Navrang India

abhijna-emuseum.com

The archaeological site in Baihata Chariali, Kamrup, District, Assam dating back to the 9th and 10th century AD contains vast ruins and excavations of the then prosperous Pala Dynasty of Kama Rupa that ruled this part.Madan Kamdev, the main temple dedicated to Shiva and his consort Parvati refers to those edifices and artifacts that lie scattered in an isolated place covering half a kilometer. These pieces of artistic wonder point out the presence of an admixture of heterogeneous religion in this place and the blending of of artistic creativity. The ruins at Kamdev bear testimony to the creative expression and supreme individuality of skilled craftsmen of glorious medieval era. The site is located on the Dewangiri hill in the middle of wooded areas about 40 km from Guwahati city.

ruins of Kamdev. Assam, India.Kamdeven.wikipedia.org/

The construction of temples at Kamdev is closely associated with the Hindu mythology and the rebirth of Kamdeva, the ''God of Love'' at this particular place where the temple of Madan Kamdev is now located. It is a sort of mini Khajuraho because nicely engraved erotic sculptures bear close similarity with those on the walls of the plinth and jangha of temples of Khajuraho; even the adhisthana of the garbhagriha of the Madan Kamdev temple has panels depicting erotic figures in the adhisthana of the temple.The temple has idols of Uma Maheshwar carved on the stones of medieval temples; also found are images of the Sun God, Ganesha, and Vidyadhara. Located in the Brahmaputhra river valley, the temple was built in Nagara style. The temple becomes heavenly on the full moon day.

Kamdev temple, Assam. kvrangia.org

The origin and the builder of temples here is a subject of debate. The earliest work in 1855 (published in Asiatic Society of Bengal) was done by one Captain Daltan, an archaeologist in the colonial era and he mentioned 15 temple ruins in this area and their destruction in 1897 in the Assam earth quake. The ruins, it seems, are actually those at Madan Kamdev with main temple, surrounded by huge and small temples around it. Because the medieval ruins lay hidden in the inaccessible wooded mountainous terrain for a long time, detailed study was undertaken only in 1970s.
In 1977, this area came under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Directorate of Assam and soon their detailed surveys and excavations discovered 12 amazing ruins of historical value besides the main one. Scientific study of the temple ruins and stone carvings of gods concluded that they were made during 10th century to the 12th century and rulers Ratna Pala, Indra Pala and Go Pala, had the temples built in this NE part of India. The following deities are identified in the ruins - Bhairav with six heads, Shiva with 4 heads, Kalpavriksha, Sun god, Apsaras, Vishnu with six heads, Saraswati, etc. There are images of animals as well in the excavations. The area is a thickly wooded one and below the Kamdev, the River Madankuri flows in the east and towards the north. Swampy areas lie before the hill.

As for the rebirth of Kamdev, the legend has it that God Shiva in a rage, opened his third eye and burnt the ''God of Love'' Madan Kamdev and tuned him into ashes (cinders) and later God Shiva restored his life upon continuous pleading by Kamdev's consort Rati. So the God of love was reborn in this place and it happened to be the Holy Day.
Near Madan Kamdev, an old temple of lord Shiva, known here as Gopeshwar, is located in the village of Deuduar. Nearby is a large cave known as Parvati Guha (Parvati Cave), after his consort. Kamdev is a haven for archaeologists and the beauty and the artistic work of these medieval ruined temples built by the glorious Pala rulers will positively defy our imagination. It is nice place for those who love nature, serene environment, chirping birds and the impressive greenery will make the visitors be at peace with themselves.
http://www.templetravel.info/2013/04/madan-kamdev-temple-in-baihata.html.
http://www.abhijna-emuseum.com/gallery/living-museum/madan-kamdev-amalgamation-devotion-love-erotica/

waistland cartoonstock.com

In India, the incidence of obesity in women is far higher than men for many reasons, one being their physiology and the other being their child-bearing. Likewise, for obese women risk factor is much higher than men. Nothing is impossible in the world; proper diet and consistent aerobic exercise can reduce the risk considerably.

