Largest River Island in the world

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Majuli Island

The biggest river island in the world is on the mighty Brahmaputra river. Majauli Island in Assam... It is formed by Brahmaputra in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti joined by the river Subansiri in the north.
Beached amid the mighty Brahmaputra River’s ever-shifting puzzle of ochre sandbanks is Majuli, which at around 452 sq km is a huge river island. For a place continually ravaged by the primal forces of nature (much of the island disappears under water every monsoon), Majuli flaunts unparalleled scenic beauty. The island is a relaxed, shimmering mat of glowing rice fields and water meadows bursting with hyacinth blossoms.
Aside from enjoying the laid-back vibe, highlights of a visit include birdwatching (the island is home to nearly 100 species of birds) and learning about neo-Vaishnavite philosophy at Majuli’s 22 ancient satras (Hindu Vaishnavite monasteries and centres for art).
The festivals of Majuli are another spectacle to watch. The Raas Purnima, that takes place in the Hindu month Kartik showcases a dance performance based on Lord Krishna’s life and the Majuli festival during which special events are organized, sees several cultural troupes from all over Assam come to the town. The Paal Naam at the end of Autumn and the Bathow Puja where Lord Shiva is worshipped are some other exciting festivals.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/northeast-states/majuli-island/introduction#ixzz48X3GBTGQ

INCREDIBLE BHARATHA

Amazing Indian Lighthouses

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Lighthouses have always been a symbol and beacon of hope for all who have dreamed of conquering the mighty seas. India’s long coastline stretching all the way from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal has a vast treasure of Lighthouses that date back to the pre-british era, most are automated today whilst some are still manually operated.

Lighthouses not only offer direction to sea-farers but can also offer some absolutely breathtaking views of the land and ocean – views that can leave you awestruck. 

The south western Malabar coast of India spans vastly upon the states of Karnataka and Kerala, adjoined with the Konkan coast stretching across Maharashtran and Goan state territories. This west coast has over 50 lighthouses alone and was often used by Chinese and Arabic traders in the past. India’s eastern coastline, facing the Bay of Bengal is almost everywhere low and sandy with many offshore shoals. While the northern half of this coast persishes, these lighthouses are hard to miss on the usual routes in use by most travellers and sea-borne navigators.

Here are some amazing lighthouses of our beautiful country beaches..

1. Jakhau Lighthouse in Gujarat
46 metres tall, this lighthouse is one of the tallest ones in the country. It also happens to be a landmark in the history of Indian waters. The view from this lighthouse is of the Arabian Sea on one side and several humongous salt pans one another side along with the villages in the vicinity.

2. Kanhoji Angre Lighthouse in Maharashtra
This is the 23 meters tall lighthouse in the outskirts of Mumbai. Initially named as the Old Kennery lighthouse, it got its name from Kanhoji Angre who was a notable chief of the Maratha Navy. The lighthouse is one of the many tourist spots near the city’s vicinity.

3. Aguada Lighthouse in Goa
This lighthouse is adjoining the Aguada fort from which it derives its name. On the shores of Sinquerim beach, it is well maintained and overlooks a beautiful Konkani horizon.

4. Kaup Lighthouse in Karnataka
Based a few kilometers from the town of Udupi, the Kaup beach is very famous for its lighthouse. The view from the top is brilliant. Not only do the sea and the many coconut trees take our breath, but you can also manage to have a nice view of Nagarjuna from the top though the lighthouse is less than 28 meters in height.

5. Kadalur Point Lighthouse in Kerala
34 meters in height, the Kadalur Lighthouse is open for visitors from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. It is one of those places in Kerala that truly take you closer to nature.

6. Manora Lighthouse in Tamil Nadu
This is essential a minaret that serves as lighthouse. Located a few kilometers from Tanjavur, it’s a visual beauty, the structure of the lighthouse.

7. Machilipatnam Lighthouse in Andhra Pradesh

Post the Tsunami in 2006, this 50 meters long lighthouse has been revamped and is a visual treat for those who enjoy landscapes.

8. Paradip Lighthouse in Odisha

This 40 meters tall lighthouse has been identified as one of three locations in Odisha that boost tourist attractions.

9. Saugor Lighthouse in West Bengal
This lighthouse, though 24 meters in height is one of the attractions on the Sagar Island. It is the places where the Ganga meets the sea and is accessible via ferry.

