India Travel

Jind Travel Guide

2010-10-20T15:23:00.000+05:30

Jind is yet another district of the state of Haryana that finds a mention in the great Hindu epic of Mahabharata. The story goes that the Pandavas had erected a temple in the honor of the Goddess of Victory, Jainti Devi. They offered prayers in this temple for along time and then declared the war with their cousins, the Kauravas. Later on a city was made here that was called ‘Jaintapuri.’ The present name ‘Jind’ is a corrupted version of this old name. In fact it lies just next to Kurukshetra. This town is also mentioned in some other holy books of Hindus that include the Vamana, the Padma Purans and the Narda.

There are places that stand by this fact. For instance, a village in this district is known as Pindara. It is said that the Pandavas offered ‘pinds’ to their forefathers here. At Ramrai, also known as the Ramahrada, it is believed that the great saint & warrior Parsurama filled five pools with the blood of the Pandavas and propitiated them to his forefathers. It is considered a very holy place amongst the Hindus. Likewise, the Sanet tirtha here is also respected a lot. Till date there is an old temple of Parsuram in this area.

Spread in area of 3606 square kilometers, it is divided in to Jind, Safidon, Narwana & Julana. It comes under the region of Punjab - Haryana plain. Its topography is flat & monotonous. The area boasts of some rare minerals like saltpeter. It is extracted from villages like Kalayat, Narwana, Uchana, Safidon & Jind. The Julana area yields gypsum. As such the tow has no major forests. There two green belt areas that are created artificially along the railways, roads and the canal strips. These belts are known as the Bithmara Excape and the Bir Bara Ban. Not many animals or birds are found here. Yet, it is worth mentioning here that the national bird of India, the Common Peafowl, that is the peacocks can be seen here regularly at the fields, gardens and the orchards. Also the town is not very rich in the medicinal plants.

This district is just 123 kilometers away from the capital of India, New Delhi and merely 57 kilometers from the town of Rohtak. Also it is well connected by road with the sates & towns of Delhi, Chndigarh, Patiala, etc. This is the key reason why it is now being developed in to an important industrial city of India.

Some other major temples and places of worship in the town are the Hari Kailash, the tanks of Surya Kund, and the Jawala Maleshvara tirath. Depicting the secularism of India, there are also holy places like the shrine of Shah Walayat and a gurudwara. It is said that Guru Tegh Bahadur stayed in this sikh temple on his way to Delhi.

Besides, it is also known for its religious places. In this region there are innumerable temples devoted to Lord Shiva. One among the important ones on the lot is the Bhuteshvara Temple. It was structured by a historic ruler of Jind Raghbir Singh. The temple also has a large tank which is now known as the Rani Talab. You can also stay in its vicinity as the state government has set up a state of the art tourist complex near the place. Next place to visit in the city is the ruins of fort built by Raja Gajpat Singh in 1755.

The infrastructure of the town shows its development in all aspects. The city has the Arjun stadium. Also there is a milk plant that supports the dairy industry. The cattle feed plant helps the animal husbandry. The schools, institutes, colleges, hospitals, etc. are just at par with any other developed town in the national capital region of the country.

Nagpur: The zero milestone of India

2010-09-14T09:55:00.001+05:30

Summary: Nagpur, which is fondly called as the Orange capital of India, is the largest urban conglomeration of India. It is also the headquarter of the Hindu nationalist group, RSS.

Nagpur, which is the largest city of the central India, is one of the prominent districts of Maharashtra. This geographically centred zone, which has the zero milestone of India to its credit covers an area of 9897 square kilometres. This district is situated between 210.07 north latitude and 790.07 east longitude and is situated at an altitude of 312.42 metres above the mean sea level. All the major highways, including NH-7, which runs from Kanyakumari to Varanasi, NH-6, which runs from Mumbai to Calcutta via Sambalpur. This region is spread across the Deccan Plateau. The sub-stratal rock gradation is covered with alluvial deposits, which have occurred from the flood plains of the Kanhan estuary. In the eastern part of the province , crystalline metamorphic rocks are found, which include gneiss, schist, granite etc. The northern part is enriched in yellowish sand stones and clays of the Gondwana formations. This district is dotted with various natural and man made lakes. Ambazari is the largest basin. Futala, Gorewada, Telangkhedi, Sonegaon, Gandhisagar etc. are some of the important inland seas of the district.

This region has a tropical wet and dry climate. Being situated at the centre of the Indian peninsula, the dry conditions prevail all throughout the year. The district headquarter is the seat of the annual winter session of the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha. The province has a tropical dry climate and the temperature rises upto 48 degrees during summer and drops upto 7 degrees during winter. The humidity prevails from 20% to 70% throughout the year. The surrounding region is an undulating plateau, which is safeguarded by the Satpura Range in its northern frontier and is drained by the Kanhan and Pench rivers in the central part. It is fondled by the Wardha in the western side and by the Wainganga in the eastern profile. The Nag river, which is a tributary of the Kanhan river, flows through the district in a serpentine path and thus, the district has got its name as Nagpur. The district has a overwhelming population of 2,420,000. It is the 13th largest downtown conglomeration of India and is ranked 143rd in the world in terms of population. The city is the headquarter of the Hindu nationalist organisation, RSS and is also a prominent place for the Dalit Buddhist movement.

The history of Nagpur dates back to 8th century A.D, when the megalithic culture existed in the area. The Mehir burial sites at Drugdhamna indicates the existence of this culture 3000 years ago. The copper plate inscription which has been discovered at Devali, refers about this province in 10th century. The copper plate belonged to the Rastrakuta period, when king Krisna III, used to rule over this place. During 3rd century, this place was ruled by the king, Vindhyasakti. The 4th century witnessed the reign of the Vakataka empire, who had good relations with the Gupta dynasty. However, the most flourishing dynasty, which is believed to be the creator of this princely state was the Gond monarchy. Bakht Buland of this clan had founded this city. The 17th century witnessed the rise of the Maratha empire in this region, when Raghoji Bhonsle of Vidarbha region had conquered this landscape in 1743. The Marathas and the Peshwas had a strong foothold over this place till the advent of the British rule. In 1877, the country's first textile mill was established here by the Tata group.

Nagpur, which is fondly known as the Orange capital of India, is also an ideal place for tourism. Some of the tourist places are Ambazari lake garden, Balaji Mandir at Seminary, Gandhi Baug, Hegdewar Smriti temple, Sri Poddareshwar Ram temple, the Dragon palace, Sevagram, Ramtek etc.

Satara Travel Guide

2010-08-26T10:12:00.000+05:30

Satara was the the major part of the Shivaji kingdom. Sajjangad of this district was the spiritual capital of Shivaji's monarchy. This place stands as a proud manifestation of Maharashtra's history, which is also a prominent page of the India's historic brochure.

Satara district of Maharashtra covers an area of 10,484 square kilometres and is located between 17.5 to 18.11 north latitude and 73.33 to 74.54 east longitude. This region is situated in the western side of the state and is bounded by Pune in its northern frontier. While Sangli lies in its southern part, Solapur is bounded in its eastern part. This region is bounded by Ratnagiri in its western side and by Raigad in its north-western frontier. This district is fondled with two important river basins, which include the Krishna river and the Bhima river. This region is safeguarded by Sahyadri mountain ranges of the Western Ghats in three directions, i.e north, south and west. These ranges form a border line between this region and the Ratnagiri district. This landscape is also fondled with Mahadeo hilly ranges, which covers the northern (Mahabaleshwar), eastern and south-eastern parts. These hilly ranges are barefaced and give an impression of bold escarpments of black citadels. Two major watersheds lend fertility to this region. The Bhima, which is a tributary of Krishna estuary flows across the northern and north-eastern part of the province and even covers the areas, which are adjacent to the Mahadeo hills. The rest part of the province is drained by the Krishna river, itself.

