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A splendid monument stands in his memory in Dewa which is visited by his followers in large numbers throughout the year. On the occasion of the annual Urs, a 10 days fair is held here in the month of October-November every year known as Dewa Mela to commemorate the saint. It includes an all IndiaMushaira, Kavi Sammelan, music performances etc.
The place also offers a good range of handicrafts for the tourists. A brilliant display of fireworks marks the conclusion of the fair. An annual fair in November is a perfect example of universal brotherhood.
The Red Fort is a historical fort in the city of Delhi in India. It was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal dynasty for nearly 200 years, until 1857. It is located in the center of Delhi and houses a number of museums. In addition to accommodating the emperors and their households, it was the ceremonial and political centre of the Mughal state and the setting for events critically impacting the region.
In 1638 Shahjahan transferred his capital from Agra to Delhi and laid the foundations of Shahjahanabad, the seventh city of Delhi. It is enclosed by a rubble stone wall, with bastions, gates and wickets at intervals. Of its fourteen gates, the important ones are the Mori, Lahori, Ajmeri, Turkman, Kashmiri and Delhi gates, some of which have already been demolished. His famous citadel, the Lal-Qila, or the Red Fort, lying at the town's northern end on the right bank or the Yamuna and south of Salimgarh, was begun in 1639 and completed after nine years. The Red Fort is different from the Agra fort and is better planned, because at its back lies the experience gained by Shahjahan at Agra, and because it was the work of one hand. It is an irregular octagon, with two long sides on the east and west, and with two main gates, one on the west and the other on the south, called Lahori and Delhi gates respectively. While the walls, gates and a few other structures in the fort are constructed of red sandstone, marble has been largely used in the palaces.
The Diwan-i-' Am ('Hall of Public Audience') is a rectangular hall, three aisle deep, with a façade of nine arches. At the back of the hall is an alcove, where the royal throne stood under a marble canopy, with an inlaid marble dias below it for the prime minister. The wall behind the throne is ornamented with beautiful panels of pietra dura work, said to have been executed by Austin de Bordeaux, a Florentine artist. Orpheus with his lute is represented in one of the panels here. Originally there were six marble palaces along the eastern water front. Behind the Diwan-i-' Am but separated by a court is the Rang-Mahal ('Painted Palace'), so called owing to coloured decoration on its interior. It consists of a main hall with an arched front, with vaulted chambers on either end. A water-channel, called the Nahr-i-Bihisht ('Stream of Paradise'), ran down through it, with a central marble basin fitted with an ivory fountain. The Mumtaz-Mahal, originally an important apartment in the imperial seraglio, now houses the Delhi Fort Museum.
Inside Red Fort
The Diwan-i-Khass ('Hall of Private Audience') is a highly-ornamented pillared hall, with a flat ceiling supported on engrailed arches. The lower portion of its piers is ornamented with floral pietra dura panels, while the upper portion was originally gilded and painted. Its marble dias is said to have supported the famous Peacock Throne, carried away by the Persian invader Nadir Shah.
The Tasbih-Khana ('chamber for counting beads for private prayers') consists of three rooms, behind which is the Khwabgah ('sleeping-chamber'). On the northern screen of the former is a representation of the Scales of Justice, which are suspended over a crescent amidst stars and clouds. Adjoining the eastern wall of the Khwabgah is the octagonal Muthamman-Burj, from where the emperor appeared before his subjects every morning. A small balcony, which projects from the Burj, was added here in 1808 by Akbar Shah II, and it was from this balcony that King George V and Queen Mary appeared before the people of Delhi in December 1911.
The Hammam ('Bath') consists of three main apartments divided by corridors. The entire interior, including the floor, is built of marble and inlaid with coloured stones. The baths were provided with 'hot and cold water’, and it is said that one of the fountains in the easternmost apartment emitted rose water. To the west of the Hammam is the Moti-Masjid ('Pearl Mosque'), added later by Aurangzeb. The Hayat-Bakhsh-Bagh ('Life-giving garden'), with its pavilions, lies to the north of the mosque, and was later considerably altered and reconstructed. The red-stone pavilion in the middle of the tank in the centre of the Hayat-Bakhsh-Bagh is called Zafar-Mahal and was built by Bahadur Shah II in about 1842.
