(Online Course) GS Concepts : Festival / Fairs of India

Topic: Festival / Fairs of India

Question : Give a brief account of the important fairs of India.

Answer:

Goa Carnival (February) - Goa

In the South-West of India, in February, as the rigour and fasting of Lent approach, the residents of Goa, specially of Panaji, give vent to an exuberance and zest for life in a carnival that lasts for a week.

This carnival, rivals the best in the world. Bright colourful costumes, masks and flitrations favour the revellers. Processions follow processions. Geniously made floats ply down the picturesque roads. And for an unforgettable week exuberance and joy find a home amidst the sandy beaches and beauty of Goa.

Urs (April/May) - Ajmer Sharif

New clothes and feasts at home for friends, acquaintance, and strangers. At the fair, the wonderland of saints, fakirs and pilgrims. The endless voices in gawalising the praise of Hazarat Khwaza Moinuddin Chishti, helper of the poor. Such an environment welcomes visitors at the Urs of Ajmer Sharif.

The fair, like all fairs in India, is just not a commercial venture. It is a great out-pouring of culture. All night-long, qawals, regardless of religion, sing  in the mehfil and poets sprout amids the shop, above the hubbuh in the streets.

Kulu Mela (September/October) - Himachal Pradesh

To the north, Dussehra, brings with it a fair in Kuly Valley. It is time for gods and goddess to forsake their temples and adore the fields amidst the sun. Each village has its god. They are led in a noisy procession by musicians and minstrels from their various high perches in the hills to the fields of Kulu below.

Pushkar Mela (October/November) - Rajasthan

Pushkar, near Ajmer, in Rajasthan is famous place of Hindu pilgrimage. Pushkar is famous for its large natural lake and its temple dedicated to Lord Brahma. On Kartik poornima, or any of the four days preceding it, an annual festival is held here. During this fair animal from all parts of North India are brought here for sale.

Kumbha

Kumbha Mahaparva, a festival and fair of great antiquity and magnitude is held once every twlve years on the banks of Ganga at Haridwar. The Ardha Kumbha and Kumbhis are held at an interval of three years, between each other, at Ujjain, Allahabad and Nasik.

Kumbha, which literally means a pot of water, is an astrological sign of the zodiac which corresponds to acquarius, the Water Bearer. The Kumbha symbolises the descent of Ganga from Heaven into Shiva’s matted locks, the suspicious entry of Jupiter into the sign of Kumbha once every twelve years when Kumbha is held; and the falling of mythical amrit (nectar) at Hardwar- all blend and fuse in the Hindu Psyche to make Kumbha the holiest of all festivals. The main ritual at the Kumbha fair is have the dip in the river.

Rath Yatra of Puri

Puri, which is the abode of Lord Jagannath (another name of Lord Krishna) is one of the seven most sacred places of Hindu Pilgrimage. During Shravan (July/August) the presiding deities Krishna, his brother Balabhadra and Sister Subhadra are taken in three colossal chariots, built in the shape of temple to Gundichi Bati, near Puri. Every year thousands of devotees come to Puri to tug the ropes of the Chariot, to take Jagannath from the temple at Puri to his suburban home at Gundichi Bari.

Hola Mohalla

It is a Sikh festival held every year on Holi at Anandpur Sahib. This festival is held in the form of a fair to commemorate the militarisation of the Sikhs into the order of Nihangs (Warrior-medicants) by the last Sikh Guru Shri Govind Singh. The main focus of this fair is the display of martial arts like archery, sword fencing, horse-riding etc.

Kulu Dussehra

This week-long festival is celebrated with great pomp and show, song and dance. On this day various Gods are taken in splended palanquins and taken to Kulu maiden. Each of the numerous processions is led by musicians. Kulu Dussehra is the most important festival of Himachal Pradesh.

Historic and Cultural Place and Famous Monuments of India

Agra

Located about 204 km. from Delhi in Uttar Pradesh, Agra is one of the most famus medieval cities of India. The rise of Agra as a great medieval city dates back to 1505 when Sultan Sikandar Lodi made Agra the capital of the Lodi Kingdom in place of the existing capital Delhi. After the defect of the Lodis, Babar captured Agra and also died here. In 1558, Akbar re-established the Mughal capital at Agra. Under Akbar, became one of the greatest cities of the contemporary world. Except from 1574 to 1586, when Akbar shifted his capital to Fatehpur Sikri, Agra remained the capital of the Mughal Empire till the second coronation of Aurangzeb. Agra commands a unique status in the art map of the world on account of numerous masterpieces of Mughal art and architecture. Some of the finest specimens of the Mughal art Agra are the Fort, the Taj, Jasmine Palace, Pearl Mosque, etc. The golden age of Agra came to an end with the end of Shah Jahan’s reign.

Ahmedabad

Situated on the bank of the river Sabarmati in Gujarat. Ahmedabad was founded in 1411 by Sultan Ahmad-I of Gujarat. Under Sultan Ahmad-I and his successors, Ahmedabad rapidly grew as the most well planned beautiful and prosperous city of Western India. In medieval India, it was also a great industrial town known for the manufacture of silk, brocades, gold and silver, thread and lac. At the close of the 17th century, the Italian traveller Careri called it “the greatest city in India nothing interior to Venice”. The Sultans of Gujarat greatly enriched with numerous excellent monuments, such as: Ahmedabad fort, the Jami Masjid, the Tin Darwaja, Rani-Ka-Hazria, Sidi Sa’id mosque, etc.

