The Travel Blog

ABOUT GANGOTRI

Gangotri (Hindi: गंगोत्री) is a town and a Nagar Panchayat (municipality) in Uttarkashi district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is a Hindu pilgrim town on the banks of the river Bhagirathi. It is on the Greater Himalayan Range, at a height of 3,042 m.

State: Uttarakhand

District: Uttarkashi

Population: 606 (2001)

Time Zone: IST (UTC+5:30)

Area:
Elevation: 3753 m(12,313 ft)

ISD/STD Code for Gangotri :

If calling from within India : ++01381 (number)
If calling from outside India : 91-1381 (number)

Geography

Gangotri is located at  / 30.98°N 78.93°E. It has an average elevation of 3,753 metres (12,313 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Gangotri had a population of 606. Males constitute 96% of the population and females 4%. Gangotri has an average literacy rate of 89%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 91%, and female literacy is 48%. In Gangotri, 0% of the population is under 6 years of age.

MAP & ROUTE TO GANGOTRI

The Gangotri-Gaumukh region is located in the uppermost reaches of Uttarakhand state in Northern India. Travel there usually involves proceeding from Delhi to Dehradun or Haridwar and driving up the Bhagirathi Valley. The trip can be done easily in two days, with a stopover in Uttarkashi.

Distances

Delhi to Dehradun            – 255 km

Delhi to Haridwar             – 201 km

Dehradun to Rishikesh     – 46 km

Haridwar to Rishikesh      – 24.0 km

Rishikesh to Uttarkashi   – 167.5 km

Uttarkashi to Gangotri     – 96 km

Gangotri to Bhojbasa      – 14 km

Gangotri to Gaumukh      – 18 km

HOW TO REACH GANGOTRI

Gangotri is well connected through road. The National Highway (NH 58, total length 538 km) from Delhi to Mana is accessible throughout the year.

Air: Nearest airport is Jolly Grant (26 km from Rishikesh)

Rail: Nearest railhead is at Rishikesh, 249 km.

Road: Gangotri is connected by road to Uttarkashi, Tehri Garhwal and Rishikesh and from there to other parts of the country. Important road distances are Uttarkashi 97 km, Tehri 167 km, Dharasu 125 km, Yamunotri 232 km, Mussoorie 250 km.

Bus: Bus services of Samyukt Rotaion Yatayat Vyawastha Samiti connect Gangotri with many centers in the region like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Tehri, Uttarkashi etc.

PLACES OF ATTRACTION AT GANGOTRI

GANGOTRI TEMPLE

Gangotri temple

Gangotri, the source of the river Ganga and seat of the goddess Ganga, is one of the four sites in the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. The river is called Bhagirathi at the source and acquires the name Ganga from Devprayag onwards where it meets the Alaknanda. The origin of the holy river is at Gaumukh, set in the Gangotri Glacier, and is a 19 km trek from Gangotri. Gangotri can be reached in one day’s travel from Rishikesh, Haridwar or Dehradun, or in two days from Yamunotri, the first site in the Char Dham circuit. More popular and important than its sister site to the east, Gangotri is also accessible directly by car and bus, meaning that it sees many more pilgrims than Yamunotri.

This small town is centered around a temple of the goddess Ganga, which was built by the Gorkha General, Amar Singh Thapa in the early 18th century. The temple is closed on Diwali day every year and is reopened in May. During this time, the idol of the goddess is kept at Mukhba village, near Harsil.

Ritual duties are supervised by the Semwal family of pujaris. The aarti ceremony at the Gangotri is especially impressive, as is the temple, a stately affair that sits on the banks of the rushing Ganga. Adventurous pilgrims can make an overnight 18 km trek to Gaumukh, the actual current source of the river Ganga.

Bhagirathi River at Gangotri

For a large number of tourists, Gangotri town serves as the starting point of the Gangotri-Gaumukh-Tapovan and Gangotri-Kedartal trekking routes.

MYTHOLOGICAL RELATION

Gaumukh, source of the Ganges above Gangotri

According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Ganga – the daughter of heaven, took the form of a river to absolve the sins of King Bhagirath’s predecessors, following his severe penance of several centuries. Lord Shiva received Ganga into his matted locks to minimize the impact of her fall.

According to this legend, King Sagar, after slaying the demons on earth decided to stage in Ashwamegh Yagya as a proclamation of his supremacy. The horse which was to be taken on an uninterrupted journey around the earth was to be accompanied by the King’s 60,000 sons born to Queen Sumati and one son Asmanjas born of the second queen Kesani. Indra, supreme ruler of the gods feared that he might be deprived of his celestial throne if the ‘Yagya’ (worship with fire) succeeded and then took away the horse and tied it to the ashram of Sage Kapil, who was then in deep meditation. The sons of the King Sagar searched for the horse and finally found it tied near the meditating sage. Sixty thousand angry sons of King Sagar stormed the ashram of sage Kapil. When he opened his eyes, 60,000 sons had perished by the curse of sage Kapil. Bhagirath, grand son of King Sagar, is believed to have meditated to bring down the Ganga to cleanse the ashes of his ancestors and liberate their souls, granting them salvation or Moksha. The Bhagirathi ‘Shila’ is located near the temple of Ganga where the holy Ganga first descended on earth from heaven.

