Eternal India Encyclopedia

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Eternal India
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A GREAT DESTINATION
Kirti mandir : This building contains the room where Gandhiji was
born. The new building is 79 feet high, every evening 79 lamps are
lit indicating the age at which Gandhiji died. Episodes of his life
are carved on the walls of the entrance hall.
The building has a library of Gandhian literature, a hall for
spinning cotton, a nursery school and a prayer hall.
Sudama Mandir : This temple bears the memory of Sri Krishna's
childhood friend Sudama.
OTHER PLACES
Broach (Bharuch) : In 1605 English and Dutch factories were es-
tablished here. On the river bank of Narmada is the temple of
Bhrigu Rishi from which the city took its name of Bhrigukachba
later shortened to Bharuch.
Saputara : In the south-east corner of the state, this cool hill
resort stands at 1000 metres and is a popular base for excursions
to Mahal Bardipara forest wildlife sanctuary, 60km away or to the
Gira waterfalls 52km distant-Saputara means "abode of ser-
pents" and there is a sacred snake image on the banks of the river
Sarpagana.
Bhavnagar : Founded as a port in 1723, Bhavnagar is still an
important trading port for the cotton goods manufactured in
Gujarat. Bhavnagar also has Gaurishankar lake, a popular picnic
spot and Takteshwar temple.
Rajkot : Once the capital of the princely state of Saurashtra and
also British Government Headquarters. Mahatma Gandhi spent
the early part of his life here while his father was Diwan or chief
minister of the Raja of Saurashtra. Gandhi's family home now
houses a permanent exhibition of Gandhi items.
Bhuj : Major town of Kutch, Bhuj is an old walled city.
Wildlife sanctuaries : Gir Forest; Velvadhar - Bhavnagar dis-
trict - black bucks; Dangr forest - tiger, leopard, jungle cat, barking
deer, sloth bear; Rann of Kutch - breeding ground of flamingoes,
pelicans and the rare Indian wild ass; Nal Sarovar - 64 km from
Ahmedabad - water bird sanctuary flamingoes.
HARYANA
Ambala : Largest Military Cantonment in the country, 197 km from
Delhi. It is also an important commercial centre.
Badkhai Lake : 32 km from Delhi. Angler's paradise. There is a
tourist bungalow and some cottages. There is a swimming pool, a
cafe and a shopping arcade.
Sahna : 56km drive from Delhi towards Alwar-Jaipur takes one to
the foot of spur of the Aravalli range - the sulphur springs of
Sahna. A rocky cliff with colourful houses dominates the town-
ship.
Damdamma, the largest natural lake in Haryana, with facility
for fishing, is close by.
Suraj Kund Lake : A lake that was dug a thousand years ago
Suraj Kund is the 'Lake of the Sun'. The Sun temple is in ruins. Not
far from it, is the peacock lake, shaded by eucalyptus. Suraj Kund
is only 16km from Delhi on the Delhi-Agra National highway
after a detour at Badarpur. Nearby are the remnants of the Sun
temple and the fort of Anangpal, Tughlaqabad Fort and the an-
cient Anangpur Dam.
Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary : 46 km from Delhi is this 162 hectare
sanctuary of birds. Migrant birds too come to this area. Septem-
ber to March is the best time to visit.
Hathnikund : 250 km north of Delhi on the river Yamuna. There is
a pool for angling.
A few km away are the Kalesar forests, with a wildlife sanctu-
ary, where one can chance upon Chital, Sambhar, Barking deer
and Hyena.
Yadavindra Gardens, Pinjore : (also known as Moghul Gar-
dens) 20km from Chandigarh. Designed in the 17th century by
Fidai Khan, Emperor Aurangzeb's lieutenant, and an architect,
the Yadavindra gardens of Pinjore have an unusual plan. The
gateway leads on to the highest terrace. Three graceful pavilions
look out on leaping fountains and rippling water courses. Lawns
are lined with colourful flower beds. Cypresses stand in symme-
try. Over the weekends the gardens become a fantasy of light.
The gardens include-the Rajasthani-Moghul style Shish Mahal
Palace. Below it is the Rang Mahal and the cubical Jal Mahal.
Morni Hills : 38 km from Pinjore is the Morni hill resort with
pines. This 4,000-foot-high hill provides good opportunities for
trekking.
Karnal: About 120 km from Delhi, an enclosed town of antiquity,
believed to be bearing the memory of Kama, one of the heroes of
the Mahabharatha War. It was at Karnal that Nadir Shah, the
Persian who took the Peacock Throne from Delhi, defeated the
Moghul Emperor Mohammad Shah in 1739.
Kurukshetra: (88 km from Chandigarh). Legendary site of the
great Mahabharata war between the Pandavas and Kauravas. It
is here that Sri Krishna revealed the Gita to Arjuna. Within the
Kurukshetra area there are 365 sacred shrines.The Kurukshetra
Lake is a long stretch of water surrounded by temples. It attracts
as many as half a million pilgrims at times of eclipses.The water
in the tank is also said to contain water from every other sacred
tank in India. The Laxminarayan temple, the Gita Bhavan, the
shrine of Sita, the Banganga Lake, Joytismar (here an ancient
banyan tree is believed to have witnessed the Mahabharata war)
and the Durga temple are the places worth seeing. Kurukshetra
also has an interesting small mosque, the Lai Masjid, and a finely
designed tomb.
Panipat: 92 km north of Delhi. It is the site of 3 great battles. In
1526 Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi, King of Delhi at Panipat and
founded Moghul empire in India. In 1556 Akbar defeated the
Pathans at the same site. Finally in 1761, the Marathas who had
become the dominant power in India after the Moghuls were de-
feated here by the Afghan forces of Ahmad Shah Durrani.
Gharaunda : The gateway of an old Moghul Sarai (rest house)
stands to the west of this village, 102km north of Delhi.
Hansi : Many ancient temples.
Bhiwani : Gateway to Rajasthan.
Samalkha : Blue Jay tourist complex at Samalkha, 70km from
Delhi, on the way to Panipat is set amidst lush country side.
Faridabad : Close to Delhi, modern Industrial Complex expand-