Ignoring the dust and braving the quite long distances, spend some time exploring the Jaipur overspill. Ram Singh 11's splendid cultural park is hard by the city walls, and its museum is a real treat. The splendid Rambagh Palace is south of it, and the beautiful Sisodia Palace lies out to the east. Ram Singh II laid out his Ram Niwas Gardens right outside New Gate, employing a certain Dr de Fabeck to landscape what is now reduced to 14.5 hectares (36 acres). The view down the central road, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, is closed by the palatial Central Museum. On the way there it passes first the Gallery of Modem Art, the zoo, a crocodile breeding farm and the Maharaja College (founded 1845) which taught Urdu, Persian and English. Ram Singh 11 also founded the School of Art (1868) which revived and promoted so many of Jaipur's crafts, including the well-known blue pottery. The Albert Hall, housing the Central Museum, is the park centerpiece. It is a triumph of Raj influence, having been modelled on the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone on his 1876 visit and the architect was Colonel Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob (1841-1917), a British engineer whose knowledge of Indian buildings later earned him a job as consultant for the British capital of New Delhi. Inside the thoroughly Indian palace, locals wander about enjoying models of their festivals, collections of puppets and costumes, and exhibitions of top-quality Jaipur brasswork. The separate room at the front is the Durbar Hall, usually locked, but just ask and it will be opened. It houses several exquisite carpets including the magnificent Persian Garden Carpet, one of India's finest art treasures. Made in 1632 in Kerman, Persia, its design is a paradise garden on char-bagh lines. Fish swim in canals and mother birds feed their young in blossoming trees. It is one of the best of its kind, its fine silk colours still fresh and bright. (Free on Monday, closed Friday). Also Visit - Luxury Golden Triangle Tour Packages India Further down the road, Narain Singh Marg leads past Narain Niwas, a thakur townhouse. Built in 1881 by Narain Singh, Madho Singh Its emissary, it was furnished in the heavy Raj taste so fashionable at the Jaipur court. At the end of the road, Lilly Pool Palace opposite is where the Raj Mata of Jaipur lives. She is the widow of the last Maharaja. Man Singh II Her autobiography, A Princess Remembers, describes a queen’s fairy tale life before Independence and, to a great extent, after it. The Rajmata lived much of her married life at Rambagh Palace, found by turning left down Sawai Ram Singh Road then right at the large crossroads. It was Ram Singh II who made what were originally a few pleasure pavilions outside the city into a hunting lodge, Ram Bagh (garden of Ram). Hunts played an important role in the court calendar Just as Akbar had used hunts to disguise his soldiers' manoeuvres when making his alliances with the Rajputs, so the Rajput prince used large hunting expeditions around his kingdom to visit local thakurs (landowners), deal with political and administrative business and keep himself informed. He could be hawking, using trained cheetahs to catch antelopes, hunting tigers or wild boar, or duck shooting. With Sir Swinton Jacob's help, Madho Singh II later transformed Ram Bagh hunting lodge into a royal playground, with English herbaceous borders, squash court, tennis court, indoor swimming pool complete with trapeze, and polo field next door, Not surprisingly, his adopted son, who succeeded him as Man Singh II in 1922 aged just 11 years, later chose it as his principal home. And when in 1940 he made a love-match marriage with his third wife, Gayatri Devi, Lalique fountains and the latest sleek black marble bathrooms and bold geometric furniture were added. Here the handsome, glamorous couple known to friends as Jai and Ayesha lived, ruled and played out a fairy tale life, mixing medieval with thoroughly modem. The Maharaja's water was brought in daily from a special well by four men and a soldier guard, yet the couple jetted about the world to New York, London and elsewhere. Jai died after a fall during a polo game at Cirencester in England in 1970. Today the palace is a hotel, so the courtyards, public rooms and glorious gardens are easy to see (good shops; drinks in the Polo Bar or overlooking the lawn a treat). And Madho Singh's polo grounds next door are also fun to visit if there is a game on or even a practice—the annual season is March. From here, you can look south to Moti Doongri, the fort, built like a Scottish castle, where the royal treasure was once stored. You can then move west and see Jai and Ayesha's later home, the relatively modest Raj Mahal Palace, built as the British Residency and now, like the Rambagh, a hotel. Here they entertained Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, on his 1965 visit which coincided with the Hindu festival of Holi. His letter of thanks shows that the couple, although by then reduced to commoner status, could still entertain royally: 'Every moment was sheer joy and it's only the bruises from polo and the pink stain On my fingers which remain to convince me that the whole thing wasn't some marvellous dream' One last trip makes a delightful end to a city day. Just outside town, on the road eastwards out of the Ghat Gate towards Agra, Jaipur's great architect is honoured with a little garden, Vidyadharji ka Bagh, which is now sadly in need of some restoration. Almost opposite, Sisodia Rani ka Bagh is pristine perfect. This country palace was built by Jai Singh II for his Udaipur queen whom he married to cement a Rajput alliance Large, chirpy, bright murals surround the exterior, lush terraced gardens overlook the open plains, and the watchman will unlock the palace to show you a hideaway home still full of royal atmosphere. Drive on behind the palace to the hillside Hanuman Temple dedicated to the monkey-god. It surges into life each day at 4 pm. Crowds of langur monkeys come to meet the priest who arrives in an auto-rickshaw with sacks of bananas which the animals grab greedily and then sit gobbling in mid-road. The keen can do a small hike from here, up to Galta's hilltop Temple of the Sun God-worth it for its spectacular views.
