Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

A GREAT DESTINATION

National Museum — Delhi; Access - (A) Delhi (A) Delhi; Desc. - Has a good collection of Indian bronzes, terracotta and wood sculptures from the Mauryan period (2nd-3rd century B.C), ex- hibits from the Vijayanagar period in South India, miniature and rural paintings & costumes of tribal people. The new wing houses a superb collection of over 300 classical, folk and tribal musical in- struments. The Iron Pillar — Delhi; Best Time - Oct-Mar; Access - (A) Delhi (R) Delhi; Desc. - This seven-metre high pillar stands in the courtyard of the Quwwat-ul-Islam (the first mosque to be built in India) at the foot of the Qutab Minar. More than 2000 years old, it has not rusted. Scientists have not been able to explain how iron of such purity could be cast with the technology of the period. Khajuraho - Madhya Pradesh; Best Time - July-March; Access - (A) Khajuraho-Delhi Agra,Varanasi (R) Harpalpur (94km), Jhansi (172km); Desc. - The temples of Khajuraho are one of India's major attractions. It is perhaps also the world's greatest display of erotic sculpture. There are 22 temples remaining scat- tered, over and above 21 sq km. Special occasion: Khajuraho Festival (March). A dance performance by leading Indian classi- cal dancers is held on the occasion. Best Time - July-March; Access - (A) Bhopal-46 km Bhopal (R) Bhopal; Desc. - The Great Stupa is the earliest existing stone structure in India. Built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd Century B.C. Thousands of Bud- dhists from all over the world visit it as a place of pilgrimage. Gwalior fort — Madhya Pradesh; Best Time - Oct-March; Ac- cess - (A) Gwalior (R) Gwalior; Desc. - One of the oldest and most spectacular forts in India, it is built on sheer rock. Inside it there is the ornate Man Singh's palace as also the Karan, Jahangir and Shah Jahan and Gujahi Mahal palaces. The last has a museum Sanchi Stupa — Madhya Pradesh;

with a fine collection of inscriptions, carvings, Gupta sculptures and miniature paintings. Kanha National Park — Kanha, Madhya Pradesh; Best Time - Feb-June; Access - (A) Jabalpur (173 km) Nagpur (226 km) (R) . Jabalpur; Desc. - Kanha's sal and bamboo forests, rolling grass- lands and meandering streams stretch over 940 sq. km in dramatic natural splendour. The park is the only habitat of the rare ba- rasingha deer (Cervus Duvaceli Branded). Kanha National Park is an irresitible attraction for all wildlife lovers and a true haven for its animal and avian population, including tigers. Pachmarhi — Madhya Pradesh; Best Time - Oct-June; Access - (A) Bhopal (210 km) (R) Pipariya (47 km) (Ro) Bhopal, Hoshan- gabad, Nagpur, Pipariya and Chhindwala; Desc. - Madhya Pradesh's most verdant jewel. Each dawn at this lovely hill resort girdled by the Satpura ranges, ushers in a day of tranquil beauty; Places of Interest - Priyadarshini Point, Handi Khoh, Apsara Vihar. Best Time - June-March; Access - (A)Aurangabad 106km from Ajanta & 29km from Ellora (R) Jalagon-50km; Desc. - 34 Hindu, Buddhist & Jain temples carved out of hillside exist next to each other. The Ellora cave temples are noted for their sculpture. The most remarkable is the Kailasa temple carved out of a single rock. The Ajanta caves (30 in number) are magnificent rock cut Buddhist cave temples with murals on incidents from the Buddha's life on the walls. Elephanta caves — Bombay, on island of Elephanta, 10 miles from Apollo Bunder, Maharashtra; Best Time - Throughout year except monsoon months (June-September); Desc. - There are four rock-cut cave temples. The main cave has a massive 5.8m (19ft) high Trimurthi monolith depicting Shiva as creator, pre- server and destroyer. Other panels show Shiva as Ardhanar- iswar, or half-man, half-woman and performing Tandava dance (Nataraja). Ajanta & Ellora — Maharashtra;

The Taj at Agra is breathtaking. It is even more so by moonlight. The full moon dates for 1995 is given in the chart below so that tourists can schedule their trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal by moonlight.

Full Moon Dates for

the

Year 1995

H ou r s

M inu t es

1

Jan. 17

Tuesday

56

Feb. 15

Wednesday

17

45

Friday

Mar. 17

56

6

Apr. 15

Saturday

38

2

May 15

Monday

18

2

June 13

Tuesday

9

33 -

July 12

Wednesday

16

19

Aug. 10

Thursday

23

45

Sept. 9

Saturday

9

7

21

22

Oct. 8

Sunday

12

Nov. 7

Tuesday

50

Dec. 7

Thursday

57

6