Sights of North India

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NORTHERN INDIANorthern India is a loosely defined region in the northern part ofIndia. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage. The dominantgeographical features of northern India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain

and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from Tibet andCentral Asia. North India has been the historical center of the Maurya,Gupta, Mughal and British Indian Empires. It has a diverse culture,and includes the Hindu pilgrimage centers of Char Dham, Haridwarand Varanasi, the Muslim pilgrimage destination of Ajmer, as well as

world heritage sites such as the Mahabodhi Temple, Humayun's Tomband the Taj Mahal. Under some definitions of the region, the easternareas are part of the impoverished Red corridor region that facessignificant development challenges.


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Northern India includes the following states:

DELHI

JAMMU AND KASHMIR

HARYANA

HIMACHAL PRADESH

PUNJAB

UTTAR PRADESH

UTTARANCHAL


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DELHI


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FAMOUS SIGHTSEEINGIN DELHI

AKSHARDHAM TEMPLE

RED FORT


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AKSHARDHAM TEMPLEAkshardham is a Hindu temple complex in Delhi, India. Also referred toas Delhi Akshardham or Swaminarayan Akshardham, the complex displayscenturies of traditional Indian and Hindu culture, spirituality, andarchitecture. The building was inspired and moderated by Pramukh SwamiMaharaj, the spiritual head of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam

Swaminarayan Sanstha, whose 3,000 volunteers helped 7,000 artisansconstruct Akshardham.

The temple, which attracts approximately 70 percent of all tourists who visitDelhi, was officially opened on 6 November 2005. It sits on the banks of the

Yamuna adjacent to the proposed 2010 Commonwealth Games village. The

monument at the center of the complex of built off of the Vastu Shastra andPancharatra Shastra. The complex features a large central monumentcrafted entirely of stone, exhibitions on incidents from the life of BhagwanSwaminarayan and the history of India, an IMAX feature, a musicalfountain, and large landscaped gardens.


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MONUMENTThe main monument, at the center of the complex, is 141-foot high, 316-footwide, and 370-foot long, and is covered top to bottom with carved details offlora, fauna, dancers, musicians, and deities. Within the monument, under thecentral dome, lies a murti or statue of Bhagwan Swaminarayan which is 11-foothigh. The murti is surrounded by similar statues of the gurus of the sect. Each

murti is made ofpaanch daatu or five metals in accordance to Hindu tradition.Also within the central monument lie the murits of other Hindu deities,including Sita Ram, Radha Krishna, Shiv Parvati, and Lakshmi Narayan.

GUINNESS WORLD

RECORDOn 17 December 2007, Michael Whitty, an official world record adjudicator forGuinness World Records, traveled to Ahmedabad, India to present a new worldrecord to Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS SwaminarayanSanstha, for the Akshardham complex.


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http://wiki/File:Akshardham_Lotus.jpg


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RED FORTThe Delhi Fort also known as Lal Qil'ah meaning the Red Fort, located in thewalled city of Delhi, India and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.

The Red Fort and the city of Shahjahanabad was constructed by the Emperor ShahJahan in 1639 A.D. The Red Fort was originally referred to as "Qila-i-Mubarak"(the blessed fort), because it was the residence of the royal family. The layout of

the Red Fort was organised to retain and integrate this site with the Salimgarh Fort.The fortress palace is an important focal point of the medieval city ofShahjahanabad. The planning and aesthetics of the Red Fort represent the zenith ofMughal creativity which prevailed during the reign of Emperor Shahjahan. ThisFort has had many developments added on after its construction by EmperorShahjahan. The significant phases of development were under Aurangzeb and laterMughal rulers. Important physical changes were carried out in the overall settingsof the site after the First War of Independence during British Rule in 1857. AfterIndependence, the site experienced a few changes in terms of addition/alteration tothe structures. During the British period the Fort was mainly used as a cantonmentand even after Independence, a significant part of the Fort remained under the

control of the Army until the year 2003.


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ARCHITECTURAL

DESIGN

Red Fort showcases the very high level of art form and ornamental work. The artwork in the Fort is a synthesis of Persian, European and Indian art which resultedin the development of unique Shahjahani style which is very rich in form,expression and colour. Red Fort, Delhi is one of the important building complexes

of India which encapsulates a long period of Indian history and its arts. Itssignificance has transcended time and space. It is relevant as a symbol ofarchitectural brilliance and power. Even before its notification as a monument ofnational importance in the year 1913, efforts were made to preserve and conservethe Red Fort, for posterity.