For more information on Gardens and Palaces in Modern Jaipur Rajasthan contact Swan Tours one of the leading Best Tour & Travels Delhi
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The Himachal Pradesh people are deeply religious and god-fearing but their Hinduism is different from that of the plains. It appears that the grandeur of the natural features, the Himalayas, and the magnitude of the physical forces arraigned against man pohas led the inhabitants to assign supernatural powers to natural environments, some benevolent but mostly malevolent. To the children of the mountains, the 'Himalayas are the gods'. Along with the major gods, who are represented in the Thakardwaras and the Shivalas mostly in the towns, the people worship the godlings or the village deities, the Deotas, the Rishis, the Munis, the Siddhas, the Pandavas, the hill tops, the trees, the joginis or wood fairies, the kali, the shakti, the nagas and even a host of devils and deities of the aborigines. The water courses, the sprouting seeds, the ripening corn ear are all in charge of separate spirits who are duly propitiated. Animal sacrifice is a major religious rite and is performed at weddings, funerals, and festivals, harvest time, on the beginning of the ploughing or thanks giving. Lamaistic Buddhism is practiced in the trans-Himalayan areas. It is said that the great Padma Sambhava, who was responsible for the spread of Buddhism in Tibet in the eighth century, lived for some time at Riwalsar, near Mandi, where there is a temple for him who is visited by Buddhists not only from the Himalayan areas but also from Tibet and Bhutan. Lamaistic Buddhism assimilates the mysticism of the northern school of Buddhism, the Vajra-Yana, with the magic and devil worship of the Tantras and the cult of the Shakti, Tara. The priest or the lama is the friend, philosopher and guide in the life of the Buddhists who mostly live in the border areas. He guides them in spiritual matters, foretells events, determines lucky and unlucky days, practices medicine, exorcises evil spirits, performs magic and regulates the destiny of the living and the dead. The Muslims in the villages follow Pir Lakh Data and also pray and light earthen lamps at the shrines of other saints. Hindi is the State language but people mostly converse among themselves in Pahari, which according to Y.S. Parmar has various dialects or 'sub-languages'. Grierson in his linguistic survey had called it 'Western Pahari`, and had demarcated its area from Jaunsar Bawar in the U.P. hills (near Dehradun) to Bhadarwah in Jammu and Kashmir. It was on the basis of their distinctive language and culture besides other factors that the hill people in Himachal and Punjab demanded their union and finally got it in 1966. The various dialects of Pahari spoken in the region are :
For more information on what to see and things to do in Himachal Pradesh during you trip contact Swan Tours one of the leading travel agents in India offers Rajasthan tour packages at best price. 8/28/2017 1 Comment Sightseeing in Agra - Swan ToursThe citizens of Agra lived near the fort, outside Delhi Gate (now closed) on the north side. Court patronage abounded, crafts flourished and Agra became a major Centre for textiles and jewelry as well as banking and trade. Although starved of court patronage when the Mughals declined, the city continued to thrive at a quieter level and still does today. A stroll around these lanes brings alive the atmosphere of Mughal Agra. If you get lost, it does not matter much as the area is quite small; but enlist some local help to seek out specific craftsmen. By exploring through a grand old gateway, you may discover Mughal hamams (baths) now used as vegetable storehouses; by peeking through doorways into havelis (courtyard houses), you may see a busy atelier of marble inlay works; by looking behind a shop, you may discover a forgotten Mughal noble's mansion. While on Golden Triangle tour package covering Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, the tour highlights of Agra would be as below: The Jama Masjid (Friday mosque, 1648) is the heart of the old city, in Mantola area, its zigzag red and white domes rising above the lanes. It was built by Shah Jahan in the name of his favorite and loyal daughter, Jahanara. Beside its main entrance stands Agra's one forgivable tourist shop, Mughal Marble Emporium, which stocks splendidly gaudy replicas of the Taj made of soapstone with red and yellow plastic trees, fairy lights and glass baubles, each scene enclosed in a glass box. Opposite, the pot-seller's kiosk overflows onto the road. These beautiful spherical water-pots are natural fridges which keep water cool and fresh but apparently only do their job for a few weeks, keeping their sellers in good business. The cloth market runs round behind the mosque, bustling with ladies bargaining for silks and cottons; the main street, Johri Bazar, runs off to the right. Along here are local dhurrie shops such as Damodar Das Mammo Mal's on the left, men's cloth shops where locals meet to gossip over tea, photographers to hire for special occasions, shops selling glitzy braid and other essential wedding accessories, carts loaded with fresh walnuts or crispy gujak, shoe shops (a major Agra trade) and, on the right, a wonderful shop packed with fancy walking sticks. Further on, Kinari Bazar has the jewellery shops, while Panni Gali off it (found with difficulty via Fulati Guli) has Agra's top master of zari (gold) embroidery work, Sham Uddin. He and his craftsmen work in his family haveli (his name is on the door) with the family pigeons strutting