BHAVISHYA BADRI TEMPLE

Gangotri

Dense forests near Tapovan surround the Bhavishya Badri. The Bhavishya Badri is at a distance of about 17 km. east of Joshimath. Pilgrims trek beyond Tapovan up the Dhauliganga River to reach this holy spot. The idol of narsingha (the god with the head of lion) is enshrined here. Traditionally, it is believed that a day will come when the present route to the Badrinath will be inaccessible and the Lord Badrinath will be worshipped here and this is why the place is called Bhavishya Badri.

GANGOTRI NATIONAL PARK

The size of this national park is about 1,553 square km. The park provides majestic beauty of coniferous forests and grandeur of glacial world combined with lush green meadows.

Fauna: So far 15 species of mammals and 150 bird species have been documented in the park (Paramanand et al. 2000). This includes some of the rare and charismatic species such as snow leopard (Uncia uncia), black bear (Selenarctos thibetanus), brown bear (Ursus arctos), musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), blue sheep or bharal (Pseudois nayaur), Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus), Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus), Koklass (Pucrasia macrolopha) and Himalayan snowcock (Tetraogallus himalayensis).

This park is home to the snow leopard, ibex, thar, Himalayan barbet, tiger, thar, serow, pheasants, partridges, doves, pigeons, parakeet, bulbul etc..

Best time to visit : In the months from April to October, tourism in the national park is at its peak. The head of railways and airport is Dehradun. The nearest railway station is 210 kilometers while nearest airport is 220 kilometers from the national park. Also Harsil is the nearest town (30 km).

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

NANDAVAN TAPOVAN ( 24 KM )

An arduous trek along the left bank of the Gangotri Glacier leads to scenic Nandanvan – the base camp for the Bhagirathi peaks, that offers a panoramic view of the surrounding Shivling peak. A trek across the snout of the Gangotri Glacier across the right bank leads to Tapovan known for its beautiful meadows that encircle the base of the Shivling peak. There is also a route from Tapovan across the Gangotri glacier to Nandanvan. From Nandanvan, one can trek further along the Kalindi Khal to Badrinath, which is a extremely difficult trek and has to be done with sufficient preparation.

UTTARKASHI ( 99 KM)

An important pilgrimage centre, situated at an elevation of 1,150 mts. above sea level on the bank of river Bhagirathi. Some of the important temples worth visiting are – Vishwanath temple, Ekadash Rudra temple, Gyaneshwar temple and Kuteti Devi Temple. Nearby is the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. Every year, during the ‘Magh Mela’ ( January 14 ), people visit Uttarkashi to take a holy dip in Bhagirathi along with the image of their village deity

KEDAR TAL ( 18 KM)

An enchanting lake, 4425 mts. above sea level against the splendid backdrop of mighty Thalaiyasagar peak. Accessible through a rough mountain trail, it is the base camp for trekking to surrounding peaks. The trek to Kedartal needs a local guide.

GAUMUKH ( 18 KM)

The snout of the Gangotri Glacier and the source of the Bhagirathi river. Pilgrims trek upto the sacred spot on foot or on ponies to take a holy dip in the ice-cold water.

BHAIRON GHATI ( 10 KM)

Situated towards Uttarkashi, it is known for the temple of Bhairav Nath, surrounded by thick forests.

HARSIL ( 28 KM )

Located in the mountain district of Uttarkashi is the sylvan hamlet ( 2620 m above sea level ), known for scenic landscapes and delicious apples. Sat Tal or seven lakes, nearby ( 2 km ) are a not-to-be-missed attraction.

GANGNANI ( 59 KM )

Noted for its thermal springs, spectacular views and tranquil surroundings. A small upcoming town – Bhatwari, lying 12 km from Gangnani is worth a visit.

MANERI ( 86 KM )

The dam across the Bhagirathi and a surrounding lake are worth a visit.

DAYARA BUGYAL ( 93 KM )

A breathtakingly beautiful meadow, situated at a height of 3,048 m above sea level. A motor able road connects Bhatwari ( 27 km from Uttarkashi ) with Raithal village, from where follows a 6 km long trek to Dayara. The famous Sheshnag Temple enrooted is an attraction of the trek. From Dayara, one can also trek down to Dodi Tal ( 30 km ). During winters, Dayara provides excellent ski slopes over an area of 28 sq km.

