Navrang India

The Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kottayam .thundercalls.com/

Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kottayam Ixigo

The Kottayam Mission built a number of churches in many places during the British colonial period. Earlier during the reign of Portuguese, the Syrian Christians faced all kinds of problems and when this part came under the control of the British, a peaceful atmosphere was created that was conducive to the development of many churches. Yet another factor was, the local Hindu rulers gave support to the missionaries by way of offering lands, etc. Among the churches established by the Kottayam Mission, the British-builtHoly Trinity Cathedral is an interesting one.

The Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kottayam is a historical church built by the British and is considered as "the largest as well as the most beautiful one in this region. Bishop Wilson called it 'the noble Gothic church, the glory of Travancore.'The church was built under the direction of Rev. Benjamin Bailey DD (1791-1851) in 1830s; but was dedicated in 1842. Fr. Bailey tirelessly worked hard in Kottayam and in this region and was instrumental in establishing the first printing press in this area. He helped translate the New Testament into the local language, Malayalam, in 1829, and the whole Bible in 1841. Benjamin Bailey was a dedicated worker, a man of scholarly disposition. He had close contacts with the famous English literary figure Keats in the 1810s. Later, he become Archdeacon of Colombo. The Holy Trinity Cathedral maintains the old charm and grace with care and has the "largest Choir in its Diocese, with more than 90 members.

http://www.victorianweb.org/history/empire/india/26.html

Techicy

Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi (Vināyaka Chaturthī) is a popular the Hindu festival celebrated across India. This ten-day festival is widely celebrated in Mumbai and other parts of Maharastra. Gujarat and Chattisgarh are no exception. In Tamil Nadu, every village has a small temple dedicated to Ganesha under a Banyan tree and it is quite natural, it is observed in the nook and corner of this state. The festival is dedicated to lord Vinayaga, son of Lord Shiva and Parvati. The festival starts on the fourth day of Hindu lunar-solar calendar month Bhadrapada, (in Gregorian months of August or September). The festival involves installation of Ganesha clay idols both privately in homes and publicly. With permission from the local authorities, a panda (shed) of normal size is erected in a secluded place in public.. The festival is marked by chanting of Vedic hymns related to Ganapati, prayers and vratham (fasting). Prasada to the devotees after puja is distributed from the pandal to the community. It consists of sweets such as modaka (Kozhakattai : a sweet dish prepared using rice or flour stuffed with grated jaggery, coconuts is widely offered in Tamil Nadu). It is believed to be a favourite of the elephant-headed deity. The festival will be over on the tenth day and on this day the idol is taken in a public procession accompanied by music, chanting of mantras, etc to the near-by water-body such as tanks, rivers and sea where the idol is immersed and the clay idol gets disintegrated and settled to the bottom. The belief has been that Lord Ganesa will be returned to Mount Kailasa to join Parvati and Shiva.

Vinayaka Chaturthi, festival. wikipedia.org/wiki/

The festival is an invocation of Vinayaga/Ganesa as he always heralds a victorious beginning and removes the obstacles on the way whenever we undertake an endeavour - building of house, new business, wedding, etc. Devout people do Ganapathy Homam before resuming any undertaking so that they won't face any hardship and obstacle in the middle and successfully complete their undertaking. . When we invoke lord Ganesa, he will see to it that we accomplish our task with desired results. The festival is observed throughout India, especially as a public event in the western states of India such as Maharashtra, Gujarat and Chattisgarh, and usually as a private home festival in other states such Goa, Karnataka,Tamil Nadu, etc. However, display of Vinayaga idol in public and public procession of Vinayaga idols has become popular in many states. The origin of this festival is a debatable one. It may be of South Indian origin. The consensus has been that it became a major social and public event patronized by Shivaji after Muslim-Hindu (Mogul-Maratha) wars, and in the 19th century Indian freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak, made it popular as a ruse to circumvent and hoodwink the colonial British government's ban on Hindu gatherings through its anti-public assembly legislation in 1892.

The Chakra News

Ganesha Chaturthi is also observed in Nepal and in many countries where a large Hindu community lives. England, USA, Canada, Sri Lanka,Trinidad, Suriname, Fiji, Mauritius, etc.

Tit-Bits:

01. Four main rituals are conducted during the festival - Pranapratishhtha - the process of infusing the deity into a murti or idol, Shhodashopachara - 16 forms of paying tribute to Ganesha, Uttarpuja - Puja after which the idol could be shifted after it's infusion, Ganpati Visarjan - immersion of the Idol in the river.

02. Since the time of Maratha King Shivaji, it has become a public event. A Sarvajanik (Public) Ganesh idol was installed first by Bhausaheb Laxman Javale.

03. With a view to bringing unity between Brahmins and non-Brahmins, Lokmanya Tilak changed the festival from a private celebration to a grand public event.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesh_Chaturthi

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/what-is-ganesh-chaturthi-why-is-it-celebrated/1/475604.html

Ganapathi TheHolidaySpot

Vinayga Chathurthi or Ganesh Chathurthi is an important festival for the Hindus, irrespective of their caste and culture across India. This year it falls on the 25th of August (Friday). Among the gods and goddesses in the Hindu Pantheon, the most popular one is undoubtedly Ganapathi. For every Hindu religious ceremony, ritual and function, invocation of Ganapathi in the form of Homam (Ganapathi Homam) is a must for success. In the state of Tamil Nadu, in particular, one can see countless small temples in cities, towns and villages dedicated to 'Pilliyar'(Ganapathi). There is no village or even a hamlet in Tamil Nadu that does not have a small Ganapathi temple. An interesting thing is when the exam season begins, school and college students make a beeline to the nearest Vinayagar temple for prayer to pass the exam with merit. In many towns in this state, on the same street itself there may be two or three Ganapathi temples, in variably. at the corner of an intersection. He is also known by the name of Vignewara, meaning one who removes the hurdles or roadblocks (in Tamil Venai Theerpavan). He also goes by the name of Ayenkaran meaning one who has five arms. The word Ganapathi itself means he is the head of all Ghanas. Lord Ganapathi is the one who wrote the Mahabharata as dictated by Maharishi Vyasa. When Vyasa decided to write the Mahabharata, he sought the help of Ganapathi for his intelligence and agility. He is the god of intellect and wisdom.

Every year we celebrate his birth day as Vinayaga Chathurthi. Many of us quite vague about the origin of Ganapathi. What was the secret behind his birth? Why does he have a human body and an elephant head? Does it not sound strange? Though his real origin is vague because of different versions (that date back to many centuries) one fact is clear that he is the son of lord Shiva and Parvathi. There is a legend behind it and this one is widely quoted in many studies..

Once, when Lord Shiva was away, his consort Parvati went to bathe. As there was no body while she was bathing, with the sandal paste she had, she created a form and gave life to it. She asked him to guard the place and not to let anybody get inside while she was bathing. Since this form was created by her, it became her Pillai (son). Hence he is called

Pillayar (in Tamil Pillai commonly refers to son).

Upon his return, when Lord Shiva tried to enter the place, Pilliyar denied him admission. Shiva got angry and in rage cut the head of Pilliyar and went inside. In the meantime Parvati after her bath came back to the place where Pilliyar was lying dead without head. When she came to know that Lord Shiva was the one who had slain her son Pilliyar, she was furious and took the form of fearsome Kali ad soon had begun to cause destruction and desolation. The devas (Celestial) were scared of Kali's fury and rage and finally approached Lord Shiva to do something to contain her rage. Shiva asked his Ghanas to go north and get the head of any living thing. The Ghanas sighted only elephant first and brought the head and gave it to Shiva who joined the head with the slain body and gave life to it. Parvati became subdued and accepted Pilliyar (Ganapathi) as her son. This is the reason why Ganapathi (Pilliyar) has a human form with an elephant head. He has yet another name Ganesan (quite common in Tamil Nadu). According to Narada puranam, Vinayaga became the head of all Ghanas.

