Indian Festivals: Major Mahotsav's in India

India’s famous fair and festival includes Pushkar Fair,Sonepur Fair and the grand Kumbh Mela are the major attraction of international tourist. These annual Mahotsav display a colorful image of India’s diverse culture,religions,festival,Art and crafts. Famous colorful Mahotsav of India are Ganga Mahotsav of Varanasi,Surjakund Mela,Chhath Mahotsav,Rann Mahotsav of kutch and Taj Mahotsav of Agra.

Maru Mahotsav

The world famous three-day Maru Mahotsav is the rich and colorful Rajasthani folk culture festival held every year in February at Jaisalmer. Maru Mahotsav also known as the Desert Festival is known for its unique events such as camel race,traditional dance performance, and other cultural events of royal Rajasthan.

Maru-mahotsav-Jaisalmer-Rajasthan

Kalinga Mahotsav 

The Dhauli Kalinga Mahotsav is a National Festival of Martial art Dance, held every year in the month of February in Orissa. Kalinga Mahotsav is two days long martial dance performance,celebrated to mark the victory of peace over war.

Kalinga-Mahotsav-Bhubneswar-Orrisa

Malabar Mahotsav

The famous Malabar Mahotsav is a dance and music festival held on the beach of Calicut now Kozhikode, the coastal town in Kerala. Malabar Mahotsavam display the traditional Malabar Cultural, rituals and native cuisines.

Malabar-Mahotsav-Kozhikode

Braj Mahotsav

The Braj Mahotsav is a Festival to display the culture, food and the rituals of Braj region of Mathura. Braj Mahotsav celebrate in the honor of Lord Krishna before the Holi festival,the festival of color. Raas Leela is one of the mega event of the Braj Mahotsav along with other performance by folk artists from the region.

Braj-Mahotsav-Mathura-Vrindavan

Bhoramdeo Mahotsav

The Bhoramdeo Mahotsav celebrated in the Bhoramdeo Temple of Lord Shiva at Kawardha in the tribal state Chhattisgarh. Bhoramdeo temple is old Hindu temple located between the dense forests and surrounded by Maikal mountains range, It is also known as Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh. The festival of Bhoramdeo Mahotsav is celebrated every year in the last week of the month of March.

Bhoramdeo-Mahotsav-Kawardha

Van Mahotsav

The Van Mahotsav is annual day to plant trees, celebrated during the first week of month July. Van Mahotsav is celebrated across the India by planting of trees along with small road side events about the forest conservation.

Van-Mahotsav-Madhya-Pradesh

Buddha Mahotsav

The Buddha Mahotsav is a three day long festival of traditional Buddhist Customary and cultural practice, held on the occasion of Buddha Purnima in Arunachal Pradesh. Buddha Mahotsav festival is also celebrated at Bodhgaya,Ladakh,Sarnath and Kushinagar

Buddha-Mahotsav-Tawang

Ganga Mahotsav

The famous Ganga Mahotsav is a five day event held in the cultural capital of India and one of the oldest living city of India,Varanasi or Banaras or Kashi. Ganga Mahotsav reflects the traditional and cultural heritage of the Varanasi at the Ghats of holy river Gange, Every Ghats of Varanasi are lightest with lamps during this annual grand festival celebrated on the occasion of Kartik Poornima.

Ganga-Mahotsav-Varanasi

Raas Mahotsav

The Majuli Raas Mahotsav held every year in November at Howly town in the island of Majuli in Assam. Raas Mahotsav is a place to explore traditions of majuli people and Brahmaputra river culture along with art and crafts, fold dances and color of Assam.

Raas-Mahotsav-Howli

Lucknow Mahotsav

The famous Lucknow Mahotsav organized to promote the Art, Culture and Tourism of Uttar Pradesh. The 10 days long festival is the right destination for traditional dramas, Indian classical Kathak dances, music Gharana along with arts & crafts.

Lucknow-Mahotsav-Lucknow

Rann Mahotsav

The Rann Mahotsav or Rann Utsav of Kutch is a cultural festival of the unique region of Gujarat. Rann Utsav display the true flavor and cultural of the beautiful region of great rann of Kutch through the many cultural events such as Traditional Dance performance, folk songs and Thar desert safari. Rann Mahotsav held every year in November–December month and one of the major event of the Gujarat Tourism campaign Khushboo Gujarat Ki.