Underground Masterpieces - 5

#ashokasays Did you know 216:

The last step well in this series but definitely not the last one seen in this country..

Bundi town itself is known as "City of Stepwells". It has about 50 beautiful tanks and Stepwells called as Baoris

Raniji ki Baori, also "Queen's stepwell" is a noted stepwell situated in Bundi town in Rajasthan state in India.

It was built in 1699 by Rani Nathavati Ji who was the younger queen of the ruling Rao Raja Anirudh Singh of Bundi. It is a 46 m deep stepped well with some superb carvings on its pillars and a high arched gate. It is a multistoreyed structure with places of worship on each floor. The step well has a narrow entrance marked by four pillars. Stone elephant statues that face each other stand in the corners. Ogee brackets decorate all the archways of 46 m deep Raniji ki Baori, which is reputedly the largest Baori of Bundi. Baoris were significant social constructions in the medieval Bundi since they acted as assembly areas for the townsfolk. Raniji ki Baori has superb carvings on its pillars and a high arched gate.

It was constructed during the reign of his son Maharao Raja Budh Singh who ruled Bundi from 1695 AD to 1729 AD.

INCREDIBLE BHARATHA..

Underground Masterpieces - 4

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Continuing on the penultimate day on my series on stepped wells...

Adalaj Stepwell

Set in the quiet village of Adalaj, Gandhinagar near Ahmadabad, Gujarat this vav has served as a resting place for hundreds of years for many pilgrims and caravans along their trade routes. Built in 1499 by Muslim King Mohammed Begda for Queen Rudabai, wife of the Vaghela chief, Veersingh, this five-storey stepwell was not just a cultural and utilitarian space, but also a spiritual refuge. It is believed that villagers would come everyday in the morning to fill water, offer prayers to the deities carved into the walls and interact with each other in the cool shade of the vav. There is an opening in the ceilings above the landing which allows the light and air to enter the octagonal well. However, direct sunlight does not touch the flight of steps or landings except for a brief period at noon. Hence some researchers say that the atmosphere inside the well is six degrees cooler than the outside. Another remarkable feature of this stepwell is that out of the many stepwells in Gujarat, it is the only one with three entrance stairs. All three stairs meet at the first storey, underground in a huge square platform, which has an octagonal opening on top. The vav is a spectacular example of Indo-Islamic architecture and design. The harmonious play of intricate Islamic floral patterns seamlessly fusing into Hindu and Jain symbolism embody the culture and ethos of those times. All the walls carved by ornamentation, mythological scenes along with everyday scenes of women churning buttermilk, dancers accompanied by musicians, women adorning themselves and a king sitting on a stool. Fascinating to many visitors is the Ami Khumbor (a pot that contains the water of life) and the Kalp Vriksha (a tree of life) carved out of a single slab of stone. There is a belief that the small frieze of navagraha (nine-planets) towards the edge of the well protects the monument from evil spirits.

You can know more here. ..
https://googleweblight.com/?lite_url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adalaj_Stepwell&ei=ORqAVkr8&lc=en-IN&s=1&m=256&host=www.google.co.in&ts=1462848877&sig=APY536wIPlL9bQDyPAlTkdSElzoF6sIb0w

INCREDIBLE BHARATHA

Underground Masterpieces - 3

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We usually refer to Konark temple when we think about Sun temple. 

But there are quite a few of them in India and the Sun Temple, Modhera, at Modhera in Gujarat, is one of them. It is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati, 25 km from Mehsana and 102 km from Ahmedabad. It was built in 1026 AD by King Bhimdev of the Solanki dynasty. In the present times, prayers are not offered in this temple. This temple is now under the supervision of Archaeological Survey of India.

The Sun temple is of a unique architecture. The temple comprises three separate, axially aligned and integrated elements: Surya Kund, Sabha Mandap and Guda Mandap.

*Surya Kund*

This Suryakunda, also known as Ramakunda, is a large rectangular stepped tank measuring 53.6 x 36.6 meters under the east face of sabhamandap used to store pure water. Devotees were required to perform ceremonial ablutions here before worshiping the Sun God.

The Suryakund is a finest example of geometry. The organization of stone into composition gives shape to a dazzling pattern of art. It is proportioned with innumerable stone steps leading devotees down to its base. 108 miniature shrines are carved in between the steps inside the tank. Also number 108 considered to be auspicious by Hindus as Hindu rosary has same number of beads.