Since that time Vinayaga Chathurthi has become an important holy festival. At home in Tamil Nadu, the Hindus buy the Vinayaga idol made from plain clay, put it in the Puja room and do pujas after taking bath. The special prasadam (Kozhakattai, etc.,) will be distributed among the family members and others later after puja is over.

If you have a lot of trust in Ganapathi the lord of good beginning and removing obstacles , he won't betray you and see to it that your hurdles and worries will disappear as fast as the morning dew.

Pillaiyar Patti Pillaiyar temple:

RSSing.com

pillayarpatti vinayagarMobango.com

Pillaiyar patti Pillaiyar temple, an ancient rock-cut cave shrine (carved out of Pilliyar Patti Hills made of granite related rocks) at Thiruppatthur (1 km from Thiruppatthur, Sivaganga district in the state of Tamil Nadu, is a popular Ganapathi temple. It is being managed by the Nagarathar community (Nattukkotai chettiar community of Chettinad). The presiding deity is called Karpaga Vinayagar and the rock-cut temple that has idols of Shiva- Lord Thiruveesar and other gods is very old . According to Agama text inscription found in the temple, its origin goes back to between the years 1091 and 1238. This temple was built during the Pandya rule and it is believed, the age of the temple is 2500 years. As many as 14 sculptures in the temple are believed to be built between 500 BC to 1284 AD.

In the Garbagraha which is a cave carved out of the hill, one will find a majestic 6 foot tall stone image of Vinayagar in sitting posture facing north. He is called Valampuri Vinayagar as his Thumbikai (trunk) is curled towards his right side, which is quite unusual. This image, it is believed, was carved out in the 4th century. Ekkattur Koon Peruparanan was the sthapathi who created this image ( vide temple inacription: 2 nd and 5th century). Pilliyar Chathurthi is a ten day grand festival here celebrated with devotion and dedication.

Since it is a rock cut shrine prathakhna - going around the Srikovil or Sanctum is impossible; this being due to absence of Prakara.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karpaka_Vinayakar_Temple

Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Pondicherry:

Manakula Vinayagar Temple in the Union Territory of Puducherry is not only a place of pilgrimage but also a tourist attraction. Dedicated to god Ganesa (Pranavamurthy), it is close to the famous Arabindo Ashram established by Sri Arabindo

Manakula Vinayagar, Pondicherry. rajasthandirect.com

and subsequently developed into a bigger institution by the Mother, Sri Arabindo's desciple. The temple had been in existence before the French Colony was established here (before 1666s). But for the threat of British and Maratha invasion, the temple would have faced destruction during the reign of Gov. Gen. Dupleix, Besides, there were strong protests from the large Hindu community living in that region.
Here the idol of Ganpathi is facing east - the Bay of Bengal and is called Bhuvaneshar Ganapathi; now he is called as Manakula Vinayagar as this place was filled with sand in the past. Manal in Tamil means sand; Kulam means pond near the sea. Hence the name Manalkulathu Vinayagar. Later it became Manakula Vinayagar.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manakula_Vinayagar_Temple

Mukkuruni Vinayagar Temple, Madurai:

Any visitor to the famous Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple can not miss a huge Ganapathi shrine located between the shrines of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar. Madurai Mukkuruni Vinayagar Ganesh Temple is believed to be one of the oldest shrines in Tamil Nadu dating back to several centuries. It is said to be 2500 years old and was consecrated as per Agama Satras. According to the legend, lord Ganapathi, unable to face the criticism that he was lethargic and was not physically active, decided to work. He took the form of a boy and sought a job. He just demanded moonru (three) Kurranai grains in return for his work. He completed the work and earned the grains as wages from the landlord. Hence, his name is Mukuruni Vinayagar.

Mukuruni Vinayagar Madurai Menshi temple. Indusladies

The Vinayagar Chaturthi Festival held in the Tamil Month of Avani is celebrated here on a grand scale. Kozhakatti Prasadam (made off rice flour mixed with jaggery and grated coconut,etc.,) is a major offering. Sometimes 18 kgs of flour may go in to the preparation. On the Chathurthi day, the crowd is huge and unbelievable. During the ten day festival, a variety of Prasadams will be prepared to be distributed among the devotees.

http://epuja.co.in/product-details.php?puja_id=403&page=Madurai-Mukkuruni-Vinayagar-Ganesh-Temple

Eachanari Vinayagar Temple:

Eachanari Vinayagar Temple situated about 12 km from the city of Coimbatore on NH 209 is an ancient temple dating back to 1500 AD and is being visited by lots of devotees daily from neighboring areas. The main stone idol of Ganesa is a massive one and is one of the biggest Vinayaga idols in Tamil Nadu.

Eachanari Vinayagar Temple,near Coimbatore. Pinterest

Eachanari Vinayagar Temple, near Coimbatore. Justdial

The moolavar or main deity in the sanctum (garbagraha) of this temple was originally intended for Peru Petteshwarar temple. It is said that when the huge idol of Vinayaga measuring 6 feet high and 3 feet in diameter was being transported in a cart all the way from Madurai through the path in the rugged terrain for installation at Perur Pateeswarar Temple, the axle of the cart broke. So, decision was made to construct the Vinayaga temple at the place where the cart had stopped. Thus Eachanari turned out to be famous for the Ganapathi temple. The most recent kumbabishekam of this temple took place in the year 2004. A golden chariot was made in 1998 at the cost of Rs. 55 lakhs. Daily around 7 am, there will be a procession of the deity in the golden chariot. A charitable aspect of this temple is it conducts free marriages for the poor and needy people. Those who buy new cars, vans, trucks bring them here and take them out on the road after puja. and prayers.

https://www.holidify.com/places/coimbatore/eachanari-vinayagar-temple-sightseeing-1588.html

Uchi Pillayar temple,Tiruchi:

The very name Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu is synonimous with Srirangam, Aganda (wide) Cauvery and the Uchi Pillayar temple.

Trichy rock fort Vinayaga templeGlobal Vision Tours

The shrine dedicated to Vinayagar or Ganapathi is atop the hill that can be accessed via 417 steps carved out of hard stone. The hill is roughly 275 feet above the MSL The Thayumanavar temple at the foot of the hill is one of the popular Shiva temples of the state and is glorified in Thevaram hymns. The Pilliyar temple has a small prakaram around the small sanctum. From here, one can have a panoramic view of the city, the third largest one in Tamil Nadu. The temple priests conduct daily puja protocols and have to climb the steps to reach the hill shrine.
The hill fort was constructed during the reign of Mahendra Pallava-Gunaparan in the sixth century according to inscriptions. These rock-cut temples were further improved during the Madurai Nayak period.

There is a legend behind this temple. Upon participating in the coronation ceremony of Sri Rama at Ayodhya after Rama had rescued Sita from the captivity of demon king Ravana of Lanka, Sri Vibishana, brother of Ravana, was on his way to Lanka with the gift of Sri Ranganatha idol from Sri Rama. The Devas did not like Vibeshna, an assura taking the idol of Vishu (Ranganatha) to Lanka. So, they sought the help of god Vinayaga. Vibishana, after reaching this part (of Trichy) was enthralled by the beauty of the River Cauvery and the serene environment, wanted to relax for a while. Lord Vinayaka was there in the guise of a little boy. Vibishana asked the boy to take care of the idol of Lord Ranganatha and not to keep it on the ground. While away to bathe in the river, the boy placed the idol on the ground and hid Himself in the hill.
Upon his return, Vibhishana was upset and could not locate the missing boy. On top of it, he could not lift the idol of Ranganatha that was to be taken to Lanka. Thus Ganapathi helped Sri Ranaganatha choose his abode in Srirangam. Both Lord Vinayaka atop the hill and Lord Ranganatha on the island of Srirangam grace this place.

