tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89754411270893928292024-03-13T17:42:18.562+05:30World Heritage SitesUNESCO heritage sites of the world.Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-62888652965362165632012-01-20T02:00:00.000+05:302012-01-20T02:00:31.080+05:30Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">In a mountainous site of extraordinary beauty, the ruins of the first capital of the Hammadid emirs, founded in 1007 and demolished in 1152, provide an authentic picture of a fortified Muslim city. The mosque, whose prayer room has 13 aisles with eight bays, is one of the largest in Algeria.</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Qal'a of Beni Hammad is a remarkable archaeological site located 36 km to the north-east of the town of M'Sila. This ensemble of preserved ruins, at 1,000 m altitude, is located in a mountainous setting of striking beauty on the southern flank of Djebel Maâdid. The Qal'a of Beni Hammad was founded at the beginning of the 11th century by Hammad, son of Bologhine (founder of Algiers), and abandoned in 1090 under the threat of a Hilalian invasion. It is one of the most interesting and most precisely dated monumental complexes of the Islamic civilization. It was the first capital of the Hammadid emirs and enjoyed great splendour. The Qal'a comprises, within 7 km of partially dismantled fortified walls, a large number of monumental vestiges, among which are the great Mosque and its minaret, and a series of palaces. The mosque, with its prayer hall comprising 13 naves of 8 bays is the biggest after that of Mansourah and its minaret is the oldest in Algeria after that of Sidi Boumerouane. The ruins of the Qal'a bear witness to the great refinement of the Hammad civilization, an original architecture and the palatial culture of North Africa.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Qal'a of Beni Hammad bears exceptional testimony to the Hammadid civilization now disappeared. Founded in 1007 as a military stronghold, it was elevated to the level of metropolis. It has influenced the development of Arab architecture as well as other civilizing influences, including the Maghreb, Andalusia and Sicily. The archaeological and monumental vestiges of the Qal'a of Beni Hammad, among which are included the Great mosque and its minaret as well as a series of palaces, constitute the principal resources that testify to the wealth and influence of this Hammadid civilization.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fDfFLGHkjoI/Txh6GyXDPqI/AAAAAAAAAMY/hLN9DuD47xk/s1600/04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="408" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fDfFLGHkjoI/Txh6GyXDPqI/AAAAAAAAAMY/hLN9DuD47xk/s640/04.jpg" title="Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8t15BDxhhvA/Txh6JNEIz5I/AAAAAAAAAMg/7E6uYetgD1M/s1600/05a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="408" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8t15BDxhhvA/Txh6JNEIz5I/AAAAAAAAAMg/7E6uYetgD1M/s640/05a.jpg" title="Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<b>Protection and management requirements (2009)</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The protection of the site relates to National Law 98-04 concerning the protection of cultural heritage. The management of the site is entrusted to the Office of Cultural Properties Management and Exploitation (OGEBC), with the site manager being responsible for everyday management. The OGEBC is responsible, besides public service missions, protection, maintenance and presentation, of the implementation of the protection and presentation plan of the site (PPMVSA). This is done in coordination with the Directorate for Culture of the Wilaya of Setif, and specifically with a service responsible for conservation and presentation of cultural heritage. The need for funding and specialised professional personnel is still very important for the implementation of the plan. The management must focus on the restoration and conservation programme of the vestiges. The site is hardly visited - a few thousand visitors annually - and tourism does not constitute a threat for its conservation.</div><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-68122482560427650982012-01-20T01:31:00.000+05:302012-01-20T01:31:25.500+05:30Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Berat and Gjirokastra are inscribed as rare examples of an architectural character typical of the Ottoman period. Located in central Albania, Berat bears witness to the coexistence of various religious and cultural communities down the centuries. It features a castle, locally known as the Kala, most of which was built in the 13th century, although its origins date back to the 4th century BC. The citadel area numbers many Byzantine churches, mainly from the 13th century, as well as several mosques built under the Ottoman era which began in 1417. Gjirokastra, in the Drinos river valley in southern Albania, features a series of outstanding two-story houses which were developed in the 17th century. The town also retains a bazaar, an 18th-century mosque and two churches of the same period.</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra </span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">These two fortified historic centres are remarkably well preserved, and this is particularly true of their vernacular buildings. They have been continuously inhabited from ancient times down to the present day. Situated in the Balkans, in Southern Albania, and close to each other, they bear witness to the wealth and diversity of the urban and architectural heritage of this region.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Berat and Gjirokastra bear witness to a way of life which has been influenced over a long period by the traditions of Islam during the Ottoman period, while at the same time incorporating more ancient influences. This way of life has respected Orthodox Christian traditions which have thus been able to continue their spiritual and cultural development, particularly at Berat.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fKtCJsYbZa0/Txh1CRKQc2I/AAAAAAAAAL4/WtYXIxFFxUA/s1600/02a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="478" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fKtCJsYbZa0/Txh1CRKQc2I/AAAAAAAAAL4/WtYXIxFFxUA/s640/02a.jpg" title="Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra " width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Gjirokastra was built by major landowners. Around the ancient 13th century citadel, the town has houses with turrets (the Turkish kule ) which are characteristic of the Balkans region. Gjirokastra contains several remarkable examples of houses of this type, which date from the 17th century, but also more elaborate examples dating from the early 19th century.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WyaZQ94pW7A/Txh1Dv8QGaI/AAAAAAAAAMA/WcSvSwfu0eU/s1600/03a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="414" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WyaZQ94pW7A/Txh1Dv8QGaI/AAAAAAAAAMA/WcSvSwfu0eU/s640/03a.jpg" title="Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra " width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Berat bears witness to a town which was fortified but open, and was over a long period inhabited by craftsmen and merchants. Its urban centre reflects a vernacular housing tradition of the Balkans, examples of which date mainly from the late 18th and the 19th centuries. This tradition has been adapted to suit the town's life styles, with tiered houses on the slopes, which are predominantly horizontal in layout, and make abundant use of the entering daylight.</div><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-16598198565325633682012-01-20T01:21:00.000+05:302012-01-20T01:21:43.304+05:30Butrint<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Inhabited since prehistoric times, Butrint has been the site of a Greek colony, a Roman city and a bishopric. Following a period of prosperity under Byzantine administration, then a brief occupation by the Venetians, the city was abandoned in the late Middle Ages after marshes formed in the area. The present archaeological site is a repository of ruins representing each period in the city’s development.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Venetian Tower Butrint</span></b></td></tr>
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The city of Butrint is one of the fragments which form the fabric of Albania's ancient cultural landscape. Nestling in the highlands in the far south of the country and surrounded by dense vegetation, Butrint was linked to the Mediterranean by the Vivari canal, which runs from the Butrint Lake to the Ionian Sea.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>The theatre, Butrin</b></span></td></tr>
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The settlement became an important stop along the merchant trade routes and reached the height of its glory in the 4th century BC as one of the major maritime and commercial centres of the ancient world. The sight of the fortifications alone, which date from the 6th century BC, evokes the military and economic potential of the city at the time. The hill on which the acropolis stands is encircled by a wall built from huge stone blocks. The amphitheatre, dating from the 3rd century BC, bears witness to the cultural riches of the city: the stone banks of seating, of which 23 rows have been preserved, would have held an audience of 1,500. The theatre is situated at the foot of the acropolis, close by two temples, one of which is dedicated to Asclepios, the Greek god of medicine, who was worshipped by the city's inhabitants.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DfPJ3li4jX4/TxhvpY7qJ4I/AAAAAAAAALQ/jHnkPHoIDHw/s1600/03a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="480" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DfPJ3li4jX4/TxhvpY7qJ4I/AAAAAAAAALQ/jHnkPHoIDHw/s640/03a.jpg" title="Butrint" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The lion gate, north side of Butrint,</span></b></td></tr>
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Excavations have brought the light to many objects - plates, vases, ceramic candlesticks - as well as sculptures including a remarkable 'Goddess of Butrint' which seems to completely embody, in the perfection of its features, the Greek ideal of physical beauty.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The sanctuary of Asclepius, Butrint</span></b></td></tr>
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Under the rule of the Romans the city was to fall slowly into decay. In spite of this, three monumental fountains, three public baths, a gymnasium decorated with mosaics, and especially the aqueduct constructed during the reign of Augustus, prove that the site was not completely abandoned.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The standing stones of Asclepius, Butrint</span></b></td></tr>
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In the palaeo-Christian period, two basilicas and a baptistry were built; its later medieval history was turbulent as the town was involved, first, in the power struggles between Byzantium and successive Norman, Angevin and Venetian states and then in the conflict between Venice and the Ottoman Turks. Subterranean infiltration of water forced the inhabitants to flee, and the abandoned city was covered by mud and vegetation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KgMZoQggBsQ/TxhvtSFk4cI/AAAAAAAAALo/YHjJnVqRQHo/s1600/06a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="360" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KgMZoQggBsQ/TxhvtSFk4cI/AAAAAAAAALo/YHjJnVqRQHo/s640/06a.jpg" title="Butrint" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The 'New' Roman Town, Butrint,</span></b></td></tr>
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It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that systematic excavations were carried out by Italian archaeologists; following the liberation of Albania in 1944, Albanian archaeologists undertook more ambitious excavations. The mud and vegetation that covered Butrint had protected it from the natural and human ravages of time, and the entire city was revealed almost intact. Key areas of excavation include a late antique palatial dwelling known as the Triconch Palace, the spectacular late antiquity baptistry, and a Roman villa and associated late antiquity church at Diaporit.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-90052442517970751712012-01-20T00:38:00.000+05:302012-01-20T00:38:49.934+05:30Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">The 65m-tall Minaret of Jam is a graceful, soaring structure, dating back to the 12th century. Covered in elaborate brickwork with a blue tile inscription at the top, it is noteworthy for the quality of its architecture and decoration, which represent the culmination of an architectural and artistic tradition in this region. Its impact is heightened by its dramatic setting, a deep river valley between towering mountains in the heart of the Ghur province.</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">At 1,900 m above sea level and far from any town, the Minaret of Jam rises within a rugged valley along the Hari-rud River at its junction with the river Jam around 215km-east of Herat. Rising to 65m from a 9m diameter octagonal base, its four superimposed, tapering cylindrical shafts are constructed from fired bricks. The Minaret is completely covered with geometric decoration in relief enhanced with a Kufic inscription in turquoise tiles. Built in 1194 by the great Ghurid Sultan Ghiyas-od-din (1153-1203), its emplacement probably marks the site of the ancient city of Firuzkuh, believed to have been the summer capital of the Ghurid dynasty. Surrounding remains include a group of stones with Hebrew inscriptions from the 11th to 12th centuries on the Kushkak hill, and vestiges of castles and towers of the Ghurid settlements on the banks of the Hari River as well as to the east of the Minaret.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-djBKXQp4qno/TxhoOzG-XhI/AAAAAAAAAKY/OoSLHmXxbQU/s1600/02a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="640" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-djBKXQp4qno/TxhoOzG-XhI/AAAAAAAAAKY/OoSLHmXxbQU/s640/02a.jpg" title="Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam" width="338" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The Minaret of Jam is one of the few well-preserved monuments representing the exceptional artistic creativity and mastery of structural engineering of the time. Its architecture and ornamentation are outstanding from the point of view of art history, fusing together elements from earlier developments in the region in an exceptional way and exerting a strong influence on later architecture in the region. This graceful soaring structure is an outstanding example of the architecture and ornamentation of the Islamic period in Central Asia and played a significant role in their further dissemination as far as India as demonstrated by the Qutb Minar, Delhi, begun in 1202 and completed in the early 14th century.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--erDC0ZjSJg/TxhoQqV2xhI/AAAAAAAAAKg/0iDUQlA0PM8/s1600/05a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="622" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--erDC0ZjSJg/TxhoQqV2xhI/AAAAAAAAAKg/0iDUQlA0PM8/s640/05a.jpg" title="Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<b>Protection and management requirements (2011)</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The legal and institutional framework for the effective management of the Minaret and archaeological remains (70ha with a 600ha buffer zone), is regulated by the Department of Historic Monuments on behalf of the Ministry of Information and Culture of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The specific law under which the monument and its landscape are protected is the Law on the Protection of Historical and Cultural Properties (Ministry of Justice, 21 May 2004) which is in force and provides the basis for financial and technical resources.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The property will be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger when its desired state of conservation is achieved in accordance with Decision 31 COM 7A.20. This must include the increased capacity of the staff of the Afghan Ministry of Culture and Information who are in charge of the preservation of the property; precise identification of the World Heritage property and clearly marked boundaries and buffer zones; assurance of the long-term stability and conservation of the Minaret; assurance of site security, and a comprehensive management system including the development and implementation of a long-term conservation policy.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Proposals for the protection of the Minaret and its environs are under scientific discussion. They would seek to monitor erosion of the riverbanks adjacent to the Minaret, any further movement in the level of inclination of the monument along with any degradation in the historic fabric in general, and mitigate any adverse observations with appropriate programs of stabilization and conservation measures where necessary. Measures for the protection and monitoring of the wider archaeological site are currently under review and an approved program of research and public awareness raising is likely to be instigated in the long term.