Many research studies on obesity-related issues have been pouring out information on the close link between obesity and the waist line. A new study undertaken by the medical researchers at
the University of Iowa,USA have come up with new results: they point out that some people having normal health and weight, without knowledge could be at high risk for obesity-related health problems.

dreamstime.com

The research was published in the current issue of JAMA -
the Journal of the American Medical Association's Network Open.
Normally body mass index (BMI) is measured in such studies as a standard procedure. The study points that a subgroup of people having normal weight based on their BMI may run the risk of death provided they have large waist-line.

According to the main author as per current clinical guidelines, physicians have to depend on BMI to determine obesity-related health risks. The crux of the matter is this method excludes those who are actually in a high-risk group because of other risk factors, such as percentage of body fat. Such people think that they 're healthy.

thequint.com

The main author Wei Bao, professor of epidemiology in the UI College of Public Health comes up with a reasonable suggestion: "The results suggest we should encourage physicians to look not only at body weight but also body shape when assessing a patient's health risks," says Bao.

This study used the data collected by the Women's Health Initiative from more than 156,000 women between the ages of 50 and 79 from 1993 to 2017. They tracked the mortality rates and the link to the respondents' BMI as well as their central obesity. Central obesity, that is excess accumulation of fat around a person's midsection is an important criterion in this unique study. The parameter is not given due importance. From this research, it is imperative, central-obesity is an essential factor in the study of obesity-health related issues.

cartoonstock.com

Women with normal weight on the BMI scale but had a high waist circumference were found to be 31 percent more likely to face death over 20 year observation period. This is close to 30 percent possible risk that an obese person with central obesity'. This one coming under the high risk group may face the same fate within 20 years of observation. In such cases of people with normal BMI and central obesity problem, the main causes of death are cardiovascular disease and obesity-related cancer.

The study demonstrates the limitations of BMI when determining a person's risk for health problems. A person's weight and height alone can not determine his health issue so is normal BMI. The latter does not show the distribution of body fat and its accumulation in one place. BMI is widely used in obesity related issues, but this parameter pushes the people with central obesity in the dark and the risk is not addressed.

The research group's conclusion is : "People with normal weight based on BMI, regardless of their central obesity, were generally considered normal in clinical practice according to current guidelines," Bao says. "This could lead to a missed opportunity for risk evaluation and intervention programs in this high-risk subgroup."

Materials provided by University of Iowa. Original written by Tom Snee
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190724133656.htm
Association of Normal-Weight Central Obesity With All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality Among Postmenopausal Women. JAMA Network Open, 2019; 2 (7):

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Obesity is a universal problem and is not confined to one particular country. It is a sort of global epidemic ''It is a complex disease involving an excessive amount of body fat. Obesity isn't just a cosmetic concern. It is a medical problem that increases your risk of other diseases and health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers'', according to Mayo Clinic, USA
Reasons may vary as to why some people are bogged down with obesity and experience difficulty in getting rid of this ubiquitous medical problem. Various studies suggest it may be due to hereditary, besides a combination of other factors may augment obesity problems such as personal diet and exercise choices. One more fact is stressful environment that induces a person to eat more. However, the main culprit is sedentary life which one can change if there is determination. The World Health Organization (WHO), studies mention that there will be about 2.3 billion overweight people aged 15 years and above and over 700 million obese people worldwide in 2015. Overweight and obesity are the fifth leading risk of deaths, resulting in around 2.8 million deaths of adults globally every year. Once, obesity was a major concern in western developed countries and it already made inroads to developing nations like India.

The good news is modest weight loss can be achieved to reduce health risks to a great extent. Dietary habits, regular physical exercise and change in behavior can positively help you reduce tour weight. Medications and weight-loss exercises are other options available. The most important thing is you must be resolute on your goal to reduce your weight.

.thequint.com

Obesity is more prevalent among women than men and this increases a woman’s risk of cancer. It is mentioned that a woman is prone to seven types of cancers such as breast, pancreatic, bowel, kidney by 40 percent. The startling news is because the pregnant mother is obese, a large number of newborns are at risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes and asthma in adulthood \. In 2014, about 10 million men were obese in India but the number of obese women was twice - 20 million.

thequint.com

The following are essential facts that need to be taken seriously: \

01. According to Pan-India survey done by AIIMS and Dr Anoop Misra, two in three women in metros and every eighth woman in Indian villages are overweight or obese.