There are four terraces to descend to reach the bottom of the tank. Small pyramid-shaped steps are for each terrace. God and Goddess depicted in immortalized stone unfold the sculpture wealth: Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesh, Lord Nataraja, Sitlamata's presence a marvel created during Solanki era.

Two huge ornamental arches called Toran forms a gateway to the Sabha Mandap

You can read more about this Beautiful Temple at Modhera here..https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Temple,_Modhera

INCREDIBLE BHARATHA

Underground Masterpieces - 2

#ashokasays Did you know 213  :

I was wondering if I should say Rani ki vav or WOW...

This step well in Patan, Gujarat on the banks of Saraswati river, is one of the most splendid wells you can see anywhere in the world. Intricately constructed stepwell, Rani ki vav, is a brilliant example of subterranean architecture. The walls of the step well and pillars and gates around the Vav adorn such delicately carved and intricate sculptures. Most of the sculptures are in devotion to Vishnu, in the forms of Dus-Avatars Kalki, Rama, Mahisasurmardini, Narsimha, Vamana, Varaha and others representing their return to the world. Nagkanya, Yogini beautiful women -Apsara showcasing 16 different styles of make-up to look more attractive called Solah-shringar.These designs, so extremely well engraved on the walls never fail to fascinate visitors.

It is said that this was ordered to be constructed by Rani Udamyanti of the Solanki Dynasty in the memory of her beloved husband, Bhima Dev., after his death in 1063AD. 

Rani ki vav was built in the complex Maru-Gurjara architectural style with an inverted temple and seven levels of stairs and holds more than 500 principle sculptures. This magnificent east-facing step well measures approximately 64m long, 20m wide & 27m deep. 

Now believe it or not... There is also a small gate below the last step of the step well, with a 30 kilometer tunnel, currently blocked by stones and mud) which leads to the town of Sidhpur near Patan. It was used as an escape gateway for the king.

I just can go Wow wow wow over these vav's seeing the pictures itself. Should go there and visit once in a life time.

WOW... INCREDIBLE BHARATHA 

Underground Masterpieces - 1

#ashokasays Did you know 212:

You never know where all India hides some of its incredible masterpieces. The next 5 days you in this series you will find it, underground.. 

Yes Deep below ground, India hides some of its most stunning architectural masterpieces: step-wells.You will never find this elsewhere in the world..

Stepwell or Baori or Thirtha or Pushkarani are well or man made ponds in which the water may be reached by descending a set of steps. Baori are most common in western India and surviving stepwells can be found in Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The earliest stepwells most likely date to about 550 AD, but the most famous were built in medieval times. It is estimated that over 3,000 stepwells were built in the two northern states. Although many have fallen into disrepair, were silted in at some point in antiquity, or were filled in with trash in the modern era, hundreds of wells still exist. In New Delhi alone, there are more than 30.

Chand Baori.

The Chand Baori is a stepwell built over a thousand years ago in the Abhaneri village of Rajasthan.

It is one of the largest stepwells in the world and also one of the most beautiful ones.

Located in the eastern part of the province of Rajasthan, it was built by King Chanda somewhere in the 9th century.

Chand Baori one was built during the 8th and 9th centuries and has 3,500 narrow steps arranged in perfect symmetry, which descend 20m to the bottom of the well.

About 64 feet deep, it is India's largest and deepest stepwells with 13 floors and was built in the 9th century for water harvesting.

It was so named as it was built by King Chand Raja from the Gujara Pratihara clan, who claim to be the descendant of Lord Ram's younger brother Laxman.

You can read about this more on http://www.chandbaori.org/.

.Even if we dig a well, we do it artistically is what we can say.

INCREDIBLE BHARATHA

The tireless karmayogi- Swami Japananda

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THE TIRELESS KARMAYOGI - Swami Japananda

Welcome to the extremely backward regions of Karnataka border... Pavagada, Tumkur District..The burning priority for the survival and progress for the locals was health care - long term health care: Cure from Leprosy, TB, Polio, Poor Eye sight etc.
Leprosy in rural India means not just a disease of the body of one individual; it is an affliction casting its dark shadow on entire families and societies. Lepers are the worst outcastes, the cursed, and usually the poorest. The prevalence rate in Pavagada Taluk which was 8.42 per 10,000 in 1992 has come to below 1 by 2005. 

