Pushkar - The sister city of Ajmer

Pushkar today is an esteemed religious destination for Hindus and Brahma highly venerated god here. Pushkar is a town in the Ajmer district in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is situated at 14 km North West from Ajmer. In recent years Pushkar has become a popular hub for foreign tourists to enjoy colourful camel festival during the Kartik Month. Around 400 temples and 52 bathing ghats make other attractions of the city appear dwarfish. The nights do not have just stars to sparkle up the atmosphere, rather there are deep rooted faith in the hearts of devotees that makes this place radiate with unparalled charm. The land of landscapes, epitome of divinity, spirituality and confluence of nature’s diversity are all contained in holy Pushkar. All these traits have given it an important place on World tourist map. This is small pretty town, situated 140kms. from Jaipur and about 13kms. from Ajmer, with a population of about 19745, is one of the most visited pilgrimage place in India. Impregnated with myths and legends, the hallowed land of Pushkar is the cynosure of all eyes, whether it's the pilgrims or the vacationers, in Rajasthan. It's truly a worthwhile experience to visit the town which was, at one time, a favourite retreat of the Mughal rulers, before the dynasty witnessed its decline and fell into the hands of the Scindias. And unlike most of the cities, Pushkar was finally handed over to the British. According to a legend, there took place a combat between Lord Brahma and demon Vajra Nabh. Tourism in Pushkar takes you to the small, sluggish but charming town in Rajasthan in India. Pushkar be indebted its recognition to its holy lake, Unique Brahma Temple and annual cattle fair. It is surrounded by hills on three sides and sand dunes on one which makes it a charming place. For Tourism in Pushkar one should plan his tour for winter season as it is the best season to visit Pushkar.

Places to see :

The city of Pushkar in the Indian state of Rajasthan is a very holy city that is considered sacred by pilgrims from all over the country. Traveling to Pushkar can be very exciting, given the number of temples present there and the sheer colors on the road during the time of festivities.

Nasiyan Temple:

The entire temple is adorned by marvelous work of gold, silver, precious stones and glasses on the every corner of temple. The temple also called Soni Ji Ki Nasiyan. The red Jain temple belongs to Digambara sect of Jainism. This temple is a piece of architectural intelligence.

Brahma Temple :

It is reputed as the only one temple dedicated to Brahma in India. A red spire marks the temple and over the entrance gateway there is a goose, the symbol of Brahma.

Savitri Temple :

This temple is devoted to the Godess Savitri, one of Brahma's wives, and is located on the highest hill above the Pushkar town. One can climb a long series of steps to reach the shrine which offers a panoramic view of the Pushkar Lake and surrounding sand dunes.

How to reach :

Bus :

Rajasthan Roadways run very comfortable deluxe buses from Jaipur. There are buses from Jaipur to Ajmer every 15 minutes, some nonstop. The roads are very good, and it takes around 3 hrs from Jaipur. You can also come by hire private cars. Pushkar is 11 km from main Ajmer bus stand.

Rail :

Ajmer is the nearest railway station from where one can take trains for the major destinations in Rajasthan and other parts of India.

Air :

The nearest airport is Jaipur 145 km from where one can take flights for Delhi and Mumbai.

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Patna and Rajgir – Two Historical cities of Bihar

Patna is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar and the second largest city in terms of population in eastern India. The ancient Patna, known as Pataliputra, was the capital of the Magadha Empire under the Haryanka, Nanda, Mauryan, Sunga, Gupta, Pala and Suri dynasties. It is located on the south bank of the river Ganga.

There are several theories regarding the source of the name Patna:

It is etymologically derived from Patan, the name of the Hindu goddess, Patan Devi.

It comes from Pattan (meaning “port” in Sanskrit), since the city, located near the confluence of four rivers, has been a thriving river port.

It may be a short form of Pataliputra, one of the most ancient names of this city.

The Greeks called it Palibothra. Megasthenes (350-290 BCE), the Greek historian, referred to it in Greek as Palibothra or Palimbotra.

