Lucknow - The Capital of Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow!!!

After staying in Varanasi for 2 days, i startes my journey ahead to lucknow. Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh state. I had planed to stay here only for 2 days, therefore i could go to visit most of the famous places of lucknow. Lucknow is popularly known as city of "Nawabs".

There are too many places to go in Lucknow that two days also became less for me at that time.

The places like "Bara Imambara", "chota Imambara", "Rumi Darwaja"(gate), "Ambedkar Memorial" and many more are famous to travell in Lucknow.

1> Bara Imambara :-

Thia magnificent and elegant building is also calles as Asafai Imambara. It is said that this hall is the worlds largest arched room without any pillars and the Nawabs used to hold their public hearings. The building was built in famine relief program in 1784 by nawab Assaf-ud-Daulla.

2> Chota Imambara :-

Chota imambara is also so known as Hussainabad Imambara situated in the city of Lucknow. This was constructed by Nawab Muhammad Ali Shah in the year 1838 to serve as his own mausoleum. Sometimes it is called as the place of lights because its decorating of lights during all the festivals. The tombs of Muhammad Ali shah and his other family members are in the Imambara. The walls are decorated with Arabic calligraphy.

3> Rumi Darwaza:-

This gate is known as Turkish gate. It was built in 1786 by Nawab Asafuddaulla. The buildings in vicinity has something more important in history. The consruction was taken as part of large project to provid relief to then famine stricken people of Lucknow. Both poor and rich people worked here for bare subsistence. The poor worked in day time while riches in night time. Other such gates are "Akbari Darwaza", and "Sher Darwaza" in south of the globe park of lucknow.

"VARANASI" - (Banaras)

Varanasi also commonly known as "Banaras", is a city situated on the banks of river Ganges.

The culture of Varanasi closely associated with the river Ganges and the river's religious importance. The city has been cultural and religious center in North India for several thousand years.

Varanasi is the holy city of the Hinduism, being one of the most sacred pilgrimage places for Hindus of all denomination. More than 1,000,000 visit the city each year. Mythology reins the city and there are many religious places and institutions and places of warship through out the city where people visit everyday, especially6 at the morning and the evenings. Varanasi is the one of the holiest places for Buddhism too, being one of the four pilgrimage sites said to have been designated by Gautama Buddha himself (the others being Kashinagar, Bodh Gaya, and Lumbini).

People of Varanasi are known for being the exponent of literature, music, Vedik philosophy, art, craft, and architecture. Socio-economic aspects of the city are highly influenced by the Ganges and on most of the Hindu festivals people can be seen using the bathing Ghat(river front) even before day break is an important part of their rituals. In varanasi, atmosphere is relaxed in general and we can see people chewing the famous "paan" in chatting i laid back manner. That does not keep Varanasi behind, as it evident from the growing modern industries in the city. Varanasi is also a most ancient seat of education in India and Banaras Hindu University is still famous through out the world for its scholars.

Just like a rich culture and lifestyle Varanasi is famous for its variety of foods and cuisines

Uttar Pradesh

After travelling to 3 states of east india, i planed to visit most of the nort parts of india. First of all i started with Uttar Pradesh to all the way in north "Shimla and manali".

Uttar Pradesh !!!!

Uttar Pradesh is india's most populou state with ppulation of over 190 million people. It is devided into 70 district with lakhnow as its capital. It is considered as afifth largest state of india.

Two holly rives Yamuna and the Ganga flw through this state onaccount of which many sacred cities locatedon thier banks are freqened by many religious followers. This state, many a time referred to as U.P. is sittuated in he northern part of India.

Uttar Pradesh is bounded by Nepal on the north, Himachal Pradeshon the north west and madhya Pradesh on south.

Madhya Pradesh attracts a large number of travell and tourist. Lucknow, Fatehpur sikri, varanasi, Mathura, Agra, and vrindavan are some the important stations.

Uttar Pradesh is famous for its the handi crafts. Uttar Pradesh is the largest brass and copper making state in india wih thousands of establishments. The Kathhak the most admired classical dance form in india, florished in Uttar Pradesh.

Champaran in Chattisgarh

Champaran !!!

