XPtraveller.com

21/02/2023

Xptraveller.com | Incredible India

The Elephanta Caves (Marathi: घारापुरीची लेणी, Gharapurichya Lenee) are a network of sculpted caves located onElephanta Island, or Gharapuri (literally "the city of caves") in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the east of the city of Mumbai in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
There are seven cave excavations in the Elephanta group and these are datable from circa 6th – 7th centuries A.D. Among the cave excavations, the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, the second, a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, representing the Shaiva Hindu sect, dedicated to the god Shiva

02/04/2016

नारायणेश्वर मंदिर...यादवकालीन कोरीव शिल्प असलेले मंदिर

पुण्यापासून अवघ्या ४० किमी अंतरावर असलेल्या पुरंदर किल्याच्या पायथ्याला असलेले संत चांगदेवांचे गाव म्हणजे नारायणपूर. दत्त मंदिरा शेजारी असलेल्या या पुरातन शिवमंदिराचे नाव नारायणेश्वर मंदिर आहे. मंदिर यादवकालीन आहे.मंदिराचे दगडी बांधकाम अजूनही सुस्थितीत आहेत. यादवकालीन असलेल्या या मंदिरावरील शिल्पकाम सुंदर आहे. मंदिरा भोवती अंदाजे ५ ते ६ फूट उंच तटबंदी आहे. या तटबंदीत असलेल्या दरवाजातून मंदिराच्या परीसरात आपला प्रवेश होतो.

नारायणपूरचे मूळ नाव पूर. यादव कालखंडात निर्माण झालेल्या अनेक मंदिरांपैकी हे एक कोरीव शिल्प असलेले मंदिर आहे. सभामंडप, अंतराळ आणि गर्भगृह असलेले हे शंकराचे मंदिर आहे. प्रवेशद्वार, स्तंभ, छत, भिंती अशा सर्वच ठिकाणी शिल्पकाम आहे. यक्ष, अप्सरा, द्वारपाल, वैदिक देवतांची शिल्पे आहेत. मंदिरा बाहेर नंदीची मूर्ती असून मूर्तीची इतर मंदिराप्रमाणेच थोडी तोडफोड झाल्याचे दिसून येते. आतमध्ये स्वयंभू शिवलिंग आहे. मंदिराची बांधणी ही हेमाडपंती आहे.

हे सुंदर मंदिर त्याच्या मूळ स्वरुपात असते तर अधिकच छान दिसले असते. मात्र, रंगरंगोटी करून त्याची लया घालावली आहे. मंदिराचा असला जिर्णोद्धार काय कामाचा. असो, सभामंडपाच्या उत्तरेकडील प्रवेशद्वाराने बाहेर पडल्यानंतर दरवाजाच्या द्वारपट्टीवर सुंदर नक्षी आहे.

श्रीक्षेत्र नारायणपूरला जाण्याचे आणखी एक कारण म्हणजे येथे मिळणारा प्रसाद (भात व आमटी) पत्रावळीवर देण्यात येणारे हे पोटभर जेवण गरमा गरम व ताजे असते. पुन्हा पुन्हा हा प्रसाद खाण्याचे मन करते. पूर्वी उघड्यावर हे प्रसाद वाटपाचे काम होत असे. आता मोठ्या हॉलमध्ये ही सुविधा देण्यात येते. महिलांसाठी व पुरुषांसाठी वेगवेगळ्या रांगा असून, भारतीय बैठक असते. स्वत:ची पत्रावळ जेवण झाल्यावर ठेवलेल्या कचराभांड्यात नेऊन टाकण्याचे काम प्रत्येकाचे असते. काही लोक खास करून प्रसादासाठी वेगळी भांडी आणून नंतर पुढील प्रवासासाठी हा प्रसाद घेऊन जातात.

एक दिवस वेळ काढून नक्कीच नारायणपूर व परिसरातील पर्यटन स्थळांना भेट देता येईल असा हा सर्व परिसर आहे.

