India Beautiful

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khajiyar,Himachal Pardesh.

Mata Vaisnu Devi Temple complex.

 

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Durga Puja

Durga Puja (worshiping Goddess Durga ) is celebrated all across India specially in West Bengal, Orissa and Tripura.

Durga, in Sanskrit means "She who is incomprehensible or difficult to reach." Goddess Durga (Maa Durga) is a form of Sakti worshiped for her gracious as well as terrifying aspect. Mother of the Universe, she represents the infinite power of the universe and is a symbol of a female dynamism. The manifestation of Goddess Durga is said to emerge from Her formless essence and the two are inseparable.

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The Mall road, Manali, himachal pardesh

Cricket ground Dharamshala Himachal Pardesh

 

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Durga Puja Aarati

I just love the Dhak from West Bengal

YouTube - Durga Puja Aarati

 

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Onam Celebrations, Kerela

High-spirited people of Kerala celebrate Onam with gaiety and fervor. The festival is celebrated for a period of ten days, starting from the first day Atham and continuing till tenth and the biggest day called Thiru Onam. The spectacular festival attracts thousands of tourists from across the country and globe. Immense popularity of the festival is further promoted by the Government of India by celebrating Kerala Tourism Week during the time of Onam.

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Rath Yatra,Orissa

Ratha Jatra, the Festival of Chariots of Lord Jagannatha is celebrated every year at Puri, the temple town in Orissa, on the east coast of India. The presiding deities of the main temple, Sri Mandira, Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, with the celestial wheel Sudarshana are taken out from the temple precincts in an elaborate ritual procession to their respective chariots. The huge, colourfully decorated chariots, are drawn by hundreds and thousands of devotees on the bada danda, the grand avenue to the Gundicha temple, some two miles away to the North.

 

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Bihu Festival, Assam

Originating in the pre-Aryan days around 3500 b.c., the festival of Bihu used to last for a whole month, though nowadays work pressure has reduced it to a week. A no holds barred dancing session is the most intriguing part of the festival and symbolises the fertility rites of the original inhabitants of the hilly regions of the northeast in India. The farmers fancied that the erotic content of the songs would sexually arouse the earth’s body, leading to an abundant harvest. Bihag Bihu or Rangoli Bihu, the first of the three Bihus, is celebrated in the month of April on the dates coinciding with the sankranti, chait or baisak (13, 14 and 15 April).

 

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Asia's largest Tulip Garden, Srinagar

 

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The Agra fort

The fort is built alongside the Yamuna River and stretches almost 2.5 km. It consists of a wall built in red sandstone and several buildings inside. The wall has 2 gates, the Delhi Gate and the Amar Singh Gate. You can only enter the fort via the Amar Singh Gate.

As a matter of fact, the emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj, was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb in the Agra Fort where he had a view on the building erected for his deceased wife. Shah Jahan is said to have died in the Musamman Burj, a tower with a beautiful marble balcony. From there you probably have the best view on the Taj. Between the many pavilions, you find small well maintained gardens.

 

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Humayun's Tomb, Delhi

Humayun died in 1556, and his widow Hamida Banu Begam, also known as Haji Begam, commenced the construction of his tomb in 1569, fourteen years after his death. It is the first distinct example of proper Mughal style, which was inspired by Persian architecture. It is well known that Humayun picked up the principles of Persian architecture during his exile, and he himself is likely to have planned the tomb, although there is no record to that effect. The tomb was constructed at a cost of 15 lakh rupees (1.5 million).

Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian, was the architect employed by Haji Begam for this tomb.

The tomb proper stands in the centre of a square garden, divided into four main parterres by causeways (charbagh), in the centre of which ran shallow water-channels. The high rubble built enclosure is entered through two lofty double-storeyed gateways on the west and south. A baradari (pavilion) occupies the centre of the eastern wall and a hammam (bath chamber) in the centre of northern wall.

 

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Ajanta Ellora Caves, Maharastra

Located near the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, the famous Ajanta and Ellora are cave shrines cut out of rock, by hand, and rank amongst some of the most outstanding specimens of ancient Indian architectural heritage. The 34 caves at Ellora and the 29 caves at Ajanta were remained shrouded in obscurity for over a millennium, till John Smith, a British Army Officer, accidentally stumbled upon them while on a hunting expedition in 1819. Ajanta has been designated as a World Heritage Site, to be preserved as an artistic legacy that will come to inspire and enrich the lives of generations to come.

 

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Cont...

 

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YouTube - Taj Mahal as seen from Agra Fort

 

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Ladakh

Ladakh is a part of Jammu & Kashmir State in north of India. It consists of two districts Leh and Kargil. Leh with an area of 45110 Sq Km makes it largest district in the country in terms of area. The district is bounded by Pakistan occupied Kashmir in the West and China in the north and eastern part. It is at a distance of 434 Kms from Srinagar and 474 Kms from Manali.

 

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Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir

Gulmarg is one of the most splendid hill resorts in the country, falling in the Baramulla Distt of Kashmir. Initially, Gulmarg of Kashmir used to known by the name of "Gaurimarg", by the shepherds pasturing their herds. However, the present name of this hill resort dates back to the 16th century. Sultan Yusuf Shah, impressed with the stunning spectacle of the grassy hills adorned with colorful flowers, gave the name of "Gulmarg" to this beautiful hill station. Gulmarg hill station also served as the preferred rendezvous of the Mughal Emperor Jehangir. It is said that the emperor once collected 21 different varieties of flowers from here.

 

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YouTube - 7 Wonders of India: Gulmarg Gondola

 

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YouTube - Ski India - Gulmarg Powder 2009

 

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Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

The land of Monpas, Tawang is a district of Arunachal Pradesh situated at a height of 10,000 ft from the sea level. Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is a major kernel of Buddhist learning and is particularly well-known for its 400 year old monastery (Tawang Monastery), one of the best known and largest in India. The name Tawang was derived from this monastery. It is also believed that, the name Tawang was given by Mera Lama in the 17th century. Before the establishment of this monastery, Tawang was a centre of Tantric religion. Apart from its religious importance, Tawang is famous for its natural beauty, which attracts and enchants the traveler.

 

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Nathula Pass, Sikkim

56 km from Gangtok is the Nathula Pass at an altitude of 14450 ft, bordering between India and China in the Tibetan Plateau. It is one of the highest motorable roads and is richly covered by many varieties of alpine flora and fauna. It is most tranquil place to visit. At present domestic tourist are given permit to visit Nathula 4 days a week (Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday) and only 30 vehicles are allowed each day.

 

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Hi NSG_Blackcats, let me first commend your efforts for putting up such a wonderful thread. You are doing an awesome job mate, keep up the good work! I have been a regular guest visitor to the same thread in the “other” forum where it was subsequently thrashed – I don’t know why, but probably “they” were jealous because of these beautiful pictures. I felt bad that all your hard work had gone in vain, but it’s nice to see the same thread being continued here. :113:

Once again, thanks for this amazing thread…