Monolithic Buddha Statue, Hussain Sagar, Hyderabad

Monolithic Buddha Statue

Hussain Sagar, Hyderabad

See also: FAM (familiarization) tour of Hyderabad and Warangal

The giant monolithic statue of Buddha stands on a island in the middle of the Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Monolithic Buddha Statue on Rock of Gibraltar, Hussain Sagar, Hyderabad

The statue curved out of a single rock is a brainchild of former chief minister of unified Andhra Pradesh, N T Rama Rao (NTR). NTR was highly impressed by the Statue of Liberty, during his vist to New York, USA and wanted something similar in Hyderabad.

Lakshmi Janardhan Temple, Debipur

A towering rekh deul temple

Lakshmi Janardhan Temple, Debipur

The nondescript village of Debipur, located on the Howrah – Bardhman main line has a distinction of housing a towering temple.

For the most comfortable journey it is best to take the Bardhman Local (Main) from Howrah. It takes about one and half hour to reach Debipur.

A short bus or trekker ride from Debipur station takes you to Shivtala, where the towering Lakshmi Janardhan Temple (Lakshmi Janardan Temple) is located.

Before reaching the Lakshmi Janardhan Temple the visitors will be welcomed by a unique structure at the Shivtala bus stop.

This structure consists of three connected structures built on a single raised platform. The structures on the side are aat – chal (8 sloped roof) shiva temples.

The central structure is a dol mancha. The open dol mancha, stands on a elevated platform and towers above both the temples.

The structure contains beautiful terracotta ornamentation on its front surface, including a false door way, below the dol mancha. A marble plaque on the doorway indicates that the structure was constructed in 1283 of Bengali calendar which is equivalent to 1836.

The Rajbari Bawali, Heritage Inspired

The Rajbari Bawali

Heritage Inspired

Flashback I (5 July, 2008): I took a crowded trekker from the Amtala crossing on the DH Road for Bawali. I had no idea about what I was heading for. Getting down at the Bawali crossing I was guided by the locals past the the Bawali High School to the ruined but magnificent Gopinath Temple.

The Rajbari Bawali Heritage Hotel at night

On my left was a pond and across it was the crumbling Mondal Mansion of Bawali. I spend the next couple of hours exploring Bawali from the Jal Tungi to the crumbling temples. Locals informed me that a non – Bengali gentleman was planning to convert the Bawali Mansion into a heritage hotel. (For details see: Bawali, Temples and Mansion)

Cenotaph Complex, Maheshwar Fort, Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh (MP)

Cenotaph Complex, Maheshwar Fort

Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh (MP)

Also see: Familiarization (FAM) Tour of Madhya Pradesh (MP)

The massive Maheshwar Fort stands on hill overlooking the Narmada River on the south. The stupendous walls of the Maheshwar Fort rises straight out of the Narmada River to a height of more than 30 meters.

Panoramic view of the southern facade of Maheshwar Fort, from the ghats of Narmada, Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh (MP)

The Maheshwar Fort dates back to antiquity and there are no clear evidence of its first construction. The fort as we see today was conceived during the reign of Ahilya Bai Holkar (1767 – 95).

Samobor, amazing country town in northern Croatia

Samobor

Amazing country town in northern Croatia

See also: FAM (Familiarization) tour of Croatia

Natural surrounding, medieval architecture, hiking trails and last but not least an amazing gastronomic experience makes Samobor, one of northern Croatia’s most preserved country towns.

King Tomislav Square, with the Anastasia Church in the background, Samobor, Croatia

Located just 25 km from Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, the trip to Samobor takes one back in time and back into the pages of history.

St. Stephen’s Church, Kidderpore, Kolkata

Church with a Rocket like Steeple

Also see: My compilation of Calcutta (Kolkata) Churches

The St. Stephen’s Church, located on the Diamond Harbour Road, and next to the St. Thomas School, it is best observed from the bridge over Adi Ganga (Tolly Nala) in Kiddrpore.

St. Stephen’s Church, D H Road, Kidderpore, Kolkata

With its unique rocket like steeple the St. Stephen’s Church attracts the attention of even the casual passerby. Strangely the steeple was not meant to be designed like a rocket, in fact it was designed as a ship’s lantern.

Suriname Memorial, Balu Ghat Metiabruz, Kolkata

Suriname Memorial

Balu Ghat, Metiabruz, Kolkata

Suriname Memorial, a small non – descriptive memorial, on the banks of Hooghly River in Metiabruz and Garden Reach area was unveiled by the Union External Minister Sushma Swaraj on 7 Oct. 2015.

Suriname Memorial, Balu Ghat, Metiabruz, Kolkata

The Suriname Memorial may be new but India’s relationship with Suriname dates back to over almost 150 years. A joint initiative of India and Suriname government the memorial is built in honour of those Indian contract workers who migrated to Suriname, the small country located on the northeast Atlantic coast of South America, from 1873 to 1916.

Boat Museum, Ambedkar Bhawan, Kankurgachhi, Kolkata

Boat Museum

Ambedkar Bhawan, Kankurgachhi, Kolkata

The country is full of rivers, channels, streams, swamps, marshes and morasses. Southern part of delta is still composed of hundreds of tiny islands. In such a land of waters boating is bound to be the principal means of all purpose of life.

Boat Museum, Ambedkar Bhawan,  Kankurgachhi, Kolkata

The Boat Museum, the only one in its kind in the whole of India, is located at the Ambedkar Bhawan, Kankurgachhi, Kolkata.The Boat Museum was inaugurated in Jan. 2014.

Central Group or Village Group, Mandu, Madhya Pradesh (MP)

Central Group or Village Group, Mandu, MP

Jami Masjid, Hoshang Shah’s Tomb, Ashrafi Mahal & Mahmud Khalji’s Tomb

Also see: Familiarization (FAM) Tour of Madhya Pradesh (MP)

The Central Group or the Village Group is located at the very centre of the Citadel of Mandu. Today the area serves as the main market and bus stop for Mandu and there are several hotels in the vicinity. Thus the Central Group can well be the launch pad for exploration of Mandu.

Ashrafi Mahal and Jami Masjid, Central Group (or Village Group). Mandu. Madhya Pradesh (MP)

The Central Group consists of four monuments. They are Jami Masjid, Hoshang Shah’s Tomb, Ashrafi Mahal and Mahmud Khalji’s Tomb.