This region is scattered within the Deccan plateau. These hilly traps are comprised of gradation of basalt and laterite soils. However, most of the area is enriched in black loamy clay soil, consisting of carbonate of lime. This type of soil is generally ideal for cultivation and farming and huge amount of crops are grown every year on this fertile soil. The physiography of this division consists of a varied and diverse undulating and plain landscapes. These undulating plateaus are situated at an altitude of 4500 feet above the mean sea level. The sub-dued basins of Nira estuary, which cover the Phaltan tehsil, are located at an altitude of 1700 feet above the mean sea level. The climate of this region is also different in different regions. While the Mahabaleshwar region receives the maximum amount of rainfall, at an annual average of 6000 mm, the Man division falls under the driest zone, as it receives scanty rainfall, at an average of 500 mm. This province is comprised of 11 Tehsils and 10 Vidhan Sabha Constituencies. This division comprises of 2 Lok Sabha Constituencies, which include Satara and Madha. Other than Krishna and Bhima, other major estuaries, which drain this province are Koyna, Kudali, Urmodi, Venna, Neera, Manganga and Tarali.

The history of Satara dates back to 200 B.C. This place is also described in the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. Pandavas, during their 13th year of exile had stayed in Wai, which was known as Viratnagari in the archaic times. Chandragupta dynasty, under the administration of Mahendraditya Kumargupta I had embraced this territory into its territory and ruled over this place from 451 A.D till 455 A.D. Later this soil was governed by the Satavahans during 550 A.D and their rule lasted for 2 centuries. The Muslims landed over this place by the end of the 12th century. However, with the rise of the most powerful ruler of Maharashtra, Shivaji in 1663, the Nizam rule came to an end. This place was one of the major institutions of Shivaji's ministry. Some of the interesting places of this zone include the Ajinkyatara Fort, Char Bhinti Hutatma Smarak, Natraj Mandir, Sangam Mahuli and Sajjangad. This city was the spiritual capital of Shivaji's kingdom. Religious spots include Kuraneshwar, Yevateshwar Mandir, Maha Ganapati Temple of Wai, Shikhar Shinganapur, Siddhanath Temple, Chaphal, Aundh etc. Other tourist spots include Thoseghar waterfall, Chalkewadi, Kas Talav lake, Karad Priti Sangam etc.

Pune

2010-08-12T11:06:00.000+05:30

Pune, the Queen of Deccan, which is now one of the major places of India, proudly boast the glorious historic pasts, which include the great Marathas and Peshwas legacy.

Pune, which is fondly known as the Queen of Deccan, is one of the prominent districts of Maharashtra. It is situated between 17 degrees 54' and 10 degrees 24 minutes north latitude and 73 degrees 19 minutes and 75 degrees 10 minutes east longitude. This district covers an area of 15,642 square kilometres and is situated at an elevation of 559 metres. This district is bounded by Thane in its north western side, Raigad in its western side and Satara in its southern side. While Solapur lies in its south eastern profile, it is bounded by Ahmednagar in its northern and north eastern sides. This district is unanimously spread across the Sahyadri mountains, which are situated in the leeward side of the Western Ghats. This region is then extended to the Deccan Plateau, in its eastern side.

The history of Pune dates back to the 14th century, when this region was completely under the embrace of the Nizam rule. They had their headquarters at Ahmednagar. Only, one region, i.e Indapur was under the rule of Yusuf Adil Khan of Bijapur. This district, during the Nizamshahi reign, was formed as a separate sarkar, with sub-divisions called paragana and smaller ranges called prant or desh. During 1595, the Ahmednagar region sustained brutal attacks and tremors from the Mughal invasion. It was during this era, in order to protect their motherland from the foreign intruders, the local rulers and the Marathas joined hands and revolted strongly under the leadership of Maloji Bhonsle, who was made Rana in 1595. He was conferred with Poona and Supa, as his Jagirs. Shinveri, Verul and Chakan were also embraced into his territory. He had married Dipabai, sister of Jagpalrao Naik Nimbalkar, the deshmukh of Phaltan. Bhonsle was one of the most dignified and the best affiliated chieftains of the Maratha monarchy, during that period, when the Mughals were a serious issue for the Nizamshahi empire of Ahmednagar. However, after much sustenance, the Mughals captured the Ahmednagar fort from Marathas in the 16th century. The beginning of 17th century in the Poona territory witnessed a new sunrise under the rule of the Mughals. Murtaza II was raised as the ruler, under the constant guidance of Malik Ambar. The mid of the 16th century witnessed the rise of Shivaji, who had ruled over this place from 1647 to 1680. He had bribed the Mughal commander of the fort and found it to be a convenient method in comparison to war. During that time, the Shah Jahan was the Mughal Emperor, who had embraced the northern and north-western parts into his kingdom. After the death of the emperor, Shivaji managed to capture those parts. Sivaji was undoubtedly the most influential ruler, under whom, Pune flourished and progressed.

Due to its historical grandeur, Pune lends a mammoth experience to its tourists, as it is devoured with numerous historical and religious places. Some of the major historical places are as follows: Sinhagad, which was earlier known as Kondhana, is a prominent fort of the city. One of the most trusted generals of Shivaji had courageously fought against the Mughal army. On his death, Shivaji renamed this fort from Kondhana to Sinhagad. The Agakhan Palace is another major spot. This Italian masterpiece was used by the British to imprison Mahatma Gandhi, during the Quit India Movement. Kasturba had her last breathe here. The Shaniwarwada, a 13 storeyed palace, which was built by Bajirao, is another spectacular spot. A light and music show is conducted everyday showing history of Peshwas. Other places include Vishram Baug, Parvati, Rajgad and Tarna forts, Kasba Ganpati, Bhimashankar, Baneshwar, Jejuri, Ashtavinayak, Dehu, Alandi etc.

Osmanabad

2010-08-02T09:59:00.000+05:30

Osmanabad is one of the major religious spots of India, which renders a catchy and memorable experience to both religious as well as meddlesome tourists.

Osmanabad is one of the major administrative districts of Maharashtra. This district is situated in the southern part of the state and covers an area of 7,512 square kilometres. This district is hastily spread across the Deccan plateau and is located at an altitude of 600 metre above the mean sea level. This region is situated between 17.35 to 18.40 degrees north latitude and 75.16 to 76.40 degrees east longitude. This dominion is fondled with two major estuaries: Terna and Manjara. This region, which belongs to the Marathwada region is bounded by Solapur in its south-western part and Ahmednagar is situated in its north-western part. While Beed is bounded in its northern frontier, this administrative domain is bounded by Latur in its eastern part. This district is also the bordering region of the state, as it faces Bidar and Gulbarga districts of Karnataka in its southern part. This landscape is comprised of 8 Tehsils which include the region itself, Tuljapur, Omerga, Lohara, Kallamb, Bhoom, Paranda and Vashi. This region is further comprised of single Lok Sabha Constituency, which includes the headquarter itself. The administrative division of this region is Aurangabad and this landscape is comprised of around 14,86,586 of population. The population density of this region is 197.9 per square kilometre.

A major portion of the zone is dominated by the hilly terrains, as most of the places are safeguarded by small hilly ranges, which are known as Balaghat. Kalamb, Bhoom, Washi, Tuljapur and Osmanabad lie in this hilly terrain. These places are drained by Godavari and Bhima rivers, which lend maximum fertility to this region. The remaining part which includes Omerga and Paranda blocks, is situated in the plain areas. The climate of this region is usually dry and most of the places of this region are prone to drought. However, the rainy season prevails from mid June till the end of the September. The average rainfall of this region extends upto 730 mm. While dry and cool weather prevails from November to January, humidity prevails from October till November and climate is generally dry and hot during the period between February till June. However, temperature does not rise as high as compared to other places. The temperature rises upto 42 degrees during summer and drops upto 8 degree centigrade during winter.

