Posts for Heritage & Culture Category

4 Mind Blowing Destinations to visit in Delhi at Night

Blog, Destinations, Heritage & Culture - GoroadTrip - July 5, 2016

‘I was so jetlagged in the morning, now I feel fresh and wide awake’, said Trisha at 6 p.m. ‘How I wish we can visit places in Delhi now instead of in the morning! But I am sure nothing except eateries are open for the night right?’ Her friend Nita, who Trisha was visiting from US, laughed and said, ‘Of course not! You want to see Delhi in the night, so we will. Come on’, and she dragged the surprised Trisha even as she booked a cab using the app on her phone.

The first place Nita took her friend to was India Gate which is the tourist hotspot of the Capital. To Trisha the place seemed alive with so many people hanging around. The lights gave the monument an ethereal look. Nita told her, ‘India Gate looks its best at twilight. The setting sun leaves a golden glow on the western side of the gate and makes the monument appear gold plated.

Their next stop was at Qutub Minar. The illuminated building was an imposing sight and Trisha held her breath when they stood at the foot of the 72.5 metre tower. It appeared to her in the glow of the lights that QutubMinar could tell her many secrets!

After strolling around for some time,they went back home. The two friends repeated the same exercise the next evening. This time their firststop for the night was the Red Fort. The LalQuila or Red Fort looked as though its history of over three hundred years had come alive with a light and sound show that was taking place. Trisha learnt that the show was held every evening.

From Red Fort Nita and Trisha walked up to Chandni Chowk. Nita had arranged for a walk through ChandniChowk with an organization popular for guiding tourists. The walk commenced at ChandniChowk Metro Station and took the girls through the vibrant markets. The guide enthralled them with stories of the 17th century capital, Shahjahanabad which is the walled city of Old Delhi founded by Shahjahan. The girls ended their night out with a cup of chai and yummy chat which ChandniChowk is famous for.

As they dropped off to bed in the early hours of the morning, Trisha concluded that jet lag did have advantages especially in a city like Delhi!

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7 British Monuments That are Not to be Missed on Your Next Visit to Chennai

Blog, Destinations, Heritage & Culture - GoroadTrip - June 24, 2016

Chennai, previously Madras, was a favourite with the English East India Company in the late 20th Century. The British made Madras their services and manufacturing hub for India and left many indelible marks in the city with several prized monuments functional and enjoyed even today.

High Court Building:

The highest court in Tamil Nadu and among the largest judicial buildings in the world, it was constructed in 1892 under the supervision of British architect Henry Irwin. Comprising of stained glass, beautiful minarets and walls with ornamental decorations, the High Court is an attractive building.

Ripon Building:

Serving as the seat of the Chennai Corporation, Ripon Building showcases three styles of architecture; Gothic, Ionic and Corinthian. It was named after Lord Ripon and constructed by Loganatha Mudaliar.

Fort St. George:

A colonial monument, Fort St. George is currently the headquarters of the Legislative Assembly. It was built in a western architectural style and the construction was supervised by Andrew Cogon and Francis Day. It houses Fort Museum and also Saint Mary’s Church which is the earliest Anglican Church.

Senate House:

An architectural wonder, an Indo-Saracenic style of architecture was adopted in the construction of the Senate House. With many artistic features, stylish porticos and a huge central hall with stone pillars, the Senate House was built by Robert Fellowes Chisholm and depicts the skilful architecture of the British of those times.

Santhome Bascilica Church:

Initially built by the Portuguese in 1523, this Roman Catholic Church in Santhome was reconstructed by the British in 1896.

Central Railway Station:

One of the main landmarks of Chennai, the Central, as it is more popularly known, is built in an impressive Gothic Revival style. It also has some Hindu and Itatianate nuances. It was originally designed by George Hardinge and then additions like the side towers and the central clock were done by Robert F. Chisholm.

Napier Bridge:

One of Chennai’s oldest bridges, it is oft used by the media to represent Chennai. It was built by Francis Napier, the Governor of Madras in 1869. It is built over the Coovum River and connects Fort St. George and the Marina Beach. The bridge is one of the finest testimonies to the architectural skills of the British.

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10 Lost Cities of India

Blog, Heritage & Culture - GoroadTrip - April 16, 2016

“Having lost ten cities in India, why must we have a project on this subject when there are so many vibrant and vibrant cities to search and write?” Sunithi grumbled, and his friend Vani said, “Stop grumbling and start to google Sunithi , We have to finish this tomorrow, “she said.

But when Sunithi began her research on the Internet, she was engrossed in the fascinating facts. She and Vani soon took notes and made an impressive list. They started one of the first civilizations discovered on the Indian subcontinent, the Indus Valley, and found that many lost cities had sprung up.

1. Dholavira, Gujarat:

More known as the Dholavira site, this archeological favorite belonging to the culture of the Indus Valley is a work in progress for the archaeological survey of India. The excavations have illuminated the well planned designs and organized construction of this time. In addition to the stepped wells, fascinating antiques such as pearls, seals, vases and ornaments made of gold, silver and terracotta were discovered.

2. Lothal, Gujarat:

Another old and lost city that belongs to the civilization of the Indus Valley is Lothal. Despite the massive destruction caused by flooding, structures such as fountains, dwarf walls, baths, sewers and paving bricks can still be seen.

3. Surkotada, Gujarat:

This site belongs to the Kutch district and is characterized by hills with red laterite soils of a reddish brown color.