Rann-mahotsav-Kutch-Gujarat

Taj Mahotsav

The annual 10 day Mahotsav of Agra held in February near the majestic Taj Mahal in Agra,Uttar Pradesh. Taj Mahotsav brings the opportunity to display works of art,majestic craft work and magnetic performances of the artistes came from different parts of India .

Taj-mahotsav-Agra-Uttarpradesh

Forts of India: Sindhudurg Fort

India is full of interesting historical forts. A beautiful and well preserved example is the spectacular Sindhudurg Fort in Maharashtra, looking out over the Arabian Sea.

Sindhudurg-Fort

HISTORY

Sindhudurg Fort was built in 1664 by King Shivaji. The strategic rocky island location was carefully chosen to counter foreign forces, and to keep the nearby villages in check.

Located 510kms south of Mumbai and 130kms north of Goa the construction was done under the supervision of Hiroji Indulkar, an able architect. It is said that Shivaji invited 100 Portuguese experts from Goa for the construction of the fort and that 3000 workers were employed round the clock for three years to build Sindhudurg.

Watchtower-Sindhudurg-Fort

After Shivaji, Sindhudurg passed through the hands of Rajaram-Tarabai, Angres, Peshwa and the Bhosales of Kolhapur. It was briefly captured by the British in 1765 Ad And was renamed by them as ‘Fort Augustus’. Later in 1818 AD, the British dismantled the fort’s defence structures.

STRUCTURE

The 48 acre Sindhudurg fort has a four km long zigzag line of a 9 metres high and 3 metres wide rampart with 42 bastions.

The fort is approachable from the Malavan pier by a boat through a narrow navigable channel between two smaller islands of Dhontara and Padmagad. The main gate, flanked by massive bastions, faces the city.

West-wall-Sindhudurg-Fort

One of the most interesting features of this port is that the design of main door is an enigma, a hallmark of Maratha Architecture of fort building so that the entry can’t be located by attacking forces. The technique was so deceptive that the entrance was concealed due to blind curves. The zigzag pattern of outer wall was so built that the enemy would be visible from any point inside the fort and the troops inside could fire their guns and cannons effectively.

Sindhudurg-Fort-beach

INTERESTING FACTS AND ATTRACTIONS INSIDE THE FORT

• Shivaji’s palm and footprints are preserved here on dried lime slabs in a tower. Inside the Fort, temples of Bhavanimata, Shambhu Mahadev, Jirimiri, Mahapurush and Shivajeshwar are worth seeing, all of which are in good condition.
• Chatrapati Shivaji’s younger son Rajaram in his remembrance built this temple. Shivaji’s idol stands in a boatman’s attire inside the temple and probably only one of its’ kind in the country – where the image of Shivaji is without a beard.
• Outside the southern wall there is a small beach, called Ranichi Vela (Queen’s private beach), where Queen Tarabai, daughter-in law of Shivaji, used to enjoy her sea-bath.
• Inside the fort there are three wells of drinkable water, which is a nature’s marvel as sea surrounds the fort on all four sides.
• On a rocky island between Sindhudurg and the coast stood the small fort of Padmagad, now in ruins. It acted as a shield for Sindhudurg and was also used for shipbuilding
• The fort also houses a coconut tree which has a branch and also gives fruit. (No other coconut tree has a branch.)
• There is a hidden passage that starts in a temple that looks like a water reservoir and goes under the island for 3 km, under the sea for 12 km, and from there 12 km to a nearby village. The tunnel was used as an escape route for the women if the enemy entered the fort. However, the British partially closed this passage after the fort was abandoned.

Maharashtra Tourism: Things to see in Panchgani

Panchgani is a delightful hill station in the Sahyadri hills in Maharashtra. The unhurried relaxed charm, fresh air, strawberry farms, ravines and rivers and quaint old bungalows make it the perfect getaway.

We look at some of the places in Panchgani to explore. If the weather is good head out into the great outdoors with a picnic. Pack your baskets, fold up your sheets, get out and enjoy the sights of this delightful hill station.

Panchgani-view

Tableland

Panchgani’s crowning glory, this is a vast stretch of flat plateau offering great views of the hill station. Situated at an elevation of 4,550 ft, Tableland is a laterite rock formation, said to be the second-highest volcanic mountain plateau in Asia. The plateau gets covered with gorgeous blue bonnets and star and grasses from August-October. During peak season, there’s lots to do here with Ferris wheels, a merry-go-round, toy train, pony and horse rides and games stalls.

