Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

Hello friends,

Today I ll tell you about Angkor Wat, Cambodia. When you’re visiting the temples, wouldn’t you rather be taking in the sights instead of burying your nose in a guidebook? Here i’ll give you an idea of who built what, when, where, and also the symbolism behind the temple structures. I’m obviously not an Angkor Wat historian, but here’s what I’ve gathered so far. Jayavarman II was the founder of the Angkor empire, and he proclaimed himself a devaraja or god king (deva = god, raja = king) possessing similar powers to the Hindu god Shiva. You’ll find that this god-king theme was also adopted by his ‘successors’ throughout Angkor Wat’s history. The Angkor Wat Discovery is the somewhat controversial concept that refers to the visit of French naturalist Henri Mouhot to Angkor Wat in 1860 and the publication of his travel notes in 1863. These memoirs had an umprecedented reception in Europe and Mouhot was credited with the discovery of the "lost city of Angkor". However, the French explorer was not the first European to visit Angkor Wat nor the first one to write about it. The ruins town Angkor was the capital city of Cambodia and centre of the Khmer empire from the late 9th up to the early 15th century. In the 13th century the total area of Angkor was approximate 400 square kilometre and at this time it was one of the biggest towns worldwide. The town was build around one temple on the top of a hill, which symbolic –up to the cosmically of the Hindus - the mountains of the centre from the earth. Step by step the Khmer kings build more and more temples devote to the Hindu gods. when you’re watching a sunrise over Angkor Wat or clambering Tomb-Raider-style over the ruins of Tha Promh, the modern world feels a long way off. But don’t be fooled by the epic history – Cambodia is a country on the move. With riverside boulevards and art galleries popping up in Phnom Penh, and Siem Reap’s growing reputation for hip cafes and thumping nightlife, Cambodia tours aren’t all about the temple-gazing. (Although we have to admit, the gazing is pretty darn good).

Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple-mountain and the later galleried temple. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology: within a moat and an outer wall 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west; scholars are divided as to the significance of this. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs, and for the numerous devatas adorning its walls. The temple is a powerful symbol of Cambodia, and is a source of great national pride that has factored into Cambodia's diplomatic relations with France, the United States and its neighbour Thailand. A depiction of Angkor Wat has been a part of Cambodian national flags since the introduction of the first version circa 1863. From a larger historical and even transcultural perspective, however, the temple of Angkor Wat did not become a symbol of national pride sui generis but had been inscribed into a larger politico-cultural process of French-colonial heritage production in which the original temple site was presented in French colonial and universal exhibitions in Paris and Marseille between 1889 and 1937.

Moreover, the 17th century brings us accounts of Japanese settlements at Angkor. An inscription with Japanese calligraphic characters found on a pillar on the second floor of Angkor Wat dating back to 1632 is good proof of it. Another Japanese man, Kenryo Shimano, is the author of the oldest known Angkor Wat plan. During his travels to Angkor some time between 1632 and 1636 he drew a very detailed map of the temple. Because of the invasion from Thailand in 1431 the Khmer moved their capital city in the south and Angkor with his temples was leaved to the tropical forest. Just in 1858 the French Explorer H. Mouhout discovered the temple ruins and in the following years they would be uncovered.In 1987 started the restoration of these unique ruin places.

That was my knowledge about Angkor If have any suggestion or information feel free to share with me. I must admit, Angkor Wat history is fascinating and these temples grow on you. The more time you spend among the temples, the more you read about them, and the more you imagine how life was lived during the ancient times, the more you feel that strange lure and magical attraction about them.

