MYSORE GUIDE

Mysore, the capital city of the Wodeyars has always enchanted its admirers with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples. There's an old world charm about the city that reaches out and leaves no one untouched.

Forex inflow cheers up tourism sector

NEW DELHI: Tourism in India may well be out of the woods if latest data is anything to go by. While the number of foreign tourist arrivals is still less than April last year, significantly, foreign exchange earnings have gone up.

The number of foreign tourists who arrived in India — excluding NRIs — in April 2009 is 3.71 lakh as opposed to 3.84 lakh in April 2008, closing the gap substantially to 3.5%. Foreign exchange earnings, on the other hand, increased as compared to last year. FEEs were Rs 4,061 crore for April 2009, up from last year’s Rs 3,773 crore.

“The data is certainly encouraging. After a spell of negative growth, the fact that only 13,000 fewer visitors came to India in April this year as compared to last year could mean that tourist arrivals could show positive growth by October,” Leena Nandan, tourism joint secretary said.

The last quarter of 2008 spelt bad news for leisure travel and India suffered the combined impact of economic recession and Mumbai terror attacks. Growth rate dropped to 18% in January and the first three months of 2009 have been difficult for the industry.

The tourism ministry, along with the industry, has incentivised travel under the Visit India 2009 programme promoting discounts on travel, stay and sightseeing.

While growth of foreign tourist arrivals to India dropped from a high of 14% in 2007 to 5.6% in 2008, world tourism growth has come down from 6.6% in 2007 to 1.8 in 2008. According to UNWTO, world growth in 2009 is expected to be stagnant.

Industry experts say that leisure travel may be picking up slowly and India could well be on its way to recovery by year-end. India has benefited from the fact that it has so far remained unscathed by the Influenza A (H1N1) virus that has gripped Mexico and parts of Europe, US and south Asia.

Border politics

Political borders have a variety of meanings for those whom they affect. Many borders in the world have checkpoints where border control agents inspect those crossing the boundary.
In much of Europe, such controls were abolished by the Schengen Agreement and subsequent European Union legislation. Since the Treaty of Amsterdam, the competence to pass laws on crossing internal and external boders within the European Union and the associated Schengen States (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein) lies exclusively within the jurisdiction of the European Union, except where states have used a specific right to opt-out (United Kingdom and Ireland, which maintain a common travel area amongst themselves). For details, see Schengen Area.
The United States has notably increased measures taken in border control on the Canada–United States border and the United States–Mexico border during its War on Terrorism (See Shantz 2010). One American writer has said that the 3600-km (2000-mile) US-Mexico border is probably "the world's longest boundary between a First World and Third World country."[1]
Historic borders such as the Great Wall of China, the Maginot Line, and Hadrian's Wall have played a great many roles and been marked in different ways. While the stone walls, the Great Wall of China and the Roman Hadrian's Wall in Britain had military functions, the entirety of the Roman borders were very porous, a policy which encouraged Roman economic activity with its neighbors[2]. On the other hand, a border like the Maginot Line was entirely military and was meant to prevent any access in what was to be World War II to France by its neighbor, Germany. Germany ended up going around the Maginot Line through Belgium just as it had done in World War I.

Natural borders

Natural borders are geographical features that present natural obstacles to communication and transport. Existing political borders are often a formalization of these historical, natural obstacles.
Some geographical features that often constitute natural borders are:
Oceans: oceans create very costly natural borders. Very few nation states span more than one continent. Only very large and resource-rich states are able to sustain the costs of governance across oceans for longer periods of time.
Rivers: some political borders have been formalized along natural borders formed by rivers. Some examples are; the Rio Grande border (Mexico-USA), the Rhine border (France-Germany), and the Mekong border (Thailand-Laos)
Lakes: larger lakes create natural borders. One example is the natural border created by Lake Tanganyika (Congo-Burundi-Tanzania-Zambia)
Forests: denser jungles or forests can create strong natural borders. One example of a natural forest border is the Amazon rain forest (Colombia-Venezuela-Guyana-Brazil-Bolivia-Peru)
Mountain ranges: research on borders suggests that mountains have especially strong effects as natural borders. Many nations in Europe and Asia have had their political borders defined along mountain ranges.
Throughout history, technological advances have reduced the costs of transport and communication across these natural borders. This has reduced the significance of natural borders over time. As a result, political borders that have been formalized more recently — such as those in Africa or Americas — typically conform less to natural borders than very old borders — such as those in Europe or Asia — do. States whose borders conform to natural borders are, for similar reasons, more likely to be strong nation-states.

