Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Char Dham Yatra

Char Dham (Four Pilgrimage Tour) comprises of four spiritual pilgrimages - Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri. Nestled in the lap of Himalayas these Dham (Sacred Places) are famous for peaceful and cultural destinations. Nature in its entire splendor will leave an experience that will stay with you and behind. Millions of people visit Char Dham from India and abroad every Year in search of peace of mind.

Himalayas are famous for pilgrimages and are considered as the "land of Gods". The best time for visiting Char Dham is between April and November.

Pilgrims from India visit Char Dham in aspiration of washing away their sins and to attain salvation. Char Dham Yatra (Tour) starts from Yamunotri, passing through Gangotri, Kedarnath and ends with the final step at Badrinath.

The Four Destinations of Char Dham Yatra (Tour):

Kedarnath - Kedarnath has got its name after the name of Lord Shiva. It is venerated as one of the twelve jyotirling (linga of light) in the form of shiva. Kedarnath is flanked by the breathtaking snow capped peaks.

Badrinath - This holy pilgrimage is the seat of the Lord Vishnu in his aspect of Badrinarayan. Badrinath is the most important and most visited Dham among all.

Gangotri - Himalayas is the most scared spot where Ganga, the stream of life touches earth for the first time. This is the origin place of the river Ganga. That is why this place is called Gangotri.

Yamunotri - Yamunotri is the source of river Goddess Yamuna. It is the first mile stone for Char Dham Yatra well known for unique hot springs where raw rice is cooked and made into Prasad.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Wonderful Vacation in Walt Disney World

Whether you are an adult or a child, there is no other beautiful place than Walt Disney world to enjoy the vacations. This well recognized place for the fun and adventure seekers offer a variety of options for entertainment. Have a great refreshing holiday ahead in Disneyland. Walt Disney World Vacations is alluring as well as educative. The world of fantasy and reality comes together and go side by side. Amusement parks, theme parks, water parks and other entertaining live and interactive shows are the prime attractions of the world of Disney. Take part in every activity it offers, it will make you release the stress you have in mind. Feel completely free and have a wonderful time in Disney. To experience it and to get the gate pass you need to buy the concern tickets of the theme parks or shows. Explore the ticket options through online where you can get lots of category of tickets that cover more than one attraction.

Besides, adventurous activities that Disney offers, you can experience the great shows like Arabian Nights which can be enjoyed sitting in the world's largest indoor equestrian center. The main story of this show centers round the love and the magical tale of the Princess Scheherazade and the Prince Khalid. This dinner show of horses and skillful knights offer the performances along extraordinary choreography, colourful lights and music. The unique performance of the Black Stallion is eye-catching as well as praise worthy. Arabian Nights tickets will make you enter and experience the entertainment and dinner it offers.

Sea World is undoubtedly an entertainment zone where aquatic as well as land options are available. The thrilling rides of sea world include Kraken, Journey to Atlantis, etc. However, the shows include Believe, Odyssea, Mistify, etc. The major show of Disney is Believe and the music originates the liveliness of this show impeccably. Buy Sea World tickets in advance and start exploring the great collection of thrilling rides.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Kausani: the Switzerland of India

The beautiful hill station of Kausani is located in Uttaranchal, India. It is just 53 km away from Almora which is another beautiful hill station of the state. Called the 'Switzerland of India' by none other than the 'Father of the Nation', Mahatma Gandhi, Kausani is the pride of the Himalayas.

An epitome of serenity and tranquility, and much famed for its pine trees covered valleys and the views of the snow covered peaks of the Himalayas, Kausani is honeymooners' paradise. From here, one can enjoy more than 300 km wide panoramic views of the Himalayas. The mesmerizing sight of the mountain peaks of the Trishul, Nanda Devi and Panchchuli from Kausani takes one's breath away. Kausani is also much famous for its beautiful sunsets and sunrises.

The place is so beautiful that it compelled even Mahatma Gandhi to prolong his stay here. He was supposed to stay for just two days here but the idyllic and stunning Kausani enticed him to stay here for 12 days during which he wrote his book on Anasakti Yoga. The place where the 'Father of the Nation' stayed is the Anasakti Ashram that shows Kausani's association with the Mahatma.

Kausani is also associated with the name of the great poet laureate Sumitranandan Pant who was born here. The Pant Museum at Kausani is worth visiting. Lakshmi Ashram at Kausani is yet another attraction of the place and worth visiting. It is symbolic of women emancipation.