Osmanabad along-with four other districts were earlier embraced into the princely state of the Nizam monarchy. After India got independence, these regions were established as separate independent districts. In 1956, the Marathwada region was included in the Bombay state. In 1960, this region was established as a separate district. This region is also known as Dharashiv. This region can be considered to be a major hangout for religious tourists as well as for curious travellers. Tuljapur town, which falls under this zone is a prominent spot, because of the Tulja Bhavani temple. This holy shrine was built by the Marathas. The goddess was also the ancestral deity of the Bhonsle clan. History foretells that Chhatrapati Shivaji had immense faith in Her and it is believed that the Goddess had even presented him the famous Bhavani sword. This place was earlier known as Chinchpur, due to the abundance of tamarind trees in this area. After the edifice of this temple, the city then came to be known as the Tuljapur. Saint Goroba Kaka temple is another major tourist destination, which is the memorial place of Saint Goroba. Saint was born in 1267 in Ter and thus, this region is known by his name. One of the major spot is the Dharashiv caves, which are 7 in number. These caves depict historical as well as religious aspects of India.

Udhampur

2010-07-26T10:58:00.000+05:30

Udhampur is one of the notable paces, not only of Jammu and Kashmir, but also of the whole nation. This city has the headquarters of Indian Army and is also the most sacred place, as it is abode to many pilgrim spots of India.

Udhampur, which is one of the 10 districts of Jammu, is situated between 74 degrees 16 minutes and 75 degrees 38 minutes longitude and 32 degrees 34 minutes and 39 degrees 30 minutes latitude. The location of this region varies differently in different places and ranges from 600 metres upto 3,000 metres above the mean sea level. This district is situated on the south-eastern part of the state. The Rajouri district lies in its western side, Anantnag is bounded to its northern profile, the district is bounded by Doda in its north-eastern side and Jammu district is bounded to its south-western side. The domain is embraced with the Shivalik ranges and thus faces heavy snowfall and bitter cold during the winter season. However, due to the large variation in its altitudes, the district is exposed to varied climate and temperature. The temperature varies from 1 degree to 42 degrees, throughout the year and thus, accordingly climate also differs. It becomes extreme in this region. The domain also faces heavy rainfall in respective months. Four major rivers, which are Tawi, Chenab, Ujh and Ans are the major sources behind all cultivation and agriculture. The famous of all lakes is the Mansar lake, which is a major tourist attraction and also the most visited picnic spot. Besides the aquatic assets, the region is also richly endowed with forest resources. The forest land comprises of 51.50% of the total area of the district. These jungles are rich in valuable trees such as chir, deodar, fir, kail, kher, timber, firewood, guchhian, banafasha, anardana, kathas, dhoop, santha, resin etc. Other than plants, these lands are also rich in mineral resources which include magnesium, bauxite, lime-stone, gypsum, coal, palaeozi clay etc.

Udhampur is mainly an agricultural based dominion. The major food crops of the district include wheat, mustard, paddy and maize. Fruits and vegetables are also grown which include mangoes, grapes, apple, apricot, papaya, walnut, guava, loquat etc. Although there is not much development in the industrial sector, but this region has witnessed a steady growth and progress in this field covering sectors of textiles, steel, iron etc. Handlooms, handicrafts and Khadi industries are also blooming up rapidly. The department of energy and power is also developing and the Govt. has managed to provide electricity even to the remote areas. Out of 618 villages, 585 have been facilitated with electricity and the Govt. is in constant effort to cover the rest of the parts. The administration has also taken up health care issues seriously and has made sure that, both the urban and remote areas have good medical facilities and that every patient is examined and cured. The Indian Army's northern headquarter is based in this city. All the major military wars which have been fought against Pakistan and China have been planned and executed from this base. Even the soldiers, who are posted and deployed in the Line Of Control are administered and controlled under this base.

Besides these governing bodies, Udhampur is the abode to the most powerful deity of Hindus. Mata Vaishno Devi temple, which is situated on the Trikuta hills, belongs to this region and is one of the oldest pilgrimages of India. The Sudh Mahadev temple, which is situated in the Chenani division, is one of the oldest Shiva temples of the state. It is 2,800 years old and has a deep mythology concept behind this temple. Shiv Khori temple is another supernatural cave, which was discovered 100 years ago. The Shiv Lingam is covered with in-built Jatta and the roof and the walls of the cave are decorated with the natural impressions of Sheshnag.

Manipur

2010-07-19T09:52:00.000+05:30

Manipur is blessed with nature's most auspicious gifts. It is a state where one can witness the nature at its adolescent stage.

Manipur is situated in the northeastern part of India. It is one of those states, who are fondly called as the seven sisters. Mizoram, Nagaland and Assam are its neighbouring states. It faces Burma at its eastern side. It covers an area of 22,327 square kilometres and has a population of 22,93,896. Imphal is the capital city of this state. The capital is situated in an ovate shaped valley. It is fondly called as the jewelled land which is nurtured in the luscious green cloverleaf in the northeastern part of India. The view of this landscape gives an impression of an exquisite piece of dexterity which has been depleted by the nature. This piece of art is surrounded by turquoise hills with an ovate framed valley at the centre. This piece of land is blessed with nature's auspicious splendour and triumph.

Geography
The blue mountains which stand as a sentinel saves land from the cold winds and from the cyclonic storms which originate from the Bay of Bengal. There are four major river basins in the state which are the Barak River basin in the west, the Yu river basin in the east, the Manipur river basin in centre and the Lanye river basin in the north. The Barak river is the largest river in the province and has numerous tributaries such as Irang, Maku and Tuivai. The central river basin has eight important rivers such as Manipur, Iril, Nambul, Imphal, Chakpi, Sekmai, Khuga and Thoubal. Most of the rivers in this valley area are in their matured stage, hence deposit their sediments in the Loktak lake.

Sojourner and History
The residents of Manipur are known as Meiteis. These people constitute a major ethnic clan in the state. They are also referred as the Manipuris. These people mainly are divided into seven clans which have history back to 33A.D. These people mainly inhabit the plains and the hilly areas are mainly inhabited by a tribal group known as the chingmis. The hilly areas are also shared by two other major communities such as the nagas and the kukis. Now-a-days the Meitei community refers to four groups which include the Meitei Marup, the Metei Goura, the Meitei Brahmins and the Meitei Muslims. Meiteilon is the official language spoken by them. Meetei Mayek is the popular Manipuri script. The British could only trespass this state in 1891. This was the last kingdom to be embraced into the British Empire. During the second world war, this state witnessed and sustained many fierce battles which were fought between the Japanese and the allied forces. The intruders were forced to return before they could enter into Imphal. Rajashree Bhagyachandra is a immortal name in the province. He created the famous classical Ras Lila dance which he always used to visualise in his enchanting dreams. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna and had managed to spread Vaishnavism in the state.

Religion and Culture
Though Manipur is diversified in terms of language and religion, Sanamahi can be considered to be the main religion followed by a majority of the population. Christianity is also followed here. This religion started to gain roots with the advent of mainstream of western education. All the hilly descendants are now Christian in religion. Therefore the Bible is available in their folk languages which include Vaiphei, Paite, Thadou, Lushai etc. This religion comprises of 45% of the population. People here are mainly theatre oriented. Many mythological plays such as the Ramlila, Shumanglila, Thoklila and Kabullila are enjoyed and well appreciated. Imphal, the Keibul Lamjao National Park and Loktak lake are some of the places must to see.