The walls of the fort are smoothly dressed, articulated by heavy string-courses along the upper section. They open at two major gates, the Delhi andthe Lahore gates. The Lahore Gate is the main entrance; it leads to a longcovered bazar street, the Chatta Chowk, whose walls are lined with stalls forshops. The Chatta Chowk leads to a large open space where it crosses thelarge north-south street that was originally the division between the fort'smilitary functions, to its west, and the palaces, to its east. The southern end

of this street is the Delhi Gate.


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JAMMU AND

KASHMIR


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FAMOUS SIGHTSEEING INJAMMU AND KASHMIR

DAL LAKE

VAISHNU DEVI


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DAL LAKEThe Dal Lake which has the length of 8 Km long and a width of 4 Km, spreadsover a total of 26 Sq. Km. The fascinating Dal Lake is divided into two smallerones the Lokut (small) and Bod (big) Dal. The south western part of the lakehas a maximum depth of approximately 12 M. the Dal Lake gets some of its

water from spring but is also supplemented by water from the mountain lake,Mar Sar. In the western part of the Lake one can glimpse a few islands, somebigger, some smaller. Its shores are very fertile and surrounded by willows.Potato, tomato, pumpkin, cucumber, radish and lots of other vegetables aregrown here cultivation of the f loating gardens which also lie in this part of thelake is another interesting feature. These gardens consist of reed rafts ofdifferent lengths and a width of approximately one and a half by three meters

and are covered by 1020 CM thick layer of earth and mud. Vegetables andmelons are grown on these artificial floating islands.Dal Lake is, initially, oneof the most confusing parts of Srinagar for it's not really one lake at all, butthree. Further more much of it is hardly what one would expect a lake to be like- it's a maze of intricate waterways and channels, floating islands of vegetation,houseboats that look so firmly moored they could almost be islands and hotels

on islands which look like they could simply float away


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SIGHTS

NEAR DAL LAKEStarting from the Dal lake is the smaller Nagin Lake. Here, the waters arebordered by trees of willow and poplar. The waters of the lakes are refreshinglycool from mid-May to mid-September. Nagin Lake, which is at distance fromtown, have magnificent display of the mountains.

The sight of the floating market is truly awe-inspiring. Salesmen paddle from oneboat to another, selling everything you could want - like fruit, nuts, fresh flowers,cold drinks, film, baked goods, papier-mache boxes, woolen shawls, silk carpets,leather goods, money-exchanging services and lots more. The gentle soothingmovement of the boats, as it glides along the water of these lakes, is awesome.The Dal Lake is a famous lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of thenorthernmost Indian administered state of Jammu & Kashmir. The lake itself is

connected to a number of other lakes of the Kashmir valley. It is well known for itsapproximately 500 Victorian-era wooden houseboats, originally built as vacationhomes for British administrators during the Raj. The lake covers 18 squarekilometers, and is divided by causeways into four basins, called Gagribal, LokutDal, Bod Dal and Nagin. Lokut-dal and Bod-dal have an island each in the centre,known as Rup Lank and Sona Lank respectively. Along most of the shore of thelake is a boulevard, lined with Mughal-era gardens, parks, and hotels. During the

winter season the lake sometimes freezes over.


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VAISHNU DEVIOne of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage in North India, it is a cave shrine of theMother Goddess, who is said to be the merger of three mightiest deities of MahaKali (Goddess of power), Maha Saraswati (Goddess of knowledge), and MahaLakshmi (Goddess of wealth). The number of pilgrims who come here to payhomage to the Goddess keeps on swelling year after year. It is believed to cleansethe spiritual persona and bless a true devotee with resuscitation for the heart.Nestled amidst the Trikuta Mountains, 61 km north of Jammu, Vaishno Devi is

perched at a height of 5,200 feet above the sea level. Katra, a town situated at thefoot of the Trikuta hills, serves as the base camp for the Vaishno Devi shrine.

