Pushpa Gujral Science City – It Is An Informative Hilarity Centre For Those Who Have Interest In Science

 PUSHPA GUJRAL SCIENCE CITY

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JALANDHAR

Pushpa Gujral science city is located in Jalandhar district of Punjab State of India and it is actually situated at the Jalandhar- Kapurthala Road and contains over 20 different science exhibits, a lake for boating and a huge Dinosaur model. The science themed informative amusement center is named after Pushpa Gujral, the mother of former Indian Prime minister I.K. Gujral.

Being an ancient city with a diverse culture, Jalandhar is a must visit to experience the authentic roots of Punjab, the various temples and eateries located in Jalandhar make it an unforgettable Indian tourist destination.

The biggest project of its kind in Northern India, the Science City has been set up in 72 acres of land in the of heart of Punjab, on Jalandhar- Kapurthala Road. It is intended to inclucate the scientific aptitude & temperament, to fire the imagination and creativity, foster the spirit of enquiry and exploration among the masses, especially in the young minds.

The subject areas covered include physical, applied, natural and social sciences, engineering, technology, agriculture, health sciences, energy, industries, human evolution and civilization, the environment, ecosystems, Jurassic parks as well as frontier areas like space, nuclear science, information technology, robotics and Bio-technology.

it has Space theratre, Digital planetarium, Laser theatre, 3D theatre, Flight simulator, Climate change theatre, Earthquake simulator, Space and aviation, Energy park, Health gallery, Science of sports, Virtual reality, Fun science, Dinosaurs park, Life through ages, Defence gallery, Mobile science bus, Events calender

Pushpa Gujral Science City (PGSC) is located on Jalandhar Kapurthala Road 15 KMs from Jalandhar and 5 KMs from Kapurthala. It is easily accessible through road, rail and air. Airways. 

Road. Good number of Buses run between Jalandhar and Kapurthala which will drop you at the Entrance Gate of the Science City.

Ethipothala Waterfall – It Gives Tranquil Atmosphere For Weekend Sightseeing Lovers

ETHIPOTHALA FALLS

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GUNTUR

Ethipothala waterfall is situated around 11 kilometers from Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh State of India. Three streams namely Chandravanka Vagu, Nakkala Vagu and Tummala Vagu combine and leap from 70 feet to create the fall.

There is a view point built across the waterfall that gives the best possible sight of the waterfall. The fall then joins the Krishna River after a course of 3 kilometers.

The Ethipothala Waterfalls lies around 11 km from Nagarjuna Sagar Dam on the Chandravanka River which is a tributary of Krishna River. The scenic location of the falls in the delightful valley makes it one of the most sought after picnic spots in Andhra Pradesh.

It is indeed a treat to watch the waters gushing down at high speed from Chandravanka Mountains which lies at an elevation of 70 feet. The serene surroundings and the beautiful valley add to the charm associated with this place. Ethipothala Waterfalls is an ideal place for individuals who’d like to spend some leisure time along with their family and friends.

You can see the water fall from a table land on the other side. You can even go on the hill from where the water flows down. After flowing for about 3 kms, this stream again joins River Krishna.

Nagarjunasagar Dam and Nagarjunakonda are top tourist attractions in Andhra Pradesh, located close to Ethipothala Waterfalls. Both of them are popular sightseeing and weekend vacations destinations, located at a convenient distance form Hyderabad.

An outdoor recreational tour to Ethipothala Waterfalls can easily be clubbed with a visit to both Nagarjunasagar Dam and Nagarjunakonda. Monsoon is the best season to visit this place as during this season the waterfall is at its fullest glory and the dam is full to the brim.

This is also favorite spot for trekking and camping for the locals. There is a crocodile breeding centre, open to the public, at the lagoon at the bottom of the falls.

There are two temples at the foot of the waterfall, dedicated to Ranganadha Swami and Dattatreya Swami. As these temples are situated in the beautiful valley, you have to get down a few steps to visit these temples. 

You can also see some small caves besides the waterfall. People say and believe that these caves lead the way to Srisailam, the abode of Bhramarambika Mallikarjuna Swami. The tranquil atmosphere in which the waterfall is situated gives you a pleasant experience of your visit.

By Air

The nearest airport is in Hyderabad at a distance of 149-km.

By Train

The nearest railhead is Macherla, which is 29-km from Nagarjuna Sagar.

By Bus

Tourists can find regular bus services from Hyderabad, Warangal and Vijayawada to Nagarjuna Sagar.