After visiting Orissa, i went to the Chattisgarh by train. That was really cool experience travel in train as i could able to see the villages and farms with the mountains and rivers during my journey. I reached to the Raipur - the capital of the state Chattisgarh.

Champaran s just 60 km. from the raipur. We decided to go Champaran by open jeep. Reaching at the Champaran we got the invitation to go one of the famous event of religious dance in village. This place enjoys a religious significant and hence today it has evolved to be one of the most visited holy places in raipur. Champaran village has a historical significance. It is considered to be birth place of Vallabhacharya. He was the pioneer and founder of the valabh sect. A beautiful temple has been constructed in his honour. The aniversary of the birth of saint vallabhacharya is celebrated every year on eleventh day of "Baisakh" , which is second month of the hindu calander.

Dhauligiri Temple in Orissa - The Moment of Peace

I have heard about the Dhauligiri temple when i was in school. I was feeling so lucky to see this temple in reall life.

The Dhauligiri is located near Bhuwaneshwar, the capital of Orissa state. It is also known as peace pagoda. Dhauligiri symbolizes the rich Buddhist culture and heritage. It was built by king Ashoka after the destructive kalinga war in 261 BC.

The Dhaouligiri temple is located at the bank of river Daya - the river which turned in to full of blood. Dhauli narrates a story of Kalinga War, which change ashoka's heart and inspired him to lay down the weapons of violence and accept the non violence.

Jagannath Puri (Puri) in Orissa

I travel all the way from west part of India to east part, which is almost 1700 km. i was in Orissa state for five days, so we went to the famous temple of Jagannath in "jagannath puri". I have never thought that it would be too much crowd in temple. We stay in the hotel which was walking distance to sea shore. Temple was 2 km from our hotel and there was no way to drive a car over there. Therefore we enjoyed the ride of hand cart to way to temple of jagannath. This temple looks so pleasant at the night time with lots of lightnings and candelas. The huge temple complex covers an area of 400,000 square feet. With its sepulchral richness and fluidity of the Orissan style of temple architecture, it is one of the most magnificent monument of India.

Jagannath temple in puri is famous hindu temple dedicated to jagannath (lord krishna) who is also calles the lord of universe. In the temple, the image of god has no lags, and only stumps of arms. together with jagannath are seated his brother balaram and sister subadra.

There are elaborated daily worship services. There are many festivals each year attended by thousands of people. The most important festival is "Rath Yatra" in June. The Rath carts themselves are some approximately 45 feet high and are pulled by the thousand of Pilgrims who turn up for the event. I went to visit this temple in may so i could see the preparation of the Rath Yatra in all over the temple place. The cart which going to use in, was very huge and beautiful. Although i couldn't able to attend the Rath yatra, i enjoyed there a lot.

The temple kitchen

The temple's kitchen is considered as the largest kitchen in India. Tradition maintains that all food cooked in the temple kitchens are supervised by the goddess "Mahalakshmi" herself. All food cooked following rules as prescribed by Hindu religious texts.

My Travelling to "Orissa"

After visiting the "Kalkota", i went to the grand and best known of all sun temples in India, the konark temple in "Orissa". Konark s situated 20 miles to the north east of "Puri". The word konark means corner sun.
The sun Temple konark was built in 1250 AD by the east ganga king Narsimahadeva. this temple takes a form of a huge chariot for the Sun god Surya,with 12 pairs of stone-carved wheels and a team of seven galloping horses. The entire temple has been conceived as a chariot of the sun god with 24 wheels, each about 10 feet in diameter. The spokes of this wheels serves as sundials, and the shadow formed by this can give the precise time of the day. Seven horses drag the temple. Also, two lions guard the temple, crushing the elephants.

The temple also symbolises as the passage of time,which is under the sun god's control. The temple is famous for its erotic sculptures, which can be found primilary on the second level of the structure. I have enjoyed a lot there. There is one famous dance festival helds in december, i wish i could see those dances. I went to Konark temple in summer so it wasnt my lucky time to see them otherwise i could have seen different dance forms of traditional india like Oddisi, Kathhak, Chaow, and many more.