Sunday, February 8, 2009

Vaishno Devi

7:05 AM by santosh · 0 comments

Vaishno Devi occupies a crucial place among all the pilgrimage places of India and is most popular for the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi which is located here. It is a highly revered shrine located at a height of more that five thousand feet in the Trikuta Hills of the Shivalik Range. Vaishno Devi is also known as Mata Rani and Vaishnavi and is the second most visited one after the Tirupati Balaji temple of Andhra Pradesh. A large number of devout pilgrims drop in to this holy temple to seek the blessings of the goddess and include newly weds, vacationers and family holidaymakers. The temple dedicated to the goddess is the main tourist attraction in Vaishno Devi and is at a distance of thirteen kilometers from Katra. The pilgrims pay a visit to this shrine which is in a hundred feet long cave with a narrow opening. A subtle presence of spirituality infuses even the most reluctant tourist with zest as he embarks on the difficult journey to catch a glimpse of the deity. The tourism in Vaishno Devi is gaining immense popularity due to the presence of this holy shrine and its picturesque and serene locale. There are certain mythological associations relating to the goddess according to which she was born as a young girl of unusual beauty and vigor, out of the jointly pooled 'Tejas' of many 'Devtas' (gods) and three lords Brahma, Vishnu and Shankar. The pressing need of the conception of the goddess was the destruction of Asura (Devil) Mahishasura. Conversely, another purpose was that she could introduce on earth an era of sanctimonious and ascetic life so that harmony could exist upon the world so that she could attain higher levels of spirituality through penance and in the end merge with Vishnu.
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Apart from the main shrine of Vaishno Devi, there are several other shrines also that are worth paying a visit and include Bhumika Temple, Ban Ganga Temple, Charan Paduka Temple, Ardh Kuwari and The Bhairon (Bhairav) Temple. Make your trip to Vaishno Devi a memorable event by staying at the right kind of accommodation. There are several good quality lodging options that are available here for the tourists. Hotels are also available in the nearby towns such as Jammu and Katra. A few well known hotels include - Hotel Asia Shripati in Katra, and Hotel Jammu Tawi and Hotel Jammu Ashok in Jammu. Vaishno Devi is well-linked by air, rail and road and can be reached by any of the three modes. The nearest airport is in Jammu and flights are available for Delhi, Srinagar and Leh from here. Jammu is well-connected by a large number of trains with the important destinations of India such as Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. Road network is well maintained and you can reach here from the major north Indian towns easily.
Vaishno Devi is one of the holiest pilgrimage places of north India and is visited by innumerable tourists all the year round. Nestled in the Trikuta Hills at an altitude of 5300 feet, it is a fascinating place truly worthy of a visit. The holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is located in a cave having an approach route of thirteen kilometers. People from all walks of life come here to seek the blessings of the divine goddess and have their wishes fulfilled. The pilgrims reciting the holy refrains fill the atmosphere with religious fervor and encourage the pilgrims to proceed on the tough climb upwards. Touristplacesinindia.com offers valuable inputs about Vaishno Devi that would be of great help to those who are planning for a tour to Vaishno Devi.
Fast Facts
Best time to visit
Throughout the year (except winter season)
Famous as
Pilgrimage center of Hindus
Languages
Hindi, Urdu, Kashmiri, Dogri and English
STD Code
01991
History of Vaishno Devi:There are several legends behind the origin of this goddess and has been described in the “Durga Sapatshati”. The goddess was born as a young girl having unique strength and beauty that was resulted from the ‘Tejas’ (powers) of various ‘Devtas’ and Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, the three lords. She took birth in the house of Ratnakar as his daughter and was named Vaishnavi. The remarkable intellectual qualities displayed by her amazed everybody and she had an unending thirst for knowledge that no formal teaching could gratify. She started searching her inner self and concluded that only meditation can lead to the fulfillment of her quest. She gave up the material comforts and went deep into the forest for penance and meditation.
Another legend associated with her creation is the destruction of Asura (Devil) Mahishasura. She was also sent to earth as a messenger of peace and harmony and eventually she merged with Vishnu after sincere meditation and penance. In the present day, the shrine is visited by hordes of tourists all the year round and is also growing in popularity among the foreign tourists. Best Season, Climate and Clothing:Vaishno Devi can be visited all the year round, but the pilgrimage is usually undertaken by the devotees in the winter season, i.e., from October to February. Navaratri is the time when thousands of devout pilgrims from all over the country line up the long mountain roads to catch a glimpse of the deity.