Ahmednagar

Located about 121 km. to the north-east of Pune, in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, Ahmednagar was founded in 1494 A.D. by Ahmad Nizam Shah, the founder of the Nizam-Shahi dynasty as the new caital of his Kingdom . From 1494 to 1636 when the Nizam-Shahi Kingdom of Ahmednagar was annexed to the Mughal Empire Ahmednagar served as the capital of the Nizam Shahi Kingdom and rapidly became a Premier town of the Deccan. Its fame was immortalised by the Nizam-Shahi, Prime Minister Malik Amber, and Queen Chand Bibi. The Nizami Shahi Sultans, during their rule for about a century and a half greatly enriched the city with excellent water supply system, numerous forts, mosques, palaces, tombs, gardens. The battle-scarred fort of Ahmednagar built by Nizam Husain Shah is one of the finest and the strongest forts of India.

Ajmer

Situated at the feet of the Taragarh hill, Ajmer now a principal town of Rajasthan, was founded by the Chahaman King Ajayapala who named the city as Ajaymeru. Ajayapala also shifted its capital from Sambhar to Ajmer some time before 1123 A.D. After the defeat of Prithvi Raj Chauhan-III, at the hands of the Muhammad Ghori, Ajmer was annexed to the Sultanate of Delhi. Akbar made Ajmer as the capital of the Mughal province of Rajputana. Ajmer was also the abode of greatest Indian Sufi saint Shaikh Muin-ud-din Chisti whose Dargah is a great centre of pilgrimage for the Hindus and Muslims alike.

Amber

Located at a distance of about 10 km. from Jaipur in Rajasthan, Amber was the capital of Kachhwaha Rajputs. Amber came to lime-light when its ruler gave his daughter in marriage to the great King Akbar and soon Amber emerge as a well known capital city of northern India. The Kachhawahas built numerous structures at Amber particularly the palace, the fort and artificial lake etc. Amber was also a great centre of Jainism. Till the foundation of Jaipur, as a new capital of the Kachhawaha Kingdom, Amber served as a capital till 1727 A.D.

Aihole

Situated on the Malaprabha river in Bijapur district of Karnataka, Aihole was the cradle of the Chalukyan architecture of all the three principal religions of India-Buddhism, Jainsim and Brahmanism. The Chalukyan architecture of Aihole is particularly famous for the Buddhist rock cut cave.

Ajanta

Situated about 100 km. north-west of Aurangabad in Maharshtra, Ajanta is famous for its ancient caves and cave paintings and is known as a museum of Buddhist paintings. The making and adorning of these caves is supposed to have lasted for about a thousand years from the 2nd century B.C. to the 8th century A.D. But the place attained its greatest glory in the 6th and the 7th centuries A.D. when Ajanta developed into a shrine of Buddhism and one of the glories of ancient art. At Ajanta, in all there are 29 caves which are either the Buddhist temples or monastries. Cave No. 17 has described as the greatest gallery of Ajanta paintings. The painting of a ‘Dying Princess’ in Cave No. 2 is one of the finest Ajanta Paintings.

Amravati

Situated on the banks of rivers Krishna in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, Amravati has been a flourishing centre of Buddhism and the metropolis of the Andhra rulers, particularly under the Satvahans. The most famous monument of Amravati is the great stupa of Amravati, which was sumptiously sculptured and carved in its prosperous days. Presently, a lofty temple of Amresvara stands on the bank of Krishna which is a great place of pilgrimage for the Hindus.

Amritsar

Situated between the Ravi and the Beas rivers in the Punjab, Amritsar came into prominence with the rise of the Sikh Power. The fourth Sikh Guru Ramdas, took over in 1574, laid the foundation of the future of Amritsar upon a site granted by the Mughal emperor Akbar. Guru Ramdas also excavated the holy tank of Amrita Sara from which the town derives its name. Guru Arjuna, the fifth Guru completed the sacred buildings and witnessed the growth of a flourished town around the holy site of the Golden Temple. During the later 18th century the Sikh confedracies established their quarters in the city. Under Ranjit Singh, Amritsar received his much patronage and the city and the Golden Temple owe their numerous structures to Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Amritsar was also famous as a great industrial centre and was particularly famous for its woolen shawls, carpets and silk fabrics.

Aurangabad

Situated on the Kham river, in Maharashtra, Aurangabad is one of the famous historic towns of Indian and no other district in India has so many historical monuments such as Ajanta, Ellora, Daulatabad, Paithan etc., as this district Aurangabad was founded by the Nizam Shahi, Prime Minister Malik Amber in 1610. When the Nizam Shahi Kingdom was annexed to the Mughal empire, Aurangazeb made Aurangabad as the military and administratve headquarters of the Mughal viceroyalty in the Deccan. In 1720, Asaf Jah Nizam-ul-Malk made Aurangabad as the first capital of his kingdom in the Deccan. Some of the important medieval monuments at Aurangabad are- the Kali Masjid, the Jami Masjid and Bibi Ka Maqbara, a beautiful tomb of the wife of Aurangzeb. Aurangabad was also famous for its fabrics of silk and cotton.

