http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/nanu-zain/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from nanu-zain en-us Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:51:26 +0000 Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:51:26 +0000 Nahargarh Fort is located on the rugged ridge of Aravali Hills and it forms an impressive northern backdrop of Jaipur. It looks most classy when floodlit at night. The fort overlooks the city and presents a glittering view of the city lights. It was built in 1734 and extended in 1868. Nahargarh meaning abode of the tigers was built by Jai Singh to bolster the defence of Amber. The legend has it th http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Jaipur/blog-320481.html The Elephant Festival is a unique event held annually in Jaipur the capital of Rajasthan. Groomed to perfection glittering in gold row upon row of elephants catwalk before an enthralled audience. The elephants move gracefully in procession run races play the regal game of polo and finally participate in the spring festival of Holi. It is festival time for the elephants.The Jataka stories of http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Jaipur/blog-320479.html According to legends the area around the Galtaji Temple once reeled under the problem of water scarcity. It was then that a sage named Galva meditated for a period of 100 years to appease the gods. As a result the gods blessed the region with a stream of water that ended the water problem. As a mark of tribute to the sage the people of the area constructed a temple.Surrounded by the hills of th http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Jaipur/blog-320482.html It was the ancient citadel of the ruling Kachhawa clan of Amber before the capital was shifted to present day Jaipur. Amber Fort is known for its unique artistic style blending both Hindu and Muslim Mughal elements and its ornate and breathtaking artistic mastery.The Fort is unique in that its outside an imposing and rugged defensive structure is markedly different from its inside an ornat http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Jaipur/blog-320480.html It was a hot midday when I arrived at the railway station in the desert state of Rajhastan. Somehow I am already three weeks behind my scheduled arrival. I guess that my fellow learners have started learning the life in Jaipur. As soon as the train stops at a crowded platform I instantly realised that this is going to be a very interesting place to be. I felt extremely loneliness I failed to hi http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Jaipur/blog-258875.html Kushinagar is an international tourist place closely associated with legend Lord Buddha Founder of Buddhism. It is one of the four sacred places of Lord Buddha. Buddha delivered his last sermon attained Mahaparinirvana salvation in 483 BC and was cremated at Rambhar Stupa. The reclining nirvana statue of Lord Buddha inside the temple is 6.10 meters long and is made of monolith redsand ston http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Uttar-Pradesh/blog-402269.html Return from Nepal.. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Butwal/blog-432699.html Back to Bhaktapur Durbar Square.... http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-432625.html This is a shrine of Ganesh the elephantheaded God situated in the beautiful surroundings of Bhadgaon placed in a sylvan setting to catch the first rays of the rising sun. The view of the city of Bhaktapur is seen from here with snowcapped peaks in the background. Nestled in a thick forest it is a good picnic spot flanked by many attractive landscapes. For an easy stroll go down to the h http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-432644.html lies to the east of Durbar Square reached by a narrow brickpaved lane. The towering fiveroofed Nyatapol temple presides over the square. The monument gracefully soars into the sky atop a fivestory plinth. The stairway leading up to the temple is flanked by stone figures of deities and mythical beasts each 10 times more powerful than the one immediately below.Nyatapola Temple is the highest in http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-432639.html Walk around Bhaktapur........A twominute walk south of Durbar Square brings you to Bolachhen also known as Potterrsquos Square because of the many potters seen here moulding wet clay into different kinds of earthen ware. It has a display of fresh pottery left out to dry in the open square. This place can be approached from Taumadhi Square. The elephantheaded Lord Ganesh is the patron of potte http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-432637.html As you walk in you cannot but be overcome by a feeling of inner harmony. Such is the art and architecture and the special layout here. The Palace of 55 Windows built during the period of King Bhupatindra Malla in 1754 situated to the left as you enter through the city gate inspires a lot of admiration. The National Art Gallery is currently housed inside. The palace entrance alias the Golden Gate http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Kathmandu/blog-320472.html Around Patan http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Patan/blog-432694.html Patan Durbar Square like its counterpart in Kathmandu is an enchanting mlange of palace buildings artistic courtyards and graceful pagoda temples. Listed as a World Heritage Site the former royal palace complex is the center of Patanrsquos religious and social life and houses a museum containing an array of bronze statues and religious objects. There is an entrance fee of Rs. 200 per foreig http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Patan/blog-320470.html Having visited the Durbar Square day time early in the morning and during powerless night I realised that it was the right time to move on. I have already become friends of a couple of boys and girls near Basanthapur Square two nights I only ate various dumplings for my dinner. A couple of times I went to have dinner at a little restaurant run by a friendly family. The entire restaurant run acc http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Kathmandu/blog-320468.html Pashupatinath templeOne of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world Pashupatinath lies 5 km east from the city centre. The richlyornamented pagoda houses the sacred linga or phallic symbol of Lord Shiva as well as the noteworthy gold plated roofs and silver coated doors. This is the abode of God Shiva and is the holiest of all the Shiva shrines.Religious pilgrims and sadhus travel all the w http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Kathmandu/blog-320476.html Boudhanath or the Kh257sa Caitya is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Kathmandu. It is known as Kh257sti by Newars as Bauddha or Bodhn257th by modern speakers of Nepali. It is located about 11 km 7 miles from the center and northeastern outskirts of Kathmandu the stupa's massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal. The Buddhist stupa of Boudhanath dominate http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Kathmandu/Boudhanath/blog-320475.html Swayambhunath Stupa.... watches over the Valley from the top of a hillock on its western side just three kilometres west of the city centre. The stupa is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal and its establishment is linked to the creation of the Kathmandu Valley out of a primordial lake. Swayambhu is also known as Samhengu. It is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys livi http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Kathmandu/Swayambhunath/blog-320474.html This complex of palaces courtyards and temples like Hanumandhoka Palace Kumari Ghar Abode of the Living Goddess Taleju temple built between the 12th and 18th centuries used to be the seat of the ancient Malla Kings of Kathmandu. An intriguing piece here is the 17h century stone inscription set into the wall of the palace with writings in 15 languages. The Durbar Square protected as a UNES http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Kathmandu/Durbar-Square/blog-320471.html When I left Tansen early in the morning I initially thought about stopping over Gorkha. Half way along the bus journey we had to steeped out of the bus because there was a buslorry collision. Most of the passengers began to walk toward the scene and I followed them as well. The lorry had hit a mini bus while overtaking and the mini van was hanging on the cliff. The most of the victims were alre http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Kathmandu/Gorkana/blog-431893.html