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pz7hWTp2tGo/TxhoR50jduI/AAAAAAAAAKo/0nBZ0kHyqHM/s1600/06a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="640" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pz7hWTp2tGo/TxhoR50jduI/AAAAAAAAAKo/0nBZ0kHyqHM/s640/06a.jpg" title="Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FZ-KDMc9-Gw/TxhoTGyv90I/AAAAAAAAAKw/muhXGoDw9uY/s1600/07a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="640" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FZ-KDMc9-Gw/TxhoTGyv90I/AAAAAAAAAKw/muhXGoDw9uY/s640/07a.jpg" title="Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R0A3_I3hcGc/TxhoUSY6kAI/AAAAAAAAAK4/Gca_tQufYe8/s1600/08a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="640" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R0A3_I3hcGc/TxhoUSY6kAI/AAAAAAAAAK4/Gca_tQufYe8/s640/08a.jpg" title="Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-32420862215456534082012-01-20T00:26:00.000+05:302012-01-20T00:26:29.829+05:30Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">The cultural landscape and archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley represent the artistic and religious developments which from the 1st to the 13th centuries characterized ancient Bakhtria, integrating various cultural influences into the Gandhara school of Buddhist art. The area contains numerous Buddhist monastic ensembles and sanctuaries, as well as fortified edifices from the Islamic period. The site is also testimony to the tragic destruction by the Taliban of the two standing Buddha statues, which shook the world in March 2001.</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Enclosed between the high mountains of the Hindu Kush in the central highlands of Afghanistan, the Bamiyan Valley opens out into a large basin bordered to the north by a long, high stretch of rocky cliffs. The Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley comprise a serial property consisting of eight separate sites within the Valley and its tributaries. Carved into the Bamiyan Cliffs are the two niches of the giant Buddha statues (55m and 38m high) destroyed by the Taliban in 2001, and numerous caves forming a large ensemble of Buddhist monasteries, chapels and sanctuaries along the foothills of the valley dating from the 3rd to the 5th century C.E. In several of the caves and niches, often linked by galleries, there are remains of wall paintings and seated Buddha figures. In the valleys of the Bamiyan's tributaries are further groups of caves including the Kakrak Valley Caves, some 3km south-east of the Bamiyan Cliffs where among the more than one hundred caves dating from the 6th to 13th centuries are fragments of a 10m tall standing Buddha figure and a sanctuary with painted decorations from the Sasanian period. Along the Fuladi valley around 2km southwest of the Bamiyan Cliffs are the caves of Qoul-i Akram and Lalai Ghami, also containing decorative features.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JFRya21IUk8/TxhkWkWsuKI/AAAAAAAAAJg/QskBaNW11SU/s1600/02a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="372" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JFRya21IUk8/TxhkWkWsuKI/AAAAAAAAAJg/QskBaNW11SU/s640/02a.jpg" title="Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Punctuating the centre of the valley basin to the south of the great cliff are the remains of the fortress of Shahr-i Ghulghulah. Dating from the 6th to 10th centuries CE, this marks the original settlement of Bamiyan as stopping place on the branch of the Silk Route, which linked China and India via ancient Bactria. Further to the east along the Bamiyan Valley are the remains of fortification walls and settlements, dating from the 6th to 8th centuries at Qallai Kaphari A and B and further east still (around 15km east of the Bamiyan Cliffs) at Shahr-i Zuhak, where the earlier remains are overlaid by developments of the 10th to 13th centuries under the rule of the Islamic Ghaznavid and Ghorid dynasties.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4SMsPIUXznY/TxhkXj43beI/AAAAAAAAAJo/TbJFdnybfxk/s1600/03a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="640" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4SMsPIUXznY/TxhkXj43beI/AAAAAAAAAJo/TbJFdnybfxk/s640/03a.jpg" title="Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley represent the artistic and religious developments which from the 1st to the 13th centuries characterised ancient Bactria, integrating various cultural influences into the Gandharan school of Buddhist art. The numerous Buddhist monastic ensembles and sanctuaries, as well as fortified structures from the Islamic period, testify to the interchange of Indian, Hellenistic, Roman, Sasanian and Islamic influences. The site is also testimony to recurring reactions to iconic art, the most recent being the internationally condemned deliberate destruction of the two standing Buddha statues in March 2001.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zGmpb_MJH_M/TxhkY1qB3rI/AAAAAAAAAJw/1jIt3NLQiao/s1600/04a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="640" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zGmpb_MJH_M/TxhkY1qB3rI/AAAAAAAAAJw/1jIt3NLQiao/s640/04a.jpg" title="Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley" width="416" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<b>Authenticity (2003)</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The cultural landscape and archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley continue to testify to the different cultural phases of its history. Seen as a cultural landscape, the Bamiyan Valley, with its artistic and architectural remains, the traditional land use and the simple mud brick constructions continues to express its Outstanding Universal Value in terms of form and materials, location and setting, but may be vulnerable in the face of development and requires careful conservation and management.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2rCmYYpjEkQ/TxhkZ7k7YTI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/8ZWrvTwpaKM/s1600/05a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="466" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2rCmYYpjEkQ/TxhkZ7k7YTI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/8ZWrvTwpaKM/s640/05a.jpg" title="Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Protection and management requirements (2011)</b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The monuments and archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley are public property, owned by the State of Afghanistan. However, large parts of the buffer zone are in private ownership. Many documents defining the ownership were destroyed during the decades of conflict and civil unrest, and are now being re-established. The State Law on the Protection of Historical and Cultural Properties (Ministry of Justice, May 21st 2004) is in force and provides the basis for financial and technical resources.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The management of the serial property is under the authority of the Ministry of Information and Culture (MoIC) and its relevant departments (Institute of Archaeology and the Department for the Preservation of Historical Monuments), as well as the Governor of the Bamiyan Province. The Ministry of Information and Culture has a provincial local office representative in Bamiyan. There are 8 guards specifically protecting the site against vandalism and looting, with additional resources provided by the Ministry of Interior in the form of a dedicated police contingent for the protection of cultural property (Police unit 012).</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">At present, the management system is provisional with help from the international community for the appropriate administrative, scientific and technical resources. Since 2003, UNESCO has been leading a three-phase safe-guarding plan for the property. Its focus has been to consolidate the Buddha niches, to safeguard the artefacts that survived the destruction of the Buddha statues and to render the site safe, notably by pursuing the complex de-mining operations at the site. A Management Plan for the property is under preparation with the objective to prepare and implement a programme for the protection, conservation and presentation of the Bamiyan Valley, to undertake exploration and excavation of the archaeological remains, and to prepare and implement a programme for sustainable cultural tourism in the Valley. The Governor of the Province is responsible for the implementation of a regional development plan, which includes rehabilitation of housing, provision of health and educational services, and development of infrastructure and agriculture.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">In March 2011, it was concluded by Afghan officials and international experts at a meeting of the 9th Bamiyan Expert Working Group hosted by UNESCO that the World Heritage site is potentially ready to be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger by 2013, pending continued progress in addressing security risks, the structural stability of the remains of the two giant Buddha sculptures and their niches, the conservation of the archaeological remains and mural paintings and implementation of the Management Plan.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PHXj3YaNiik/TxhkbTtzD0I/AAAAAAAAAKA/pEmYDq1sQp8/s1600/06a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="460" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PHXj3YaNiik/TxhkbTtzD0I/AAAAAAAAAKA/pEmYDq1sQp8/s640/06a.jpg" title="Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5THWScmJV9E/TxhkcVDH5iI/AAAAAAAAAKI/Gc46Ci3n5nU/s1600/07a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="462" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5THWScmJV9E/TxhkcVDH5iI/AAAAAAAAAKI/Gc46Ci3n5nU/s640/07a.jpg" title="Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-46676836893235091442012-01-18T19:42:00.000+05:302012-01-18T19:42:10.449+05:30Group of Monuments at Pattadakal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Pattadakal, in Karnataka, represents the high point of an eclectic art which, in the 7th and 8th centuries under the Chalukya dynasty, achieved a harmonious blend of architectural forms from northern and southern India. An impressive series of nine Hindu temples, as well as a Jain sanctuary, can be seen there. One masterpiece from the group stands out – the Temple of Virupaksha, built c. 740 by Queen Lokamahadevi to commemorate her husband's victory over the kings from the South.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Group of Monuments at Pattadakal</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Pattadakal represents the high point of an eclectic art which, in the 7th and 8th centuries under the Chalukya dynasty, achieved a harmonious blend of architectural forms from northern and southern India. An impressive series of nine Hindu temples, as well as a Jain sanctuary, can be seen there.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LHC5z_InL_U/TxT9mFoNBxI/AAAAAAAAEM8/AmuFLMRcdhQ/s1600/02a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="416" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LHC5z_InL_U/TxT9mFoNBxI/AAAAAAAAEM8/AmuFLMRcdhQ/s640/02a.jpg" title="Group of Monuments at Pattadakal" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Three very closely located sites in the State of Karnataka provide a remarkable concentration of religious monuments dating from the great dynasty of the Chalukya (c. 543-757). There are the two successive capital cities - Aihole (ancient Aryapura), Badami, and Pattadakal, the 'City of the Crown Rubies' (Pattada Kisuvolal). The latter was, moreover, for a brief time the third capital city of the Chalukya kingdom; at the time the Pallava occupied Badami (642-55). While Aihole is traditionally considered the 'laboratory' of Chalukya architecture, with such monuments as the Temple of Ladkhan (c. 450) which antedate the dynasty's political successes during the reign of King Pulakeshin I, the city of Pattadakal illustrates the apogee of an eclectic art which, in the 7th and 8th centuries, achieved a harmonious blend of architectural forms from the north and south of India.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1jCvmXXsrNE/TxT9nv6qkSI/AAAAAAAAENE/l3of5wd3FIo/s1600/03a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="420" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1jCvmXXsrNE/TxT9nv6qkSI/AAAAAAAAENE/l3of5wd3FIo/s640/03a.jpg" title="Group of Monuments at Pattadakal" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Situated between the Malaprabha River to the north, and a minuscule village to the south, Pattadakal possesses a sort of holy city comprised of an impressive series of eight Hindu temples dedicated to Siva. Somewhat off to the side, towards the village, is the ninth Sivaite sanctuary, the Temple of Papanatha, as well as a Jain temple. In the monumental complex of the central zone are structures whose design was strongly influenced by the architecture of northern India: the temples of Galaganatha and of Kashi Vishveshvara, which are noteworthy for their square-shaped shikharas with curved edges. They stand along with other temples of a pure Dravidian style - Sangameshvara, built between 696 and 733, and Mallikarjuna, built consecutively from 733-44. Cornices decorate the walls of these temples and the roofs are the complex, storeyed type found in southern architecture.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-olYnzEuJ_f4/TxT9ojD1toI/AAAAAAAAENM/Fl-2LTG7CkM/s1600/04a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="422" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-olYnzEuJ_f4/TxT9ojD1toI/AAAAAAAAENM/Fl-2LTG7CkM/s640/04a.jpg" title="Group of Monuments at Pattadakal" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The unexpected and yet harmonious mixture of these styles provided the inspiration for the masterpiece of Chalukya art, the temple of Virupaksha. This Sivaite sanctuary was erected around 740 by Queen Lokamahadevi to commemorate the victory in 731 of her husband, King Vikramaditya II, over the Pallava and other sovereigns of southern India. The king's admiration for the art of his conquered enemies is borne out by two inscriptions that offer proof that he brought in from the south an architect and a team of sculptors.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6FwRuNqryHA/TxT9qBex0wI/AAAAAAAAENU/jD1bO90tVbc/s1600/05a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="432" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6FwRuNqryHA/TxT9qBex0wI/AAAAAAAAENU/jD1bO90tVbc/s640/05a.jpg" title="Group of Monuments at Pattadakal" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Prominently jutting out from the cruciform temple are three porches, a typical Chalukyan feature. They blend perfectly with the majestic three-storey tower and the walls with their overhanging cornices punctuated by narrow pilasters that separate niches filled with marvellous statuary. An overall concept dictated the choice of statues which illustrate the great themes of Siva theology and mythology.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v0_QuF4azjE/TxT9ruSInAI/AAAAAAAAENc/1OPp2ath2Aw/s1600/06a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="428" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v0_QuF4azjE/TxT9ruSInAI/AAAAAAAAENc/1OPp2ath2Aw/s640/06a.jpg" title="Group of Monuments at Pattadakal" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The evocative ruins of the numerous abandoned sanctuaries within the enclosure may be reached, on the west and east sides, through two monumental gates. In the axis of the courtyard, in front of the temple, is a beautiful pavilion containing a colossal black stone statue of Siva's sacred bull, Nandi. The puja, the ritual washing of the bull, takes place there every morning. Enhanced by its relative isolation south of the principal zone, the temple of Papanatha illustrates once again the aesthetic achievement resulting from the incorporation of two different styles. Papanatha has two rooms where the faithful can worship.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zmYW2qiGFb8/TxT9stJ_zFI/AAAAAAAAENk/1VOKmUAaw2U/s1600/07a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="392" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zmYW2qiGFb8/TxT9stJ_zFI/AAAAAAAAENk/1VOKmUAaw2U/s640/07a.jpg" title="Group of Monuments at Pattadakal" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">On the west is the principal sanctuary, which is covered with a powerful tower in the northern style; to the east is a more modest room, whose roof is crowned with miniature reproductions of buildings in the purest Dravidian style. Experts have found in the detail of the niches, the pediments and the arcature, many contradictory architectural references. The plastic unity of this great monument, however, comes from the remarkable sculptured decoration illustrating the popular epic of the Ramayana, dedicated to Prince Rama, incarnation of Vishnu.