NORTHERN INDIA

Northern India is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage. The dominant geographical features of northern India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from Tibet and Central Asia. North India has been the historical center of the Maurya, Gupta, Mughal and British Indian Empires. It has a diverse culture, and includes the Hindu pilgrimage centers of Char Dham, Haridwar and Varanasi, the Muslim pilgrimage destination of Ajmer, as well as world heritage sites such as the Mahabodhi Temple, Humayun's Tomb and the Taj Mahal. Under some definitions of the region, the eastern areas are part of the impoverished Red corridor region that faces significant development challenges.

Northern India includes the following states:

DELHI JAMMU AND KASHMIR HARYANA

HIMACHAL PRADESH
PUNJAB UTTAR PRADESH UTTARANCHAL

DELHI

FAMOUS SIGHTSEEING IN DELHI

AKSHARDHAM TEMPLE

RED FORT

AKSHARDHAM TEMPLE
Akshardham is a Hindu temple complex in Delhi, India. Also referred to as Delhi Akshardham or Swaminarayan Akshardham, the complex displays centuries of traditional Indian and Hindu culture, spirituality, and architecture. The building was inspired and moderated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual head of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, whose 3,000 volunteers helped 7,000 artisans construct Akshardham. The temple, which attracts approximately 70 percent of all tourists who visit Delhi, was officially opened on 6 November 2005. It sits on the banks of the Yamuna adjacent to the proposed 2010 Commonwealth Games village. The monument at the center of the complex of built off of the Vastu Shastra and Pancharatra Shastra. The complex features a large central monument crafted entirely of stone, exhibitions on incidents from the life of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the history of India, an IMAX feature, a musical fountain, and large landscaped gardens.

MONUMENT
The main monument, at the center of the complex, is 141-foot high, 316-foot wide, and 370-foot long, and is covered top to bottom with carved details of flora, fauna, dancers, musicians, and deities. Within the monument, under the central dome, lies a murti or statue of Bhagwan Swaminarayan which is 11-foot high. The murti is surrounded by similar statues of the gurus of the sect. Each murti is made of paanch daatu or five metals in accordance to Hindu tradition. Also within the central monument lie the murits of other Hindu deities, including Sita Ram, Radha Krishna, Shiv Parvati, and Lakshmi Narayan.

GUINNESS WORLD On 17 December 2007, Michael Whitty, an official world record adjudicator for RECORD Guinness World Records, traveled to Ahmedabad, India to present a new world
record to Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, for the Akshardham complex.

RED FORT
The Delhi Fort also known as Lal Qil'ah meaning the Red Fort, located in the walled city of Delhi, India and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. The Red Fort and the city of Shahjahanabad was constructed by the Emperor Shah Jahan in 1639 A.D. The Red Fort was originally referred to as "Qila-i-Mubarak" (the blessed fort), because it was the residence of the royal family. The layout of the Red Fort was organised to retain and integrate this site with the Salimgarh Fort. The fortress palace is an important focal point of the medieval city of Shahjahanabad. The planning and aesthetics of the Red Fort represent the zenith of Mughal creativity which prevailed during the reign of Emperor Shahjahan. This Fort has had many developments added on after its construction by Emperor Shahjahan. The significant phases of development were under Aurangzeb and later Mughal rulers. Important physical changes were carried out in the overall settings of the site after the First War of Independence during British Rule in 1857. After Independence, the site experienced a few changes in terms of addition/alteration to the structures. During the British period the Fort was mainly used as a cantonment and even after Independence, a significant part of the Fort remained under the control of the Army until the year 2003.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
Red Fort showcases the very high level of art form and ornamental work. The art work in the Fort is a synthesis of Persian, European and Indian art which resulted in the development of unique Shahjahani style which is very rich in form, expression and colour. Red Fort, Delhi is one of the important building complexes of India which encapsulates a long period of Indian history and its arts. Its significance has transcended time and space. It is relevant as a symbol of architectural brilliance and power. Even before its notification as a monument of national importance in the year 1913, efforts were made to preserve and conserve the Red Fort, for posterity.
The walls of the fort are smoothly dressed, articulated by heavy stringcourses along the upper section. They open at two major gates, the Delhi and the Lahore gates. The Lahore Gate is the main entrance; it leads to a long covered bazar street, the Chatta Chowk, whose walls are lined with stalls for shops. The Chatta Chowk leads to a large open space where it crosses the large north-south street that was originally the division between the fort's military functions, to its west, and the palaces, to its east. The southern end of this street is the Delhi Gate.

