Munnar

The Enchanting Beauty of Munnar: Tea Gardens and Beyond

by with No Comment India

Munnar is a perfect place to visit if one has tourism on their mind and is planning a trip to India, having picturesque beauty in Munnar’s appealing hill stations to start off with. The scenery in Munnar is not the only enchanting part of the hill station. The absolute stillness one can feel while surrounded by the verdant tea plantations sprawled across the hills is something that’s hard to feel anywhere else. All and all Munnar is a beautiful combination of different landscapes along with the pleasant experience of the tea gardens, making it an appealing location for anybody wanting to connect with nature or looking for adventures.

The tale of budding British interest in Munnar during the colonial period due to its appeal as a site to cultivate tea marks the beginning of Munnar becoming the tea garden paradise that it is today. These areas are now filled with massive tea plantations, creating a visual of endless hilly landscapes covered by tea leaves. As one passes through different tea plantations, the soft sound of leaves rattling all over and the smell of the tea induces a sense of calmness and peace.

From the garden tea leaves, Munnar unfolds its entire spirit of thrill. The hills are enticing and pose risks that they can’t resist. Trekking is available for guests allowing them to discover the untouched treasures of the Western Ghat mountains. Hikers can start their trek through dense forests, cloudy dips and even icy grass lands, all to find the hills dotted with watchtowers, that show all that the surrounding hills have to offer.

Moving on, Munnar also boasts of the presence of some breathtaking waterfalls that adorn her. Stunningly beautiful and luscious, both sprout from the hilly landscape where they can be found. Just a few of the incredible sights this region has to offer are the breathtaking Athirappilly Falls and the mighty Lakkam Waterfalls. But more than the waterfalls, Munnar’s abundant wildlife life delights naturalists – who would like to glimpse some rare hobbits flora found in the Eravikulam National Park and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Munnar’s weather consist of a pleasant mixture of the two factors, coolness and foggy morning or late evenings. In fact when you blend the two together what you get is rather astonishing. Munnar turns into a fairytale, soft gentle clouds that glide across the surface turns the place surreal. And if that isn’t enough to take your breathe away, the Neelakurinji flowers that blossom once every 12 years make it a paintings.

Cultural and Culinary Delights: And apart from nature’s beauty, Munnar also gives a glimpse and an opportunity to taste the culture and food of Kerala. Interact with the friendly and welcoming people of the area, get a glimpse of their culture, and taste the real food of Kerala. Also try to pay a visit to the nearby spice bazaar, which is filled with the spices used in making delicious foods of Kerala.

Munnar with its mesmerizing tea gardens and its combination of the nature filled sightseeing and adventure trips in the Western Ghats is a treat for all those who want to “get away” from the hustle and bustle of city life. So whether you are looking for peace and quiet in tea scented hills or an adrenaline rush in the great outdoors of Munnar, or the many tea forests and captivating hill stations, Munnar is one of the most beautiful places in the world that will be etched in your memory forever.

Jaipur

Jaipur: Unraveling the Pink City’s Royal Heritage & Vibrant Culture

by with No Comment India

In one of the more dry areas of Rajasthan, India ,there is a city that attracts visitors with it eclectic mix of color, rich palaces and culture, this city is Jaipur. Jaipur, popularly known as the Pink City, is a city that successfully reflects the past rich grandeur of India’s royalty coupled with cultures that are found in the modern day.

The Pink City’s Story:

Jaipur’s nickname ‘the pink city’ has a historical backdrop. The story mediates to the year 1876 where Maharaja Ram Singh II decided to paint his city a pink color in honor of the prince of wales Edward VII’s visit. Since the Rajputs Perry when portrayed in pink, it was a universal sign of hospitality. Ever since, Jaipur has maintained its signature pink color rendering it thereafter as the most beautiful and easily identifiable in the nation of India.

Royal Legacy:

As one walks the streets of Jaipur, he/she is left in awe by the courage that time was defied and beautiful architecture and homes now endure. In the eyes of Jaipur, the forts, the palaces, and even the havelis are an exquisite showcase of its history. The Amber Fort, located on a hilltop overlooking the city, is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Its massive walls, beautifully decorated doors, and richly ornate rooms provide an insight into the glory of Rajput’s architecture and way of living.

Jaipur, the pink city has many attractions, one of which is the City Palace which was a residence to Maharajas and has a collection of various ancient pieces, theatrical weapons and clothing including a museum. Moving through the City is like time travel and each part of the castle depicts the history of the city and the rulers it had.