02. 60 percent urban women are vulnerable to heart disease for various reasons besides leading a stressful city life, they are more vulnerable to air-pollution as the urban tree cover is not good enough to absorb micro-particle pollutants.

03. More than men, working Indian women do not feel comfortable at work place because of fat-bias and the same persists in personal personal life as well. When BMI tips the scale at 27,
the less said; watch out for vicious cycle of emotional eating triggered by depression because you can’t lose weight. It won't happen overnight. Make sincere efforts and keep going, slowly you will realize you are losing body weight.

04. In India, five women vis-a-vis one man have depression and. Psychiatrists point out many depressed women are obese.
05. In the case of Obese Indian women, generally speaking don’t look half as huge as their Western counterparts. The surprising fact is we have much more fat than muscle at the same body mass index. Scientists say Indian are designed in way as to live with less calories than the developed nations.

05. Centuries ago though we were fairly nourished, both men and women did lots of physical work at home and away from home. Family women, in the past were active at home and they never ever used modern kitchen gadgets to prepare daily food.

06. The incidence of obesity among both urban/ rural woman is high. Of course, men are no exception and this being due to exposure to calorie rich food loaded with fat.

07. Obesity in India that prevailed among rich families in the past is found in all strata of the society and in some cases it spiraling up out of control. Over 30 million people in India are obese.
https://www.thequint.com/fit/flex-em/obesity-in-women-world-anti-obesity-day-in-pregnancy-women-are-at-the-heart-of-obesity-epidemic-in-india
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obesity/symptoms-causes/syc-20375742

Tipu Sultan's collection three-pounder cannon with field carriagetaazakhabarnews.com

Tipu Sultan of Mysore. devdiscourse.com/

My fascination for the British has neverdiminished especially those eccentric aristocrats whose great forefathers came to India as traders in the 1700s and during their long stay here, through conceit and diabolism took over the fertile lands from the Maharajahs and Nawabs and their vast collections of jewelry. At India's expense, they vastly improved the British economy and pushed the GDP up from mere 2% to more than 20 % and saw to it India' economy plummeted from 23% down to mere 2%. The industrial revolution there was financed by the revenue from the Indian subcontinent. Utterly improvised, when the British left India, it was in a chaotic state - a nation split into two; democratic India and theocratic Pakistan. The latter has become a lawless land, a breeding ground of hardcore terrorists run by mad mullas and equally mad politicians who are puppets of Pakistani military. The sufferers are ordinary citizens of Pakistan whose future is bleak as the country is heading toward bankruptcy.

srirangapatna ,ap.. Karnataka.travellersdiary.wordpress.com

The descendants of the British aristocrats who created the mess in India during the colonial period, it is often said, to meet their extravagant expenses in the present day tight financial scenario, turn to artifacts, jewelry and antique items looted in India in the past. They do not mind selling them through auction houses. The auction houses in England frequently put up antique Indian items for auction and it never failed to attract the rich people in England and other places. Surprisingly, more often than not, they have never lost sight of artifacts, jewelry, swords, etc once possessed by the great warrior, poet and innovative Tipu Sultan of Mysore who terrorized the East India company's army. His exploits against the British are quite well-known. Only in the fourth Anglo-Mysore war Tipu was felled down, He valiantly fought till he dropped dead on the battle field. Soon after his death in Srirangapatna in 1799 at the age of 48, his palace was looted by the British soldiers and higher officials. Some valuable items went to some of the high officials who had kept them as war souvenirs. Tipu's famous remarks was : ‘I would rather live one day as a tiger than a lifetime as a sheep’. After his death, the British Army’s National Army Museum classified Tipu Sultan as one of the 10 Greatest enemies that the British Army ever faced including Napoleon Bonaparte and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Tipu's sword handle taazakhabarnews.com

Tipu was not only a great warrior, but also a man with innovative mind. He improved his father's rocket missiles and effectively used them against the British on the battle field. He had a separate division for the rocket-missiles. In the Srirangapatna fort one could see the rocket launch pads which are in a dilapidated state. His fascination for tiger (babri) is quite well-known. This is the reason why the tiger-stripe design adorned most art, banners as well as arms and weapons of his time, in particular, guns and sword handles. Now on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London is a mechanical tiger which was made by the French engineers at his request.