Mumbai

2010-07-08T09:55:00.001+05:30

India is globally recognised for zillion reasons. But there are some extrinsic places in the country, which have become the sole identity of India. Among these cities, Mumbai shares a prominent place. This city is always eyed upon by the top-notch companies and is a first preference to visit by the top most personalities of the world.

Mumbai, which is the most extensive administrative and commercialised district of Maharashtra, is globally recognised as one of the most prominent megalopolis of the world. This cosmopolitan, which is footsied with the shores of the Arabian sea, is the pride of India, as it is the sole epitome of India's success and triumphant. This Easy Street can be considered to be the fortitude of every accomplishment that India has procured. Every monumental strategy was procreated from the womb of this historic town. The nerve centre of the nation is formed of seven islets, which encloses Isle of Bombay, Worli, Colaba, Mahim, Parel, Old Woman's Island, Mazagaon and Parel. Earlier, 7 more islets were also embraced into its territory, which included Trombay, Salsette, Elephanta, Butcher, Middle Ground Coastal Battery, Oyester and East Ground. This princely state was earlier known as Greater Bombay. This capital city of Maharashtra covers an area of 603.4 square kilometres and is situated at an elevation of 14 metres above the mean sea level. It is situated between 18.9750° North longitude and 72.8258° East latitude and is divided into two parts: Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban.

The Mumbai City covers an area of 67.7 square kilometres and falls under Konkan division. This area is also known as the island city. As it lies to the southern part of the capital, it is also known as South Mumbai or Old Bombay. The total area of this district is extended from Mahim and Sion in the northern side to the Colaba in the southern side. This southern vicinity of the capital is the abode to all major corporate sectors and is mainly a business oriented city. It is thus, the richest citified enclosure of the state. It faces Salsette island in its southern profile and is checked by the Mumbai harbour or the Front Bay. This harbour is abode to the 6 major islands and is fondled with Ulhas river in its southern part. Further, the zone is safeguarded by the Arabian sea in its western part. This province stretches from Mumbai Central to Colaba and is also known as the Island City. This province is abode to the Bombay Stock Exchange and the Reserve Bank of India. Nariman Point,Fort, Lower Parel and Ballard Estate are the major commercial zones of this landscape. This city proudly embraces all the ancient infrastructures including museum, consulates and old theatres. This apple is also the headquarter of various multi-national companies and is also the focal point of some of the esteemed educational and vocational institutions of the state. The famous Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Churchgate, which are located here, serve the starting point of the Central and Western Railways.

In the recent years, this conservative town has evolved into an elite class sector, which depicts the au-courant facet of India. This developed feature can be witnessed by the absence of the auto-rickshaws in this hamlet. Instead yellow cabs are allowed to manuever in the Mumbai. Some of the top-notch families of the nation dwell in this megalopolis zone. Some of the golden quadrilaterals of this region include the Breach Candy, Peddar Road, Walkeshwar Road and Nepean Sea Road. Some of the richest avenues of the world are located in this domain, thereby enhancing the grandeur and glitterati of this particular precinct. These gilt-edged spots have also become a major tourist attraction. These include the Hanging Gardens, the Carmichael and the Altamont Road. It is also domicile to some major sporting grounds such as Brabourne, Wankhede, Ovail Maidan, Co-operage Ground and Azad Maidan. Due to the presence of exotic avenues and outlandish villas, this place has now become the most expensive land, not only in India, but also in the whole world.

Maharashtra

2010-07-02T09:59:00.000+05:30

Words are not enough to describe Maharashtra's greatness. It is one of the possessed treasures that India adorns.

India without Maharashtra would be like the body without a soul. This south western state is the third largest sovereignty of the country. Its neighbouring states are Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa and Karnataka. The western part of this landscape kisses the nautical salt water. The Arabian coast is guarded by Sahyadri (Western Ghats). The eastern part of this ghat flaunts the Deccan Plateau.

Due to its colossal fallow, this territory is highly populous and is the second most populated sovereignty in the country. Marathi and Hindi are two major languages spoken here. The Marathis have always been the true amateurs of their solemnities and moralities. These orthodox habitats are ceremoniously God fearing people, whose fidelity has always touched the hearts of rest of the world.

History
Maharashtra's majesty hypnotised every ruler who had the quest of winning luscious territories. Even the Magadha emperor, Ashoka was driven by its Laura. After the disintegration of the Mauryan Empire, Satavahans and Vakatakas became the successors. Under their influence art, religion, culture flourished. The Mughals could never easily rule over this auspicious soil. When most of the parts of the country were under foreign supremacy, the Islamic influence was not able to pollute the atmosphere for a longer time period. The history had something else to boast. The Maratha Empire rose like the Rock of Gibraltar. Chhatrapati Shivaji became the embodiment of the courage and had constantly battled against the foreign intruders. Next to this great warrior, Peshawas contributed a lot in expanding the territory. During the British rule, the residents of this soil have always justified the true meaning of the patriotism. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Dadabhai Naoroji were some of the great freedom fighters who had done justice to their births.

Economy
India's economy should always be grateful to the contribution made by Maharashtra. It is the leading industrial sector in India and a large number of conglomerates have their head quarters here. This state has managed to step into the shoes of western metropolitan, who are globally recognised. A major part of the state's revenue directly comes from the Indian Film Industry. Bollywood is now the world's second largest film industry.The capital of this landscape, Mumbai is the motherland of this authentic treasure of India. This state proudly boasts the urban agglomerations as they depict the modernisation blend in Indian fashion. This megalopolis is the dwelling place of some of the highest tax payers in the country. Besides all these, the country's security forces have their headquarters in Mumbai. The hotel Taj not only portrays the luxurious profile of Bharat, but also states the aura of the residents.

Tourist places
Some of the major tourist spots of Maharashtra are Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nasik, Shiridi, Khandala, Lonawala etc. The travel freaks can even get tired, but the tourists spots will never end. One can explore a lot on this land and can grab knowledge about the rich cultural heritage of not only this state, but also about the whole country. The diversity of this landscape is the major reason of its rich grandeur. The wildlife sancturaies are also a must to visit. National parks, Project Tiger, The Nagzira and the Konya Wildlife sanctuary are some of the interesting tourist spots. The Vidarbha region accounts to the major part of the sanctuaries. How can one forget the historical places such as the Sinhagard, Vijaydurg, Raigard and Pratapgad including the Ajanta and Ellora and the Elephanta caves.

People belief that Maharashtra can never be deficit in lending jobs. Every individual who is settled there, has never gone to bed empty stomach. Such is the greatness of this territory.

Gujarat

2010-06-28T10:08:00.002+05:30

Gujarat is one of the prominent states of India, which has evolved as the most promising contender to other states in fields of business, economy, industry etc. This land is more famous for its religious pillars which have been balancing the legacy and ethnicity of this soil.

Gujarat is the western most state of India. It is the bordering state of the nation, facing Pakistan on its north-western side and fondles the Davy Jone's Locker of Arabian sea on its south-western side. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli are its neighbouring states. Some of the monikers bestowed upon this auspicious soil are Saurashtra, Lata, Pratichya and Varuna. Gandhinagar is the capital city of this coastal region.

