UNESCO Declared World Heritage Sites In Tamil Nadu - Darasuram

UNESCO DECLARED WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN TAMIL NADU 

DARASURAM

Darasuram is 4 Kms from Kumbakonam. This temple built by Raja Raja Chola dedicated to Lord Siva, is either called as Drasuram temple orAiravateswara Temple. This is well preserved temple of  the 12th century Chola Kingdom. The columns of the temple have unique and excellent miniature sculptures. This is termed as one of the Great Living Chola Temples along with Big Temple and the Gangaikondan Cholapuram temple.

During the 14th century the large stone statues surrounding the temple was replaced with brick and mortar statues similar to that of Big Temple at Thanjavur. Achaeological Survey of India has restored the temple. UNESCO declared it as World Heritage Monument in its 2004 list.  

                                                                                                 

Somnath Temple - One Of The Most Legendary Temples Of The Western Coast Of India

SOMNATH TEMPLE

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JUNAGADH

Somnath temple stands at the shore of the Arabian ocean on the western corner of Indian subcontinent in Veraval District of Gujarat State. This pilgrimage is one of the oldest and finds its reference in the ancient texts like Skandpuran, Shreemad Bhagavat, Shivpuran etc.

 It is the holy place of the Aadi Jyotirling Shree Somnath Mahadev and the sacred soil from where Bhagvan Shri Krishna took his last journey to his neejdham ( Dont forget to visit Bhalkatirth, the temple with a unique idol of Lord Krishna along with the hunter who shot the Lord in his feet with his spear).

Somnath temple of Gujarat is one of the 12 jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva which is situated 79 kms from Junagadh and 25kms from Chorwad. Somnath Temple is located in the prabhas kshetra near veraval and is one of the most legendary temples of the western coast of India.

This most sacred and very important pilgrim centre for Hindus, is also called Prabhas Teerth - the Prabhas pilgrimage place. Here it is said, that Lord Shiva ended his incarnated form and returned to his celestial abode.

The legends says that somnath is as old as creation which is built by none other than the moon God himself. The remains of this temple of somnath depicts the story of a city which withstood the shocks of time and survived the attacks of destroyers.

The temple has an imposing architecture and is a beautiful sight facing the blue expanse of the Arabian Sea. A short distance from the Somnath temple is Bakhla Tirth located, where Lord Krishna was said to have been struck by the stray arrow of a Bhil tribal.

 The present temple, kailash Mahameru Prasada is built in the chalukya style of temple architecture and reflects the inherent skill of Sompuras, Gujarat’s master masons.

Somnath temple is being regarded as the ideal sacred place of the Hindus that survived the ravages of time. The study of Indian history reveals that the somnath temple was invaded by the different conquerors who came to India and even some looted its wealth and others destroyed some parts of it.

 Many legends are attached to the somnath temple regarding its origin and existence. The other names of the temple of somnath are deo pattan,Prabhas pattan, or somnath pattan in the past, the somnath temple was considered as the treasure trove of wealth and goodies that were looted away by muslim rulers.

By Air

The nearest airport is Keshod. Located at a distance of about 55 km from Somnath, this domestic airport is well connected to Mumbai. There are flights at regular intervals from Mumbai to Keshod. Mumbai is in turn well connected to all important cities in the country as well as to various other important places in the world. After reaching Keshod airport one can easily avail of any local means of transportation like bus or else hire a car to reach Somnath.

By Train

Veraval is the nearest rail head which is merely 7 km from Somnath. A special train "Somnath Express" runs from Ahmedabad to Veraval. Ahmedabad is the state capital of Gujarat and is well linked by rail not only to different places in the state of Gujarat but also to many of the prime cities in India.

BY Bus

 A good network of roads connects Somnath to the different important places in the state of Gujarat. The state capital Ahmedabad is 400 km away; Junagadh, Bhavnagar and Porbandar are at a distance of 85, 266 and 122 km respectively but all of them are well linked to Somnath by roads and buses ply on these road routes. In fact Bombay which is 889 km from Somnath is also connected to it by road.