Devotees perform abishekam to Lord Vinayaka with milk and offer garlands made of a grass called Arugampul ( a kind of grass). It was built in the 7th century.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ucchi_Pillayar_Temple,_Rockfort

The Swetha Vinayagar Temple, Thiruvalanchuzhi:

Swetha Vinayagar Temple, Dinamalar

The Swetha Vinayagar Temple (Tamil: Vellai Vinayakar Koil) is a Hindu temple situated in the village of Thiruvalanchuzhi (also spelt as Thiruvalanjuli) near Swamimalai in Kumbakonam taluk of Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is Kapardiswarar, a form of the Hindu god Shiva and his consort Brihannayaki.[1].

The Swetha Vinayagar Temple (in Tamil Vellai Vinayakar Koil), situated in the village of Thiruvalanchuzhi is a famous and unique shrine dedicated to Ganesha whose idol is white in color. Believed to have been made from white sea sand, the temple also goes by the name of Swetha Vinayagar Temple (in Sanskrit).

Swetha Vinayagar Temple Tamilnadu Tourism - blogge

The legend, has it that Indra, the king of the Devas, during the churning of the ocean, created the idol of Ganesha out of sea sand kept it in a niche in the temple in the belief that he would get it back later. when Indira came back to get the idol, he could not remove it. So, he left the idol to remain where it was. Kanaka Chola is said to have built the temple. The temple has ornate pillars and latticed-stone window pane.

Yet another legend has it that during churning of the ocean by Devas (celestial deities) and Asuras (demons) with Vasuki the serpent, poison spilled into Amrita. To get it rectified, the Devas created an image of Vinayaga with sea water and worshipped him at the place. The image of the presiding deity is white in colour on account of the belief.

This temple is near Swamimalai near Kumbakonam,a temple city, Tamil Nadu and the presiding deity is Kapardiswarar, a form of the Hindu god Shiva and his consort Brihannayaki.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swetha_Vinayagar_Temple

satue of Swami Shraddhanand in frontDelhi_Town_Hall en.wikipedia.org/

The Delhi Town Hall at Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, housed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) from 1866 during the British Raj till late 2009. The Town Hall was according to patriots and freedom fighters, the seat of power - British paramountcy. It took 3 years to complete the construction work - from 1860 to 1863. At that point of time Bahadur Shah, last Mogul ruler was still in the Red Fort, not as a ruler, but as a prisoner of the British Crown. Previously known as Lawrence Institute (named after Lawrence brothers), it was built with yellow painted and stone, and carved white stone trim.

Delhi Town HallHindustan Times

Delhi College of Higher Studies functioned here for sometime. The municipality bought the building for ₹135,457.00 (US$2,100) in 1866. The building housed a European club and a library in addition to government offices. Once in front of the hall, there stood a nice bronze statue of queen Victoria. Unfortunately, after independence in 1947, it was shifted to Delhi College of Arts and in its place a statue of the Arya Samaj leader Swami Shraddhanand was installed.

There used to be a clock tower that collapsed in 1952, the Town Hall was and still is one of the important landmarks of Chandni Chowk in the Walled City of Delhi. The place where the hall stands was once part a nice garden made by Shah Jehan's daughter, Jehanara. There was also an inn; the sarai (inn) was used as guest house for VIP visitors and wealthy Persian traders. The area was known as Sahibabad or Begum Bagh at that time. It was near town hall on 23 December 1912 the nationalists from Punjab and Begal headed by Rashbehari Bose hurled a bomb at a procession accompanying lord Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst. It was an abortive attempt, lord Hardinge, though injured, was unscathed, but his Mahout was killed.

dailymail.co.uk

The Municipal office was shifted to the new MCD Civic Centre on Minto Road in Central Delhi formally inaugurated in 2010.Presently plans are afoot to repair and restore this 150 year old Victorian British building, which, like St. Marks, is a silent reminder of many colonial events.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_Town_Hall

Ewing Christian College, Allahabad. Collegedunia

Allahabad Ewing Christian College, now known as Ewing Christian College is one of the oldest colleges established in 1901 in India. Its founder was Dr. Arthur Ewing a prominent Presbyterian missionary at the initiative of East India Company. Initially Dr. Ewing started the institution with just eight students and soon its name spread far and wide and was known for its academic excellence. Its firat principal was one Dr. Maasey By 1912, when Dr. Ewing passed away, the college had many buildings - Princeton Hostel, Rhea Hostel, Engineering buildings, the main building, Agricultural department, Philadelphia Hostel and Turner Hostel. In the 19th century, the college became a leading educational institution and had a good reputation. In the later years; the name changed to Ewing Christian College and in 1995, it became an autonomous institution affiliated to Allahabad University.

Ewing christian college ecc main buildingecc.ac.in

CollegeDekho

The college has a sprawling green campus covering 45 acres (170,000 m2), on the south part of the city. The agricultural economics department came up on the other side of rhe river soon developed into Allahabad Agricultural Institute. The college itself has three faculties - the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science and Faculty of Teacher , each having several departments under its supervision.

http://www.onlytravelguide.com/uttar-pradesh/historical/ewing-christian-college.php

Graveyards of the Portuguese Cemetery, Kollam. Travel Triangle

Soon after the discovery of the sea route to India by the famous navigator Vasco de Gama in 1498, the Portuguese had begun to show their military muscle against the natives and expanded their trading activities slowly and founded their settlements in Goa and in Kerala initially. Later they were dominated by the Dutch and the British.

The City of Kollam, Kerala is believed to be one of the oldest Portuguese-Dutch-English settlements in Asia. Tangasseri was their hub during the heyday as it was an important trading outpost of the Portuguese, Europeans, Arabs, Chinese and Jews.
Tangasseri, an area, covering roughly 99 acres of land is close to Quilon that juts out into the sea.

The Portuguese Cemetery (after the invasion of Dutch in 1661, became Dutch Cemetery) of Tangasseri in Kollam city came up around 1519 as part of the Portuguese invasion in the city. The remains of St. Thomas Fort and Portuguese Cemetery still exist at Tangasseri. St. Thomas Fort was severely damaged due to sea erosion,and what remains now is a mound of rubble that includes lateritic stones; as for the church (apparently built by apostle St. Thomas), it was destroyed by the moors (1505) who were at loggerheads with the Portuguese. The main reason was competition in trades. During the wars with the moors in 1505 and later with the Dutch in 1661, countless Portuguese died and buried here. As for the Dutch finally they urrounded to the British -EIC in 1795.

The site is a protected monument and has been under the management of ASI - Archaeological Survey of India since 1920. The cemetery lies close to the old settlement at Tangassery and the lighthouse. The city of Kollam is about 3 km from here. As for details about the mortal remains, they are sketchy. The state government should get hold of the record on the Portuguese Cemetery and restore the graves of those who died here far away from their motherland.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Cemetery,_Kollam

Tangasseri Lighthouse (1902), Kollam, Kerala. BuzzMashup

Tangasseri Lighthouse, Kollam, Kerala en.wikipedia.org/

Tangasseri Lighthouse or Thangassery Lighthouse is situated at Tangasseri in Kollam city, Kerala is a historical lighthouse 115 years old. It is one the most well-known lighthouses in the state of Kerala and has a high rate of visitors every month. Maintained by the Chennai Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships, the light house has a cylindrical shaped tower painted with white and red oblique bands. Built in 1902, it has a height of 41 metres (135 ft), making the highest lighthouse of Kerala state.

Though the lighthouse has been here since 1902, while under the British East India company rule, there existed a tall tower with an oil lamp to guide the ocean-going ships and navigators. In 1930 the tower had developed cracks that needed jacking masonry to make it safer and stronger. Based on the changing technology with respect to light source for the beamflashed from the lighthouses, here also the lighting system underwent periodical modifications after 1930 till the 1990s.

