Jai Vilas Palace – It Is The Land Mark And Important Destinations Of Gwalior

JAI VILAS PALACE

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GWALIOR

Jai Vilas Palace is one of the important heritage attractions of Gwalior city and was rated among well maintained palaces of Madhya Pradesh state. It is just close to another popular Usha Kiran Palace. It is not in the Gwalior fort campus which is north of Jai Vilas Palace.

It also have a museums where we can see the glimpse of royal splendor, life-style, art and culture during scindia dynasty rule. Museum is part of palace in which 25 rooms have been allocated for Jivaji Rao Scindia Museum. It is open from visitors from 10:00hrs till 17:00hrs and Closed on Every Wednesday.

It’s the signature of the imperialism of Gwalior, the plush residential palace of scindias where currently Scindia family resides and one of its part turned into museum called Jiwaji Rao Scindia Museum. It is in the heart of the city and close from railway station and bus stand.

The palace was built in 1809 AD by Jiwaji Rao Scindia, and designed by Lt. Col. Sir Michael Filose, the palace is still occupied by the current successors of the royal family, and the construction of the palace was as an attempt to bring the palace of Versailles to Gwalior.

The area of the Jai Vilas Palace is 1240771 square feet and it is particularly famous for its large Durbar Hall. The interior of the Durbar Hall is decorated with gilt and gold furnishings and adorned with a huge carpet and gigantic chandeliers. It is 100 feet long, 50 feet wide and 41 feet in height.

The architecture of the palace is a mix of British-Italian and Indian constructive style, which reflects an inspiration and architectural idioms of Tuscany and Coithian styles.

There are 35 rooms which have turned to a museum, the first part of the museum has a wide collection of old-arms, and the most attractive part is to see the original Dhal (Shield) of the Jhansi ki Rani, on the ground floor the antiquity of the royal time yet very modern the ‘Silver Serving Train’ with cut glass carriages, which served the royal food to the royal guests on the dining table along with wine and cigars, the chairs back-rest has the royal crest of Gwalior.

Special tours can be organized for visitors and tourists groups after normal museum hours in the evening 5pm onwards. Tourists can be experience the culture and heritage of the region through music and dance performance organized along with dinner or high tea on the palace lawns. The visitors are hosted to an exquisite experience with unmatched hospitality.

By Air

The city Gwalior has its own Airport which is only 08 km away to the heart of the city.Many air travel agencies fly their flights from Gwalior to Delhi, Agra, Indore, Bhopal, Mumbai. Delhi International airport, which is nearly 321 km from Gwalior, is the main connecting airport for international travelers. Jai Vilas Palace is in South-West to Gwalior airport. 

By Train

Nearest railway station to visit Jai Vilas Palace is Gwalior junction which is in North-East direction from palace and South of Gwalior fort. Palace is just 2kms from railway station. It is close to Gwalior Junction railway station.

By Bus

Jai Vilas Palace is inside Gwalior city so can be reached by road from any place in city or from nearby tourist destinations like Agra, Delhi, Orchha, Shivpuri, Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary, Chanderi etc. Gwalior City bus stand is close to railway station in eastern direction where hotels like Tansen Residency, Regency etc are close to it. Bus stand is about 3kms from palace.

Maheswar Fort – It Was Built By Akbar In 1601 As He Was Mughal Emperor

MAHESWAR FORT

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KHARGONE

Maheswar or Ahilya fort is situated in the metropolitian city of Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh State of India. The history of Maheshwar dates back to more than 4000 years back. The city also finds a mention in Mahabharta and Ramayana as well but the name of the city in these epics is 'Mahishmati'.

Akbar built the fort after he came into power in the year 1601. In the late eighteenth century, Maharani Ahilya Bai took over as the queen of Holkar Dynasty.

This place is associated with several myths and was known as Mahishmati in ancient times. Now it is known with the name ‘Maheshwar’ which is derived from God of Gods ‘Mahesh’ which is a name of Lord Shiva. The word Maheshwar is means in Hind “abode of Lord Mahesh”.