Rich Customs and Festivals:

Jaipur is not all about forts and palaces, it’s an epicenter of amazing traditions as well. The festivals of the city are famed as are the local shops and handicrafts. The Jaipur Literature Festival is held every year in January and it’s a great meeting point for international writers, poets and ideas exchange.

Jaipur is also a hub for bazars such as Johari Bazaar or Bapu Bazaar which have a wide range of local items from clothes to jewelry and other crafts. Crafts such as block printing, khejarli or Jaipi pottery are well known around the globe, as are many other objects created in the city, making it an art and craft lover’s dream.

Culinary Delights:

Cuisine is one of the most significant features of Jaipur, ensuring that no journey goes unfinished without a taste of its exquisite food. Apart from offering its visitors a jaw dropping street food, the city also boasts of scrumptious Rajasthani thalis. Relish on Rajsthani flavourful dishes like Dal Baati Churma, spicy mutton curry, Laal Maas, and ghewar a sorprising sweet dish.

Preserving the Heritage:

As Jaipur turns into a metropolitan city, the government and other people are struggling to protect the culture and heritage of the city. Preservation programs and initiatives by the government and the general public are aimed at safeguarding the buildings and structures of the past, promoting the work of craftsmen and women, and actively developing the tourism industry in an environmentally friendly way.

The Pink City, Jaipur is the time capsule of the royalty and culture that India possesses. The stunning design of the structures, mesmerizing customs, and friendliness that welcomes every person are so impressive that any person who travels the city never forgets the experience of its lovely streets. As history unlocks its door at Jaipur, the patrons of the city enter a vast spectrum to which time is no longer a boundary, where the past and the present cohabitate and combine to portray the many shades of what India is.

Varanasi

Varanasi: India’s Spiritual Heart and Oldest Living City

by with No Comment India

Varanasi, also called Benares or Kashi, is a city in India that is known for its mesmerizing ancient history and culture. This sacred city can be found on the edges of the holiest river Ganges which was also titled as Varanasi in ancient scriptures. The city tends to attract millions of Hindu visitors along with the millions of non Hindu tourists providing them with a unique everlasting experience of region.

Varanasi‘s cultural evolution can be traced back to many millennia and has played an important role in the development of India. The pagans of the bygone eras have been quite vocal in claiming that they worshipped Lord Shiva, hence constructed the city to cater to a religious pilgrimage for the future generations. The remains suggest the civilizational evolution has been evident in Varanasi for over 3000 years and it pulsated with vitality during the reign of different empires and dynasties.

The city carved a name for itself in the 11th century B.C.E since that was the point in history where it started expanding. Despite different rulers taking reigns, the city progressed due to its art and religious dependency. Varanasi began as one of the world’s oldest inhabited settlements which also explains its incredible civilizations that left immense amounts of culture, art and markets behind in the city.

Varanasi is a city where people come to worship and perform rituals, as it is said to have been founded by Lord Shiva. In simpler terms, it has earned the reputation of being the best pilgrimage to visit if one wants freedom from reincarnation and wants to override their sins. Varanasi has the one and only Ganges river, and its water holds a high spiritual value in the eyes of the Hindus. The city also has countless temples and Markshis, which can be found on the Ganges river and hundreds of people come every day to pay homage to their forefathers or seek blessings.

I would be hard-pressed to not mention the poetry ceremony (Shad Utsav) as it is the most beautiful and cultural enriched part of the day. The aroma of numerous offerings made alongside prayers is what lingers in the noses of visitors. This part of the city describes what Varanasi’s true spirit is, a city which should be witnessed at least once.

Varanasi has always been a significant educational hub and artists from different cities have always sought out to come here. The reason being, ancient scholars and writers such as the Banaras Hindu University and many more have pursued coming here, as it is home to many artists and creative people.

The handloom sector and classical music and dance are among the key art forms. Varanasi is also famous for its traditional art forms. The women of India and many other countries admire the beautiful designs of Banarasi sarees and the richness of its colors.

Mystique of the Old City:

It feels like going back in time when one walks through the narrow methodologies in Varanasi. The old part of the city is filled with ancient temples, shrines, and busy bazaars, which all fit rather perfectly next to each other in this interesting chaos of crumped narrow roads. The buildings demonstrate an amalgamation of hodgepodge architecture typical of Hindu, Muslim, and British structures easily found around the city.