Border

Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and completely unguarded. Other borders are partially or fully controlled, and may be crossed legally only at designated border checkpoints. Some, mostly contentious, borders may even foster the setting up of buffer zones.

50 most visited tourist attractions in the world

Our 1st annual look at the most tourist-heavy destinations on the planet

Times Square, New York City, NY: An estimated 80 percent of the Big Apple’s 44 million visitors head for Broadway (including the considerable theater crowds) and end up gawking at the world’s most garish neon crossroads. Plugging numbers into the equation, we get an estimated total of 35,200,000 per year.





By Sandra Larriva and Gabe Weisert

updated 3:09 p.m. ET April 30, 2007
At first glance, the Forbes Traveler 50 Most Visited Attractions List confirms several tourist industry truisms: A) Americans love to travel, but they prefer to stick within their own borders. B) Wherever Mickey Mouse goes, he conquers. C) Paris is the unofficial cultural theme park of the world. And D) Niagara Falls isn’t just for lovers anymore.

But the list also contains several surprises. Since the Taj Mahal—our fiftieth and final attraction—receives 2.4 million visitors a year, several popular favorites like the the Prado (2 million), the Uffizi (1.6 million), Angkor (1.5 million) and Stonehenge (850,000) didn’t make the cut. And while Western audiences may not be familiar with names like Everland and Lotte World, these South Korean mega-parks managed to rank 16th and 22nd on our list, respectively.

Not surprisingly, the French are out in force. How to account for the preponderance of attractions in Paris? According to the latest statistics report from the World Tourism Organization, France receives more foreign tourists per year than any other country -- some 76 million in 2005. Spain followed with 55 million, the United States with 50 million and China with 47 million. Italy rounded out the top five with 37 million (with the U.K. not far behind).




o where did the numbers for our ranking come from? They’re based on the most up-to-date, officially sanctioned tourism statistics available (there were several likely candidates for this list which we unfortunately couldn’t include, owing to a dearth of hard numbers). When we couldn’t find figures from national and municipal tourism bureaus, we relied on reputable media sources and tourism industry newsletters.

We excluded religious pilgrimage sites, such as Saudi Arabia’s Mecca, India’s Varanasi, and Tokyo’s Sensoji Temple, which according to the Japan Tourism Authority receives over 30 million visitors each year. We chose to include some famous churches in Paris owing to their status as cultural attractions and the high numbers of foreign tourists they receive. St. Peter’s Square straddled the line, but there are no estimates for tourist traffic versus religious attendance, so we included only visitors to the Vatican museums.

Tourist Places in Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Trivandrum (official name Thiruvananthapuram), lying on the southwest coast of India, is the capital to the state of Kerala. The city extends from latitude 8°29' N to longitude 76°59' E. The place is well connected to most of the other major cities of India through rail, road, and air network.

Map of Lahaul and Spiti valley

Dharamshala

his is a hill station lying on the spur of the Dhauladhar range about 17 kms north- east of Kangra town. This hill station is wooded with oak and conifer trees and snow capped mountains enfold three sides of the town while the valley stretches in front. The snowline is perhaps more easily accessible at Dharamshala than at any other hill resort and it is possible to make a day's trek to a snow-point after an early morning's start. Dharamshala is also the headquarter of the Kangra district.







Naddi Village near Dharamshala
In 1905, tragedy struck Dharamshala when an earthquake levelled it completely. After its reconstruction, Dharamshala flourished as a quiet health resort. It is divided into two distinct parts. Lower Dharamshala has civil offices and business establishments with courts. Kotwali bazar and Upper Dharamshala comprise of places with names which bear witness to its history like McLeod Ganj and Forsythe Ganj. Since 1960, when it became a temporary headquarter of His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Dharamshala has risen to international fame as "The Little Lhasa in India". Mcleodganj is 9 km from Dharamshala.

In and around Dharamshala, one can visit the Kangra Art museum at Kotwali bazar, War memorial, Kunal Pathri temple and tea gardens on way to Kunal Pathri. There is also a beautiful Cricket stadium in the city facing mighty Dhauladhar.

General information

Languages Spoken: Hindi, Punjabi, English and Pahari are understood and spoken by the people engaged in tourism trade

Shopping centres: Kotwali Bazar, a general shopping area, and McLeod Ganj for Tibetan handicrafts

Area: 5739 sq. km

Population: 13.39 lakh

Altitude: Between 1250 m to 1550 m (Dharamshala)

Temperature: Max. 38 C in June; Min. 0 C in Jan.

Annual rainfall: Varies between 290 cm to 380 cm second highest rainfall in the country.

Best season: January to June; September to December. July-August is rainy season.