It is open all the year round but it is difficult to cover the route during the wintersas it is often blocked by snowfall. It is said that the five Pandavas of Mahabharatabuilt the holy cave shrine of Vaishno Devi. At the mouth of the original tunnel to

the holy cave, there are symbols of other gods such as Vakra Tunda Ganesha (theElephant God), Surya Dev (the Sun God) and Chandra Dev (the Moon God). Onehas to crawl in the tunnel to reach the cave shrine and has to cross over the Dhadh(body) of Bhairon Nath. Launkra Beer (a form of Lord Hanuman) can also be seenhere, who is said to have been posted as the guard at the gate while she wasmeditating in the cave. Twenty-three feet beyond Launkra Beer, one can see theinnumerable heads ofShesh Nag, supporting the roof of the cave.


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VAISHNU DEVI - HEAVEN

FOR

SPIRITUAL REDEMPTION

Vaishno Devi is one of the holiest Hindu Pilgrimage site which isdedicated to Goddess Shakti. The temple is located around 12 km away

from Katra in the Udhampur district. The temple is situated at analtitude of 1615 m on the Trikuta Hills of Shivalik Range. Pilgrims,especially Hindus from all over the world visit Vaishno Devi making itthe second most visited shrine in India after Tirupati Balaji Mandir.There are three rock cut statues in the 100 feet long cave. The middle

one represents Goddess Lakshmi, right statue represents Goddess Kaliand left one represents Goddess Saraswati. All kind of people, whetherthey are rich or poor, young or old, sick or healthy take the challengingtrek from Katra to get to this holy place.


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HARYANA


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FAMOUS SIGHTSEEING

IN HARYANA

SURAJKUND CRAFT MELA


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MELA

The very first effort on organizing cultural events on a national level by HaryanaTourism was done with the launching of the annual and now internationallyfamous Surajkund Crafts Mela, that began in 1981. The Crafts Mela celebratesthe finest handlooms and handicrafts traditions of country. It is a fortnight longevent that embodies the spirit that runs through the people of India and its richculture. It is held in the month of February from 1st-15th. The Surajkund Crafts

Mela is held just 8 km from south Delhi.Beneath thatched roof platforms,master crafts persons carefully display the finest of handlooms and handicraftsfrom all over the country. The event is so colorful and rich in experience, thatmany a tourist has returned to visit it again and again. The prices are relativelylow compared to emporia, and some of the stuff can be amazing. Shops at the

Mela bustle with the brilliance of mirror encasing embroidery, delicate lacework, folk motifs on terracotta forms, metal and cane-ware, the tinkle ofbangles, shimmer of iridescent silks and the jingle of toys and trinkets. TheSurajkund Crafts Mela is more than a celebration of crafts. At the fan shapedopen-air-theatre name 'Natyashala' rich folk dances and musical evenings are

held throughout the mela fortnight.


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CRAFT

Some of the most deligtful crafts collections of the Mela arrive from practically allover the country. In wood and cane come inlay work, rose wood carving, sandalwood from Punjab and South India. Chiki wood craft of Kashmir and some veryfine cane craft come from West Bengal and North Eastern States. Delcatesholapith and shital patti work come from Assam and West Bengal. The phulkariof Punjab, the Banjara and Banni embroidery of Gujarat and Rajasthan, theKantha traditions from West Bengal and Tripura, lace and crochet from Goa, theSuzni of Kashmir and Mirror encasing work along with the traditional chikan

work of Lucknow delight.Oxidized jewellery, sea shell decorations and agatestone work delight as also do delicate gold work and chunky silver jewellery.

Toys in wood and cane, ply and mud make the young thrill with joy. Some of thefine phad paintings of Rajasthan, the kalamkari of Andhra and Karnataka, temple

paintings of Orissa, madhubani of Bihar, fascinate. In the metal section tribaldhora work, classical south Indian metal work, glittering brass ware, bell metaland iron craft delight collectors. In the field of woven textiles some of the finestsilk work of Orissa, Patola, Bandhini of Gujarat and Rajasthan, Ikat,Kanjeevaram, Dharmavaram and temple silks of South India vie for attention withthe most simple cottons of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and tribal textiles ofNorth East India as also do the handloom of Haryana.


