PUNE Archaeologists discover Harappan Graves

A team of archaeologists from the Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute is back from Haryana where they stumbled upon a record 70 Harappan graves at a site in Farmana, discovering the largest burial site of this civilisation in India so far. 

The excavation proved one of the biggest breakthroughs in South Asian history and is now listed for World Heritage status conferred byUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). 

It is an extraordinary archaeological finding. A big housing complex that matured during the Harappan era was discovered by these archaeologists who have been working in this little known village for the past three years. 

Speaking to TOI, Vasant Shinde, joint director of Deccan College and project director, said, "The excavation was on for a while, but only this year the magnitude of the site could be understood, expanding from a mere seven graves to 70 graves. Our objective, however, is to find out how development took place among the Harappans. Scholars talk about change in the Harappan civilisation but nobody knows how it happened. Such a large burial will definitely help us find answers to all these questions." 

The archaeological team here uncovered an entire town plan. The skeletal remains belong to an era between 2500 BC to 2000 BC.This is when the civilisation prospered the most.

 "The remains will help us understand where the Harappans came from and why their sophisticated and urbanised culture collapsed. We will also be conducting scientific tests on the remains that we have found which will also give us clues on the Harappan life. In fact, a DNA test will also be conducted on the skeleton which will answer questions on their habitat and what they ate, whether they were vegetarians or non-vegetarians from the amount of zinc, copper, magnese found in the bones through this test." 

While Deccan College has a major share in this excavation, two other institutes - the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, Japan and Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, have also been involved with this project since inception. In fact, the DNA tests will be carried out in Japan. 

Site Details:

A total of 80 to 100 archaeologists and students have been working on this site which includes 40 students. The entire team has so far excavated one complex which has 26 rooms, 3 to 4 kitchens, an equal number of bathrooms and a courtyard in the centre. The size of the rooms vary from 6x6 to 16x20. 

Nilesh Jadhav, a Phd student from the Deccan College, involved in this project since the beginning, said, "This particular project will be highly useful for us in our research work. We have learnt a lot during our excavation especially the orientation of the Harappan civilisation, the journey from beginning to the time."

Jog Falls in India - tours,pictures,information giude

Hi friends again m back with new tour package for the nature lovers....you people have listened lot about the Nayagara fall which is the heighest in the world, now I'm telling about the highest waterfall of India that is "Jog Fall",which is One of the highest waterfalls in India Located in Shimoga District, Karnataka.Jog Falls is one of the major attractions in Karnataka. Created on Sharavathi River.

For a Tour to Jog Falls, the best time to visit is between the months of August and December.
Jog Falls is also known by alternative names of Gerusoppe Falls, Gersoppa Falls and Jogada Gundi.
Black marble idol of Lord Ganesh is worshipped every year at Sirsi, a place near Jog Falls.

This place is almost resides in the border of Western ghats of mountain ranges. Afternoon is the best time to watch the fall as sunlight will directly fall on the water fall.There are viewing points to see and enjoy the water fall. 

Before the onset of monsoon, when there is not much water in the Linganmakki dam, the "mighty" Jog Falls are nearly unrecognizable. Instead of the roar and the spray and the massive flow of water, there are only a pair of thin streams of water trickling down the cliff. If you happen to ask any of the local people what happened to the falls, they would tell you that the authorities open the dam only during week days , when there are a lot of tourists to view it.

Where To Stay:-
Enjoy a comfortable stay while on a Tour to Jog Falls at the hotels in Jog Falls, offering a remarkable blend of tradition and modernity. Some of the major hotels in Jog Falls are Sharavati Tourist Home, Tunga Tourist Home, Inspection Bungalow, Jog Falls Guest House, etc.

How To Reach

• By Air

  The nearest airport is at Bangalore.

• By Rail

  You can take a train to Sagara from Bangalore,There is one train root near to Shimoga Nearest railway station to visit Jogfall is Thalaguppa from where you can get into buses to Jog.

• By Road

  You can reach Jog Falls directly by availing of buses to Jog from Bangalore. Alternatively, from Bangalore you can take a bus to Sagara, from where local bus to Jog is available.