Tripura Sundari Temple - It Has A Quadrangle Formed Hut With A Sharp Dome

TRIPURA SUNDARI TEMPLE 

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AGARTALA

Tripura Sundari Temple is situated about 67 kms from Agartala. This temple is also known as Matabari and located in the ancient capital, Udaipur on the top of hillock Dhanisagar in the middle of the 16th century.

 The deity is Goddess Kali.

This is one of the 51 Pithas mentioned in the Tantras. The temple is served by red robed priests and is the location of the large fair during Diwali festival in October-November.

Beyond this age-old temple there is a big tank called Dhani Sagar, the abode of old tortoises, sacred to pilgrims for food offerings.

It is said that when any of these wise tortoises is to die, it approaches the altar of the temple and breathes its last.The temple has a square shaped sanctum that resembles to typical Bengali hut with a conical dome.

 It was constructed in 1501 by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya Debbarma. The temple has two identical images of the deity which is known as Tripura Sundari (5 feet tall) and Chhotima (2 feet tall).

The temple structure is also known as Kurma Pitha as the temple premises resembles kurma or tortoise.

Durga puja is celebrated joyously in Tripura Sundari temple.

Every year during Diwali, a popular fair is organized near the temple which is visited by lakhs of pilgrims.

People come here to take bathe in the fish-filled tank which is located near the temple.

Fairs are also held on the occasion of ‘Uttarayan Sankranti’ and ‘Shiva –Chaturdashi’.

Daily, the goddess is offered with ‘anna-bhog’ (rice). Besides this, various types of seasonal fruit is also offered to the goddess.

By Air

 The closest airport is at Agartala from where temple can be reached by road.

By Train

The nearest rail head is Kumarghat which is 140 km from Agartala. From here buses and taxis are available to reach the temple.

By Road

 The temple is located at 55 km from Agartala, the capital of Tripura. It is well connected by all towns of Tripura. The nearby bus stand is Matabari.

Wild Planet Resort – It Is Amidst And Surrounded By The Hill Tea Plantation

WILD PLANET RESORT 

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NILGIRIS 

Devala is located in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu state of India.Wild Jungle resort is located at Devala-(The Chirapunji of South India), in the Nilgiris, the border of Wayanad hills and Mudumalai tiger reserve.

Wild Planet Resort is an intimate, secluded, luxurious resort located in the middle of a dense rain forest. Nestled in the natural beauty of the wilds, Wild Planet Jungle resort is located at Devala-(The Chirapunji of South India), in the Nilgiris, the border of Wayanad hills and Mudumalai tiger reserve.

 It is an iconic Indian retreat, set in 100 acres of land which is hidden inside the secluded 3300 square kilometers of tropical rain forest in the midst of Nilgiris mountain range- the meeting point of Eastern and Western Ghats.

Built on family owned land about 1300m above sea level, this hill station is renowned for its coffee, tea and pepper plantations. Mountains and forests combine to create numerous outback trails, trekking routes and opportunities for other adventure sports.

Wild Planets mission is to share this unique part of the world, while maintaining respect for the natural environment and challenging accepted notions of luxury. Dedicated to environmentally conscious hospitality, Wild Planet Jungle resort is no ordinary tourist destination!

Our Hill Top Cottages are spacious (650 sq. each) and luxuriously done accommodations. The cottages are atop a hillock in the middle of a tea plantation providing a green blanket on the slopes. The balcony overlooks the surrounding rain forest and the Nilgiri mountain range, as far as the eye can see.

The resort has various activities available for you to enjoy at the resort including outdoor games like Badminton, Basket Ball, Archery and indoor games like Pool, Table Tennis, Caroms and other board games.

 We offer a free nature walk inside the property and trekking options are also available for those who want to refresh themselves amid nature. We can arrange for fishing in a pond inside the property. Also we do arrange for day trips to nearby sightseeing places like Mudumalai wild life sanctuary, Bandipur, Ooty and Wayanad.

By Air

Nearest airport is Calicut, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Mysore.