Tipu Sultan's sword. taazakhabarnews.com

The Bonhams, world’s largest auctioneers of fine art and antique recently conducted an auction under Islamic art and India and it was well attended by the knowledgeable people. A total of 30 items from Tipu's personal collection came up for auction and among them a gem-studded sword, pistols, three-pounder cannon, quivers, and helmets got the attention of the people. Can you imagine how much the auction had fetched? Believe it or not a whooping sum of £7.4 million was achieved thorough the Islamic and Indian sale

The highlight of this sale was a rare gem-set sword with tiger’s head pommel from Tipu royal regalia, estimated to be worth £60,000-80,000. It sold for £2,154,500.

Yet another highlight was a three-pounder cannon with field carriage sold for £1,426,500 against an estimate of £40,000-60,000.

Apart, a unique item was a beautiful two shot flintlock sporting gun from Tipu’s personal armory worth around £100,000-150,000 sold for £722,500.

The amazing collection includede – featured sabers, trophy swords, arrow quivers, helmets, blunderbusses, fowling pieces and sporting guns. It is mentioned that each and every weapon was a work of art in its right.

The happiest man was none other than Claire Penhallurick, Head of the Indian and Islamic Department at ''Bonhams'' who could not contain his joy at the outcome of the sale. Connoisseurs from all around the world recognized the value and workmanship of these rare items from Tipu’s armory, a treasure trove of astonishing works of art. No doubt the auction house was delighted with the sale as they would have made a bundle out of it.
Claire Penhallurick ‘ .... Tipu Sultan’s arms and armor was of the greatest historical significance. For collectors, it was an unrivalled opportunity to acquire objects closely associated with this extraordinary, innovative man who continues to hold enormous fascination across the world.”
https://taazakhabarnews.com/sword-and-cannon-of-tipu-sultan-the-last-king-of-mysore-fetches-6-million-pounds-in-a-london-auction/

Ipu Sultan and Gold ring. Teznews.com

It was in May 2014 a fine heavy gold ring belonging to the legendary Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan fetched 145000 pounds in a London auction, an unexpected huge sum ten times more than the expected estimate. The auction was conducted by UK's famous auction house ''Christie''. It was a sensational auction that attracted many connoisseurs of Indian antiques and artifacts. It was part of the booty after the battle at Srirangapatna in 1799.

Tipu Sultan's gold ring with Hindu God's name RAM in Dennagari. bbc.com

The salient features of this historical gold ring are as follows:
.
01. It is a heavy gold ring weighing as much as as 41.2 gram. It was a personal possession of the ruler. Known as the Tiger of Mysore, his reign lasted for 17 years after succeeding his father, Hyder Ali. He had close military alliance with the French.

02. The successful bidder of the gold ring wanted to remain anonymous. Presumably, he did not want to part with this precious gold ring. A section of Indian people wanted the ring to be returned to India,

03.The highlight of this jeweled ring is it is inscribed with the name of Hindu God ''RAM ''in raised Devanagri script. Sri Rama is an avatar of Sri Vishnu and the epic Ramayana is about Rama's exploits, etc.

Srirangapatna taluk, Karnataka. districts.ecourts.gov.in

04. The pathetic aspect about the ring is, being a superstitious Muslim ruler, Tipu used to wear this gold ring or Navaratna (with 9 gem stones) ring on the advice of his astrologers during war campaigns. He won several battles against local rulers and gave stiff resistance to the British whom he considered a sworn enemy. . At the time of his death in his own fort at Srirangapatna (Karnataka), Tipu was wearing this gold ring and fighting fiercely against the East India company's army commanded by Lord Marquess Wellesley.