about the roof. Back towards the Jama Masjid, a lane to the left leads eventually to Malka Bazar, street of the great kite-makers, such as Sando and Allo Jamalo, whose creations are flown by children from the flat roofs, fluttering until they are trapped in a tree. Another good area to explore is Nai ki Mandi, found north-west of Jama Masjid and across Hing ki Mandi Road. Here shoemakers work in tiny kiosks, women pile up water-pots to dry beside the canal, cows stand motionless mid-lane and marble craftsmen work quietly behind the old carved doors piercing the whitewashed walls of the narrow lanes. Marble Inlayers Descendants of Taj Mahal Craftsmen Nai ki Mandi is an area north of the Jama Masjid in old Agra. The narrow whitewashed lanes are punctuated by high stone steps leading to blue-painted doors. Behind many of them, groups of Agra's 5,000 pietra dura craftsmen sit on the courtyard floors quietly creating delicate floral patterns like those worked by their distant forefathers for the fort and the Taj Mahal. Mohammad Naseem, a Muslim like most marble workers, is a master crafts-man who runs a typical workshop. His dozen craftsmen work in the shaded, blue-pillared courtyard of his family haveli. He hopes his sons will follow his trade. An apprentice begins young, at eight years old, becomes full-time when schooling ends at 14, and is trained by 20-22 years old. The trained craftsman specializes as a marble-cutter, gem-cutter, gem-setter or chiseller, making his own simple tools and helping his master with special pieces. The expensive raw materials are supplied to the head of the workshop by the merchant. The hard, non-porous (and so non-staining) white marble comes from Makrana, near Jaipur. The precious and semiprecious stones come from all over the world and include turquoise, coral, pink rhodonite, golden tiger eye and the rare, gold-speckled blue lapis lazuli. Naseem's work is distinguished by the fine chrysanthemum designs with feather-light petals. He uses coral, turquoise and malachite for their purity of colour, and lapis lazuli for its colour and luminosity. Such fine work, originally introduced from Persia, takes time and considerable patience. First, the paper design is agreed upon between craftsman and merchant. The marble is cut, coated with red water-based paint and the design drawn through. The stones are selected for colour and clarity—a green might be of jade, malachite, variscite or amazonite. Then the slow precision work of cutting each stone and chiselling a bed for it begins. A large design is tackled by area, a small piece in one go. Big flowers are cut first, such as the fine chrysanthemum petals; Naseem often works with the hard and difficult lapis and cornelian because of the glorious finish they give. Each stone is cut, fitted, fine-tuned with an emery paste wheel and then glued and heated to fuse the stone. Leaves are done next, and finally the stems. To finish, the surface is polished with increasingly fine emery. To make a large tray adorned in multi-coloured flowers takes three workers about six months, working 9 am-9 pm except on Friday, the Muslim holiday. A small box takes ten days, and the top of a box about three. The master craftsman oversees and checks each piece, for it all goes out under his name. Such painstakingly slow work means it takes about 25 Agra workshops to keep Sttbhash Emporium in Gwalior Road well stocked. And when you go to browse and, inevitably, to buy, the Hindu family of Bansal brothers who run Subhash will show you some of Naseem's award-winning pieces. For more info on sightseeing in Agra contact Swan Tours, One of the leading travel agents in India promoting tourism in Agra , Jaipur and Delhi. Delhi, The Capital of India is also its third largest city, with a population of about 10 million. Its strategic location along the north-south, east-west route has given it a focal position in Indian history and many great empires have been ruled from here. The monuments and ruins of these are scattered throughout the city, often cheek by jowl with modern structures and bighrise towers. The vast urban sprawl of contemporary Delhi is, in fact, a conglomeration of several distinct enclaves, chief among which are Old Delhi, with its 16th- and 17th-century Mughal-built monuments and congested souk-like bazaars; and New Delhi with its wide avenues, grand vistas and colonial mansions, built by the British in the 1930s as their imperial capital. New Delhi has government buildings and also houses the Diplomatic Enclave where all the embassies are located. The picturesque 12th-century ruins of citadels built by the first Islamic rulers can be seen in the Qutb-Mehrauli area and the affluent new middle class suburbs of South Delhi lie close by. Slums and shanty towns dot the outer fringes of the city. All the contrasts and contradictions of India are particularly visible in the capital: denim-clad youngsters rubbing shoulders with robed sadhus (holy men), and bullock carts travelling alongside the latest luxury cars. Adding to Delhi's fascinating diversity is the fact that it is largely a city of migrants. After the violent Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, millions of refugees, mainly from West Punjab, flocked here in search of a new life. Since then there has been a steady influx of people from all over India. Yet each regional community has retained its distinct cultural identity, making Delhi less a melting pot than a thali (platter) whose offerings may be savoured singly or in interesting combinations . Performing Arts of Delhi Delhi is the Best Place to experience the range