DODI TAL ( 123 KM)

A sparkling lake at an elevation of 2286 mts. surrounded by dense forests. The famous Himalayan trouts are found in abundance in the lake. Permit for fishing can be obtained from the Divisional Forest Officer, Uttarkashi. A beautiful camping site, a Forest Rest House and a log cabin are seen along the lake.

NACHIKETA TAL ( 131 KM)

A pleasant trek through lush green forests leads to this peaceful retreat. A small temple along the lake and lovely surroundings are an attraction.

TEHRI ( 173 KM)

Lying at the confluence of Bhagirathi and Bhilangna rivers is the former capital of Tehri Garhwal principality. It is the site of a giant hydel project.

NARENDRANAGAR ( 239 KM)

The new capital of erstwhile Tehri state, offers a magnificent view of the Ganga valley of Rishikesh and the plains of Haridwar.

SOME BEAUTIFUL PICTURES of GANGORTI

FOOD

Only local eating places (dhabas) are available. Non-vegetarian food and alcoholic drinks are prohibited in Gangotri.

DRINK

No Alcohol permitted here. Instead, drink plenty of natural mineral water full of medicinal values.

ACCOMODATION

Many cheap hotels and Ashrams. Money no problem, will even fit if you are broke.

Wish you all a Happy Journey at Gangotri !!!

IRCTC

ABOUT INDORE

Indore (Hindi: इंदौर/इन्दोर – pronunciation (help·info), (Marathi: इंदूर ) is the largest city and commercial capital of M.P and CENTRAL INDIA situated on the Malwa Plateau, just north of the Vindhya Range. Indore is the administrative headquarters of the Indore District and the Indore Division, and formerly served as the capital of the former princely state of Indore and the summer capital of the earth while state of Central India.

Indore is one of the fastest growing city of India. It is called as Mini Mumbai as its lifestyle,living hood and culture is quite similar to Mumbai. It is also known as the city of temples, as it has thousands of temples of all religions and caste.

It is the only city of India which have both I.I.T and I.I.M.

Indore is the major corporate city of M.P and all the trades of M.P takes place from here. The major crops such as Wheat,Cotton and Soya bean are exported from here. Indore is the commercial and financial capital of M.P. It has some IT(IMPETUS), Automobile (FORCE MOTORS, KINETIC, BRIDGESTONE), and Pharmaceuticals(RANBAXY, PIRAMAL HEALTHCARE LIMITED, PANJON PHARMA, IPCA,etc) Companies too. That’s why it is being the fastest developing city of M.P and Central India.

Language(s) :     Hindi, Marathi, English, Malwi & Malayalam,Gujrati

Time zone   :    IST (UTC+5:30)

Codes

• Pin code    • 4520xx(01-20), 45377x
• Telephone  •+0731,07324(Mhow),07292(Pithampur)
• Vehicle      • MP-09,MP-13(Ujjain), MP-41(Dewas)

HISTORY

The name Indore originated from the Indreshwar temple constructed in 1741 by local landowners

The ancestors of the founders of Indore were hereditary Zamindars and indigenous landholders (Jehangirdars) of Malwa. In Mughal times, the founders of these families received titles such as Singh and Chaudhari, which established their claim to the land. In the 18th century, control of Malwa passed to the Peshwa clan, and the Chaudharis came to be known as "Mandloi"s (derived from Mandals) because of the language they used and eventually the Holkars conferred the title of Rao Raja upon the family. The family retained its possessions of royalty, which included having an elephant, Nishan, Danka and Gadi even after the advent of Holkars and also retained the right of performing the first puja of Dushera (Shami Pujan) before the Holkar rulers.

After India’s independence in 1947, Indore, along with a number of neighboring princely states, became part of the Indian state of Madhya Bharat. Indore was designated the summer capital of this newly created state. On November 1, 1956, Madhya Bharat was merged into Madhya Pradesh and Bhopal was chosen as the capital. The city palace was the seat of administration of the rulers of the Malwa region – The Holkars (26 May 1728 to 20 April 1948). The Rajbada was burnt in the 1984 riots, and thus converted into a garden ,till 2006 when the present Maharani of Indore, H.H Ushadevi Holkar, decided to rebuild the wada to its past glory. H.H Ushadevi Holkar invited architects Himanshu Dudwadkar and Shreya Bhargava to design this challenging project and in 2007 the Rajwada found its place back in history. It became the only historic structure in India to have been rebuilt with exactly the same style, materials and method of construction as those of 250 years ago.