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Lutos Temple Delhi India

Lotus Temple

Hello friends,
Today I will tell you aboutBahai Temple (Lotus Temple), New Delhi, India. The temple has also been awarded many a time for its unique architecture and has been featured in several magazines and newspapers. The architectural blossoming of the lotus at the Baha’i House of Worship in Kalkaji could be withering away under the expanding effects of pollution. It says vehicular emissions could be causing the building to corrode and turn grey, as well as the noise pollution disturbing meditators at the House of Worship, also famous as the Lotus Temple. Notable for its Lotus flowerlike shape, it has become a tourist site in the city. the Lotus Temple is open to all, regardless of religion or any other qualification. The building is composed of 27 free-standing marble-clad "petals" arranged in clusters of three to form nine sides,name="petaldesign of Architecture of the Bahá'í House of Worship | date =2012 | publisher =National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of India | with nine doors opening onto a central hall with height of slightly over 40 metres.All Bahá'í Houses of Worship, including the Lotus Temple, share certain architectural elements, some of which are specified by Bahá'í scripture. `Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of the founder of the religion, stipulated that an essential architectural character of a House of Worship is a nine sided circular shape. Baha’i House of Worship general manager Shaheen Javed agreed. He told Mail Today: “I don’t have any scientific study to prove this but I have been here for 18 years and know that the polluted environment is taking a toll. We wash the temple every three months with plain water but I am afraid it may not be enough. The structure is the last of seven Baha’i temples around the world. Opened in 1986, it has 27 free-standing marble petals and 21,000 metres of area in slopes and curves. It is among the most important cultural sites in Delhi, seeing an average tourist footfall of 8,000-10,000 every day
 All religions are allowed in this temple, there are no restrictions. You can do meditation inside the temple where it has the capacity of 2500 people in it. Almost 50 million people had visited this flower. The nine doors of the Lotus Temple open into a central hall, capable of holding up to 2,500 people. The Temple has received wide range of attention in professional architectural, fine art, religious, governmental and other venues.

The Lotus Temple is a favorite Tourist spot in Delhi. Nestled in the arms of South Delhi, this temple is a major tourist attraction of India. The Temple is built with sand, cement, marble and dolomite. After this Temple came into being, it has attracted over 50 million tourists to it.
The Bahai faith, which lies as an inspiration behind the Lotus Temple, emphasizes on the power of prayer in form of ‘Conversation with God’ or meditation. The temple too stands on these guidelines on the soil of Delhi
The Lotus Temple looks splendid at night, when the colored lights illuminate this mesmerizing temple. This excellent Baha i Temple is indeed a must visit. It is a pride of Delhi which is sure to amaze you with its beauty.
I went via flight…Delhi is the main gateway city for northern India with a modern airport. All major international airlines in the world fly through Delhi. Indira Gandhi International Airport is located at 23km southwest of Central Delhi and the domestic terminal at Palam is 5km away from the international terminal.

Taxi and coach transfer is available from both International and Domestic Arrivals. Pre-paid Taxi (a service with journey fare paid at the booking counter), air-conditioned and non- air-conditioned coach counters are located immediately outside the customs Hall in International Terminal and outside Baggage Claim area in Domestic Arrivals.

It is useful to know that Lotus temple is an easy five minutes walk from Kalkaji Mandir Metro station whereas some fifteen minutes from Nehru Place metro station but if you ask customer care of Delhi Metro they’ll advice you to reach Lotus temple from Nehru Place and in Nehru Place station also you’ll find big photo frame of Lotus temple for tourists

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The Great Pyramid of Giza

The Great Pyramid of Giza

Hello friends today i ll tell you about The oldest monument of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the pyramid is the biggest one in Giza Necropolis.The Great Pyramid of Giza, also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops is the only standing ancient wonder of the world. Even after four and a half millenia, the structure still holds some mysteries within.By strategically placing detectors within the pyramid, scientists can track the flow of muons. No muons are absorbed in cavities, but stone can absorb some of them. The scanning takes months or years, for an image to emerge with a high enough contrast between dense and empty areas.

There are three known chambers inside the Great Pyramid. The lowest chamber is cut into the bedrock upon which the pyramid was built and was unfinished. The so-called Queen's Chamber and King's Chamber are higher up within the pyramid structure. The main part of the Giza complex is a setting of buildings that included two mortuary temples in honour of Khufu (one close to the pyramid and one near the Nile), three smaller pyramids for Khufu's wives, an even smaller "satellite" pyramid, a raised causeway connecting the two temples, and small mastaba tombs surrounding the pyramid for nobles.