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T12-Jvjxe1M/TxT9uqHyxfI/AAAAAAAAEN0/_J2hnGytfuE/s1600/09a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="640" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T12-Jvjxe1M/TxT9uqHyxfI/AAAAAAAAEN0/_J2hnGytfuE/s640/09a.jpg" title="Group of Monuments at Pattadakal" width="440" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sfhP0yp4oe8/TxT9voM-AYI/AAAAAAAAEN8/xscautZI5EU/s1600/010a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="418" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sfhP0yp4oe8/TxT9voM-AYI/AAAAAAAAEN8/xscautZI5EU/s640/010a.jpg" title="Group of Monuments at Pattadakal" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bPb3tPLrZck/TxT9wjUyjjI/AAAAAAAAEOE/aImNU1GaoaY/s1600/011a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="388" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bPb3tPLrZck/TxT9wjUyjjI/AAAAAAAAEOE/aImNU1GaoaY/s640/011a.jpg" title="Group of Monuments at Pattadakal" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XW94Ps6CEmU/TxT96YTLmQI/AAAAAAAAEO8/SUcEle4Fz8A/s1600/018a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="640" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XW94Ps6CEmU/TxT96YTLmQI/AAAAAAAAEO8/SUcEle4Fz8A/s640/018a.jpg" title="Group of Monuments at Pattadakal" width="580" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u-XV7z85QHQ/TxT994Cyh3I/AAAAAAAAEPU/hTC0wWhYqkI/s1600/021a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="372" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u-XV7z85QHQ/TxT994Cyh3I/AAAAAAAAEPU/hTC0wWhYqkI/s640/021a.jpg" title="Group of Monuments at Pattadakal" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-95-gpagONyU/TxT9-65GR9I/AAAAAAAAEPc/uKZzVlNNW2M/s1600/022a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="580" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-95-gpagONyU/TxT9-65GR9I/AAAAAAAAEPc/uKZzVlNNW2M/s640/022a.jpg" title="Group of Monuments at Pattadakal" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: red; font-size: 8pt;">(Text Content Source:- UNESCO. Images Source:- Wikimedia, Google, Panoramio, Picasa, Bing, Yahoo, Flickr & etc….)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: red; font-size: 8pt;">(Images are copyrighted by Mugarjee. All are free images, taken from the web with the consent of owner who they approved to download it, and any copyright issues found by image owner, contact the administrator immediately.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.thisismyheaven.com/p/copyright-issue-this-is-personal-blog.html"><span style="font-size: 8pt; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Report it now!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-34524179020547344722012-01-18T19:24:00.001+05:302012-01-19T19:43:38.749+05:30Indian UNESCO Heritage Sites<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">The World Heritage Sites in India recognized UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) are 28 as of 2010. India's first two sites inscribed on the list at the Seventh Session of the World Heritage held in 1983 were the Agra Fort and the Ajanta Caves. Over the years, 26 more sites have been inscribed, the latest site inscribed in 2010 being the Jantar Mantar, Jaipur. Of these 28 sites, 23 are cultural sites and the other five are natural sites. Here are list in alphabets by images only but you can browse the each UNESCO sites in this site with a great content either.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pfQXHgsELI4/TxaUlk_xx1I/AAAAAAAAETE/1Zq6rbl0kmc/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pfQXHgsELI4/TxaUlk_xx1I/AAAAAAAAETE/1Zq6rbl0kmc/s640/01.jpg" title="Agra Fort" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Agra Fort</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o1RbWOgvSU0/TxaUo6SL9jI/AAAAAAAAETM/piwW4H370rE/s1600/02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="424" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o1RbWOgvSU0/TxaUo6SL9jI/AAAAAAAAETM/piwW4H370rE/s640/02.jpg" title="Ajanta Caves" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ajanta Caves</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ChuB5yjaZk0/TxabZIP6ZhI/AAAAAAAAEWk/ZL_kAtD_PqU/s1600/03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ChuB5yjaZk0/TxabZIP6ZhI/AAAAAAAAEWk/ZL_kAtD_PqU/s640/03.jpg" title="Ellora Caves" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ellora Caves</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jGsCfGv6jX8/TxaUrmXRtgI/AAAAAAAAETc/fSehyau05mY/s1600/04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="640" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jGsCfGv6jX8/TxaUrmXRtgI/AAAAAAAAETc/fSehyau05mY/s640/04.jpg" title="Taj Mahal" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Taj Mahal</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1nAE30q_Cnw/TxaUtkQnvzI/AAAAAAAAETk/s49kGnNCNW8/s1600/05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1nAE30q_Cnw/TxaUtkQnvzI/AAAAAAAAETk/s49kGnNCNW8/s640/05.jpg" title="Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-20HTOTholQM/TxaUu_9495I/AAAAAAAAETs/R1RpeElVB9A/s1600/06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="480" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-20HTOTholQM/TxaUu_9495I/AAAAAAAAETs/R1RpeElVB9A/s640/06.jpg" title="Sun Temple, Konârak" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sun Temple, Konârak</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q5OHlUbYhyI/TxaUxLFKdLI/AAAAAAAAET0/2PhQbP369KA/s1600/07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q5OHlUbYhyI/TxaUxLFKdLI/AAAAAAAAET0/2PhQbP369KA/s640/07.jpg" title="Kaziranga National Park" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kaziranga National Park</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w2y_m2dONAs/TxaUy8f8QmI/AAAAAAAAET8/HU5XozdAR50/s1600/08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w2y_m2dONAs/TxaUy8f8QmI/AAAAAAAAET8/HU5XozdAR50/s640/08.jpg" title="Keoladeo National Park" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Keoladeo National Park</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9KGsc51KByM/TxaU0XBz9XI/AAAAAAAAEUE/nmcu97BRl1Q/s1600/09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="424" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9KGsc51KByM/TxaU0XBz9XI/AAAAAAAAEUE/nmcu97BRl1Q/s640/09.jpg" title="Manas Wildlife Sanctuary" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Manas Wildlife Sanctuary</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f_ea1yrT5vc/TxaU2BIwH7I/AAAAAAAAEUM/DqEgb2VPu10/s1600/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f_ea1yrT5vc/TxaU2BIwH7I/AAAAAAAAEUM/DqEgb2VPu10/s640/010.jpg" title="Churches and Convents of Goa" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Churches and Convents of Goa</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VmTjHXxmkG8/TxaU3M-VTuI/AAAAAAAAEUU/0G_TNCQkDrE/s1600/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="480" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VmTjHXxmkG8/TxaU3M-VTuI/AAAAAAAAEUU/0G_TNCQkDrE/s640/011.jpg" title="Fatehpur Sikri" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fatehpur Sikri</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9489OdKSq4/TxaU4Swk6pI/AAAAAAAAEUc/OE8N1u27Ba4/s1600/012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="480" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9489OdKSq4/TxaU4Swk6pI/AAAAAAAAEUc/OE8N1u27Ba4/s640/012.jpg" title="Group of Monuments at Hampi" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Group of Monuments at Hampi</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cb-NYoeJ0NQ/TxaU5f_GkxI/AAAAAAAAEUk/BWnFz716JRY/s1600/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="480" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cb-NYoeJ0NQ/TxaU5f_GkxI/AAAAAAAAEUk/BWnFz716JRY/s640/013.jpg" title="Khajuraho Group of Monuments" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Khajuraho Group of Monuments</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kWddjsM1pAY/TxaU6gNRC9I/AAAAAAAAEUs/psj0Ib5DD8A/s1600/014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="428" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kWddjsM1pAY/TxaU6gNRC9I/AAAAAAAAEUs/psj0Ib5DD8A/s640/014.jpg" title="Elephanta Caves" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Elephanta Caves</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Great Living Chola Temples</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Group of Monuments at Pattadakal</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sundarbans National Park</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks </b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mountain Railways of India</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur</span></b></td></tr>
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-48555322277793283432012-01-18T19:15:00.001+05:302012-01-19T19:43:52.818+05:30Agra Fort, India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jqOu-NFheZA/TwBTt40hQqI/AAAAAAAADbg/43raN3Tnvv0/s1600/01a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jqOu-NFheZA/TwBTt40hQqI/AAAAAAAADbg/43raN3Tnvv0/s640/01a.jpg" title="Agra Fort, India" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Agra Fort, India</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Near the gardens of the Taj Mahal stands the important 16th-century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.</div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sBbabXyND_w/TwBTvJFFHcI/AAAAAAAADbo/-dkJ4Z1ufXs/s1600/02a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="428" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sBbabXyND_w/TwBTvJFFHcI/AAAAAAAADbo/-dkJ4Z1ufXs/s640/02a.jpg" title="Agra Fort, India" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The Red Fort and the Taj Mahal bear an exceptional and complementary testimony to a civilization which has disappeared, that of the Mogul Emperors. Agra's history goes back more than 2,500 years, but it was not until the reign of the Mughals that Agra became more than a provincial city. Humayun, son of the founder of the Mogul Empire, was offered jewellery and precious stones by the family of the Raja of Gwalior, one of them the famous Koh-i-Noor. The heyday of Agra came with the reign of Humayun's son, Akbar the Great. During his reign, the main part of the Agra Fort was built.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IHtydl5CMvM/TwBTwF03pNI/AAAAAAAADbw/2y1D_PC8lrc/s1600/03a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="418" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IHtydl5CMvM/TwBTwF03pNI/AAAAAAAADbw/2y1D_PC8lrc/s640/03a.jpg" title="Agra Fort, India" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The Red Fort of Agra is a powerful fortress founded in 1565 by the Emperor Akbar (1556-1605) on the right bank of the Yamuna; it is placed today on the north-west extremity of the Shah Jahan Gardens which surround the Taj Mahal and clearly form, with them, a monumental unity.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zU-KKIYT_e4/TwBTxemsmDI/AAAAAAAADb4/s8-73qY9wHM/s1600/04a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="412" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zU-KKIYT_e4/TwBTxemsmDI/AAAAAAAADb4/s8-73qY9wHM/s640/04a.jpg" title="Agra Fort, India" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This bastioned fortress, with walls of red sandstone rising above a moat and interrupted by graceful curves and lofty bastions, encompasses within its enclosure walls of 2.5 km, the imperial city of the Mogul rulers. Like the Delhi Fort, that of Agra is one of the most obvious symbols of the Mogul grandeur which asserted itself under Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rUHp9l8JPMk/TwBTySdZOrI/AAAAAAAADcA/gJ20sdMMSyQ/s1600/05a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="428" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rUHp9l8JPMk/TwBTySdZOrI/AAAAAAAADcA/gJ20sdMMSyQ/s640/05a.jpg" title="Agra Fort, India" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The wall has two gates, the Delhi Gate and the Amar Singh Gate. The original and grandest entrance was through the Delhi Gate, which leads to the inner portal called the Hathi Pol or Elephant Gate. But now the entrance to the fort is only through the Amar Singh Gate.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5LeH6wxYt94/TwBTz6fb36I/AAAAAAAADcI/U6dDm39O5jY/s1600/06a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="412" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5LeH6wxYt94/TwBTz6fb36I/AAAAAAAADcI/U6dDm39O5jY/s640/06a.jpg" title="Agra Fort, India" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The citadel comprises a large number of fairy-like palaces: the Khas Mahal, the Shish Mahal, the octagonal tower of Muhammam Burj, as well as reception rooms: Diwan-i-Khas, built in 1637 and the many pillared Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience), constructed in 1628, under the reign of the luxury-loving Shah Jahan (1630-55). Within the palatial complex, there are two very beautiful mosques of white marble, the Moti Masjid or the Pearl Mosque, constructed in 1646-53 by Shah Jahan and the Nagina Masjid built under the reign of Aurangzeb (1658-1707).</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oZwODNa_VE8/TwBT0ypnuMI/AAAAAAAADcQ/HXZlYrh-pLE/s1600/07a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="448" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oZwODNa_VE8/TwBT0ypnuMI/AAAAAAAADcQ/HXZlYrh-pLE/s640/07a.jpg" title="Agra Fort, India" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Several of the buildings are made from pure marble with beautiful carvings; all of these monuments mark the apogee of an Indo-Muslim art strongly marked by influences from Persia which already manifested itself in Timurid art.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XWJqdzh5KCA/TwBT2Fz7EQI/AAAAAAAADcY/m874yaA8xSc/s1600/08a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="434" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XWJqdzh5KCA/TwBT2Fz7EQI/AAAAAAAADcY/m874yaA8xSc/s640/08a.jpg" title="Agra Fort, India" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal, was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb in Agra Fort, from which he had a view of the building erected for his deceased wife. Shah Jahan is said to have died in the Musamman Burj, a tower with a beautiful marble balcony.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zS186-cnhjU/TwBT_f3VLQI/AAAAAAAADdY/DVHGyTbBdNM/s1600/017a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="438" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zS186-cnhjU/TwBT_f3VLQI/AAAAAAAADdY/DVHGyTbBdNM/s640/017a.jpg" title="Agra Fort, India" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-91872211005484965052012-01-18T19:12:00.001+05:302012-01-19T19:44:13.672+05:30Group of Monuments at Hampi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">The austere, grandiose site of Hampi was the last capital of the last great Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar. Its fabulously rich princes built Dravidian temples and palaces which won the admiration of travellers between the 14th and 16th centuries. Conquered by the Deccan Muslim confederacy in 1565, the city was pillaged over a period of six months before being abandoned.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The city of Hampi bears exceptional testimony to the vanished civilization of the kingdom of Vijayanagar, which reached its apogee under the reign of Krishna Deva Raya (1509-30). It offers an outstanding example of a type of structure that illustrates a significant historical situation: that of the kingdoms of South India which, menaced by the Muslims, were occasionally allied with the Portuguese of Goa.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The austere, grandiose site of Hampi was the last capital of the last great Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar. Its fabulously rich princes built Dravidian temples and palaces which won the admiration of travellers between the 14th and 16th centuries. Conquered by the Deccan Muslim confederacy in 1565, the city was pillaged over a period of six months before being abandoned.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">As the final capital of the last of the great kingdom of South India, that of the Vijayanagar, Hampi, enriched by the cotton and the spice trade was one of the most beautiful cities of the medieval world. Its palaces and Dravidian temples were much admired by travellers, be they Arab (Abdul Razaak), Portuguese (Domingo Paes) or Italian (Nicolò dei Conti).</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Conquered by the Muslims after the battle of Talikota in 1565, it was plundered over six months and then abandoned. Imposing monumental vestiges, partially disengaged and reclaimed, make of Hampi today one of the most striking ruins of the world.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The temples of Ramachandra (1513) and Hazara Rama (1520), with their sophisticated structure, where each supporting element is scanned by bundles of pilasters or colonnettes which project from the richly sculpted walls, may be counted among the most extraordinary constructions of India. In one of the interior courtyards of the temple of Vitthala, a small monument of a chariot which two elephants, sculpted in the round, struggle to drag along is one of the unusual creations, the favourite of tourists today as well as travellers of the past.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Besides the temples, the impressive complex of civil, princely or public buildings (elephant stables, Queen's Bath, Lotus Mahal, bazaars, markets) are enclosed in the massive fortifications which, however, were unable to repulse the assault of the five sultans of Deccan in 1565.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qx2uIx3h0EA/Th_mOf9h9MI/AAAAAAAABO0/tRY4pkSHtfM/s1600/Hampi+031a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qx2uIx3h0EA/Th_mOf9h9MI/AAAAAAAABO0/tRY4pkSHtfM/s640/Hampi+031a.jpg" title="Hampi, India" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-3470454266764783362012-01-18T19:08:00.001+05:302012-01-19T19:44:34.967+05:30Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">The Mahabodhi Temple Complex is one of the four holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha, and particularly to the attainment of Enlightenment. The first temple was built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C., and the present temple dates from the 5th or 6th centuries. It is one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely in brick, still standing in India, from the late Gupta period.