Geography
Gujarat, being close to the Thar desert and also to the Arabian sea, has a versatile topography including climate and soil. While one part of the region is fertile due to the influence of rivers and sea, the other part is deserted and arid due to the presence of the Thar desert. The peninsular tract which is more famous as Saurashtra is mainly dominated by the hilly terrain. The Kutch region of this state, which embraces the great Rann is a jagged and petrified. However, nature has always had a soft corner for this state and has gifted this soil with some of the fertile most rivers such as Narmada, Tapi, Sabarmati, Damanganga, Rukmavati etc. The forests of this landscape has always been the abode to various wild life habitats including black bucks, chitals, nilgai, wild boar, hyenas, antelopes etc.

History
Gujarat can be considered to be the soul witness of every mythological incident that had taken place. The great Somnath temple of the state is believed to be the witness to the creation of the world. This place shares a pivotal place in the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. Lord Krishna had spent some of the prominent years of his life in the Dwarka region of this state. Besides the mythological concept, the history of this land dates back to 5th century A.D, when Gurjars, the native clans migrated and settled here. However, the history is more archaic, as traces of the Harappan and the Indus Valley Civilisation have been found here. But the real bygone times started when the Mauryan empire, Chandragupta Maurya conquered and ruled over this place. This legacy was maintained by his successors Ashoka, Vikramaditya and Skandagupta. The Gurjars belonging to the Solanki clan led their foundation 960 A.D and ruled till 1243 A.D. The Solanki ruler, Bhimdev had built the famous Somnath Temple. This dynasty eventually saw downfall and was succeeded in later years by the Yadavas followed by Chalukyas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas. Karandev, the ruler of Vaghela empire was the last Hindu king to rule over Gujarat. The soil then sustained scars given by the Muslim intruders. The Mughals had initially landed on this region with an excuse of having trade relations, but gradually took control over the soil. Allauddin Khilji was the first Mughal ruler to establish his dynasty. The Muslims then ruled over this place for 400 years. Zafar Shah, Ahmed Shah, Mahmud Shah were some of the vivacious rulers of those period, who are much famous for their cruelty and barbarism in the history. However, the Muslim rule came to an end in 1758, when the last survivor, Momin Khan got defeated on the hands of the Marathas. Saurashtra flourished and witnessed a new sunshine under the administration of the great Maratha emperor, Chatrapati Shivaji.

Tourism
Gujarat has some of the major attractions both for the meddlesome tourists and for pilgrims which include Somnath Temple, Dwarka, Pavagadh, Taranga, Porbandar which is the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi, Patan, Siddhpur Ghurnli, Modhera, Ahmedabad, Saputara, Ambaji, Bhadreshwar, Shamlaji, Dabhoi, Mandvi beach, Gir forest etc. These spots not only satisfy the curiosity of the meddlesome visitors, but also touch the soul of pilgrims who come here in quest of peace and harmony.

Rajasthan

2010-06-26T10:04:00.001+05:30

Bravery and patriotism are the two genes which every new born baby inherit in Rajasthan. Here beauty blends with courage and elegance.

Whenever Indian art is discussed, Rajasthan covers the major part of the discussion. It is an absolute alloy of bravery, patriotism, art and culture. Words will not be enough to describe its nobility and integrity. This sand dunes has mysteries and surprises yet to be unfolded. In terms of area, it is the largest state in the nation. Its major part embraces the Thar Desert which is followed by the Sutlej-Indus river valley. It is the bordering state of India to Pakistan. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh are its neighbouring states. The Aravali Range, which is one of the world's oldest cordilleran belts beautifies its landscape and the Ghaggar river at Kalibanga, which is the most ancient subcontinent depicts the history of this lava bed.

History
The Indus valley Civilisation which is the world's oldest community was located here. Kalibangan in Humayungarh district was the provincial capital of this civilisation. The Rajputs, Yadavas, Jats, Gujars ans Meenas had a huge contribution in saving their motherland from the foreign intruders. Most of the population was comprised of the Rajput regimens. The Rajputanas can be considered to be the most courageous warriors of the country. Even a child, who was born here had the same potential that a warrior displayed. Even the Afghans and Turks initially did not dare to step into this land. Which ever emperor ruled this land gave a major emphasis on his acropolis. This is the reason why Rajasthan is known as the embodiment of royal forts. Besides the emperor, even the small rulers had beautifully crafted forts to their possession. These richly crafted forts now stand as a history and describe each monumental era. Some great emperors such as Maharana Pratap Singh, Rana Sanga were able to resist the Mughal attacks. During Akbar era, a mutual relation was established between the Rajputanas and the Mughals. The locals along with the people from Marwar succeeded in creating a rich colonial and cultural heritage.

Culture and Tourism
Rajasthan is aesthetically rich and is immersed in art and cultural traditions. Its varied folk culture has always attracted people from world over. The diversity of a nation is established, only when such type of states embrace different types of communities and allow them to become the integral part of their lands. The folk culture includes the folk songs, music and the folk dance. Some folk dances such as the Ghoomar dance and the Kalbeliya dance are globally recognised and appreciated. Even the Queen of England has been an ardent fan of this culture. The Buckinghum Palace becomes enchanted and mesmerised when a Rajasthani cultural event takes place in the palace. The Indian Govt. gets most of its tourist revenues from this state as each and every foreigner who is keen on visiting India gives his first preference to this landscape. The carved forts, beautifully decorated havelis and temples lure the tourists each year to have some of their best experiences in their lives. Jantar Mantar, Jaisalmer Havelis, Lake Palace, Chittorgarh Fort etc. give true justification to the Indian heritage and legacy. The Dargah Sharif in Ajmer, the Bala Quila Fort and the Vinay Vilas Mahal in Alwar, the Junagarh Fort, the Lalgarh Palace and the Gajner Palace in Bikaneer, the Taragarh Fort in Bundi, Vijaya Stambh and Padmini Palace in Chittogarh, the City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort, Jaigarh fort, Nahagarh Fort in Jaipur, the Mount Abu, the Pushkar Fair, the Pichhola Lake and Sajjan Garh in Udaipur are some of the major tourist spots. Beauty lies in its every corner. And the people of this hermit soil have always maintained its legacy and elegance.

Uttar Pradesh

2010-06-21T11:00:00.001+05:30

Uttar Pradesh, being the abode to every mythological and historical events, has now become the mannequin of India's culture and traditions. It is considered to be the Teerth Sthal of every Hindu and is also the home to one of the seven wonders of the world: Taj Mahal.

Geography
Uttar Pradesh, which is the abode of the Hindu mythology is situated on the northern part of India. It lies between 24 degrees to 31 degrees latitude and 77 degrees to 84 degrees East longitude. It has a magnificent population of 190 million and is thus, India's most populous state and is also the world's most populous sub-division, Maharashtra, being the second populous state in the world. This multifarious province covers an area of 93, 933 square kilometres. It faces Nepal in its northern side. It is bouded by Uttarakhand in its north-western frontier, Himachal Pradesh lies in its north-western side, Delhi and Rajasthan lie in its western profile, Madhya Pradesh lies to its southern side, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand lie in its south-eastern and eastern side. While Lucknow is its legislative and administrative capital, Kanpur is its industrial capital. This state is situated on the Gangetic plains and is devoured with two most sacred rivers of India: Ganga and Yamuna. This state can be hypothetically categorised into three regions: The Himalayan region, which comprises of Chamoli, Almora, Uttarakshi, Pithoragarh, Dehradun, Nainital and Terhri Garwhal. These regions have now been embracd under the Uttarakhand state. The most prominent mountain ranges of this zone include the Shivalik ranges, Nanda Devi, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Mount Kamet, Banarpunch, Dunagiri and Trishul. The second category, which comprises of the Indo-Gangestic plains is the most fertile and prosperous zone. The major part of the economy is dependent on these plains. The last category comprises of the Vindhya ranges. These rocky plateaus comprise of Jalaun, Hamirpur, Jhansi, Bundelkand, Banda, Meja, Mirzapur, Karchhana and Chakia tehsils. Most of these regions are now in Himachal Pradesh.