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HIMACHAL

PRADESH


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FAMOUS SIGHTSEEING IN

HIMACHAL PRADESH

MANALI

Shimla


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MANALI

Manali, (alt. 1,950 m or 6,398 ft) in the Beas River valley, is an important hillstation in the Himalayan mountains of Himachal Pradesh, India, near thenorthern end of the Kullu Valley. Manali is administratively a part of the Kulludistrict. The population is approx. 30,000. The small town was the beginning ofan ancient trade route to Ladakh and, from there, over the Karakoram Pass onto Yarkand and Khotan in the Tarim Basin. Manali and its surrounding areas areof great significance to the Indian culture and heritage as it was the home andabode of the Saptarshi or seven sages. The ancient cave temple, Hidimba DeviTemple, is not far from town, 3 k.m. from the main city. Manu Maharishitemple is located in old Manali village, which is 4 k.m. far from the Manali. Thename of manali is on the name of Lord Manu. This temple is one and onlytemple in the world. As per hindusm Manu was the first men in the nature.

Skiing is a major pastime in Manali. Facilities for skiing are available at SolangNullah (January-March) and Rohtang La (during summer). TheMountaineering Institute at Solang Nullah is a good training institute. Heliskiing is possible at the deep snowfields.


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INTEREST

ROHTANG PASS

It is at an altitude of 13,050 feet(3,978 mtr) above sea level, is another adventuretourist site where it can be cold even on a summer day. It is the highest point on theManali-Keylong road and provides a wide panoramic view of mountains rising farabove clouds, which is truly breath taking. Close by is a small lake called DassaurLake. Beas Kund, the source of river Beas, is also nearby. In winter, the road ofRothang Pass is closed.

MANIKARAN

Manikaran,86 km from Manali and 45 km from Kullu, lies in the Parvati Valley. Hereicy cold waters of the Parvati river co-exist with hot-water springs side-by-side. Thesprings are known for their healing properties.

VASHISHAT

Vashisht Hot Water Springs and Temple: Around 3 km from Manali, across the Beasriver is Vashishat, a small village with natural sulphur springs. Modernbathhouses,now closed, due to a conflict with the elders of the village and Manalicouncil. Vasistha ,a sage narrated Yoga Vasishtha an ancient scripture to Rama. Aunique and an extremely profound discourse, that provides innumerable insights andsecrets to the inner world of consciousness. This extremely huge scripture covers all

the topics that relate to the spiritual study of a seeker.


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Shimla

Shimla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimlawas declared the summer capital of the erstwhile British Raj inIndia. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred toas the "Queen of Hills" (a term coined by the British). Located

in north-west Himalayas at an altitude of 2,130 metres(6,988 ft), the city of Shimla, draped in forests of pine,rhododendron, and oak, experiences pleasant summers andcold, snowy winters. The city is famous for its buildings styledin tudorbethan and neo-gothic architecture reminiscent of the

colonial era. Shimla is connected to the city of Kalka by one ofthe longest narrow gauge railway routes still operating in India.Shimla is approximately 115 km (71.4 miles) from Chandigarh,the nearest major city, and 365 km (226.8 miles) from NewDelhi, the national capital. The city is named after the goddess

Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Kali.

SOME PLACES OF


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SOME PLACES OF

INTERESTTHE MALL

The Mall is the main shopping centre of Shimla. It also has many restaurants,clubs, banks, bars, Post Offices and tourist offices. The Gaiety Theatre is alsosituated there. People walk up and down the Mall slowly, stopping to gossip, as itis the main meeting place for everyone. The Ridge and Scandal point are the two

main meeting points at the Mall.CHRIST CHURCH

Situated on the Ridge, Christ Church is the second oldest church in NorthernIndia. It has a very majestic appearance and inside there are stained glass

windows which represent faith, hope, charity, fortitude, patience and humility.

SUMMER HILL

Situated at a distance of 5 km from the Ridge is the lovely township of SummerHill at a height of 6,500 ft on the Shimla-Kalka railway line. Mahatma Gandhilived in these quiet surroundings during his visits to Shimla. Himachal PradeshUniversity is situated here.