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mahabodhi Temple</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The grand 50m high Mahabodhi Temple of the 5th-6th centuries is of immense importance, being one of the earliest temple constructions existing in the Indian sub-continent. It is one of the few representations of the architectural genius of the Indian people in constructing fully developed brick temples in that era. The Mahabodhi Temple, one of the few surviving examples of early brick structures in India, has had significant influence in the development of architecture over the centuries. The site of the Mahabodhi Temple provides exceptional records for the events associated with the life of Buddha and subsequent worship, particularly since Emperor Asoka built the first temple, the balustrades, and the memorial column. The present Temple is one of the earliest and most imposing structures built entirely in brick from the late Gupta period. The sculpted stone balustrades are an outstanding early example of sculptural reliefs in stone. The Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Bodh Gaya has direct association with the life of the Lord Buddha, being the place where He attained the supreme and perfect insight.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Mahabodhi Temple, one of the few surviving examples of early brick structures in India, has had significant influence in the development of architecture over the centuries. balustrades, and the memorial column. The present temple is one of the earliest and most imposing structures built entirely from brick in the late Gupta period. The sculpted stone balustrades are an outstanding early example of sculptural reliefs in stone.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Temple Complex has direct associations with the life of the Lord Buddha (566-486 BC) as the place where in 531 BC he attained the supreme and perfect insight while seated under the Bodhi Tree. It provides exceptional records for the events associated with his life and for subsequent worship, particularly since Emperor Asoka made a pilgrimage to this spot around 260 BC and built the first temple at the site of the Bodhi Tree. The Mahabodhi Temple Complex is located in the very heart of the city of Bodh Gaya. The site consists of the main temple and six sacred places within an enclosed area, and a seventh one, the Lotus Pond, just outside the enclosure to the south.</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Buddha's bodhi tree</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The most important of the sacred places is the giant Bodhi Tree (Ficus religiosa ). This tree is to the west of the main temple and is supposed to be a direct descendant of the original Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha spent his First Week and where he had his enlightenment. To the north of the central path, on a raised area, is the Animeshlochan Chaitya (prayer hall) where the Buddha is believed to have spent the Second Week. The Buddha spent the Third Week walking 18 paces back and forth in an area called Ratnachakrama (Jewelled Ambulatory), which lies near the north wall of the main temple. The spot where he spent the Fourth Week is Ratnaghar Chaitya, located to the north-east near the enclosure wall. Immediately after the steps of the east entrance on the central path there is a pillar which marks the site of the Ajapala Nigrodh Tree, under which Buddha meditated during his Fifth Week, answering the queries of Brahmins. He spent the Sixth Week next to the Lotus Pond to the south of the enclosure, and the Seventh Week under the Rajyatana Tree currently marked by a tree.</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Main Temple is built in the classical style of Indian temple architecture. It has a low basement with mouldings decorated with honeysuckle and geese design. Above this is a series of niches containing images of the Buddha. Further above there are mouldings and chaitya niches, and then the curvilinear shikhara or tower of the temple surmounted by amalaka and kalasha (architectural features in the tradition of Indian temples). At the four corners of the parapet of the temple are four statues of the Buddha in small shrine chambers. A small tower is built above each of these shrines. The temple faces east and consists of a small forecourt in the east with niches on either side containing statues of the Buddha.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Next to the Bodhi Tree there is a place with a Buddha statue that stands on part of the polished sandstone Vajrasana (Diamond Throne), originally installed by Emperor Asoka to mark the spot where the Buddha sat and meditated. Granite pillars were added to enlarge the area in the 5th-6th centuries BC. Further up the central path towards the main temple to the south is a small shrine with a standing Buddha in the back and with the footprints (Padas ) of the Buddha carved on black stone, dating from the 3rd century BC, when Emperor Asoka declared Buddhism to be the official religion of the state. Further on the path towards the main temple is a building housing several statues of Buddha and Bodhisattvas. Opposite is a memorial to a Hindu Mahant who had lived on this site during the 15th and 16th centuries. To the south of the pathway is a cluster of votive stupas built by kings, princes, noblemen and lay people.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Buddha's Big Statue</span></b></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kv3VQvVyhmE/TxPW_yLtVDI/AAAAAAAAEMs/KV9lkd_fLM0/s1600/021a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="640" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kv3VQvVyhmE/TxPW_yLtVDI/AAAAAAAAEMs/KV9lkd_fLM0/s640/021a.jpg" title="Mahabodhi Temple Complex" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-65963044971063910612012-01-18T19:06:00.001+05:302012-01-19T19:44:57.259+05:30Taj Mahal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage.</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Taj Mahal</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Taj Mahal, an immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage. It no doubt partially owes its renown to the moving circumstances of its construction. Shah Jahan, in order to perpetuate the memory of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631, had this funerary mosque built. The monument, begun in 1632, was finished in 1648; unverified but nonetheless, tenacious, legends attribute its construction to an international team of several thousands of masons, marble workers, mosaicists and decorators working under the orders of the architect of the emperor, Ustad Ahmad Lahori.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-15_QL6yLEeQ/ThqVFaDaulI/AAAAAAAAA2k/HNZLndzOGBo/s1600/Taj+Mahal+02a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="480" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-15_QL6yLEeQ/ThqVFaDaulI/AAAAAAAAA2k/HNZLndzOGBo/s640/Taj+Mahal+02a.jpg" title="Taj Mahal" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Situated on the right bank of the Yamuna in a vast Mogul garden of some 17 ha, this funerary monument, bounded by four isolated minarets, reigns with its octagonal structure capped by a bulbous dome through the criss-cross of open perspectives offered by alleys or basins of water. The rigour of a perfect elevation of astonishing graphic purity is disguised and almost contradicted by the scintillation of a fairy-like decor where the white marble, the main building material, brings out and scintillates the floral arabesques, the decorative bands, and the calligraphic inscriptions which are incrusted in polychromatic pietra dura. The materials were brought in from all over India and central Asia and white Makrana marble from Jodhpur. Precious stones for the inlay came from Baghdad, Punjab, Egypt, Russia, Golconda, China, Afghanistan, Ceylon, Indian Ocean and Persia. The unique Mughal style combines elements and styles of Persian, Central Asian and Islamic architecture.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Darwaza, the majestic main gateway, is a large three-storey red sandstone structure, completed in 1648, with an octagonal central chamber with a vaulted roof and with smaller rooms on each side. The gateway consists of lofty central arch with two-storeyed wings on either side. The walls are inscribed with verses from the Qu'ran in Arabic in black calligraphy. The small domed pavilions on top are Hindu in style and signify royalty. The gate was originally lined with silver, now replaced with copper, and decorated with 1,000 nails whose heads were contemporary silver coins.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Bageecha, the ornamental gardens through which the paths lead, are planned along classical Mughal char bagh style. Two marble canals studded with fountains, lined with cypress trees emanating from the central, raised pool cross in the centre of the garden, dividing it into four equal squares. In each square there are 16 flower beds, making a total of 64 with around 400 plants in each bed. The feature to be noted is that the garden is laid out in such a way as to maintain perfect symmetry. The channels, with a perfect reflection of the Taj, used to be stocked with colourful fish and the gardens with beautiful birds.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Taj Mahal itself, situated in the north end of the garden, stands on two bases, one of sandstone and above it a square platform worked into a black and white chequerboard design and topped by a huge blue-veined white marble terrace, on each corner there are four minarets. On the east and west sides of the tomb are identical red sandstone buildings. On the west is the masjid (mosque), which sanctifies the area and provides a place of worship. On the other sides is the jawab, which cannot be used for prayer as it faces away from Mecca. The rauza, the central structure or the mausoleum on the platform, is square with bevelled corners. Each corner has small domes while in the centre is the main double dome topped by a brass finial. The main chamber inside is octagonal with a high domed ceiling. This chamber contains false tombs of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan, laid to rest in precise duplicates in a. Both tombs are exquisitely inlaid and decorated with precious stones, the finest in Agra.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Taj Mahal's pure white marble shimmers silver in the moonlight, glows softly pink at dawn, and at close of day reflects the fiery tints of the setting Sun. From an octagonal tower in the Agra Fort across the River Yamuna, Shah Jahan spent his last days as a prisoner of his son and usurper to the empire, Aurangzeb, gazing at the tomb of his beloved Mumtaz.</div><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-27757558377816209952012-01-18T19:04:00.001+05:302012-01-19T19:45:17.718+05:30Great Living Chola Temples<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">The Great Living Chola Temples were built by kings of the Chola Empire, which stretched over all of south India and the neighbouring islands. The site includes three great 11th- and 12th-century Temples: the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram. The Temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram, built by Rajendra I, was completed in 1035. Its 53-m vimana (sanctum tower) has recessed corners and a graceful upward curving movement, contrasting with the straight and severe tower at Thanjavur. The Airavatesvara temple complex, built by Rajaraja II, at Darasuram features a 24-m vimana and a stone image of Shiva. The temples testify to the brilliant achievements of the Chola in architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze casting.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The three Chola temples of Southern India represent an outstanding creative achievement in the architectural conception of the pure form of the dravida type of temple. The Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur became the first great example of the Chola temples, followed by a development of which the other two properties also bear witness. The three Great Chola Temples are an exceptional and the most outstanding testimony to the development of the architecture of the Chola Empire and the Tamil civilisation in Southern India. The Great Chola temples at Thanjavur, at Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram are outstanding examples of the architecture and the representation of the Chola ideology.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Great Chola Temples of southern India are an exceptional testimony to the development of the architecture and the ideology of the Chola Empire and the Tamil civilization in southern India. They represent an outstanding creative achievement in the architectural conception of the pure form of the Dravida type of temple (characterized by a pyramidal tower).</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Cholas were the second great historic dynasty of the Tamil Nadu, the Tamil country, which was the home of the ancient Dravidian culture whose influence was so considerable in the whole of south-east Asia. The great temple of Tanjore was built in a few years, from 1003 to 1010, during the reign of the great king Rajaraja (985-1014), true founder of the Chola Empire which spread throughout the whole of southern India, part of Ceylon and the Maldive and Laccadive archipelagos. Richly endowed by the sovereign, the sanctuary, which also bears his name - it is sometimes called Rajarajesvaram - had a permanent staff of several hundred priests, 400 devadasi (sacred dancers), and 57 musicians, according to inscriptions and chronicles. The Brihadisvara's income in gold, silver and precious stones during the Chola period has been precisely evaluated. These vast resources were efficiently managed and provided not only for the upkeep and improvement of the buildings (which was continued until the 17th century) but also for real investments to be made. The temple lent money, at rates which could sometimes reach 30%, to shipowners, village assemblies and craft guilds. Dedicated to Shiva, the Brihadisvara stands to the south-west of the historic city. A first rectangular surrounding wall, 270 m by 140 m, marks the outer boundary.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">This is dominated on the east side by a 30 m high entrance gateway (gopuram). A second wall, with its entrance in line with the first and crowned with a smaller gopuram decorated with two dvarapala (gatekeepers), surrounds a colonnaded inner courtyard. The temple itself, built from granite blocks and, in part, of bricks, is oriented east-west like the courtyard. The layout takes its inspiration from the Pallava tradition, and especially from the layout of the Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram. There is a succession of halls and vestibules (mukta-mandapa, maha-mandapa, ardha-mandapa) leading to the shrine, which is crowned with a 13-storey pyramidal tower. This vimana, which is 60.95 m high and, in turn, crowned with a bulb-shaped monolith weighing an estimated 70 tonnes, is rightly considered to be one of the architectural masterpieces of India. The intricately carved decorations covering the outer walls of the temple are continued inside by the well known representations of the 108 poses of the Bharata-Natyam, the classical Indian dance, mimed by Shiva in person.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The iconographic programme, inspired by Shiva mythology, also consists of a series of murals from the Chola period which decorate the corridor around the shrine. The famous series depicting Rajaraja in conversation with his guru, Karuvur Devar, gives a good idea of the graphic quality, the delicacy of the colours, the expressiveness of the characters which make this sequence one of the great masterpieces of Chola art. Inside the inner courtyard, the Nandi-mandapa, a pavilion which houses the colossal statue of Nandi, the bull mounted by Shiva (vahana), is of very great interest. The temple of Devi, built in the 13th century by the Pandya king Konerinmaikondan, the temple of Subrahmanya, built and covered with carvings in the 17th century by a Nayak king of Madurai, together with additional temples and chapels of a later date (temple of Ganesh, mandapa of Nataraja) complete this remarkable religious architectural group.</div><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-27275468768685839962012-01-18T18:37:00.003+05:302012-01-19T19:45:38.523+05:30Sundarbans National Park<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">The Sundarbans covers 10,000 km2 of land and water (more than half of it in India, the rest in Bangladesh) in the Ganges delta. It contains the world's largest area of mangrove forests. A number of rare or endangered species live in the park, including tigers, aquatic mammals, birds and reptiles.</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tiger at Sundarbans</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The site lies south-east of Calcutta in the District of West Bengal and forms part of the Gangetic Delta, which borders on the Bay of Bengal. The Sundarbans, covering some 10,000 km2 of mangrove forest and water, is part of the world's largest delta formed from sediments deposited by three great rivers, the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna, which converge on the Bengal Basin.