05. Upon Tipu's unexpected death (he was just 48 years old) in 1799 in the last Angelo-Mysore war, Wellesley wanted to possess Tipu's ring and had it removed from the slain body. He kept it as a token of his big victory in Southern India because Tipu was a valiant and intelligent warrior.

06. Later back in England, he gave the gold ring as a wedding gift to his favorite niece Emily with Fritz Roy Somerset, Wellesley’s military officer and close confidant. Wellesley had a close and personal relationship with him for several years and they together fought wars in Crimea and Waterloo.

07. Then valued at 10,000.00 to 15,000.00 pounds this gold ring was one of the important items put up for auction on May 24, 2014 by Somerset’s great grand son Baron Raglan! The well attended auction fetched 140,500 pounds for the gold ring – a fabulous sum for the owners. Some of the other artifacts, treasures that were also auctioned dated from 1858.

Tipu Sultan-the place where he died in the battle at Srirangapatnam.1799. en.wikipedia.org

08. "It is quite strange that a famous Muslim warrior was wearing the ring bearing the name of a Hindu God RAM. It shows he had an abiding faith is astrology and had several well-versed astrologers in his employee.

09. The heritage lovers of Karnataka and elsewhere wanted the ring to be stored in a museum or returned to India. The private bidder's name is kept anonymous to hide the famous ring from public view.

10. A group called ''Tipu Sultan United Front'' also urged the government to prevent the ring from being sold. This group, it is said, was formed to preserve the legacy of Tipu and his exploits against the English company.

11. The sad story is none of the rich Indians came forward and bought the ring steeped in history. Unlike westerners, Indians do not want to possess certain historical artifacts, etc. Nor do they buy them to be donated to the museum.

12. In 2012, this gold ring came up for auction at Christie's but was then withdrawn for unknown reason.

13. Tagged as the Tiger of Mysore, Tipu Sultan ruled the state efficiently for 17 years after succeeding his father, Hyder Ali. For the British. he was a stumbling block in their ambition to control the Peninsular India.

14. The general opinion has been that as the gold ring was taken from corpse of a possessive and emotional ruler of Mysore, it carries a curse on it. So, Baron Raglan' family wanted to dispose of the ''Tipu Collection'' as early as possible.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/tipu-sultan-s-ring-sells-for-145-000-in-uk/story-uCzGuZksgp8C8wFA3xaMgP.html
http://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2014/12/tipu-sultans-gold-ring-and-lord.html

Afzal Khanen of Bijapur. .wikipedia.org/

If you take the history of any country there are more tragic and bizarre incidents than joyous ones far beyond the ramparts and battlefields. Many of them lie hidden below the dead debris of time, but when some see the light, pain is writ largely on our face. Such narratives written in blood simply overwhelm us.

Saat kabbar map of Bijapur

No doubt, a pale of gloom hangs over such weird events that throw light on the psychology of men responsible for them and how far they are driven by love, revenge, greed, etc depending on the problems being faced by them. In the past, India being a subcontinent run by various rulers of different faith, there is no dearth of such strange and unpalatable incidents. Some insane acts, did occur outside of India, like those of Sultan Ibrahim of the Ottoman Empire. He did something unexpected; he drowned his entire harem just because one of the women had an intimate relationship with a eunuch. This tale came to light from an escaped concubine in the harem. This clearly shows dominance of men over weaker gender

Have you ever heard of a brave Muslim army chief sending his 63 wives to the grave fearing his own death in the ensuing battle? Yes, such a tragic and outlandish event took place in the city of Bijapur, now in Karnataka state centuries back. In this city, ''Saat Kabar'', an isolated (5 km from Bijapur) and eerie place away from the city, silently witnessed 63 young wives mercilessly murdered by a possessive husband Afzal Khan, an army chief of ruler Adil Shahi II (1571- 12 September 1627), a Sunni Muslim who remained tolerant toward Hindus and also Christians) This place has the graves of those women and the cold-blooded setting gives us an eerie feeling.