JAMMU AND KASHMIR

FAMOUS SIGHTSEEING IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR

DAL LAKE VAISHNU DEVI

DAL LAKE
The Dal Lake which has the length of 8 Km long and a width of 4 Km, spreads over a total of 26 Sq. Km. The fascinating Dal Lake is divided into two smaller ones the Lokut (small) and Bod (big) Dal. The south western part of the lake has a maximum depth of approximately 12 M. the Dal Lake gets some of its water from spring but is also supplemented by water from the mountain lake, Mar Sar. In the western part of the Lake one can glimpse a few islands, some bigger, some smaller. Its shores are very fertile and surrounded by willows. Potato, tomato, pumpkin, cucumber, radish and lots of other vegetables are grown here cultivation of the floating gardens which also lie in this part of the lake is another interesting feature. These gardens consist of reed rafts of different lengths and a width of approximately one and a half by three meters and are covered by 1020 CM thick layer of earth and mud. Vegetables and melons are grown on these artificial floating islands. Dal Lake is, initially, one of the most confusing parts of Srinagar for it's not really one lake at all, but three. Further more much of it is hardly what one would expect a lake to be like - it's a maze of intricate waterways and channels, floating islands of vegetation, houseboats that look so firmly moored they could almost be islands and hotels on islands which look like they could simply float away

OTHER FASCINATING SIGHTS NEAR DAL LAKE

Starting from the Dal lake is the smaller Nagin Lake. Here, the waters are bordered by trees of willow and poplar. The waters of the lakes are refreshingly cool from mid-May to mid-September. Nagin Lake, which is at distance from town, have magnificent display of the mountains. The sight of the floating market is truly awe-inspiring. Salesmen paddle from one boat to another, selling everything you could want - like fruit, nuts, fresh flowers, cold drinks, film, baked goods, papier-mache boxes, woolen shawls, silk carpets, leather goods, money-exchanging services and lots more. The gentle soothing movement of the boats, as it glides along the water of these lakes, is awesome. The Dal Lake is a famous lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of the northernmost Indian administered state of Jammu & Kashmir. The lake itself is connected to a number of other lakes of the Kashmir valley. It is well known for its approximately 500 Victorian-era wooden houseboats, originally built as vacation homes for British administrators during the Raj. The lake covers 18 square kilometers, and is divided by causeways into four basins, called Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal and Nagin. Lokut-dal and Bod-dal have an island each in the centre, known as Rup Lank and Sona Lank respectively. Along most of the shore of the lake is a boulevard, lined with Mughal-era gardens, parks, and hotels. During the winter season the lake sometimes freezes over.

VAISHNU DEVI
One of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage in North India, it is a cave shrine of the Mother Goddess, who is said to be the merger of three mightiest deities of Maha Kali (Goddess of power), Maha Saraswati (Goddess of knowledge), and Maha Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth). The number of pilgrims who come here to pay homage to the Goddess keeps on swelling year after year. It is believed to cleanse the spiritual persona and bless a true devotee with resuscitation for the heart. Nestled amidst the Trikuta Mountains, 61 km north of Jammu, Vaishno Devi is perched at a height of 5,200 feet above the sea level. Katra, a town situated at the foot of the Trikuta hills, serves as the base camp for the Vaishno Devi shrine. It is open all the year round but it is difficult to cover the route during the winters as it is often blocked by snowfall. It is said that the five Pandavas of Mahabharata built the holy cave shrine of Vaishno Devi. At the mouth of the original tunnel to the holy cave, there are symbols of other gods such as Vakra Tunda Ganesha (the Elephant God), Surya Dev (the Sun God) and Chandra Dev (the Moon God). One has to crawl in the tunnel to reach the cave shrine and has to cross over the Dhadh (body) of Bhairon Nath. Launkra Beer (a form of Lord Hanuman) can also be seen here, who is said to have been posted as the guard at the gate while she was meditating in the cave. Twenty-three feet beyond Launkra Beer, one can see the innumerable heads of Shesh Nag, supporting the roof of the cave.