Then there is the famous Baijnath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva which is just 25 km away from Kausani. This 1000-year old temple is located in pleasant surroundings and attracts people inspired by nature and religion. Mythology has it that the Goddess Parvati went to marry Lord Shiva from this place. The Nanda Devi Temple located 10 km away from Baijnath is yet another prominent attraction of the place. It offers wonderful views of the Himalayas and the pine covered valleys below.

Kausani is well connected by rail, road and air. The nearest airport is at Pantnagar which is 180 km away and the nearest rail head is at Kathgodam which is 142 km away. The best time to visit Kausani is October-November and February-March.

And oh, before I forget, let me tell you that if you are a bird watcher or derive pleasure watching the many species of the winged creatures, then you must surely visit Binsar which is near Kausani. The wonderful forest reserve and bird sanctuary of Binsar would enthrall you. Don't be surprised if you spot some wild animals also at Binsar as the place has several of them. Binsar also offers breathtaking views of the snow capped mountain peaks of Kedarnath, Nanda Devi, Trishul, Chaukhamba, Nand Kot, and Panchchuli

Author:

Sanjay Kumar Pandey


Wildlife in India - Pristine nature, waiting to be explored

Every year, there are millions of tourists who arrive in India to feast on the spectacular locales of the country that house some of the most exotic collections of birds and animals in the world. These wildlife habitats are scattered across a vast geographical backdrop and that makes the journey for the traveler all the more interesting. So, while one will find the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in the rugged areas of Rajasthan, one will also find the Kaziranga National Park in Assam, one of the states that receive very high rainfall. Most of the wildlife centers in India have been preserved as sanctuaries and national parks and that ensures that the animals are all safe in their natural habitat. This also enables guests to meet the royal animals under guided tours and packages.

A few of the noteworthy national parks and sanctuaries in the country are Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve, Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park, Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Ranthambore National Park and Gir National Park besides the ones already mentioned above, the Kaziranga National Park and the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. All the above mentioned sites are known for the variety in flora and fauna species and therefore specialize in distinct genres. Most of the centers of India wildlife organize for safaris packages. These facilitate guests to explore the wilderness in groups and even in secured conveyances like jeeps and other transport. An elephant safari or the like could definitely steal the show.

Although the wildlife centers are full throughout the year, to view special migratory birds and animals, one could especially arrange for a wildlife trip to these locales particularly in the winter months.

Whether you are holidaying in the eastern part or the western part, the northern or the southern part of the country, be sure to be surprised by the abundant wildlife in India.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Shirdi: Let your heart float on this worship place

Shirdi is the most amazing worship place of Shri Sai Baba. Huge numbers of people came here for making their heart feel good and asking for blessings for their upcoming life. The place is full of great temples which becomes the cause for making the unusual but great surroundings. There are too many amazing temples in which travelers can feel the true freshness and relaxation from inside. Here are some descriptions of places to see in Shirdi.

First one is Samadhi Mandir which is founded or owned by a famous Sai Baba devotee named as Shreemant Gopalrao. He is the person who is very much interested in the whorship of God murlidhar. He put a statue Murlidhar which results that the temple became the major worship place of murlidhar and numerous people came here everyday for the worship of murlidhar. The temple is populaqrly known as the smadhi mandir of Baba which is built by white marble stone and the railing of temple had given a very amazing kind of ornamental touch.

Second one is Shri Khandoba Mandir which is located very near of Shri Sainath hospital. At the event of Chand's patil's wife's nephew marriage shri Sai Baba came at the banyan tree which is very near to the Khandoba mandir then the Pujari Mhalsapati welcomed him by calling "Aao Sai". Then Sai baba has stepped in the temple.

Dwarkamai is another great place to see in Shirdi which has great ability to make tourist feel like strange. Dwarkamai is a mosque which is situated on the right side of entrance of the Samadhi Mandir. This is really an important and interesting place because the sage had spent his whole life here. Other than that oil painting is best attraction of tourist.

Author:
Nikhil

Understanding Gurus Of India

Most people do not know who is a Guru? They think of Guru as a human being. That is not so and that is why there are very few Gurus in the world. Hinduism defines Guru thus- If God in all his glory appears as a human being to give his grace he is called Guru. The body is only to manifest the words. It has no other meaning whatsoever. Hundreds of Indians act as Gurus in India and abroad. They are all not Gurus. They know how to speak well.