Clothing

Winter: Heavy Woollens
Summer: Light Woollens and tropical

Approach

Air: The nearest airport at Gaggal is 14 km away after which it is accessible by road.

Rail: Pathankot is the nearest broad gauge railway terminal to Dharamshala. From Pathankot there is a narrow gauge railway line up to Kangra (94 km) and from here Dharamshala is 17 km by road.

Road: Direct and regular bus service from Delhi (520 km), Chandigarh (250 km), Jammu (210 km), Shimla (238 km), Chamba (185 km) and Manali (240 km).

Gujarat At A Glance

Situated on the West Coast of India, the state of Gujarat has a lively character to it, which has helped to enrich the Indian canvas of art, architecture, culture, music, painting, folk and other fine arts. It is known for a rich heritage of handicrafts, customs and traditions, fairs and festivals and an amazing variety of wildlife. This land is also famous for personalities like Mahatama Gandhi - the father of the nation, Sardar Patel - the iron man of India and social reformers like Swami Dayanand Saraswati.

With a rich coastline extending to 1,600 kms, which accounts for over one third of Indian coastline, Gujarat traded with western countries since the days of Greeks and Romans and is said to have an ancient Indian port at Lothal which had maritime connections with Egypt and Mesopotamia. Earlier ruled by the Hindu Rajput kings and then the Mughal emperors, Gujarat came under British rule as part of the Bombay presidency. Today, with a large Jain population and a strong influence of Buddhist culture since Ashoka's time, Gujarat boasts of a secular culture, which accounts for its glory and character.

Tourism of Gujarat

A visit to Tourism of Gujarat, offers information about Gujarat, located in India, as a state which has a lot of positive history attached and being the state of Mahatma Gandhi, it became one of the hallmarks of Indian freedom struggle. Tourism of Gujarat, offers a look into the status and stature enjoyed by Gujarat as one of the key tourism destinations of India. Tourism of Gujarat, is a source of information which also covers all the significant tourist destinations like Ahmedabad, Vadodra, Jamnagar, Surat, Porbandar, Bhavnagar and Gondal, to site some of the key travel destinations located in Gujarat, India.

Tourism of Gujarat, offers insightful information about Gujarat as a potential crowd gatherer among all other tourist destinations so that its lesser explored destinations could be looked into and visited by people who are the seekers of the new and the undiscovered. Porbandar, located in Gujarat, India, is a thickly visited spot as it happens to be the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and is also home to a beautiful beach which has a very quiet and scenic seafront. Then, Surat, located in Gujarat, India, is another town with immense commercial value, which has earned for itself the sobriquet of the textile and cloth capital of the country.

A visit to Holidays Hub Kashmir, offers travel tour booking and travel packages to Gujarat, located in India.

Following links can be utilized to know more

The garden

The complex is set around a large 300-metre (980 ft) square charbagh or Mughal garden. The garden uses raised pathways that divide each of the four quarters of the garden into 16 sunken parterres or flowerbeds. A raised marble water tank at the center of the garden, halfway between the tomb and gateway with a reflecting pool on a north-south axis, reflects the image of the mausoleum. The raised marble water tank is called al Hawd al-Kawthar, in reference to the "Tank of Abundance" promised to Muhammad.[17] Elsewhere, the garden is laid out with avenues of trees and fountains.[18] The charbagh garden, a design inspired by Persian gardens, was introduced to India by the first Mughal emperor, Babur. It symbolizes the four flowing rivers of Jannah (Paradise) and reflects the Paradise garden derived from the Persian paridaeza, meaning 'walled garden'. In mystic Islamic texts of Mughal period, Paradise is described as an ideal garden of abundance with four rivers flowing from a central spring or mountain, separating the garden into north, west, south and east.
Most Mughal charbaghs are rectangular with a tomb or pavilion in the center. The Taj Mahal garden is unusual in that the main element, the tomb, is located at the end of the garden. With the discovery of Mahtab Bagh or "Moonlight Garden" on the other side of the Yamuna, the interpretation of the Archaeological Survey of India is that the Yamuna river itself was incorporated into the garden's design and was meant to be seen as one of the rivers of Paradise.[19] The similarity in layout of the garden and its architectural features with the Shalimar Gardens suggest that they may have been designed by the same architect, Ali Mardan.[20] Early accounts of the garden describe its profusion of vegetation, including abundant roses, daffodils, and fruit trees.[21] As the Mughal Empire declined, the tending of the garden also declined, and when the British took over the management of Taj Mahal during the time of the British Empire, they changed the landscaping to resemble that of lawns of London.[22]

