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ETERNAL
INDIA
encyclopedia
A GREAT DESTINATION
only 100. The Lingaraj Temple (1090-1104) admits only Hindus. It
is the most important temple in Bhubaneswar.
Puri
: 61 kms from Bhubaneswar : World - famous Jagannath
Temple. Built in 1198. The annual car festival which draws thou-
sands of devotees takes place in June or July. Sea front has fine
stretch of white sand.
Konark
: 30 kms from Puri, 64 kms from Bhubaneswar. The world
famous 13th century Sun temple is in the form of a chariot drawn
by 7 horses.
Chilka
: 160 kms from Puri. Largest fresh water lake in India.
Gopalpur-on sea:
Popular beach and health resort.
Cuttack
: 35 kms north of Bhubaneswar. Old capital of Orissa
before construction of Bhubaneswar
Balasore
: On the rail line to Calcutta. Once an important trading
centre.
Chandipur
: 16 kms away from Balasore. Beach resort.
Hirakud Dam
: World's fourth largest dam across Mahanadi, 328
kms from Bhubaneswar.
Rourkela:
Major steel plant set up with German aid.
Nandan kanan Zoo
is famous for its Royal Bengal Tigers and
white tigers. Safari coach facilites available.
PUNJAB
Anandpur Sahib
: Place of pilgrimage for Sikhs. Guru Govind
Singh baptised the first five Sikhs here- and initiated them into the
Khalsa.
Amritsar
: 25 kms from the Pakistan frontier. The Golden Temple,
holiest shrine of the Sikhs which has the Granth Sahib.
Jallianwala Bagh
: Close to the Golden Temple . The place where
more than 2000 people were killed on 13th April 1919 when
General Dyer fired without any warning on a crowd which had
gathered to protest against martial law.
Ludhiana
: Famous for its woollen, silk and cotton fabrics. Hero
cycles manufactured here.
Patiala
: Capital of a former independent Sikh state. The Motibagh
palace is built on the pattern of the Shalimar Gardens of Lahore.
The museum has a good collection of manuscripts and paintings.
RAJASTHAN
Jaipur
: Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan "Land of the Kings", home
of the Rajputs renowned for their bravery and sense of honour.
Jaipur, known as the pink city from the pink - coloured sandstone
used in the construction of many of the old buildings. Its name is
derived from Maharajah Jai Singh (1699 - 1744), the warrior, as-
tronomer who planned it.
Hawa Mahal
or Palace of the Winds was built as a facade from
behind which the ladies of the palace could watch the road out-
side. Its semi - octagonal balconies, fretwork, roof and domes
make it a unique building and the principal landmark of Jaipur.
The Jantar Muntar
or observatory built by Jai Singh on the palace
terrace is the largest of the five constructed by him all over India.
Amber
: 11 km from Jaipur. This was the capital before it was
shifted to Jaipur. The fortress palace is a superb example of
Rajput architecture.
Bharatpur
: 55 kms from Agra and 180 kms from Delhi. The bird
sanctuary is home to 328 kinds of birds, 117 of which come from
Siberia or China. The sanctuary is now known as the Keoladeo
National Park.
Deeg
: 35 kms from Bharatpur. The Gopal Bhavan Palace has a
marble swing, which was originally the property of the Nawabs of
Oudh but was carried off to Deeg by Maharajah Jawahar Singh.
The Maharajah even attacked the Red Fort in Delhi in 1762, and
among other objects, looted the marble palace and brought it here.
Sariska wildlife sanctuary
: 107 kms from Jaipur , 200 kms from
Delhi.
Alwar
: The city palace has a museum which has a valuable
collection of manuscripts, miniature paintings and weapons.
Ajmer
: Major pilgrimage place for Muslims. Main attraction of
Ajmer is the Darga Khaja Saheb, the tomb of a Sufi saint who
came to Ajmer in 1192. Akbar's religious teacher was Moinuddin
Christi whose tomb is here.
Pushkar
: 11 kms N-W of Ajmer. Hindu place of pilgrimage. Every
year, during Kartik - Poornima (Oct-Nov) a huge cattle fair is
held.
Ranthambhor:
This tiger reserve is near the town of Sawai Mad-
hopur. Best time September - April before monsoon.
Kotah
: Rajasthan's fastest growing industrial city. Atomic power
station. Famous for its sarees.
Bundi
: 39 kms west of Kotah : This unspoilt city has a 17th century
palace. Not on the tourist beat, so tourists are not usually
allowed inside palace. Some distance away is the Taragarh fort
built in 1372. Has a picture gallery covered with murals.
Chittor
: This ancient capital of Mewar state symbolises Rajput
courage. It was sacked three times: in 1303 when Alau-ud-din
Khilji, the ruler of Delhi, wanted to marry Rani Padmini; in 1535 by
the Sultan of Gujarat and in 1568 by Akbar. Each time the women
immolated themselves while the men died in battle rather than
surrender. Legend says that the foundation of the fort of Chittor-
garh was laid by Bhima, the second of the Pandava brothers.
Udaipur
: City of palaces, lakes and gardens. The city palace, the
largest palace complex in Rajasthan is on the shores of the
artificially created lake Pichola. The Jag Niwas in the middle of the
lake has been converted into a luxury lake palace hotel. The Jag-
mandir is another island palace which has been converted into a
hotel. Prince Khurram who became Emperor Shah Jahan rebelled
against his father Jahangir and took shelter here. It is said to have
inspired the idea of the Taj Mahal.
Jaisamard Lake
: Second largest artificial lake in Asia, built by
Maharana Jai singh in 17th century at a cost of 1V
2
crores of
rupees. 48km from Udaipur.