tirupati temple

tirupati temple
Tirupati/Tirumala is a pilgrimage center of great significance and is visited by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims throughout the year.Venkateswara, or Srinivasa or Balaji as the presiding deity Vishnu is known, is enshrined in this temple, located on a range of the Eastern Ghats, called the Seven Hills.It is an ancient temple and its glory has been sung by the saints of the yesteryears.

Said to be the richest temple in India, this temple is a vibrant cultural and philanthropic institution with a grand history spanning several centuries. It attracts pilgrims from all over the country and it is not unusual for pilgrims to stand in line for hours together to obtain a glimpse of the presiding deity for a few fleeting seconds.
TTD, or Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam manages the affairs of the temple, the well being of the pilgrims, the upkeep of the environs in and around the Tirumala hills and sponsors several undertakings that are religious, charitable, social and educational in nature.

References to Tiruvenkatam abound in early Tamil literature(Tolkappiam and Silappadikaram) . Explicit reference to the Lord of Tiruvenkatam is found in the works of the early Tamil Saint Poets Poigai Alwar, Bhuthathu Alwar and Pay Alwar as well as in the poems of the later Alwars. The great religious leader Ramanuja Acharya is said to have visited here in the 11th - 12th century AD.

References to Venkatachalam are also found in several of the Puranas. Tirumalai constitutes one of the 108 Sri Vaishnava Divya Desams - sacred shrines in the Sri Vaishnavite tradition. Krishna Deva Raya of the Vijayanagar Empire is said to have visited this temple 7 times. An image of his is also found in the temple. The Venkatesa Itihasa Mala and the Varaha Purana contain several legends connected with Tirumalai.

Location: Tirupati is a town in the Chittoor district of the Southern portion of Andhra Pradesh and is at a convenient train journey away from Chennai (formerly Madras) in Tamilnadu. Tirumalai, on the last of the seven Hills, is home to this temple and is connected by a well maintained and picturesque mountain road constructed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam.

science city ahmedabad

science city
Spread across a sprawling area, Science City in Ahmedabad provides a perfect blend of Information and Entertainment. You can enjoy the marvels of universe at I Max 3D Theater here. Science city showcases contemporary and imaginative exhibits, minds on experiences, working models, virtual reality, activity corners, labs and live demonstrations to develop an understanding of science and technology to common man.
In collaboration with NASA, it also organizes several workshops and seminars in order to develop scientific instincts among youth. Understanding some of the basic concepts of science can be a fun process here. If you also wish to explore scientific rationale behind all the wonders of the universe, it is a must visit place in Ahmedabad.

Goa beaches

goa beaches
If one desires to experience the heaven on the earth then he must visit Goa. Goa known for its beauteous beaches is one of the most touristed spots in India. Large number of people board here to witness the nature?s truest beauty and ambivalence that has been exclusively imbedded in Goa. Goa beaches are greatly adored for their natural architecture composed of lush blue sea water, high waving trees, glazy sand and many others things that add to the grace of the place. In Goa, there are loads of beaches scattered in the northern and southern regions. Beaches like Colangata and Benalium beaches are some of the famous of Goa. These beaches are always packed with loads of tourists coming from all round the globe.

Goa Beaches: over view

Talking about the Goa, there are multifarious beaches and every one of them is just amazing:

Candolim Beach: This beach can also be termed as the finest beach in Goa. This beach is also known for its historical importance. Great freedom fighter and Father of Hypnotism Abbe Faria was born here. People come here to see the sun sets and enjoy the local amenities.

Sinquerim Beach: This beach is one of the neatest beaches filled with glariest sands and beautiful sceneries. The historical fort built here shows you the glory of its enriched history.

Baga Beach: This place is really famous amongst the tourists. Being a small fishing port, people come here to see the local culture. Also, one can see nude people enjoying the sun in the amazing sceneries of Baga.

Arambol Beach: Amongst all the beaches in Goa, this is the main center of all the activities in the Goa. Hippies and other people give in this place an amazing ambience. Music, fun and many more things buzz here.
Palolem Beach: This beach is one of the places where one can see the real and ancient Goa. Fishing, local music dance and other enjoyment are just inexplicable.