All Gurus are same. No Guru is higher or lower. All are enlightened beings, at the same level. Only A Guru can make you a Guru. That takes lot of time and not everyone can become a Guru. Most of the people get lost with bogus gurus. It is the past and present karma that determines whether one will meet a true Guru. Gurus have no levels. There is no official body to recognize Gurus. Some of them may be in the Himalayas unknown to all of us. Even otherwise a Guru never says that he/she is the Guru. We get signals that we are with somebody who is all-powerful.

Brahamn is inside you. According to Hinduism, you are also Brahman. You have to recognize that and Guru helps you do that. Brahman is both visible and invisible. Helping others is one of the most important ways to reach Guru. Those who help others, get Guru's blessings. There are many other ways. But this is one of the easiest. The other is chanting. Chanting your mantra. If Guru has yet not given you mantra, think of him and begin chanting Om Namah Shivay. Let the chant take your whole being. Slowly Guru's grace will enter your life.

Buddha, Lord Dattatreya, Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, Baba Nityananda, Baba Muktananda, Saibaba of Shirdi and Gurumai are some of the Gurus of India.

Author:
CD Mohatta

Thursday, April 16, 2009

The Beauty of Jaipur Jewelries, Handicrafts and Fabrics

The magnificent city of Jaipur that used to be the royaltys hub is now Rajasthan, Indias capital. Its occupied streets get a plethora of tourists each year. One of the many reasons is that Jaipur is regarded as the top city that offers its visitors the finest of classic Rajasthan products. These products include jewelries, handicrafts, and fabrics.

JEWELRIES Ever since, royal Rajasthan is legendary for its abundant deposits of precious gems. Think of some of the earths most attractive and costly gems such as ruby, emerald, amethyst, garnet, topaz, jade and lapis lazuli. Rajasthan has them and Jaipur has always been the heart of these charming stones and jewelries. The city presents jewelries with exceptional patterns and designs.

The expert gem artists of Jaipur carve the gems into incredible figures. They can fashion different animal forms including birds and elephants out of topaz and jade. Other designs like scent containers from crystals and intaglio beads from amethysts substantiate the citys royal sophistication. An exclusive collection of ornaments is offered by Jaipur. This consists of an armlet known as Baajuband, hairclip known as Judamani, forehead adornment known as Bodla and belt called Tagdi. Whats more, bazaars in the city flourish with an array of popular traditional ethnic jewelries including beaded, pearl, silver, diamond, and metal jewelries.

You can always negotiate with merchants when purchasing classic jewelry. You can even spy on the craftsmen while they perform their arts in Johari Bazaar, one of the shopping destinations in Jaipur. It is joined by other bazaars like Tripolia Bazar, M.I. Road, Gopalji ka Rasta, and Haldion ka Rasta. These places can be a great delight for any lady.

HANDICRAFTS Jaipur is known as Indias center when it comes to handicrafts thanks to its class and idiosyncrasy. The citys flea markets present an assortment of interesting crafts that will surely win the heart of any art aficionado. From marble work and metal work to pottery and wood work, Jaipur has them all. You can find plenty of products such as paintings, pottery, antiques, sculptures, traditional games, house furnishings, carved furniture, accessories, clothing plus a lot more.

Jaipur's celebrated glazed blue pottery, which stemmed from Persia, is in. This stylish blue-colored pottery type is a blend of traditional touch and contemporary taste. It comprises of ornamental items, jugs, mugs, pots, plates and a lot more. When it comes to marble work, this city has the top-notch excellence of marble pieces. Marble carvings of delicate vases, animals, human forms and Hindu gods gain high appreciation from the world. These, along with potteries are amongst the finest purchases in the city bazaars.

Metal and brass workers of Jaipur are especially experienced in filling allure in a rather lifeless metal. Carved and lacquered brasses, ornamental items and sculptures are kinds of metal works that the royal city offers. As with woodcrafts, drawer boxes, windows, carved doors, and picture frames are pretty. Besides, these woodworks possess antique appearance because they are created on traditional approaches. Dont forget to check out what Bapu Bazaar, Chaura Rasta, and Jauhari Bazaar have to offer when it comes to handicrafts.

FABRICS Popular for its brilliantly colored fabrics, the city provides a broad variety of print as well as tie and dyed textile. Bagru and Sanganer are some of the print favorites while Bandhej, lehriya and pachranga are the finest in tie and dyed fabrics. These handmade prints look stunning and offer a classic look. Safas (turbans), saris and odhnis (ladies traditional garments) and mantles are amongst the many clothing types on hand in Jaipur. These traditional fabrics have even become a trend for fashion designers worldwide.