and richness of classical dance and music. Performances by the best exponents of the major styles of Odissi, Kathak, Bharat Natyam and Kathakali take place during the high season, between October and March. The same is true of concerts of Hindustani and Carnatic classical music. India's vibrant folk dance and music traditions, such as the devotional music of the Sufis, dance-dramas from Kerala, puppet shows from Rajasthan and Karnataka, can also be seen at various venues. Exhibitions Major Exhibitions are held at the National Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the Crafts Museum. These include special collections of rare sculpture and paintings from museums all over India, as well as from abroad. Recent years have seen exhibitions of Picasso's paintings, the Nizam of Hyderabad's fabulous jewels and Mughal paintings from Queen Elizabeth II's private collection. Regular exhibitions of contemporary art are also held in the many art galleries around Mandi House. The Bazaars of Old Delhi
The Delhi sightseeing tour by car , managed by Swan Tours , covers the legendary bazaars of Delhi .Old Delhi's bazaars are legendary. An English visitor over a 100 years ago, wrote in praise of the "Cashmere shawls, gold and silver embroidery, Jeweler, enamels and carpets" found here. Today the great wholesale bazaars of Chandni Chowk still retain a souk-like quality. Their narrow streets are lined with shops, whose goods spill out onto the pavements. Each lane specializes in a commodity: Dariba Kalan, for instance, is the lane of Jewelers and silversmiths, while Kinari Bazaar sells a bewildering array of tinsel and sequins. For more unique experiences such as culinary , heritage , art , museums in and around Delhi , contact Swan Tours , one of the leading travel agents in Delhi since 1995. Gaurav Chawla. Director. F-6, Second Floor, Shankar Market, Connaught Place, New Delhi - 110001 Telephone: 011 23415601, Mob. 9810100293 E-mail: [email protected] Visit us at: www.swantour.com INDIA IS POSSIBLY the most diverse nation in the world. In area, it is the seventh largest country, and in population second only to China. Within its geographical confines, stretching from the Great Himalayas in the north to the tropical peninsular south, there is a dizzying variety of languages, cultures, ethnic groups, beliefs, and lifestyles that few continents, leave alone countries, possess. India, for first-time tourists and long-term residents alike, can be a powerful assault on the senses —noisy, frenetic, vibrant, and chaotic; a land of incredible contrasts and paradoxes. And yet, underlying the contrasts, there are patterns of continuity, an indefinable essence that is quintessentially Indian. Overwhelming at first, this country of a billion people and "a million mutinies" can gradually unfold rare delights. Luxury tours in India , include centuries-old temples, tombs and forts; in the exquisite crafts still made in the traditional way; in the bustle and aromas of its bazaars; or in the sudden glimpses of serene beauty that filter through the chaos. LEGACY OF THE PAST Much of India's fascination lies in the fact that it is both a young nation and an ancient country rolled into one, where the past and the present constantly collide. Its recorded history goes back 5,000 years to the Indus Valley Civilization, where excavations reveal a sophisticated urban culture. This was followed, in around 1500 BC, by the arrival of the Aryans from Central Asia, who settled along the Genetic Plains of northern India. The Indo-Aryans evolved a very distinctive culture that continues to be part of India's living tradition. The hymns of the Rig Veda, composed by them, are still recited in temples as well as in households in the 21st century. A less happy legacy of the Indo-Aryans was their division of society into four varnas (castes). This may have been a rational ordering of society in its time but it has now degenerated into a system of inherited discrimination, which continues to have a hold on society and politics, even though such discrimination is banned by law. PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE One of India's great paradoxes is that the orthodoxy and rigidities of its society have been continually tempered by revolts and reforms, as well as by outside influences - India has an amazing ability to absorb and assimilate varied ways of being. Long before the New World created "melting pot" cultures, India played host (not always willingly) to invaders and conquerors, adventurers and traders, all of whom shaped, and were shaped by, the land they made their own. This is why there is no racial stereotype, no monolithic culture to define India. Broadly speaking (though there are many exceptions), North Indians are usually light-skinned (or "wheat-complexioned", to use the language of matrimonial ads), southerners are darker, and people in the east have Mongoloid features. In addition, over 70 million Indians belong to a variety of tribes, ranging from Proto-Australoici groups in Orissa, to Mon-Khmer peoples in the northeast. Equally diverse are India's languages. with 17 major regional languages, and hundreds of dialects. Hindi is spoken by the largest number of people. But it is nowhere near displacing the powerful regional languages such as Tamil, considered India's oldest living language, or Bengali that boasts a rich literature and a Nobel laureate, poet Rabindranath Tagore to boot. Though most Indian languages are derived from Sanskrit, they have developed their own distinct script and literature. The four main languages of the south, for instance, are more different