Ayodhya

Located in the Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh, Ayodhya is one to the seven sacred cities for the Hindus. The ancient town of Ayodhya was also known as Saketa and is supposed to be the birth place of the epic hero Rama. In the 6th century B.C. it was the capital of the Southern Kosala.

Badami

Located in Bijapur district of Karnataka, Badami was the capital of Chalukyas and is famous for its cave temples which were excavated by the Chaulukyas in the 6th and 7th centuries and by their political successors- the Rashtrakutas between the 7th and 9th centuries. The cave temples at Badami are Brahamanical and Jain. In all there are four large cave temples. There are Brahmanical and the fourth is the Jain.

Belur

Situated in Hassan district of Karnataka, Belur was an ancient place of pilgrimage and therefore was also called as a Dakshina-Varanasi. It emerged as a great city under the Hoysalas, who built numerous temples - of them the Chinnakeshava temple is one of the finest specimens of the Hoysala architecture and sculpture.

Besanagar or Vidhisha (Bhilsa)

Situated in Madhya Pradesh on the banks of river Betwa, Vidhisha, Bhilsa or Besanagar figure prominently in the Buddhist, Jain and Brahmanical literature. It lay on the main route from the North to South and was also connected to Western India and Northern India alike. On account of its exalted commercial position Vidhisha was one of the richest cities of ancient India. Ashoka as a Prince stayed here as a Governor. Numerous dynasties of ancient India from the Mauryas to the Shungas and Indo-Greeks, were intimately connected with Vidhsha. From here several antiquities have been found, most important being the Guruda- Dhwaja erected by the great King Heliodorous.

Bhubaneswar

Presently the capital of Orissa, Bhubaneswar is a very anicent city having a continued history from 2nd century B.C. to the 16th century A.D. and provides a panorama of the Orissian art. The most famous ancient monument of Orissa s the famous Lingaraja temple which has been acclaimed as one of the finest Hindu temples in India. This temple was built in the 7th century A.D.

Bijapur

Located on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border, Bijapur is the headquarters of a district of the same name in Karnataka. It was an important town under the Chalukyas of Badami and the Yadavas of Devagiri. After the foundation of the Bahamani Kingdom, Bijapur formed part of their Kingdom. When the Bahmani Kingdom  declined and disintegrated, Sultan Yusuf Adil Khan founded an independent Adil Shahi, Kingdom with Bijapur as its capital. Till the annexation of the Adil Shahi Kingdom to the Mughal Empire by Aurangzeb in 1686, Bijapur remained a rich and prosperous town and one of the best known capital cities of South India. The Adil Shahi Sultans were great patrons of art and architecture. The city boasts of over 20 mosques 20 tombs and atleast as many palaces of the Adil Shahi period. Of those the most outstanding monument is the Gol Gumbaj which is the second largest dome in the world. The Bijapur school of painting is regarded as the best school of Deccani painting.

Bodh-Gaya or Buddha Gaya

Situated about 10 kms. to the South of Gaya in Bihar. Bodh-Gaya is one of the most scred spot in the history of Buddhism (where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under the celebrated people or Bodhi Tree). The most famous monument at Bodh-Gaya is the famous Mahabodhi temple built in the 2nd century A.D. There are also numerous other Buddhist Chaityas and stupas particularly of the Pala period.

Champaner

Situated about 51 km from Godhara in Panchamahals district of Gujarat, Champaner was one of the most well known medieval towns of Gujarat. In 1484. Mahmud Begada, the Sultan of Gujarat transferred his capital to the new city. Till the death of Sultan Bahadur Shah in 1536 Champaner remained the political capital of Gujarat. After the death of Sultan Bahadur Shah, the capital and the court of Gujarat were transferred to Ahmedabad, Champaner was also famous for sword-blades and dyed silk fabrics.

Chanderi

Situated on the bank of Betwa, about 80 km west of Guna in Madhya Pradesh, Chanderi was a very famous medieval city which is said to have been founded by one of the early Chandela Kings. Chanderi was a well laid out town, a rich centre of trade and commerce and also the scene of considerable military activities during the medieval period. Babur in his memoris had left a vivid account of this town. Chanderi has long been famous for the manufacture of delicate muslims and fine alike. Chanderi abounds several monuments including its great fort and several other Islamic buildings.

Chidambaram

Situated about 24 km. south of Madras in South Arcot district of Tamil Nadu, Chidambaram was a great town and a place of pilgrimage. It was also once the capital of the Cholas. The Cholas and the Pandhyas build numerous magnificient temples here. The most famous of these is the great Nataraja temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva in his ‘Cosmic Dancer’ manifestation. The Gopurams of the temple are covered with sculptures illustrating the 110 positions of the Natya Shastra- the Indian art of dancing.

