Hampi, also referred to as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in east-central Karnataka, India.It became the centre of the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire capital in the 14th century.Chronicles left by Persian and European travellers, particularly the Portuguese, state Hampi was a prosperous, wealthy and grand city near the Tungabhadra River, with numerous temples, farms and trading markets. By 1500 CE, Hampi-Vijayanagara was the world's second-largest medieval-era city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at that time, attracting traders from Persia and Portugal.The Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by a coalition of Muslim sultanates; its capital was conquered, pillaged and destroyed by sultanate armies in 1565, after which Hampi remained in ruins. Hampi's ruins are spread over 4,100 hectares (16 sq mi) and it has been described by UNESCO as an "austere, grandiose site" of more than 1,600 surviving remains of the last great Hindu kingdom in South India that includes "forts, riverside features, royal and sacred complexes, temples, shrines, pillared halls, mandapas, memorial structures, water structures and others"Hampi predates the Vijayanagara Empire; there is evidence of Ashokan epigraphy, and it is mentioned in the Ramayana and the Puranas of Hinduism as Pampaa Devi Tirtha Kshetra. Hampi continues to be an important religious centre, housing the Virupaksha Temple, an active Adi Shankara-linked monastery and various monuments belonging to the old city.
Salimโs Fort (Salimgarh) was built in 1546 AD on a former island of the River Yamuna by Salim Shah Suri, son of Sher Shah.
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Humayun after he won back the Empire renamed Salimgarh as "Nurghar" as he had been usurped by Sher Shah in 1540 AD. He had, therefore, decreed that nobody would use its original name in his court.
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Aurangzeb, converted the fort into a prison, imprisoning his favourite daughter Zebunnisa for 21 years till her death, a practice repeated by the British who took control of the fort and from 1945, used as a penitentiary to hold prisoners from the Indian National Army (INA).
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Humayun after he won back the Empire renamed Salimgarh as "Nurghar" as he had been usurped by Sher Shah in 1540 AD. He had, therefore, decreed that nobody would use its original name in his court.
โ โ โ โ โ โ โ
Aurangzeb, converted the fort into a prison, imprisoning his favourite daughter Zebunnisa for 21 years till her death, a practice repeated by the British who took control of the fort and from 1945, used as a penitentiary to hold prisoners from the Indian National Army (INA).
Shri Samrajeswar Pashupatinath Mahadev Mandir, also known as the Nepali Mandir, Kanthwala Mandir and Mini Khajuraho (Kanthwala in Hindi means wooden), is one of the oldest and most famous temples in the holy city of Varanasi. This temple has great religious importance in Hinduism and is dedicated to the Lord Shiva. Constructed in the 19th century A.D by the King of Nepal, the temple is made of terracotta, stone and wood and is replica of the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu.
Dhamek Stupa (also spelled Dhamekh and Dhamekha, traced to Sanskrit version Dharmarajika Stupa, which can be translated as the Stupa of the reign of Dharma) is a massive stupa located at Sarnath, 13 km away from Varanasi in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.
Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Poonamallee.
History of the temple - This temple was built in the 10th century during the Chola Period. It is the birth place of Thirukachi Nambi, the guru of Ramanujar. Legend has it that Nambi used to walk till Kanchipuram everyday and offer flowers to Varadaraja Perumal. When Nambi fell sick, Perumal himself came to Poonamallee and graced him with his presence. The place came to be known as Poovirunthamalli after the goddess Pooviruntha Thayar.
History of the temple - This temple was built in the 10th century during the Chola Period. It is the birth place of Thirukachi Nambi, the guru of Ramanujar. Legend has it that Nambi used to walk till Kanchipuram everyday and offer flowers to Varadaraja Perumal. When Nambi fell sick, Perumal himself came to Poonamallee and graced him with his presence. The place came to be known as Poovirunthamalli after the goddess Pooviruntha Thayar.
Stories of a Bygone Era.
This is the chariot wheel of the sun temple in Konark, Orissa. This is a unesco world heritage sight.
Did you know that these wheels were used as sun dials in the ancient times?
You can see that the wheel has 8 wider spokes and 8 thinner spokes. The distance between 2 wider spokes is of 3 hours and those between a wider spoke and thinner spoke is 1.5 hours. There are 30 beads between the wider and next thinner spoke where each bead represents 3 minutes. The sun dial shows time in anti clockwise and top center wider spoke represents 12 am.
Isn't that interesting?
This is the chariot wheel of the sun temple in Konark, Orissa. This is a unesco world heritage sight.
Did you know that these wheels were used as sun dials in the ancient times?
You can see that the wheel has 8 wider spokes and 8 thinner spokes. The distance between 2 wider spokes is of 3 hours and those between a wider spoke and thinner spoke is 1.5 hours. There are 30 beads between the wider and next thinner spoke where each bead represents 3 minutes. The sun dial shows time in anti clockwise and top center wider spoke represents 12 am.
Isn't that interesting?
Lahori gate , lal quila (quila-e-mubarak)
When Shahjahan constructed the Red fort(1639-1648) , this western gate ,which serves as the main entrance to the fort , was clearly visible if one stood in the centre of chandni chowk road.
Later the gate was provided with a 10.5 high metre barbican by Aurangzeb(1658-1707)after he became emperor, with its entrance to the north. It is said that Shah Jahan, while under house arrest, wrote to Aurangzeb and criticized his decision: "You have made a fort a bride, and set a veil on it."
When Shahjahan constructed the Red fort(1639-1648) , this western gate ,which serves as the main entrance to the fort , was clearly visible if one stood in the centre of chandni chowk road.
Later the gate was provided with a 10.5 high metre barbican by Aurangzeb(1658-1707)after he became emperor, with its entrance to the north. It is said that Shah Jahan, while under house arrest, wrote to Aurangzeb and criticized his decision: "You have made a fort a bride, and set a veil on it."
Shivanasamudra which popularly known as Bluff is an island town formed from Cauvery River. It divides the river into twin Waterfalls.
The eastern branch of waterfall is called Barachukki (Chamarajanagar district) and western branch is known as Gaganachukki (Mandya District). Both waterfalls together known as Shivanasamudra Falls. It is located 65 km east of Mysore and 120km from Bangalore. Shivasamudra is also known for hosting Asiaโs first hydroelectric project. Every year Karnataka government organises famous Jalapathotsava (festival of waterfalls)here.
The eastern branch of waterfall is called Barachukki (Chamarajanagar district) and western branch is known as Gaganachukki (Mandya District). Both waterfalls together known as Shivanasamudra Falls. It is located 65 km east of Mysore and 120km from Bangalore. Shivasamudra is also known for hosting Asiaโs first hydroelectric project. Every year Karnataka government organises famous Jalapathotsava (festival of waterfalls)here.