History
If Delhi has been the silent witness of India's every historical era, then Uttar Pradesh is the amphitheatre, where all the mythological and historical sagas have been played. The Hindu mythology including the great epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata have their origins in this soil. However, the history of this state can be divided into five eras, which are as follows: the early Vedic period, which extends upto 600B.C, the Hindu-Buddhist period, which extends from 600 B.C to 1200 A.D. The Muslim era, which extends from 1200 A.D to 1857. The British aeon, which extends from 1857 to 1947. The last and the prevailing period is of the post independence epoch. The prehistoric epoch comprises of the paleolithic, mesolithic, neolithic periods, ochre coloured pottery, copper hoard, painted grey ware and cemetery cultures. The Vedic period comprises of the early period, when Vedas, Upanishads, Brahmans and Aranyakas were composed on this soil. The Buddhist era witnesses the rise of Mahajanapadas, the Mauryan, the Nanda, the Sunga, the Indo-Scythians, the Satraps rule, Kushans, Guptas, Vardhan, Harsha, Pratihara, Pala, Sena dynasties. The Muslim period constitutes the Khilji, Tughlak and the Mughal dynasties. Soon after this aeon and with the advent of the British rule, the great Indian revolt took place in 1857 and soon the prominent places such as Kanpur, Lucknow and Jhansi led their great contribution in eradicating British.

Culture and Tourism
Being mesmerised by the diverse ethnicity and folklore of Uttar Pradesh, Ruskin Bond had once stated that, he had been to many countries of Asia, Europe and Australia, but none could provide even a half of the variety, that he experienced in this state. This state is undoubtedly a world itself. The multi hued ethnology of this soil makes this state a living ipseity of India. Some of the notable tourist spots include Mathura, Vrindaban, Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri of Agra, Hastinapur of Meerut, Kampil, Soron, Deva Sharif, Lucknow, Gorakhnath temple, Banaras, Allahabad, Ayodhya etc.

Punjab

2010-06-19T16:52:00.000+05:30

Punjab has always played a pivotal role in every historic and political moments of India. The saga of patriotism runs in the blood of every denizen of this soil.

Punjab is situated on the north-western part of India. It is the border state facing Pakistan on its western side. Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan are its neighbouring states. The name of this region means the land of five rivers. Chandigarh, which is a Union Territory and also the capital of Haryana is the capital city of this dominion. Punjabi is the official language of this state.

Geography of Punjab
Before the partition of India, this state was a part of the larger Punjab province, which included the North-West Frontier Province, which is now in Pakistan. While the south-eastern part is deserted, as it is dominated by the Thar desert, the north-eastern part is guarded by the foothills of Himalayas. The Shiwalik ranges guard the landscape in its northern most part. The five important rivers which flow through this soil are Jhelum, Chenab, Sutlej, Ravi and Beas. Geographically, this terrain is divided into two parts which are the Shivalik Strip and the Sutlej-Ghaggar Plain.

History
History of Punjab is vast and as deep as ocean. This state has been described in the Indian epic books, Mahabhararata and Ramayan. In Rig Veda, this place is described as Sapta Sindhu and thus depicts the pre-historic era of India. This region was mainly the abode of the Indus Valley Civilisation. This bronze age civilisation followed the Harappan Civilisation covering the entire province and also some parts of Afghanistan. This dominion has always been the birth place for great warriors who have poured great contribution and sacrifice for the sake of their motherland. During 558 B.C, the western part of the province was embraced under the rule of Cyrus, who was the founder of the Persian empire. Durind this era, the Greeks, who invaded this region had referred the Indus river to be the 'mightiest river of the whole world'. Some of the mighty warrior clans of this landscape included the Khambojas, Taksas, Madras, Kathas, Malla and Tugras. These clans always fought unitedly against any intruder and thus set an example for the entire nation. Even Alexander, the great Greek emperor could not resist the defence of these warriors. In a letter to his mother, he had described that he is involved in a war with people, who represent the bravery of a lion and that every inch of that soil is like a steel wall for him. His mother had given birth to only one Alexander, but in this land, every mother has given birth to an Alexander. The most fierceful and rivalry period of this state started when Mughals and Turkish invaded this auspicious land. But they could not withstand for a longer period as Sikh, community belonging to Sikkhism rose to power and soon gradually spread their influence over the entire globe. During the 14th century, Sikkhism started to gain roots when Guru Nanak along-with ten other Gurus preached this religion which devoured harmony and austerity in every aspect.

Culture and Tourism
Punjab is recognised globally for its beautiful culture and traditions. The Punjabi folk dance, Bhangra is appreciated worldwide. The culture of this region is diversified justifying the identity of every denizen residing here. One can never hold his appetite, once he lands on this soil. Its cuisine has become the brand ambassador of India and is thus included in every exotic hotel in the world. Some of the important tourist places of this state include the Golden temple of Amritsar, the Wagah border, Ludhiana, Moti Bagh palace of Patiala, Yadavendra gardens etc. Punjab has always been a piece of attraction for westerners and for Indians due to its rich cultural heritage and historic embodiments.

Himachal Pradesh

2010-06-17T09:56:00.002+05:30

Himachal Pradesh has some of the elegant quotations on her behalf such as, "When heaven showers love, it rains in Himachal Pradesh. Such type of quotations portray the glory and elegance of this beautiful piece of Quinta.

Geography and Demography
Himachal Pradesh, which can be acknowledged as the Utopia of India, where every pad is sprinkled with natural glitters and where every soupcon of soil boasts the glorious past of the Indian conviction. This state is located at the northern part of the country and covers an area of 56,019 square kilometres. It is comprised of 12 districts and has a population of around 6,077,248. The state is bounded by Punjab in the south western side and Haryana in its southern side. While Jammu and Kashmir lies to its northern frontier, Uttarakhand lies to its south-eastern part. The region borders the Tibet in its eastern side. Shimla is the capital city of this landscape. The state is situated at an elevation, ranging from 450 metres to 6,500 metres above the mean sea level. The region is fondled and safeguarded by the Himalayan ranges as well as the Shivalik ranges. The region can be divided into three parts: the Shivalik or the outer Himalayan zone, the central or the lesser Himalayan zone and the northern or the greater Himalayan zone. The Shivalik region is prone to erosion and deforestation. The central part, which comprises of the Dhauladhar and the Pir Panjal ranges, boasts a varied topography, some areas are dominated by glaciers, while some regions like Shimla and Kangra valleys are inhabited and are ideal for natural habitation. The great Himalayan part mainly crosses the border region of the state and is fondled with the Sutlej river. It safeguards the place from the bordering country, Tibet.

History
The pre-historic aeon of Himachal Pradesh dates back to 2 million years ago, when some of the regions of this state such as the Bangana valley of Kangra, the Sirsa valley of Nalagarh and the Markanda valley of Sirmour, were inhabited by homo sapiens. The period between 2250 B.C till 1750 B.C witnessed the Indus Valley civilisation in this soil. The hilly areas were mainly inhabited by the Kolorian. In Vedas, these people are referred to as Dasyus, Dasas and Nishadas, who in later periods were famous as Nagas, Kinnars and Yakshas. However, the Mundas and the Kols are considered to be the original descendants of this terrain. The early bygone times witnessed the reign of various clans including Audumbras, Trigarta, Kuluta, Kulindas and the most famous, the Guptas and the Harsha. These monarchies existed between 2nd century B.C upto 7th century B.C. Soon after the death of Harsha, Rajput clans rose to power and embraced some of the major portions of the landscape such as Kangra, Nurpur, Suket, Mandi, Kutlehar, Keonthal, Dhami, Kunihar, Bushahar, Bilaspur, Sirmour, Baghal and Nalagarh.