from one another than, say, Italian is from Spanish. The Hindustani that is spoken in the streets of North and Central India is itself a blend of Sanskrit-derived Hindi and the Persian-inspired Urdu, a vibrant evidence of the cross-fertilization of cultures. The English language is among the lasting legacies of British rule in India. It is spoken by pan-Indian elite, widely used as a link language, and is the surest passport to upward mobility and also, thanks to the Internet to virtual reality. CULTURE India's culture, like its people is a rich mosaic whose myriad elements have been born of its ancient roots, its foreign influences and its regional variety. Its richness also stems from the manner in which the "Great" and "Little" traditions intertwine. India's classical music and dance are highly developed forms, based on texts that are 2,000 years old. At the same time, there are earthier folk traditions, as well as the song-and-dance routine of Bollywood films, that form the staple of popular culture. It is the same story in the visual arts and architecture. On one hand is the breathtaking grandeur of Mughal monuments or South Indian temples. On the other, is the simple elegance of village homes, made with local materials to suit the climate, such as the mud and thatch huts of the Rabaris of Kutch. Like elsewhere in the world, pre-modern Indian art is largely inspired by religious themes and nature. The Buddhist murals of Ajanta; the inlaid carvings of flowers and animals in Mughal and Rajput palaces; the exquisitely sculpted deities in Hindu and Jain temples; the miniatures and folk paintings illustrating scenes from the two great epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, are just a few examples. Indian handicrafts, which have grown out of ancient traditions, continue to thrive despite rapid industrialization and a fast growing market economy. Objects of utility as well as beauty, such as quilts, shawls, copper pots, clay water jars, lamps and agricultural tools are in daily use in millions of homes, hand-made by artisans who keep alive the skills and traditions of their ancestors. Religion and Society Religion and ritual pervade almost every aspect of life in India. Four major world religions — Hinduism, Buddhism, slainism and Sikhism — were founded here. India has the third largest number of Muslims in the world, and Christianity has ancient roots here, introduced into the country by the apostle, St Thomas, around 2,000 year ago. The Zoroastrians, who fled persecution in Persia in the 9th century, also made India their primacy home. On paper, 85 per cent of India's population is Hindus. But this figure does not quite convey the enormous fluidity of beliefs and practices that thrive under the broad rubric of Hinduism, which has evolved by interacting with all the other religions of India. It has become something of a cliche to say that Hinduism is not a religion per se but a way of life, but like most cliches it contains an essential truth. The Hindu religion has no single Book or God or prophet, and every community has its own favourite deity, chosen from an ever-expanding pantheon of gods. The "Great" and "Little" traditions that underline so much of Indian life are intrinsic to Hinduism as well. At one level, it is a religion of abstruse philosophy and metaphysical quests. It is this philosophical strain which has given India the reputation of being a "spiritual" land. For most Indians, however, religion is more a matter of rituals and ceremonies that mark each day, season and passage in life. Gods are not remote figures, but part of every household and street corner and worship can range from silent meditation to boisterous festivities. Though each sect has its own rules, rituals and taboos, ordinary Indians largely follow a "live and let live" philosophy. It is this underlying spirit of tolerance that has enabled India to remain a unique tapestry of varied cultures and faiths, notwithstanding periodic spells of strife. While attitudes towards religion tend to be relaxed, social hierarchies are far more rigid. Though beginning to crumble in recent decades, the patriarchal joint family structure, with its deep-rooted belief in arranged marriages, obedience to elders, and emphasis on duty over individual liberties, remains the norm in much of India. Poverty, illiteracy, and caste-based divisions remain evident, particularly in the countryside. Women continue to face in-equality and the girl child is still regarded as an unwanted burden in many communities. MODERN INDIA But things are changing, and changing quite rapidly. Across the country, the old certainties are giving way to new equations, creating both conflict and hope. A great deal of this change has been fuelled by India's vibrant, secular democracy, the largest in the world and, in recent years, also by new economic opportunities. Holiday packages in India organized by Swan Tours, include various experiences related to cuisine , shopping , architecture ,etc. Cinema, cricket and politics are arguably the three great national passions of India, enjoyed and dissected endlessly by all strata of Indian society. Of the three politics offers the greatest sense of participation blends with the old, tradition. Though many of the country's adapt to technology, continuity millions are unlettered and poor, they goes hand in hand with change unfailingly exercise their right to vote in election after election. The very fact that ordinary people can vote politicians in and out of office has given them a sense of power and pride that is gradually eroding their age-old subservience.