Chitor

Situated about 108 km. to the North-East of Udaipur in Rajasthan, Chitor has been the cradle of Rajput Chivalry and valour. The city and the fort of Chitor were said to have been founded by the Mauryan ruler Chitrangada. Chitor got reknown when the Guhila ruler Jaitra Singh (1213-52 A.D.) made Chitor the capital of his Kingdom of Mewar. In the early 14th century, the Sisodiyas established their supremacy over Chitor, and some of the great rulers of this dynasty were Rana Kumbha, Rana Sanga and Rana Pratap. In 1567-68, when Akbar conquered it from Rana Pratap, the capital of Mewar had to be shifted from Chitor to Udaipur, which threafter became the Permanent capital of Mewar. Chitor is a treasure house of historical relics and monuments. A Tower of victory or Kirti Stambh built by Rana Kumbha, the fort of Chitor and several Jain and Hindu temples constituted the rich heritage of Rajput art at Chitor.

Dhar or Dhara

A city and a district of the same name in Madhya Pradesh, Dhara became famous as the capital of the Parmara when King Bhoj transferred his capital from Ujjain to Dhara. Bhoja rebuilt the city on a new model. Under the Parmaras, Dhara grew as a metropolitan town with beautiful palaces, pleasure gardens and fortifications around the city. It also came to be recognised as one of the great centres of learning. The Bhojasala at Dhar was a famous temple of learning or a College of Sanskrit. The presiding deity of this temple was an image of Vagadevi, which now preserved in the British Museum, London, and is insignia of the Bhartiya Jnanapith Award.

Delhi

Located on the banks of the Yamuna, Delhi now a Union Territory and the capital of India is one of the most historic cities of India. From the earliest dawn of Indian History, city after city have risen and fallen in succession within the confines of present Delhi and therefore Delhi has aptly been called “the procession of cities”. The first known city was the Indraprastha, next was founded by the Tomars. Today’s Delhi is said to be an amalgam of seven previous cities Delhi had been enriched by the successive rulers by numerous monuments. The most important being the Qutab Minar completed by Illtutmush, the Tughlaqbad complex built by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq and Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq but the reign of Shahjahan marked the golden age of the city of Delhi when Shahjahan founded Shahjahanabad and beautified the city with numerous large and beautiful buildings such as Jama Masjid, the palace fort complex known as the Red Fort which has several important buildings such as the Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khass, the Rang Mahal, etc. inside it. In 1911, the British transferred the capital of the British India from Calcutta to New Delhi and founded a new capital city i.e. New Delhi.

Dwarka

Located in the extreme west of Saurashtra on the Arabian Sea about 137 km. from Jamnagar in Gujarat, Dwarka was considered as a Gateway to the mainland of Western India. According to mythological accounts, it was the adopted home and capital of Lord Krishna after he gave up Mathura. As a place of Hindu pilgrimage, it was considered to be one of the seven sacred towns of Hindu pilgrims. Originally, Dwarka is said to have been swallowed up by the sewa which has been proved by the recent oceanographic archacological explorations conducted by Prof. S.R. Rao.

Devagiri or Daultabad

Situated about 14 km. north west Aurangabad in Maharashtra, Devagiri, was the capital of the Yadava Kingdom, which rose in the 12th century. In 1494, Allauddin Khilji invaded Devagiri and finally it was annexed to the Sultanate of Delhi in 1313. In 1527, Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq made Devagiri the second administrative centre of the empire and changed the name of Devagiri to Daultabad but Daultabad remained the capital of Tughlaq empire hardly for 10 years. After the decline of the Tughlaq Empire, Daultabad formed part of the Behamani Kingdom and after the decline of the latter of the Nizam Shahi Kingdom. In 1633, it was captured by the Mughals and served as the headquarters of the Mughal viceroys in the Deccan. The fort of Daulatabad, the Jami Masjid are some of the important monuments at Daultabad.

Elephanta

Situated about 11 km. east of Apollo Bunder and 5 km. south of Trombay (near Bombay), Elephanta is a small island in Kolaba district of Maharashtra. Elephanta from 3rd to the 10th century A.D. was the site of an ancient city and a place of religious resort to the Buddhists and Shaivites alike. It was famous for rock cut caves mostly excavated between the 6th and the 8th centuries A.D. The most famous sculpture from Elephanta is a 18 feet triple-headed image of Trimoorti  comprising the Brahma; the Creator; Rudra, the destroyer, and Vishnu; the preserver. In all there are four caves in Elephanta, one of these caves contains a Buddhist Chaitya.

Ellora

Situated about 24 km. north-west of Aurangabad, Ellora was once a large town and is known to the world for its wonderful rock-cut cave temples in the hills. Ellora contains some of the largest and most elaborately carved specimens of the Buddhist, Brahmanical and Jain styles of cave architecture. Cave No. 16, well known as Kailasha or Rang Mahal is regarded as the greatest monolithic structure in the world. This monument is a wonderful combination of skill, infinite labour and grandeur of conception-unmathced by any other monument in India or elsewhere.

Faizabad

Situated on the right bank of Ghaghra, about 126 km. east of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, Faizabad was founded by Nawab Safdarjung sometime before 1739 A.D. and it remained the capital of the Nawabs of Avadh till the transfer of capital to Lucknow by Nawab Asaf-ad-daula.