  
  

Hidden Truth Of Taj Mahal in Agra

BBC says about Taj Mahal---Hidden Truth - Never say it is a Tomb

Aerial view of the Taj Mahal 


The interior water well


Frontal view of the Taj Mahal and dome
No one has ever challenged it except Prof. P. N. Oak, who believes the whole world has been duped. In his book Taj Mahal: The True Story, Oak says 

the Taj Mahal is not Queen Mumtaz's tomb but an ancient Hindu temple palace of 
Lord Shiva (then known as Tejo Mahalaya ) . In the course of his research O 
ak discovered that the Shiva temple palace was usurped by Shah Jahan from 
then Maharaja of Jaipur, Jai Singh. In his own court chronicle, Badshahnama,
Shah Jahan admits that an exceptionally beautiful grand mansion in Agra 
was taken from Jai SIngh for Mumtaz's burial . The ex-Maharaja of Jaipur 
still retains in his secret collection two orders from Shah Jahan for 
surrendering the Taj building. Using captured temples and mansions, as a 
burial place for dead courtiers and royalty was a common practice among Muslim rulers. 

Close up of the dome with pinnacle


Close up of the pinnacle 
For example, Humayun,Akbar, Etmud-ud-Daula and Safdarjung are all buried 
in such mansions. Oak's inquiries began with the name of Taj Mahal. He says 
the term " Mahal " has never been used for a building in any Muslim countries 
from Afghanisthan to Algeria. "The unusual explanation that the term Taj 
Mahal derives from Mumtaz Mahal was illogical in atleast two respects



Inlaid pinnacle pattern in courtyard 



Vedic design on ceiling of a locked room 

Red lotus at apex of the entrance 

Firstly, her name was never Mumtaz Mahal but Mumtaz-ul-Zamani," he writes. 
Secondly, one cannot omit the first three letters 'Mum' from a woman's 
name to derive the remainder as the name for the building."Taj Mahal, he 
claims, is a corrupt version of Tejo Mahalaya, or Lord Shiva's Palace . Oak 
also says the love story of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan is a fairy tale created 
by court sycophants, blundering historians and sloppy archaeologists . Not a 
single royal chronicle of Shah Jahan's time corroborates the love story. 

Rear view of the Taj & 22 apartments


View of sealed doors & windows in back



Typical Vedic style corridors



A locked room on upper floor


A marble apartment on ground floor



The Music House--a contradiction 



The OM in the flowers on the walls



Staircase that leads to the lower levels
Furthermore, Oak cites several documents suggesting the Taj Mahal predates 
Shah Jahan's era, and was a temple dedicated to Shiva, worshipped by 
Rajputs of Agra city. For example, Prof. Marvin Miller of New York took a 
few samples from the riverside doorway of the Taj. Carbon dating tests revealed 
that the door was 300 years older than Shah Jahan. European traveler Johan 
Albert Mandelslo,who visited Agra in 1638 (only seven years after Mumtaz's 
death), describes the life of the cit y in his memoirs. But he makes no 
reference to the Taj Mahal being built. The writings of Peter Mundy, an 
English visitor to Agra within a year of Mumtaz's death, also suggest the 
Taj was a noteworthy building well before Shah Jahan's time

Secret walled door that leads to other rooms



Palace in Barhanpur where Mumtaz died



Pavilion where Mumtaz is said to be buried

Prof. Oak points out a number of design and architectural inconsistencies 
that support the belief of the Taj Mahal being a typical Hindu temple
rather than a mausoleum. Many rooms in the Taj ! Mahal have remained sealed 
since Shah Jahan's time and are still inaccessible to the public. Oak 
asserts they contain a headless statue of Lord Shiva and other objects 
commonly used for worship rituals in Hindu temples . Fearing political 
backlash, Indira Gandhi's government tried to have Prof. Oak's book 
withdrawn from the bookstores, and threatened the Indian publisher of the 
first edition dire consequences . There is only one way to discredit or
validate Oak's research. 