Tangasseri Lighthouse, KollamThe Big Jackfruit Tree

The location of the lighthouse on the coast at Tangasseri in Kollam city is quite interesting because it is one of a few locations in India where the legacy and heritage of Anglo-Indian community is not lost. Location of lighthouse itself provides many advantages. Still one can run into vestiges of an ancient Portuguese built coastal defence - the St Thomas Fort, a Portuguese Cemetery, a canal - Buckingham canal, the ancient Port of Quilon and the Infant Jesus Cathedral.

Tangasseri Lighthouse, Kollam tripadvisor.in

Above image: Tangasseri Lighthouse, Kollam Spiral staircase going up to the lantern room. There are 193 steps to get to the top. ......

Earlier the lighthouse was open to the public for two hours from 3 pm. Unaware of the lighthouse timings, the morning visitors had to return disappointed without reaching the top of the tower. In January 2014, the light house authorities changed the timings from 10 am to 5 pm for the benefits of the tourists. Visitors can go up to the lantern room through the spiral stairway that has 193 steps. From the top of the light house, one can enjoy the cool breeze, aerial view of Kollam city and beyondThe lighthouse has not lost the old chrn and glory. Nor does it fail to retain the colonial idendity.

www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/tangasseri-lighthouse-to-stay-open-for-longer-hours/article5525671.ece

Lakshmi Vilas Palace,Vadodara The Indian Express

Lakshmi Vilas Palace,Vadodara,n.wikipedia.or

Lakshmi Vilas Palace,Vadodara, Gujarat, India is a beautiful palace known for its grandeur and beauty. It is located in a fairly quiet area with minimum traffic noice. The din is not very much there. Built in the Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture, it is an extravagant building that will give you a lasting impression after your visit to this place. It was built by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1890 at a cost of GBP180,000.00 a big sum in those days and its architect was Charles Mant, an English man.

Built on a vast land comprising 500 acres, it is believed to be the largest private residence and four times the size of Buckingham Palace, London. There is a golf course within the compound created by Maharajah Pratapsingh in 1930 to entertain European guests. The complex includes many other lavishly built buildings such as the LVP Banquets & Conventions, Moti Baug Palace and the Maharajah Fateh Singh Museum building and
Darbar Hall featuring the Raja's Throne. It was built with modern facilities like elevators, highly embellished interior, etc., on par with any European royal residence. It is still being used by the royal Maratha family members of Gaekwad, who are being held in great esteem by the people of this city and others.

Lakshmi Vilas Palace,Vadodaratourismguideindia.com

A poignant story that may touch your hear is tha the architect Charles Mant committed suicide six years after completing this palace project, Reason: He was under the impression, that he did not build a solid foundation for this mega project. On the contrary Lakshmi Vilas Palace has a solid and durable foundation. The palace is adorned with innumerable impressive statues. The grand stairway connecting the upper levels is just majestic. Inaccessible to the public are the private quarters of the royal family members.

There are many rooms like armament room, elephant room, Gaddi room, etc. In between the Gaddi room and Elephant room lies a fine courtyard with palm trees. There is a tall clock tower that stands roughly 300 feet (30 stories tall). The clock never worked. Nor was it repaired.The most talked about place in this palace is the Durbar Hall. The grand Durbar Hall is an amazing one and it has a vast space with a Venetian mosaic flooring and Belgian stained glass paintings that allow sunlight to filter in. In this grand hall, it is mentioned, that once as many as 34 Darbars were held , each with its own protocol and set of rules that ought to be followed.

The credit must go to the unfortunate Englishman who fmisundestood his talents and ended his life. This grand edifice, despite the march of time and the onslaught of different weather conditions and urban pollution, still retains its splendour and pomp. The aura can never be lost, so is the ingenuity of Charles Mant. No doubt, Lakshmi Vilas Palace compares with the best in the world.

http://www.tripmondo.com/india/gujarat/vadodara/

https://en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Laxmi_Vilas_Palace,_Vadodara

Vijaya Vilas Palace,Mandavi wikipedia.org

Vijaya Vilas Palace on the sea shore of Mandavi in Kutch, Gujarat was once the summer palace of Jadeja Rajas of Kutch. Built as a summer resort for the royal family members by Maharao Shri Khengarji III, the Maharao of Kutch, it is named after the Yuvraj Shri Vijayaraji.

Vijaya Vilas Palace,Mandavi wikipedia.org/

The construction of palace took a while, nearly nine long years from 1920 to 1929. The design followed here is that of Rajput architecture and red stone is widely used to make it more attractive is built with red sandstone. The palace is constructed in the middle of well-laid gardens with water channels and marble fountains. The palace is consists of an attractive central high dome on the pillars, the Bengal-type domes on the sides, ornate jalis, stained glass windows, domed bastions at the corners, extended porch, Jharokas, Chhatris,etc. These features are incorporated in a manner that they increase the splendour of this palace. Including door and window panels, all were done by the talented craftsmen and artisans from Rajasthan, Kutch, Gujarat and Bengal.

ijay Vilas Palace | Kachchh District, MandviTripAdvisor

The architecture of the Vijaya Vilas Palace is on the model of palaces of Orchha and Datia. One can get a fine view of the surrounding areas from the balconies perching atop the building.. Yet another nice feature is the minutely carved tiny intricate windows are meant to let the cool air from the sea flow freely into the interior areas.

Presently, the royal family members occupy part of the palace that has its own private beach. It is a popular tourist spot in Gujarat and some Bollywood films were shot here. There is also a museum here where countless rare and antique items are on display. This enchanting palace is about 8 km from Mandi town.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijaya_Vilas_Palace

Usha Kiran Palace,Gwalior Booking.com

The members of the Royal Scindia Dynasty of Gwalior were the prominent Indian rulers of this part for a long time. The Scindia dynasty was founded by Ranoji Scindia, son of Jankojirao Scindia, the Deshmukh of Kanherkhed, a village in Satara District, Maharashtra. The British used force to take over the state run by this family during the etc rule in 1800s. During their heyday, the rulers of Gwalior built beautiful buildings and fort.

Among them, Usha Kiran Palace is an attractive building. As the Indian government after independence, not only stopped giving doles (pension) to the ex-rulers, but also the privileges and rights as guaranteed by the Indian constitution . Consequently, many royal families had difficulty in maintaining their paraphernalia, high style of living, etc. Countless former Maharajahs, instead of keeping their palatial palace idle, converted part of it into heritage hotel.This way, they could make-up the lost income and to keep up their standard of living.

Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia Smt. Priyadarshini
raje Scindia myghillie.info

Usha Kiran Palace,a five star heritage hotel, located near Jai Vilas Mahal on a 9-acre land in Gwalior was built by the Maratha royal Scindia dynasty. It is being managed by Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces. The hotel provide old ambiance with modern facilities. The unusual feature about this palace hotel is it uses solar power energy produced at Kadodiya Solar Park, to take care of their electricity needs.
Built in 1902 as a home for visitors of Prince of Wales subsequently, the building was put to use for other purpose - the guest house of ruler Jivajirao Scindia where he brought Vijayarae Scindia after the marriage. The credit goes to Priyadarshini Raje Scindia,wife of Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia, who transformed the Palace into a fine hotel without disturbing its heritage value. The hotel still retains the rosewood elevator (from1930) and two-blade ceiling fans and above all past glory and the pomp.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usha_Kiran_Palace

Raje Scindia
myghillie.info

Our Lady of Health Basilica at Velankanni.thehindu.com

Basilica Our Lady of Velankanni ,Tamil Nadu.The Indian Economist

The basilica Our Lady of Health located in Velankanni – a small town in Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu is one of the famous places of worship in India by the Christians. It is a historical church fdeveloped by the Portuguese centuries ago. The 11 day annual festival is a great event at this church that will attract more than 800,000 people of all faiths from different parts of India, in particular, from Maharashtra, Odisha and other states. On certain days, the number of people will go up to 300,000. This year this famous and Joyous festival starts on August 29 with the hoisting of the church flag and would end on September 8.