4. Kalibangan, Rajasthan:

Kalibangan was founded as the provincial capital of the Indus Valley Civilization and was excavated in 1969. The evidence shows that this is the first farmland ever discovered by the excavations.

5. Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu:

Located at the mouth of the Cauvery River, this old port city was called Kaveripattinam. The city was so important to the Cholas because of their geographical location that the kings made it the capital of Tamilakkam. A powerful sea storm swept Poompuhar in 500 AD. Pottery produced and used during this period was found on the banks of the city.

6. Dwarka, Gujarat:

Throughout our epic as Kingdom of Sri Krishna, this holy city would have set six times. This makes modern Dwarka the seventh city. Many ruins such as huge columns, antiques and massive stone walls are visible under the sea.

7. Pattadakal, Karnataka:

Famous for its historical monuments and ancient temples, Pattaya Valley is located on the banks of the Malaprabha River in the Bagalkot district. It is now a popular World Heritage Site.

8. Hampi, Karnataka:

Located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in the district of Bellary, Vijayanagar was built around Hampi. The site is now registered on the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

9. Muziris, Kerala:

Another port city, Muzris, lay on the banks of the Periyar River. Excavations have produced a variety of objects that belonged to different countries such as Yemen, Egypt, Rome and West Asia.

10. Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh:

With a history of over 1000 years, the Sanchi site began with stupas from the 3rd century BC. And continued until the 11th century the construction of monasteries and Buddhist temples. After the decline of Buddhism Sanchi was abandoned and rediscovered in the 19th century.

It was no surprise when the project submitted by Sunithi and Vani got ten out of ten!

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6 Indian Monuments that lure at night

Blog, Destinations, Heritage & Culture - GoroadTrip - October 27, 2015

While the tour is considered a daily activity, the night owls are not all lost. There are many monuments in our country that are open at night. In addition, their appeal is more intense and the charm of the sunset and the darkness even more accentuated.

6 Indian Monuments that lure at night

Temple of Somnath, Gujarat:

This temple in Somnath is one of 12 Jyothirlings of India. Freely translated, Jyothirling means the radiation of Shiva Linga. A famous religious center, the Temple of Somnath, stands out at night during the Arathi evening. A show of light and sound, “Jay Somnath,” depicting the journey of the Temple of Destruction by the Persians to their present restored state, follows the Arathi.

Victoria Memorial, Calcutta:

This colossal white marble building on the shores of the Hooghly River, with its lush gardens built by the British, has a different aura at night. When illuminated by lights, the building looks ethereal with the gentle reflection of the Hooghly River.

Mysore Palace, Mysore:

This Taj Mahal from Mysore will definitely come out more when the lights are on. Come on Dasara, the shine rises with more than 96,000 lights used for about two months.

Golden Temple, Amritsar:

In Amritsar one has the impression that the golden temple never sleeps. It still sounds sacred prayers and resonates with a liveliness you can never beat. It opens at 2am, but this time may vary by month.

Amber Fort, Jaipur:

The Amber Fort lies in the hills and is a manifestation of the Rajputs and their manners. The beauty of the fort is awakened by the lights at night. As a bonus, a show of light and sound, written by the famous lyricist Gulzar, takes place near Lake Maota of the Fort.

Fort Jaisalmer, Jaisalmer:

Another fortress that attracts during the day, but still attracts attention at night, is the Jaisalmer Fort. The vision of the fort, shining with the light under a clear night sky, remains in the memory of eternity.

Yes, the night attracts with many monuments to visit. To replace these sunglasses with a jacket, the night is young!

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5 British Monuments in Mumbai

Blog, Destinations, Heritage & Culture - GoroadTrip - July 29, 2015

Bombay was handed down as part of the dowry in the wedding of Catherine of Braganza and Charles II in the year 1661! Initially British favoured Surat over Mumbai but eventually recognized its potential for its geographical position and shifted their base to this west coast city. The rest is history. One of the cities to grow phenomenally in no time, Mumbai started to make fashionable statements with its stylish buildings. Built under the guidance of Sir Bartle Frere, the city boasts of many colonial buildings of a high architectural competence.

5 British Monuments in Mumbai

Gateway of India:

Regarded as Mumbai’s pride, the Gateway of India was designed and built by George Witte to commemorate King George V and Queen Mary’s visit to Mumbai. The massive and striking archway took nearly 13 years for completion.

Mumbai High Court:

Designed by Colonel J.A. Fuller, the Mumbai High Court showcases the impressive Gothic style. It is one of the oldest colonial buildings in the Fort area of Mumbai that continue to dazzle tourists.

Victoria Terminus:

Blending Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival and traditional Indian style, the Victoria terminus railway station stands tall and imposing. It was designed by Frederick William Stevens and conceived to honour the Victoria Jubilee Day. The carvings on the wood, the turrets and the statue of Queen Victoria make the Victoria Terminus an attractive structure. The name was changed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in 1996.

Prince of Wales Musuem

Built in the Indo-Saracenic architecture by George Wittet, the Prince of Wales Museum has three sections on art, natural history and archaeology. The museum is regarded as one of the best and finest museums in India. The bronze statue of George V outside the museum and the equestrian statue of Edward VII in the front, adds to the charm that the structure commands.The name is changed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya.

The Town Hall:

Originally designed by Colonel Thomas Cowper, the Town Hall is a fine example of neo-classical and Greek revival styles. The building is placed high on an arcade basement with a colossal flight of steps leading to it.

It can be said without doubt that the British left with Mumbai, monuments worthy of its power, class and wealth.

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