Himachal Pradesh Tourism
Some of the religious pilgrimages of Himachal Pradesh are Bajreshwari temple, Baijnath, Jwalamukhi, Chamunda Devi, Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, Chaurasi shrine, Chattari, Manimahesh, Mandi, Rewalsar, Raghunath Mandir, Bhimkali temple, Hatkoti, Naina Devi etc. Some of the Buddhist Pilgrimages include Guru Ghantal monastery, Kardang, Shashur, Tayul Gompa, Kye, Thang Yug, Dhankar, Tabo, Nako etc. Some of the major sanctuaries of this soil includes the famous parks such as the Himalayan National Park, the Pin Valley National Park, The Chail Wildlife sanctuary, teh Dhauladhar wildlife sanctuary, the Govind Sagar Wildlife park, the Kais, the Kalatop Khajjar sanctuary, the Kibber, the Khokhan, Kugti, Talra, Shilli, Sechu Tuan Nala, Naina Devi, Nargu, Renuka etc. These forests and sanctuaries are rich in moist broad-leafed backwoods, pine, chir, sisham, sal, oaks, deodar, blue pine spruce and fir. While the fauna comprises of alders, birches, rhododendrons, leopards, ghoral, snow leopard, musk deer etc. The backwoods of this state are also referred as the cold deserts. Other than these, major tourist attractions include Rajgarh valley, Sujanpur Tihra, Kangra Fort, Manali, Kullu, Chamba, Solan, Dalhousie, Shimla etc.

Kerala

2010-06-15T10:09:00.002+05:30

Kerala which is fondly known as the God's own country is a diversified state which is rich in cultural heritage and is ranked first in terms of literacy. It is immersed in natural beauties and preservatives.

When somebody thinks of lakes surrounded with coconut trees, elephants and cuisines deeped in coconut oil, Kerala is the state which is first remembered. This state is the southern most landscape of India. It kisses the Arabian sea on its western side and is guarded by the Western Ghats on its eastern side.

Geography

Kerala's highest peaks which are Anamudi and Agasthyarkoodam lie in the Western Ghats. The National Water Way III which comprises of elongated commutual lakes which are rich in natural resources have the origin in this land. These lagoons stretch from Tiruvanthapuram in south and end up in the northern teraains of India. This oldest channel was earlier utilised by various foreign traders including the Arabians, Syrians, Chinese etc. They used this aquatic pathway in order to reach various ports situated in Kondugalloor, Alappuzha, Vizhinjam, Kollam and Beypore. Now this channel has become a major attraction for tourists who tour here in the exotic boats. Famous boat races such as the Nehru Trophy, Uthruttathi Trophy and the Aranmula Trophy take place in these water basins. This state is mainly famous for its rivers and backwaters in the country. It receives rain around 286 days in a year and its average annual rainfall ranges around 300cm. This is the reason why the backwaters are never deficit of water as they are always rainfed. The land is also rich in minerals and mineral ores. Minerals such as illmenite, monazite and silicon are found in the Chavara-Neendakara region of the Kollam district. Bauxite is found in the Kumbala, Kanjahangad and Neeleswaram in the northern part of the state. Limestone is found in the Kannur and Palakkad districts and Silica is found in the Alappuzha region.

History of Kerala

After the decline of the Roman empire in Kerala, the Brahmin settlement took a rapid mode. The Nambudiris (Kerela Brahmins) played an important role in shaping the history. With the passage of time, this holy soil witnessed the birth of a pious saint, Shakracharya who had a great hand in protecting Hinduism in the country. He had established the 4 Dhams in the nation and showed the true face of the religion to the world.

It won't be wrong to say that the initial step to revive the Hindu religion had originated from this pious soil. The Chera kingdom which played an integral role in the ninth century was actually originated from the Aryan civilisation. In 12 century A.D, the Cholas and Pandyas rose to power. But with the advent of the Jewish and Christian traders, these clans began to play an elusive role in the coming years.

Economy and Tourism

Kerala has the highest number of literates in the country as the literacy rate here is 90.86%. This commendable achievement has only been possible due to the avaibility of education in almost all the regions of the state. Keeping the diversities in mind, the Government as well as the private institutions have opened various types of schools and colleges. Most of the brilliant alumnis of India hail from this land, who are nationally as well as internationaly recognised. The state's economy is accumulated from various prospects such as from agriculture, fishing, mining, manufacturing, real estate, tourism etc.This territory which has a moniker called 'God's own country' has always been a major attraction for tourists. This is the land where the sun is shrunk in white seashore, where there are endless beaches, where the ceaseless blue tides are calm and voiciferous at the same time. These natural phenomenons attract the tourists from all over the world. Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam etc are some of the major destinations to visit.

Goa

2010-06-14T10:48:00.000+05:30

Goa always stands as the first preference for tourists mainly from west. The pristine coastlines, the treasured forts and chapels, the diverse culture, religions has always hypnotised the meddlesome tourists from all over the globe. It can be referred to as the Miami Vice or Honolulu of India.

Goa which is lovingly known as the morsel of the orient, is situated on the western coast of India. It is sloppily spread across the coastal belt of Konkan. This state is also referred as the paradise for tourists, as it is the epitome of natural bounties and spectacular artistries. This region is gifted with many monikers such as Gomantak, Gomanchala, Gopakapuri, Govem, Gomanta, Gopakapattam, Govapuri and Gomanta.

Geography of Goa

Goa, which is in the shape of one portion of a heart is safeguarded jealously by the Sahyadari Ghats on its eastern side and fondles the Arabian sea on its western side. Maharashtra and Karnataka are its neighbouring states. Tricol, Mandovi, Zuari, Chapora, Sal and Talpona are the major rivers which dissect this state and then emerge into the sea.

History of Goa

Goa is not only confined to nature's bounties and exotic beaches, but it is much more than that. Its umbra, which is deeply immersed in the Davy Jone's Locker of history, has explored that every era was a pearl, which has never lost its shine, even after thousands of years. The moth-eaten monuments, the bastions which stand as the identity of spectacular eras depict the golden history of this soil. This festucine paragon was known as Goparashtra in the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. It is believed that Lord Parshuram, who was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu had created this divine land. The history of this soil dates back to 3rd century B.C, when it was under the Mauryan dynasty, which was ruled by Ashoka during that time. The period stretching from 2nd century B.C to 9th century A.D witnessed the rules of various clans such as the Chutus, the Satavahanas, the Kshatrapas, the Abhiras, the Bhojas, the Chalukyas and the Rashtrakutas. During 1312, the region was forcefully embraced to the kingdom of Delhi Sultanate. However, Vijayanagara empire was more powerful at that time and conquered this territory and ruled over this land from 1370 till 1469. But the most notable period was the reign of Portuguese. The Portuguese administration has left such a deep mark on this land that even today, this soil is largely influenced by its culture and way of living. In 1510, they invaded this land and then became the permanent administrator of this soil. It was during this period that a huge mass of population converted to Christianity from Hinduism. These foreign intruders faced repeated attacks from Marathas and the Deccan Sultanate. The repeated attacks and the religious discrimination forced a huge mass of population to migrate to different states. Although India got freedom in 1947, this state was still under the Portuguese Govt. When the Govt. refused to surrender, Indian Govt. with the help of its army commenced the operation Vijay over this place and established this region as Union Territory. But later, during 1987, this territory was declared as the 25th state.