Ruler Ali Adil Shah II, appointed Afzal Khan as the general of Bijapur.wikipedia

Bijapur, a heritage city once ruled by the dynasty of Adil Shah, has numerous monuments of historical importance, mosques, mahals, mausoleums, etc; one being Gol Gumbaz, perhaps the largest dome in the world with whispering chambers. The dynasty, no doubt, left a rich tradition of cosmopolitan culture and artistic patronage and the countless heritage structures that bear testimony to their legacy

It seems tourists coming to this city try to avoid the tombs of army chief's wives because of bloodletting and gory details of their tragic end. The tombs, far removed away from the urban area, lie in the midst of under growth of creepers,wild bushes, plants, etc and appear sort of crumbled. Devoid of any path to the grave, the other side looks like mini forest - sheer wilderness. One gets the impression poisonous snakes, etc may be roosting there. People who have been to this place say that the auto drivers are reluctant to take the tourists to this area just because of unearthly silence.

saat kabar-tombs of women killed by Afzal Khan, Bijapur tripadvisor.co.nz

Saat Kabar is a neglected place and is not a tourists' delightful destination, part of the reason is gruesome fate that fell upon the young innocent women.

saat kabar-tombs of women killed by Afzal Khan.tripadvisor.co

To get to know the tragic story we have to go back to the 17th Century, when Chatrapathi Shivaji, ruler and valiant Maratha warrior was at loggerheads with the Bijapur sultanate. When Shivaji Maharaj waged a war against Adil Shah II, the responsibility fell on his army chief Afzal Khan (died 10 November 1659), an equally talented warrior to lead the army. His unique skills and commanding ability and war strategies led to his popularity and rose in the ranks of hierarchy. Legend has it that he was awarded a famous sword known as the ''Adili'', studded with diamonds. He had a popular elephant Howdah named Dhal-Gaj and headed a personal force of 10,000 soldiers.

It was Afzal Khan's wont to consult the astrologers before war campaigns and this time astrologers told him that it was an unpropitious time and he might die in the ensuing battle. Upon this prediction, grief-stricken, he was now more concerned about his 63 women in the harem than about his own fate. Being jealous and possessive, he decided to kill all his wives to avoid remarriage or ill treatment by the enemies. Invariably, the victorious Hindu rulers, as per Hindu Dharma, would treat the wives of enemies well and value their modesty. It is mentioned that Afzl Khan's wives were taken to an isolated place where they were pushed into a an abandoned well. The one who managed to escape, was recaptured and killed. All the women were interred in this burial ground before Afzal went to war. The women in the harem met this tragic fate on account of army chief's madness and obsession with them.

saat kabar-tombs of women killed by Afzal Khanm army chief, Bijapur hindu.co,

In an open space there lie numerous graves in rows mostly made of black stone, Many of these stones are broken, open to the skies. Their death occurred before the battle and Afzal Khan wanted his tomb built close to the graves here. But, as astrologer predicted, he was killed in the battle at a meeting with Shivaji by Shivaji's lieutenant Sambhaji Kavji, and his army was defeated in the Battle of Pratapgad.

The ambiance at the Saat Kabar is not a desirable one, quite eerie. In the ominous silence here, one could hear the whispering sound of last cries and waling of dying women in pain whose fate changed overnight by a mad man. Any visitor to this place will be in a hurry to leave this place and take refuge in a civilized world.

Now a monument of national importance, under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958, it is under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI); the upkeep of this place is very poor. Anti-social elements wonder around as one could see graffiti on the tomb stones. The government should put up barricade around this place, repair and restore it. Former Karnataka Tourism Minister Roshan Baig says Bijapur's monuments will get due importance in a plan the Government is drawing up to promote tourism in the state. People keep their fingers crossed because they are yet to know when the promise will become a reality. Now, a new ministry is in power and will they look into the aspiration of the local people and make Bijapur a nice tourist destination?
https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/travel/The-last-cries/article12308499.ece
https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/offtrack/story/20010917-17th-century-general-of-the-shahi-dynasty-loved-his-wives-so-much-that-he-killed-them-774220-2001-09-17

Afzal Khan's Cenotaph, Bijapur nspirock.com

Afzal Khan's Cenotaph, Bijapur sinspirock.com

The city of Bijapur in Karnataka has lots of protected historical monuments - about 69 mostly related to Indo-Muslim architecture and they throw light on the kaleidoscopic view of the blend of different culture. Though the structures are more of Islamic content, the matrix is Hindu style. This blend makes them more interesting . There are numerous mosques, mahals and mausoleums. There is no doubt none gets more attention of the visitors than the famous Gol Gumbaz, the massive dome that has special acoustics that may pick up a whisper in one place and you can hear it in the other part of the structure. A nice piece of Adilshahi art and architecture.