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The whole Sundarbans area is intersected by an intricate network of interconnecting waterways, of which the larger channels are often a kilometre or two in width and run in a north-south direction. These waterways now carry little freshwater as they are mostly cut off from the Ganges, the outflow of which has shifted from the Hooghly-Bhagirathi channels progressively eastwards since the 17th century. This is due to subsidence of the Bengal Basin and a gradual eastward tilting of the overlying crust. In the Indian Sundarbans, the western portion receives some freshwater through the Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system but that portion designated as the tiger reserve is essentially land-locked, its rivers having become almost completely cut off from the main freshwater sources over the last 600 years. Thus, waterways in the tiger reserve are maintained largely by the diurnal tidal flow, the average rise and fall being about 2.15 m on the coast and up to 5.68 m on Sagar Island.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The land is constantly being changed, moulded and shaped by the action of the tides, with erosion processes more prominent along estuaries and deposition processes along the banks of inner estuarine waterways influenced by the accelerated discharge of silt from seawater. About half of the Sundarbans is under water and the rest of the landscape is characterized by low-lying alluvial islands and mudbanks, with sandy beaches and dunes along the coast.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The entire mangrove forest extends over an area of 4,262 km2 , of which 2,320 km2 is forest and the rest is water, and is called Sundarban owing to the dominance of the tree species Heritiera fomes , locally known as 'sundari'. This marsh vegetation consists of elements of the Malayan Peninsular and Polynesian regions, together with some Indo-Chinese, Ethiopian and a few of the New World. It is not found elsewhere except in a small part of the Mahanadi and Godaveri deltas to the south-west and the Bay Islands.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Sundarbans is the only remaining habitat in the lower Bengal Basin for a great variety of faunal species. Some of this variety, however, has already been lost owing to the reclamation of the broad transitional belt of habitat for agriculture, combined with the higher salinity resulting partly from the large-scale irrigation schemes in the upper reaches of the Ganges. Species include the Javan rhinoceros and water buffalo, swamp deer and Indian muntjac. Similarly, gharial and narrow-headed softshell turtle became locally extinct within the last 100 years. The tiger population is the largest in India. High population density, relative to the availability of prey, and the relatively high frequency of encounters with local people is probably largely responsible for the notorious man-eating habits of the Sundarbans tiger. The only ungulates are wild boar, main prey species of the tiger, and spotted deer, which is plentiful and often seen in association with rhesus macaque. Aquatic mammals that frequent the tidal waters include the Ganges dolphin, Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin, Irrawaddy dolphin and finless porpoise</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Sajnakhali area contains a wealth of waterbirds, noteworthy residents including Asian open-bill stork, black-necked stork, greater adjutant, white ibis, swamp francolin, white-collared kingfisher, black-capped kingfisher and brown-winged kingfisher. This area is important for waders, a rare winter migrant and marsh birds. The Sundarbans provide important habitat for a variety of reptiles.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Baghmara Forest Block contains the ruins of a city built by the Chaand Sandagar merchant community in approximately AD 200-300. Much later, during the Moghul Empire, Raja Basand Rai and his nephew took refuge in the Sundarbans from the advancing armies of Emperor Akbar. The buildings they erected subsequently fell to Portuguese pirates, salt smugglers and dacoits in the 17th century.</div><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-25846396631618830922012-01-18T18:36:00.002+05:302012-01-19T19:46:03.142+05:30Ellora Caves<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">These 34 monasteries and temples, extending over more than 2 km, were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff, not far from Aurangabad, in Maharashtra. Ellora, with its uninterrupted sequence of monuments dating from A.D. 600 to 1000, brings the civilization of ancient India to life. Not only is the Ellora complex a unique artistic creation and a technological exploit but, with its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient India.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ddzIuCrlW3g/TxQIzS4VzzI/AAAAAAAAACY/Rwu5_FBsLj0/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ddzIuCrlW3g/TxQIzS4VzzI/AAAAAAAAACY/Rwu5_FBsLj0/s640/01.jpg" title="Ellora Caves" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kailash Temple - Ellora Caves</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Ellora Caves not only bear witness to three great religions (Buddhism, Brahminism and Jainism) but they also illustrate the spirit of tolerance, characteristic of ancient India, which permitted these three religions to establish their sanctuaries and their communities in a single place, which thus served to reinforce its universal value. The caves, with their uninterrupted sequence of from 600 to 1,000 monuments, bring to life again the civilization of ancient India.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">These 34 monasteries and temples, extending over more than 2 km, were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff, not far from Aurangabad, in Maharashtra. Ellora, with its uninterrupted sequence of monuments dating from AD 600 to 1000, brings the civilization of ancient India to life. Not only is the Ellora complex a unique artistic creation and a technological exploit but, with its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient India.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This rupestral ensemble constitute one of the most beautiful expressions of the art of the Indian Middle Ages; they are noteworthy as three major Indian religions have laid joint claim to the caves peacefully since they were created. These breathtaking caves are definitely worth visiting for their remarkable reliefs, sculptures and architecture. It is not, like that of Ajanta, the expression of a single belief; rather it is the product of the three principal religions of ancient India.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Progressing from south to north along the cliff, one discovers successively the twelve caves of the Buddhist group, which appear to be the oldest (between c. 600 and 800) and comprise monasteries and a single large temple (cave 10); then the caves of the Brahmin group (c. 600 to 900) which are no doubt the best known of Ellora with the 'Cavern of the Ten Avatars' (cave 15) and especially the Kailasha Temple (cave 16), an enormous complex, most likely undertaken during the reign of Krishna I (757-83); and, finally, the Jain group (caves 30-34) whose sanctuaries were created by the sect of the Digambara towards AD 800-1000, The Jain caves, the last to be excavated, drew their inspiration from the art already existing at Ellora: cave 32 recalls by certain of its dispositions the Kailasha Temple.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The Buddhist Caves were excavated between the 5th and the 7th centuries AD, when the Mahayana sects were flourishing in the region; among these cave 5 is the largest. Cave 10 is a chaitya hall and is popularly known as 'Visvakarma'. It has a highly ornamental facade provided with a gallery and in the chaitya hall there is a beautiful image of Buddha set on a stupa. The historical value of cave 12 or Tin Tala lies in the fact that human hands built a three-storeyed building from rock with such painstaking skill that even the floors and the ceiling are smooth and levelled. Tin Tala cave is a monastery-cum-chapel, with cells. It dates to the Rashtrakuta period in the mid-8th century.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Brahmin caves are mostly Saivite. Kailasa (cave 16) is a remarkable example of rock-cut temples in India on account of its striking proportion; elaborate workmanship architectural content and sculptural ornamentation. It is said that cave 16 have been started by the Rashtrakuta king, Krishna I, and it is dedicated to Shiva and named after his mountain home in the Himalaya, the snow-peak Kailasa. The whole temple consists of a shrine with lingam at the rear of the hall with Dravidian sikhara, a flat-roofed mandapa supported by sixteen pillars, a separate porch for Nandi surrounded by an open court entered through a low gopura. The grand sculpture of Ravana attempting to lift Mount Kailasa, the abode of Siva, with his full might is a landmark in Indian art.</div><br />
The Jain Caves are massive, well-proportioned, decorated and mark the last phase of the activity at Ellora.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-87937350980596186562012-01-18T18:33:00.004+05:302012-01-19T19:46:24.131+05:30Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">This group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast in the 7th and 8th centuries. It is known especially for its rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries), giant open-air reliefs such as the famous 'Descent of the Ganges', and the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rzkuwekFlLs/TxZbOY04zqI/AAAAAAAAAEY/oxS93VYleAc/s1600/mahabalipuram+underwater+temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rzkuwekFlLs/TxZbOY04zqI/AAAAAAAAAEY/oxS93VYleAc/s640/mahabalipuram+underwater+temple.jpg" title="mahabalipuram underwater temple" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mahabalipuram Underwater Temple</span></b></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H_o-ewVGHwo/ThzjM79J8mI/AAAAAAAAA88/VWd9iYMBbK0/s1600/Mahabalipuram+01a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H_o-ewVGHwo/ThzjM79J8mI/AAAAAAAAA88/VWd9iYMBbK0/s640/Mahabalipuram+01a.jpg" title="Mahabalipuram" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Mahabalipuram is pre-eminently testimony to the Pallavas civilization of south-east India.The sanctuary, known especially for its rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries), and giant open-air reliefs, is one of the major centres of the cult of Siva. The influence of the sculptures of Mahabalipuram, characterized by the softness and supple mass of their modelling, spread widely (Cambodia, Annam, Java).</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qc7DsGSUBmc/ThzjOtwFLyI/AAAAAAAAA9A/wNVkU0aOh6A/s1600/Mahabalipuram+02a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qc7DsGSUBmc/ThzjOtwFLyI/AAAAAAAAA9A/wNVkU0aOh6A/s640/Mahabalipuram+02a.jpg" title="Mahabalipuram" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Founded in the 7th century by the Pallavas sovereigns south of Madras, the harbour of Mahabalipuram traded with the distant kingdoms of South-East Asia: Kambuja (Cambodia) and Shrivijaya (Malaysia, Sumatra, Java) and with the empire of Champa (Annam). But the fame of its role as a harbour has been transferred to its rock sanctuaries and Brahmin temples which were constructed or decorated at Mahabalipuram between 630 and 728.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UAjavz8O7dI/ThzjQqvn5rI/AAAAAAAAA9E/4OoEGV17ekU/s1600/Mahabalipuram+03a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="640" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UAjavz8O7dI/ThzjQqvn5rI/AAAAAAAAA9E/4OoEGV17ekU/s640/Mahabalipuram+03a.jpg" title="Mahabalipuram" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Most of the monuments, like the rock-cut rathas, sculptured scenes on open rocks like Arjuna's penance, the caves of Govardhanadhari and Ahishasuramardini, and the Jala-Sayana Perumal temple (the sleeping Mahavishnu or Chakrin at the rear part of the Shore temple complex) are attributed to the period of Narasimhavarman I Mamalla.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gw4wSnSuUxQ/ThzjS35_PtI/AAAAAAAAA9I/bbbhHeSXBW0/s1600/Mahabalipuram+04a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gw4wSnSuUxQ/ThzjS35_PtI/AAAAAAAAA9I/bbbhHeSXBW0/s640/Mahabalipuram+04a.jpg" title="Mahabalipuram" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
The monuments may be subdivided into five categories:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li>ratha temples in the form of processional chariots, monolithic constructions cut into the residual blocks of diorite which emerge from the sand. The five ratha of the south, which are the most famous, date to the reign of Naharasimhavarman Mamalla (630-68), the great Pallavas king (the Cholas texts, moreover, call the city Mamallapuram).</li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>mandapa, or rock sanctuaries modelled as rooms covered with bas-reliefs (the mandapa of Varaha, representing the acts of this avatar of Vishnu; the mandapa of the Five Pandavas and, especially, the mandapa of Krishna and the mandapa of Mahishasuramardini).</li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>rock reliefs in the open air illustrate a popular episode in the iconography of Siva, that of the Descent of the Ganges. The wise King Baghirata having begged him to do so, Siva ordered the Ganges to descend to Earth and to nourish the world. The sculptors used the natural fissure dividing the cliff to suggest this cosmic event to which a swarming crowd of gods, goddesses, mythical beings (Kinnara, Gandherya, Apsara, Gana, Naga and Nagini), wild and domestic animals bear witness.</li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>temples built from cut stone, like the Temple of Rivage, which was constructed under King Rajasimha Narasimavarmn II (695-722), with its high-stepped pyramidal tower and thousands of sculptures dedicated to the glory of Siva.</li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>monolithic rathas, from single- to triple-storeyed, display a variety of architectural forms, while the Dharmaraja, Arjuna and Draupadi rathas are square in plan, the Bhima and Ganesa rathas rectangular, and the Sahadeva ratha apsidal. Structural architecture was introduced on a grand scale by Pallava Rajasimha (700-28), culminating in the erection of the Shore Temple.</li>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fnlVIR4Bs44/ThzjVHm8XdI/AAAAAAAAA9M/66BQITtFb2o/s1600/Mahabalipuram+05a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="640" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fnlVIR4Bs44/ThzjVHm8XdI/AAAAAAAAA9M/66BQITtFb2o/s640/Mahabalipuram+05a.jpg" title="Mahabalipuram" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Another piece of architectural beauty is the Shore temple, standing against the background of the deep blue waters of the ocean. It belongs to a period when the constructional style of the Pallavas was at its peak in its decorative beauty and intrinsic quality. This building has become eroded by the corrosive action of seawater and air and the sculptures have become indistinct.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HyPUMyKPYXI/ThzjXLo4n9I/AAAAAAAAA9Q/dJCP0Vy_Rmo/s1600/Mahabalipuram+06a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HyPUMyKPYXI/ThzjXLo4n9I/AAAAAAAAA9Q/dJCP0Vy_Rmo/s640/Mahabalipuram+06a.jpg" title="Mahabalipuram" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_23Q5HDEuHA/ThzjYsB1jBI/AAAAAAAAA9U/FSWqT4a1gFU/s1600/Mahabalipuram+07a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="640" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_23Q5HDEuHA/ThzjYsB1jBI/AAAAAAAAA9U/FSWqT4a1gFU/s640/Mahabalipuram+07a.jpg" title="Mahabalipuram" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uCRqs31f_3o/ThzjakZTSyI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/MtziqxLx-GM/s1600/Mahabalipuram+08a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uCRqs31f_3o/ThzjakZTSyI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/MtziqxLx-GM/s640/Mahabalipuram+08a.jpg" title="Mahabalipuram" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-49447986385938018902012-01-18T18:31:00.005+05:302012-01-19T19:47:25.324+05:30Kaziranga National Park<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">In the heart of Assam, this park is one of the last areas in eastern India undisturbed by a human presence. It is inhabited by the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, as well as many mammals, including tigers, elephants, panthers and bears, and thousands of birds.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pT4IkjKRQNg/TxQXGfjUQZI/AAAAAAAAACo/OFBFFlrqtoc/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pT4IkjKRQNg/TxQXGfjUQZI/AAAAAAAAACo/OFBFFlrqtoc/s640/01.jpg" title="Kaziranga National Park" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rhinos at Kaziranga National Park</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">In the heart of Assam, this park is one of the last areas in eastern India undisturbed by a human presence. It is inhabited by the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, as well as many mammals, including tigers, elephants, panthers and bears, and thousands of birds.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The site is on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River at the foot of the Mikir Hills. The park lies in the flood plains of the Brahmaputra. The riverine habitat consists primarily of tall, dense grasslands interspersed with open forests, interconnecting streams and numerous small lakes (bheels ). Three-quarters or more of the area is submerged annually by the flood waters of the Brahmaputra. Soils are alluvial deposits of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">There are three main types of vegetation: alluvial inundated grasslands, tropical wet evergreen forests and tropical semi-evergreen forests. Grasslands predominate in the west, with tall 'elephant' grasses on the higher ground and short grasses on the lower ground surrounding the bheels . They have been maintained by annual flooding and burning over thousands of years. Tropical wet evergreen forests, near Kanchanjhuri, Panbari and Tamulipathar blocks, are dominated by trees. Tropical semi-evergreen forests occur near Baguri, Bimali and Haldibari.