VAISHNU DEVI - HEAVEN FOR SPIRITUAL REDEMPTION

Vaishno Devi is one of the holiest Hindu Pilgrimage site which is dedicated to Goddess Shakti. The temple is located around 12 km away from Katra in the Udhampur district. The temple is situated at an altitude of 1615 m on the Trikuta Hills of Shivalik Range. Pilgrims, especially Hindus from all over the world visit Vaishno Devi making it the second most visited shrine in India after Tirupati Balaji Mandir. There are three rock cut statues in the 100 feet long cave. The middle one represents Goddess Lakshmi, right statue represents Goddess Kali and left one represents Goddess Saraswati. All kind of people, whether they are rich or poor, young or old, sick or healthy take the challenging trek from Katra to get to this holy place.

HARYANA

FAMOUS SIGHTSEEING IN HARYANA

SURAJKUND CRAFT MELA

SURAJKUND CRAFT MELA

The very first effort on organizing cultural events on a national level by Haryana Tourism was done with the launching of the annual and now internationally famous Surajkund Crafts Mela, that began in 1981. The Crafts Mela celebrates the finest handlooms and handicrafts traditions of country. It is a fortnight long event that embodies the spirit that runs through the people of India and its rich culture. It is held in the month of February from 1st-15th. The Surajkund Crafts Mela is held just 8 km from south Delhi.Beneath thatched roof platforms, master crafts persons carefully display the finest of handlooms and handicrafts from all over the country. The event is so colorful and rich in experience, that many a tourist has returned to visit it again and again. The prices are relatively low compared to emporia, and some of the stuff can be amazing. Shops at the Mela bustle with the brilliance of mirror encasing embroidery, delicate lace work, folk motifs on terracotta forms, metal and cane-ware, the tinkle of bangles, shimmer of iridescent silks and the jingle of toys and trinkets. The Surajkund Crafts Mela is more than a celebration of crafts. At the fan shaped open-air-theatre name 'Natyashala' rich folk dances and musical evenings are held throughout the mela fortnight.

CRAFT
Some of the most deligtful crafts collections of the Mela arrive from practically all over the country. In wood and cane come inlay work, rose wood carving, sandal wood from Punjab and South India. Chiki wood craft of Kashmir and some very fine cane craft come from West Bengal and North Eastern States. Delcate sholapith and shital patti work come from Assam and West Bengal. The phulkari of Punjab, the Banjara and Banni embroidery of Gujarat and Rajasthan, the Kantha traditions from West Bengal and Tripura, lace and crochet from Goa, the Suzni of Kashmir and Mirror encasing work along with the traditional chikan work of Lucknow delight.Oxidized jewellery, sea shell decorations and agate stone work delight as also do delicate gold work and chunky silver jewellery. Toys in wood and cane, ply and mud make the young thrill with joy. Some of the fine phad paintings of Rajasthan, the kalamkari of Andhra and Karnataka, temple paintings of Orissa, madhubani of Bihar, fascinate. In the metal section tribal dhora work, classical south Indian metal work, glittering brass ware, bell metal and iron craft delight collectors. In the field of woven textiles some of the finest silk work of Orissa, Patola, Bandhini of Gujarat and Rajasthan, Ikat, Kanjeevaram, Dharmavaram and temple silks of South India vie for attention with the most simple cottons of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and tribal textiles of North East India as also do the handloom of Haryana.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