After he was entrusted with the drought relief project 1986, in Pavagada, Swami carried on with the same passion to bring new life to thousands of worn out souls. He grasped the pulse of the people and deeply empathized with them. They, in turn, placed their complete faith in him, looking upon him as their saviour. He must stay with them and carry on the relief works on a permanent basis, they pleaded.
Leprosy, TB, Polio, Blindness etc were rampant in the place. Swamji started Sri Ramakrishna Sevashrama whose supreme goal was the service of God in man. This was in 1991-92.

Within a year or two of the founding of the Ashrama, were born the Swami Vivekananda Integrated Rural Health Centresvirhc, and its branch Sri Sharadadevi Blindness Control Project. Soon the scope of the Centres activities expanded vastly, and it grew into a major institution, firmly rooted in the hearts of the masses. It won the acclaim of discerning philanthropists from within the country and abroad who extended their helping hand. The state and central governments have conferred recognition and assistance in many ways, and increasingly sought the Centres cooperation in their own ventures.

The services being rendered by the svirhc are focused under these heads: Eradication of (1) Leprosy, (2) Tuberculosis, and (3) Blindness, and general medical service. Its achievements have been extraordinary in each of the three divisions. This has spurred several governmental and non-governmental organizations to participate and share the profits of its experience. 

The hub of all the activities of the Centre is its own hospital complex in Pavagada. The hospital is connected to many world class hospitals across the country via satellite, where in the resident doctors can consult and get guidance from specialists who are sitting elsewhere in the globe. They get assisted by specialists via video conferencing during the operations the resident doctors do on the patients in the hospital. 

The services of this hospital now a household name in these backward districts bordering Andhra Pradesh reach out to nearly a thousand villages. Collaborating with the Karnataka health ministry, it has been in the forefront of projects for leprosy, TB and blindness eradication in the Pavagada taluk and the surrounding villages. Till date (May 2006), 3379 leprosy and 6431 tuberculosis patients, and 4202 visually affected have been cured by svirhc. 79 of the leprosy-cured have benefited from the exclusive reconstructive surgery facility offered by it. The rural hospital has so far treated 1,70,430 outpatients and 5810 inpatients. And the task of visiting every house in every hamlet for identifying leprosy and TB infected goes on, under Swami Japanandajis inspired leadership, on a war footing.

You can read more about him here. 

Don't miss reading this link http://www.vivekaseva.org/aboutus.html

And you should visit his hospital and ashram once in your lifetime and see the kind of service Swami Japananda is doing. I have done it and I am telling you out of my first hand experience. You should and you will be amazed. 

INCREDIBLE BHARATHIYA

Karauli Palace

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Karauli Palace

There is no dearth of forts and palaces across India. Even if I go on with my series for about a 100 more posts I may find a few more forts and palaces in some corner of this beautiful country.
Karauli city palace in Rajasthan is one of the many such beautiful palaces.

An ancient town in the state of Rajasthan, Karuli was founded in the year 1348 by Raja Arjun Pal, who was a Yaduvanshi Rajput. However, as per the ancient history, this place was under the rule of Matsya Kingdom and finds its mention in the great Indian Epic Mahabharata. It houses a number of historical monuments and temples, which makes this place worth-visiting. 

This surrounding wall of Karauli has 6 gates and 11 posterns. The City Palace in Karauli Rajasthan is one of the finest old monuments in Rajasthan. Supposedly built in 1635, the palace showcases exquisite architecture, stone carvings and paintings. 

A treasure house of architectural splendor, stone carvings, classic paintings and exquisite jalli work, the City Palace is one of the finest creations of Rajput civilization. Widely known for its architectural beauty, City Palace Karauli retains the medieval grandeur and provides visitors with an in depth insight into the history and culture of Rajasthan.

The Durbar Hall at the City Palace Karauli Rajasthan is exquisitely beautiful, and it truly depicts the aesthetic sense of the medieval Rajput rulers. To witness the exquisite beauty of this hall is believed to be a life time experience for visitors.

City Palace Karauli reverberates with history of heroism and sacrifice and the palace stands proud as a living example of the glorious bygone era of Rajasthan. Visit the City Palace in Karauli in Rajasthan and you will surely be captivated by the exquisite charm and heritage of this ancient monument.