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The park contains about 15 species of India's threatened mammals. It harbours the world's largest population of Indian rhinoceros and Indian elephant</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Other mammals include capped langur, a small population of hoolock gibbon, tiger Panthera tigris , leopard, sloth bear, Ganges dolphin, otter, wild boar, water buffalo, gaur, sambar, swamp deer, hog deer and Indian muntjac. Elephants and other animals migrate with the advent of the monsoon and head southwards to the Mikir Hills and beyond to avoid the annual flooding of the national park.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The numerous water bodies are rich reservoirs of food (including fish) and thousands of migratory birds, representing over 100 species, visit the park seasonally from as far afield as Siberia. There is a grey pelican rookery near Kaziranga Village. Other birds of interest include black-necked stork, lesser adjutant stork, Pallas's fish eagle, grey-headed fish eagle, Bengal florican, swamp partridge, grey peacock-pheasant, great pied hornbill, green imperial pigeon, silver-breasted broadbill and Jerdon's bushchat. The avifauna comprises over 300 species.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The reptilian fauna include water monitor, Indian python, common cobra and king cobra are present.</div><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-15604406658994330002012-01-18T18:31:00.004+05:302012-01-19T19:46:41.432+05:30Sun Temple, Konarak<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">On the shores of the Bay of Bengal, bathed in the rays of the rising sun, the temple at Konarak is a monumental representation of the sun god Surya's chariot; its 24 wheels are decorated with symbolic designs and it is led by a team of six horses. Built in the 13th century, it is one of India's most famous Brahman sanctuaries.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a alt="image" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sxVtVweatAY/TxQVJHLm2ZI/AAAAAAAAACg/L_L8ORGyCGQ/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Sun Temple, Konarak"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sxVtVweatAY/TxQVJHLm2ZI/AAAAAAAAACg/L_L8ORGyCGQ/s640/01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Konarak Temple Art</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Konârak is an outstanding testimony to the 13th-century kingdom of Orissa. It is directly and materially linked to Brahmin beliefs, and forms the invaluable link in the history of the diffusion of the cult of Surya, which originated in Kashmir during the 8th century and finally reached the shores of eastern India.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">On the eastern coast of India, south of the Mahanadi Delta, is the Brahmin temple of Kimarak (still spelled as Konârak or Konârka), one of the most famous Brahmin sanctuaries of Asia. Konârak derives its name from Konârka, the presiding deity of the Sun Temple. Konârka is a combination of two words, kona (corner) and arka (Sun). It was one of the earliest centres of Sun worship in India. Built around 1250 in the reign of King Narasingha Deva (1238-64), it marks the apogee of the wave of foundations dedicated to the Sun God Surya; the entire temple was conceived as a chariot of the Sun God with a set of spokes and elaborate carvings.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The present Sun Temple was probably built by King Narashimhadev I (1238-64) of the Ganga dynasty to celebrate his victory over the Muslims. The temple fell into disuse in the early 17th century after it was desecrated by an envoy of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. The legend has it that the temple was constructed by Samba, the son of Lord Krishna. Samba was afflicted by leprosy and after twelve years of penance he was cured by Surya, the Sun God, in whose honour he built this temple.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Against the horizon, on the sandy shore, where the rising Sun emerges from the waters of the Gulf of Bengal, stands the temple, built from stone and carefully oriented so as to permit the first rays of the Sun to strike its principal entry. It is a monumental representation of the chariot of Surya pulled by a team of seven horses (six of which still exist and are placed on either side of the stairway leading to the sanctuary).</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">On the north and south sides, 24 wheels some 3 m in diameter, lavishly sculptured with symbolic motives referring to the cycle of the seasons and the months, complete the illusionary structure of the temple-chariot. Between the wheels, the plinth of the temple is entirely decorated with reliefs (fantastic lions, musicians and dancers, erotic groups). Like many Indian temples, Konârak comprises several distinct and well-organized spatial units. The vimana (principal sanctuary) was surmounted by a high tower with a sikkara which was razed in the 19th century; to the east, the jahamogana (audience hall) now dominates the ruins with its pyramidal mass, the original effect.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Further to the east, the natmandir (dance hall), today unroofed, rises on a high platform. Various subsidiary structures are still to be found within the enclosed area of the rectangular wall, which is punctuated by its gates and towers.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Apart from the Puranas, other religious texts also point towards the existence of a Sun temple at Konârak long before the present temple. Konârak was once a bustling port of Kalinga and had good maritime trade relations with South-East Asian countries.</div><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-86880200194321379642012-01-18T18:28:00.006+05:302012-01-19T19:47:43.095+05:30Keoladeo National Park<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This former duck-hunting reserve of the Maharajas is one of the major wintering areas for large numbers of aquatic birds from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, China and Siberia. Some 364 species of birds, including the rare Siberian crane, have been recorded in the park.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OX4iO-CPcKQ/TxQYv0bWNJI/AAAAAAAAACw/Pits0tOvhpY/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OX4iO-CPcKQ/TxQYv0bWNJI/AAAAAAAAACw/Pits0tOvhpY/s640/01.jpg" title="Birds at Keoladeo National Park" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Keoladeo National Park</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The site is situated in eastern Rajasthan, the park is 2 km south-east of Bharatpur and 50 km west of Agra. The area consists of a flat patchwork of marshes in the Gangetic plain, artificially created in the 1850s and maintained ever since by a system of canals, sluices and dykes. Normally, water is fed into the marshes twice a year from inundations of the Gambira and Banganga rivers, which are impounded on arable land by means of an artificial dam called Ajan Bund, to the south of the park. The first time, usually in mid-July, is soon after the onset of the monsoon and the second time is in late September or October when Ajan Bund is drained ready for cultivation in winter. Thus, the area is flooded to a depth of 1-2 m throughout the monsoon (July-September), after which the water level drops. From February onwards the land begins to dry out and by June only some water remains. For much of the year the area of wetland is only 1,000 ha. Soils are predominantly alluvial - some clay has formed as a result of the periodic inundations.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">In a semi-arid biotype, the park is the only area with much vegetation, hence the term 'Ghana' meaning 'thicket'. The principal vegetation types are tropical dry deciduous forest, intermixed with dry grassland in areas where forest has been degraded. Apart form the artificially managed marshes, much of the area is covered by medium-sized trees and shrubs. Forests, mostly in the north-east of the park, are dominated by kalam or kadam, jamun and babul. The open woodland is mostly babul with a small amount of kandi and ber. Scrublands are dominated by ber and kair. The aquatic vegetation is rich in species and is a valuable source of food for waterfowl.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Primates are rhesus macaque and langur. Large predators are absent, leopard having been deliberately exterminated by 1964, but small carnivores include Bengal fox, jackal, striped hyena, common palm civet, small Indian civet, Indian grey mongoose Herpestes edwardsi , fishing cat, leopard cat, jungle cat and smooth-coated otter. Ungulates include blackbuck, chital, sambar, hog deer, nilgai and wild boar and feral cattle. Other mammals include Indian porcupine and Indian hare.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">An estimated 65 million fish fry are carried into the park's water impoundments by river flooding every year during the monsoon season, which provides the food base for large numbers of wading and fish-eating birds. Some 364 species of bird have been recorded in the park, which is considered to be one of the world's finest areas for birds, with a unique assemblage of species.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The park's location in the Gangetic Plain makes it an unrivalled breeding site for herons, storks and cormorants and an important wintering ground for large numbers of migrant ducks. The most common waterfowl are gadwall, shoveler, common teal, cotton teal, tufted duck, comb duck, little cormorant, great cormorant, Indian shag, ruff, painted stork, white spoonbill, Asian open-billed stork, oriental ibis, darter, common sandpiper, wood sandpiper and green sandpiper. Sarus crane, with its spectacular courtship dance, is also found here.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Among landbirds is a rich assortment consisting of warblers, babblers, bee-eaters, bulbuls, buntings, chats, partridges and quails. Grey hornbill and Marshall's iora are also present. There are many birds of prey including the osprey, peregrine, Pallas' sea eagle, short-toed eagle, tawny eagle, imperial eagle, spotted eagle and crested serpent eagle. Greater spotted eagle has recently been recorded breeding here, a new breeding record for the species in India and lesser spotted eagle nested in the park in 1986, the first nesting record for the species in India for some time.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Several other threatened avifauna species occur, including Dalmatian pelican, spot-billed pelican, greater adjutant, lesser adjutant, marbled teal, Baikal teal, Baer's pochard, red kite, cinereous vulture and sociable lapwing.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Reptiles include water snakes, Indian python, banded krait, green rat snake, turtles and monitor lizard.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-27190734839142947652012-01-18T18:27:00.003+05:302012-01-19T19:48:03.633+05:30Manas Wildlife Sanctuary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">On a gentle slope in the foothills of the Himalayas, where wooded hills give way to alluvial grasslands and tropical forests, the Manas sanctuary is home to a great variety of wildlife, including many endangered species, such as the tiger, pygmy hog, Indian rhinoceros and Indian elephant.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E3fES20IruI/TxQcDEv-ADI/AAAAAAAAAC4/fsjBsCNwXhM/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="424" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E3fES20IruI/TxQcDEv-ADI/AAAAAAAAAC4/fsjBsCNwXhM/s640/01.jpg" title="Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the State of Assam in North-East India, a biodiversity hotspot. Covering an area of 39,100 hectares, it spans the Manas river and is bounded to the north by the forests of Bhutan. The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is part of the core zone of the 283,700 hectares Manas Tiger Reserve, and lies alongside the shifting river channels of the Manas River. The site’s scenic beauty includes a range of forested hills, alluvial grasslands and tropical evergreen forests. The site provides critical and viable habitats for rare and endangered species, including tiger, greater one-horned rhino, swamp deer, pygmy hog and Bengal florican. Manas has exceptional importance within the Indian sub-continent’s protected areas, as one of the most significant remaining natural areas in the region, where sizeable populations of a large number of threatened species continue to survive.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Manas is recognized not only for its rich biodiversity but also for its spectacular scenery and natural landscape. Manas is located at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. The northern boundary of the park is contiguous to the international border of Bhutan manifested by the imposing Bhutan hills. It spans on either side of the majestic Manas river flanked in the east and the west by reserved forests. The tumultuous river swirling down the rugged mountains in the backdrop of forested hills coupled with the serenity of the alluvial grasslands and tropical evergreen forests offers a unique wilderness experience.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The Manas-Beki system is the major river system flowing through the property and joining the Brahmaputra river further downstream. These and other rivers carry an enormous amount of silt and rock debris from the foothills resulting from the heavy rainfall, fragile nature of the rock and steep gradients of the catchments. This leads to the formation of alluvial terraces, comprising deep layers of deposited rock and detritus overlain by sandy loam and a layer of humus represented by bhabar tracts in the north. The terai tract in the south consists of fine alluvial deposits with underlying pans where the water table lies near to the surface. The area contained by the Manas-Beki system gets inundated during the monsoons but flooding does not last long due to the sloping relief. The monsoon and river system form four principal geological habitats: Bhabar savannah, Terai tract, marshlands and riverine tracts. The dynamic ecosystem processes support broadly three types of vegetation: semi-evergreen forests, mixed moist and dry deciduous forests and alluvial grasslands. The dry deciduous forests represent an early stage in succession that is constantly renewed by floods and is replaced by moist decidous forests away from water courses, which in turn are replaced by semi evergreen climax forests. The vegetation of Manas has tremendous regenerating and self-sustaining capabilities due to its high fertility and response to natural grazing by herbivorous animals.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary provides habitat for 22 of India’s most threatened species of mammals. In total, there are nearly 60 mammal species, 42 reptile species, 7 amphibians and 500 species of birds, of which 26 are globally threatened. Noteworthy among these are the elephant, tiger, greater one-horned rhino, clouded leopard, sloth bear, and other species. The wild buffalo population is probably the only pure strain of this species still found in India. It also harbours endemic species like pygmy hog, hispid hare and golden langur as well as the endangered Bengal florican. The range of habitats and vegetation also accounts for high plant diversity that includes 89 tree species, 49 shrubs, 37 undershrubs, 172 herbs and 36 climbers. Fifteen species of orchids, 18 species of fern and 43 species of grasses that provide vital forage to a range of ungulate species also occur here.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><b>Integrity</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The property is a wildlife sanctuary with a focus on maintaining the integrity of the property as a natural area. It forms the core of a larger national park, the boundaries of which are clearly demarcated and supervised. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is buffered on the north by the Royal Manas National Park of Bhutan and on the east and west less effectively by the Manas Tiger Reserve. Transboundary cooperation is therefore important to the effectiveness of its protection.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><b>Protection and management requirements</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The property, which has six national and international designations (i.e. World Heritage Site, National Park, Tiger Reserve (core), Biosphere Reserve (national), Elephant Reserve (core) and Important Bird Area) has the highest legal protection and strong legislative framework under the provisions of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Indian Forest Act, 1927/Assam Forest Regulation 1891. The property benefits from government support at both national and regional levels as well as involvement of national and international conservation organisations.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The property is managed under the administration of the Assam Forest Department / Bodoland Territorial Council. A comprehensive and approved Management Plan is an essential requirement, together with effective patrolling and enforcement capacity to deal with the threats of encroachment, grazing and poaching. The provision of adequate infrastructure, skilled personnel and monitoring arrangements for the property are all essential requirements. Scientific research and monitoring for habitat and invasive species management and recovery of wildlife populations is a particular imperative for management to ascertain and maintain the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. The property is home to 400 varieties of wild rice, also making the management of its biodiversity values of high importance to food security.