20/09/2015

06/09/2015

Xptraveller.com | Incredible India

Matheran is a coolest Hill Station situated in Karjat Tahsil, Raigad District of Maharashtra, India. Away from daily rush life & travelling in the city, experience the true nature life and its love

Read More : http://xptraveller.com/dt_galleries/matheran-coolest-hill-station/

11/08/2015

XPtraveller.com | Inredible India

Jim Corbett National Park comprises 520.8 km2 (201.1 sq mi) area of hills, riverine belts, marshy depressions, grasslands and a large lake.

Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India and was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger, which is a part of the larger Corbett Tiger Reserve, a Project Tiger Reserve lies in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand.
The whole area of Jim Corbett National park is comprises of hills, marshy depressions, riverine belts, grasslands and large lake. It is among the few tiger reserves in India that allows overnight stays in the lap of the National Park. Nature watch and wildlife viewing in the park is done in an open four wheeler Jeep and on elephant back. Sheltering a healthy population of tigers and rare species like Otters and the endemic fish eating crocodile, the national park is one of the most sought after destinations for the wildlife buffs. Dhikala, situated at the border of the extensive Patil Dun valley, is the most popular destination in Corbett because of its superb location and sheer abundance of wildlife present.

11/08/2015

XPtraveller.com | Inredible India
India is the rich country for tourism destinations and visitors from around the world are reaching India’s various spots to make their holidays memorable. Masuri is one of the cities of Uttaranchal, and the closest tourist spot is Mussoorie. The average population of this stunning hill station Masuri is not more than 47699.

Of course, India is having loads of hill stations such as Dehradun, Nainital and many more, but this Indian tourist place is the one hill station where nature has created countless astonishing scenes by itself. Once a tourist reaches this place, they can also attain to other surprising destinations like Dhanaulti, Dehradun and Kalsi, which are again beautiful places with many sightseeing spots.

The biggest railway station to reach Masuri is Dehradun, which is identified as DDN in railway charts. The station is 1.0 kilometer away from Masuri. While talking about the closest airport to Masuri then people should get the ticket to Dehradun as that is the big air network in Uttaranchal.

Talking for the particular picnic spot in this popular Indian tourist place, then tourist can enjoy the parks, Bohra waterfalls and high hills with tea farms. However, the nearby tourist places of Masuri are available with ample of spots. Dhanaulti is the place where a tourist can spend lots of time as this place is fully covered with White Mountain.

Dhanaulti is also identified as Dhanolti so a tourist must not get confused if they hear about any of the names. Chamba is another nearest tourist place of Dhanolti so reaching this place allow a tourist to enjoy some more spots. Tourist spots in Dhanolti are Chamba, New Tehri, Barehipani and Joranda Falls, Dashavatar Shrine, Chanderi, Deogarh, Jain Temples, Surkanda Devi and Kanatal.

Nearby city Dehradun is also the tourist place situated next to Masuri. Another hill station with natural beauties and amazing spots allow a tourist to enjoy the tourist destination.

Visitors can enjoy Tibetan Temple, Tapkeshawar Temple, Sahastradhara, Laxman Siddh, Chandrabani, Malsi Deer Park, Sai Darbar, Lachhiwala, Robber’s Cave (Guchhupani), Dakpathar, Bhagirathi Resort, Santala Devi Temple, Asan Barrage Water Sports Resort, Tapowan, and Rajaji National Park as tourist spots in Dehradun.

Kalsi is one more destination situated near Masuri. This place is special to enjoy the jungle safari, camping, climbing, mountain biking and many other adventures sports.