The city has been known by various names during its more than 2,000 years of existence – Patligram, Patliputra, Kusumpur, Pushpapura, Azimabad, and the present-day Patna.

Patna received its current name during the reign of Sher Shah Suri, whose tomb is at Sasaram, near Patna.

Patna is a major transport hub for the state and a useful base for visiting the Buddhist sites of Vaishali, Kesariya and Rajgir. The natives of Patna are called Patnaites.

The cuisine of Patna is very unique and has a real mouth watering taste. “Khichdi”, the broth of rice and lentils, seasoned with spices, and is served with several accompanying items like curd, chutney, pickles, papads, ghee (clarified butter) and Aloo Chokha (boiled mashed potatoes, seasoned with finely cut onions, green chillies) is a common meal. Khichdi is a staple food and considered auspicious when consumed on Saturdays. Afternoon meals mostly consist of rice and vegetables while the dinner will consist of rotis (flatbread) and lentils. The desserts includes the sweets which are mostly dry like Khaja, Ladoo, Kala Jamun, Khubi ka Lai, Kesaria Peda and Chena Murki.

Places to Visit:

• Patna Museum
• Golghar
• Kumrahar Excavations
• Har Mandir
• Qila House
• Khuda Baksh Oriental Library
• Mahaveer Mandir
• Sher Shahi
• Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park
• Bihar Institute of Handicrafts and Designs
• Birla Mandir
• Nawab Shahid-Ka-Maqbara
• Pachim Darwaza
• Padri-Ki-Haveli.

Rajgir:

Rajgir is located in the Nalanda district of Bihar is the first capital kingdom of Magadha. The name Rajgir is derived from Sanskrit word Tajagraha which means “house of the king” or “royal house”. It might have its origin from the literal meaning, “royal mountain”.

Rajgir was the ancient capital city of the Magadha kings until the 5th century BC when Ajatashatru moved the capital to Pataliputra. In those days, it was called Rajgrih, which translates as “the home of Royalty”. Rajgir is located in a valley surrounded by rocky hillocks. One can see many Buddhist monks meditating at a place called Vultures Peak. Lord Buddha is said to have delivered many sermons at the town of Rajgir. Lord Mahavir is also said to have to spend some amount of time at the town of Rajgir. The serenity of Rajgir revitalizes both the mind and spirits.

Rajgir is in a valley surrounded by seven hills namely Vaibhara, Ratna, Saila, Sona, Udaya, Chhatha, and Vipula. Rajgir has also developed as a health and winter resort due to its warm water ponds. These baths are said to contain some medicinal properties that help in the cure of many skin diseases. The Saptparni cave is also the source of the Rajgir Hot Water Springs that have curative properties and are sacred to the Hindus, Buddhists and Jains.

From March to May summer prevails. The monsoon in Rajgir occurs from June to August and plenty of rain is experienced making the climate pleasant. The winters are very pleasant during December to February with a moderate temperature. Tourists must carry warm and woolen clothes while visiting Rajgir during December-January.

Places to Visit:

• Gymnasium of Jarasandh
• Ajatshatru Fort
• Shanti Stupa
• Cyclopean Wall
• Sonbhandar Caves
• Venu Vana
• Bimbisar Jail
• Jain Temples
• Chariot Route Marks
• Pippala cave
• Hazaribagh National Park
• Chhota Nagpur Plateau
• Parasnath Hill

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Camel Safari - Ship of Desert

Rajasthan invites you to feel the adventure of a Camel Safari, which takes you through the golden sands of the vast Thar Desert. In places as Thar Desert, it’s the only means of transportation in remote areas. The most popular and obvious safari to explore the bewitching beauty of Rajasthan is the Camel Safari. Known as the Ship of the Desert, the camels will take you to the remotest parts of the Thar Desert, where you will find yourself at the threshold of a never explored wonder land.bus from delhi to jaipur

Tirupati

Tirupati is in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is most famous for its Sri Venkateswara Temple dedicated to Vishnu, also known as Balaji in North Indian and Govinda in South Indian. The temple is located on top of Tirumala hills, while the town is located on the foothills. The Tirumala hill has seven peaks ("Sapthagiri"), said to represent the seven hoods of Adisesha, the serpent under whose hoods Vishnu resides in Vaikuntha.