Velankanni church festival, 2014. The Hindu

According to the church officials , special mass will be held in Tamil, English, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi and Konkani. As part of the festival, on the flag-hoisting day, an illuminated chariot (ther or rath) carrying Velankanni Matha or Arokiya Matha will be pulled by the church organisers. The devotees will pull the car towards sea shore road and Ariya Nattu Street.

In order to hand the sea of humanity converging on this small town, the state police have made security arrangements. The state-owned transport corporation and Indian Railways have announced special services to handle the additional passenger load to Velankanni from different places.

The church attributed many apparitions. Every year people in million visit this place of veneration. Roughly 550 years ago Our Lady appeared with the infant Jesus in her arms before a poor and innocent boy andd also appeared before a cripple boy and cured him. Our Lady of Health was also instrumental in saving the Portuguese sailors who were caught in a severe Storm in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Velankanni.

Indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/velankanni-church-gearing-up-to-receive-lakhs-of-devotees-for-11-day-festival-3000076/

E

What has Karachi, a violent city in Pakistan, got to do with Velankanni Church in Velankanni, a small, serene town on the coastal Tamil Nadu, India. Recently I ran into an interesting article by one Donna Fernandes, a Researcher-Program coordinator at the Habib University. This post is based her article.

Velankanni Basilica, TN , India. ndia.com

Because of tryst with destiny, the Indian subcontinent was divided into democratic India and theocratic Pakistan . The former became a free country on 15 August 1947, and the latter on 14 Aug 1947. The founding father Mohd. Ali Jinnah wanted Pakistan to be an Islamic country, however with in-built democratic principles .

On Aug. 11, 1947, Jinnah had left no room for confusion about his vision of Pakistan in his address to the constituent assembly of Pakistan. He said,

“You are free, free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this state of Pakistan.You may belong to any religion or caste or creed — that has nothing to do with the business of the state.”.............Jinnah continually emphasized equal citizenship for all Pakistanis irrespective of their religion or ethnicity.

It is a known fact that since the death of Jinnah, there has been no political stability in Pakistan and lately, it has become a breeding ground for terrorist organizations and the people in Pakistan are not happy about their country becoming a violent state. Besides organized crimes, violence due to religion and ethnicity is on the increase. The Hindus and Christians form the minority and their population has shrunk considerably in three decades due to forced conversion, discrimination and threats by certain Islamic groups. The government's poor response religious violence led to largescale exodus off minorities to other countries.

Places of worship never fail to give peace of mind to the minorities who live in constant fear of threats to their lives. If such places are attacked and damaged, obviously at stake is their religious freedom and safety to their lives. That 70 Christians were killed while celebrating Easter in a park in 2016 is a sad reminder of the pathetic condition under which religious minorities live in Pakistan.

Nativity prepared by devotees in Karachi.Photo Courtesy: The Conversation

From the report, I am surprised to know the existence of syn-cretinism - religious crossover among the Hindus and Christians in Karachi. Here, they venerate the Virgin Mary. Such instances encourage religious harmony and tolerance which is fundamental to the development of a country. Many of us in India may not be aware of the presence of a small community of Tamil and Goan Chritians in Karachi.

Virgin Mary with sari, Karachi chuerch./qrius.com/

Above image: The Virgin Mary wearing a sari in the Karachi church dedicated to her devotion. | Photo Courtesy: The Conversation. Devotees from Karachi, Pakistan do visit the Velankanni Church at Velankanni, Nagapatnam to say prayers and to be blessed. .....................

Their history goes back to 50 years ago and it all began with the establishment of Saint Anthony’s Club in the town of Saddar, a suburb of Karachi. Founded by AM Anthony, a Tamil Christian, the devotees in the olden days used to recite novena, or nine-day prayers to ask the Virgin Mary for blessings and good health, accoding to Anthony's grand daughter. Here, Virgin Mary is referred to as as Our Lady (Annai) of Valenkanni, in Nagapatnam district, Tamil Nadu, India. Many apparitions were attributed to this historical church. Centuries ago, it was developed by the Portuguese who were saved from near death in a storm off the coast of Velankanni by Virgin Mary.

Anthony and his group moved over to the premises of St. Anthony' church in Karachi and continued their novena and prayers. Over a period of time, this opened the way for the novena prayers to Our Lady of Valenkanni and it became a part of Catholic churches’ prayer program across Karachi. The Veneration of Mary became so famous that many Catholic devotees went on a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Valenkanni (Nagapatnam) to ask the Mother for favors and intercessory graces. Many were descendants of migrants from Goa and Chennai, TN. Annually, hundreds of devotees converge on the premises of churches across Karachi to hoist a flag bearing an image of Our Lady of Valenkanni and participate in a short prayer. This event coincides with the Velankanni festival in Tamil Nadu in the early part of September, marking the birthday of the Our Lady of health. Besides, every year, our Lady of Valenkanni’s statue in Karachi is decorated with fresh flowers and streamers.One can see the Virgin Mary wearing a sari in the Karachi church. Many devotees from Karachi to Velankanni church were quite happy that their wishes had been fulfilled by Virgin Mary. A childless woman devotee from Karachi had a baby after her visit to Velankanni, Tamil Nadu. The couple visited Velankanni later to fulfill their vow. Both father and the son had their head tonsured and later bathed in the sea - a religious practice prevalent among the Hindus. Such interfaith exchanges not only go both ways, but also strengthen the bond between them. It is a healthy thing in a democracy. Hence, India is a true democratic country, giving respect to the tenets of all faiths.

This day in Karachi some members from the Hindu, Zoroastrian, and Muslim communities venerate the Virgin Mary whose name is mentioned in the Qu'ran. Named after Virgin Mary, Surah Maryam appears in the 19th chapter of the Qu’ran.

Though liberal Muslims go to church they do not take part in novena prayers, but on September 8, they come here to respect Mary as the Mother of Jesus.
In the Velankanni festival, the intersection of Hindu and Catholic practices in contemporary religion is quite visible. In the past decade or so a typical practice by the Hindu devotees is being observed by Christians - Padayatra. The practice of walking barefoot to Velankanni church by devotees from far off places, more than 100 km to get blessings from Virgin Mary during the festival time.

Our Lady of Health - Annai Velankanni who is well-known for her miracles continues to attract devotees from many parts of Asia. She is a symbol of health and properity. When you trust her, she fulfills your wish with her miracles. When a devastating Tsunami struck the coastal town of Velankanni on 26 December 2004, there were a few thousand devotees inside the Church premises. That the huge tidal waves that hit the coastal towns never touched the church is a riddle.

Ref:

The Virgin Mary brings different faiths in India and Pakistan togetheThe Indian Economist

https://qrius.com/virgin-mary-faiths/

Onam festival, Food NDTV

Onam is a popular and joyous annual Hindu festival that has its origin in the state of Kerala, India. It is a New Year Day for the Malayalee Hindus. This year it is celebrated from 26 Saturday Aug to 6 Wednesday September. The purpose of the festival is to commemorate the visit of King Mahabali, who, according to the Hindu mythology, was pushed to the pathal 9under world) world by Lord Vishnu. Vishnu, in the guise of a dwarf saint, demanded three strides of land from him when king Mahabali was honoring scholarly people with donations. The lord took this guise to put an end to his arrogance and pride. Granting three strides of land, Mahabali thought he could fulfil his vow. When the saint (lord) took the huge form stretching from heaven to earth, he made two strides (covering sky and the land). The king offered his head for the third stride. Lord pushed the demon king to the neither world and, pleased with Mahabali's humility, made him attain immortality through his grace.