CLIMATE

Indore has a transitional climate between a tropical wet and dry and a humid sub-tropical climate. Three distinct seasons are observed, summer, monsoon and winter. Summers start in mid-March and can be extremely hot in April and May. The highest temperatures recorded was 48 °C in 1994. Average Summer Temperature may go as high as 42-44.c (100.4 °F) but humidity is very low. Due to Indore’s location on the southern edge of the Malwa Plateau, a cool breeze (also referred to as Shab-e-Malwa) in the evenings makes summer nights quite pleasant. The monsoon season starts in late June, with temperatures averaging around 26 °C (78 °F), with sustained, torrential rainfall and high humidity. The average rain fall is 36 inches. Winters start in mid-November and are dry, mild and sunny. Temperatures average about 8-15 °C (47-59 °F), but can fall close to freezing on some nights. In summer temperature can be sometimes as high as 48-50 °C and in winters it can be as low as 4°C.

Indore gets moderate rainfall of 35 to 38 inches (890 to 965 mm) during July-September due to the southwest monsoon.

HOW TO REACH

The city is well connected via rail, road and air transport services. Indore has for a long time been a rail and road transportation hub.

To stay in Indore, there are a lot of hotels and dharamshalas near the railway station and main bus station (Sarwate bus terminal, Naulakha bus stand, Jinsi bus stand and Gangwal bus terminal). Indore has its own low floor, disabled people friendly city bus services Atal Indore City Transport Service Limited(AICTSL) and metro Taxi service which is always under GPS navigation, for faster and comfortable journey one can have radio taxis.

BY AIR

Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport (IATA Code IDR, Lat 22.723 Long 75.805) Indore is the busiest airport in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It connects the state to more cities than any other city in the state. It connects Indore directly to Mumbai, Delhi, Gwalior, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Jabalpur, Raipur, Jaipur, Nagpur, Bangalore, Pune and Bhopal in India. Flights to Bangalore have been suspended from February 1 2009 due to some work in progress at Indore Airport. Major airlines operating flights to Indore

    * Indian
    * Jet Airways
    * Kingfisher Airlines
    * Air Deccan

The airport is around 8kms from the heart of the city and lies in the west area. One can easily reach it through city buses (AICTSL), Metro taxi, ICV (CITY VANS), Auto Rickshaws,and by Mini Buses.The average taxi charge is Rs 150-200.

Indore still lacks direct connectivity to major Indian cities like Goa, Chandigarh, Lucknow, and Badoda. Plans are under way to upgrade the airport to an international airport by the end of 2009. The airport provides free wireless internet connectivity using Wi-Fi.

BY TRAIN

The Indore Junction INDB is part of the Ratlam Division of the Western Railways. The tracks leading into the city are not electrified. In 2008 Railway ministry approved the building of a sewage plant.

Indore is one of the several places in India with both meter gauge and broad gauge railways operational. Regular train services connect Indore to most parts of the country. There are direct trains to Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta (Howrah), Chennai, Ahmedabad,Pune, Trivandrum, Jammu, Amritsar, Dehradun, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Kota, Lucknow, Kanpur, Allahabad, Agra, Nagpur, Patna, Surat, Vadodara, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Vijaywada, Ambala and other major towns. For other major towns, trains are available from Ujjain, Khandwa, and Bhopal which can be reached by train or road within 2-5 hrs. The Indore junction is the main station in the city.

There are eight Railway Stations in city providing national and local transport from the city.

    * Indore Junction INDB
    * Lakshmibai Nagar
    * Rajendra Nagar
    * Saifee Nagar
    * Lokmanya Nagar
    * Rau
    * Mhow
    * Manglia
    * New Rajendra Nagar Terminus (work in progress)

Indore lies on the longest remaining functional meter gauge line in India, between Ratlam and Akola. This meter gauge section is scheduled for conversion to standard broad gauge under Indian Railways’ projected unigauge system.

BY ROAD

Indore is well connected to other parts of Madhya Pradesh and India through national and state highways. There are some major highways which pass through Indore and connect it to some major cities. The major highways passing through the city are:

    * National Highway No. 3 (NH3 – Mumbai Agra)
    * National Highway No. 59 (NH 59 – Indore Ahmedabad)
    * National Highway No. 59A (Indore – Betul)
    * State Highway No. 17 (Connecting Bhopal)
    * State Highway No. 27 (Indore to Khandwa)

There are daily Luxury, Semi Luxury, and general Bus Services operated by private operators as well as government transport agencies of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan. Indore is well connected by multiple daily bus services to

    * Mumbai (600 KM), Pune (645 KM), Ahmedabad (382 KM), Hyderabad (1056 KM), Nagpur (440 KM), Vadodara (363 KM), Surat (465 KM), Jaipur (647 KM), Udaipur (410 KM), Bhopal (188 KM), Jabalpur (494 KM), Gwalior (486 KM), Agra (605 KM), Kanpur (695 KM), Aurangabad (402 KM), Jhabua(150KM), Delhi (900Km)