Among numerous monuments, the one that draws our attention is
Afzal Khan's cenotaph. Being the army chief under the ruler Adil Shah II, before going to war against the Marathas on orders from his ruler, he committed the most heinous crime. Fearing death as predicted by the court astrologers, he killed all his 63 wives by pushing them in to a deep well in a place called 'saat kabar' and interred in this burial ground before going to war,The tomb stone are about 5 km from the city. Both this cenotaph and the near-by mosque are built in the style of design prevalent during the reign of Adil Shah dynasty.

Situated about two and half miles from Shahpur entrance. in Bijapur, Afzal Khan's Cenotaph is fairly being maintained by the ASI and the construction work was initiated by himself. The work on the structure, which is believed to be Afzal's own burial place, went on for a long time. Unfortunately, after his death in the war against the Marathas, his body was never buried here. He died in a far away place. The cenotaph has a mosque in it's complex which is a two-story building and no embellishment. However, the pineapples lining the base of the roof of the mosque is an excellent art work.


Afzal Khan's Cenotaph, Bijapur

Bijapur army chief. Afzal Khan,en.wikipedia.og

Shivaji attacking taall Afzal khan, wikipedia.

Above image: The famous encounter of Afzal Khan and Shivaji Maharaj- Ali Adil Shah II (1571-12 September 1627) the ruler of Bijapur appointed Afzal Khan as the general of Bijapur army purely on merit as he happened to be a great and courageous warrior who was quick to know the strength and weakness of enemies. Afzal Khan was a loyal employee of the royal family Being a man of Afghan descent, he was much taller and stronger than Shivaji. In the war against the mighty Maratha forces in 1659, after some deliberations, at last, a peace meeting was arranged at Pratapgad, a place well-known to Shivaji. It was agreed that the leaders - Afzal and Shivaji would be unarmed. As Afzal Khan was a dangerous man, Shivaji was cautious. He wore armour under his clothes and a steel helmet under his turban. He also wore a weapon called bagh nakh ("tiger claws"), consisting of an iron finger-grip with four razor claws, which he concealed within his clenched fist. Further, he also carried a stiletto-like thin dagger called the bichu or bichuwa (scorpion knife). As per custom, Afzal embraced Shivaji and he then suddenly tightened his clasp, held Shivaji's neck in his left arm and struck him with a katar. Shivaji's armor saved him; infuriated Shivaji, wiggled out of the tight grip and attacked Afzal with 'wagh nakh', disemboweling him. He then stabbed Afzal with his bichawa, and ran out of the tent towards his men. In the ensuing melee an confusion, Sambhaji Kavji eventually killed Afzal Khan by decapitating him. Later the Maratha forces hiding in some near-by places defeated the Bijapur army. That though being outnumbered and outgunned by Afzal Khan’s men, Shivaji led his army to victory over the troops of the Bijapur Sultanate is an important event in Maratha history. Being a just person, Shivaji had Afzal Khan buried with full military honors, befitting his stature and reputation at the foot of the Pratapgad fort. The town closest to Pratapgarh fort today is Mahabaleshwar. Situated on a plateau, the colonial-era hill-station has various ‘points’ that overlook the valley below. Afzal died on 10 November 1659 due to severe injuries. An annual urs is held at Afzal Khan's mausoleum............................................

The cenotaph is made of bricks with eleven rows of tombs which added up to 64 burials of Afzal Khan's wives. As mentioned before the prophecy of court astrologers about his imminent death in the ensuing battle, chose him to do away with his 63 wives. he pushed them into a well one by one and near the tombs the old well.