She transformed this riverside city into a peaceful and prosperous land when the rest of India was facing an uneasy time. She built many temples and buildings that still lend the city the aura of times of yore. The Ghats of the city, named after the dynasties like Peshwa Ghat, Fanase Ghat, Ahilya Ghat are another feature that give Maheshwar a distinctive look. Experience the real life of rural India, moving past you at a leisurely pace.

The Fort is the most visited attraction in the city. The magnificent fort houses an archaeological museum that displays antiques and different possessions of Holkar Dynasty. The main attraction of the fort is the life-size statue of Rani Ahilyabai seated of the throne. The festival of Dusshera is special in the fort as procession carrying a small shrine is taken down the fort for public viewing.

This sprawling Fort now has turned into a luxurious 4 star hotel with very few luxury rooms for tourists who are coming to visit Maheshwar and its adjoining tourist attractions like Mandu, Omkareshwar, Indore, Ujjain etc.

By Air

Nearest airport is Indore (91 km), connected with Bombay, Delhi, Bhopal and Gwalior.

By Rail

Nearest Railway stations are Barwaha (39 km), Khandwa (110 km), Indore (91 km) and Mhow on the Western Railway.

By Road

Regular buses are available from Barwaha, Khandwa, Dhar and Dhamnod

Narmadakund – Here Is A Small Tank Where It Is Believed That The River Narmada Begins

NARMADAKUND 

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AMARKANTAK

Narmadakund is situated in Amarkantak city of Annupur district of Madhya Pradesh State of India. Narmadakund and its vicinity of Amarkantak are one of the most significant parts of Amarkantak. This is the place where it is believed that the river Narmada originated. Narmadakund covers a sprawling area of 6 acres of land and comprises over 23 statues of various idols.

Narmdeshwar temple which has a holy kund made at the source of river Narmada is the most important temple at Amarkantak. There are about twenty small temples in the premises of the Narmada Mandir each one of which is important in its own way.

There is the Sati temple, which is, devoted to Parvati. The protected site of the ASI is close to the main Narmada temple .The temple complex is constructed at the point from where the holy river Narmada originates.

Narmadakund has eleven corners and is nearly 500ft long. Narmada Kund can be visited any time of the year as a pleasant climate prevails here. The place is surrounded by 16 stone temples like the Narmada Temple, Lord Shiva Temple, Annapurna Temple, Guru Gorakhnath Temple, Shri Ram Janki Temple and Shri Radha Krishna Temple.

By Air

The Nearest Airport is Dumma Jabalpur Airport (250Km), and Raipur Airport (245 Km).

By Rail

The Nearest Railway station is ra Road Railway Station (17 Km).

By Bus

There are many public and private vehicles available to reach  Ma Narmada Temple(Narmadakund) Amarkantak.

Adhiparasakthi Siddar Peedam – Adhiparasakthi Has Incarnated Herself In The Human Being Form

ADHIPARASAKTHI SIDDAR PEEDAM

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MELMARUVATHUR

Arulmigu Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Peedam, the Holy Shrine is situated at Melmaruvathur, Tamil Nadu, 92 kms south of Chennai along the NH-45. This place, where the Siddhar Peedam is situated, is being considered as the mostHoly place for the past 2000 years. It is in this place, where21 Siddhars, both men and women, attained Jeeva Samaadhi (leaving the mortal body, but living in astral plane).  These 21 Siddhars belong to various religions.

In these Holy Lands at Melmaruvathur, where the current Siddhar Peedam is consecrated, stood a Neem tree and a huge Snake mound underneath it.  One day, in 1960s, milk began to ooze out from the aforesaid Neem Tree.  Wonderstruck by the miracle, people in the surrounding villages, thinking it to be a Divine Happening, drank the oozing milk.  The milk was delicious though the sap of the Neem tree will always taste bitter.  It served as a miracle-medicine for curing the various diseases of the village people. The people slowly started realizing the Divine Power and Grace of the tree.

On 28th November 1966, there was a violent storm in Tamil Nadu. The Snake mound under the Neem tree was eroded in the heavy rain. The Neem tree (from which the milk oozed out) also got uprooted due to the violent gusty winds.The Swayambu (Swayambu means “self-manifested” or that which is created by its own accord) emerged beneath the uprooted Neem tree. 

