A Weekend Trip To Ranikhet

WELCOME THE WINTER

From Delhi To Ranikhet- 

In November, nature’s cold arm is just beginning to embrace the lower Himalaya, slowly transforming the landscape into a mist-covered, frosted picture postcard. Soak in the best of the season at Ranikhet, in Uttarakhand’s Almora district. Let your city-induced stress disappear in the mountain air, amidst the pine forests, the sloping meadows and the enchanting views of the distant peaks.

Ranikhet is the perfect spot for lazy, languorous holidays, you can also pack lots of action into your break here. At Upat is one of the most picturesque nine-hole golf links in the country, with snow-capped mountains providing a lovely backdrop. Not far from Upat is Kalika, with its famous temple dedicated to the Goddess Kali; here, you can also wander about a well-maintained forest nursery with an abundance of indigenous plants. 

For a day in a charming, relaxed setting, set out for a picnic at Bhalu Dam, an artificial lake surrounded by a pretty garden. Walks along scenic routes are an essential part of the Ranikhet getaway for most travellers. The stroll from the ancient Jhula Devi Temple to Chaubatia, known for its orchards, is an especially picturesque one and will have you stopping every now and then to soak in the views.

Ranikhet is also an ideal zone for trekking—from easy to challenging. Choose from routes such as Chaubatia Orchards to Holm Farm and Chaubatia to Bhalu Dam. Also scattered across the region Ranikhet is also an ideal zone for trekking—from easy to challenging. 

Choose from routes such as Chaubatia Orchards to Holm Farm and Chaubatia to Bhalu Dam. Also scattered across the region are a string of sparkling lakes. You can explore them and picnic at the edge of these waterbodies while avid anglers can spend hours fishing at lakes such as the Naukuchiya Tal.

You can drive from Delhi to Ranikhet, a distance of about 370 km, via Haldwani and Bhowali. If you want a room with a view—and you should when you’re in this part of the country—check into the Royal Mountain Hotel, where the comfortable rooms look out over the lower Himalaya.

Ranikhet is a good place to shop for woolens, especially shawls. The main
shopping districts in the town are the Mall and Sadar Bazaar. You should also stop by at the Tweed and Shawl Factory for its handcrafted products. Also carry back some Bal Mithai, the caramel-like fudge sweet that’s coated with sugar balls, one of Ranikhet’s specialties.

Even if November is just the beginning o winter, it can get chilly at these altitudes. Carry plenty of warm wear, not forgetting sturdy shoes for those mountain walks.

Hazratbal Mosque - Its Perfect White Marble Style Of Mosque Is Looked As A Significance Of Srinagar

HAZRATBAL MOSQUE

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SRINAGAR

Hazratbal Mosque is the most important Muslim Religious place, situated on the western shore of Dal Lake.  Its perfect white marble elegance is reflected in the waters of the lake.

Hazratbal's special significance is derived from the fact that it houses a hair of the prophet Muhammad. This is displayed to the public on religious occasions, usually accompanied by fairs. Apart from these occasions, Friday prayers are offered at Hazratbal and attended by throngs of people.

Hazratbal is remarkable for being the only domed mosque in Srinagar; the others having distinct pagoda like roofs. The shrine – mosque complex is situated on the western shore of the Dal Lake opposite Nishat Bagh and commands a grand view of the lake and the mountain beyond.

The history of the shrine goes back to the early seventeenth century when the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan's Subedar, Sadiq Khan, laid out a garden here & constructed a palatial building, Ishrat Mahal or Pleasure House in 1623. However, the Emperor, during his visit in 1634, ordered the building to be converted into a prayer House with some additions & alterations.

During the time of Aurangzeb, when Moi-e-Muqqadus (The Holy Relic) arrived in Kashmir in 1699, it was first kept in the shrine of Naqashbad Sahib in the heart of the city. Since the place was found to be insufficient in view of the unprecedented rush of people who thronged the place to have a glimpse of the Moi-e-Muqqades, it was decided to shift the it to Hazratbal, then known as Sadiqabad.

