Nizamat Imambara - It Is Shaped Into Three Large Quadrangles

NIZAMAT IMAMBARA

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MURSHIDABAD

The Nizamat Imambara is a Shia Muslim congregation hall in Murshidabad, India. The present Nizamat Imambara was built in 1847 AD by Nawab Nazim Mansur Ali Khan,. It was built after the old Imambara built by Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah was destroyed by the fires of 1842 and 1846. 

This Imambara is the largest one in India and Bengal.ConstructionOld Nizamat ImambaraThe old Nizamat Imambara was built by Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah in the Nizamat Fort Area. He bought bricks and mortar, and laid the foundation of the building with his own hands. However, the old Imambara was primarily made up of wood. 

The plot where this Imambara had been built was dug to a depth of 6 feet. It was refilled with soil which was brought from Mecca so that the poor members of the Muslim community could have an experience of Hajj.DestructionThe old Imambara which caught fire for the first time in 1842 and was partly destroyed. But it was completely destroyed by a fire on 23 December 1846. 

That day the Nawabs along with the Europeans threw a party to celebrate the weaning ceremony of five-year-old Hassan Ali Mirza. The Imambara caught fire at midnight due to the fireworks left off and was completely burnt down. Nothing survived except the old Madina Mosque.

The original Imambara was wooden and went up in flames initially in 1842 and was ruined in part. Subsequently, it was devastated again once an inferno gutted it entirely on December 23, 1846. On that day, the Nawabs together with the Europeans were rejoicing the weaning rituals of Hassan Ali Mirza who was just five years old at that time by a gathering. During the middle of the night, the Imambara was conflagrated as a result of the firecrackers left over and was fully destroyed. Not a single object could be protected other than the Madina Mosque.

The erstwhile Madina Mosque was left in its position where it remained in the previous Imambara. In addition, a new masjid was built inside the newly built Imambara. You can still view the previous Madina Masjid, situated amid the Hazarduari Palace and the Imambara, close to the Clock Tower and the Bacchawali Tope (cannon- 18 foot in length and 16880 pound. In Bengali “Baccha” means baby.

It was believed that the cannon produced such a deafening sound that pregnant ladies gave birth to their babies when the sound reached their ears—hence the name “Bacchawali Tope—tope is hindi for cannon). The place is popularly called as Madina, its previous name. As a result of this, visitors get puzzled between the new and old one. Check out the Nawabs’ pleasure ground Roshni Bagh as well in Dahapara.

Sadeq Ali Khan was the overseer of the new Imambara which was constructed in 1847 AD. The principal gateway is south facing and lies just opposite to the northern side of the Hazarduari Palace. The craftsmen just required eleven months for completing the building since over and above their remuneration, they got food as well which enabled them to labor round-the-clock.

The length of the current Imambara is 680 feet. Nonetheless, the widths differ. The middle portion which houses the Madina has a length of 300 feet. The section was constructed marginally few feet away from the location of the earlier edifice to the north. The Imambara lies on the riverbanks of the Bhagirathi. The difference between the coasts of the river and the western fence of the shrine is just 2-3 feet.

By Air

The nearest airport is NSC Bose Airport, Kolkata. Murshidabad is around 182 km from Kolkata.

By Train

Berhampur Court is the nearest station and is well connected to Kolkata. It takes around 6 hours from Kolkata to Berhampur via rail route.

By Bus

Berhampur and Kolkata are very well-connected to the rest of India via the country’s road network. Buses ply frequently from Kolkata to Murshidabad and Berhampur.

Sundarbans Mangroove - It Lies At The Mouth Of The Ganga

SUNDARBANS MANGROOVE

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WEST BENGAL

Sundarbans means "beautiful forests," but the region may also have been named after the large number of Sundari trees that grow there in the salty coastal waters.The Sunderbans are a part of the world's largest delta, formed by the mighty rivers Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna. Situated on the lower end of Gangetic West Bengal, the Sunderbans is criss-crossed by hundreds of creeks and tributaries.

