Discover India: October 2013

Deepavali / Diwali the Festival of Lights

Deepavali or Diwali (Festival of Lights) is a striking festival of Hindus which is performed all over India. Celebration is done 21 days subsequent to Dussehra, it signifies the homecoming of Lord Rama (Hero of the epic Ramayana) to Ayodhya following his 14 years exile. Thousands of conventional clay lamps are lightened in homes throughout the country. Lakshmi the goddess of riches and affluence is worshiped. The residences are unsoiled and decoration of floors with design and drawings (kolams). It is assumed that Lakshmi only enters dwellings that are fresh and gleaming. Persons put on new apparel, eat a wealthy and lavish feast and burst crackers.

It is commended for five days. Every day committed to an extraordinary considered.

First and foremost day - Dhanteras or Dhantrayadashi is commended in favour of goddess Lakshmi. Performance of Poojas and reverential tunes are sung in acclaim of the goddess. Modest strides are made with rice flour and vermilion powder on the flooring of the houses delineating the entry of the goddess. Earthen lights loaded with oil having cotton wicks are orchestrated in perfect pushes along the dividers and parapets in the verandas. These lights are lit in the nighttime and kept for the duration of the night. Sparkling lights are a marvelous display.

Second day the Narka - Chaturdashi or Choti Diwal, the festivals are dependent upon a legend of the killing of the Naraka Asura by Lord Krishna. Customary early showers with oil are made and kum kums are connected on their temples. The accompanying days Goddess Kali is adored, books are revered, old records are settled and new ones are opened and the legend of the Asura ruler Bali is recalled. On Diwali day, delectable sweets and gifts are shared around companions and relatives

Diwali date 2013 Sunday November 7

Udaygiri rock Cut Caves Madhya Pradesh Vidisha , India

Goes again to promptly fifth century, Cave no 5 portrays Vishnu in a monstrous cutting delineates Vishnu as Varaha (Boar) incarnation. It is likewise called as Varha Gupha. The figure is holding the earth goddess Prithvi overtop upon one tusk. Yet an alternate expansive model is of the leaning back Vishnu. Columns of Sages, divinities and two male performers could be seen at the back and on the sides of the boards, pictures of waterway goddesses Ganga and Yamuna with figures of orderlies. It is case that these scenes speaks to the unification of northern India by the Guptas.

Taken overall, this breathtaking gathering is a rich representation of the imperatives and quality of Gupta symbolization and structural planning.

Hole 6 has an entryway elaborately cut with figures of stream goddesses standing on makaras, sea-going creatures, and two columns with fluted capitals. On the dividers, there are extravagantly cut design boards of divinities on either side, delineating watchmen and pictures of Vishnu as Varaha and Durga. There is additionally an engraving of Chandragupta Ii above.

Cavern no. 9 is celebrated around the world for its substantial cella and gigantic, 8 feet high columns, its long colonnade and pillared corridor. All around, there is proof that the expert skilled workers of Besnagar practised their craft with expertise and imaginativeness under the Guptas, four centuries later.

Cavern no.13 is an open surrender of 12 ft long, exceptional for its substantial rock-cut model of Lord Sheshashayi Vishnu.

Best time / Season to visit : July to March

Udayagiri Caves - Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh

Location / significance / history / monuments / architecture / structure / foundation / map / design / area / architect / height / elevation / travel / photography tips / tourism / archway / monuments / lawns / gardens / marble stones / carvings / statues / sculptures / lawns / entry fees / timing / picture gallery of Udayagiri Caves

Udayagiri Caves are an aggregation of rock - cut cavern asylums, cut into a sandstone slope that stands, sentinel like, coming soon. Situated in Sunpura and Udaygiri villages of Vidisha region of Madhya Pradesh, these are the finest sample of established Gupta crafts. Literally implies rise of day break, Udayagiri was specified as Kumari Parvat in Hathigumpha engraving.

An engraving in one of these, states that it were cut throughout the rule of Changragupta II (382 - 401a AD), therefore it is evaluated that these were cut throughout fourth to fifth A.d. The caverns speaks to all the unique characteristics of Classical Gupta craftsmanship - its straightforwardness of declaration, the wonderfully moulded capitals, the medicine of the inter columniation, the outline of the entrance way and the arrangement of proceeding the architrave as a string course round the structure, religious virtuosity and so on.

There are around the range of twenty rock cut gives in cut into an outcrop of sandstone and most are just specialties anyway some shape sectioned sanctuaries. These caverns have been numbered consistent with the arrangement in which they were unearthed. In Caves four, six and nineteen, one can watch that the sanctums get bigger and more lavish and units show up additional extensive. Hollow 1, which has a facade acclimates out of a common ledge of rock, hence structuring both the top of the cella and its patio. The line of four columns bear the vase and foliage design. Characterised by luxuriously cut fronts and entryways, the altars are continuously more roomy and more luxurious.

River Rafting in Zanskar and Adventure spots in Ladakh Jammu and Kashmir , India

Location / altitude / position / temperature / history / significance / importance / map / tourist / travel Guide / information / main attraction / photography tips / photo gallery

Zanskar Valley is situated in Ladak and got the name from Zanskar River which has its way through a deep valley through the Zanskar range and way through solid rock to finish at the confluence of the Indus river at Nemu. The river originates at the border of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir from Plateau of Sarchu and runs a stretch of 150 kilometers.

Initially known as the Tsarap river it passes through Padum the capital of the Zanskar valley and unites with Stod river which flows down the Pensi la pass before the origin of Zanskar. Zanskar river expeditions during summer are the best rafting experience through the one of the most breathtakingly awesome gorges in Asia.

Lots of expeditions are arranged in this river in summer which terminates at the confluence of the Indus and the Zanskar rivers at Nemu. The river in winter is renowned for the great Ice walk or chadar trek on the frozen river bed from Nemu to Padum and back and the duration of trek is ten to twelve days trek Chiling to the village of Lingshed and return.

best / ideal season / time for rafting : July to September
Starting Points : Padum, Phey etc Highest grade : Grade IV

for chadar trek : mid January to end of February

How to reach Ganga - Rishikesh

by Air / flight: The nearby airport is Jolly Grant at Dehradun which is well linked with Delhi

by train / Rail : The nearby rail station is Haridwar and the nearest rail station is Dehradun (43 km) which is well linked chief cities of India. Dehradun Shatabdi, Dehradun Janshatabdi, Mussoorie Express are some of the trains that run connecting Delhi and Rishikesh. Rishikesh is a 30 minute by road from Haridwar.

by local transport / Road: Rishikesh and Haridwar is well linked by road with Dehradun, Delhi, Shimla, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Jaipur etc. Buses run in regular interval between these places. Rishikesh is about 5 to 6 hours drive from Delhi.

How to reach Ganga

Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant at Dehradun which is well connected with Delhi

Rail: The nearest railhead is Haridwar and the nearest railway station is Dehradun (43 km) which is well connected with major cities of India. Dehradun Shatabdi, Dehradun Janshatabdi, Mussoorie Express are some of the trains that ply between Delhi and Rishikesh. Rishikesh is a 30 min drive from Haridwar.

Road: Rishikesh and Haridwar is well connected by road with Dehradun, Delhi (257km), Shimla, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Jaipur etc. Buses ply regularly between these places. Rishikesh is a 5-6 hr drive from Delhi.