of the Mubarak Mahal complex.

This room is currently being used as an art gallery, displaying many ancient Rajasthani, Mughal and Persian paintings, ancient inscriptions and Kashmiri carpets.

Its ceiling is also beautifully decorated. Ancient Manusmrutis are also displayed in this art gallery. Also, in this art gallery, we also get to see the royal throne (Takht-e-Rawal), which used to be the chair of the Maharaja during public audiences.

When the Maharaja used to travel outside the palace, he used to ride on his elephant accompanied by his horse riders and he was also accompanied by a palanquin holder. Two huge elephants are made of marble stones at the entrance of this hall.

Diwan-i-Aam

The Diwan-i-Aam is a hall of public audience. The surface of this hall is decorated with marble. Along with this, there is also a 1.6 meter high silver vessel, which has a capacity of 4000 liters and weighs about 340 kg. These were made by melting 14000 silver coins without stitching them.

His name also holds the record of being the world's largest silver vessel. These pots were made by Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II, who was a pious Hindu.

He made these pots to carry water from the Ganges to drink during his visit to England in 1901, because according to him, if he consumed English water, his Hindu religion would be corrupted. After this the name of these utensils was also named Gangajali.

There are also many chandeliers decorated with crystals, which hang on the ceiling of Diwan-i-Aam, which are often decorated on many festivals at present. (At present they are covered with cloth due to damage from dust.)

Chandra Mahal

Chandra Mahal or Chandra Niwas is the most famous building of the City Palace, which is built at the western end of the palace.

It is a seven-storied building and each floor is named differently, such as Pitam-Niwas, Sukh-Niwas, Rang-Mandir, Shri-Niwas, Chabi-Niwas, and Mukut-Mandir or Mukut-Mahal. . There are many attractive paintings, mirrors and walls in this palace.

At present, only the ancient followers of the Jaipur rulers live in this palace. Travelers are allowed to go here only on the lower floor, where a museum is built, in which we see many things related to the royal family.building,

While entering the palace, there is also a beautiful peacock gate here. Also, there are many beautiful balconies in the palace, from where we can see the charming and exquisite form of Jaipur city.

Govind Devji Temple – Govind Dev Ji temple

Govind Devji Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shri Krishna, which is built in the city complex. It was built in the beginning of the 18th century. In this temple we also get to see European chandeliers and Indian paintings. The ceilings of the temple are decorated with gold ornaments.

It is built at such a place that we can directly see the Maharaja from the Chandra Mahal complex here. Here the devotees see the deity only seven times in a day while performing the aarti.

Maharani Mahal

Actually Maharani Mahal used to be the residence of the royal queens. But later it was converted into a museum, where the weapons used during the imperial war are kept, some of which were also used in the 15th century.

Unique frescoes have been done on the ceilings of this room, which are decorated with dust of jewels. The main weapons displayed here mainly include scissors – functional scissors.

Other weapons displayed in the hall include a sword with a pistol attached, which is said to have been gifted by Queen Victoria to Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh.

Baggi food - Bhaggi Khana

Baggi Khana is also built in the palace complex of the City Palace, which is a museum. Antique carriages, palanquins and European taxis are on display here.

The attractive buggy was presented to the Maharaja by the Prince of Wales in 1876, also known as the Victoria Buggy.

Other items displayed here include Mahadol, which is a palanquin made of bamboo and this palanquin was used to carry the priests from one place to another. Also, this palanquin was used for Hindu deities during Rath Yatra.