The current government should open the sealed rooms of the Taj Mahal under 
U.N. supervision, and let international experts investigate. 

Do circulate this to all you know and let them know about this reality..... 

Sun temple .... Konark near Puri a world heritage - tours,pictures,maps,information guide

The Vedic scriptures of the Hindu religion refer to the sun as the store house of inexhaustible power and radiance. Ths sun god is referred to as Surya or Aditya.it is believed that Surya, the Sun God has offered worship at several of the shrines in Tamilnadu; many of these shrines have been designed in such a way that the sun's rays illuminate the sanctum (of Shiva) on certain days of the year. Several of the South Indian Temple Tanks also bear the name Surya Theertham or Surya Pushkarini.

there are seven temples of lord Sun in India :-

• . The Grand Konark Sun Temple
• . Dakshinaarka Temple at Gaya, Bihar
• . Suryanaar Koyil in Tamilnadu
• . Suryanarayana Temple at Arasavilli
• . Surya Pahar Temple in Assam
• . Bhramanya Dev Temple at Unao
• . Sun Temple at Modhera - Gujarat

Sun Temples Outside India

• .Sun Temple at Multan - Pakistan
• .Karnak Sun Temple in Egypt
• .Mayan Resources
• .Travel Egypt - Temple at Abu Simbel
• .Mesa Verde Sun Temple
• .Sun Temple of Abu Ghurab
• .Sun Temple of Nuissere
• .Mesoamerican Sun Temple
  

The Grand Konark Sun Temple:-

The magnificent Sun Temple at Konark, in the state of Orissa near the sacred city of Puri. It is the culmination of Orissan temple architecture, and one of the most stunning monuments of religious architecture in the world.Built by the King Narasimhadeva in the thirteenth century, the entire temple was designed in the shape of a colossal chariot with seven horses and twentyfour wheels , carrying the sun god, Surya, across the heavens. Surya has been a popular deity in India since the Vedic period. Sun temple has been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO.

Konark is also known as Konaditya. The name Konark is derived form the words Kona - Corner and Arka - Sun; it is situated on the north eastern corner of Puri or the Chakrakshetra. Konark is also known asArkakshetra.

The ruins of this temple were excavated in late 19th century. The tower over the Garbagriha is missing, however the Jagmohana is intact, and even in this state, it is awe inspiring.The temple is a brilliant chronicle in stone, with thousands of images including deities, the Surasundaris, heavenly damsels, and human musicians, lovers, dancers, and different scenes from courtly life.


Tourist Information:-Open on all weekdays from sunrise to sunset. Entry fee for those above 12 years : Rs. 5.00. Free entry on Fridays

Road
It is well connected by all -weather motorable roads to Puri, Bhubhaneswar and other parts of the state. It is 65 km from Bhubhaneswar, 35 km from Puri and 85 km from via Pipli. Rail The nearest railheads from Konark are Bhubhaneswar and Puri. Air Nearest Airport is Bhubhaneswar.

Where to stay? 
Konark offers various government approved accommodations at Panthanivas, Travellers lodge, Inspection Bungalow, yatri Nivas. Also one can stay in the choicest hotels of : Bhubaneswar Hotels, Puri Hotels

Places to visit 
Kuruma, Chaurasi, Ramachandi, Astranga, Kakatapur, Pipli.

source:-http://www.templenet.com

Goa..palolem beach -(tours,maps,hotels,pictures,information guide)

Beauty of Goa

Often referred to as the "Paradise Beach," Palolem simply spells magic all the way. In fact, there are very few beaches in India that can measure up to the beauty and allure of Palolem.

Palolem Beach is at Goa, within 4 kilometres from the market town of Chaudi, Canacona District, which is about one hour's drive from the coastal town of Karwar in Karnataka and about 40 minutes from Margao (Main city in South Goa).

The beach is largely unspoiled and is inhabited by both local fishermen and by foreign tourists who live in shacks along the shore. It is about one mile (2km) long and is crescent-shaped - one can view the whole beach from either end. Both ends of the beach consist of rocks jutting out into the sea. The depth of the sea increases gradually, it being shallowest at the northern ends of the beach, making it safe for average swimmers, and the currents are not fast. However, there is a high chance of encounters with jellyfish.