 It is one of the most attractive and alluring places remaining on earth, a truly undiscovered paradise. The Sunderbans is the largest single block of tidal, halophytic mangrove forests in the world. The name can be literally translated as beautiful jungle. The name may have been derived from the Sundari trees that are found in the Sunderbans. The Sunderbans is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is spans a vast area covering 4.264 sq. km in India alone. It is the largest Tiger Reserve and National Park in India.

The Sunderbans forest is home to more than 250 tigers. The Royal Bengal Tigers have adapted themselves very well to the saline and aqua environs and are extremely good swimmers.  As you enter the adventurous wild land of the Sunderbans, you will be thrilled to see the chital deer and rhesus monkey. 

The aqua fauna of Sunderbans include a variety of fish, red fiddler crabs, and hermit crabs. There are crocodiles, which can be often seen along the mud banks.  Sunderbans National Park is also noted for its conservation of the Ridley Sea Turtle. An incredible variety of reptiles is also found in Sunderbans – these include king cobra, the rock python and the water monitor. The endangered river terrapin, Batagur baska, is found on the Mechua Beach, while barking deer are found only on  Haliday Island in the Sunderbans.

Tiger (Panthera tigris), Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), Water monitors (Varanus salvator), Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta), and Jackal (Canis aureus) are among the many wingless inhabitants found in this ecoregion.Bird species include little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger), Open-bill stork (Anastomus oscitans), Common pochard (Aythya ferina), White stork (Ciconia ciconia), and Common redshank (Tringa totanus).

Giant honeybee (Apis dorsata) is another native to this area. Although they once roamed here, today the Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) and the Wild buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) have been extirpated.

The Sunderbans is only accessible by waterways. The nearest railhead is Port Canning, from where organized group trips start. There are several other entry points, but Port Canning is most popular.

The other route is through Basanti that is connected by bus service to Kolkata. From here, one can take boats to Sajnekhali. One can also come via Port Canning and Gosaba or from Sonakhali to Sajnekhali. From Kolkata, there are Sunderban trains to Canning and buses to Namkhana, Raidighi, Sonakhali, and Najat, from where motor launch services are available for Sunderbans.

Monsoon in Kerala - It Is A Heady Concoction Of Emotions

Monsoon in Kerala

Rain is a heady concoction of emotions which has to be witnessed in all its grandeur. 

For those who enjoy downpours what better time to be in Kerala than the Monsoon season.  The Monsoon season in Kerala is indeed a heavenly spectacle as the whole of earth rejoices after being revived from the harsh summer spell.

As soon as billows of dark clouds start bearing down and the lighting and sound of thunder rips through the sky, the whole region bursts out in a carnival of sorts in the anticipation of the rain. And finally, as the rains come crashing down to the scorching earth with a hiss, it is pure magic, a delight to all the senses. 

The monsoons in Kerala follow a distinct pattern. The rains don’t stretch on for weeks but is punctuated by splashes of sunshine. These mild sunny spells strike the right balance and bathe the drenched landscapes in golden glory.  

Kerala bears witness to two rainy seasons- The Southwest Monsoons and the Northeast Monsoons.  The Southwest Monsoons, also called Edavappathy, arrives in the month of June. As the rains arrive in the middle of the month of Edavam in the Malayalam Calendar, it is called Edavappathy. The Northeast Monsoons make its presence felt mid-October, in the month of Thulam according to the Malayalam calendar and is hence called the Thulavarsham. 

The charm of the Monsoon is pronounced in hill stations and they offer the best vantage points to enjoy the showers. 

The Monsoon season is also the time for rejuvenation when Ayurvedic therapies are carried out. The ancient science of Ayurveda stipulates the Monsoon season as the right time to indulge in herbal therapies and the body is treated to special herbal oils and medications.

Each monsoon season in Kerala is as fresh as the first dew on a blade of grass and once experienced, it gets lodged in the memory forever.  

Champakkulam Boat Race - Snake Boats Ripping The Calm Water For A Grand Visual Spectacle

CHAMPAKKULAM BOAT RACE

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ALAPPUZHA

The Champakkulam Boat Race starts off the season of boat races and unleashes a visual splendour as the snake boats slice through the calm waters accompanied by the rhythmic chant of boat songs in the Alappuzha District Of Kerala State of India.