FAMOUS SIGHTSEEING IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

MANALI Shimla

MANALI
Manali, (alt. 1,950 m or 6,398 ft) in the Beas River valley, is an important hill station in the Himalayan mountains of Himachal Pradesh, India, near the northern end of the Kullu Valley. Manali is administratively a part of the Kullu district. The population is approx. 30,000. The small town was the beginning of an ancient trade route to Ladakh and, from there, over the Karakoram Pass on to Yarkand and Khotan in the Tarim Basin. Manali and its surrounding areas are of great significance to the Indian culture and heritage as it was the home and abode of the Saptarshi or seven sages. The ancient cave temple, Hidimba Devi Temple, is not far from town, 3 k.m. from the main city. Manu Maharishi temple is located in old Manali village, which is 4 k.m. far from the Manali. The name of manali is on the name of Lord Manu. This temple is one and only temple in the world. As per hindusm Manu was the first men in the nature. Skiing is a major pastime in Manali. Facilities for skiing are available at Solang Nullah (January-March) and Rohtang La (during summer). The Mountaineering Institute at Solang Nullah is a good training institute. Heli skiing is possible at the deep snowfields.

SOME PLACES OF INTEREST

ROHTANG PASS It is at an altitude of 13,050 feet(3,978 mtr) above sea level, is another adventure tourist site where it can be cold even on a summer day. It is the highest point on the Manali-Keylong road and provides a wide panoramic view of mountains rising far above clouds, which is truly breath taking. Close by is a small lake called Dassaur Lake. Beas Kund, the source of river Beas, is also nearby. In winter, the road of Rothang Pass is closed. MANIKARAN Manikaran, 86 km from Manali and 45 km from Kullu, lies in the Parvati Valley. Here icy cold waters of the Parvati river co-exist with hot-water springs side-by-side. The springs are known for their healing properties. VASHISHAT Vashisht Hot Water Springs and Temple: Around 3 km from Manali, across the Beas river is Vashishat, a small village with natural sulphur springs. Modern bathhouses,now closed, due to a conflict with the elders of the village and Manali council. Vasistha ,a sage narrated Yoga Vasishtha an ancient scripture to Rama. A unique and an extremely profound discourse, that provides innumerable insights and secrets to the inner world of consciousness. This extremely huge scripture covers all the topics that relate to the spiritual study of a seeker.

Shimla
Shimla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the erstwhile British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills" (a term coined by the British). Located in north-west Himalayas at an altitude of 2,130 metres (6,988 ft), the city of Shimla, draped in forests of pine, rhododendron, and oak, experiences pleasant summers and cold, snowy winters. The city is famous for its buildings styled in tudorbethan and neo-gothic architecture reminiscent of the colonial era. Shimla is connected to the city of Kalka by one of the longest narrow gauge railway routes still operating in India. Shimla is approximately 115 km (71.4 miles) from Chandigarh, the nearest major city, and 365 km (226.8 miles) from New Delhi, the national capital. The city is named after the goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Kali.

SOME PLACES OF INTEREST

THE MALL The Mall is the main shopping centre of Shimla. It also has many restaurants, clubs, banks, bars, Post Offices and tourist offices. The Gaiety Theatre is also situated there. People walk up and down the Mall slowly, stopping to gossip, as it is the main meeting place for everyone. The Ridge and Scandal point are the two main meeting points at the Mall. CHRIST CHURCH Situated on the Ridge, Christ Church is the second oldest church in Northern India. It has a very majestic appearance and inside there are stained glass windows which represent faith, hope, charity, fortitude, patience and humility. SUMMER HILL Situated at a distance of 5 km from the Ridge is the lovely township of Summer Hill at a height of 6,500 ft on the Shimla-Kalka railway line. Mahatma Gandhi lived in these quiet surroundings during his visits to Shimla. Himachal Pradesh University is situated here.