Owing to its partly secluded nature, Palolem is a great draw for tourists looking forward to a relaxed beach holiday in Goa. In fact, many of them take up accommodation at the beach huts in Palolem Goa that are in great demand all throughout the year. In fact, staying at a beach hut in Palolem is an experience of a lifetime. Besides, the beach huts come with all basic facilities like attached baths, running water and nice beds to ensure a comfortable stay.

When you go there belive me friends you will feel that you are not in India.It's common to see topless women and girls on the beach.Try to avoid the weekends, as there is a big crowd of picnickers who throng the Palolem beach in Goa on weekends.

Drink:-
There are many places along the beach serving alcohol and are usually your best bet if you want to mingle and meet new people.

View:-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euIhwO3cmvo

How To Reach:-
You can hire taxis and auto-rickshaws to reach Palolem beach from Margao.Government approved fixed-price taxi to Palolem. Fixed-price taxis are available from the train station and from Dabolim airport at Vasco da Gama.

PLACES WHERE YOU CAN EAT :
There are a lot of eating joints over here at the beach. Getting food is not problem at all at this beach. There is also plenty of scope for those who wants to enjoy booze at the beach. Bars are also there at this beautiful beach

Book your ticket now.

Taj Mahal in Agra (hotels,maps,tours,pictures,palace,informatio guide)

Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj in these 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.

History Of Tajmahal:-

Taj Mahal, the pinnacle of Mughal architecture, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan ,erected the Taj Mahal in the memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal in the bank of river YAMUNA at AGRA (utter pradesh) .

Prince Khurram, who would become Shah Jahan, was born in India in the same month as the Prophet Mohammed in the auspicious year 1,000 of the Islamic calendar (January 15, 1592). He was named Khurram, which means "joyous," by his doting grandfather Akbar, who said the birth made the world glad. "He was born during the height of Akbar's power," says art historian Shobita Punja, "when most of India came under Mughal rule. He was very well educated, had brilliant teachers, and was quite an aesthete. He really was a very cultured human being.

Mumtaz Mahal was a niece of empress Nur Jahan and granddaughter of Mirza Ghias Beg I’timad-ud-Daula, wazir of emperor Jehangir. She was born in 1593 and died in 1631, during the birth of her fourteenth child at Burhanpur.Mumtaz Mahal obtained a promise from Shah Jahan that he will build world's most beautiful monument in her memory. 




Architecture:-

Darwaza (The main gateway)
Bageecha (The gardens)
Masjid (The mosque)
Naqqar Khana (The rest house)
Rauza (The main mausoleum)






Taj Mahal Gardens are set up in a Persian style, running from the main gateway to the base of the Taj Mahal. The Persian style of gardens, with emphasis on flowers, fruit, birds, leaves, symmetry and delicacy, was introduced in India by Babur.








How to Reach Taj Mahal

BY AIR

Indian Airlines (Domestic Airline in India) runs daily flights from Delhi to Agra. Kheria Airport (Airport of Agra) is about 6 km from the Agra city centre and is easily accessible by taxis and auto-rickshaws at nominal rates.
book ticket now

BY RAIL / TRAIN
Agra is well connected by excellent train services to Delhi such as The Shatabdi Express (2 hrs), Taj Express (2.5 hrs), Intercity Express (3 hrs).

Railway Stations:
Agra Cantt Rly Stn
Raja-ki-Mundi Rly Stn
Agra Fort Rly Stn

BY ROAD

Express bus services (a/c and non-a/c) are available from Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Gwalior, and Jhansi. For those driving to Agra, the distances are:

Mathura (Pilgrimage Destination) - 58 kms.
Bharatpur (Bird Sanctury) - 60 kms.
Gwalior (Historical Destination) - 118 kms
Delhi (Capital City of India) - 203 kms
Jaipur (Cultural & Historical Destination) - 236 kms.
Khajuraho (Historical Destination) - 393 kms.


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