HISTORICALAVINASH: 2009

Palakkad Fort

Palakkad (Palghot ) fort is an imposing fort covers an area of 15 acres. It is situated on the western border of Palakkad town, in the state of Kerala, South India. The fort is also known as Tipu's Fort. It was built by Haider Ali in 1766 and one of the best preserved forts in Kerala. Palakkad Fort- Tippu’s Fort has great historical importance and also represents the rich cultural heritage of Kerala. The Fort narrates the history of Mysore invasion and the advent of the British to the region.

By the history, it is believed that when the local ruler of Palakkad declared independence from the Zamorins of Calicut (Kozhikode ), the Zamorins threatened an invasion to restore their lost possession. So the local ruler sought the help of the king of Mysore province (Now a part of Karnataka state) against the Zamorin’s invasion. Hyder Ali deputed to help him and later all these areas came under his control. Hyder Ali in 1766 AD built a fort with the help of French engineers in Palakkad. This was to facilitate Hyder’s communication between both sides of the Western Ghats (coast) Coimbatore and the West Coast, which were by then under his control.

Hyder Ali also used this fort as the military headquarters. In 1768, the British ruler Colonel Wood captured it from Hyder Ali and fort was damaged sue to the war. But a few months later it was re-captured by Hyder Ali and it was reconstructed on a solid foundation. The British under Colonel Fullerton again re-captured it in 1783. When the British left, it fell into the hands of the Zamorins. Taking advantage of this, Tippu Sultan’s (Hyder Ali’s son ) armed forces returned to capture the fort. Due to a delay in the arrival of help dispatched by Colonel Fullerton, The Zamorin abandoned the fort and the fort came under Tippu’s control. In 1790, the British under Colonel Stuart captured the fort again and it used as a base for the final attack on Srirangapatnam. They renovated the fort in European style.

Architectural Style
The fort is square in shape, with a drawbridge at the entrance and bastions at all four corners as well as in the centre, sits on a gentle hillock, to one end of the arterial Sultan pet area of town. Water flows in the moat and one unconsciously searches for the rare croc or maybe a monitor lizard immobile on a bank; there is nary even a fish to be seen, though.

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Visitors ropeway at Palakkad Fort

Palakkad Fort, Kerala, India

Palakkad Fort Wallpaper

Palakkad Fort Photo

Palakkad Fort Images

Palakkad Fort Picture

Palakkad Fort In Kerala

Malampuzha in Palakkad Fort

Inside the Palakkad Fort

Entrance Gate of Palakkad Fort

Beautiful place at Palakkad Fort

Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur

The Mehrangarh Fort is one of the largest forts in India. It is situated in Jodhpur city, just 5 km from town. Visitors can be reached from the city through a circular road. The red sandstone fort domination the city has the appearance of an elegant peacock and so it is also known as Mordhwaj Garh. The fort was built in 1459 by Rao Jodha who was the fifteenth Rathore ruler. He wanted to shift his capital from Mandore that’s why he built this fort.

The Museum
The museum in the Mehrangarh fort is one of the finest in Rajasthan and certainly the best laid out. In this museum visitors can see the interesting collection of old royal palanquins, weapons, musical instruments, wood antique furniture, paintings, costumes etc. The employees in the palace, dressed in traditional Jodhpuri dress with shield, hookah to welcome the tourists and offer full information related to the various rooms in the palaces, adding some folklore, legends and royal stories in their own style. Visitors can also visit the following temples and palaces. These are the tourist attraction places in this fort.

1) National Geolgical Monument
2) The Chamunda Mataji Temple
3) Chamunda Devi Temple
4) Moti Mahal - The Pearl Palace
5) Sheesha Mahal - The Hall Of Mirrors
6) Phool Mahal - The Palace Of Flowers
7) Takhat Vilas - Maharaja Takhat Singh's Chamber.

The Mehrangarh fort is often described as one of the largest fort in India. Thousand of tourists have visited this fort. Today, Jodhpur is a developed city. All modern facilities are available here. There are also wide ranges of Hotels available here. Cheapest hotel are also available in Jodhpur.

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Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, India

Mehrangarh Fort wallpaper

Mehrangarh Fort Photo

Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, India

Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur

Mehrangarh Fort Picture

Chamunda Devi Temple in Mehrangarh fort

Chamunda Devi temple in evening

Beautiful seen of Mehrangarh Fort

Konark Sun Temple, Orissa

The Konark temple is a famous tourist attraction in Orissa as well as in India for its architectural grandeur, intricacy and profusion of sculptural work. The temple is dedicated to the sun God or Surya. It is situated in Konark, in the state of Orissa near the sacred city of Puri. It is a masterpiece of Orissa’s medieval architecture and also known as “Black Pagoda”