Every Twelve Year Kumbakonam Celebrates Mahamaham Festival

MAHAMAHAM FESTIVAL

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KUMBAKONAM

Mahamaham is a Hindu Kumbh Mela festival celebrated every 12 years in a town called Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, India. Hindus consider taking a holy dip at the Mahamaham tank on the day of Mahamaham as sacred. The last Mahamaham was celebrated on March 6, 2004, with people from various places taking the holy dip in the Mahamaham tank.

The Masimaham or Mahamaham is an annual event that occurs in the Tamil month of Masi (February-March) in the star of Magam in Kumbakanom, which is an ancient, beautiful and holy place.

This once in a 12 year gala event held from February 13-22nd of 2016. Vast crowds of more than forty six lakh pilgrims gathered at Kumbakonam had a dip in the tank, along with saints and philosophers.

The festival is celebrated at an interval of around eleven to twelve years. The festival takes place at a particular time as determined by astrological position: during the full moon of the Tamil month of Maasi (February-March) when the conjunction of the moon with the lunar asterism (Magha Nakshatra) and when Jupiter is in the constellation of Leo.

This Festival occurs when the sun is in the Zodiacal sign of Aquarius(Khumbha), Jupiter transits Leo(Simha) and the Moon is in conjunction with the constellation Maham. Generally all the these astronomical combination take place on a full moon day of the Tamil Month of Masi(Solar Kumbha Month) i.e. either in the latter half of February or in the first of March.

People are washing their sins on the holy rivers like Ganges, Yamuna, Sarasvati River, Sarayu, Godavari River, Mahanadi River, Narmada River, Pavoshnl and Kaveri River. These rivers wanted to get rid of their sins and approached Lord Brahma.

Lord Brahma advised these rivers if you meet together and take bath in Mahamaham would wash off all the sins. Hence, during the time of Mahamaham festival, it is also believed that taking bath in the holy stream of water from the famous rivers like Ganges, Yamuna, Sarasvati River, Sarayu, Godavari River, Mahanadi River, Narmada River, Pavoshnl and Kaveri River, which are mixed together in Mahamaham tank, would get rid of sins according to Hindu religion.

By having a holy dip in Varanasi, one can be relieved of all sins committed in holy place sand whereas sins committed in Varanasi can be washed off by a holy dip in Mahamaham Tank. Sins committed in Kumbakonam can be washed off in Kumbakonam itself by a holy dip in Mahamaham Tank.

Tamil Nadu Government made elaborate arrangements for the successful conduct of the Mahamaham. Tourism Department had put up Tourist Information Centres at Railway Station and Bus Stand to assist the tourists. A special booklet on Kumbakonam was also published and distributed to the Tourists.

Sikkal Singaravelan Temple – It Is One Of The Oldest Hindu Temple For Both Vishnu And Shiva Dieties

SIKKAL SINGARAVELAN TEMPLE

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NAGAPATINAM

The temple is located in the village of Sikkal, near Nagapattinam in Tamilnadu. Sikkal Singara Velan Temple is one of the most popular Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Muruga and a contender for the unofficial seventh Padai Veedu of Muruga, along with the popular Arupadaiveedu (six abodes of Lord Muruga).

It is one of the rare traditional Hindu temples that have both Shiva and Vishnu deities in the same complex. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar.The main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva as Navaneetheswarar. However, primary importance is given to Lord Subrahmanya Swamy here.

The temple is regarded as an unofficial 7th Padaiveedu of Muruga, along with the other Arupadaiveedu shrines (6 homes of Lord Muruga). This is the 200th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam and 88th sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. Although it is a Shiva temple it is more famous for the Murugan here and is known as Singaravelan temple. There is a perumal temple next door which is also a unique feature.

Once upon a time, Kamadenu was cursed by lord Shiva, when it ate meat. Later feeling guilty of its action, it got rid of its sin by taking bath in the holy water point of this temple and worshiped here, as told by Lord Shiva. After getting rid of the sin, Kamadenu offered its milk which later become Parkulam (literal meaning: the milk pond), which is located behind the temple.

Six worship services are offered each day here. A number of marriages are performed in this temple in the kalyana mandapam. Bhrammotsavam for Shiva is celebrated in the month of Chittirai, while the Skanda Sashti annual festival is celebrated for 10 days in the month of Aippasi.

On the fifth day of the festival, a bejeweled image of Skanda is gifted with a spear, in Velnedunkanni's shrine, and the image of Skanda is said to break out in sweat upon receipt of the spear. Karthikai asterism each month attracts large crowds here, when the processional image of Singaravelar is placed in the Karthikai Mandapam.

It is this holy water point (The Parkulam) of the temple where Vashista Maharishi performed a pooja here, by making a lingam with the butter from the Parkulam. After completing the pooja he tried to move that lingam, but it sticked to that place, and never moved.