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Provision of effective tourism facilities, visitor information and interpretation is also a priority for the park management. A sustainable financing mechanism needs to be ensured to provide the necessary financial resources for the long term management of the property. The surrounding buffer zones are managed on a multiple use basis, and a balance is required between conservation and resource extraction in the management of these areas. Involvement of local communities who live and make use of the areas adjacent to the reserve in protection efforts for the property is essential, and a key management objective is to enhance their engagement and awareness in the interest of the preservation of the property. There is potential to extend the property to coincide with the boundaries of the national park of which it forms the core. The establishment of a transboundary world heritage property across the Indian and Bhutanese Manas Tiger Conservation Landscape would enable greater coordination and cooperation in the management of habitat and wildlife populations and would strengthen protection as well.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-57581009982885409112012-01-18T18:25:00.003+05:302012-01-19T19:48:43.286+05:30Churches and Convents of Goa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">The churches and convents of Goa, the former capital of the Portuguese Indies – particularly the Church of Bom Jesus, which contains the tomb of St Francis-Xavier – illustrate the evangelization of Asia. These monuments were influential in spreading forms of Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque art in all the countries of Asia where missions were established.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JOekmiKgAsM/ThawYgCmwNI/AAAAAAAAAfo/tgtgu2617ss/s1600/Old+Goa+01a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="480" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JOekmiKgAsM/ThawYgCmwNI/AAAAAAAAAfo/tgtgu2617ss/s640/Old+Goa+01a.jpg" title="Old Goa" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>An Old Church at Old Goa</b></span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">These monuments of Goa exerted great influence in the 16th-18th centuries on the development of architecture, sculpture, and painting by spreading forms of Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque art throughout the countries of Asia where Catholic missions were established. In so doing they illustrate the work of missionaries in Asia.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The Portuguese explorer Alfonso de Albuquerque conquered Goa in 1510 and the Portuguese ruled the territory until 1961. The colony of Goa, which has its centre in Old Goa, became the capital of the vast eastern Portuguese Empire, sharing the same civic privileges as Lisbon. By 1635, the successive waves of Europeans brought about the inevitable decline of Goa.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">In 1542 the Jesuits, who were driven by the ardour of medieval crusaders, arrived in the city and Francis Xavier, one of the founders of the Society of Jesus, rapidly became the patron saint of Goa. The churches in Old Goa aimed to awe the local population into conversion and to impress upon them the superiority of the foreign religion. The facades were accordingly made tall and lofty and the interiors were magnificent, with twisted Bernini columns, decorated pediments, profusely carved and gilded altars, and colourful wall paintings and frescoes.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Local laterite was used in the construction of the churches, which had to be plastered and finished with a lime whitewash, while the trimmings were sometimes of basalt. The colour white was so identified with churches that the local administration ruled that no house could be painted that colour.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Of the 60 churches inventoried in the 18th century before the city was abandoned, seven major examples survive. The Sé Cathedral with its Tuscan exterior, Corinthian columns, raised platform with steps leading to the entrance, and barrel-vault is another example of Renaissance architecture. The paintings in the church were executed on wooden boards and fixed between panels with floral designs. Except for a few statues which are in stone, most of the other statues of the saints, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus were first carved in wood and then painted to adorn the altars.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The Chapel of St Catherine dating from 1510, the Church and Convent of Saint Francis of Assisi (which now houses the Archaeological Museum), and the Church of Bom Jesus where the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier rest, are some of the best in terms of design and style. Also of importance are St Gagtan and its seminary, Our Lady of the Rosary (one of the earliest churches to be built), and the Tower of St Augustine, all that remains of a convent built in 1572. The Church of St Cajetan has a facade decorated with lonic, Doric, and Corinthian pilasters.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Other monuments are partially or completely in ruins, but they nonetheless constitute an archaeological reserve of considerable interest.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iG8WeyNba2U/Thawaarc14I/AAAAAAAAAfs/HgAzx9qsXrc/s1600/Old+Goa+02a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iG8WeyNba2U/Thawaarc14I/AAAAAAAAAfs/HgAzx9qsXrc/s640/Old+Goa+02a.jpg" title="Old Goa" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qHCUVHOKNWo/Thawc3J4QrI/AAAAAAAAAfw/o5R6ujDIaVc/s1600/Old+Goa+03a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qHCUVHOKNWo/Thawc3J4QrI/AAAAAAAAAfw/o5R6ujDIaVc/s640/Old+Goa+03a.jpg" title="Old Goa" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7J_lPhY4ZQM/Thaweuzu2ZI/AAAAAAAAAf0/NRCv-oMcVU4/s1600/Old+Goa+04a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="640" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7J_lPhY4ZQM/Thaweuzu2ZI/AAAAAAAAAf0/NRCv-oMcVU4/s640/Old+Goa+04a.jpg" title="Old Goa" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cEybbdWGxeE/Thawf7OLxZI/AAAAAAAAAf4/vMw8aobVcAo/s1600/Old+Goa+05a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="420" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cEybbdWGxeE/Thawf7OLxZI/AAAAAAAAAf4/vMw8aobVcAo/s640/Old+Goa+05a.jpg" title="Old Goa" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AjpffZ_NJi4/ThawhhXKXAI/AAAAAAAAAf8/KN-cjh6IG68/s1600/Old+Goa+06a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AjpffZ_NJi4/ThawhhXKXAI/AAAAAAAAAf8/KN-cjh6IG68/s640/Old+Goa+06a.jpg" title="Old Goa" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t-uH6NwPttY/Thawi5HzxbI/AAAAAAAAAgA/ZU2CvUiMb5c/s1600/Old+Goa+07a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t-uH6NwPttY/Thawi5HzxbI/AAAAAAAAAgA/ZU2CvUiMb5c/s640/Old+Goa+07a.jpg" title="Old Goa" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-353bvsKs7v0/ThawkEIyZEI/AAAAAAAAAgE/31fpH_N0XL4/s1600/Old+Goa+08a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="480" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-353bvsKs7v0/ThawkEIyZEI/AAAAAAAAAgE/31fpH_N0XL4/s640/Old+Goa+08a.jpg" title="Old Goa" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9xyks2higk/ThawlTHkb4I/AAAAAAAAAgI/htOGfId7obw/s1600/Old+Goa+09a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9xyks2higk/ThawlTHkb4I/AAAAAAAAAgI/htOGfId7obw/s640/Old+Goa+09a.jpg" title="Old Goa" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sebjghp65M8/ThawmzqEItI/AAAAAAAAAgM/5dD2QTMfmVw/s1600/Old+Goa+010a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="480" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sebjghp65M8/ThawmzqEItI/AAAAAAAAAgM/5dD2QTMfmVw/s640/Old+Goa+010a.jpg" title="Old Goa" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-40710637641643634072012-01-18T18:24:00.003+05:302012-01-19T19:49:03.387+05:30Fatehpur Sikri<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Built during the second half of the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only some 10 years. The complex of monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style, includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mgX0YAQoBIY/TxQgPoHffmI/AAAAAAAAADA/pAZMC1gRefs/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="480" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mgX0YAQoBIY/TxQgPoHffmI/AAAAAAAAADA/pAZMC1gRefs/s640/01.jpg" title="Fatehpur Sikri" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fatehpur Sikri</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Fatehpur Sikri bears exceptional testimony to the Mughal civilization at the end of the 16th century. It offers a unique example of architectural ensembles of very high quality constructed between 1571 and 1585. Its form and layout strongly influenced the evolution of Indian town planning, notably at Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi).</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The 'City of Victory' had only an ephemeral existence as the capital of the Mughal empire. The Emperor Akbar (1556-1605) decided to construct it in 1571, on the same site where the birth of his son, the future Jahangir, was predicted by the wise Shaikh Salim Chisti (1480-1572). The work, supervised by the great Mughal himself, was completed in 1573. In 1585, however, Akbar abandoned Fatehpur Sikri to fight against the Afghan tribes and choose a new capital, Lahore. Fatehpur Sikri was to be the seat of the great Mughal court only once more for three months in 1619, when Jahangir sought refuge there from the plague that devastated Agra. The site was then finally abandoned, until its archaeological exploration in 1892.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This capital without a future, some 40 km from Agra was, however, considerably more than the fancy of a sovereign during the 14 years of its existence. The city, which the English traveller Ralph Fitch considered in 1585 as 'considerably larger than London and more populous', comprised a series of palaces, public buildings and mosques, as well as living areas for the court, the army, servants of the king and for an entire population whose history has not been recorded.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Only one tiny part of the city (where the large buildings are concentrated) has been until now, studied, visited and relatively well preserved. Fatehpur Sikri, constructed on a rocky plateau, south-east of an artificial lake, created for the occasion and today partially dried up, is bounded on three sides by a 6 km wall, fortified by towers and pierced by seven gates (the best preserved is the Gate of Agra, the second from the north). This spacious enclosure defines the limits of the new foundation rather than assuring its defence.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The majority of the important monuments are found to the north of the road from Gaza to Agra; constructed of red sandstone, they form a homogeneous group, even if the eclecticism of their style is evident and is based on borrowings from Hindu, Persian and Indo-Muslim traditions. Among the numerous palaces, gazebos, pavilions, etc., may be cited in particular:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Diwan-i-Am, the Hall of Public Audience, is encircled by a series of porticos which are broken up by the insertion of the imperial box where Akbar, surrounded by his ministers and officers meted out justice. This box communicates directly with Daulat Khana (Imperial Palace), flanked to the north by Diwan-i-Kas (Hall of Private Audience), called the 'Jewel House', a monument known for its central plan, which comprises an extraordinary capital surmounted by a circular balcony: the 'throne'.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Other monuments of exceptional quality are the Ranch Mahal, whose elevation of four recessed storeys recalls certain Buddhist temples, the pavilion of Anup Talao, or the Turkish Sultana, the palace of Jodh Bai, the palace of Birbal, the caravanserai and the problematic 'stables'.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Owing to the piety of Akbar, many religious and votive monuments were constructed at Fatehpur Sikri. The great mosque (Jama Masjid), one of the most spacious in India (165 m by 133 m) could accommodate some 10,000 faithful; it was completed in 1571-72 and according to the dedicatory inscription deserves no less respect than Mecca. It incorporates, in the centre of the court, the tomb of Shaikh Salim, an extraordinary Christian masterpiece of sculpted decoration, further embellished under the reign of Jahangir.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">To the south of the court, the Buland Damaza, completed in 1575, commemorating the victories (the taking of Gujarat in 1572) to which the city, their monumental symbol, owes its existence and its name.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-1679682713084310142012-01-18T18:23:00.005+05:302012-04-12T12:53:28.285+05:30Khajuraho Group of Monuments<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Chandella dynasty, which reached its apogee between 950 and 1050. Only about 20 temples remain; they fall into three distinct groups and belong to two different religions – Hinduism and Jainism. They strike a perfect balance between architecture and sculpture. The Temple of Kandariya is decorated with a profusion of sculptures that are among the greatest masterpieces of Indian art. The complex of Khajuraho represents a unique artistic creation, as much for its highly original architecture as for the sculpted decor of a surprising quality made up of a mythological repertory of numerous scenes of amusements of which not the least known are the scenes, susceptible to various interpretations, sacred or profane.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EAoyNn7pEJc/TxQiBOA5NrI/AAAAAAAAADI/n40UiFTBXto/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Khajuraho Group of Monuments" border="0" height="480" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EAoyNn7pEJc/TxQiBOA5NrI/AAAAAAAAADI/n40UiFTBXto/s640/01.jpg" title="Temple of Khajuraho Group of Monuments" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Khajuraho Temple</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Khajuraho is one of the capitals of the Chandella rulers, a dynasty of Rajput origin which came into power at the beginning of the 10th century, and reached its apogee between 950 and 1050. Of the 85 temples which were constructed at Khajuraho during the Chandella period (and which were still resplendent: when the great traveller Ibn Battuta noted them in 1335), 22 still exist, disseminated within an area of about 6 km2.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As, monuments of two distinct religions, Brahminism and Jainism, the temples of Khajuraho are nonetheless distinguished by a common typology: they comprise an elevated substructure, over which rises the body of the richly decorated building, the 'jangha', covered with several registers of sculpted panels on to which open-work galleries are opened. This is crowned by a series of bundled towers with curvilinear contours, the Sikharas.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ruOT7dgbOg8/T4aBK5oABPI/AAAAAAAAAHs/R9Z3OYIw9j8/s1600/n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Khajuraho Group of Monuments at Khajuraho" border="0" height="426" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ruOT7dgbOg8/T4aBK5oABPI/AAAAAAAAAHs/R9Z3OYIw9j8/s640/n.jpg" title="imgname" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Khajuraho Group of Monuments</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The highest are found over the sanctuary of the divinity. Each of these towers, which is characteristic of the temples in the Nagera style, symbolizes the 'cosmic mountain', Mount Kailasha. The typical plan comprises an entrance, a large hypostyle hall (mandapa), a dark sanctuary and finally various annexes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The most important group of monuments is massed in the western zone, not far from the archaeological museum, including the temples of Varaha, Lakshmana, Matangeshwara, Kandariya, Mahadeva Chitragupta, Chopra Tank, Parvati, Vishwanatha and Nandi. But the east and south groups also comprise noteworthy complexes (the temples of Ghantai, Parshvanath, Adinath, Shantinath, Dulhadeo, Chaturbhuja).</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yasovarman (AD 954) built the temple of Vishnu, now famous as Lakshmana temple; this is an ornate and evolved example of its time proclaiming the prestige of the Chandellas. The Visvanatha, Parsvanatha and Vaidyanatha temples belong to the time of King Dhanga, the successor of Yasovarman.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Jagadambi, Chitragupta, are noteworthy among the western group of royal temples of Khajuraho. The largest and grandest temple of Khajuraho is the immortal Kandariya Mahadeva which is attributed to King Ganda (1017-29).