Apart from above mentioned beaches there are many other beaches like Vagator, Agonda, Mobor and Cavelossim beaches. These beaches share the same popularity with the above mentioned beaches

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa
One of the world's most recognizable buildings is surely the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Go see it, if you're so inclined....
Tourists stand in front of the tipsy tower, leaning at a jaunty angle themselves, and take snapshots in which they seem to disobey the laws of gravity. In fact, people have been having fun with the tower's tilt for centuries.
When construction of this campanile began in 1173, Pisa was a trading center at the peak of its military might and artistic achievement. Much to the embarrassment of Pisans, however, their white marble tower began to tilt even before its third story was finished in 1274.
Perhaps engineer Bonanno Pisano failed to consider the consequences of designing a 185-foot-tall tower with a stone foundation only about ten feet thick. And this thin base rests on soft sand, rubble, and clay -- not firm underpinnings for an almost 16,000-ton tower. The structure continued to settle unevenly.
Nonetheless, construction continued. To make up for the tilt, builders made each new tier a little taller on the short side -- but the additional stone only made the tower sink more. Upon completion in 1350, the tower was leaning a full 4 feet, 7 inches from vertical.
Up in the belfry, the weight of the bells caused the structure to tilt even further. By the late 20th century the tower was leaning more than 17 feet toward the south, and a rescue operation was begun. Engineers removed soil from under the north side of the tower to even out the differences in the foundation. During the restoration, visitors were not allowed to enter the tower and climb the 293-step spiral staircase to the top. The lean was reduced by more than 15 inches. Hard to believe? What else would you expect for a tower standing on what Pisans call the Campo dei Miracoli -- the Field of Miracles.

CN tower

CN tower
At 553.33 metres (1,815.39 feet), the Canadian National Tower is the world's tallest free-standing land structure. The CN Tower is located in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is considered the signature icon of the city. Built in 1976 by Canadian National Railway (CN) to demonstrate the strength of Canadian industry, the tower was originally designed as a radio and television transmitting antenna. There are microwave receivers for distant signals at about 305 meters, and the top of the transmission antenna is at the apex of the tower. Metal staircases with 1769 steps reach the Observation Deck. At 342 m is the Glass Floor and Outdoor Observation Deck, at 346 m are Horizons Cafe and the Indoor Observation Deck, and at 351 m is the 360 Restaurant, which rotates once every 72 minutes. The restaraunt has a minimum purchase requirement and a relatively expensive menu. The Sky Pod (a small enclosed platform elevated high above the main observation floor) is located at 447 m, and is the highest public observation deck in the world. Admission to the Sky Pod requires payment of an extra charge. The CN Tower has been declared one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. It also belongs to the World Federation of Great Towers. There are many guyed towers taller than the CN Tower, the current tallest being the KVLY-TV tower in North Dakota at 628 m (2,063 feet) tall (see List of masts),
but these are guy-wire supported structures and not classified as free-standing. The Petronius Compliant Tower (an oil platform) at 645 m (2116 feet), is a taller free-standing structure, but all but its top is under water. The Burj Dubai, slated for completion in 2008, would according to present claims by its developers become a taller free-standing land structure than CN Tower. See World's tallest structures for further analysis of the tallest man-made structures. On July 23, 1999 Ashrita Furman became the fastest person to go up the CN Tower using a Pogo stick.