05/08/2015

Xptraveller.com | Incredible India

Ranthambore National Park (Hindi: रणथंभौर राष्ट्रीय उद्यान ) or Ranthambhore is one of the largest national parks in northern India, covering an area of 392 km². It is situated in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan, about 110 km northeast of Kota and 160 km southeast of Jaipur, which is also the nearest airport. The nearest town and railway station is at Sawai Madhopur, about 11 km away. The park is also close to the Kota train station. RIDCOR operates a mega-highway between Kota and Ranthambhore. Ranthambore National Park lies at the edge of a plateau and is bounded to the north by the Banas River and to the south by the Chambal River. It is named after the historic Ranthambhore fortress, which lies within the park.

Ranthambhore was established as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955 by the Government of India and was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973. Ranthambore became a national park in 1980. In 1984, the adjacent forests were declared the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and Keladevi Sanctuary, and in 1991 the tiger reserve was enlarged to include the Sawai Man Singh and Keladevi sanctuaries.

Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary is known for its tigers and is one of the best places in India to see these animals in their natural jungle habitat. Tigers can be easily spotted even in the daytime. The best times for tiger sightings at Ranthambore National Park are in November and May. The park’s deciduous forests are characteristic examples of the type of jungle found in Central India. Other major wild animals include leopard, nilgai, wild boar, sambar, hyena, sloth bear and chital. The sanctuary is home to a wide variety of trees, plants, birds and reptiles, as well as one of the largest banyan trees in India

05/08/2015

Xptraveller.com | Incredible India

The Elephanta Caves (Marathi: घारापुरीची लेणी, Gharapurichya Lenee) are a network of sculpted caves located onElephanta Island, or Gharapuri (literally "the city of caves") in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the east of the city of Mumbai in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
There are seven cave excavations in the Elephanta group and these are datable from circa 6th – 7th centuries A.D. Among the cave excavations, the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, the second, a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, representing the Shaiva Hindu sect, dedicated to the god Shiva

05/08/2015

Xptraveller.com | Incredible India

Murud-Janjira (मुरुड जंजिरा) is the local name for a fort situated on an island just off the coastal village of Murud, in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, It was occupied by the Siddis and is famous for being the only fort along India’s Western coast that remained undefeated despite Dutch, Maratha and English East India Company attacks

The fort is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty. The main gate of the fort faces Rajapuri on the shore and can be seen only when one is about 40 feet away from it . It has a small postern gate towards the open sea for escape.

The fort has 21 rounded bastions, still intact. There are many cannons of native and European make rusting on the bastions. Now in ruins, the fort in its heyday was a full-fledged living fort with all the necessary facilities, e.g., palaces, quarters for officers, mosque, two small 60 feet deep natural fresh water lakes,On the outer wall flanking the main gate, there is a sculpture depicting a tiger-like beast clasping elephants in its claws. There are prominent “ASHOK-CHAKRAS” on all major gates of the fort Janjira. There are images of playing elephants, lions etc.The palace of the Nawabs of Janjira at Murud is still in good shape. The palace was self-sufficient. It has secret gates to hide and escape. Its construction is unique and very strong.

05/08/2015

Xptraveller.com | Incredible India

Sinhagarh Fort lies at a distance of 25 km from the Poona city of India. One of the popular picnic spots near the city, Sinhagarh is situated on a hill, at a height 700 m above the surrounding landscape. Due to its height, the fort also serves as a popular trekking destination for the people of Pune. The trek from Katraj to Sinhagad is especially very famous. Today, Sinhagad fort stands mostly in ruins. However, it was once the venue of the historic battle where Tanaji Malusare, a general in Shivaji's army, recaptured the fort.

The samadhi of Tanaji Malusare, along with that of Rajaram, Shivaji's younger son, can still be seen inside Sinhagad Fort, near Pune. The bungalows of Lokmanya Tilak, a great freedom fighter, and G.D. Madgulkarm, a famous Marathi Poet, are also located atop the fort. One can get an amazing view of the Panshet, Khadakwasla and Varasgaon dams as well as the Torana fort from Sinhagad. A popular weekend destination, the fort is also used by the National Defence Academy for training purposes.