Onam festival flower decoration - Alamy

Onam festival is held in the Malayalam calendar month of Chingam,(Gregorian calendar overlaps with August–September. The festival also associated with harvest is elebrated by the Malayalees in Kerala and across India; this festival assumes great importance for Malayalee diaspora around the world.

Onam is so important a festival the state enjoys a four day holiday from Onam eve. The highlight of Onam is though it is a Hindu festival, non-Hindus participate in large number and it is more a cultural festival than a religious festival.

It is associated with numerous cultural and religious events such as Vallam Kali (boat races), Pulikali (tiger dances), Pookkalam (flower arrangement), Onathappan (worship), Thumbi Thullal (women's dance), Kummati kali (mask dance), Onathallu Atthachamayam (folk songs and dance),etc.

The ten day cerebration is as follows:

Day 1- Atham: People visit temples in the morning; demon king Mahabali begins his journey from the pathal world.

123RF.com

Atthachamayam, begins with a grand procession at Thrippunithura near Kochi. This place where Mahabali is purported to have beenbanished from earth. Traditional Onam pookolam begings on this day. The size of flowers will increase as the festival progresses through days. The size of Pookalam on this day is called as Athapoo.

Day 2- Chithira: Much importance to given to cleanliness of the house, so, it is well cleaned, swept and whitewashed. As for pookplam (Rangoli), a second layer is added.

Day 3 - Chodhi: Normal puja activities continue
asusal and the pookolam becomes bigger now, by adding different layers of flowers. This day is spent on shopping - buying gifts, new clothing, jewellery, etc.

Day 4 - Vishakam: Being an auspicious day onam begins in the families with each family member doing something worthwhile. Several varieties of food are made. Merchants in food grains open their business today.

Day 5 - Anizham: It is a day of fun as organisers of snake boat races get their boats ready after doing major repair works, etc. Boat races at Aranmula Uthrattathi Vallamkali are famous.

Kerala, snakeboat race, Onam festival .gettyimages.in/detai

Day 6 - Thriketa: This day provides an opportunity for the family members to visit their ancestral homes and pay obeisance to the elders to get their blessings. They also exchange gifts. Traditional pookolam is maintained and at least 5 to 6 flowers are added to the original design.

Day 7 - Moolam: On this day at many temples special sadhyas are held. The speciality is the conducting of Ona Sadya (Onam special buffet lunch) at many places. This day gives importance to entertainment. Many traditional dances that have been in vogue for a pretty long time assume prominence. Mention may be made of Puli Kali (Masked leopard dance) and traditional dance forms like Kaikotti Kali. Yet another interesting feature is fin some places people decorate a swing with flowers to celebrate the king's homecoming..

Day 8 - Pooradam: This day assumes much importance as Mahabali is purported to visit the houses. Mahabali is nicknamed Onathappan. The statues of Vamana and Mahabali are taken around the house and placed in the center of the much bigger and more complex Pookalam.

Day 9 - Uthradam: Tradition has it that demon king Mahabali will stay right here and visit his erstwhile kingdom. This day is set aside for purchasing provisions need for the Thiruvonam day, including fresh fruits and vegetables. This day is believed to be Onam Eve.

Day 10 - Thiruvonam: It is the final day of the festivaland people put welcome sign at the entrance of the cleaned house by applying white flour paste. Family members after taking early bath in the early morning, put on new dresses. Tradition has it that elders in the family distribute the new clothes among the family members. Pujas are conducted in the house. To day is marked by Onam sadya feasts in many places, illumination of the temples, colorful fireworks display,etc.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/how-kerala-celebrates-its-10-day-long-onam-festival/d

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onam


water Gate, Srirangapatna.ThinkBangalore - blogger

If you look at the gates in the palaces, cities, forts, etc across the world, Buckingham Palace Gate, London (1911), old city gate (1335) of Haarlem, Netherlands and some other gates were part of history. The remarkable aspect of Indian gates is, many of them connect the present generation with the past. This is quite true of countless gates across India, each one of which has some kind of historical, cultural or religious significance. Mention may be made of Khooni Darwaza, Ajmeri Gate, Delhi, Rumi Darwaza, Lucknow, Gate Way of India, Mumbai, Daria Daulat Bagh Gate, Srirangapatna, Karnataka Jamali Kamali Entrance, Mehrauli, etc.

Sensational watergate scndal, ushistorybrown.blogspot.in

The water Gate in the Srirangapatna Fort, Karnataka may remind the old timers about the sensational "Watergate" political scandal that took place in the USA during the Nixon Administration, following an illegal break-in at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. on June 17, 1972. Multiple abuses of power by members of the Nixon administration came to the surface that ultimately led to the exit Richard Nixon, who was facing impeachment.

Unlike many gates in India, the Watergate at Srirangapatna is neither architecturally impressive nor is it a huge one with sturdy doors, etc. But, its historical importance can not be overlooked.
Srirangapatna anglicized to Seringapatam (in the district of Mandya) near the city of Mysore is a historical place and played a great role during the British rule. Enclosed by the river Cauvery in the form a river island, Srirangapatna was the capital of Mysore under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan only for a short period. After Tipu's death in 1799 in the final Angelo-Mysore war, his kingdom was taken over by the British and later restored to the early rulers of Mysore - the Wadiyars. Srirangapatna has several Indo-Islamic monuments - Tipu Sultan's palaces, the Darya Daulat and the Jumma Masjid (Friday congregational mosque), Armory etc., are
worthy of mention.

Tipu Sultan of Mysore,. a great warrior. MyShikshak.com

The Water Gate, is the place in the fort where Tipu Sultan's body was found. It is located in the northern fort wall, next to the Gangadharshwera Temple. The river is accessible through this gate and people used the gate to fetch water from the river Cauvery for their daily needs. The gateway has guard houses. The Mysore Gate and Elephant Gate, to the south, are flanked by guardrooms. Sultan Battery, the dungeons where Tipu used to keep British prisoners, is to the north; nearby is the Water Gate, where Tipu was killed.

diksoochi.blogspot.com

Above image: Tipu lying dead, Srirangapatna fort.
Sir David Bairs discovering the body of Tipu Sultan ( 20 November 1750 – 4 May 1799); by sir David Wilkie; a steel engraving by John Burnet 1843. .....................................

This centuries old gate is the silent spectator to the fierce battle between Tipu's forces and the British army led by Arthur Wellesley, (the future first Duke of Wellington) in the final Mysorian war in 1799. There is a likelihood that it was through this gate
on that fateful day of 4 May, the well-trained English troops charged into the fort. Despite the French Military advisors warning, instead of escaping through the secret passage, he decided to fight. Tipu Sultan said to the the French officers,"Better to live one day as a tiger than a thousand years as a sheep". In the sea-saw battle, Tipu Sultan was found dead near the eastern fort wall (Hoally gate). The pathetic story is Tipu fought against the British valiantly till the last drop of his blood and at that time he was wearing a thick gold ring with Devanagari inscription RAM. This gold ring was removed from his finger and British officer Wellesley kept it as a souvenir. This famous Tipu's gold ring came up for auction
a few years ago in London as Wellesley's descendants needed money to tide over their family financial difficulties. Water gate is near Sri Ranganathaswamy temple (dedicated to lord Vishnu) and Lal Mahal Palace. Tipu Sultan never interfered in the function of the near-by Hindu temple. He was buried in the following afternoon, at the Gumaz, next to the grave of his father, Hyder Ali.

