LAKHPAT EK GATHA

At the far northwest corner of Kutch, facing north across the Great Rann towards Pakistan, stands Lakhpat, once an important port city but now virtually abandoned for almost 200 years.

 A place where you can imagine the rise and decline of a great port city, and simultaneously contemplate the vast emptiness of the desert and the sea.

      When the 1819 earthquake sent the Indus River on its present course to the west and the Great Rann dried up, so did Lakhpat. It was left a humble town around the ruins of its former grandness, now only with Kori Creek that still flows into the Rann . 

Though it requires a long journey to reach Lakhpat, the intrepid traveler will be rewarded. The 7 km fort walls, erected in 1801 by Jamadar Fateh Muhammed, are still nearly intact, and offer tremendous views out over the Rann.

 Due to the extremely clear desert air and remote location, the night sky is spectacular (visit near the new moon for best stargazing) and sunrise or sunset in a landscape of such endless horizons are not to be missed.

 
 Lakhpat has religious significance for three of India's most populous religions: Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, reportedly camped here on his journey to Mecca. The site later became a gurudwara, which holds some of Nanak's possessions; 

Pir Ghaus Muhammed, a Sufi mystic who from the age of twelve devoted himself to spiritual practice and reportedly practiced half as a Hindu and half as a Muslim, is buried here in Lakhpat. His tomb is a stone construction with very complex carvings and a water tank that is said to have healing properties for skin problems; Sayyed Pir Shah's nine-domed mausoleum has intricate carvings, doors, windows and jaalis.

ROAD TO KALA DUNGAR /// BLACK HILLS

India Bridge View from Black Hills

Kalo Dungar or Black Hill is the highest point in Kutch, Gujarat, India, at 462 m. It is located at 97 km (1.30 hr) from District headquarters of Bhuj and 25 km (30 min) from nearest town Khavda.

This is probably the only place in Kutch from where a panoramic view of the Great Rann of Kutch is possible. Since it is located very near to the Pakistan border, there is an Army post at the top; beyond here, only military personnel are allowed.

Top of Black Hills

The Kalo Dungar is also famous for a 400-year-old Dattatreya temple.

There was once a holy man named Lakkh Guru residing at Kala Dungar and worshiping the Lord Dattatreya. He used to feed wild jackals. There came a day when he found he had no food, so cutting-off a part of his body he offered it to the jackals, saying, “Le ang!’ (Take body part). Over the centuries, this got corrupted to ‘Long’.

Jackels having Food

A strange phenomenon was observed at Kalo Dungar, when some visitors noticed that their vehicles were hurtling down the hill at speeds over 80 km/h even with the ignition switched off.

Magnetic Road

Full View of White Rann


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DHOLAVIRA, ONCE UPON A TIME

The City of Dholavira located in Khadir island of the Rann of Kutch belonged to Harappan Civilization. Today what is seen as a fortified quadrangular city set in harsh arid land, was once a thriving metropolis for 1200 years (3000 BCE-1800 BCE) and had an access to the sea prior to decrease in sea level.

This 47 ha quadrangular city lay between two seasonal streams, the Mansar in the north and Manhar in the south, and had three distinct zones-the Upper, Middle and Lower Towns and shows the use of a specific proportion, considering the basic unit of measurement as 1 dhanus equivalent to 1.9 meters. First, the citadel, consisting of enclosures identified as a castle and a bailey (by excavators), having massive mud-brick walls flanked by dressed stones. To the north of the citadel was the quadrangular middle town having an area identified as the ceremonial ground or stadia. The latter served as a transition from the citadel to the middle and was accessed from the citadel through a grand gateway on its northern wall. Measuring 283 meters in length and 47.5 meters in width, the stadia had four narrow terraces possibly as seating arrangement. The middle town was characterised by a network of streets with defined hierarchy, intersecting at perfect angles. Beyond the middle town and enclosing it and the citadel was the lower town where commoners or the working population lived.

Dholavira show large scale use of dressed stone in construction. Few rooms have been found to have been built of dressed stone and in some cases show segments of highly polished stone pillars of square or circular section having a central hole. To create a pillar, such segments were piled to attain requisite height and a wooden pole was inserted to ensure stability. This method of constructing a column was an ingenious alternative to a monolithic column.

Water conservation of Dholavira speaks volume of the ingenuity of the people who developed a system based on rainwater harvesting to support life in a parched landscape, with scanty sweet water. Relying partly on rain-water and little from the ground a complex water system comprising of large rock-cut reservoirs, located at the eastern and southern fortification and rock-cut wells were developed. Huge stone drains can be seen in the city the directed storm water to the western and northern section of the lower town separated by broad bunds, creating in-effect a series of reservoirs. The most imposing well was located in the castle and is possibly the earliest example of a rock cut well. The city also drew water from the seasonal streams flowing on the northern and southern faces of the fortification. The water from these streams was slowed by a series of dams and partly channelized water into the lower town. Every drop of water was conserved to ensure survival.