Arguably the most important religious sanctuary in Varanasi is the Kashi Vishwanath Temple which is not just of sacred significance, but has immense beauty with its golden spire, enticing carvings elaborate modes of worship or worshiping people.

Challenges and Preservation:

Varanasi is an ancient city with a tremendous spiritual presence and feel, but the city is facing so many challenges. Its old glory is threatened by population increase, pollution, and encroachment. Modernization strains the city’s dilapidated infrastructure, which raises concerns regarding preservation and sustainability.

There are several projects underway including cleaning the Ganges, protecting heritage sites, and practicing eco-friendly tourism. The previously forgotten magnificence of the city including its culture is the responsibility of the residents, the authority as well as the tourists too.

Varanasi has always been a place for spiritual seekers, travelers, and history lovers due to its iconic ancient culture and divine beauty and still remains to be. As the oldest living city and the spiritual capital of India it has never ceased to amaze and entertain while providing an experience that is beyond this physical world.

To the ghats and the temples, Varanasi is bound to be a different experience for those who are willing to seek it as it is the very essence of India and how it has evolved and adapted while retaining its origins in one of the most ancient cities that are still inhabited.

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal: A Monument of Eternal Love

by with No Comment India

Agra’s Yamuna River is home to a stunning Love Monument known as the Taj Mahal, a one of a kind mausoleum that resembles a white silvery castle. It has been rightfully termed as one of the wonders of the world as it is considered a marvelous representation of Mughal architecture as well as a symbol of love amongst millions across the globe. The love interconnected with this artwork is quite fascinating as the delicate tomb was built by Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. So as you can see, if you explored the story of Taj Mahal, you would be stepping into a time travelling, love-filled adventure.

Taj Mahal History:

This construction took around twenty years to complete and took place during the Mughal Empire from 1632 to 1653. It is also referred to the epitome of Mughal architecture. Jean built Ustad Ahmad Lahori also worked on the design of the Taj Mahal which was an integration of Islam, Indo-Islam and Indian architectural designs. The Taj Mahal is bordered with ewer reflecting pools, a symmetric garden and a geologic content that gives a trippy feel of deluxe design along with balance symmetry.

The Taj Mahal was built based on the love Emperor Shah Jahan held for a woman named Mumtaz Mahal. She died while giving birth, which prompted the emperor to look into constructing an astonishing piece of architecture. This structure, estimated to be an icon of beauty, would encompass everything the couple had; thanks to the unyielding love they had for each other.

Building the mausoleum must have been a fascinating job. The neck turning domed palace situated in the middle towers over everything while its impacted column holders along with decorated marble detailing define its structure. In short, the Taj Mahal combines mass exceptional construction with detailed craftsmanship with a style that is an attraction in itself.

Most striking would have to be the luxuriously pearlescent color the Taj Mahal exudes, and how that color changes during golden hour of each day. That warm golden daylight, a rosy soft hue at dawn and midday a pale white dome surrounded by the moonlight. One view of the Taj, to say it with pride, is simply captivating. The Taj Mahal has been hailed and revered as a symbol of perfectly aligned lovers.

The Taj Mahal Complex:

Not a single structure but a site featuring the central tomb, two side mausoleums, and a mosqu, along with a jawab ( a structure built to complement and be the opposite of the mosque). The calm encircling greenery with the gardens, fountains, straight driveways and flowerbeds is beautifully done so that the visitors can contemplate the word of wisdom that the monument speaks of and understands the history behind it.

Conserving the Image:

With time, the basement of the Taj Mahal and the dome have dealt with natural degenerates and environmental pollution. In efforts to tackle this problem and protect its dignity, restoration processes have continued time after time. People making a trip to the city are now obliged to obey several rules in order to avoid damaging the building.

Travelers around the globe have an unexplainable desire of visiting the Taj Mahal because of its outstanding beauty and history it possess. The stunning architecture of the Taj creates an ambiance of deep love in the hearts of people which captivates them to the extent that they get lost in their dreams. It’s a representation of love won through architecture. The stories to time tell describes the spirit of love and adoration with which the Taj was constructed setting the walls ablaze with passion and beauty, revealing the timeless elegance of the monument. Stepping into India without viewing the magnificence of Taj Mahal is like brushing through history. I believe one can find love that is the purest in the world by seeing the Taj.