Mysore.ind.in

Many of the of the structures within the fort fell into ruins, but for the bridges across the two courses of the Cauvery river. From here one can view the bathing ghats and the ramparts. The polygonal bastion with turreted parapet is surrounded by a broad moat to the east and the south. The bastion was built by the French with whom Tipu had a military alliance

http://mysore.ind.in/water-gate

http://diksoochi.blogspot.in/2007/12/watergate-srirangapattana.html

Lal Darwaza, Hyderabad city, India:

Lal Darwaza (Urudu or Hindi: red door) is believed to be one of the old suburbs of Hyderabad city, now in the state of Telengana, South India. During the time of the Nizams,there used to be a large impressive red door at the entrance to this suburb. It was called Lal darwaza (Red Door). A small town developed near it over a period of time. Built in 1907, the then Prime Minister of Nizam government Maharaja Kishan Prasad was instrumental in introducing the Bonalu festival in the temple here. The secular ruler to Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Mahbub Ali Khan was kind enough to give donations and lands to this and many other temples. Bonala Jathara ( meaning procession ) at Laldarwaza is tagged as the most important and biggest cultural festival in Telangana.

Lal Dharwaza, Hyderabad en.wikipedia.org

Within Lal Dharwaza lies the grave of a holy Sufi saint called Pather ki Dargha ("stone mausoleum"). This gate at the entrance of the old suburb is located about 1.5km and 3 km from the Central Bus Station.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lal_Darwaza

The Lal Darwaza,Varanasi UP:

Lal Darwaza, Varavasi. www.ganeshv.com

The Lal Darwaza, one of the entrances to the famous Ramnagar fort, which is is a fortification in Ramnagar, Varanasi, India. It is located near the Ganga River on its eastern bank, opposite to the Tulsi Ghat. The creamy-colored chunar sandstone structure was built in the Mogul style in 1750 by the then ruler of Kasi Kashi Naresh Raja Balwant Singh. Scenically located on the eastern banks of the Ganges river, the fort was also known as ‘Kashi naresh ka qila’ (meaning ‘the fort of the lord of Kashi’ in Hindi) Within the fort lie the Veda Vyasa Temple, a museum, the king's residential complex and also a Dakshin Mukhi temple of Hanuman facing east. The fort was constructed on a high ground above the flood level.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramnagar_Fort

Daria Daulat Bagh Gate, Srirangapatna, en.wikipedia.org

Daria Daulat Bagh meaning 'Garden of the Wealth' is part of the summer palace - Dariya Daulat Palace of Tipu Sultan and is located in Srirangapatna, near the historical city of Mysore. Following Indo-Saracenic style, it is mostly made of teak wood and the ruler of Mysore Tipu Sultam built it in 1784. In the middle of 18th century, Tipu's father Hyder Ali wrested power from the traditional rulers, the Wodeyars

Daria Daulat Bagh gate,Srirangapatna.Indian Columbus - blogger

Srirangaptatna, Karnataka. Maps of India

Daria Daulat Bagh gate forms the main entrance to the palace. This huge arch-shaped gate with corrugate edges is set in the beautiful garden. A low angled flight of steps will take you to the gate. The gate may not be a spectacular one as some of those found near Delhi or Agra. The rectangular-shaped palace is built on a raised platform with open corridors along the four sides of the platform with wooden pillars at the edges of the Plinth. The four unnoticeable staircases are built in the four partition walls. Colourful frescoes in the style of Mysore painting can be seen on the walls, pillars, canopies and arches. The outer walls of the palace have frescoes of the battle scenes and portraits of rulers, etc., on the outer walls. Scrolls of thin foliage and floral patterns dominate the inner Walls. Equally attractive are the wooden ceilings of the palace displaying canvas painted with floral patterns. On the western wall, there are several valuable and historical paintings. Tipu Sultan's Museum is on the top floor and has a collection of Tipu memorabilia, European paintings and Persian manuscripts. Tipu's fort and his palace Lal Mahal lie in ruins now, it was from this fort here Tipu launched his home-made with heat-resistant cased long-distance travelling missiles armed with sharp items against the British during the war. It was a nightmarish experience for the British army. Paradoxically in the same fort Tipu was killed while fighting against the British. Near the fort are the Jama Masjid and the Ranganathaswamy Temple. Outside the fort is the Gumbaz that contains both Tipu and his father Hyder Ali's tombs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daria_Daulat_Bagh

Historically, the Arcot region had been the site of several of interesting battles among many rulers, considering its proximity to Madras. A fortress was built around Arcot to retard invading army from the enemy sides. It is believed that (records are not clear) this area was captured by a Mughal Nawab of Karnataka from the Marathas. One Daud Khan Panni was made governor by Zulfikhar Ali Khan (Aurangzeb's general) in 1698. In the year 1710, Mohammed Sayyid, the last Mogul governor was appointed as Nawab of Karnatic with the title Saadatullah Khan and he, in 1710, moved his capital from Gingee to Arcot. Ironically, the same place won Robert Clive international recognition and made him a war hero. From here his string of victories in the Indian subcontinent continued unabated that ultimately led to the founding of the British Empire, symbol of power and wealth.


Delhi Gate,roadside view.Arcot.en.wikipedia.org

Delhi Gate, Arcot.en.wikipedia.org

Delhi Gate, located on the banks of Palar river in the city of Vellore, Tamil Nadu, is part of the fortification of Arcot. The gate was part of a fort built by Mughal governor, Daud Khan Panni, in the first half of the 18th century. During his time Mogul's supremacy in many parts of India, including southern India was not not good enough to attract attention. except the fact that the Nizams of Hyderabad were governors under the Mogul period. Further, the Nawabs of Carnatic, whose capital was Arcot, TN were under the control of the Nizams.

Chanda Sahib, the son-in-law of the Nawab of Carnatic, Dost Ali Khan (he was the Nawab till 1740 CE became a trouble-maker and had an eye on the throne of Arcot. Chanda Sahib, who also served as a Diwan under the Arcot Nawab, a few years later conspired against the then Nawab of Carnatic, Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan. Soon, with the unexpected death of the Nizam of Hyderabad, Asaf Jah in 1748 CE, a civil war broke out between the heirs, Nasir Jung and Muzaffar Jung over the succession.

In 1751 CE, when there was a dispute over succession between Mohamed Ali Khan Walaja, the son of Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan and Chanda Sahib, the French East India Company that was active in part of South India, led by Gov. Dupleix, who was building French influence during 1748 and 1751 sided with Chanda Sahib and Muzaffar Jung to bring them into the power in their respective regions. The British East India Company supported the rival teams. All these incidents causing political uncertainty led to the Second Carnatic War.

Initially Chanda Sahib succeeded and became the ruler of Arcot while Nawab. Wallajah, fearing death, escaped to Trichy, down south. Supported by the French Army, Chanda Sahib invaded Trichy, leaving Arcot unprotected. Since an opportunity was given on a silver platter, a small British army of about 200 soldiers, 300 Indian soldiers and 8 officers under the command of Robert Clive captured Arcot on 31st August 1751 CE. Their objective was quite clear - to get the attention of Chanda Sahib and drive him out of Trichy.

Robert Clive. britishbattles.com/

Sahib 's attempt to reclaim Arcot with his big army of soldiers numbering 10,000 under his son Raza (Raju) Sahib was a futile one. At Arcot and Kaveripakkam his army was defeated and Raza was killed in the battle. As for Chanda Sahib, he escaped from Trichy to Thanjavur where he was beheaded in a rebellion by the Thanjavur army.

The place around the Delhi Gate was the site of a memorable defence made by Robert Clive during the Siege of Arcot. It gave Clive, then a just clerk in East India Company's office in Madras with no military experience, a chance to prove his innate skill in military leadership and mastery over manipulative strategies in a tough war situation. Being a novice in military matters with a band of several Englishmen with no exposure to war, the Siege of Arcot, between 23rd September and 14th November 1751 CE, a tactical military strategy initiated by Clive made him a hero and he had begun to grow in stature and power after this great victory. Ultimately he became the Governor General of India later. Subsequently, after the battle of Plassey - 3 June 1757 and Buxar - 22 October 1764 Clive captured Bengal in NE India, consolidated the British supremacy and laid the first foundation of the British Empire in India. The English economy, with poor GDP - around 03, had begun to grow, causing the Indian economy with strong GDP - more than 20 to slide downhill.