The Great Pyramid consists of an estimated 2.3 million blocks which most believe to have been transported from nearby quarries. The Tura limestone used for the casing was quarried across the river. The largest granite stones in the pyramid, found in the "King's" chamber, weigh 25 to 80 tonnes and were transported from Aswan, more than 800 km (500 mi) away. Traditionally, ancient Egyptians cut stone blocks by hammering into them some wooden wedges, which were then soaked with water. As the water was absorbed, the wedges expanded, causing the rock to crack. Once they were cut, they were carried by boat either up or down the Nile River to the pyramid. It is estimated that 5.5 million tonnes of limestone, 8,000 tonnes of granite (imported from Aswan), and 500,000 tonnes of mortar were used in the construction of the Great Pyramid.

The Great Pyramid is surrounded by a complex of several buildings including small pyramids. The Pyramid Temple, which stood on the east side of the pyramid and measured 52.2 metres (171 ft) north to south and 40 metres (130 ft) east to west, has almost entirely disappeared apart from the black basalt paving. There are only a few remnants of the causeway which linked the pyramid with the valley and the Valley Temple.

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Beautiful Victoria Memorial Hall

                          Beautiful Victoria Memorial Hall

The Victoria Memorial was built to commemorate the peak of the British Empire in India. The Victoria Memorial, conceived by Lord Curzon, represents the architectural climax of Kolkata city. Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy specified its classical style but the actual plan of Victoria Memorial was laid down by the well-known architect, Sir William Emerson. The Victoria Memorial blends the best of the British and Mughal architecture. The Victoria Memorial hall was built with white Makrana marbles. The Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone of Victoria Memorial in 1906 and it was inaugurated in 1921 in memory of Queen Victoria. The Victoria Memorial is 338 by 228 feet and a height of 184 feet.


Today the Victoria Memorial Hall is a museum having an assortment of Victoria memorabilia, British Raj paintings and other displays. As night descends on Calcutta, the Victoria Memorial Hall is illuminated, giving it a fairy tale look. It is interesting to note that the Victoria Memorial was built without British government funds. The money required for the construction of the stately building, surrounded by beautiful gardens over 64 acres and costing more than 10 million was contributed by British Indian states and individuals who wanted favors with the British government. At the top of the Victoria Memorial is a sixteen foot tall bronze statue of victory, mounted on ball bearings. It rotates with wind.

At present the Victoria Memorial has notable collection of weapons, sculptors, paintings, maps, coins, stamps, artifacts, textiles etc. The Royal gallery in Victoria Memorial has portraits of the Queen and Prince Albert. There are numerous paintings, illustrating events from Victoria's life. Another remarkable peace in Victoria Memorial is a painting by the Russian artist Vasseli Verestchagin, portraying the state entry of the Prince of Wales in Jaipur in the year 1876. In the post independence period a new addition was made to the Victoria Memorial. It was the addition of the National leaders' gallery with the portraits and relics of the freedom fighters.

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Beautiful Varanasi Ghat

                                  Beautiful Varanasi Ghat

Varanasi or Kashi is older than traditions. Varanasi presents a unique combination of physical, metaphysical and supernatural elements. According to the Hindu mythology, Varanasi liberates soul from human body to the ultimate. It is the Ganga Ghats of Varanasi that complement the concept of divinity. Ghats of Ganga are perhaps the holiest spots of Varanasi. The Ganga Ghats at Varanasi are full of pilgrims who flock to the place to take a dip in the holy Ganges, which is believed to absolve one from all sins. There are number of temples on the bank of the Ganga river in Varanasi. It is believed that people are cleansed physically, mentally and spiritually at Ganga Ghats. It is at the Ganga Ghats where we see life and death together. For thousands of years people have been thronging these Ghats to offer their morning prayers to the rising sun. There are more than 100 ghats along side Ganga in Varanasi. Some of the prominent and popular Ghats at Varanasi are the Dasaswamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Harischandra Ghat, Kabir Ghat and Assi Ghat.