Apart from the long distance services, there are many services to nearby places within the state. The bus services are operated from the major bus stands in the city:

    * Sarvate Bus Stand (Near Indore Railway Station)
    * Gangwal Bus Stand (Western part of the city catering to Bus services going towards Gujarat and Rajasthan
    * Navlakha Bus Stand – Mainly used by Private Operators (Luxury / AC / Volvo bus services to various cities operate from here.)
    * Jinsi BUS STAND

INTERCITY TRANSPORT

Indore has one of the finest public transport systems. In December 2005, the municipal corporation launched the Indore City Bus service, an extensive service with 26 routes servicing most areas in city. The service has received a favourable press, and has been called the first modern bus system in India. The company runs 110 low floor buses, equipped with GPS devices, electronic sign boards and computerized vending machines. The Indore City Bus corporation made a profit of 1 crore rupees within nine months of the inception of its operation and is seen as an excellent model by several other mid size Indian cities.

The other means of local public transport are the mini-buses (called Nagar sevas by the locals). Auto rickshaws are a staple as in all other Indian cities, to get around when other transportation is not available. The auto-rickshaws are notorious for pollution. The local government has replaced the tempos with vans that run on Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

The Indore municipal corporation also launched in 2005 the Indore city van, a seven-seater Maruti Omni.

Even Maruti’s latest brand SX4 has been launched as Public transport vehicle in Dec 2007. The system, known as the Metro taxi system is geared towards the affluent Indoreans and charges Rs. 15 per km till 11.00 PM in the night and Rs. 20 per km from 11.00 to 6.00 AM in the morning. The metro taxi under AICTSL operates day tours for places such as Omkareshwar, Ujjain, Dewas, Mandu and Maheshwar.

The most significant achievement is the MR-10 Road and BRTS corridor. For public transport buses a special lane has been dedicated which incorporates a red-phase override.

CULTURE

Over the years the city of Indore has welcomed people from all castes, creed and color. People from all corners of the country have migrated & settled in the heart of Madhya Pradesh for their livelihood, education or just for its peaceful culture. Indore today can boast of being a true cosmopolitan city with people of various ethnic and linguistic groups living in perfect harmony. Indore also has a INTACH (Indian National Trust For Art and Cultural Heritage) chapter, which is currently engaged in preserving, documenting and conserving the rich heritage of Indore. The convener of Indore chapter is Mrs. Gita Sanghi and Co-Convener is Ar Himanshu Dudwadkar. Indore has a varied mix of architecture which ranges from Maratha, Mughal,to Colonial and Art deco. The presence of organizations such as INTACH has surely paved the way for Indore to successfully restore its glorious past.

The people are highly social and progressive which is why all cultures from south, north, east & west have mingled in the life of Indorians reflecting the true spirit of unity in diversity.

The mixed culture can be invariably seen in the typical food habits ranging from South Indian ‘Idli-Dosa’ , ‘Vada-Sambar’ to ‘Dal-Bafla’ typical Malwa Food.

INDORE FOOD

Indore is famous for its culinary range. People of Indore (and for that reason, the entire Malwa) are well known gastronomes. Sweets and Namkeen (tasty salted snacks – a typical Indian preparation) of Indore are famous all over India. Sarafa (Jewelry market, near Rajwada) and Chappan Dukan (56 shops) are the two well known gourmet hangouts of the city. A special dish of the Malwa region, including Indore, is the Dal Bafla.

Indore is known for its wide variety of "Namkeens", Gujarati and Indochinese restaurants, and Bengali & Rajasthani sweets.

The staple food (snacks) of the city is Poha-Jalebi. People are also fond of Sabudane-ki-Khichdi. Life in Indore starts early with cups of ‘Chai’ (tea) with Poha & Jalebi followed by lunch which invariably includes popular ‘besan’ (gram flour) preparations. Later in the day one can easily find snacks like ‘Khaman’, ‘Kachori’ – ‘aloo kachori’, ‘dal kachori’, ‘Dahi Chat’, ‘Tokri Chat’, ’samosa’, ‘petis’, ‘Baked Samosa’, ‘Bhel puri’, ‘Pani Puri’, ‘mathri’ etc. Numerous shops of sweets have enjoyed nice business in Indore. Late nights another market comes alive at 11:00 PM in Sarafa (in the heart of city) where one finds lots of delicacies to enjoy after a nice dinner like – ‘Gajak’,'Bhutte ka kis’, ‘Dahi Bada’ ‘Gulab Jamun’, ‘garadu’, ‘Rabri’, ‘aalo tikiya’, ‘Halwa (JMB (Jain Mithai Bhandar)Gajar, Moong)’, ice creams, milkshakes, rabdi (milk custard), malpuye, etc. and finally tasty ‘paan’ to end your day.