The construction of the present marble structure was started by the Muslim Auqaf Trust headed by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1968 and completed in 1979. The "Moi-e-Muqqadas" (Holy Relic of Prophet Mohammad S.A.W) is displayed on Various occasions related with the life of Prophet & his four holy companions.

The Moi-e-Muqqadus (Holy Relic of Prophet p.b.u.h) is usually on public display inside a glass casket on certain sacred and holy days. Tours and travel to the Hazratbal shrine gives you an opportunity to participate in the colorful and vibrant fairs that are held at Hazratbal every year, the most important among these is the Shab-e-Meraj.

Hazratbal lies in Srinagar and the nearest Airport is approx. 25 Km away. This Airport is connected with major cities of India. The nearest Rail Head is at Jammu which is 300 Kms away and from there National Highway NH1A connects the Kashmir valley with India. Every sort of transport to suit every budget from Buses to Taxis ply on this Highway. It Takes around 10 to 12 hours to cross this mountainous road which crosses some beautiful spots and the famous Jawahar Tunnel linking Kashmir Valley with India. Regular transport is available from various points in the Srinagar city with nominal charges. Route from Dal Lake can also be undertaken.

Vadapalani Andavar Temple – It Is 125 Years Oldest Shrine In Chennai City

VADAPALANI ANDAVAR TEMPLE

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CHENNAI

Vadapalani Andavar Temple is located in Vadapalani, Chennai. The temple is dedicated to Lord Muruga. The temple was renovated in 1920 and a Rajagopuram was built during that time. The temple has grown in popularity believed in part due to the patronage of cinema stars.

Built about 125 years back, this much hallowed and regularly frequented Lord Muruga Sannidhi has emerged from a thatched shed, an unostentatious one enshrining a Murugan picture only, and established for itself a name on par with ancient places of worship. Around 7000 couples are married here each year.

According to the sthalapurana, one Muruga devotee by name Annaswami Nayakar with his limited means built a small thatched hut and kept a Murugan painting for his personal worship primarily. During his meditation and worship, he used to experience some divine power entering his body and inspiring him to utter some mysterious things, whatever he said in his trance was found true.

His utterance went by the name of ‘arulvakku’ (God blessed statements) and relieved people in several ways, like curing diseases and getting jobs, solemnizing marriages, etc.

There are very many sannidhis in the vast courtyards of the temple, like Varasiddhi Vinayaka, Chokkanathar, Meenakshi Amman, Kali, Bhairava, Shanmuga with Valli and Devasena.

The moolavar in standing posture resembles the Palani Muruga in every respect. In the inner prakara, there are many niches housing Dakshina Murti, Chandikeswar, Mahalakshmi, et al. it has a spacious hall used for conduting marriages and religious discourses. It is one of the most frequented Murugan shrines in the city of Chennai.

By Air

Chennai International airport is just 7 kilometres away from the city. There are pre-paid taxi booths outside the airport from where you can hire a taxi and reach your destination. Charges may vary as per the cab vendor. However if you are looking for a cheaper alternative, auto-rickshaws can take you to the city at a relatively low fare.

By Train

Chennai has three major railway stations namely Chennai Central (code MAS), Chennai Egmore which is just 2 kilometres from the city (code MS) and Tambaram which serves the suburban areas of Chennai. Many super-fast and express trains run on a daily basis and are well-connected to cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Cochin, Hyderabad, Kolkata and other Indian cities. 

By Bus

Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminal (CMBT) is one of Asia's largest bus stations. Around seven state owned companies run buses to and from various destinations within South India. they connect cities like Tirupati, Pondicherry, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli and others. You can choose from deluxe, semi-deluxe, hi-tech, rajahamsa executive and sleeper buses while taking a route to any of the neighbouring cities. Also, there are various buses that connect major cities Bangalore and Calicut to Chennai.

Kurukshetra - Lord Krishna Moralized His speech Of 'Karma' In This Place

KURUKSHETRA

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HARIYANA

Kurukshetra located on North Eastern part of Haryana State and it is a place of great historical and religious importance, revered all over the country for its sacred association with the Vedas and the Vedic Culture.

It was here that the battle of Mahabharat was fought and Lord Krishna preached His Philosophy of 'KARMA' as enshrined in the Holy Bhagwad-Gita, to Arjuna at Jyotisar.