While in Arcot, Robert Clive camped in a room atop the gate in the fort.The gate was named as "Delhi Gate" to signify the beginning of the capture of Delhi by the British.

The fort was later destroyed by Tipu Sultan in 1783 CE. Today only remnants of the fort such as foundation can be seen. The Gate and the room above it are in fairly in good shape. A plaque with Clive's Clive's name is found on the wall of the Gate Gate.

Tit-Bits:

The siege of Arcot (Anglo-French Wars in India (Second Carnatic War)
31st August to 15th November 1751

Siege of Arcot. S.India. www.britishbattles.com

Above image: Robert Clive fires a cannon in the Siege of Arcot(now in the state of Tamil Nadu) 31st August to 15th November 1751 in the War in India: picture by Cecil Doughty

01. Size of the armies at the Siege of Arcot: The army of Raju Sahib, son of Chanda Sahib, comprised some 11,000 native troops and 150 French troops. Raju Sahib was supported by a train of French siege artillery. Clive’s force comprised 200 British and 300 Sepoy troops and 3 guns. He was able to use the guns he found in the abandoned fort at Arcot.

02. When Clive got the detailed information about the Arcot fort that it was unfortified dilapidated , fort, containing a garrison of 1,000 native soldiers, he planned the siege, as Chanda Shahib's many troops were at Trichy to capture the Nawab of Arcot.

03. The Battle Honour of ‘Arcot’ was given to the Madras European Regiment, which became the Honourable East India Company’s Madras European Regiment in 1830. In 1862, after the Indian Mutiny, the regiment was taken into Crown service as the

The Nawab of Arcot: britishbattles.com

102nd (Royal Madras Fusiliers) Regiment. In 1881 the 102nd, with the 103rd (Royal Bombay Fusiliers) Regiment, became the Royal Dublin Fusiliers which retained ‘Arcot’ as a Battle Honour, the only regiment in the British or Indian Armies to carry the honour.
(vide www.britishbattles.com)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_Gate_(Vellore)

http://www.britishbattles.com/anglo-french-wars-in-india/siege-of-arcot/

The gates of palaces, forts, etc., fascinate me and I hold them the most important part of the structure. The majesty of the inside structures can be gauged the way the entrance gates are designed and embellished with artistic works. In the by-gone era of uncertainty when invasions or raids by rulers against others were common, it was the gates that offered security and protection to the royal family as well as people living inside. The historical gates of Mandu are unique aesthetically and architecturally.

Mandu in Dhar district of the Malwa region of western Madhya Pradesh was once a flourishing city, now uninhabited place and in ruins. Located at 35 km from Dhar city, it was part of the Tarangagadh or Taranga kingdom in the 11th century. The word "Mandu" is believed to be a corrupt form of "Mandapa Durga"in Prakrit. The inscription dating back to 612 VS (555 CE), suggests that Mandu was a thriving town in 6th century and later under the Paramaras it gained prominence in the 10th and 11th centuries.

In 1305, the Muslim Sultan of Delhi Alauddin Khilji captured Malwa and cleansed the place and the Hindus were either killed or forced to convert to Islam. Later, this region was ruled by several Muslim rulers and the kingdom changed hands numerous times. Among the Muslim rulers, succession to the throne was marked by bloody violence and killing. After Mogul Emperor Akbar's quiet rule, this place came under the control of the Marathas.

Mandu is built on a hill top (altitude 633.7 m) 100 km from Indoor city, covering a vast area of 20 sq in the Vindhayan Mountain range. The fortress town, once called the city of joy on a rocky outcrop is a historical place and is known for its architecture and workmanship, protected by 12 Darwazas. In the bygone-era it was a well fortified fort with thick walls, openings and necessary gates; they were built in several part of fort for daily and military use. These heritage sites need protection and proper restoration, as they are the silent sentinels of various historical events that occurred in the forts, palaces, etc in the past. Most of them are in a damaged condition, Reason: Negligence on the part of governments (central and state), besides vagarious of weather, time, not to speak of vandalism by the anti-social people in the society

Separated from the main plateau of Malwa by a deep and wide ravine called Kakra Khoh encircling it, the fort was protected by a 45 km long rampart punctuated by 12 main gates namely , Alamgir Darwaza , Bhangi Darwaza , Kamani / Kabaani Darwaza , Gadi Darwaza , Delhi Darwaza , Rampol Darwaza , Tripoltya Darwaza , Tarapur Darwaza , Bhagwaniya Darwaza, Jahangirpur Darwaza , Lohani Darwaza and Hathya Por Darwaza; the most fortified part of Mandavgad (original name of Mandu) is in the north part. Among the gates, the most beautiful and notable is Delhi Darwaza, the main entrance to the fortress city. It has a series of gateways well strengthened with walled enclosures and bastions such as Alamgir Darwaza and Bhangi Darwaza, through which Mandu can be accessed. Smaller gates were built to give additional protection to the big gates.

Alamgir gate, Mandu. indiaunveiled.in/

Alamgir Darwaza was a single arched gate with a Persian inscription on its wall. Parapet wall is made of well-decorated arches.

Alamgir Darwaza, Mandu, MP. en.wikipedia.org

Kamani gate (Darwaza), Mandu. indiaunveiled.in/

It is followed by Bhangi Darwaza named after a scavenger who was sacrificed to the spirits for successful completion of the fort. It is not in good shape and is roofless. The Kamani Darwaza has twin arches. Also called as Kabaani Darwaza because during the war, only through this gate the bodies of the enemies were dropped over into the deep gorge.

Gadi Darwaza, Mandu,madhya pradesh en.wikipedia.org.

The next gate called Gadi Darwaza with two arches one above the other was built in the 15th century and is on the northern side of the hill. The flanks are provided with 14 openings between arched decorations on the wall to enable the archers to attack the invading army. There was a security room attached to the gate complex.

Dilli (Delhi) gate, Mandu. indiaunveiled.in/

Banghi gate,indiaunveiled.in

The main entrance gate of Mandu, Delhi Darwaza is a nice red-colored sandstone structure with amazing decorations displaying the Malwa architecture. There are security rooms in the inner arches. Yet another striking feature is 8.4 meter tall arch spanning 4 meters made of red sandstone. Asharfi Mahal was one of the oldest and unused Rampol Darwaza with security rooms built by the Hindus and the vaulted roof was built by the later Muslim rulers.

Across Andheri and Ujali Baodis was Hathya Por Darwaza guarded by two elephants. The images are damaged. The ruins of a lofty Tripoltya Darwaza is noticeable at Jami Masjid - in front of eastern facade of the mosque .

Bhagwania Darwaza, named after Bhagwanpur village (5 km from here), is in the south wall of the fort facing the Nimar valley and has two entrances, the inner being larger than the outer one. There are massive walls covering the uncovered passage between these two gates. There are security rooms with gabled roof. Lohani Darwaza, made of red sandstone on the western side of the hill, had some kind of connections with the outer gate and security room on the right side of the passage. The gate is in ruins.

Tarapur Darwaza is located on a 300 meter high hill top and the village Tarapur is in a quiet and serene place in the plains; tourists access the hill through stone-steps.

Jahangirpur Darwaza lies in the midst of a thickly forested area.The remains of damaged fort east and south are not easily accessible today because of thick forests.

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g319727-d6612207-r284195947-Darwazas_of_Mandu-Mandu_Dhar_District_Madhya_Pradesh.html#

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