Information of Konark Sun Temple
The temple city of Konark is situated in the eastern state of Orissa at a distance of around 65 km from Bhubaneswar and 35 km from Puri. The whole temple has been conceived as a chariot of the God Surya with 24 wheels, each wheels are near about 10 feet in a diameter with a set of spokes and elaborate carvings. Seven horses drag the temple. Two lions guard at the entrance of the temple, crushing elephants. A flight of steps leads to the main entrance. The temple is a brilliant chronicle in stone, with thousands of images including deities, the Surasundaris, heavenly damsels, and human musicians, lovers, dancers, and different scenes from courtly life.
Konark was once a bustling port of Kalinga. It had good maritime trade relations with Southeast Asia. King Narashimhadev I (AD 1238-64) of the Ganga dynasty built the present Sun Temple to celebrate his victory over the Muslims. An envoy of the Mughal emperor Jahangir desecrated it in the early 17th century. After that, it fell into disuse. However, Legend has it that the temple was constructed by Samba, the son of Lord Krishna. It is said that Samba was afflicted by leprosy, brought about by his father’s curse on him. After 12 years of penance, Surya, the Sun God cured him. In honour Surya, he built this temple.

Legend behind the Temple :-
One Legend on This Sun temple says that, The Samba who was the son of Krishna and Jambavati entered in the bathing chamber of Krishna’s wife, and was cursed by Krishna with leprosy. It was decreed that he (Samba) would be relieved of the curse by worshipping the Sun God on the seacoast north east of Puri. Accordingly, Samba reached Konaditya Kshetra (Sun area) and discovered an image of Surya seated on the lotus, worshipped him and was relieved of his curse. It is said that the temple was not completed as conceived because the foundation was not strong enough to bear the weight of the heavy dome. Local has religious faith that it was constructed in entirety; however its magnetic dome caused ships to crash near the seashore, and that the dome had to removed and destroyed and that the images of the sun God was taken to Puri.

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Main enterance gate of Temple

Konark sun temple, Orissa

Konark Sun temple wallpaper

Konark sun temple, Orissa

Konark Sun temple Photo

Konark Sun temple images

Konark Sun temple

Festival in Konark temple

Wheel of Konark Sun Temple

dance festival in Konark sun temple

Humayun Tomb - New Delhi

Humayun was the eldest son of Babur succeeded his father and became the second emperor of the Mughal Empire. Humayun’s Tomb is a complex of building which was built by the orders of Hamida Banu Begum, Humayun’s senior widow, Bega Begum, popularly known as Haji Begum, built the magnificent Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi, in 1565. It was the first garden-tomb on the made in India and it is situated in Nizamuddin East, Delhi, India.

Gateway of Purana Qila :-
Visitors can see beautiful images of Humayun’s Tomb from the Humayun Darwaza, a gateway in the Purana Qula or Old Fort in Delhi. The architect of the edifice was reportedly Sayyed Muhammad bin Mirak Ghiyasuddin and his father Mirak Ghiyasuddin who was brought in from Herat. Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, the architect of Humayun’s Tomb, designed it in a Persian ‘charbagh’, or square four-garden style enclosed by high walls on three sides, and the River Yamuna on the other. The Father of Humayun and the first Mughal emperor Babur had introduced this style in India. It reached its zenith over the years of Mughal rule, culminating in the magnificence of the Taj Mahal in Agra. According to the historian Laura Sykes, Humayuns tomb is perhaps the Taj’s masculine equivalent, both literally and to some extent architecturally, as the epitome of solid imperial style. The carvings, the inlaid work on the marble of the walls and the trelliswork in red sandstone, are the other special Mughal features of Humayun’s tomb.

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Visitors at Humayun Tomb

Side view of Humayun Tomb

Humayun Tomb wallpaper

Humayun Tomb, New delhi, India

Humayu Tomb photo

Front view Of Humayun Tomb.

Enterance to Humayun Tomb

Beautiful image of Humayun Tomb

Humayun Tomb, delhi, India

Humayun Tomb pictures

Humayun Tomb Picture

Humayun Tomb Photo

Humayun Tomb Images

Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur, Karnataka

Gol Gumbaz means round dome. It is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah, the 7th ruler of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Indian sultans, who ruled the Sultanate of Bijapur from 1490 to 1686. Gol Gumbaz is situated in Bijapur district, in the state of Karnataka, India. The construction of the Gol Gumbaz was completed in 1659, by the famous architect, Yaqut of Dabul. The Dome is the second largest one in the world which is unsupported by any pillars.

Architectures of Gol Gumbaz :

Muhammad Adil shah II (1622-1657), who succeeded Ibrahim II, designed a tomb for him self, that was very different from any tomb in the past. He selected a large tract of land on the east side of the fort far away from the street and designed a square garden inside the gate. Here he built a tomb having a diameter of 44m. On the four corners, a seven storeyed minaret built and a dome 36m in diameter of 44m. On the four corners, a seven storeyed minaret built and a dome 36m in diameter was perched on top. There is no buttress taking the pressure of this the largest dome in India. It just stands on the four sturdy walls. The height of the ceiling is 50m. The space inside has no pillars and is devoid of decorations. At the base of the dome are balconies from where important personalities could look into the tomb.

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