Fatehpur Sikri

Situated about 37 km. south of Agra in U.P., Fatehpur Sikri owes its glory and greatness to Akbar who founded the new capital city here and made it its capital in lieu of Agra. The construction of the city began in 1569 and was completed in 1574. Fatehpur Sikri remained the defecto capital of the Mughal empire from 1572-1585. Fatehpur Sikri is knwon as “an epic poem in red-sand stone”. Great buildings at Fatehpur Sikri, built by Akbar include palaces, assembly halls, public offices, schools, hospitals, the Jami Masjid, the Panch Mahal etc. The Buland Darwaja erected to commemorate Akbar’s victory in the Deccan is the loftiest gateway in India and is the crowing glory of Fatehpur Sikri.

Golconda

Situated about 8 km. west of Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh,  Golconda was the capital of the Qutab Kingdom. From 1515 till 1591 when the capital was transferred from Golconda to Hyderabad. However, even after the transfer of their capital to Hyderabad, Golconda continued to remain the military headquarter of the Qutab Shahi’s. Under the Qutbshahi’s Golconda not only emerged as the greatest metropolis of the Deccan but also rose into an internationally known commercial centre. It was acknowledged as the greatest diamond mart in the world and one of the greatst centre of textile industry and trade. The fort of Golconds is one of the best known forts of Deccan. To the north of the fort there are numerous tombs of the Qutbshahi rulers.

Goa

Located on the western coast of India, the ancient name of Goa was Gomantak. The Arab writers called it Sindavur. In the 14th century.Goa emerged as one of the most important emporia on the western coast and also one of the greatest centres of Arab trade being the greatest disembarkation point for the imported Arabian horses. In 1510, the Portuguese captured Goa from the Adilsahi Sultan of Bijapur. The Portuguese continued to occupy Goa from 1510 to 1961. Under the Portuguese old Goa was known as the Rome of the east and was a typical European settlement where the trade between the east and west met.

Gwalior

Located in Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior derives its name from historic rock-fortress built on an isloated hill, which is variously referred as Gope Parvat or Copagiri etc. In the medieval period Gwalior was ruled by Gurjar Pratiharas, the Chandelas and Kacchapa-ghatas, the Sultans of Delhi, the Tomar Chiefs etc. The Tomar Chief founded an independent state of Gwalior in 1424. The greatest king of this dynasty was Mansingh, who adorned the hill castle with several new buildings and constructed many irrigation works. Under him Gwalior also became a great centre of Hindustani music. During the Mughal period, the fort of Gwalior was used as a state prison where princes and chiefs were kept imprisoned. On the model of the fort of Gwalior, Akbar and his successor modelled the Mughal forts. Besides the fort, the Tomar King Mansingh also built the Man Mandir, Gurjari Mahal etc. The dome of Tansen, a celebrated musician of Akbar’s court is also at Gwalior.

Halebid or Dwarsamudra

Situated in the Hassan district of Karnataka, Dwarsamudra, now known as Halebid, was the capital of the Hoysalas from the 11th to 14th centuries A.D. The city was destroyed by Malik Kafur in 1311. Under the Hoysalas Dwarsamudra rapidly grew as a splendid city with numerous architectural gems of the Hosala Art. The most remarkable of these are the Hoyasaleshvara and Kedareshwara temples.

Hampi or Vijayanagar

Situated on the southern bank of Tungabhadra in Bellari district of Karnataka, Hampi is the present name of Vijayanagar which was the capital of the great empire of Vijayanagar from 1336 to 1565. During its hey days, the city of Vijayanagar was the glory of medieval India and various foreign visitors from different parts of the world compared it to the great cities of their times. It was compared with Rome, Milan, Venice, London, etc., and still the foreign travellers considered that this was “the best provided city in the world”. After the defeat of the Vijayanagar forces in the battle of Talikota in 1565, the city was badly destroyed by the civtorious troops of the Deccani states. The ruins of ancient Vijayanagar are spread in Several kilometres. Some of the surviving monuments at Vijayanagar are Krishnaswami Temple. Vitthalswami temple, the Lotus Palace, the Maharangamandapa with its world famous musical pillars etc.

Hastinapur

Situated on the banks of Ganges in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh, Hastinapur was the capital of kauravs and the Pandavas of the Mahabharata, which gives the detailed account of the city. Hastinapur was once a splended city from where five periods of occupation have been unearthed during the archaeological excavations. Hastinapur is an important painted Greware Site.

Hyderabad

Located on the bank of river Musi, Hyderabad now the capital of Andhra Pradesh was founded by Sultan Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591, as the new capital of the Qutb Shahi Kingdom. The new city was built in the form of a joint double cross. Of the many buildings raised in the new capital by Mohammad Quli, the Char Minar occupies a pride position. After the annexation of the Qutb Shahi Kingdom to the Mughal empire, Hyderabad served as headquarters of the Mughal Government for sometime and finally became the capital of the Nizams During the 17th and 18th centuries, Hyderabad was famous as a great centre of trade and commerce particularly of precious towns.