Parsi Point

A popular picnic spot with beautiful views of the Dhom Dam backwaters and the lush Krishna Valley. It used to be a favourite spot for the Parsis of Panchgani at one time, hence the name.

Sydney Point

Situated upon a small hillock facing the Krishna Valley, Sidney point presents enchanting views of the valley and the tranquil lake of the Dhom Dam.

Panchgani-sydney-point

Dhom Dam 

The Boat Club on the waters of the dam provides water bicycles and steamers.

Devil’s Kitchen

This cave is located in the southern part of Tableland and is believed to have served briefly as a shelter for the Pandavas during their exile.

Venna Lake

Venna Lake is located on the Panchgani – Mahabaleshwar road. Fishing and boating are popular here and you can also enjoy the mini train ride and stalls offering food and drinks and some games.

Panchgani-venna-lake

Kate’s Point

Located about 5 km away from Venna Lake towards Panchgani, this place has a beautiful view of the Krishna Valley and the Dhom Dam. It was named after the daughter of Sir John Malcom, who ‘founded’ Mahabaleshwar as a British hill station.

Panchgani-kates-point

Sherbaug

Located just beyond the Check Post, this place has a huge cacti collection, a restaurant and a children’s park.

Mapro farm

You can get a delicious lunch of cheese sandwiches, pizzas and strawberry creams at the Mapro farm, a couple of kilometers towards Mahabaleshwar. Don’t forget to pick up some fresh jam and syrups.

GETTING TO PANCHGANI

Panchgani is 98 km from Pune, 266 km from Mumbai, and 20 km from Mahabaleshwar. You can take the NH4, via Pune, Surul and Wai or come down NH17, via Poladpur. The nearest airport is Pune. By rail: Nearest rail head is Wathar.

Delhi Tourism: Picnic spots in Delhi

A jazz festival in Nehru Park, a football game in the Mahatma Gandhi Park and a long walk with your dog in Lodhi gardens – the parks and gardens of Delhi have finally got their sheen back and ‘Delhi-walahs’ are enjoying them to the max! Once you have exhausted yourself with all the historical monuments, museums and galleries, what could be a better place to relax, pack your picnic baskets and dust your Frisbees and head out to any of these parks.

1. Lodhi Gardens – 

A set of weathered yet timeless monuments make a wonderful backdrop to the well manicured Lodhi gardens. A walker’s paradise, you can also spread your fare and enjoy a day with the family in a nice shady spot! Children and pets enjoy the maximum as there is plenty space to run freely. Don’t forget to clean up after the picnic! Lodhi Gardens is accessible by auto rickshaws from any part of Delhi. Use the meter fare for getting here. The closest metro station is Jor Bagh from where it is minimum fare in an auto.

Lodhi-garden

2. Nehru Park – 

If you have a soft spot for pets and love making new furry friends, you will find many like mined people with their pets here. It’s also a great venue for outdoor festivals and concerts which usually allow people to bring their dogs. Centrally located, many buses play on the route. Auto rickshaws are also available easily.

Nehru-park

3. Deer Park – 

A convenient distance from three residential hubs (Hauz Khas, Green Park and Safdarjung Enclave), the Deer Park is a huge expanse of forest like topography with walking paths made for convenience. Small grassy patches or shades can be used as picnic spots. It’s great for kids as you can often spot deer and birds in this lush expanse. Green Park station is the closes metro point from Deer Park. From there you can get an auto at minimum fare.

Deer-park

4. Garden of Five Senses – 

Close to the Mehrauli Heritage Area in Delhi, the Garden of Five Senses is built on 20 acres of land and subtly merges natural and architectural expression. It’s a botanical extravaganza with an array of plants. The park also has some more sections like the amphitheatre, solar energy park and an artists’ corner. One can spend the whole day here with plenty of activities or just relaxing in a grassy patch. Free buses ply from Qutub Minar to the Garden of Five Senses.

Garden-Five-Senses

5. Shalimar Garden – 

Given the history of Delhi was closely woven with the Mughals, we see the percolation of this perspective in the gardens as well. The Shalimar Garden is located in Central Delhi and serves as a historical place, as Aurangzeb was crowned the emperor of Delhi here. The Shalimar garden lies in the northern part of the city which is connected by metro and buses at ISBT. From there it is a short ride. If you are visiting the Delhi University area, the gardens can be visited in a man driven rickshaw as well.

Shalimar-garden