Panoramic View of the Government Rose Garden in Udhagamandalam
India is the land of many cultures, religions, traditions, rituals, monuments, mountains, beaches, jungles, hill stations, temples, tropical islands, colors, flavors, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and much more.
This incredible nation attracts millions of tourists every year. Read on to know about some breathtakingly beautiful tourist attractions in India.
Lotus Temple
Lotus Temple History
Located in Delhi, this Bahá'í House of Worship was built in 1986. It was designed by Canadian architect Fariborz Sahba and is spread over 26 acres.
More than 70 million people from all parts of the world have visited it since 1986. This unique flowerlike shape has made it a major attraction in the city. Many people call it the Taj Mahal of the 20th century, but it is much more than just a splendid piece of architecture.
On an average, 8,000 to 10,000 people visit this temple daily. It is famous for its universal design. This temple seeks to propagate oneness of God and is open to all human beings worldwide. You can just walk in and meditate or pray.
This magnificent structure, which is made of Greek white marble, is set among lush green landscaped floral gardens. It is composed of 27 free-standing marble-made "petals" organized in bunches of three to form nine sides.
The nine doors lead to a central prayer hall that has a capacity of 2,500 people and is about 40 meters high. There are no idols inside the temple. There are nine scintillating pools of water around the structure. This temple is a sight to behold when it is floodlit in the night.
The temple is open on all days of the week except Monday.
Lotus Temple Timings:
October-March: 9.30 am - 5.30 pm.
April-September: 9.30 am - 7.00 pm.
You can reach the Lotus Temple by metro, cab or DTC bus. The nearest metro station is the Kalkaji Mandir on the violet line. From there you can take an auto rickshaw or cab.
Batra Holiday Home, Hotel Rajdoot, OYO 2705 Hotel Preet Palace, Megha Homestay and Sagar Residency are the five best places to stay near the temple.
Chadar Trek
Also known as the Zanskar Gorge, the Chadar Trek is a winter trail in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir. This 105 km one-way trek along the frozen Zanskar River attracts many adventure tourists from all parts of the world.
Chadar Trek is only for experienced trekkers because you will need to deal with extreme conditions while trekking here at subzero temperatures.
The duration of this difficult trek (maximum altitude: 3,390m) is eight days. It begins in Leh and covers ice draped grand canyons, narrow gorges, caves and villages.
The best month to do this trek is February. You can reach Leh by J & K SRTC bus or cab. This high-desert city has an airport, the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport.
On February 8 2014, Nelson, a tourist from New Zealand, said: "I have just completed the Chadar trek to the remote village and monastery of Lingshed. Three of us did the hike guided by Dream Ladakh.
They put on a guide, assistant guide, cook, assistant cook and nine porters. We walked for four days to what perhaps is one of the remotest villages in the world.
Access in the winter is walking on the frozen Zanskar river. Along the way we passed massive frozen waterfalls, bubbling hot pools, towering rock faces that have looked down on passing travellers over thousands of years using the same ancient paths.
Temperatures dropped to about -15C. I use the about term "approximate" because my electronic thermometer could not cope with the cold after we passed the -10 mark.
Once one got used to the cold by putting on multiple layers of clothes the trek is relatively easy with very little climbing. Of course the maximum altitude is 3900 meters at Lingshed so any burst of activity soon leaves you breathless.
The stunning snow and ice covered scenery is out of this world. Truly a great out of this world adventure able to be undertaken by most reasonably fit hikers."
Chadar Trek Difficulty
It’s a place that is off the beaten path. A very secluded area, it is quite isolated and this is what makes it a peaceful retreat. The silence is overpowering and yet relaxing. The Himalayan range all around it is like a decoration to this house of silence.
— Brielle THarmandir Sahib
Also known as Golden Temple and Darbar Sahib, Harmandir Sahib is the holiest Gurdwara and the most important pilgrimage site for people following Sikhism. It is located in Amritsar.
Built in 1601 CE, this Gurdwara is on a 20 square meter platform in the center of a tank. It has a door each on the north, south, east and west. The main structure has three stories. Its architecture is a blend of Hindu and Muslim styles.
You will find the Adi Granth, the holy scripture of Sikhism, inside the Harmandir Sahib. It also houses the Akal Takht (the throne of the timeless one). It is regarded as the abode of God's spiritual attribute.
The inner sanctum sees the priests and the musicians continuously chanting the Guru Granth Sahib, adding to the religious atmosphere. After paying obeisance, visitors usually retreat to the second floor, which houses an intricately painted gallery.
This holy temple was destroyed many times by Afghan invaders. It was finally rebuilt in marble and copper overlaid with gold foil during the reign (1801–39) of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Timings:
Summer: 7.30 am - 7.30 pm.
Winter: 8.00 am - 7.00 pm.
Winter: 8.00 am - 7.00 pm.
Amritsar is well-connected by air, rail and road. It has an international airport, Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport. Visit between October and March.
Sri Harmandir Sahib
Government Rose Garden, Udhagamandalam
The Government Rose Garden, which covers an area of around 10 acres, houses more than 2,000 varieties of roses, including miniature roses, hybrid tea roses, floribunda, ramblers, black and green roses and other unique varieties. They are arranged in five curving terraces.
This beautiful rose garden won the Garden of Excellence Award for being the best rose garden in south Asia from the World Federation of Rose Societies in the year 2006. It is open daily between 8.30 am and 6.00 pm.
Coimbatore International Airport is the nearest airport (96 kilometers) to Udhagamandalam. From the airport you can reach the hill station by cab or by bus. The town also has three helipads.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Located in D N Road, Mumbai, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) was built in 1888. It is not just another railway station. This monumental train terminus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a historical landmark in the Central Business District of Mumbai.
The structure, which was designed by British architect F. W. Stevens, is an excellent example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in India, blended with themes deriving from Indian traditional architecture. Some of the architectural detail is unbelievable, with dog-faced gargoyles adorning the magnificent central tower and peacock-filled windows above the central courtyard.
You can reach Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, which is at the heart of the city, by cab, MTDC bus or auto rickshaw. This iconic train terminus is well-connected by rail to all parts of the country. It is around 21 kilometers from Chattrapati Shivaji Airport.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Information
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Information
Information about Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
No comments:
Post a Comment