</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dC0yKCEs41M/T4aBMUve32I/AAAAAAAAAH0/rtckx_71Vpw/s1600/vn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vamana Temple Khajuraho Group of Monuments" border="0" height="424" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dC0yKCEs41M/T4aBMUve32I/AAAAAAAAAH0/rtckx_71Vpw/s640/vn.jpg" title="Vamana Temple" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Vamana Temple</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Greatly influenced by the Tantric school of thought, the Chandela kings promoted various Tantric doctrines through royal monuments, including temples. Sculptors of Khajuraho depicted all aspects of life. The society of the time believed in dealing frankly and openly with all aspects of life, including sex. Sex is important because Tantric cosmos is divided into the male and female principle. Male principle has the form and potential, female has the energy. According to Hindu and Tantric philosophy, one can not achieve anything without the other, as they manifest themselves in all aspects of the universe. Nothing can exist without their cooperation and coexistence. In accordance with ancient treaties on architecture, erotic depictions were reserved for specific parts of the temples only. The rest of the temple was profusely covered with other aspects of life, secular and spiritual.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-78493195764015488222012-01-18T18:23:00.004+05:302012-01-19T19:49:52.804+05:30Elephanta Caves<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The 'City of Caves', on an island in the Sea of Oman close to Bombay, contains a collection of rock art linked to the cult of Shiva. Here, Indian art has found one of its most perfect expressions, particularly the huge high reliefs in the main cave.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b0NDeTQzpkM/TxQjdOjFarI/AAAAAAAAADQ/s783dPh3SZk/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="428" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b0NDeTQzpkM/TxQjdOjFarI/AAAAAAAAADQ/s783dPh3SZk/s640/01.jpg" title="Elephanta Caves" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Elephanta Caves</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The island of Elephanta, the glorious abode of Lord Shiva and an epitome of Hindu cave culture, consists of seven caves on an island in the Sea of Oman close to Mumbai which, with their decorated temples and the images from Hindu mythology, bear a unique testimony to a civilization that has disappeared. Here, Indian art has found one of its most perfect expressions, particularly in the huge high reliefs in the main cave.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The island of Gharapuri, the 'City of Caves', situated about 10 km from Mumbai on the east side of the harbour, owes its name to the enormous stone elephant found there by Portuguese navigators. This elephant was cut into pieces, removed to Mumbai and somehow put together again. It is today the melancholy guardian of Victoria Gardens Zoo in Mumbai, the great metropolis of Maharashtra State and India's second city population-wise.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The date of the famous Elephanta Caves is still very much debated and varies from the 6th century to the 8th century according to different specialists. They constitute one of the most striking collections of rock-art in India. There are two groups of caves. To the east, Stupa Hill (thus named because of a small brick Buddhist monument at the top) contains two caves, one of which is unfinished, and several cisterns. To the west, the larger group consists of five rock-cut Hindu shrines. The main cave is universally famous for its carvings to the glory of Shiva, who is exalted in various forms and act ions. The cave consists of a square plan mandapa whose sides measure about 27 m.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The interior is divided up into smaller areas by rows of supports. The whole shape carefully imitates a building; false profiled beams have been carved in the roof of the cave and the supports, which are complex structures, combine, from bottom to top, the shapes of the pillars, columns and capitals found in bonded stone architecture. At the very entrance to the cave, to the north of an esplanade reached by a steep flight of steps, the pilgrim or visitor to this high place of Shivaism is greeted by two large carved panels depicting, on the left, Shiva Yogisvara (Master of Yoga) and, on the right, Shiva Nataraja (King of Dance), both treated in a monumental style still close to that of the Gupta period. In a chapel on the right of the entrance stands the cylindrical lingam, symbol of the Supreme Being and principle of all energy.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This chapel has four doors, each flanked by colossal figures of dvarapala, those mediator guardians whose task was to admit the faithful and keep out ill-intentioned visitors. On each wall of the mandapa, enormous high-reliefs (maximum height 5.70 m) present further pictures of Shiva. Opposite the entrance, on the south wall, is the famous and unforgettable three-headed bust of the Mahadeva, whose three faces are the incarnation of three essential functions; to the east, Aghora or Bhairava, terrifying destroyer; to the west, Vamadeva, creator of joy and beauty, incarnated by a woman's head; and in the centre, Tatpurusha, master of positive and negative principles of existence and preserver of their harmony.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">On either side of this central figure there are two other reliefs depicting, on the left, androgynous Shiva (Ardhanarisvara) and, on the right, Shiva receiving the waters of the Ganges (Gangadhara). Ten other reliefs, placed in each angle of the main hall and in the aisles to the east and west, depict further episodes from the legend of Shiva, such as the marriage of Shiva to Parvati, Shiva killing the devil Andhaka, etc. The 15 large reliefs surrounding the lingam chapel in the main Elephanta Cave not only constitute one of the greatest examples of Indian art but also one of the most important collections for the cult of Shiva.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-24898633055326093632012-01-18T18:21:00.002+05:302012-01-19T19:50:14.270+05:30Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Nestled high in West Himalaya, India’s Valley of Flowers National Park is renowned for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and outstanding natural beauty. This richly diverse area is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, brown bear and blue sheep. The gentle landscape of the Valley of Flowers National Park complements the rugged mountain wilderness of Nanda Devi National Park. Together they encompass a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great Himalaya, praised by mountaineers and botanists for over a century and in Hindu mythology for much longer.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Valley of Flowers is an outstandingly beautiful high-altitude Himalayan valley that has been acknowledged as such by renowned mountaineers and botanists in literature for over a century and in Hindu mythology for much longer. Its ‘gentle’ landscape, breath-takingly beautiful meadows of alpine flowers and ease of access complement the rugged, mountain wilderness for which the inner basin of Nanda Devi National Park is renowned.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Valley of Flowers is internationally important on account of its diverse alpine flora, representative of the West Himalaya biogeographic zone. The rich diversity of species reflects the valley’s location within a transition zone between the Zaskar and Great Himalaya ranges to the north and south, respectively, and between the Eastern and Western Himalaya flora. A number of plant species are internationally threatened, several have not been recorded from elsewhere in Uttaranchal and two have not been recorded in Nanda Devi National Park. The diversity of threatened species of medicinal plants is higher than has been recorded in other Indian Himalayan protected areas. The entire Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve lies within the Western Himalayas Endemic Bird Area (EBA). Seven restricted-range bird species are endemic to this part of the EBA.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Nanda Devi National Park is one of the most spectacular wilderness areas in the Himalayas. It is dominated by the peak of Nanda Devi, which rises to over 7,800 m. No people live in the park, which has remained more or less intact because of its inaccessibility. It is the habitat of several endangered mammals, especially the snow leopard, Himalayan musk deer and bharal.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The park lies in Chamoli district, within the Garhwal Himalaya. It comprises the catchment area of the Rishi Ganga, an eastern tributary of Dhauli Ganga which flows into the Alaknanda River at Joshimath. The area is a vast glacial basin, divided by a series of parallel, north-south oriented ridges. These rise up to the encircling mountain rim along which are about a dozen peaks, the better known including Dunagiri, Changbang and Nanda Devi East.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Nanda Devi West, India's second-highest mountain, lies on a short ridge projecting into the basin and rises up from Nanda Devi East on the eastern rim. Trisul, in the south-west, also lies inside the basin. The upper Rishi Valley, often referred to as the 'Inner Sanctuary', is fed by Changbang, North Rishi and North Nanda Devi glaciers to the north and by South Nanda Devi and South Rishi glaciers to the south of the Nanda Devi massif. There is an impressive gorge cutting through the Devistan-Rishikot ridge below the confluence of the North and South Rishi rivers. The Trisuli and Ramani glaciers are features of the lower Rishi Valley or 'Outer Sanctuary', below which the Rishi Ganga enters the narrow, steep-sided lower gorge.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Forests are restricted largely to the Rishi Gorge and are dominated by fir, rhododendron and birch up to about 3,350 m. Forming a broad belt between these and the alpine meadows is birch forest, with an understorey of rhododendron. Conditions are drier within the 'Inner Sanctuary', becoming almost xeric up the main Nanda Devi glaciers. Beyond Ramani, the vegetation switches from forest to dry alpine communities, with scrub juniper becoming the dominant cover within the 'Inner Sanctuary'. Juniper gives way altitudinally to grasses, prone mosses and lichens, and on riverine soils to annual herbs and dwarf willow.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Woody vegetation extends along the sides of the main glaciers before changing gradually to squat alpines and lichens. Local populations use a total of 97 species, for medicine, as food plants, fodder, fuel, tools, house building and fibres, as well as for religious purposes.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The basin is renowned for the abundance of its ungulate populations, notably Himalayan musk deer (listed as 'lower risk' threatened species). Mainland serow and Himalayan tahr are also common. The distribution of goral does not appear to extend to within the basin, although the species does occur in the vicinity of the national park. Large carnivores are common leopard, Himalayan black bear and brown bear, the existence of which has yet to be confirmed. The only primate present is common langur, although rhesus macaque has been sighted outside the park boundaries. Some 83 species are reported from the biosphere reserve.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">A total of 114 bird species belonging to 30 families was recorded during the 1993 Nanda Devi Scientific and Ecological Expedition, some 67 for the first time. Species abundant during May and June include crested black tit, yellow-bellied fantail flycatcher, orange-flanked bush robin, blue-fronted redstart, Indian tree pipit, vinaceous-breasted pipit, common rosefinch and nutcracker. Species richness was found to be highest in temperate forests, with a significant decline in richness as elevation increased.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ukBYKbk8LlI/TiJ3HPNK3nI/AAAAAAAABvw/2XjIooLyOtI/s1600/Valley+of+Flowers+National+Park+013a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="480" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ukBYKbk8LlI/TiJ3HPNK3nI/AAAAAAAABvw/2XjIooLyOtI/s640/Valley+of+Flowers+National+Park+013a.jpg" title="Valley of Flowers National Park" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 1"="" class="cloud-zoom" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GtylXMAlGSg/TiJ3JjXdsWI/AAAAAAAABv4/W9iGuT6a4JE/s1600/Valley+of+Flowers+National+Park+015a.jpg" rel="position: 'inside' , showTitle: false, adjustX:-4, adjustY:-4" style="display: block; position: relative;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="410" onclick="return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GtylXMAlGSg/TiJ3JjXdsWI/AAAAAAAABv4/W9iGuT6a4JE/s640/Valley+of+Flowers+National+Park+015a.jpg" title="Valley of Flowers National Park" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8975441127089392829.post-17677489056326708842012-01-18T18:19:00.007+05:302012-01-19T19:51:05.074+05:30Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">On a hill overlooking the plain and about 40 km from Bhopal, the site of Sanchi comprises a group of Buddhist monuments (monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and monasteries) all in different states of conservation most of which date back to the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. It is the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in existence and was a major Buddhist centre in India until the 12th century A.D.</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Buddhist Temple at Sanchi</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">From the time that the oldest preserved monument on the site (Asoka's column with its projecting capital of lions inspired by Achaemenid art) was erected, Sanchi's role as intermediary for the spread of cultures and their peripheral arts throughout the Maurya Empire, and later in India of the Sunga, Shatavahana, Kushan and Gupta dynasties, was confirmed.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Sanchi is the oldest extant Buddhist sanctuary. Although Buddha never visited the site during any of his former lives or during his earthly existence, the religious nature of this shrine is obvious. The chamber of relics of Stupa 1 contained the remains of Shariputra, a disciple of Shakyamuni who died six months before his master; he is especially venerated by the occupants of the 'small vehicle' or Hinayana. Having remained a principal centre of Buddhism in medieval India following the spread of Hinduism, Sanchi bears unique witness as a major Buddhist sanctuary to the period from the 3rd century BC to the 1st century AD.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">When it was discovered in 1818 by General Taylor, Sanchi had lain abandoned for 600 years. The site, 45 km from Bhopal, was overrun with vegetation. Excavations began in somewhat disorganized fashion until the Archaeological Survey of India stepped in and took control. Gradually, as the hill was cleared, the ruins of about 50 monuments were uncovered, revealing one of the most remarkable archaeological complexes in India.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">It would appear that the site was settled in the 3rd century BC at the time that the Emperor Asoka, the grandson of Chandragupta, who had defeated the Macedonian invaders and founded the Maurya dynasty, was converted to Buddhism (c. 250 BC). Asoka, whose queen was from the neighbouring town of Vidisha, founded, or at least embellished, a Buddhist sanctuary located at Sanchi. He also had a stone column more than 12 m high erected with his edicts carved on it. To the south of Asoka's column and predating it is an early brick stupa about 20 m in diameter and crowned with stone aedicula; a wooden railing encircles it. Now known as Stupa 1, this monument was enlarged under the Sunga and the Andhra dynasties (2nd and 1st centuries BC) and is the principal monument at Sanchi. It consists of a gigantic mound of sandstone surrounded by sumptuous porticoes with stone railings; its hemispherical dome measures 36.6 m in diameter and is 16.46 m high. It is particularly famous for the extraordinarily rich decorative work on the four monumental gateways (torana) that provide access. Positioned almost exactly in line with the four cardinal points, these gateways transpose into stone the structure of the wooden gateways: two pillars and three architraves reproduce the assembly of two posts joined by three rails.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The lush carvings, prodigious creations in bas relief, high relief and in the round, are an iconographic treasure trove. The essential theme represented in the decorative work revolves around the former lives of Buddha. Numerous other themes were taken from legends and history. The fresh, wonderfully charming representations of plants, animals and humans, the narrative quality of the stories and the creativity apparent in the fantastic sculptured capitals and cornices combine to make this an unrivalled masterpiece of early Buddhist art. Sanchi has two other famous stupas dating from the Sunga period (2nd century BC). The torana of Stupa 3, executed in the 1st century, are exceptional works. Many other structures are found on the site: within the ruins of a wall dating from the 11th-12th centuries, Sanchi's final years are represented by monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and monasteries, all in varying states of preservation. Temples 17 and 45 and monastery 51 are among the most impressive structures.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Beautiful World Heritage Sites</div>Heritagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972163090426201941noreply@blogger.com0