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PUNJAB


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FAMOUS SIGHTSEEING ININ PUNJAB

GOLDEN TEMPLE

ROCK GARDEN


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GOLDEN TEMPLEGolden or Darbar ,informally referred to as The Golden Temple or Temple ofGod, is culturally the most significant place of worship of the Sikhs and one ofthe oldest Sikh gurdwaras. It is located in the city of Amritsar, which wasestablished by Guru Ram Das Ji, the fourth guru of the Sikhs, and is, also due tothe shrine, known as Guru Di Nagri meaning city of the Guru. The Harmandir

Sahib is considered holy and beautiful by Sikhs because the eternal Guru ofSikhism, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, is present inside in it. It is moved to theSri Akal Takhat Sahib at around 10 PM and then moved back from there to SriDarbar Sahib at 5 AM. Its construction was mainly intended as a place of

worship for men and women from all walks of life and all religions to come and

worship God equally. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the holiest literature in theSikh religion,the tenth Guru of Sikhs, Sri Guru Gobind Singh on 7 October 1708made it the eternal Sikh Guru and the leader of Sikhism.Anywhere in the world

where the Guru Granth Sahib is present is equally holy and precious to Sikhs.Harmandir Sahib was built with four doors to show that every religion or faith is

allowed to go in to meditate or just listen to the prayers for peace.


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HISTORY

Its name literally means House of God. The fourth Guru of Sikhism, GuruRam Das, excavated a tank in 1577 which subsequently became known asAmritsar(meaning: Pool of the Nectar of Immortality), giving its name tothe city that grew around it. In due course, a splendid Sikh edifice,Harmandir Sahib (Temple of God),was constructed in the middle of thistank which became the supreme centre of Sikhism. Its sanctum came to

house the Adi Granth comprising compositions, Sikh values, philosophiesand teachings of the Sikh Gurus and other saints of Guru Nanak's time, e.g.Ravidas a Hindu Guru, Baba Farid a Sufi Sant (Saint) and Kabir, all of

whom the Sikhs refer to as the Bhagats.The compilation of the Adi Granthwas started by the fifth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Arjan Dev.

Amritsar is located in the Majha region of the Punjab. Majha is also knownas the Bari Doab, since it is the Doab or the (fluvial) tract of land which liesbetween two of the five great rivers of the province, the Ravi and the Beas.

As such, Majha lies in the heart of the ancient Punjab region, comprised ofGurdMaspur, Batala and Tarn Taran Sahib as well as Amritsar. Amritsar is

also known as "Sifti Da Ghar" or Adorable Abode.


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ROCK GARDEN

Rock Garden of Chandigarh, Punjab is an important landmark in the city ofChandigarh. While thinking about Punjab tourist attractions, Rock Garden is aname that comes on top of the list. This is a modern marvel in one of theplanned cities of India. The Rock garden of Chandigarh, Punjab is marvelouscreation of the Nek Chand, a road inspector, who actually designed it.

The Rock Garden of Chandigarh is an internationally acclaimed garden setamidst a sprawling 64 acres of forested lands. It is very conveniently locatedbetween the Capital Complex and the Sukhna Lake in Sector 1 of Chandigarh. Itis built in the form of an open air exhibition that is rolled into a fantasy land ofartworks created from disposed waste materials and converted into a beautifullandscape.

The Rock Garden is a wonderful specimen of imaginative use of disposed wastematerials which has been crafted to create objects that decorate the entireplace. The entrance itself is quite unpretentious. As you walk through thegarden you will come across some magnificent arrangement if rocks, bouldersand building waste that make it look like an open air theater arranged for a

show. Caste away glass bangles, broken chinaware, fluorescent tubes that


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have been discarded, coal and clay have been used to create folk world ofpalaces, a village set up with women and temples, soldiers and monkeys and

various other objects. The open air sculptures and the unpretentious gatewaysare often separated by waterfalls which make the place look like an open airtheater being set up for a shoot.

The concept of The Rock Garden of Chandigarh was developed by Nek Chand,who was an inspector in the Road Engineering department of Chandigarh

Capital Project. While roaming on the foothills of the Shiwaliks he began topick up stones of irregular shapes, some resembling a bird, monkey, animalsand humans which he collected and brought them to his home located by theside of a stream. Then he collected similar types of stones with abstract figuresfor seven years and piled them up. The rock form which was created out of thiscompilation looked quite amazing. Then he improved upon arranging this

collection in the adjacent areas around this home. However, this remainedconfined and hidden in the thickly wooded area only to be accidentallydiscovered by one Dr. S. K. Sharma. He was heading a team of anti malariaparty in the forest. Thus came into limelight a garden that was man made anddesigned with all forested and industrial waste materials. It was named theRock Garden of Chandigarh in Punjab.