More visible evidence of a rapidly changing India is the emergence of a large “new middle class”. For several decades after Independence in 1947, India had a quasi-socialist mixed economy, dominated by the public sector. But in the 1990s, the government changed track and encouraged private enterprise and the entry of multinational corporations into India. The Information Technology (IT) revolution has also had an enormous impact on India. Computers and satellite television have, in a remarkably short time, dramatically changed people's mindsets. Not everyone has gained from the new technologies, and vast stretches of India remain under the seemingly eternal haze of heat and dust. But in town after small town, there are growing numbers of people who are better off than their parents could ever dream of being, wielding mobile phones, driving cars and chatting in cyber cafés. Whether this consumerist boom will fuel an economic miracle or increase inequality is a topic of much heated debate. One thing is certain, though. Winds of change never lead to radical ruptures in India. India Most Selling Tour Packages Here is list of India Most Selling Tour Packages:
Most popular tourist places in India Here is list of most popular tourist places in India: Ajmer, Rajasthan is a small and extremely busy town, with traffic that tends to be a fairly chaotic combination of pedestrians, camel carts, bicycles and cycle rickshaws. Getting around the town can be a harrowing experience for those who are used to wide roads and streamlined traffic, but it can also provide an interesting insight into life in the heart of Rajasthan. Options for transport include auto-rickshaws, cycle rickshaws, tongas, taxis and hired cars, and rented cycles. For budget travellers, cycle rickshaws are by far and away the best bet; while for the adventurous, a rented cycle can be a great way to get acquainted with Ajmer- especially its less touristy areas, which still retain a distinctly medieval flavour about them. Chauffeur-driven cars can also be hired from tour operators and travel agents across town, and are a good idea if you are planning a day trip to nearby Pushkar. Lastly, for those who have a sturdy pair of legs: most of Ajmer's main sights are in close proximity to each other, and can be explored on foot. It might entail being pestered by touts, but walking your way around town is a great way to get up close and personal with Ajmer Rajasthan. Also Visit – Rajasthan tour packages Tourists travelling to Ajmer can choose from a handful of mid-rung and budget hotels in and around town. Ajmer Rajasthan doesn't have any five-star hotels as yet, but the properties that are available include 2-star, 3-star and heritage hotels which offer a number of facilities, such as currency exchange, travel desk, telecommunications and more. Among the cheaper options available are the RTDC guesthouses in Ajmer, and a range of cheap lodges and guesthouses, many of which stand opposite the Ajmer railway station. Visitors coming to Ajmer Rajasthan at the time of the annual Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (which is usually observed in May) must keep in mind that the town is literally inundated by thousands of pilgrims at this time. Hotels, guesthouses and other properties are full to bursting, and it is impossible to find accommodation if you have not booked a room in advance. Stunning handicrafts are not exactly Ajmer's forte. This town is a pilgrim centre, not a tourist attraction, and there are no traditional handicrafts that one must keep an eye out for. Shops and stalls in the town's crowded markets sell handicrafts from other parts of Rajasthan — such as block-printed or tie-and-dye textiles or camel leather jootis — but for those who are travelling to larger cities, it makes more sense to go shopping elsewhere, in places where there will be a more extensive range available. About the only souvenirs that are recommended are local silver jewellery and the carefully worked mementoes of the Dargah Sharif (such as prayer mats or beads) that are sold in the Dargah Bazaar, just outside the main entrance to the mausoleum. For more information on Ajmer Tour and travel Guide contact Swan Tours one of the leading travel agents in India. The Southwest is a Region of many and varied splendors. Its three states, Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka, contain gold-en beaches, wooded hills, serene villages along the picturesque Arabian Sea coastline, and two of India's most cosmopolitan and dynamic cities - Mumbai (formerly Bombay) and Bangalore. Mumbai, capital of Maharashtra, is India's largest and most populous city, as well as its commercial and financial capital. It is also home to the world's largest cinema industry, popularly known as Bollywood. The city presents extraordinary and sometimes shocking contrasts — the glamorous world of film stars and business tycoons exists side by side with the squalor of slums and shantytowns, where over three million people (nearly one-third of Mumbai's population) live. The dominant image, however, is that of an upbeat, street-smart city full of dynamism and joie de vivre. Mumbai's population includes Marathi-speaking Hindus, a sizeable number of Muslims and Christians, as well as Jews, Parsis and other communities from different parts of India, drawn by its vibrant entrepreneurial culture, and often, by dreams of making it big in films. While this makes Mumbai remarkably cosmopolitan, it has on occasion led to sectarian strife, especially over the past decade, since the rise of the militant Hindu rightwing Shiv Sena Party. Maharashtra is a vast state, its population of over 96 million making it politically important and major industries based on cotton, sugar, engineering goods and processed foods lending it economic vitality. In recent years, strawberry fields and grape vineyards have made their appearance in its rich agricultural hinterland, but the most prized crop remains the Alfonso mango, a particularly sweet and luscious variety, which is exported across the world. Central Maharashtra has two World Heritage site to its credit, at Ajanta and Ellora. The murals and sculptures found here testify to the common, ancient roots of Hinduism and Buddhism. Many visitors travel by train from Mumbai to the tiny neighboring state of Goa. The Konkan Railway which connects the two, and continues southwards to Karnataka, is a wonderful way to see the lush coastal scenery of coconut groves, spice plantations and fishing villages. Goa was a Portuguese colony from 1510 until 1961, when it was liberated by the Indian Army. The Portuguese departed peacefully, leaving behind a rich cultural legacy in cathedrals and mansions, music, dance, and in its distinctive cuisine. Karnataka is often described as the geographical and cultural meeting point between India's Dravidian south and its Indo-Aryan north. The state's varied landscape and architecture both reflect this unique melange. Karnataka's narrow strip of fertile coastland is backed by the green hills of the Western Ghats, covered with forests of fragrant sandalwood and teak. These slope down to a vast plateau, watered by the Kaveri and Krishna rivers. This is the state's historic and cultural heartland, dotted with architectural treasures in an extraordinary variety of styles. They were built by local Hindu and Muslim dynasties, as well as by ambitious rulers from the north, Maratha warriors and medieval Islamic chieftains, all of whom had once established kingdoms here. Bangalore, the state capital, presents a sharp contrast to Karnataka's historic sites. As the ebullient center of India's burgeoning computer software industry, this once laid-back town has been transformed into a globalized, high-tech showcase for contemporary India. Several corporations have opened offices here, while pubs and shopping malls line its streets, catering to a cosmopolitan population.