In 1644, Shahjahan commenced in Delhi his great mosque, the Jami'- Masjid the largest mosque in India, and completed it in 1650. Its square quadrangle with arched cloisters on the sides and a tank in the centre is 100 m. wide. Built on a raised plinth, it has three imposing gateways approached by long flights of steps. Its prayer-hall, with a facade of eleven arches, flanked by a four-storeyed minaret on either end, is covered by three large domes ornamented with alternating stripes of 'black and white marble.
Orchha literally means ‘hidden place’ and it stays true to its name! Located in Madhya Pradesh, Orchha isn’t on most tourist maps and several travelers club their visit to Orchha with a trip to Jhansi(16 km away) or Khajuraho (170 km away). But with beautiful monuments, both big and small, revealing tales of battles between kings and emperors, Orchha deserves a trip of its own.
Once the capital of the Bundela Rajput kings, Orchha was established by Maharaja Rudra Pratap Singh in 1501. The medieval city has since seemingly frozen in time. Its several monuments continue to retain their original grandeur even as the city itself seems quite content to be hidden away from the throngs of tourists that descend upon Madhya Pradesh year after year.
The closest railhead to Orchha is Jhansi (about 16 km) and the best way to reach your destination is the ever-reliable auto rickshaw. If the narrow winding roads with fields on either side that lead you to this little town don’t transport you back to a more peaceful time, the several monuments that dot the Orchha landscape most certainly will.
The Orchha fort complex is the biggest tourist draw of this small town. You can buy a ticket here that will grant you access to all the sights in the town. The fort complex itself is divided into three parts:
The Raj Mahal was constructed by Madhukar Shah in the 17th century. His deeply religious beliefs are reflected in the design: the stunning murals are bold and colorful and revolve around religious themes. A well-tipped guide will be thrilled to open the doors of various chambers for you.
Also constructed in the 17th century, but by Madhukar Shah’s successor Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo to commemorate the visit of his friend, the Mughal emperor Jahangir, the eponymous Jahangir Mahalis another stunning piece of architecture in this hidden gem of a place.
The center of Orchha is the Ram Raja temple whose presiding deity is Lord Rama whose idol was supposed to be installed in the magnificent Chaturbhuj temple. Legend has it that the idols refused to move after being installed here and so a temple was built around them!
Chaturbhuj temple is yet another impressive piece of architecture and was built to house the idols that are now inside the Ram Raja temple. Today, it houses the image of Radha-Krishna. Tip the security guard who will unlock a hidden staircase that leads to the roof and offers panoramic views of the surroundings.
Home to some of the most exquisite wall paintings in Orchha, the Laxminarayan temple is yet another must-visit place. The murals are well-preserved and the colors of the murals retain most of their vibrancy.
'Akshardham' means the divine abode of God. It is hailed as an eternal place of devotion, purity and peace. Swaminarayan Akshardham at New Delhi is a Mandir – an abode of God, a Hindu house of worship, and a spiritual and cultural campus dedicated to devotion, learning and harmony. Timeless Hindu spiritual messages, vibrant devotional traditions and ancient architecture all are echoed in its art and architecture.The mandir is a humble tribute to Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781- 1830), the avatars, devas and great sages of Hinduism. The traditionally-styled complex was inaugurated on 6 November 2005 with the blessings of HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj and through the devoted efforts of skilled artisans and volunteers.
SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE
Each element of Akshardham echoes with spirituality – the Mandir, the Exhibitions and even the Gardens.
The Akshardham mandir has over two hundred murtis, representing many of the spiritual stalwarts over many millennia. The spiritual premise of Akshardham is that each soul is potentially divine. Whether we are serving the family, the country our neighbors or all living beings the world over , each service can help one move towards divinity. Each prayer is a call towards improving oneself and moving closer to God.
A visit to Akshardham is a spiritually enriching experience. Whether it is in realising the power of prayer, in feeling the strength of non-violence, in being aware of the universal nature of Hinduism’s ancient principles, or just in admiring the beauty of God’s abode on Earth –- each element has a spiritual significance.
FACTS AND FIGURES
Opened 6th November 2005
Constructed by Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS)
Inspired by HH Yogiji Maharaj (1892-1971 CE)
Created by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj
More than 300,000,000 volunteer hours went into making the complex
Over 8,000 volunteers from across the world participated in building it
Mandir built from intricately carved sandstone and marble
Exhibitions on Hinduism, including Bhagwan Swaminarayan's life and teachings such as prayer, compassion, and non-violence.