Interior decoration

The interior chamber of the Taj Mahal steps far beyond traditional decorative elements. Here, the inlay work is not pietra dura but lapidary of precious and semiprecious gemstones. The inner chamber is an octagon with the design allowing for entry from each face, although only the south garden-facing door is used. The interior walls are about 25 metres (82 ft) high and topped by a "false" interior dome decorated with a sun motif. Eight pishtaq arches define the space at ground level and, as with the exterior, each lower pishtaq is crowned by a second pishtaq about midway up the wall. The four central upper arches form balconies or viewing areas, and each balcony's exterior window has an intricate screen or jali cut from marble. In addition to the light from the balcony screens, light enters through roof openings which are covered by chattris at the corners. Each chamber wall has been highly decorated with dado bas relief, intricate lapidary inlay and refined calligraphy panels, reflecting in miniature detail the design elements seen throughout the exterior of the complex. The octagonal marble screen or jali which borders the cenotaphs is made from eight marble panels which have been carved through with intricate pierce work. The remaining surfaces have been inlaid in extremely delicate detail with semiprecious stones forming twining vines, fruits and flowers.
Muslim tradition forbids elaborate decoration of graves and hence Mumtaz and Shah Jahan are laid in a relatively plain crypt beneath the inner chamber with their faces turned right and towards Mecca. Mumtaz Mahal's cenotaph is placed at the precise center of the inner chamber on a rectangular marble base of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) by 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in). Both the base and casket are elaborately inlaid with precious and semiprecious gems. Calligraphic inscriptions on the casket identify and praise Mumtaz. On the lid of the casket is a raised rectangular lozenge meant to suggest a writing tablet. Shah Jahan's cenotaph is beside Mumtaz's to the western side and is the only visible asymmetric element in the entire complex. His cenotaph is bigger than his wife's, but reflects the same elements: a larger casket on slightly taller base, again decorated with astonishing precision with lapidary and calligraphy that identifies him. On the lid of this casket is a traditional sculpture of a small pen box. The pen box and writing tablet were traditional Mughal funerary icons decorating men's and women's caskets respectively. The Ninety Nine Names of God are to be found as calligraphic inscriptions on the sides of the actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, in the crypt including "O Noble, O Magnificent, O Majestic, O Unique, O Eternal, O Glorious... ". The tomb of Shah Jahan bears a calligraphic inscription that reads; "He traveled from this world to the banquet-hall of Eternity on the night of the twenty-sixth of the month of Rajab, in the year 1076 Hijri."

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal (English pronunciation: /ˈtɑːʒ məˈhɑːl/; Hindi: ताज महल [taːdʑ mɛɦɛl];[dubious – discuss] Persian/Urdu: تاج محل) is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
The Taj Mahal (also "the Taj") is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Indian and Persian architectural styles.[1][2] In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
While the white domed marble mausoleum is its most familiar component, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures. Building began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, and employed thousands of artisans and craftsmen.[3] The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.[4][5] Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer.[6]

The tomb

Origin and inspiration

In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of greatest prosperity, was griefstricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the birth of their fourteenth child, Gauhara Begum.[7] Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632, one year after her death.[8] The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrate the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal.[9][10] The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648 and the surrounding buildings and garden were finished five years later. Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj in these words:[11]
Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory.
The Taj Mahal incorporates and expands on design traditions of Persian architecture and earlier Mughal architecture. Specific inspiration came from successful Timurid and Mughal buildings including; the Gur-e Amir (the tomb of Timur, progenitor of the Mughal dynasty, in Samarkand),[12] Humayun's Tomb, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb (sometimes called the Baby Taj), and Shah Jahan's own Jama Masjid in Delhi. While earlier Mughal buildings were primarily constructed of red sandstone, Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, and buildings under his patronage

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal (English pronunciation: /ˈtɑːʒ məˈhɑːl/; Hindi: ताज महल [taːdʑ mɛɦɛl];[dubious – discuss] Persian/Urdu: تاج محل) is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
The Taj Mahal (also "the Taj") is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Indian and Persian architectural styles.[1][2] In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
While the white domed marble mausoleum is its most familiar component, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures. Building began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, and employed thousands of artisans and craftsmen.[3] The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.[4][5] Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer.[6]

History of the Taj Mahal Agra

The Taj Mahal in Agra India is considered one of the best examples of Mughal architecture in India. The history of the Taj Mahal is one of the great love stories of the world.