Kerala is one of the best kept secrets of India. A culture in which the heritage of the land is proudly preserved in the hearths and hearts of all the people of the land, a study into the culture of Kerala is a fascinating tale of natural beauty coupled with an ancient heritage. Perhaps no other aspect of the heritage of Kerala exhibits it as much as do the various festivals in Kerala, notable among which is the Champakkulam Boat Race.

The Champakkulam Boat Race is all set to begin on June 26, this year. The festival, which is one of the most-awaited events in the calendar of Kerala, has an origin which dates back to centuries in time. This spectacular snake boat race is held on the River Pampa on the day of the 'moolam', which is followed in accordance to the Malayalam month of Midhunam. The day is considered to be especially sacred as it is the day when the Deity at the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple was installed.

The Champakulam Boat Race is held in accordance to a legend which is strongly adhered to by the people of Kerala. According to the legend, the king of Chempakasseri in Devanarayana, under the influence of instructions, provided to him by the royal priest erected a temple in his kingdom. However, just before the installation, he was informed that the idol was not auspicious. 

To make amends, the king brought the idol of Sree Krishna from the Karikulam temple in Kurichi, which legend claimed was handed over to Arjuna by Lord Krishna himself. It was during this journey that the king made a stop over at Champakulam. The next morning saw thousands of boats assembled at the site in a riot of colors in order to honor the sacred event and to escort the idol home

The banks of the Pampa River gets swarmed by people from far and near, cheering and egging on the oarsmen to a resounding finish. These snake boats ripping through the serene waters and propelled by hundreds of oarsmen splashing and beating their oars about in the waters in unison makes for a grand visual spectacle. Boats such as chundan (snake boat), veppu, iruttu kuthi, churulan and others from nearby regions line up to participate in this spectacular water sport. 

It is this scene which is enacted in this part of the world every year and which is known as the Champakkulam Boat Race.

Nearest Railway Station is Thrissur and it is about 25km.

Nearest Airport is Cochin International Airport and it is about 78km.

Amarkantak - It Is An Important Pilgrimage Destination In Madhya Pradesh

AMARKANTAK

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ANUPPUR

Amarkantak is the small city situated in the middle area of superb ranges Satpura and Vindhya. The average elevation of this city is 1065 meters. The charming weather and best valleys with amazing view makes this place first choice for nature lovers. Amarkantak wraps up the splendor of typical sylvan atmosphere. The 2 best rivers of India known as Narmada and Sone are flowing from this area. 

An important pilgrimage site, Amarkantak also happens to be one of the finest hill stations in Madhya Pradesh. This sylvan hill town is dotted with forests and ponds. The picturesque setting and air of quietude is one of the reasons why you should visit Amarkantak. Amarkantak also happens to be the meeting point of Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges as well as source of Sone and Narmada river. One of the main attractions in Amarkantak is Kabir Chabutra where the poet saint Kabir is said to have meditated.

Word Amarkantak comes from Sanskrit language that is related to mythological meaning. Because of religious values this place is also known as Theertha Raja (King of Holy destinations). The Narmada River is having holy values for Indians.  It’s a land of great history holding story of diverse empires. Pandavas also ruled this place for short period. 

Located as it is in central India, Amarkantak weather gets hot in summer months despite being a hill station. April till June experiences dry heat followed by humid but cooler monsoon from July till September. Temperature of Amarkantak could vary from a high of 45 degrees to low of 30 degrees during summer months.

The best time to visit Amarkantak is from September till March as cool weather makes it ideal for visits to local attractions as well as to enjoy the scenic surroundings of this hill town.

Narmada Udgam, Sonmuda, Dhuni Pani, Dudhdhara are the attraction in Amarkantak

By Air

Nearest airports are Jabalpur (228 km.) and Raipur (230 km)

By Rail

The nearest rail head is Pendra Road (42 km) on the Katni - Bilaspur section of the South-Eastern Railway. The major rail head is Anuppur Railway Station

By Road

Amarkantak is connected by regular bus service with Shahdol, Umaria, Jabalpur, Rewa, Bilaspur, Anuppur and Pendra Road.