If you planning to explore India, book Holiday tour packages in India with Swan Tours at best price and discover India, Swan Tours one of the leading travel agents in India. Delhi is a city of contradictions, The modern city which is known as New Delhi is very different from the the old walled city . To understand Delhi in its true sense, one must explore both sides of the city , Delhi sightseeing tour by car managed by Swan Tours offers glimpses of the best in the city . Below is the tourist information on the best of the old city: The Jama Masjid (1650-6 meaning Friday Mosque, was Shah Jahan's last building, completed two years before he lost his throne. Standing on a mound called Bhojla Pahar, the great royal mosque—one of the largest of Islam—was designed by Ustad Khlil who placed it on a high plinth to show off its glowing red sandstone inlaid with marble and brass—and to proclaim to the world his master's authority as a reflection of divine power. Visitors were suitably impressed. It was at first named Masjid-i Jahan Nama (mosque with a view of the world). Certainly, its two slender minarets flanking the three black-and-white striped, marble, onion domes of the prayer-hall dominate Old Delhi. The faithful ceaselessly stream up and down the steep north steps to the courtyard. Here they wash, study the Qur'an, pray and join visitors to gaze at the fort through the arcades, which are especially beautiful under soft morning sunlight. When pious Aurangzeb came to prayer riding a decorated elephant or carried in a golden throne, the streets from fort to mosque were doused with water to reduce the heat and dust, and were lined with 300 musketeers. (It is sometimes possible to go up a minaret, worth the climb for a bird's-eye view of the city. It is best to obtain prior permission and to avoid the crowded holy days of Fridays and Muslim festivals). The area around Jama Masjid seethes with Muslim life. On the south side, the air is scented with spices from the cluster of tiny restaurants where Karim, found down the central lane, is worth a look at any hour. Further round, the markets sell baskets of clucking white chickens and an assortment of weird-shaped fish. Shah Jahan's daughter, Jahanara Begum, built Urdu Bazar which runs off to the east. Back on the west side, every conceivable car part and size of tyre spills out from busy workshops. On the north side there are fireworks shops, supplemented by roadside stalls at festival time. Fireworks displays are an old Indian tradition (paintings show princesses playing with fireworks on palace terraces). Huge wooden elephants or gods dissolve into a mass of crackers at Hindu festivals; and one current favourite rocket has a plastic mini Ganesh (the elephant-headed god) who descends in a parachute. The lane running north from the mosque's north steps leads to Dariba Kalan, a turning on the left, which emerges into Chandni Chowk (to avoid getting lost, it is best to check by asking). The narrow paths twist between the high walls of ancient havelis (courtyard houses) with carved wooden doorways, some still home for descendants of Mughal traders, others still owned by families who now live in the air-conditioned comfort of south Delhi colonies. Tiny, polychrome temples are jammed between them, goldsmiths sit cross-legged working miracles with nimble fingers, cows laze about nonchalantly and a paan seller trundles his box of ingredients from one customer to the next. For shopping , when you undertake Golden Triangle tour packages in India , a must visit is Kinari (braid) Bazar is a lane on the left lined with tiny shops , a must visit for tourists ,glittering with all kinds of essential equipment for weddings and festivals: gold-embroidered shoes, fancy braid, glitzy saris, gold-lame turbans, tinsel, plumes and magnificent papier-mache masks of Durga, Hanuman and other favourite gods, with extra Ravana heads, swords, bows and arrows on sale in the run-up to the Dussehra festival in October. The next lane is Paratha Walan (alley of paratha sellers), formerly lined with cooks frying up delicious flat paratha breads on their griddles; today, Kusha Rai is the best of the three remaining cafes. Back on Dariba Kalan the travellers are fascinated by Gulab Singh's attar shop has tiny bottles of strong-smelling Lotus and Moonlight perfumes, much used by Muslim men and women. Further down, the old silver and gold shops glisten with traditional jewellery. On the left, the basement of Sri Ram Had Ram is like a non-stop market; women debate over which piece to buy, shop assistants pop them on the scales as cost is by weight, not design. And at the end, on the corner of Chandni Chowk, a perpetual crowd hovers around the sweet aroma of Naim Chand Jain's jalebi kiosk, customers greedily gobbling up the hot, sweet and crisp twirly shapes, licking their fingers and lips with delight.