PUNJAB

FAMOUS SIGHTSEEING IN IN PUNJAB

GOLDEN TEMPLE
ROCK GARDEN

GOLDEN TEMPLE
Golden or Darbar ,informally referred to as The Golden Temple or Temple of God, is culturally the most significant place of worship of the Sikhs and one of the oldest Sikh gurdwaras. It is located in the city of Amritsar, which was established by Guru Ram Das Ji, the fourth guru of the Sikhs, and is, also due to the shrine, known as Guru Di Nagri meaning city of the Guru. The Harmandir Sahib is considered holy and beautiful by Sikhs because the eternal Guru of Sikhism, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, is present inside in it. It is moved to the Sri Akal Takhat Sahib at around 10 PM and then moved back from there to Sri Darbar Sahib at 5 AM. Its construction was mainly intended as a place of worship for men and women from all walks of life and all religions to come and worship God equally. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the holiest literature in the Sikh religion,the tenth Guru of Sikhs, Sri Guru Gobind Singh on 7 October 1708 made it the eternal Sikh Guru and the leader of Sikhism.Anywhere in the world where the Guru Granth Sahib is present is equally holy and precious to Sikhs. Harmandir Sahib was built with four doors to show that every religion or faith is allowed to go in to meditate or just listen to the prayers for peace.

HISTORY
Its name literally means House of God. The fourth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Ram Das, excavated a tank in 1577 which subsequently became known as Amritsar (meaning: Pool of the Nectar of Immortality), giving its name to the city that grew around it. In due course, a splendid Sikh edifice, Harmandir Sahib (Temple of God),was constructed in the middle of this tank which became the supreme centre of Sikhism. Its sanctum came to house the Adi Granth comprising compositions, Sikh values, philosophies and teachings of the Sikh Gurus and other saints of Guru Nanak's time, e.g. Ravidas a Hindu Guru, Baba Farid a Sufi Sant (Saint) and Kabir, all of whom the Sikhs refer to as the Bhagats.The compilation of the Adi Granth was started by the fifth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Arjan Dev. Amritsar is located in the Majha region of the Punjab. Majha is also known as the Bari Doab, since it is the Doab or the (fluvial) tract of land which lies between two of the five great rivers of the province, the Ravi and the Beas. As such, Majha lies in the heart of the ancient Punjab region, comprised of GurdMaspur, Batala and Tarn Taran Sahib as well as Amritsar. Amritsar is also known as "Sifti Da Ghar" or Adorable Abode.

ROCK GARDEN
Rock Garden of Chandigarh, Punjab is an important landmark in the city of Chandigarh. While thinking about Punjab tourist attractions, Rock Garden is a name that comes on top of the list. This is a modern marvel in one of the planned cities of India. The Rock garden of Chandigarh, Punjab is marvelous creation of the Nek Chand, a road inspector, who actually designed it. The Rock Garden of Chandigarh is an internationally acclaimed garden set amidst a sprawling 64 acres of forested lands. It is very conveniently located between the Capital Complex and the Sukhna Lake in Sector 1 of Chandigarh. It is built in the form of an open air exhibition that is rolled into a fantasy land of artworks created from disposed waste materials and converted into a beautiful landscape. The Rock Garden is a wonderful specimen of imaginative use of disposed waste materials which has been crafted to create objects that decorate the entire place. The entrance itself is quite unpretentious. As you walk through the garden you will come across some magnificent arrangement if rocks, boulders and building waste that make it look like an open air theater arranged for a show. Caste away glass bangles, broken chinaware, fluorescent tubes that

have been discarded, coal and clay have been used to create folk world of palaces, a village set up with women and temples, soldiers and monkeys and various other objects. The open air sculptures and the unpretentious gateways are often separated by waterfalls which make the place look like an open air theater being set up for a shoot. The concept of The Rock Garden of Chandigarh was developed by Nek Chand, who was an inspector in the Road Engineering department of Chandigarh Capital Project. While roaming on the foothills of the Shiwaliks he began to pick up stones of irregular shapes, some resembling a bird, monkey, animals and humans which he collected and brought them to his home located by the side of a stream. Then he collected similar types of stones with abstract figures for seven years and piled them up. The rock form which was created out of this compilation looked quite amazing. Then he improved upon arranging this collection in the adjacent areas around this home. However, this remained confined and hidden in the thickly wooded area only to be accidentally discovered by one Dr. S. K. Sharma. He was heading a team of anti malaria party in the forest. Thus came into limelight a garden that was man made and designed with all forested and industrial waste materials. It was named the Rock Garden of Chandigarh in Punjab.