The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan ruled from 1628 to 1658 and was married to Arjumand Bano Begum in 1612 A.D. He called his wife Mumtaz Mahal or Crown of the Palace, because she was so precious to him. Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan had 14 children and the queen accompanied Shah Jahan everywhere, even on military campaigns. It was on one of these campaigns, in Burhanpur in central India, that Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631, shortly after giving birth to her 14th child. Her dying wish to Shah Jahan was that he should "build a tomb in her memory such as the world had never seen before." The history of the Taj Mahal begins with Mumtaz Mahal's tragic end.

Shah Jahan fulfilled her wish, creating the most beautiful mausoleum the world had ever seen. Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb. He spent the last years of his life under house arrest in the Agra Fort. He used to spend his time looking across the Yamuna River at the beautiful tomb he had built for his beloved empress, waiting for the day they could be united again. After Shah Jahan's death in 1666 A.D., he too was laid to rest beside his beloved Mumtaz Mahal. Their real tombs are in a basement of the Taj Mahal. The two ornately decorated tombs on the ground floor, sheltered by the dome of the Taj Mahal are part of the stylistic design of this beautiful monument in Agra India. The history of the Taj Mahal is the history of the steadfast love of a Mughal Emperor for his Queen.

It took 22 years for the Taj Mahal to be completed. A huge labor force of 20,000 workers led by Muhammed Hanif, the head of the masons and the Persian architect Ustad Isa or Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, were employed in its construction. Finished in 1648, the Taj Mahal cost the Mughal exchequer 32 million rupees. The Taj Mahal has been described by the poet Sir Edwin Arnold, as"Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor's love wrought in living stones."

The aesthetic beauty of this beautiful mausoleum is enhanced by the romantic story that inspired its construction. Tourists come from around the world come to Agra, to feel the aura of eternal love that surrounds the Taj Mahal. The history of the Taj Mahal is a love story that transcends time and continues to be retold each day to the tourists who visit the Taj Mahal in Agra India.

Rajasthan Heritage Tour Package with Taj Mahal

Duration : 15 Nights / 16 Days
Destinations Covered : Delhi - Samode - Nawalgarh - Mandawa - Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Ghanerao - Ranakpur - Udaipur - Deogarh - Kanota - Agra

Day - 1 -- » Arrive Delhi - Samode
On arrival in Delhi you will be picked up from the airport and driven straight away to Samode. On arrival check in into Hotel Samode Palace. Afternoon free to explore the surroundings, in the evening enjoy GALA welcome dinner with traditional Rajasthani dances. Overnight at hotel.

Day - 2 -- » Samode - Nawalgarh
In the morning take a city tour of Jaipur covering Amer Fort, Royal observatory, and then continue to Nawalgarh: The heart of Shekhawati. On arrival check in into Hotel Roop Niwas Palace. Overnight at hotel.

Day - 3 -- » Nawalgarh - Mandawa
Morning free to explore the surroundings, then drive to Mandawa, ideal location to revisit Rajasthan’s rich heritage and culture. On arrival check in into Castle Mandawa. Rest of the day free to explore the surroundings. Overnight at hotel.

Day - 4 -- » Mandawa - Bikaner
In the morning explore the area, and in the afternoon drive to Bikaner. On arrival check in into hotel Lallgarh Palace. Overnight to be spent at hotel.

Day - 5 -- » Bikaner
Today enjoy city tour covering Junagadh Fort – constructed between 1588 and 1593 by Raja Rai Singh, fort has a 986 metre long wall with 37 bastions & two entrances, Bhand Sagar Temple – The 16th century Jain temple,is the most important of this temple complex, Camel Breeding Farm – a unique experience where you can ride on a camel & have perhaps the first taste of camel’s milk. Overnight at hotel.

Day - 6 -- » Bikaner - Jaisalmer
Morning drive to Jaisalmer – The Citadel City, on arrival check in into Hotel Rawal-Kot. Afternoon free to relax or enjoy the city atmosphere. Overnight at hotel.

Day - 7 -- » Jaisalmer
Morning city tour covering &150; Jaisalmer Fort – built on the highest point of the Tricuta hill, the fort is entered through the Suraj Pol or Sun Gate. Outstanding features are Megh Durbar & various temples, Salim Singh- Ki- Haveli & Patwon–Ki-Haveli – some of the beautiful mansions with stone carving and lattice work of breath taking intricacy, Lodurva – A masterpiece of architectural grandeur. Overnight at hotel.

Day - 8 -- » Jaisalmer
No trip to Jaisalmer is complete with out a visit to the most picturesque dunes. This day you will visit Sam Sand dunes. The ripples on the wind-caressed dunes create enchanting mirages. Adventure freaks can go out on a Camel Safari - getting the real feel of the desert on the camel back. Overnight at hotel.