Among antiquities recovered during excavation, an inscription measuring 3 meters long had been recovered from the chamber near the northern gate of the castle. Though its content is yet to be deciphered but based on the size of the incised letters, its conspicuous location and visibility, it has been identified as a sign-board. This is an exceptional find unlike any other sites, also suggesting that common people were versed in letters.

No one theory can explain the eventual abandonment of Dholavira. The urban order gradually ruralised and the eastward shift of habitation at a period of time when geo-climatic conditions challenged life in Khadir Island. The site seen today is the partly excavated area of a settlement abandoned for more than four millennia.

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NEELAKURINJI FLOWER ONCE IN 12 YEARS BLOSSOMS IN MUNNAR, IDUKKI KERALA

Once every 12 years, the hills of Munnar turn blue. People flock in great numbers to view the blooming of the Neelakurinji. 
Biologists and nature loves alike mark their calendars for this great event that is expected next in 2018. The world awaits the turning of the Munnar range into a blanket of beautiful blue. It is easily among the most magnificent sights in the world.



The flower has shown up in areas around Munnar like Mattupetty and Top Station. From August to October every 12 years, these areas are primed for viewing this natural wonder. 1600 m above sea level, Munnar is one of the most beautiful locations in Kerala and the world.
 Its tea plantations, hill ranges, plantation bungalows and a vast variety of rare flora and fauna has enthralled people for centuries. It is also home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr whose population is currently being conserved at the Eravikulam National Park. One can even visit the Anamudi Peak, the tallest in South India, which has some of best trekking trails in the country.

 The blossoming of the beautiful flowers in Munnar in Idukki district, located in the biodiversity hotspot of Western Ghats, used to attract a large number of tourists and nature enthusiasts from and outside the state.

Nearest railway station: Angamaly about 108 km from Munnar and Kottayam, about 147 km

Nearest airport: Madurai in the neighbouring State of Tamilnadu, about 160 km

Man O Man

 Man O Man!

 When without money,

 eats vegetables at home;

 When has money,

 eats the same vegetables in a fine restaurant.

 When without money, rides bicycle;

 When has money rides the same ‘exercise machine’.

When without money walks to earn food

 When has money, walks to burn fat;

 Man O Man! Never fails to deceive thyself!

 When without money,

 wishes to get married;

 When has money,

 wishes to get divorced.

 When without money,

 wife becomes secretary;

 When has money,

 secretary becomes wife.

 When without money, acts like a rich man;

 When has money acts like a poor man.

 Man O Man! Never can tell the simple truth!

Says share market is bad,

 but keeps speculating;

 Says money is evil,

 but keeps accumulating.

 Says high Positions are lonely,

 but keeps wanting them.

 Says gambling & drinking is bad,

 but keeps indulging;

 Man O Man! Never means what he says and never says what he means..

Life is not about what 

you couldn't do so far, 

it's about what you can 

still do. 

Wait n dont ever give up..

Miracles happen every 

day....

                              

Rs.20 seems too much 

to give a beggar but it

seems okay when its 

given as tip at a fancy

restaurant.

After a whole day of 

work, Hours at the gym

seem alright but helping

your Mother out at home 

seems like a burden.

Praying to god for 3 min

takes too much time but

watching a movie for 3

hours doesn't.

Wait a whole year for

Valentine's day but we

always forget Mother's 

day.

Two poor starving kids

sitting on the pavement

weren't given even a slice 

of Bread but a painting of

them sold for lakhs of

Rupees.

We don't think twice 

About forwarding jokes 

But we will rethink about

sending this message on.

Think about It..

Make a change. Coz u can ....

Six Easy ways to earn, even after death.

1) Give a smile or gift to someone.

Each time u gift or smile, it will make someone's day.....u gain.

2) Donate a wheelchair to a hospital. Each time sick person uses it, u gain.

3) Participate in building an orphanage, hospital, school or college.

Anybody uses it, u gain.

4) Place a water cooler in a public place. Anybody drinks water, u gain.

5) Plant a tree. Whenever a person, animal sits in its shade or eats from it, u gain.

6) And the easiest of all is to Share this message with people. Even if 1 applies any of the 

above, u gain.

I just did.

Do respond

TOURISM IN BHUJ - KUTCH "KUTCHDO BARE MAAS"

Hello friends,

Taj Mahal

                  As we all know that this world has became very smaller in past few years and as the more and more people travel its becoming shorter and shorter, so obviously tourism industry is on its peaks.

Talking about the seven wonders of the world as main tourist attractions for most of people, as one of the seven wonders is located in India which is "Taj Mahal". It attracts many tourist nationally and internationally.

Map of kutch

As of today we will be mainly focusing on the Kutch district of Gujarat State in Western India.