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UTTARPRADESH


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FAMOUS SIGHTSEEING INUTTAR PRADESH

BULAND DARWAZA

TAJ MAHAL


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BULAND DARWAZAThe Buland Darwaza is a grand gateway located in Fatehpur Sikri near Agra.This triumphal arch was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, when he defeatedthe king of Khandesh or Gujarat in 1573.The name Buland Darwaza means 'HighDoor' and this victory arch rises to a height of 40 meters or 175 feet. It is the moststriking monument in Fatehpur Sikri and can be seen from quite a distance.Rising impressively towards the sky, the Buland Darwaza is approached by a series

of steps. You will pass under the massive arch of the Buland Darwaza when youenter the city of Fatehpur Sikri. You can see the impressive Buland Darwaza ontours to Agra with Agra Hub. The Buland Darwaza is a magnificent structurebuilt in red sandstone with decorations in white marble. With calligraphicinscriptions from the Quran on its front and pillars and chattris on its height, theBuland Darwaza is an impressive sight. The Buland Darwaza is also evidence of

the religious tolerance of Akbar the Great. The inscription on the Buland Darwazais attributed to Jesus Christ. It reads, "The World is but a bridge, pass over butbuild no houses on it." Situated on a hill where the Jama Masjid Mosque islocated, the Buland Darwaza is the entrance gateway to the Jama Masjid mosquein Fatehpur Sikri near Agra India. The soaring gateway of the Buland Darwaza isone of the grandest of Mughal monuments and one that you should not miss, on

tours to Agra with Agra Hub.


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ARCHITECTUREThe gateway is approached by 42 steps. The Buland Darwaza is 53.63m high and35 meters wide. Buland Darwaza is the highest gateway in the world and anastounding example of the Mughal architecture. It is built of red sandstone andinlaying of white marble. Around the archway is a panel on which is written, inkufic script, "Jesus, Son of Mary (on whom be peace) said: The world is a bridge,

pass over it, but build no houses upon it. He who hopes for a day, may hope foreternity; but the world endures but an hour. Spend it in prayer, for the rest isunseen."

The Buland Darwaza towers above the courtyard of the mosque. The BulandDarwaza is semi octagonal in plan and is topped by pillars and chhatris. Buland

Darwaza echoes early Mughal design with simple ornamentation, carved versesfrom the Koran and towering arches. There are thirteen smaller domed kioskson the roof, stylized battlement and small turrets and inlay work of white andblack marble. On the outside a long f light of steps sweeps down the hill givingthe gateway additional height. A Persian inscription on eastern archway of theBuland Darwaza records Akbar's conquest over Deccan in 1601 A.D.


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TAJ MAHAL

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by Mughal EmperorShah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

The Taj Mahal (also "the Taj") is considered the finest example of Mughal

architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Ottoman, Indian,and Islamic architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO

World Heritage Site and was cited as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and oneof the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage.

While the white domed marble mausoleum is its most familiar component, theTaj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures. Building beganaround 1632 and was completed around 1653, and employed thousands ofartisans and craftsmen. The Persianarchitect, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri isgenerally considered to be the principal designer of the Taj Mahal.


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ORIGIN AND INSPIRATION

In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of greatestprosperity, was griefstricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during thebirth of their fourteenth child, Gauhara Begum. In her dying breath, MumtazMahal urged Shah Jahan to build a mausoleum for her that the world has neverseen before. Shah Jahan granted his wife's wish, and construction of the TajMahal began in 1632, one year after her death. The court chronicles of Shah

Jahan's grief illustrates the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for TajMahal. The construction of Taj Mahal begun soon after Mumtaz's death with theprincipal mausoleum completed in 1648. The surrounding buildings and garden

were finished five years later. Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj inthese words:

Should guilty seek asylum here,Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,

All his past sins are to be washed away.The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;

And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.In this world this edifice has been made;

To display thereby the creator's glory.


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L


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FAMOUS SIGHTSEEIN INUTTARANCHAL

HARIDWAR

MUSSOORIE


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HARIDWAR

Haridwar is a holy city and municipal board in the Haridwar District ofUttarakhand, India. In Hindi, Haridwar stands for Dwar of Hari or Gateway toGod, 'Hari' meaning god and 'dwar' meaning gate.Haridwar is regarded as one ofthe seven holiest places to Hindus.