UTTAR PRADESH

FAMOUS SIGHTSEEING IN UTTAR PRADESH

BULAND DARWAZA TAJ MAHAL

BULAND DARWAZA
The Buland Darwaza is a grand gateway located in Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. This triumphal arch was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, when he defeated the king of Khandesh or Gujarat in 1573.The name Buland Darwaza means 'High Door' and this victory arch rises to a height of 40 meters or 175 feet. It is the most striking monument in Fatehpur Sikri and can be seen from quite a distance. Rising impressively towards the sky, the Buland Darwaza is approached by a series of steps. You will pass under the massive arch of the Buland Darwaza when you enter the city of Fatehpur Sikri. You can see the impressive Buland Darwaza on tours to Agra with Agra Hub. The Buland Darwaza is a magnificent structure built in red sandstone with decorations in white marble. With calligraphic inscriptions from the Quran on its front and pillars and chattris on its height, the Buland Darwaza is an impressive sight. The Buland Darwaza is also evidence of the religious tolerance of Akbar the Great. The inscription on the Buland Darwaza is attributed to Jesus Christ. It reads, "The World is but a bridge, pass over but build no houses on it." Situated on a hill where the Jama Masjid Mosque is located, the Buland Darwaza is the entrance gateway to the Jama Masjid mosque in Fatehpur Sikri near Agra India. The soaring gateway of the Buland Darwaza is one of the grandest of Mughal monuments and one that you should not miss, on tours to Agra with Agra Hub.

ARCHITECTURE
The gateway is approached by 42 steps. The Buland Darwaza is 53.63m high and 35 meters wide. Buland Darwaza is the highest gateway in the world and an astounding example of the Mughal architecture. It is built of red sandstone and inlaying of white marble. Around the archway is a panel on which is written, in kufic script, "Jesus, Son of Mary (on whom be peace) said: The world is a bridge, pass over it, but build no houses upon it. He who hopes for a day, may hope for eternity; but the world endures but an hour. Spend it in prayer, for the rest is unseen." The Buland Darwaza towers above the courtyard of the mosque. The Buland Darwaza is semi octagonal in plan and is topped by pillars and chhatris. Buland Darwaza echoes early Mughal design with simple ornamentation, carved verses from the Koran and towering arches. There are thirteen smaller domed kiosks on the roof, stylized battlement and small turrets and inlay work of white and black marble. On the outside a long flight of steps sweeps down the hill giving the gateway additional height. A Persian inscription on eastern archway of the Buland Darwaza records Akbar's conquest over Deccan in 1601 A.D.

TAJ MAHAL
The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal (also "the Taj") is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Ottoman, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage. While the white domed marble mausoleum is its most familiar component, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures. Building began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, and employed thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The Persian architect, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer of the Taj Mahal.

ORIGIN AND INSPIRATION

In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of greatest prosperity, was griefstricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the birth of their fourteenth child, Gauhara Begum. In her dying breath, Mumtaz Mahal urged Shah Jahan to build a mausoleum for her that the world has never seen before. Shah Jahan granted his wife's wish, and construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632, one year after her death. The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrates the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal. The construction of Taj Mahal begun soon after Mumtaz's death with the principal mausoleum completed in 1648. The surrounding buildings and garden were finished five years later. Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj in these words: Should guilty seek asylum here, Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin. Should a sinner make his way to this mansion, All his past sins are to be washed away. The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs; And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes. In this world this edifice has been made; To display thereby the creator's glory.