By Train

- Nearest railway station is Calicut, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Mysore.

By Road

Bangalore – Mysore – Gundalpet – Bandipur – Gudalur – Devala – Wild Planet (260 KM)

Calicut – Thamarassery – Chundale – Meppadi – Devala – Wild Planet (125 KM)

Coimbatore -Mettupalayam – Ooty – Gudalur – Devala – Wild Planet (160 KM)

Cochin – Thrissur – Perinthalmanna – Nilambur – Devala – Wild Planet (238 KM)

Mangalore – Kasargod – Taliparamba – Iritty – Manathavady – Ambalavayal – Devala – Wild Planet (312 KM).

Devala,

Between Wayanad Hills & Mudumalai Tiger Reserve,

Nilgiris, Kerala – Tamil Nadu Border, South India.

Khangchendzonga National Park Has Been Declared As A World Heritage Site By UNESCO

Sikkim's Khangchendzonga National Park is India's newest entry in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.

Here's a proud moment for every Indian. More so for those who love to travel.

The Khangchendzonga National Park, a lesser-known destination in Sikkim, has been declared has a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This is for the first time that any Indian destination has been under the Mixed criteria of UNESCO's heritage sites list, thus recognising the outstanding universal values for its both natural and cultural significance.

Located  at the heart of the Himalayan range in Sikkim, the Park is home to dozens of lofty mountain peaks, 18 glaciers, lakes, waterfalls and some unique flora and fauna.

A favourite among trekkers, this place has a unique biodiversity that includes an interesting mix of wildlife species and the presence of plains, valleys, lakes, glaciers and spectacular, snow-capped mountains covered with ancient forests, including the world's third highest peak, Mount Khangchendzonga.

Besides, the National Park is highly regarded by the state's local population because of several mythological stories that are associated with the caves, rivers, lakes, forests and other natural elements in this place.

The UNESCO designation not only adds prestige to the park, but also entitles it to financing from the World Heritage Fund.

"The UNESCO recognition will give a further push to eco-tourism in our state, while also helping us to regulate the high influx of visitors to more popular destinations with only a minimal negative impact of tourism," said Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling.

"This is important since tourist arrivals to our state more than doubled to 38,479 in 2015 and our target is around 12 lakh visitors by 2025," he said in a statement.

"At the same time, while there are no major developmental projects like roads or buildings within the Khangchendzonga National Park, tourism associated with the protected park provides local communities with substantial incomes," said the Chief Minister.

"As a result, there has been significant improvement in living conditions, especially at Pelling, Yuksom, Gangtok and Ravangla. Tourism-related activities like running pack animals, portering, guiding and lodge management have become major economic activities."

"The park has 18 sub-forest types. It has a large diversity of species of higher plants (1,580), mammals (124) and birds (300). There is no other protected area found in the Indian Himalaya with such variety of sub-forest types and species diversity," an official said.

The park is home to the red panda, snow leopard, great Tibetan sheep and musk deer. The birds include black-necked crane, grey peacock pheasant, Himalayan monal pheasant, Sikkim's state bird blood pheasant, Tibetan snow cock and Himalayan snow cock.

What is also unique about its eco-system is that it has permanently snowcapped mountains, glaciers, high altitude lakes, grasslands, cold deserts and varied forest types. Consequently, the floral and fauna is also diverse and a delight for visitors.

It has 20 peaks above 6,000 metres--11 between 6,000 to 7,000 metres, eight between 7,000 to 8,000 metres and one above that. And that is Mount Khangchendzonga (also called Kanchenjunga), which towers at 8,586 metres and is the third highest in the world.

The park also has religious significance. Sikkim is presented in Buddhism as a "hidden land" and as per scriptures, what now constitutes the park is the sanctum sanctorum, where religious masters have hidden religious texts and treatises marked for discovery in later times.

Officials explained that these hidden treasures, known as "ters", are destined to be discovered by ter-tons, literally treasure revealers, from the sacred spots littered across the park. This has ensured that the sacred places are not defiled, thereby sustaining preservation.