Indore is also famous for it’s Non-vegetarian cuisine. Muglai dishes are very famous specially of saify hotel. Gastronomous Chicken Lollipops, Chicken-Tikka, ‘Murg-Malai’, ‘Biryani’, ‘Nalli Gosht’, ‘Paye’ and often nahari gosht is very famous. Bafle-Gosht is a delicacy of Indore and Malwa Region.

Sweets: Moong ka Halwa, Gajar ka Halwa, Rabri Gulab Jamun, Ras Malai, Ras Gulla, Mithe Tukade, Bengali Sweets and Nagori ki Shikanji{In sarafa bazaar}, Sapna Sandwich point at Railway Station.

Savouries: Sev with all its varieties, Mixtures , Dhania-Chivda, Dal Moth, Papdi, Gathiya, Khaman, Kachori-Samosa, Petis, Garadu, Aalo Tikiya, Pani-Puri, Bhel-Puri, Saboodana Khichadi, Dahi Bada, Pakoda, Bhutte ka Kis.

Drinks: Shikanji (Milk Preparation+Dry Fruits), Lassi, Cold Milk, Hot Boiled Milk with Malai & dry fruits+keshar, Jal-Jira, Nimboo Shikanji, Fruit Juice, Shakes, Ice cream Soda, Santrola.

On 24th Feb, 2008 6.30pm, a Guinness Book of World Record representative announced Indore to be the host of the biggest tea party with over 30,000 people sipping the Brook Bond Red Label tea, breaking the previous record of 14,718 people taking tea in Nishiao city of Japan in 2006.

The event, organised by Dainik Bhaskar, also raised funds to the tune of Rs.50 million for city development.

MAIN FESTIVALS OF INDORE

All national festivals, eid Ganeshotsav, Deepavali, Gudi Padwa, Bhaubeej and other others like Nagpanchmi, Ahilya Utsav, are celebrated with equal enthusiasm.

* Rang Panchami:. This festival is celebrated five days after Dhulandi. This is also celebrated like Holi, but colors are mixed with water and then either sprinkled or poured on others. The local municipal corporation arranges a special event in which they sprikle color mixed water in the main streets of old Indore.

* Anant Chaudas : Anant Chaudas is celebrated around the month of September. On the night of Anant Chaudas, large processions are taken out and huge idols of Lord Ganesha are immersed in water. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm by the people.

* Ganeshotsav : Ganeshotsav is the main festival after Deepavali and is celebrated in a unique way in Indore city. In earlier times, when textile mills flourished in Indore, the workers of these mills contributed money and labour to arrange a carnival of floats (known as "Jhanki" in local Hindi language).

* Navratri: Navratri is celebrated as one of the biggest festivals in Indore. the city has good number of gujaratis and therefore dandiya and garbas are organized throughout the city and city gyrates on the garba tunes. it is like a big youth event.

* Makar Sankranti: Makar Sankranti is a ‘Kite Festival’ when people fly kites and competitions are held to cut each other’s kites in the sky on 14 January each year.

* Gudi Padwa: Gudi Padwa is the new year for maharashtrians, as Indore has a large maharaahtrian population GUDI PADWA Is celebrated widely.

* (Eid ) Eid-ul-fitr concludes 30 days of fasting during the holy month of RAMZAN for the Muslim community.

* CHETI-CHAND is celebrated by "SINDHIS" in the month of April, as the beginning of New Year.

PLACES OF INTEREST

There are a number of places in Indore that should be visited while on a sightseeing tour of the city. Indore has a rich cultural heritage. The city was ruled over by some of the greatest rulers, who have given it their legacy in the form of various historical monuments and religious places. Today, the Indore city of Madhya Pradesh has a lot to offer to the people who come here on tours. The place is all set to fascinate you with the charm of its architectural grandeur and historical enigma.

Chokhi Dhani
Chokhi Dhani and Nakhrali Dhani are Rajasthani heritage resorts on the outskirts of Indore. These resorts are given the appearance of a Rajasthani village in India. The villages provide people the precise atmosphere of the village, along with the modern day facilities and entertainment.

Central Museum/ Indore Museum
Central Museum, also known as the Indore Museum, is one of the most interesting buildings in Indore. It is a treat for the people who are genuinely fascinated by the history of India and the rich civilization that flourished here in the pre historic age.

Chhatris
The Maratha Rulers were skilled in the field of architecture. An exquisite example of their architectural style comprise of the Chattris of Indore. These chhattris are the cenotaphs built in the memory of the Holkar rulers. The memorials are built in stone and have stood the test of time.