People then understood the revelation that it was because of the power of The Swayambu, the milk had high medicinal values, and the place became so sacred. The Sanctum Sanctorum of today’s SiddharPeedam is established in this very same place. The Swayambu is situated right in front of the Adhiparasakthi statue.

In 1971, the first Oracle came through His Holiness, The Adigalar and The Power prophesied that, “it’s descending to earth as The Mother and She should be worshipped as the Goddess Adhiparasakthi, and the world would go through a Spiritual Revolution and a New Renaissance would emerge’.

Initially, The Swayambu alone was worshipped for many years. Thereafter, on 25thNovember 1977, the idol of Mother Adhiparasakthi was installed in the Sanctum Sanctorum. Mother Adhiparasakthi instructed the unique form of this idol through Her Oracles. 

The idol is one metre tall, seated on a thousand-petal lotus seat, with Her right leg folded and the left leg resting on the lotus petal. The thousand-petal lotus signifies and denotes meditation. She holds the bud of a lotus in Her right hand and the fingers of Her left are folded in a way depicting the Chin Mudra. Her hair is plaited and knotted upwards like a crown. 

Special Counters Of ICICI Bank For Foreign Tourists To Exchange Their Currency

Foreign Exchange Counters in ICICI Banks in Tamil Nadu -

P.R. No. 537

                                                                                           Date:18.11.2016

Thiru Har Sahay Meena, I.A.S., Commissioner of Tourism and
Managing Director, TTDC informed
-----

Due to the demonitisation of Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 notes by the Central

Government, the Foreign Tourists suffered even for petty things. To ease the

difficulties faced by the Foreign Tourists who visit Tamil Nadu, the Commissioner of Tourism and Managing Director, TTDC, Chennai communicated the Regional Director and the General Managers of Reserve Bank of India, Chennai to open Foreign Exchange Counters in Tamil Nadu. Based on the request, RBI swiftly acted and arranged the special counters of ICICI Bank for Foreign Tourists to exchange their currency at the following places:

Chennai Branch:

Cenotaph Road (Contact Name: Mr. Gunasekaran, Mobile:9944466993).

Puducherry Branches:

1) Mission Street, 2) Indira Gandhi Square, 3) Lawspet, 4) Auroville
(Contact Name: Mr. Kumaran Vadivel, Mobile:8939944380, LL:0413-
23322237).

Coimbatore Branch:

Tricy Road (Contact Name: Mr. Hariharan, Mobile:9500047629)

Madurai Branch:

K.K. Nagar (Contact Name: Mr. Srithar, Mobile:8056000474)

Trichirappalli Branch:

Thillai Nagar (Contact Name: Mr. Prasanna, Mobile:9790366600)

-2-
Thanjaur Branch:

1) Thanjavur Main, 2) Thanjavur West Main 
(Contact Name: Mr. Raja, Mobile:9751881242, LL:04362 646537)

Vellore Branches:

1) Vellore Main 2) Gandhi Nagar 3) Satuvachari
(Contact Name: Mr. Vijayanand, Mobil:9500027574, LL:0416-4200630)

Ramanathapuram Branch:

Ramanathapuram (Contact Name: Mr.John, Mobile:98403 83745,
LL:0461-2325280)

Kodaikanal Branch:

SGJ Sangadurai Hall (Contact Name: Mr. Srithar, Mobile:8939847242)

Tiruvannamalai Branch:

Tiruvannamalai (Contact Name: Mr. Llyas, Mobile:9839823872)

As regards Kanniyakumari and Mamallapuram, similar arrangements are
being explored with other banks and will be communicated as soon as they are
finalized – the RBI informed).
All the Foreign Tourists in Tamil Nadu can avail now this facility and make
their trip a memorable one. If any tourist has some problem, they can register
their complaints @ Toll Free No.1800 4253 1111 (between 10 AM – 6 PM).
Issued By:- DIPR,Secretariat, Chennai - 9

source: tamilnadutourism.org