Jaipur

Situated about 307 kms. from Delhi, Jaipur present capital of Rajasthan was founded by the Kachhwaha King Sawai. Jaisingh II in 1727 as the new capital of his kingdom in place of Amber. Sawai Jaisingh who was a great mathematician and astronomer laid out the city with mathematical precision. The city was planned like a board of Chaupar. Jaipur is one of the most well planned cities of Northern India. Sawai Jaisingh built numerous beautiful monuments in his new capital. Some of the important monuments at Jaipur are the Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar or astronomical the observatory, palaces and gardens etc. Sawai Jai Singh-II, the founder of Jaipur was a great builder and astronomer, who built five astronomical laboratiories at Jaipur, Delhi, Mathura, Varanasi and Ujjain.

Khajuraho

Situated in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho was the religious capital of Chandelas. In the history of Indian Art, Khajuraho is famous for more than thirty temples built by the Chandelas at Khajuraho and in the neighbouring village. The splendour of Khajuraho reached its peak in the 10th, 11th century A.D. under the Chandela rulers. The Khajuraho temples are the finest group of Hindu temples in northern India which are almost equally divided between the three sects, Shaiva, the Vaishnava and the Jain. The largest and the most imposing of these temples is the Kandariya Mahadeva temple and the largest and the finest of the Jain temples is the Parsvanath temple. The magnificence and splendour of the Khajuraho temples is largely on account of their sculptures- several of them being highly sensuous.

Kalanjar

Located about 56 km. south of Banda in U.P. Kalanjar with its famous hill fort is a place of great antiquity. The world Kalanjar has been derived from the temple of Shiva under his title of Kalanjar. Kalanjar was one of the three important towns of the Chandela Kingdom, two other being Khajuraho and Mahoba. Mahmud Ghazni invaded Kalanjar atleast twice. In 1545, Sher Shah Suri while supervising siege of the fort of Kalanjar was fatally hit by a shell and died at Kalanjar. The hill fort of Kalanjar is one of the strongest and best known pre-Mughal fort of northern India. Numerous rock out tanks, remains of temples, inscriptions etc., are scattered on the hills. The temple of Neel Kanth is one of the best surviving Chandela temples at Kalanjar.

Kanya Kumari or Cape Comorin

Situated at the southern most tip of Indian land, where the waters of three seas coverage, Kanya Kumari is a very ancient port town which has been mentioned by the early Greek writers. It is said that Parvati as a maiden meditated here and therefore the place was known after her as Kanya Kumari. The temple of the Goddess built by the Pandyas on the sea coast is dedicated to her Swami Vivekanand also meditated here and the two rocks where he sat in contemplation are now the site of the celebrated Vivekanand memorial.

Kanchi or Kanchipuram

Situated about 69 km. south-west of Madras in Tamil Nadu, Kanchi is one of the seven most sacred places of Hindu pilgrimage. It was also regarded as the Kashi or Varanasi of the South. It was the capital of the Pallavas from the 5th to the 9th century A.D. Kanchi once contained about a thousand temples and, therefore, it was known as the city of thousand temples. Two most famous temples built by the Pallavas here are the Kailashnath temple and the Vaikuntnath temple. Kanchi continued to enjoy the pre-eminence position under the Cholas, the Pandyas and the Kings of Vijayanagar. It is also India’s one of the oldest and the greatest centres of silk weaving.

Kashi or Varanasi

Located on the bank of Ganga, Kashi also known as Varanasi on account of its geographical location between the two small rivers- varuna or Varna and Asi it was known as Varanasi. In the 6th century B.C. Kashi was one of the sixteen great states which was later on merged into the empire of Magadh. It was also a great centre of Shaivism. The famous temple of Lord Vishavnath is the most renowned centre of pilgrimage at Kashi. It is also one of the seven most sacred cities for the Hindus.

Konark

Located about 39 km. north-west of Puri on the sea-shore of Orissa, Konark is famous for the Sun Temple, known as Black Pagoda. The erection of the temple is ascribed to King 

Narasinhavarman of Khuria who ordered his minister Sibai Santara to build a vast temple complex over here. The Orissian architectures reached its culmination in the Sun Temple of Konark in the 13th century. It was conceived of as a gigantic solar chariot with 12 pairs of ornamental wheels dragged by 7 horses. The temple had also hall of dance, with numerous subsidiary shrines.

Kurukshetra

Located about 160 km. north to Delhi in Karnal District of Haryana Kurukshetra which means the land of the Kurus finds frequent mention in the ancient literature particularly, the Mahabharata, the Puranas, etc. It short into prominence as the scene of the famous Mahabharata war and the site of the discourse of Gita by Lod Krishna.

Kusinagar

Located about 60 km. to the east of Gorakhpur in U.P. Kusinagar is identified with modern town of Kasia. It was the scene of Buddhas death or Parnirvana. In the 6th century B.C., Kusinagar was also the capital of the Mallas. Kusinagar is one of the four greatest centres of Buddhist pilgrimage, in India. The famous image of the ‘Buddha in death’, about 20 feet in length, has been found from here, which was erected in the 5th century A.D.

Madurai or Madura

Situated on the banks of river Vaigaj. Madurai is a famous district and town in Tamil Nadu and is one of the most ancient cities of South India. It was the centre of early Tamil poets of the Sangam age. In the growth of Madurai, the Pandyas, Pallavas, the Cholas, the Vijayanagar Kings and the Nayaks of Madurai contributed equally. From the middle of the 16th century to 1743, the Nayaks of Madurai left their majestic or artistic imprint on the city by raising nine tall gopurams of the Meenakshi temple and the hall of thousand pillars inside the temple. The Meenakshi temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and his wife Meenakshi is the greatest religious, culture and artistic landmark of Madurai.

Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram

Situated at a distance of about 56 km. to the south of Madras and Tamil Nadu, Mahabalipuram was once the main harbour and naval base of the great Pallava empire. It is famous for its seven Pagodas known as Rathas representing attractive Puranic scenes. These rock cut cave temples were carved out during the Pallava period. The most famous of the Rathas of the Mahabalipuram consist of a group of five chariots dedicated to five Pandavas Princes and their wife Dropadi. But the Penance of Bhagirathi at Mahabalipuram is the world’s largest base relief.

Mandu

Situated about 35 km. south of Dhar in Madhya Pradesh, Mandu was one the strong holds and a royal enclave of the Permaras who frequently held their camp capital at Mandu. In 1401 when the independent kingdom of Malwa was founded, the glory of Mandu was revived again and soon it became a city of joy. The Khalji Sultans of Malwa greatly enrched the place with a numerous beautiful buildings. A majority of the surviving monuments. at Mandu were built over a period of nearly 25 years between 1410 and 1526. During this period numerous mosques, palaces like Jahaz Mahal, Hindola Mahal, Hawa Mahal, etc., were built at Mandu. Two most romantic structures associated with Baz Bahadur and Rupmati are Baz Bahadur and Rupmati’s Pavilions.

Mathura

Situated on the banks of Yamuna, Mathura was the capital of the Suresenas, one of the sixteen great states into which northern India was divided in the 6th century. B.C. It is believed to be the birth place of Lord Krishna. It was also a great centre of Jainism and one of the richest centre of the Kushana art known as the Mathura School of Art. Mathura has been sacred to the Vaishnavas, the Jains and the Buddhists alike.

Nagarjunikonda

Situated on the banks of river Krishna in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, Nagarjunikonda is now the site of the famous Nagarjunasagar Dam. It was a great centre of Buddhism and boasted of a number of monasteries and stupas and was also the city of the Krishna culture. It was a great centre of Mahayan Buddhism and this place has been named after the great Buddhist Scholar Nagarjuna.

Nalanda

Situated about 10 km. north of Rajgir in Bihar, Nalanda was the principal centre of Mahayan Buddhism and a renowned university town with numerous monastries and shrines which attracted scholars from all parts of the India, and the far east. From the 8th to the 12th century A.D. Nalanda continued to enjoy the patronage of the Palas. Numerous Pala sculptures, Bronzes, seals, sealings etc. of great historical evidence have been discovered from here. The invasion of Bakhtiyar Khalji destroyed this ancient town and city of learning.

Pratisthan or Paithan

Situated on the north bank of the Godavari, about 45 km. to the south of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, Pratisthan or modern Paithan was the capital of King Shalivahan who is said to have founded the Shalivahan era. It was also a flourishing capital of the Satvahans and a great centre of trade and commerce during the Satavahan periods. After the decline of the Satvahans Paithan lost its importance.

Prabhasa or Somnath

Situated on the Arabian Sea about 72 km. south of Junagarh in Gujarat, Somanath is the name of the famous temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Somanath is properly the name of the temple and the city proper was called as Prabhasa. Somnath is also regarded as the scene of Lord Krishna’s death. Temple of Somnath was destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 A.D. The present temple was built in 1950 exactly at the old site.

Puri

Located on the Bay of Bengal, Puri a city in the district of the same name in Orissa is one of the four holiest places of Hindu Pilgrimage and the abode of Lord Jagannath. The most famous temple of Puri is the temple of Lord Jagannath known as the white Pagoda, which was built in the 11th-12th centuries. Besides the temple of Jagannath, there are also numerous other Vaishnava temples at Puri. The great Vaishnav Saint Chaitanya also died at Puri.

Rameshwaram

Situated in the Bay of Bengal at a distance of about 19 km. east-northeast of Mantapam in Ramnathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, the island of Rameshwaram is an ancient place of Hindu pilgrimage which was used by the epic hero Rama for his successful invasion of Sri Lanka. The name Rameshwarram is derived from Ram and the Eswaram the famous temple of Ramnathswami stands at the site where the epic hero Rama is said to have worshipped the Shivalingam. In terms of its sculptures and dimensions, the temple of Ramnathswami is one of the finest temples in India. The corridors of this temple are the world’s longest. The pillars of this corridor are carved out of solid granite.

Ranthambor

Situated about 13 km. to the North east of Sawai Madhopur town in Rajasthan, Ranthambor was a great fort of Rajasthan. Ranthambor formed part of the Chauhan Kingdom. After the defeat of Prithvi Raj-II at the hands of Muhammad Ghori in 1192, his son Govinda founded a second Chauhan Kingdom at Ranthambor. During the Sultanate period, Ranthambor was the scene of numerous was between the Sultans of Delhi and the local rulers. One of the most well known Rajput rulers of Ranthambor was Hammira. The fort of Ranthambor with numerous medieval temples is one of the strongest forts of Rajasthan.