As a result Vashista Maharishi regarded this place as Sikkal. Here the Lord Shiva is called ‘Thiru Vennai Nathar’ (Vennai means butter) as he was made up of butter. Interestingly, Thirukkannankudi - a Vaishnava Divyadesam (near Keevalur nearby) has a legend associated with Vasishta offering worship to an image of Krishna which he had fashioned out of butter.

It is also said that Lord Murugan had got his Vel (weapon) from his divine mother at Sikkal, to kill the Asura, Soorapadman in Srilanka. He performed Soora Samharam (literal meaning: killing Soorapadman) by setting up the base camp in Thiruchendur

The day before the ‘Soora Samharam’, Singaravelar (Lord Murugan) would get the “Vel” (a weapon) from Ambal and the following day he would quell Soora. Prior to this Singaravelar would appear indignant and he couldn’t manage the power of Vel and he started sweating.

Even today, a day before Soora Samharam he will sweat and when they try to wipe the sweat using silk cloth it won’t stop. This is a wonder here and it is called “Sweating wonder”.The temple worship timings are from 5.30 AM to 12.30 PM and evening: 4.30 PM to 9.00 PM.

By Air

Nearest Airport is located at Chennai. 

By Train

Nearest Railway Station is located at Sikkal

By Bus

It is 5 kilometers in the West from Nagapattinam and 18 kilometers in the East from Thiruvarur on the way to Nagapattinam

Manjolai Hills – It Is Fully Bounded By The Tea Estates

MANJOLAI HILLS

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TIRUNELVELI

Manjolai is a hill station, located in Tirunelveli District of Tamilnadu State of India. This place is famous for its tea plantations, amongst which the Bombay Burma Tea Estate is the most prominent. Due to its scenic beauty, this place is compared with Udhagamandalam (Ooty). Other important tourist spots near Manjolai are the Kakkachi and Nalumukku.

Manjolai Hills is a lovely hill station tucked away deep in the magnificent Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghats. The hills rise to a height of 1000-1500 meters and are covered here with tranquil tea gardens. Manjolai Hills is above the Manimuthar Dam and the picturesque Manimuthar Waterfalls and is 57 kms from Tirunelveli.

Manjolai Hills is famed for its lovely weather, which is such a blessing after the searing heat of the plains. It is also known for its awesome scenic beauty and the serenity of its surroundings. Head to Manjolai Hills and savor the peace and quiet and enjoy some great views. You could trek into the forest and spot some wild animals. It’s definitely a must-visit destination of you want to recharge and refresh your city-weary batteries!

The area around Manjolai hills comprises tea plantation, Upper Kodiayar Dam, a view point named Kuthiravetti and small settlements. One can spot three tea estates within the Manjolai area. Manjolai Tea Estate falls within the vicinity of Manimutharu town in the Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu.

A trip to Manjolai is worth the visit. There are many small waterfalls amidst lush greenery all the way to the top. The place has not been, however disturbed by mankind and the birds with their cries and chirps welcome all visitors to the place. Manjolai is also called the ‘poor man’s Ooty’. This place is a hill station above the Manimuthar Dam.

On the route to Manjolai, you will be mesmerized by the greenery and nature’s stunning work. Atop Manjolai, you can come across few private tea and coffee plantations.

Trekkers can have good time trekking amidst of thick plantations. You should also visit the Manimuthar Falls. A dam was built across the fall and it is named as “Manimuthar Dam”. One can also catch the breathtaking view from the windy view point called “Kuthiravetti”. It is essential to get permission from forest department while travelling in private vehicles. Government buses are also available to reach this lovely hillock.

By Air

The nearest airport from Tirunelveli is Tuticorin airport that is located at a distance of 28 kilometers from the downtown Tirunelveli & Madurai Airport is around 150 Kms away. Tuticorin airport sees very less flights but Trivandrum airport that is around 150 kilometers in Kerala has regular flights for various cities in India as well as South and West Asia.

By Train

The Tirunelveli Junction railway station is an extremely busy and important railway junction in Tamilnadu. It connects Tirunelveli to all the major cities in India and Tamilnadu such as Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Trichy, Thanjore and Kanyakumari. Various express and super fast trains pass through Tirunelveli.

By Bus

Tirunelveli is well connected by road. The city is located on the National Highway no. 7. It is well connected to all the major cities of Peninsular India by National as well as state highways. The nearest major city is Tirunelveli, which is a two hour’s drive and 57 kms. away from Manjolai Estate.

There are buses from Tirunelveli, Ambasamudram and Manimuthar.  Local taxies are available and these operators will have the necessary passes and permits. The place is accessible from Ambasamudram which is 50 kms. away and Nagercoil.