According to Hindu mythology, Kurukshetra is spread over, a circuit of about 48 KOS, which includes a large number of holy places, temples and sacred tanks connected with the religious events/rituals, Mahabharat War and Kurus, the ancestor of Kauravas and Pandavs. Kurukshetra is intimately related to the Aryan civilization and its growth all along the sacred river Saraswati.

It is believed that the holy waters of all sacred rivers flow/converge into Kurukshetra's Sannehit Sarovar, at the time of Somavati 'Amavasya' and solar eclipse. It is believed that those who bath in the tanks in Kurukshetra go to heaven after death. Mahabharata states that one who dies at Kurukshetra attains salvation after death.

It is the land where the sage Manu penned his 'Manusmriti' and where learned 'rishis' compiled the Rig Veda and Sama Veda.

Kurukshetra is named after King Kuru, who also performed a supreme sacrifice to bring prosperity to the land and his people.

"Come one and come all to have a glimpse of the sacred land of eternal bliss and to personally feel its religious and celestial fervour, heritage and ambience."

Kurukshetra is located on the linking road from National Highway No. 1 through Pipli, a famous town. Kurukshetra is also connected from Pehowa on the Ambala-Hisar National Highway No. 65

By Air

Nearest airport is situated at Chandigarh. For more information contact the airport & airlines.

By Rail

An important railway junction, the town's railway station is located between Sector 13 and New Colony. Some of the trains that pass through this station are Shatabadi Express, Amritsar Express, Jhelum Express, Kalka Mail and Himalayan Queen.

 

By Bus

Haryana Roadways and other State Corporation buses connect Kurukshetra with Delhi, Chandigarh and other important places in Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

Haryana Roadways Volvo passes through Kurukshetra.

For Haryana bus enquiry : Dial 01744-220468.

Jharkhand Government Wants To Develop The Ranchi Lake As A Major Tourist Destination Of The City.

RANCHI LAKE

The Ranchi Lake, commonly known as Bada Talab, is set for a face-lift with the city civic body drafting a multi-crore plan to conserve and beautify the British-era water body.

The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has drafted a plan to conserve the lake with an estimated cost of Rs 14.42 crore. The lake over the years has become polluted due discharge of untreated sewer water and waste dumped by residents.

Located at the base of the landmark Ranchi Hill, the 53-acre man-made lake–2,100ft above sea level–was dug up by Colonel Onsely, a British agent and his men in 1842.

The RMC plans to develop the historic lake as tourist spot that will have a food court, a jogging track, lightning and landscaping of the lake.

“The lake will be developed in three phases. The first phase, which is likely to being in a month or two, will see construction of basic infrastructure like a boundary wall, a pathway, lighting and sitting arrangements and beautification work,” said Bijay Kumar Bhagat, superintendent engineer at RMC.

Local residents said the years back, water from the lake was used for drinking. “The water has become polluted due to the inflow of untreated sewer water,” said Rajeev Kumar, a local resident.

“The polluted water is affecting the health of residents as it has turned into breeding ground for number of water-borne diseases due to the pollution,” he said.

RMC officials said conservation plan for Bada Talab was being drafted since 1980 but the plan has not been executed so far.

In 2013, the RMC drafted Rs 53.47 lakh renovation and beautification plan.

The corporation has decided to stop the draining of sewage water into the lake, said RMC executive engineer Uma Shankar Ram.

“A by-pass drain has been constructed so that sewage water is not drained into the lake,” he said.

The RMC planned to set up a sewage treatment plant for treat untreated sewer water with the help of Neeri (national environmental engineering research institute) technology. “The plan was dropped as we did not want to depend on a single technology,” Bhagat said, adding that an expression of interest has been floated for maintaining the cleanliness and water quality in the lake for five years.

“We are expecting agencies to come up with different technologies out of which the best will be picked,” he said.

The Jharkhand government wants to develop the Ranchi Lake as a major tourist destination of the city.

In January this year, chief minister Raghubar Das, laying the foundation of a statue of Swami Vivekananda at the lake, said a 30ft statue will be installed in the middle of the sprawling lake and the government will develop Bada Talab as a tourist spot in the next two years.