A boat trip along the river provides the perfect introduction, although for most of the year the water level is low enough for you to walk freely along the whole length of the ghats. It’s a world-class ‘people-watching’ stroll as you mingle with the fascinating mixture of people who come to the Ganges not only for a ritual bath but also to wash clothes, do yoga, offer blessings, sell flowers, get a massage, play cricket, wash their buffaloes, improve their karma by giving to beggars or simply hang around. Assi Ghat , the furthest south of the main ghats, and one of the biggest, is particularly important as the River Assi meets the Ganges near here and pilgrims come to worship a Shiva lingam (phallic image of Shiva) beneath a peepul tree. Evenings are particularly lively, as the ghat’s vast concreted area fills up with hawkers and entertainers. It’s a popular starting point for boat trips and there are some excellent hotels here. Nearby Tulsi Ghat , named after a 16th-century Hindu poet, has fallen down towards the river but in the month of Kartika (October/November) a festival devoted to Krishna is celebrated here. Next along, Bachraj Ghat has three Jain temples. A small Shiva temple and a 19th-century mansion built by Nepali royalty sit back from Shivala Ghat , built by the local maharaja of Benares. The Dandi Ghat is used by ascetics known as Dandi Panths, and nearby is the Hanuman Ghat , popular with Rama devotees (Hanuman was Rama's monkey servant).
Harishchandra Ghat is a cremation ghat – smaller and secondary in importance to Manikarnika, but one of the oldest ghats in Varanasi.

Above it, Kedar Ghat has a shrine popular with Bengalis and South Indians. Continuing north from Scindhia Ghat, you soon reach Ram Ghat , which was built by a maharaja of Jaipur. Just beyond it Panchganga Ghat , as its name indicates, is where five rivers are supposed to meet. Dominating the ghat is Aurangzeb’s smaller mosque, also known as the Alamgir Mosque , which he built on the site of a large Vishnu temple. Gai Ghat has a figure of a cow made of stone. Trilochan Ghat has two turrets emerging from the river, and the water between them is especially holy.Spiritually enlightening and fantastically photogenic, Varanasi is at its brilliant best by the ghats, the long stretch of steps leading down to the water on the western bank of the Ganges. Most are used for bathing but there are also several ‘burning ghats’ where bodies are cremated in public. The main one is Manikarnika: you’ll often see funeral processions threading their way through the backstreets to this ghat.

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Beautiful Shore Temple

                     Beautiful Shore Temple

The Shore Temple at Mamallapuram, built during the reign of the Pallava King Rajasimha (c. 700 - 728), is the earliest important structural temple in Southern India. Its three sanctuaries are dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva. Prominent in this photo are the temple walls, topped by large sculptures of Nandi, and its two steep pyramidal towers capped by octagonal domes. As its name suggests, the Shore Temple overlooks the Bay of Bengal (Mamallapuram was the port city of Kanchipuram, the Pallava capital). Its location, so near the sea, has resulted in considerable erosion of the temple's superstructure. Shore Temple comprises three shrines, where the prominent ones are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. In the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), an image of Shivalinga embraces the site. At the rear end, one can find two shrines facing each other. Here, one shrine is dedicated to Ksatriyasimnesvara and other to Lord Vishnu. In the shrine, Lord Vishnu is imaged reclining on the 'Seshanag', which is a symbol of consciousness in Hinduism.

The exterior wall of the shrine to Lord Vishnu and the internal side of the boundary wall are elaborately carved and sculptured. The images on the sculpted panels depict scenes from everyday life. However, the sculptures are incredibly real and artistic. The exterior walls of the temple are segregated by plasters into bays, where the lower part has been impressed into a series of nurturing lions. The archeological department has excavated certain other figures from the site. Shore Temple is no more a living temple. The structure of the temple makes one to contemplate and perhaps, it was erected basically as a work of art. The Pallavas were known to be the great patrons of art and were keen to create their own style of temple architecture. In the present day, Shore Temple makes the background of Mahabalipuram Dance Festival that is held in Jan /Feb every year. The festival was organized to promote the traditional dance as well as tourism in Mahabalipuram. Shore Temple is also acknowledged for being the first stone structure made by Pallavas. Before this, the monuments used to be carved out of the rocks or stones. Unlike other monuments of the region, Shore Temple is a five-storied rock-cut structural temple more willingly than monolithical.