After travelling 253 km from its source at Gaumukh, 3,139 m above sea level, at

the edge of the Gangotri Glacier, Ganga enters the Indo-Gangetic Plain of NorthIndia for the first time at Haridwar, and this is what gave the city its ancient name,Gangadwra , the place where the Ganges descends to the plains.

According to Hindu mythology, Haridwar is one among the four sites wheredrops of the elixir of immortality, Amrita, accidentally spilled over from the

pitcher, in which it was being carried away by the celestial bird Garuda, after theSamudra manthan. These four spots Ujjain, Haridwar, Nasik, and Allahabad have today become places, where the Kumbha Mela is celebrated once every 3

years in any of these 4 places and after a period of 12 years, the Maha KumbhaMela is celebrated on the 12th year at Prayag in Allahabad. Millions of pilgrims,devotees, and tourists congregate here from all over the world to celebrate theevent. They perform ritualistic bathing on the banks of the river Ganga.

SOME PLACES OF


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SOME PLACES OF

INTEREST

CHANDI DEVI TEMPLE

The temple is dedicated Goddess, Chandi, sits atop the 'Neel Parvat' on theeastern bank of river Ganga. It was constructed in 1929 A.D. by the king ofKashmir, Suchat Singh. Skanda Purana mentions a legend, in which

Chanda-Munda, the Army Chief of a local Demon Kings Shumbh andNishumbha were killed by goddess Chandi here, after which the place gotthe name Chandi Devi.It is believed that the main statue was established bythe Adi Shankracharya in 8th century A.D.

MANSA DEVI TEMPLE

Situated at the top of Bilwa Parwat, the temple of Goddess Mansa Devi,literally meaning the Goddess who fulfills desires (Mansa), is a populartourist destination, especially because of the cable cars, which offer apicturesque view of the entire city. The main temple houses two idols of theGoddess, one with three mouths and five arms, while the other one has

eight arms.


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MUSSOORIEMussoorie is a city and a municipal board, about 34 km from Dehradun and in

Dehradun district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. This hill station, situated inthe foothills of the Himalaya ranges, is also known as the Queen of the Hills.The adjoining town of Landour, which includes a military cantonment, isconsidered part of 'greater Mussoorie', as are the townships of Barlowganj and

Jharipani.

Being at an average altitude of 2,000 meters , Mussoorie, with its green hills andvaried flora and fauna, is a fascinating hill resort. Commanding snow ranges tothe north-east, and glittering views of the Doon Valley and Shiwalik ranges in thesouth, the town was once said to present a 'fairyland' atmosphere to tourists.

The history of Mussoorie dates back to 1825 when Captain Young, an adventurous

British military officer, together with a Mr. Shore, the resident Superintendent ofRevenues at Dehradun explored the present site and jointly constructed ashooting lodge. This laid the foundation of this holiday resort which now has fewrivals. In 1827 a sanitorium was built at Landour, which later became a largecantonment , Colonel Everest built a home here in 1832, and by 1901 itspopulation was 6461, rising to 15,000 in the summer season.


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INTEREST

LAKE MIST

About 5 km before Kempty falls on the Mussoorie-Kempty road is a newlydeveloped good picnic spot with accommodation and restaurant facilities,boating is also available.

MUNICIPLE GARDEN

It is picnic spot having a beautiful garden and an artificial mini lake with

paddled boating facility. It is located at a distance of 4 km by rickshaw cycles,pony or by a car and 2 km via Waverly Convent School road on foot.

MUSSOORIE LAKE

A newly developed picnic spot build by City Board & Mussoorie DehradunDevelopment Authority, is situated at 6 km on Mussoorie-Dehradun road havinga facility of pedaled boats. It offers a enchanting view of Doon Valley and nearby

villages. View during Night is marvelous.CHILDREN LODGE

Highest peak of Mussoorie near Lal Tibba, it is situated at 5 km from the TouristOffice. The view of snow-clad mountains is exhilarating


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THANK YOU


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MADE BY : TANYA MEHTA

ST. MARKS SR. SEC. PUBLIC

SCHOOL.

NEW DELHI,INDIA

Sights of North India

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Transcript of Sights of North India