Day - 9 -- » Jaisalmer - Jodhpur
Today we drive to Jodhpur, after a short city tour proceed further to the Hotel Saradar Samand Palace, which is located near the Saradar Samand Lake. Overnight at hotel.

Day - 10 -- » Jodhpur - Ghanerao
In the morning you are free to explore the enchanting surroundings. Afternoon drive to Ghanerao. On arrival check in into Ghanerao Castle. Overnight at hotel.

Day - 11 -- » Ghanerao - Ranakpur
In the morning take an excursion to Kumbhalgarh. Afternoon drive to Ranakpur, On arrival check in into hotel Maharani Bagh. Overnight at hotel.

Day - 12 -- » Ranakpur - Udaipur
In the morning enjoy visit Ranakpur temples, then continue to Udaipur. On arrival check in into Hotel Shiv Niwas Palace. In the afternoon enjoy a city tour. Overnight at hotel.

Day - 13 -- » Udaipur - Deogarh
In the morning half day city tour. Then drive to Deogarh. On arrival check into Deogarh Mahal: A castle of Medieval Rajasthan. You can also enjoy of your choice Trekking in the hills or Walk in the village or Local tribal warrior dance or Performance by folk musicians and artists. Overnight at hotel.

Day - 14 -- » Deogarh - Jaipur - Kanota
In the morning drive to Jaipur and proceed 15 kms further towards east. Arrive and check into Royal Castle Kanota : Rest of the day free. Overnight at hotel.

Day - 15 -- » Kanota - Agra
Today drive to Agra, enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri. Arrive and check in into hotel. In the afternoon enjoy a city tour covering Taj Mahal, Red Fort, The Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula. Overnight at hotel.

Day - 16 -- » Agra – Delhi
Today morning drive back to Delhi enroute visiting Sikandara. After a whirlwind city tour of Delhi, enjoy farewell dinner, and be transferred to Airport to enboard International flight.

Taj Mahal Travel Packages

Planning a weekend getaway to the Taj Mahal or opting to extend your vacation, just have a look at the customised travel packages and tour itineraries, specifically designed to let you have the time of your life. For those of you who have budget constraints, beside the time constraints, take a look at the off-season packages that offer discount deals.

Epitome Of Love -Taj Mahal

Shahjahan, who was a passionate builder, now decided to erect a memorial to his queen in pristine marble that the world would never forget. The site selected for the tomb was a garden by the Yamuna river, unshadowed by any other structure. The garden had been laid by Raja Man Singh of Amber and now belonged to his grndson, Raja Jai Singh. By a royal firman, Shahjahan gave Jai Singh four havelis in exchange for the garden. The site was also chosen because it was located on a bend in the river, and so could be seen from Shahjahan’s personal palace in Agra Fort, further upstream. Construction Of The Mausoleum - Taj Mahal
Work on the mausoleum began in 1633 and 20,000 workers laboured for 17 years to build it. The most skilled architects, inlay craftsmen, calligraphers, stone-carvers and masons came from all across Indian and lands as distant as Persia and Turkey. The master mason was from Baghdab, an expert in building the double dome from Persia, and an inlay specialist from Delhi.

Yemen sent agates, the corals came from Arabia, the garnets from Bundelkhand, onyx and amethyst from Persia. Mumtaz Mahal’s final resting-place was ornamented like a queen’s jewel-box.

History Of Taj Mahal

or centuries, the Taj Mahal has inspired poets, painters and musicians to try and capture its elusive magic in word, colour and song. It is one of the most flawless architectural creations of the world. Since the 17th century, travellers have crossed continents to come and see this ultimate memorial to love, and few have been unmoved by its incomparable beauty.

Taj Mahal stands in the city of Agra, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of the Yamuna River. It was built in the memory of the beautiful Arjumand Bano Begum, who won the heart of a Mughal prince. She was married at 21 to Emperor Jahangir’s third son Prince Khurram and stayed loyally by his side through good times and bad: in the luxurious royal palaces of Agra as well as the transient tents of war camps. In AD 1628, Khurram became king after a bloody battle of succession: he took the name Shahjahan or “King of the World” and showered his beloved begum with the highest titles. She became Mumtaz Mahal, the exalted of the palace and Mumtaz-ul-Zamani, the exalted of the Age. But Mumtaz Mahal was not destined to be queen for long.

In 1631, Shahjahan went on an expedition to the south and, as always, Mumtaz Mahal accompanied him. But she died in childbirth at Burhanpur. She had borne Shahjahan fourteen children, of whom four sons and three daughters survived. When Mumtaz Mahal died, she was just 39 years old. Shahjahan was inconsolable and contemporary chronicles tell of the royal court mourning for two years. there was no music, no feasting, and no celebration of any kind.