In southern India, this is one amongst the earliest and most important structural temples. The spire is extensively decorated with carvings and sculptures. In the recent years, a stone wall has been constructed to protect the shrine from further sea-erosion.  Perched on a 50 feet square plinth, the pyramidal structure raises to the extent of 60 feet. Presenting a typical specimen of Dravidian temple architecture, Shore Temple generates an exclusive combination of history and natural splendor. The temple was designed to grasp the first rays of the rising sun and to spotlight the waters after sunset. In the words of Percy Brown, Shore Temple served as "a landmark by day and a beacon by night".The two towers rise above shrines to Shiva and their original linga (phallic symbols of Shiva) captured the sunrise and sunset. Between the Shiva shrines is one to Vishnu, shown sleeping. Rows of Nandi (Shiva's vehicle) statues frame the temple courtyard.

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Beautiful Loch Ness Monument

  
          Beautiful Loch Ness Monument


A tranquil location that is open all year, offers stunning scenery and panoramic views around Loch Ness to the mountains beyond; with a back drop of woodlands, forestry and the most spectacular flora and fauna Donald, whose family have been on the farm on which the camp site has been built for generations, along with his wife Lyn, have an excellent knowledge of the area and its history. Donald and Lyn are assisted by their managers; Colette and Mark Tolley, who have worked on a Camping and Caravanning Club Site for the last 3 years. This friendly and informative team aim to make your visit to the site as enjoyable as possible. The site offers facilities to 5* standard, including under floor heating in Am Fasgadh; the Reception/Shop and amenity block, which includes home from home shower rooms, alongside all other amenities that would be  expected on a quality touring site, aspiring to meet the new VisitScotland 5* criteria. Donald and his team are determined to run a ‘green’ business, using innovative renewable energy, including wat r-to-water geo-thermal plus solar thermal, with the electricity provided by hydro power. Carbon management is also demonstrated through the choice of buildings, with energy efficient construction and low impact, locally sourced, materials. One of only a few places with easy access to the shore around Loch Ness, this site provides an opportunity to canoe, kayak or launch small boats, fish for trout and salmon or if prefer hire a boat and gillie locally.  The Great Glen Canoe Trail passes the site, which provides Trailblazer rest for canoeist and kayaks to stay overnight, get a hot shower and stock up on provisions. Fire pits and everything else you need for a BBQ on the shore or picnics are available at the site shop.

The most famous picture of Nessiteras Rhombopteryx, to give Nessie its full name, came from London gynecologist Robert Wilson. On April 19, 1934, Wilson reported seeing something on the water and took a snap: a long neck of the monster had just emerged from the ice-cold water. It later turned out that Wilson belonged to a team who had set out to play a trick on the media. Shortly before his death in 1993, Christian Spurling, one of the "conspirators", admitted his part in the great deception. According to the Sunday Times, Spurling, an amateur woodworker, had rigged up a dinosaur dummy on a toy submarine. The ruse worked perfectly.The spectacular flora and fauna, offers something for everyone with regular sighting of wildlife such as red squirrels, badgers, wild goats, otters, bats and deer and over 40 specifies of wild birds likely to visit the site and surrounding area.  Numbers confirmed by a RSPB survey in 2012, (once on site ask for a copy of the species list), approximately half of these birds fall into the rare (species of medium conservation concern) or in danger (species of high conservation) category.

Wildlife hides are available and walks, ranging from a short leisurely stroll to Foyers Pier, to a wide range of forestry paths in the vicinity, offer numerous options for everyone. There is also an opportunity to take part in a range of organised activities including walks, bird watching, geo-caching, plus archery and mini-bus tours of the wider area.

                      

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