Lal Baag Palace
Lal Baag Palace is one of the most spectacular buildings in Indore. It stands on the outskirts of the town, towards the southwest. It is a three storey building on the bank of the River Khan. The palace was built by Maharaja Shivaji Rao Holkar during 1886-1921.

Kanch Mandir
The Kanch Mandir, as the name suggests, is a temple which is entirely made up of glass and mirrors. It is also known as the Seth Hukamchand Temple, as it was built by the "Cotton King" Sir Hukamchand Seth in the early 20th century. It is primarily a Jain temple and is a wonder in glass.

Rajwada
Rajwada is the historical palace of the Holkars. It was built about two centuries ago and is located near the Chhatris in the main square. It is a seven storied structure, which serves as the living example of the grandeur of the Holkars. Rajwada stands in the centre of the city.

Town Hall or Mahatma Gandhi Hall
The Town Hall or Mahatma Gandhi Hall is one of the prettiest buildings in Indore city of India. Built in 1904, it was originally named King Edward Hall. In 1948, it was renamed as Mahatma Gandhi Hall. It has a remarkable Indo-Gothic structure and is made in Seoni stone. Its splendid domes and steeples are the landmark of the Indore city. It has a clock tower in front and is popularly known as Ghanta Ghar. The central hall can accommodate 2000 people at a time and is the venue of book, painting exhibitions and fairs throughout the year. The building also has a library, children’s park and a temple.

Nehru Park
Another well known tourist spot in the city is Nehru Park. It is the oldest park in Indore, located centrally. Built by the Britons, it was earlier known as Biscow Park and was open only to British before independence. After independence, it was renamed as Nehru Park. The park has a variety of roses and offers facilities like library, swimming pool, children’s hobby centre, a mini train and battery operated cars.

INs & OUTs

* The gates of Lalbagh Palace, Indore, are a replica of the gates of Buckingham Palace in London. They were cast in England and then shipped to Indore.

* Indore has a huge cricket bat called "Vijay Balla" made out of concrete with names of the players of the Indian team who won the 1971 series against Gary Sobers’ West Indies team.

* 40 feet (12 m) high idol at Bada Ganapati is the largest idol of Lord Ganesh in the world.

* RRCAT(formerly CAT), Raja Rammanna Center for Advanced Technology is India’s main Research center on Laser and Accelerator Technology, under the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India.

* The famous Radio Mirchi 98.3(then 98.4) FM was started first in Indore, then spread to ten other cities of India including 4 metros.

* Until the early 1990s, Bollywood movies were released on Thursdays in Indore, and released elsewhere on Fridays.

* The first private landline telephone service in India was launched in Indore by Airtel by the name Touchtel.

* Rajan Raheja group Launched its first store GLOBUS at Indore in January 1998.

* Because of similarity between the lifestyles, fashion and taste Indore is nicknamed Mini Bombay.

* The 250 year old Rajvada of Indore is the only structure in India which has been reconstructed as it existed using the similar materials and methods of construction in 2007 by architects Himanshu Dudwadkar and Shreya Bhargava.

* Only city in India to have both IIM and IIT..

* Only city of India where prostitutes are banned.

Enjoy traveling INDORE – Wish you a happy journey  !!!

Murudeshwara (Kannada: ಮುರುಡೇಶ್ವರ) is a town in the Bhatkal Taluka of Uttara Kannada district in the state of Karnataka, India. "Murudeshwara" is another name of the Hindu god Shiva.

Famous for the world’s tallest Shiva statue, this beach town lies on the coast of the Arabian Sea and is also famous for the Murudeshwara Temple. The statue is 123 feet (37 m) in height, and took about 2 years to build.

HISTORY

The origin of the name "Murudeshwara" dates to the time of Ramayana. The Hindu god’s attained immortality and invincibility by worshipping a divine lingam called the AtmaLinga. The Lanka king Ravana wanted to attain immortality by obtaining the AtmaLinga. Since the AtmaLinga belonged to Lord Shiva, Ravana worshipped Shiva with devotion. Pleased by his prayers, Lord Shiva appeared before him and asked him what he wanted. By this time Narada had asked Lord Vishnu to change Ravana’s mind. As a result of this plot, Ravana asks for Goddess Parvathi, and Lord Shiva offers him. On his way back to Lanka Narada tells Ravana that Lord has not given real Parvathi and that the real Parvathi was in Pathala. So Ravana lets off Parvathi and goes to Pathala and marries a king’s daughter thinking that she was Parvathi. When he returns back to Lanka and tells that he had brought Parvathi, his mother then asks for linga. Ravana then comes to know that Vishnu had done all these tricks. Now Ravana goes back and meditates a lot to please Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva appears and Ravana asks for His forgiveness. This time, Ravana requests the AtmaLinga as his boon. Lord Shiva agreed to give him the boon with a condition that it should never be placed on the ground. If the AtmaLinga was ever placed on the ground, all the powers would return to Lord Shiva again. Having obtained his boon, Ravana started back on his journey to Lanka.