The Narmada Dam in India

Bridgette Carroll
URBS/GEOG 515: Race, Poverty and the Environment
Professor Raguel Pinderhughs, Urban Studies & Environmental Studies Programs, San Francisco State University
Spring 2004
Public has permission to use the material herein, but only if author(s), course, university, and professor are credited.

Narmada dam fails World Bank's final test

Villagers from the Narmada River valley danced in celebration last week when they learnt that the Indian government was withdrawing from a loan agreement with the World Bank to complete the massive dam and irrigation project. The cancellation of the loan was a victory for the tribal people who have vowed to drown in their homes rather than be resettled, and for local and international environmental and human rights groups who have waged a seven-year campaign against the project.

After a scathing report on the project by an independent review team last year, the bank insisted that the Indian government must meet tough conditions - mostly concerning the resettlement of people displaced by the project and the effects of the project on the environment - by the end of March (This Week, 21 October 1992). The bank planned to send a team to India in April to check that the ...

Narmada dam: Veterans criticise slow work

Veteran journalist Kuldeep Nayar has suggested that the Supreme Court should set up another special investigation team to look into the “biggest fraud since Independence” — diversion of Narmada water to those not part of the original plan.

He, along with former Chief Minister Madhavsinh Solanki and former SSNNL chairman Sanat Mehta, criticised the manner of implementation of the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) at a public meeting in Ahmedabad. They were attending a meeting at the Gajjar Hall to mark the 50th year of the project.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its latest report has criticised the pace of work of the project. Several eminent persons connected with the project in the past have expressed serious concern over attempts to undermine the importance of SSP in Gujarat attaining six per cent growth in agriculture. The project turns 50 on Monday, April 5.

Investment Opportunities

The extremely proactive Gujarat Government and the freindly people of Gujarat with its strong and futuristic approach, is ready to welcome you,with a guiding and helping hand to the land of opportunity. The time is right and so is our spirit. Lets come together and make it happen ''WELCOME TO GUJARAT''

Aavo Padharo

Aavo Padharo, words of welcome in the language of Gujarat because it is here that these words ring truely and the guest is 'God' and the people of Gujarat are gregariously friendly, inviting and will entice you to come again and again.

Here in Gujarat you will discover centuries of history as spanning the geological core of the earth onto a fascinatingly vibrant future. Gujarat is unique in its geological and topographical landscape. From volcanic outpourings through bedrock to fossil fields of indegenous dinosaurs; from the art of the neolithic cave painter to the stone masterpieces of a series of civilized architecture. Gujarat has it all.

Ancient cave paintings to historic murals, natural and man made caves. Art, history, music, culture, all dovetail within each other to form a wondrous matrix that is the cultural exuberance of the people of the state.

DAKOR

The city of Dakor is a mythological cauldron, and being there is like taking a drink from fabled waters.

Once a sleepy village, it used to crackle with a large number of khakhra (Butea monosperma) trees and was therefore often called a ‘Khakhariu gaam’. It is said that Rishi Dank had his ashram here, so the temple and the village are named after him as Dankpur or Dakor, and the Danknath Mahadev temple stands on the banks of Gomti Lake. As you approach from faraway you see the swaying flag on the tall and beautiful shikhar of the Ranchhodrai Dakor Temple inviting pilgrims. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Mirabai have both come here to pay homage to its idol.

On purnima (full moon) every month this temple town awakens to thousands of visitors in colorful festivity. Inspired by the revered legend of Bodana, many devotees even today come on foot from great distances. But remember, your Dakor adventure is complete only after tasting its lip-smacking gotas accompanied by tea or dahi (yogurt).

This is in Narmada River

The Narmada river runs through Narmada district, along the border of Vadodara district, and through Bharuch district, emptying near the city of Bharuch into the sea. There are various sites along the way, and therefore various ways to visit the river.

By road: Bharuch, Rajpipla, Chanod, and Dabhoi are accessible by buses. The Sardar Sarovar dam site can be reached by private vehicle.

By rail: Bharuch is the nearest railway station.

By air: The closest airport is at Vadodara.

Sardar Sarovar Dam

Near Rajpipla, 1163 km away up the river from the sea, is Sardar Sarovar dam. At the reception center there is a map and an interpretation center. You can book a guided tour which will take you through six points around the dam site: a garden; the foundational stone laid by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1961; a site with a side view of the flow of the water from the dam; a lake where boating takes place; the first lock gate of the main canal; a trekking site with a nature education camp for students. Near the site is also the Surpaneshwar Shiva temple that the Government had built to replace the original ancient temple that was submerged by the dam. At the foot of the dam is the Kevadia colony, where the employees of the dam live and where there are also places for visitors to stay. For more information contact the office at Tel: 02640232599 or 02640232533.