   Kutch literally means something which intermittently becomes wet and dry.  Kutch as its name derived form Sanskrit is like a Tortoise if we flip the map upside down, is a cultural and historical place. With its vast salty deserts also famous as WHITE DESERT, The unending clean and serine beaches, The Royal Palaces describing richness of the state, its ports and industries claiming the  development attracts more and more tourist across the world.

   With increase in number of tourists automatically Tourism Industry grows in various sectors such as hospitality, accommodation, transportation, guiding and much more.... Kutch is the largest district of India comprising of 10 Talukas 939 villages and 9 Municipalities. The district is well connected by road, rail and air. There are four airports in the district: Naliya, Kandla, Mundra, and Bhuj. Bhuj is well connected with Mumbai airport. 

       Tourism can be of many interests, it can be for food, can be for adventure, can be for architecture, for nature and the list has no end...  I wont be including all of the topics here but will be giving you few glimpses on all the topics the best i can provide. 
So lets start from the Heart of Kutch
1. BHUJ

             After independence of India in 1947, Kutch State acceded unto the dominion of India and was constituted an independent commissionaire, Kutch State. In 1956, Kutch State was merged with Bombay state, which in 1960 was divided into the new linguistic states  of  Gujarat and Maharashtra, with Kutch becoming part of Gujarat state as Kutch district. Bhuj is the district headquarters of Kutch District, the largest district in India.
     On 26 January 2001, the city was struck by a major earthquake which caused a great loss of life and property. Many parts of Bhuj were demolished due to the extensive damage whilst others were repaired. There has been a great progress in the city since the 2001 earthquake, with considerable improvements to roads, transport and infrastructure. I will be highlighting the Top sites must visit while your travel in Bhuj:

• 👉Hamirsar Lake:

                

Hmirsar Lake

Hamirsar lake is a 450-year-old lake named after Jadeja ruler Rao Hamir (1472-1524), the founder of Bhuj.

Lawn Bhuj

                   Its very pleasant to sit and view around the lake both early in the mornings and during sunset upto late evenings. Birds chirping and cold winds blowing will just make you fresh again to get busy with your daily activities. The Nagarpalika has recently build a walk way just for health conscious people to walk and get healthier. We can see people of all ages from Elderly to young, students to working and housewives too. In the center of the lake theirs a big island type garden known as Rajendra Baug which is also Bhuj's love garden mostly famous among couples and youngsters. We can visit this place at any hours and the visit will be mesmerizing for sure.In the evening time you can find fast food stalls, boiled corns popcorns Dabelies (one of my favourities) colddrinkand many recreational activities for children. near by is Sunday Garden which is also a good visiting place.

👉PRAG MAHAL:

Prag Mahal

    Prag Mahal was named after Rao Pragmalji II.It is a 19th century architecture  It was designed by Colonel Henry Saint Wilkins in the Italian Gothic style, consists of Pyramidal Domes , Corinthian pillars, A Grand Darbar Hall, Chandeliers, Buttresses, Huge Glass windows, Classical statues of Atlas and much more.Its a favorite tourist destination among visitors at bhuj. The palace describes the prosperity of state during that period.

👉AINA MAHAL:

Aina Mahal

  Also spelled as Mirror Palace, its and 18th century architecture . It was constructed with marble walls adorned with gold lace and glass.The walls of the palace are of white marble covered with mirrors separated by gilded ornaments with shades of Venetian glass. 

Ivory Door

    Their are many antiques find in this palace and the most attractive thing is a Clock which shows Solar and Lunar times which was designed by a local clock smith and amazing part is its still working. We can also find old kutchi currency, weapons used during war, Musical fountains which king used to spend his evening and a Wooden door inlay with Ivory work.                                                                                         We can also find Elephant Anklets made of pure Gold used during victory ceremonies of king. 

👉ROYAL CENOTAPHS : ( CHATARDI)

Chatardi

Also known as chatri or chatardi in local language they are the local royal burial grounds or cenotaphs. Majority of part was destroyed in 2001 earthquake but still we can find remains and they remind us of humpi and Ajanta Elora caves and such architecture. Lots of stone carving, Flower domes, statues, Capitals of its kind etc..  A must visit place on tour to bhuj.

👉KUTCH MUSEUM:
               Kutch museum in Bhuj is Oldest Museum of Gujarat State which is also the first Indian Museum to become online virtual museum in 2010.  The Museum has the largest collection of Kshatrapa inscriptions dating 1st century. Museum displays precious ancient artifacts, crafts and information about tribal people.
Airavat is displayed in the museum which is carved wooden snow white Elephant prepared in 18th century.

Kutch Museum

👉SwamiNarayan Temple:

Swaminarayan Mandir

Swaminarayan temple is a hindu temple located in bhuj. Made of marble it took almost 7years to construct the temple, The floor or the Mandap is supported with 512 elephant statues and Kalash are made of Gold.


We will get into details of more places to visit around Kutch in our next blog.

   
                           Untill then take care and help me improve by commenting down, love you all.....