Sage Narada, who came to know of this incident, realized that with the AtmaLinga, Ravana may obtain immortality and create havoc on earth. He approached the Lord Ganesh and requested him to prevent the AtmaLinga from reaching Lanka. Lord Ganesh knew that Ravana was a very devoted person who used to perform prayer ritual in the evening every day without fail. He decided to make use of this fact and came up with a plan to confiscate the AtmaLinga from Ravana.

As Ravana was nearing Gokarna, Lord Vishnu blotted the sun to make it look like evening had appeared. Ravana now had to perform his evening rituals but was worried because with the AtmaLinga in his hands, he would not be able to do his rituals. At this time, Lord Ganesh in the disguise of a Brahmin boy came near him. Seeing him, Ravana requested him to hold the AtmaLinga until he performed his rituals, and asked him not to place it on the ground. Ganesh struck a deal with him saying that he would call Ravana thrice, and if Ravana did not return within that time, he would place the AtmaLinga on the ground.

As predicted, before Ravana could return after completing his rituals, Ganesh had already placed the AtmaLinga on the ground. Vishnu then removed his illusion and it was daylight again. Ravana, realizing that he had been tricked, got really angry and tried to uproot and destroy it but could not. Then he decided to destroy the covering of the AtmaLinga, and threw the case covering it to a place called Sajjeshwara, 23 miles away. Then he threw the lid of the case to a placed called Guneshwara (now Gunavanthe) and Dhareshwara, 10-12 miles away. Finally, he threw the cloth covering the AtmaLinga to a placed called Mrideshwara in Kanduka-Giri (Kanduka Hill). Mrideshwara has been renamed to Murudeshwara.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

Murudeshwara Temple and Raja Gopura: This temple is built on the Kanduka Hill which is surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Arabian Sea. It is a temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva, and a 20-storied Gopura is being constructed on the temple. Two life-size elephants in concrete stand guard at the steps leading to the temple. The entire temple and temple complex, including the 249 feet tall Raja Gopura, which is considered the tallest gopura in the world, was constructed to its present form by businessman and philanthropist Mr. R N Shetty.

Murudeshwara Fort: A fort present behind the temple is said to have been renovated by Tipu Sultan.

Statue of Lord Shiva: A huge towering statue of Lord Shiva, visible from great distances, is present in the temple complex. It is the tallest statue of Shiva in the world. The statue is 123 feet (37 m) in height, and took about 2 years to build. The statue was built by Shivamogga’s Kashinath and several other sculptors, financed by businessman and philanthropist Mr. R.N. Shetty, at a cost of approximately 50 million Rs. The idol is designed such that it gets the sun light directly and thus appears sparkling.  

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Murudeshwara Beach:

GETTING THERE

BY ROAD

Murudeshwara lies at a deviation of 1 kilometer from the National Highway NH-17 between the towns of Honnavar and Bhatkal. A big arched entrance on the Highway marks the entrance of the road to Murudeshwara. From Mumbai and Mangalore, one can take the NH-17 to reach Murudeshwara. From Bangalore one can take the NH-206 to reach Honnavar and then take NH-17 to reach Murudeshwara. Total distance from Bangalore to Murudeshwara works out to be 455 km.

BY TRAIN (KONKAN RAILWAYS)

Murudeshwara station lies on the Konkan Railway. Some trains from Mumbai and Mangalore stop here. There are no direct trains from Bangalore. Alternatively, one can alight at Bhatkal station.

Some Trains which covers most of the nearest locations

1)

Mumbai to Murudeswar by Train

MAP:

2)

Train Name   :  Matsyagandha Express

Number         :  2619

Starts            :  Lokmanyatilak T

Ends             : Mangalore Cntl

Days             : M,T,W,Th,F,Sa,Su

 

BY AIR

Nearest airport is Mangalore International Airport, 165 km away. Hubli and Panaji airports are other alternatives.

NEARBY PLACES OF INTEREST

IDAGUNJI (20KMS), GOKARNA (70KMS), BANAVASI (145KMS), KOLLUR (65KMS),

JOG FALLS (90KMS), UDUPI (100KMS), DHARMASTALA (230KMS), SUBRAMANYA (300KMS),

SRINGERI (180KMS), BHATKAL (16 KM), MANJUGUNI (90 KM), KARWAR (120 KM),

MANGALORE (165 KM), SHIMOGA (195 KM), HORANADU (240KMS) AND BANGALORE (475 KM)

ACCOMMODATION

NAVEEN BEACH RESORT, RNS RESIDENCY

You will get peace & a fun on beach for sure at Murudeshwara !!!           Enjoy travelling it, best of luck…