Economy and Tourism

Goa is one of the richest states of India with the highest gross domestic product per capital income. It is rich in mineral resources such as Bauxite, iron ore, manganese, silica and limestone. Its small scale industries include pesticides, tyres, foot-wears, fertilisers, pharmaceuticals, textiles etc. Indian Govt. gets most of its tourism revenues from this state. This region treasures the most exotic beaches of the world. These virgin coastlines stretch till 131 kilometres and thus devour the most authentic experience to tourists, who are mainly driven to this land to enjoy the golden beaches, sparkled with silver granules. Some of the world famous beaches include Calangute, Miramar, Colva, Dona Paula, Palolem, Anjuna etc. Besides these seafronts, chapels hold special attraction. These are St. Francis, St. Cajetan, Basillica of Bom Jesus, Rachol Seminary etc.

Jammu and Kashmir

2010-06-12T16:21:00.002+05:30

Jammu and Kashmir is the most priced possession of India. This valuable asset displays the real beauty of India. Her elegance and grace is best witnessed on this soil.

Jammu and Kashmir is the northern most state of India. This state is like the pie in the sky, which is jelled like a baguetted tiara on the attic of India. It is like an ambidextrous solitaire, which keeps changing its shades with the seasons. The Himalayan and the Pir Panjal ranges stand as a royal custodian, surrounding this magnificent Arcadia, thus saving the most treasured assets of India. These Alps are fathers to the holiest rivers of the nation.

Geography
Jammu and Kashmir lies in the vicinity of the Karakoram range having Pakistan, China and Tibet as its neighbouring countries. The Uygur region of Xinjiang lies to the north-eastern part of this princely state while Himachal Pradesh and Punjab lies to its southern side. This masterly piece of virtuosity, immersed in prismatic hues fondles the nadir of the snow-capped Himalayas and has become the best form of art delivered by nature. The fuzzy dawns, the ebullient valleys, the bosky and livid prairies, which are dispersed on the jaded foothills, the berries splattering out of the brimful bushels etc. has led this Zion to become the asylum of many monks and priests.

History of Jammu and Kashmir
The history of Jammu and Kashmir is not so primitive and dates back to the Mughal era, when Akbar, the Mughal emperor invaded this region in 1586, with the help of Bhagwant Das and Ramchandra I. Ramchandra I had founded Jammu and had named it after the name of the Deity Jamwa Mata. After the death of Ramchandra, his great grand successor Gulab Singh became the Governor of this region. It was his effort that the Ladakh region was also included in the state. The throne was then subsequently handed over to his successors, Ranbir Singh and Hari Singh. After the independence and partition of India, Kashmir became a major political issue between India and Pakistan, which eventually led to three major wars during 1965, 1971 and 1999. This issue has not yet resolved and cold war still exists between the two countries.

Culture and Tourism
Jammu and Kashmir's culture and tradition is diverse and versatile. It stands in the merit list for bestowing skillful and variegated culture, immersed in moth-eaten history which speaks the legacy of unity and diversity. This ballpark serves the most relishing cuisines to all its visitors. The cuisine starts from a simple meal to the luxurious banquet known as Wazawan, thus delivering contentment and satisfaction to every food lover who visits here. Besides food, the state also boasts a line of fine arts and handicrafts which lure customers from all over the globe. The Kashmiri carpets, the Namdas, the Papier Mache, Shawls, Pherans, furnitures made up of Walnut wood etc. exhibit the par excellence of its culture and artistry. Some of the major tourist attractions include the Mughal gardens, the Dal lake, Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, Chashma Shahi, Pari Mahal, Hazratbal Mosque, Jama Masjid, Shankracharya Temple, Makhdoom Sahib, Martand, Awantipur, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonammarg, Amarnath, Vaishnodevi, Amar Mahal and last but not the least Ladakh. Ladakh is situated on the gigantic and prodigious environment. Two most prominent places of this terrain which are Leh and Kargil are situated at an altitude of 3505 and 2750 metres. This region is also known as little Tibet, due to the Buddhism influence on this landscape. Among all the tourist spots, Shrinagar, which is the capital of the state is the major attraction for these meddlesome visitors. It is known as the city of lakes. The Dal lake, Walur lake and the Nagin lake beautify this city. The great Mughal emperor, Jahangir once had referred this land to be the paradise on the earth.

Chhattisgarh

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Chhattisgarh is the single most state of India who had a Hindu ruler till British took control over the soil. This region is mostly dominated by the pastoral denizens and boast an amalgamation of tribal and non tribal cultures and ethnicity.

Chhattisgarh is situated at the central place of India. It was formerly a part of Madhya Pradesh, which used to be the largest state of the nation in terms of area. This southern part of Madhya Pradesh gained an independent recognition and was declared as a state on 1st November, 2000. Due to the presence of 36 princely forts in the region, it obtained the name as Chhattisgarh. Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkand and Uttar Pradesh are its neighbouring states. Raipur is the capital of this region.

Geography of Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh is mainly dominated by forests as they comprise of 44% of the total area of the state. The northern and southern parts of the region fondle the hills and mountains. The northern part of this region is sloppily scattered across the Indo-Gangetic plain. This land's fertility is boosted with the presence of the Rihand river. The eastern part is guarded by the Satpura range and the western part is curdled with the Chota Nagpur Plateau. These two rocky plateaus dissect the Mahanadi river from the Indo Gangetic plain. The southern part is situated on the Deccan plateau. This part is enriched with Godavari and Indravati rivers. Mahanadi is however the most important river of the state rendering fertility to a major portion of the region.

History

The history of Chhattisgarh relates to the mythological era of India. In archaic period, it was known as Dakshin Kosala. During the Mughal rule, this place was popularly known as Ratanpur territory. In the Hindu epic, Ramayana, this place plays an important role as Lord Ram had stayed in Dakshin Kosala during his Vanvas. Besides the mythological concept, the history dates back to 4th century A.D. The most ancient ruler of this region belonged to Rajput clan. During 10th century A.D, a Rajput ruler, Kalingaraja flourishly ruled over this state and his successor, Ratnaraja continued to maintain the legacy. This empire had made Ratanpur as her capital, which has now become the present state. However, this dynasty could not exist for longer time period and were defeated on the hands of Marathas in 1741. Raghunathsinghji, the last survivor of the Rajput clan was deposed by these invaders. This clan could not stand for a longer period because of their greedy attitudes and dishonesty towards their own soil. Due to the repeated attacks of different clans, this region became poor and devastated. Finally this landscape fell into the hands of the British in 1818. This is one of the fewer states which always had a Hindu ruler till the British Raj began. The remarkable first Indian revolt which took place in 1857, was initiated from this place under the leadership of Vir Narain Singh. This freedom fighter was the first son of this soil to attain martyrdom.

Culture and Tourism

Chhattisgarh is one of the prominent pastoral states of India. A perfect fusion of eastern and western culture is diluted in every particle of this soil. Diversity is reflected in every forum. The rich ethnicity, diversed folklore, versatility in harmonisation has multiplied the grace and dignity of this soil. The various musical and dance forms including Pandwani, Soowa, Panthi, Raut Nacha are note worthy. The art here is multi-faceted and boasts elegance in every single delivery. The tourism is not left behind, but has moreover played a pivotal role in increasing the Govt's revenue. Some of the major attractions include Mahamaya Temple of Ratanpur, Chitrakote Falls, Tirathgarh, Pali and Kendai Falls, Kangerghat National Park, Kailash and Kutumbsar caves, Khutaghat waterfall, Dindneswari Devi temple present in Mallahar, the Achanakmar sanctuary, Udanti sanctuary, Sabari temple, Nar Narayan temple etc. attract tourists and pilgrims from various parts of the nation as well as from beyond the nation.