Sanchi

Located about 32 km. north-east of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, Sanchi was a great Buddhist settlement teeming the temples, Monasteries and stupas, dating from the Mauryan to the medieval times. The most important monument at Sanchi is the great stupa with its four lavishly-carved gateway. The stupa was originally built by Asoka and was expanded during the Shunga period.

Sanghol

Situated about 64 km. west of Chandigarh, Sanghol is now called as Uchapind. It is situated in the Ludhiana district of Punjab. The site of Sanghol has considerable long history from the Harappan period to medieval times, but it has recently come to light with the discovery of several beautiful and well preserved Kushan sculptures from this place. The Kushan finds at the site indicate that Sanghol was a very prosperous town during the early centuries of the Christian era.

Sarnath

Located about 10 km. from Varanasi in U.P. Sarnath is one of the four greatest centres of Buddhist pilgrimage where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon. At Sarnath numerous monasteries, stupas and Buddhist temples were built and the famous Ashokan pillar with the four lion-capital, now our National Emblem, have also been found. Sarnath was also once of the greatest centres of north India sculptures from the mauryan to the Gupta times.

Shravanbelgola

Situated about 12 km. from Bangalore in Hassan district of Karnataka, Shravanbelgola is a very ancient centre of Jain pilgrimage. The great Jain Saint Bhadrabahu, a contemporary of Chandragupta Maurya migrated to this place from Magadh. Chandragupta Maurya during the later part of his life, became a Jain and retired to this place. Thousands of Jain inscriptions dating from the 4th century B.C. to the Vijaynagar period have been found from here. The most interesting monument at Shravanbelgola is the monolithic image of Gomateswara which is India’s tallest image- its total height from head to toe being 17.5 metres.

Thanjavur or Tanjore

A city and a district of the same name in Tamil Nadu, Thanjavur was the capital of the great Cholas. Thanjavur owes its greatness to the imperial Cholas who enriched the city with numerous temples and domes. The most famous monument at Thanjavur is the Erinadiswara or the Rajrajeshwara temple built by King Rajaraja-I (985-1041 A.D.). This temple is a unique repository of illustrations of dance and music.

Tirupati

Situated about 67 km. from Chittur in Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati is famous abode of Lord Venkateswara atop the Tirumala hills. Almost all the early medieval and medieval dynasties of south India, including the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Pandyas of Vijaynagar greatly enriched this temple.

Trichanapali or Tiruchirapalli (Tamil Nadu)

It is famous for the temple of Ranganathn swami at the centre of a small island, surrounded by two streams of Kaveri. On March 25, 1987, the Rajagopuram (main tower) of this temple, which is a 13-tier and 235 feet high tower, was consecrated. It is the tallest tower in Asia.

Udaipur

Located about 267 km. from Jaipur, in Rajasthan, Udaipur was found in 1559 by Rana Udai Singh of Mewar after whom the town is known as Udaipur. After the deservation of Chitor, Udaipur served as the capital of Mewar till its merger in the Indian Union. “Udaipur has been called the city of Lakes”, “city of dreams”, “Venice of the east”, “city of sunrise” and so on. Udaipur was founded around the Pichhola lake. Subsequently, in the 17th century, two unique island palaces Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir were built almost in the middle of the Pichhola lake. Udaipur has several medieval Jain and Hindu temples.

Ujjain

Situated on the banks of river Shipra, Ujjain which was the capital of ancient Avanti, is the modern Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. From the 4th century B.C. to the 6th century A.D., Ujjain was an important city of the empire of Magadh. From the 9th to the 12th century, it formed part of the Parmar Kingdom. Ujjain was also a great centre of Sanskrit learning and astronomy. The temple of Mahakala here is one of the twelve most famous Shaiva temples in India.

Warangal

Situated 148 km. from Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh. Warangal which means the city of Stones, is a very ancient city. It was the capital of the Kaktiyas. Warangal also enjoyed high reputation for the manufacture of carpets. Under the Kaktiyas Warangal was double walled city and had 4 gateways. Kaktiyas built hundreds of temples in the city. The Warangal fort, the thousand, pillared temple, the Bhadrakali temple, the Ranganath Swami temple, etc., are some of the impressive monuments at Warrangal.

Indian Art through the Age

India can proudly claim to be the only country, in the world having the oldest and continued history of art in all possible artistic manifestations- architecture, sulpture, painting, etc. From the Mauryan (3rd century B.C.) to Modern times, India has more than two thousand years long history of art. Indian art forms are classified on the basis of their religious contents- Buddhist, Brahmanical, Jain and secular and on regional patterns such as the Dravidian, Nagar, Visar and in Chronological order- Maurya, Shunga, Kusana, Gupta, Pallava, Chola styles etc. The ancient Indian architecture is broadly classified on the basis of techniques of construction - rock-out or masonry. Similarly sculptures may be of stone or metals - particularly of bronze. The history of Indian paintings begins from the Ajanta wall-paintings. The later schools of paintings are arranged on the chronological and regional patterns - the Mughal, Rajput, Pahari and their sub-regional variations such as Jaipur, Kota, Kishangarh, Bundi, Kangra, Bashaoli schools etc.

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