UTTARANCHA L

FAMOUS SIGHTSEEIN IN UTTARANCHAL

HARIDWAR MUSSOORIE

HARIDWAR
Haridwar is a holy city and municipal board in the Haridwar District of Uttarakhand, India. In Hindi, Haridwar stands for Dwar of Hari or Gateway to God, 'Hari' meaning god and 'dwar' meaning gate.Haridwar is regarded as one of the seven holiest places to Hindus. After travelling 253 km from its source at Gaumukh, 3,139 m above sea level, at the edge of the Gangotri Glacier, Ganga enters the Indo-Gangetic Plain of North India for the first time at Haridwar, and this is what gave the city its ancient name, Gangadwra , the place where the Ganges descends to the plains. According to Hindu mythology, Haridwar is one among the four sites where drops of the elixir of immortality, Amrita, accidentally spilled over from the pitcher, in which it was being carried away by the celestial bird Garuda, after the Samudra manthan. These four spots Ujjain, Haridwar, Nasik, and Allahabad have today become places, where the Kumbha Mela is celebrated once every 3 years in any of these 4 places and after a period of 12 years, the Maha Kumbha Mela is celebrated on the 12th year at Prayag in Allahabad. Millions of pilgrims, devotees, and tourists congregate here from all over the world to celebrate the event. They perform ritualistic bathing on the banks of the river Ganga.

SOME PLACES OF INTEREST

CHANDI DEVI TEMPLE The temple is dedicated Goddess, Chandi, sits atop the 'Neel Parvat' on the eastern bank of river Ganga. It was constructed in 1929 A.D. by the king of Kashmir, Suchat Singh. Skanda Purana mentions a legend, in which Chanda-Munda, the Army Chief of a local Demon Kings Shumbh and Nishumbha were killed by goddess Chandi here, after which the place got the name Chandi Devi.It is believed that the main statue was established by the Adi Shankracharya in 8th century A.D. MANSA DEVI TEMPLE Situated at the top of Bilwa Parwat, the temple of Goddess Mansa Devi, literally meaning the Goddess who fulfills desires (Mansa), is a popular tourist destination, especially because of the cable cars, which offer a picturesque view of the entire city. The main temple houses two idols of the Goddess, one with three mouths and five arms, while the other one has eight arms.

MUSSOORIE
Mussoorie is a city and a municipal board, about 34 km from Dehradun and in Dehradun district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. This hill station, situated in the foothills of the Himalaya ranges, is also known as the Queen of the Hills. The adjoining town of Landour, which includes a military cantonment, is considered part of 'greater Mussoorie', as are the townships of Barlowganj and Jharipani. Being at an average altitude of 2,000 meters , Mussoorie, with its green hills and varied flora and fauna, is a fascinating hill resort. Commanding snow ranges to the north-east, and glittering views of the Doon Valley and Shiwalik ranges in the south, the town was once said to present a 'fairyland' atmosphere to tourists. The history of Mussoorie dates back to 1825 when Captain Young, an adventurous British military officer, together with a Mr. Shore, the resident Superintendent of Revenues at Dehradun explored the present site and jointly constructed a shooting lodge. This laid the foundation of this holiday resort which now has few rivals. In 1827 a sanitorium was built at Landour, which later became a large cantonment , Colonel Everest built a home here in 1832, and by 1901 its population was 6461, rising to 15,000 in the summer season.

SOME PLACES OF INTEREST

LAKE MIST About 5 km before Kempty falls on the Mussoorie-Kempty road is a newly developed good picnic spot with accommodation and restaurant facilities, boating is also available. MUNICIPLE GARDEN It is picnic spot having a beautiful garden and an artificial mini lake with paddled boating facility. It is located at a distance of 4 km by rickshaw cycles, pony or by a car and 2 km via Waverly Convent School road on foot. MUSSOORIE LAKE A newly developed picnic spot build by City Board & Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority, is situated at 6 km on Mussoorie-Dehradun road having a facility of pedaled boats. It offers a enchanting view of Doon Valley and nearby villages. View during Night is marvelous. CHILDREN LODGE Highest peak of Mussoorie near Lal Tibba, it is situated at 5 km from the Tourist Office. The view of snow-clad mountains is exhilarating

THANK YOU

MADE BY :
TANYA MEHTA

ST. MARKS SR. SEC. PUBLIC SCHOOL.

NEW DELHI,INDIA