for more information on tourist sightseeing spots in and around Delhi , Contact Swan Tours , one of the leading travel agents in India since 1995 . Unknown to the outside world until 1974, when Ladakh was opened up to tourists, Alchi is now one of Ladakh major tourist attractions, renowned as a great centre of Buddhist art. It was built as a monument to the school Spreading - the revival of Buddhism that took place in Tibet in the 11th century, on the basis of religious texts brought from Kashmir. The entire Mahayana Buddhist pantheon of deities is represented within five temples, together with superb paintings of court life, battles and pilgrimages, depicting the costumes, architecture and customs of the time. The assembly hall, known as Dukhang, is the oldest of the five temples and holds some of Alchi's greatest treasures. The beautiful central image of Vairocana, the main Buddha of Meditation, is surrounded by a wooden frame exuberantly carved with dancers, musicians, elephants and mythical animals. It is flanked by four other Buddhas of Meditation. Even more impressive are the six elaborate mandalas painted on the walls, together with small scenes of contemporary life. The space between the mandalas is filled with fine decorative details that have an unexpectedly Rococo look about them. Also Visit - Leh Ladakh Tours In the three-storeyed Sumtsek, the second-oldest temple, are spectacular images and paintings. The temple's most unique features are the gigantic images of Avalokitesvara, Manjushri and Maitreya, that stand in alcoves in three of its walls. Only their legs and torsos are visible from the ground floor, while their heads protrude into the upper storey. From waist to knee they are draped in dhoti-like garments, covered with remarkably animated and sophisticated miniature paintings. It is advisable to take a torch to examine their incredible detail. The Avaloki-tesvara image is covered with shrines, palaces, and vignettes of contemporary life. The Maitreya image has scenes from the Buddha's life painted within roundels, and the Manjushri image depicts the 84 Masters of the Tantra. The three other temples probably date from the late 12th to early 13th centuries, and though they would win acclaim in any other setting, they fade in comparison with the Dukhang and the Sumtsek. The Manjushri Lhakhang has murals of the Thousand Buddhas and an enormous, recently-repainted image of Manjushri. The Lotsawa Lhakhang has rather more austere paintings and images. It is dedicated to the saint Rinchen Zangpo, who was also closely associated with the Thikse and Tabo monasteries. The Lhakhang Soma, the last temple to be built at Alchi, has a profusion of fierce-looking deities on its walls, and scenes showing the Buddha preaching. The Five Buddhas of Meditation Buddhism in the 12th century laid emphasis on the Five Dhvani Buddhas, or Buddhas of Meditation, who feature in several mandalas in Alchi. Each of these Buddhas is associated with a direction and a colour. Vairocana (the Resplendent) is associated with the centre and the colour white; Amitabha (the Boundless Light) with the west and the colour red; Akshobhya (the Imperturbable) with the east and the colour blue; Amoghasiddhi Success) with the north and the colour green: and Ratnasambhava (the jewel-Bum) with the south and the colour ellow. The Five Buddhas of Meditation symbolize the different aspects of the luddhas and the mandalas help devotees to meditate on them. For more Information on Alchi Monastery Ladakh contact Swan Tours one of the best travel agency in India This is a separate island situated in the north of Port Blair harbour and is about 200 acres in area. At present this island is under the Indian Navy. During the British period, the Ross Island was the administrative headquarter of the Andaman Nicobar Islands. It was developed into self-equipped township with all facilities, required for a civilized colony. Tourists can reach this island within 20 minutes from Phoenix Jetty.
The marine department operates a regular ferry service to this island daily except Wednesday. Initially, the freedom fighters of the first world war of Independence of 1857 brought to Andamans were lodged on Ross Island. Dr. James Patterson Walker, the chairman of Andaman committees, arrived in Port Blair on 10th March, 1858, and established the infamous and the dreaded penal settlement with 200 convicts. British officers lived happily with all facilities like church, bakery, hospital, bath rooms, swimming pool, tennis ground etc. But now the magnificent structure of art and architecture is in ruins. The ruins on Ross Island remind us of the pomp and glory of the bygone years. As far as the attractions are concerned small museum named as 'smritika' has been organized and maintained by the Indian Navy. This museum depicts the history of the Island. Some spotted deer’s and peacocks are found on this island. All tourists are permitted to visit this precious Island but no one is allowed to stay overnight. No canteen or shop serving eatables is available on Ross Island and hence the visitors are advised to take with them all the essential items like food, bread, water, tea, coffee, etc. If you planning to explore Andaman and Nicobar, Book Andaman Holidays Tour Packages with Swan Tours at best price and discover Andaman and Nicobar, Swan Tours one of the leading travel agents in India. |
AuthorSwan Tours one of the leading travel agnets in India Archives
January 2018
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