Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

A GREAT DESTINATION

SPLENDOURS

“If there be a paradise on earth, It is this, it is this, it is this.”

- Persian couplet inscribed on the walls of the Diwan-i-Khas in the Red Fort, Delhi.

India's tourist sights are many and multifarious. There are scenic wonders and man-made masterpieces — valleys of emerald green, soaring mountains of snow-capped splendour, golden beaches; magnificent palaces, mausoleums and temples; and massive rock-hewn expressions of medieval genius in art and architecture.

Gol Gumbaz — Bijapur, Karnataka ; Best Time - Throughout the year; Access - (R) Bijapur; Desc. - The Gol Gumbaz is the world famous mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah built in 1659. This enormous structure with its vast hemispherical dome capable of repeating a sound 10 times is said to be the world's second largest (diameter-38 metres) next to St. Peter's in Rome (42 m). Access - (A) Bangalore-155 km (R) Mysore 115 km; Desc. - One of the oldest and most important Jain pilgrimage centres in India. The structure of Lord Bahubali (Gomateshwara) is said to be world's tallest monolithic statue. Mahamastakabhisheka ceremony takes place once every 12-14 years. Hajebid & Belur — Karnataka; Access - Belur 40km by road from Hassan; Halebid 32 km from Hassan; Desc. - The temples at Halebid & Belur are covered with a wealth of sculptural detail. Hampi — Karnataka; Best Time - Throughout the year; Access - (A) Bangalore (R) Hospet; Desc - Site of the capital of the old Hindu empire of Vijayanagar. The medieval ruins cover some 26 sq. kms. Vijayanagar was founded in 1336. In 1565 the city was sacked and reduced to rubble except for a few buildings. The Por- tuguese traveller Paes who saw Vijayanagar in its heyday de- scribed it as being as large as Rome with the palace of its king more spacious than the castles of Lisbon. The stone chariot, very finely carved out of stone and a monolithlic Narasimha carved out of a single boulder are some of the sights to be seen. Coorg — Karnataka; Access - (Ro) Mysore; Desc. - Perched on the green top of the Western Ghats and surrounded on all sides by lovely mountainous terrain lies the picturesque district of Coorg; Places of Interest - Talakaveri, Omkareswara temple. Kemmanagundi — Mysore, Karnataka; Best Time - March-July; Access - (Ro) Bhadravathi; Desc. - Situated amidst Bababudan- agiri ranges in the Western ghats is a health resort. The hill station has salubrious climate, magnificient natural scenery; Places of Interest - Hebbe Falls, Bababudanagiri Peak, Bhadra- vathi Iron and Steel works, Dattatreya Bhavan. Nandi Hill - Karnataka; Best Time - Throughout except in mon- soon; Access - (A) Bangalore; Desc. - Popular hill resort near Bangalore. The fairly extensive plateau on its top has been, of late, developed into an ideal summer resort; Places of Interest - Tippu's lodge, Amrita Sarovar, Tippu's Drop. Gomateshwara - Sravanabelagola, Karnataka;

Jog Falls Best Time - After monsoon; Access - (R) Mysore (348km), accessible also from Bangalore; Desc. - Jog Falls is the highest falls in India. The Sharavati river drops 253m in 4 distinctly separate falls - Rani, Rocket, Raja & Roarer. Best Time - Throughout the year; Access - (R) Mysore; Desc. - Situated at the base of the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam the musical fountains and illuminated dancing waters present a feast of colour in the eve- nings turning the gardens into a veritable fairyland. Tourists can spend the night at a hotel overlooking the whole panorama of the gardens. There are facilities for boating and fishing. Best Time - Throughout the year; Access - (A) Bangalore; Desc. - Originally largely wooden and destroyed by a fire in 1897. The new one, erected at the same site in 1912, is profusely decorative and gilded; perhaps the most ornate example of Indo-Saracenic archi- tecture. A solid gold throne studded with jewels remains the single resplendent object to be seen. The Dasara Procession is an annual festival lasting for 10 days; Places of Interest - Jaganmo- han Palace, Chamundi Hill, Brindavan gardens, St. Philomena's Church, Mysore Zoo, Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary, Tippu's palace etc. Best Time - Sept/ October; Access - (A) Bangalore; Desc. - Mysore is famous for its Dusserah festival. The whole city is illuminated. Caparisoned elephants lead processions and music and dance programmes are part of the 10 - day festival. Mudumalai - Tamil Nadu; Best Time - Dec-Jan; Access - (A) Coimbatore (165 kms); (Ro) Ooty (36 km); Desc. - Snuggled in the majestic Nilgiris, the mystique of the timeless forests of Mudumalai is reinforced by the lure of the wild. The diversity of wildlife here includes such species as the gaur or Indian bison and rare varieties of deer like the mouse deer and the barking deer, Best Time - Throughout the year; Access (A) Trivandrum (80 km) (R) Trivandrum, Coimbatore, Delhi & Bombay, Tirunelveli (81 km); Desc. - Temple dedicated to the virgin Goddess Kanniyakumari. The diamond nose-ring of this deity is famous for its sparkling splendour, which is supposed to be visible from the sea; Places of Interest - Gandhi Memorial, Vivekananda Memorial. — Sirsi, Karnataka; Brindavan Gardens - Mysore, Karnataka; The Mysore Palace - Mysore, Karnataka; Dusserah Procession — Karnataka,Mysore; Kanniyakumari temple — Cape Comorin, Tamil Nadu;