Open gardens, water bodies and step-well styled courtyard
Opening Ceremony
Akshardham was consecrated on 6 November 2005 by Pramukh Swami Maharaj and ceremoniously dedicated to the nation by the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam,the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Indian Parliament, Lal Krishna Advani, with the presence of 25,000 guests. After touring the central monument, president Kalam then gave a speech on where Akshardham.
On 17 December 2007, Michael Whitty, an official world record adjudicator for Guinness World Record, travelled to Ahmedabad, India to present a new world record to Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, for the Akshardham complex.
The record was presented for Akshardham as the World's Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple (certificate).
The certificate states,
"BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi, India, is the world's largest comprehensive Hindu temple. It measures 356 ft (109 m). long, 316 ft (96 m). wide and 141 ft (43 m). high, covering an area of 86,342 sq ft (8,021.4 m2). The grand, ancient-style, ornately hand-carved stone temple has been built without structural steel within five years by 11,000 artisans and volunteers. Pramukh Swami, revered spiritual leader of BAPS, consecrated the temple on 6 November 2005. Akshardham showcases the essence of India's ageless art, borderless culture and timeless values.
Upon presentation of the award, Michael Whitty stated, "It took us three months of research, poring over the extensive architectural plans of the Akshardham and also those of other temples of comparable size, visiting and inspecting the site, before we were convinced that Akshardham deserved the title..."
Just small walks from Jantar Mantar. Who is visiting Delhi generally don't miss Agrasen Ki Baoli. In the age of the Mahabharata, Raja Agrasen ordered to build this 104 red stoned steps magnificent water temple. This is considered as the first form of step wells and water reservoirs. Not only for its historical value there is some other reason that made 'Agrasen ki Baoli' an attractive and adventurous place in Delhi.
Although there are no known historical records to prove who built Agrasen ki Baoli, it is believed that it was originally built by the legendary king Agrasen,and rebuilt in the 14th century by the Agrawalcommunity which traces its origin to Maharaja Agrasen.
This Baoli has 108 steps. The well inside the Baoli has dried out but that now. Many mysterious stories involved here. While going deeper the sounds totally vanish only what remains that is echo of our own footsteps. As this sounds becomes more louder in a complete vacuum silence, the atmosphere turns more uncanny feelings. A strong eerie presence felt by visitors in there. Some people even assert that the Baoli is a residence of devils. This Baoli has turned into the house for thousands of bats and pigeons. Before the place lost its shine, the Boali was filled with black water which would call out to people strangely and ask them to scarify their lives. This might be the vernacular behind the strangeness felt inside the vicinity of this Baoli. Someone jump to his death, this is what he had to say he was fine and then we saw him standing there. The water is believed to have had mesmerized people and drove them to death.
Agrasen ki Baoli is also referred as Agar Sain ki Baoli or Ugrasen ki Baoli
The Baoli is an unique blend of architecture with an impressive design known to have existed centuries ago. The stone walls of the Baoli, dressed with inventive designs with a series of arched structure are grim and desolate, but still beautiful. The Baoli is 60 meter long and 15 meter wide rectangular step well, made up of a series of superimposed arches supported on piers or columns. Some parts of the Baoli are permanently immersed in water, but there exists three levels in the visible area (the area which is above the water) of the Baoli, each of which is lined with arched niches on either sides.
The scuttlebutt about being followed by something or sombody invisible, the intensity of which increases if you increase youe pace, makes the Baoli feels mystic. There are rumors of evil sprits in this ancient architecture since quite some time. As per the claims, the Baoli was earlier fill with filthy Black water which attracted mostly disheartened, discouraged and depressed admirers with magnetic effects. The fatal attraction of the mystic waters hypnotized people to their death by alluring them to jump in the waters. It is believed that the "Baoli of the unseen", used to call for people to offer their lives and raise its water levels.
Old Pic Of Agrasen ki Bawli
The occurance of supernatural activities and existence of the evil one is controversial and has been debated every now and then. The loud and shrill cry of the bats definitely add up to the evil reputation of the Baoli, and may play a role in increasing eeriness inside the monument. Some believe that the haunted tales are a myth, while some claim to be eye witness to these shocking stories. The mystic architecture definitely needs your visit. Come and experience the sensation of being alone in the Baoli.