At a height of 128 m and growing, Sardar Sarovar dam is the largest dam on the Narmada. The dam builders state their mission as "harnessing the untapped waters of the Narmada for survival of millions of people and environmental sound sustainable development of the western India by providing the essence of life-Water and Energy.". The dam provides water for irrigation and drinking water supply, hydropower, and flood protection across the state of Gujarat.

Narmada Basin

The total basin area of the river is 97,410 square kilometer comprising 85,858 square kilometer in Madhya Pradesh, 1658 square kilometer in Maharashtra and 9894 square kilometer in Gujarat. The drainage area up to dam site is 88,000 square kilometer. The mean annual rainfall in the basin is 112 centimeters. The annual run of the dam site at 75 percentage of dependability is 27.22 MAF. The World Bank computed the yield of 28.57 MAF while the yield computed in May 1992 by the Central Water Commission, Government of India is of 26.60 MAF, i.e. about 27.00 MAF. The utilisation of Narmada River basin today is hardly about 10%. Thus water of the Narmada continue to flow to the sea unused.

The Narmada River

The Narmada, the largest flowing Westward, rises near Amarkantak range of mountains in Madhya Pradesh. It is the fifth largest river in the country and the largest one in Gujarat. It traverses Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat and meets the Gulf of Cambay. The total length of the river from source to sea is 1312 kilometers (815 miles) while the length up to dam site is 1163 kilometers. (723 miles). The width of the river channel at dam site during high floods is 488 meter (1600 feet) and that during summer is 45.70 meter. (150 feet). The maximum recorded flood on 7th September 1994 was 70,847 cusecs (2.5 million cusecs) while minimum recorded flow in summer was 8.5 cusecs (300 cusecs.) The dam is designed for 87,000 cusecs (3.07 million cusecs) flood.

Background

Post-1947, investigations were carried out to evaluate mechanisms in utilizing water from the Narmada river,[1] which flows into the Arabian Sea after passing through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Due to inter-state differences in implementing schemes and sharing of water, the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal was constituted by the Government of India on October 6, 1969 to adjudicate over the water disputes.[2] This Tribunal investigated the matters referred to it and responded after more than 10 years. On December 12, 1979, the decision as given by the Tribunal, with all the parties at dispute binding to it, was released by the Indian Government.[2]
As per the Tribunal's decision, 30 major, 135 medium, and 3000 small dams, were granted approval for construction including raising the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam.[2]
In 1985, after hearing about the Sardar Sarovar dam, Medha Patkar and her colleagues visited the project site and noticed the project work being shelved due to an order by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. The reasons for this was cited as "non-fulfillment of basic environmental conditions and the lack of completion of crucial studies and plans".[3] What she noticed was that the people who were going to be affected were given no information, but for the offer for rehabilitation. Due to this, the villagers had many questions right from why their permission was not taken to whether a good assessment on the ensuing destruction was taken. Furthermore, the officials related to the project had no answers to their questions. While World Bank, the financing agency for this project, came into the picture, Patkar approached the Ministry of Environment to seek clarifications. She realized, after seeking answers from the ministry, that the project was not sanctioned at all, and wondered as to how funds were even sanctioned by the World Bank. After several studies, they realized that the officials had overlooked the post-project problems.[4]
Through Patkar's channel of communication between the government and the residents, she provided critiques to the project authorities and the governments involved. At the same time, her group realized that all those displaced were only given compensation for the immediate standing crop and not for displacement and rehabilitation.[5]
As Patkar remained immersed in the Narmada struggle, she chose to quit her Ph. D. studies and focus entirely on the Narmada activity.[6] Thereafter, she organized a 36-day long, solidarity march among the neighboring states of the Narmada valley from Madhya Pradesh to the Sardar Sarovar dam site. She said that the march was "a path symbolizing the long path of struggle (both immediate and long-term) that [they] really had".[7] This march was resisted by the police, who according to Patkar were "caning the marchers and arresting them and tearing the clothes off women activists".[7]

Getting their message across the border

Activists from Fighters for Free North Korea fly balloons carrying propaganda leaflets into the North in Imjingak, Paju, Gyeonggi, yesterday. It was the first time activists have sent out balloons to North Korea since the sinking of the South Korean Naval vessel Cheonan. [YONHAP]