Neemrana

6:45 AM by santosh · 0 comments

Neemrana town in Alwar, Rajasthan is quite ancient and is located on the Delhi-Jaipur

highway. This magnificent town is located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan and commands scenic vistas of its rugged surroundings. Neemrana has got its name from a valiant local chieftain named Nimola Meo. He had to suffer defeat at the hands of the Chauhans and appealed that his name should be given to his lost kingdom. Neemrana is an ideal base to explore the surrounding destinations that have lots in store to offer to visitors. A trip to Neemrana is incomplete without a visit to the Neemrana Fort, which is the most popular among the tourist attractions in Neemrana. Neemrana Fort is located on a high hillock and it commands magnificent views of the surrounding beauty. Nowadays, the Neemrana fort is a leading heritage resort and is an ideal venue for weddings and conferences. When you step inside this hotel, you will virtually get transported to an entirely different world. The ambiance is simply captivating and features period furniture, antique works of art and frescoed paintings.
The nearby town of Kesroli is located at a distance of 155 kms from Delhi and is an ideal base for exploring the grandeur and natural beauty of Rajasthan. This place is only some distance from Neemrana and excursions from Neemrana would be ideal for exploring this magnificent town that has also its mention in the mythology. According to the historians this place can be traced to Matsya Janapada of the Mahabharata times. Here you will come across some of the oldest remains of a Buddhist Vihara where the Pandavas are believed to have spent the last year of their exile. One can catch a glimpse of the reclining statue of Hanuman; memorial of the ruler saint Bhartrihari and Talavriksha with very old water reservoirs. As for the lodging, you can put up in the Neemrana Fort Palace or Hill Fort Resort that provide excellent accommodation options to the tourists. While staying in these hotels you can expect the utmost in terms of traditional hospitality and impressive services. The most modern range of facilities is extended to the guests thus making their stay an exclusive one. Neemrana is well-connected by air, rail and road transport. The nearest airport is New Delhi from where you can get flights for the other destinations of India and abroad easily. The rail and road transport from Delhi is equally good and you can avail any of two transport systems in order to reach here. Know more about Neemrana by clicking on to the site touristplacesinindia.com, which offers valuable travel information on Neemrana.
Neemrana is an important site located at a distance of 122 km from Delhi in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. It lies on the Delhi-Jaipur highway and is an ancient town with unmatched scenic beauty. At this place you will come across the 14th century hill fort that was ruled by the Chauhans. You will get a feel of the past glory and grandeur since it was a place under the rule of the royal figures. There are many things about Neemrana that you should have a prior knowledge of before you set out for a tour. There are many things the tourists can watch here among which the most renowned is the Neemrana Fort, which is the most famous among the tourist attractions of Neemrana. Among the nearby destinations you can plan a tour of Kesroli and Alwar that are also worth paying a visit. Touristplacesinindia.com is the site you can browse through for the valuable inputs about Neemrana that would be of great help to those who are
planning for a trip to Neemrana.
History
The historic facts about Neemrana take us to the ancient times when it was under the patronage of Maharaja Devi Singhji. Besides, Neemrana was also the third capital of the descendents of Prithviraj Chauhan III. The chief landmark of this town, the Neemrana Fort, was built by Maharaja Devi Singhji and this particular place has derived its name from the gallant local chieftain Nimola Meo. There is an nteresting incident behind the name of the fort. While fighting with the Chauhans he was overthrown and he made a humble plea for naming his lost kingdom after his name. This fort is an architectural marvel of Rajasthan and one of the oldest too. The present fort is a leading heritage resort that is used for the purpose of luxury tourist accommodation, wedding and business purposes. Best Season, Climate and Clothing Although the temperature at this place remains relatively moderate, the best time to visit would be the winter season from the months of September to February. During this period of the year, the weather is very pleasant and you can enjoy the day sightseeing tours and excursions.