Taj mahal

Taj mahal
Taj Mahal India - Located at Agra in Uttar Pradesh, the Taj Mahal is one of the most splendid masterpieces of architecture in the world. It was Emperor Shah Jehan who ordered the building of the Taj Mahal, in honor of his beloved wife, Arjumand Banu who was later known as Mumtaz Mahal, which means, the Distinguished of the Palace. One of the greatest monuments of India has been listed amongst the eight wonders of the world. This monument was built in the name of love and devotion. Do you know which is this grand Mughal monument situated in the heart of India? It is the Taj Mahal. It is considered to be one amongst the eight most majestic historical structures of the world. This white marble structure was the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan’s, gift for his dead wife – Mumtaz Mahal. He loved his wife so much that he ordered for the best of artisans to create a design as there has never been, and something that cannot be replicated. Having rejected hundreds of designs he finally approved of this blue print. He is sad to have personally monitored the construction of this building.The most expensive white marble was brought to Agra. The structure combines ingredients of Persian, India, Islamic and Turkish styles of architecture. It took twenty-two years to complete the construction of this architectural wonder. As per the records twenty thousand people were employed to work on this magnanimous project, which cost the Mughal emperor thirty-two million Rupees. According to the official documents, Ustad Isa was the master architect.In 1983, this grand monument was announced by UNESCO to be one amongst the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It was cited by the authorities as: "The jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage." And thereafter it attained global fame as one of the seven wonders of the world. Between to two to four million tourists visit Agra, every year, to see this structure. World leaders ensure that visiting this global tourist spot is a part of their plan when visiting India. On her last visit to India, Lady Diana spent a long time in front of the Taj Mahal, simply admiring its grandeur.
HISTORY
Mumtaz and Shah Jehan were married in 1612 A.D had 14 children together. The Empress Mumtaz used to accompany her husband in his military campaigns, and it was in Burhanpur in 1630, that she gave birth to her last child, after which she died. So great was the Shah Jahan's love for his wife Mumtaz, that he ordered the building of the most beautiful mausoleum on Earth for her, The Taj Mahal. As soon as construction work began in early 1630, sculptors, masons, craftsmen, and calligraphers were called from Persia, Ottoman Empire and Europe to work on construction of the Taj.
The architectural complex of the Taj Mahal comprises of five main elements: the Darwaza or main gateway, the Bageecha or garden, the Masjid or mosque, the Naqqar Khana or rest house, and the Rauza or the Taj Mahal mausoleum. The actual Tomb of Mumtaz is situated inside the Taj. The unique moghal style architecture combines elements & styles of Persian, Central Asian, and Islamic architecture. Most striking are the black and white chessboard marble floor, the four tall minarets (40 m high) at the corners of the structure, and the majestic grand dome in the middle. On closer inspection, the lettering of the Holy Quran verses around the archways appear to be uniform. The lettering spacing and density has been customized to give this impression to the viewer. The impressive pietra dura artwork includes geometric elements & style, plants & flowers, which are common in Islamic architecture. The level of sophistication in artwork includes a 3 cm decorative element containing more than 50 inlaid gemstones.

Red fort

Red fort
Red Fort or Lal Quila as it is more popularly known is a masterpiece of architecture and one of the most haunting spots for tourists from both India and abroad. This colossal fort on the banks of the river Yamuna, built by Shahjahan as the citadel of the 17th Century Delhi is a significant link between the past and the present, for it is from here that the prime minister of India addresses the people on the Independence Day (August 15th).

Mughal Emperor Shahjahan started construction of the Red Fort in 1638, which was completed in 1648. The fort contains - halls of public and private audience, domed and arched marble palaces, plush private apartments, a mosque and elaborately designed gardens. Even today, the fort continues to be an impressive evidence to Mughal grandeur.

The Architecture
The Red Fort with thick red sandstone walls, bulging with turrets and bastions is one of the largest and oldest monument in Delhi India. The Fort rises above a wide dry moat in the northeast corner of the original city of Shahjahanabad, now Old Delhi. Its walls extend from 2 kms and vary in height from 18 m on the river side to 33 m on the city side.
The Fort also houses the Diwan-i-Am or the Hall of Public Audiences where the Emperor would sit and hear complaints of the common folks. The Diwan-i-Khas is the hall of private audiences where the Emperor held private meetings. This hall is made of marble and its centre-piece used to be the Peacock Throne, which was carried away to Iran by Nadir Shah in 1739.
The other attractions within this monument are the Royal Baths or hammams, the Shahi Burj, which used to be Shahjahan's private working area and the Moti Masjid or the Pearl Mosque, built by Aurangzeb for his personal use. The Rang Mahal or the "Palace of Colours" housed the Emperor's wives and mistresses. This palace was crowned with gilded turrets, delicately painted and decorated with an intricate mosaic of mirrors, and a ceiling overlaid with gold and silver that was reflected in a central pool in the marble floor.