INCREDIBLE BHARATHA

MARCOS - Mind blowing commandos

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Incredible Things Indian Navy Marine Commandos Do In Training That Deserve Our Respect

In my 41st post I had written about MARCOS. Indian armed forces are probably the only thoroughly professional government agency in the country. And among them, the marine commandos are the elite – known for their lethality and uber professionalism, they are probably one of the elite forces in the whole world.

And they didn’t become the best of the best with normal training.

Their training is harder than Army paratroopers or any western forces, because a MARCOS cadet went to the US Navy SEALS training and topped the course which has an attrition rate of 90%.

How hard is the training to become MARCOS? Take a look –

1. All personnel who want to try for MARCOS are qualified for a HAHO/HALO jump

HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) – Jump from 11 kilometers above the earth, but opening of the parachute is close to the ground.
HAHO (High Altitude High opening) – Jump from 8 kilometers, but opening of the parachute is 10-15 seconds after the jump.

Jut FYI – At 8 kilometers of height the temperature is a freezing -40 degrees Celsius.

2. During everyday training, the day begins with a 20-kilometer run

This is their morning wake-up routine.

3. 20-kilometer night treks with 60-kilo load

This is after a day that started with a 20 kilometer run in the morning.

4. All training is conducted with live ammunition.

If there is friendly fire, your friend is dead. They teach the commandoes to be extremely careful and truly respect the weapons they are carrying.

5. Once in a week they are supposed to walk 120 kilometers with a 60-kilo load on their backs

And the 120 kilometers are expected to be covered in a specified duration – that is, there is a time limit to it. If you fail – you get out.

There is hell’s week that simulates the Navy SEALS hell’s week where –

6. There is a week of continuous training with over 20 hours in a day spent in continuous physical exertion

It is like being in the gym for 20 hours.

7. They get less than 4 hours of sleep in the course of the week, and the daily physical tasks happen every day

That is just over half an hour of sleep in a day. That’s all.

8. Then, in the end, they are asked to run trough thigh-high thick mud with a 25-kilo backpack

If you didn’t know, running through mud is extremely difficult and will exhaust your energy reserves before you know it. Add to that a 25-kilo backpack and it is genuine hell.

9. And then comes a 2.5-kilometer obstacle course that even good soldiers would fail.

This is after the mud run.

10. And after all this, they are supposed to shoot a target with a buddy soldier right beside it from 25 meters away

When the soldier is utterly exhausted, even to lift a rifle, he is supposed to shoot a target that has his buddy soldier standing right next to it.

If the soldier misses – he fails.

If the soldier doesn’t shoot – he fails.

11. More than 90% of the applicants drop out because of the rigorous course they are put through.

And no, the training is not over. This was just to get into the training to become a MARCOS.

12. Advanced training lasts for 2 years and more.

After the initial weeding, the people who stay over are given advanced and specialized training.

13. They are put through high altitude warfare(fighting in the cold), jungle warfare (fighting in the jungles), mountain warfare (fighting in the mountains)

They are not marine commandos in the true sense. They can fight anywhere on the planet.

14. They are taught to fire their guns lying down, in full sprint and a full backward sprint. Also, they are taught to shoot looking in a mirror.

This is to make them extremely proficient in sharp shooting.

15. They are expected to have a reaction time of 0.27 seconds.

They are expected to be at their peak, and their training makes them like that.

16. They have proficiency in foreign languages like Arabic, Mandarin so that they can gather foreign intelligence.

They are the most well-trained force in the country and can deal with everything that is thrown at them. This is why they are so secretive. Nobody knows their identities and they look like regular people, as the regular armed forces haircut and uniform is not compulsory for them.

They have helped India out in every major national threat we faced – from the Kargil war to the Mumbai attacks and have always proved their mettle by the success they show.

Unnamed and uncredited, they are the silent protectors of our country. 

Do you think now sitting here we should crib about the training we get in the AC cabins?

Don't you think movies which are made criticizing the Army deserve to be thrown out of this country?

Don't you think those who talk about intolerance should be made to go through these kind of training and make them understand how they are being protected by these great Army men?

INCREDIBLE BHARATHIYA ARMY.... SALUTE THEM AND OWE THEM EVERYTHING WE COUNTRYMEN HAVE ACHIEVED.