Tirupati is situated in the southern part of Andhra Pradesh. Tirumala is located in the eastern ghats, a mountain range that runs along the south-eastern India. The temple of Lord Venkateswara is located on the seventh peak Venkatachala. The nearby town called Tiruchanoor (also known as Alamelu-Mangapuram) is covered in this page too.

History:

Lord Venkateswara is also called the Lord of the Seven Hills. This temple has acquired a special sanctity in the Hindu religion. The benefits that accrue by a pilgrimage to this holy town is mentioned in the Vedas and Puranas. Hindus all over the world believe that in Kali Yuga it’s possible to attain mukti by worshiping Lord Venkateswara. Around 50,000 pilgrims visit the temple every day.

The Pallava, Chola, Pandaya and Vijayanagar rulers were known to give funds and jewels as temple offerings.

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Aurangabad- Built by the Throne

Aurangabad means “Built by the Throne” is named after the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The city is a tourist hub, surrounded with many historical monuments, including the Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as Bibi Ka Maqbara. The city is also one of the fastest growing cities in the world.

Aurangabad has been declared as Tourism Capital of Maharashtra. The Mauryans ushered Buddhism in this region of India, which is evident from the profusion of numerous Buddhist cave temples in and around Aurangabad. Temples built by Satvahanna and Rashtrakuta rulers are located here. The famous caves of Ajanta are a part of this Buddhist tradition. The heritage of Aurangabad is linked with different Muslim rulers and dynasties of India.

History:

1610- Aurangabad was founded, on the site of a village named Khirki, by a local Muslim noble Malik Ambar, the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah of Ahmadnagar.

1626- Fateh Khan ruled Aurangabad and named the city as Fatehpur.

1633- With the capture of Daulatabad previously known as Devagiri by the imperial troops, the Nizam Shahi dominions, including Fatehnagar, came under the possession of the Moghals.

1653- Prince Aurangzeb was appointed the viceroy of the Deccan for the second time, he made Fatehnagar his capital and renamed it Aurangabad. Aurangabad is sometimes referred to as Khujista Bunyad by the Chroniclers of Aurangzeb's reign.

1660- Bibi Ka Maqbara was built by Aurangzeb’s son, Azam Shah, as a loving tribute to his mother, Dilras Bano Begam.

1720- Nizam-ul-Mulk Asif Jah, a distinguished General of Aurangzeb with the intention of founding his own dynasty in the Deccan, arrived at Aurangabad and made it his capital.

1723- Nizam-ul-Mulk Asif Jah paid a visit to Delhi, but returned in 1724.

1763- Nizam Ali Khan Asaf Jah II transferred his capital from Aurangabad to Hyderabad.

Aurangabad was a part of Nizam’s princely Hyderabad State until its annexation into Indian Union and thereafter a part of Hyderabad state of India until 1956. In 1956 it became a part of newly formed bilingual Bombay state and in 1960 it became a part of Maharashtra state.

The climate of Aurangabad is Temperate Climate with low relative humidity and diverse but not extreme weather conditions.

Summer is observed from March to May. Nights are usually pleasant and cooler during the entire summer. Winter is seen from November to February which is the most comfortable time to visit Aurangabad. Monsoon which ranges from June to October receives moderate rainfall.

Places to Visit:

• Aurangabad Caves
• Bibi Ka Maqbara
• Himroo Factory
• Panchakki
• Khuldabad
• Paithan
• Pan Chakki
• Ghrishneshwar Temple
• Bani Begum Gardens
• Daulatabad
• Pithalkora

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