Many people avoid Afzal Khan's cenotaph as one has to recall horrible memories of such a brutal act of Afzal Khan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afzal_Khan_(general)
https://www.astrolika.com/monuments/afzal-khan-cenotaph.html

Jod Gumbaz, Bijapur, flicker.com

Among the Islamic monuments of Bijapur, Jod Gumbaz, is an interesting one. Believe it or not, it is dedicated to neither a ruler nor a great warrior, rather, the twin tombs here were dedicated to “Traitors”. Is it nor strange honoring traitors of a country? Close to the Mecca Gate, Jod Gumbax has two tombs built in 1687 in memory of father son duo - Khan Muhammad and Abdul Razzaq Qadiri. Why are they tagged as traitors?

Jod Gumbaz, Bijapur. tripadvisor

The above image: The octagonal one is the Tomb of Khan Muhammad and of his son Khawas Khan, Wazir to ruler Sikander Shah. Khan Muhammad was executed for his treachery. The tomb has a high dome which springs from a foliated band of ornament. The plain square tomb is the Mausoleum of Abdul Razzak..............................................

If you take the history of any country across the globe, rulers never have failed to plant spies in their enemies' land to gain knowledge about their military strength, weakness, political situation, etc. Based on the inputs, they strengthen their military and improve their arms and ammunition. These spies in a foreign land depend on the traitors who are ready to betray their country for a big reward. The other reason is if the traitors who once had a close rapport with the rulers and who faced humiliation for some reason, will resort to revenge by way of betraying the rulers to settle their score. Such vigilantism in a political scenario will spell doom for a country. In the past in the 18th century, the composite Bengal fell into the hands of the wily British East India company officials headed by Robert Clive because of betrayal by Mir Jaffer, a close relative of the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-daulah who was later murdered by his own relatives at the instigation of Robert Clive and his co employee William Watts. It changed the history of India and the world, paving path for the growth of British imperialism. Such betrayal did occur in the past and and it does happen now.

Jod Gumbaz, Bijapur/mapio.net/pic

This father-son duo had helped Aurangzeb defeat the young Sikandar Adil Shah. It was in 1685, Aurangzeb sent his son, Muhammad Azam Shah, with a force of nearly 50,000 men to capture Bijapur Fort and defeat Sikandar Adil Shah (the ruler of Bijapur). Sikandar refused to be a vassal and was ready to face any eventuality. Sikandar was on the throne of Bijapur in 1672 when he was just a kid - four years of age. Therefore, his reign (1672–1686) was marked by chaos - chronic civil war among factious nobles, regents and ministers whose aim was power and pelf.

Tombs Jod Gumbaz, Bijapur mapio.net/pic

Jod Bumbaz tombs. mapio.net/pic

Jod Gumbaz, entrance to Abdul Razzak's tomb, Bijapur. mapio.net/pic

He also had a well-trained army with powerful cannons. The Moguls' offencive force was not good enough and they could not make any further advancements upon Bijapur Fort which was well-guarded. The reason being they had better fire power, far superior cannons that could cover long distances. Outraged by the stalemate Aurangzeb himself arrived on 4 September 1686 and commanded the Siege of Bijapur; after eight days of fighting, the Moguls emerged were victorious. Sikandar was unable to halt the Mogul assault led by Aurangzeb. On 12 September 1686, Bijapur was occupied, its garrison surrendered and Bijapur Fort was annexed by the Mughal Empire.

Sikandar Adil Shah of Bijapur, wikipedia.

Above image: A painting of "The House of Bijapur" was completed in the year 1680, during the reign of Sikandar Adil Shah the last ruler of the Adil Shahi dynasty. After defeat Sikandar Adil Shah was captured, bound in silver chains and brought before the Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb, to whom he bowed three times. Aurangzeb then sent him and his followers to Daulatabad fort, where he died during captivity. Sikandar Adil Shah and was buried at foot side of his spiritual teacher Naimullah Hashmi in the open yard in the New Market Place of Bijapur. The Adil Shahi dynasty thus came to an end............................................

Jod Gumbaz, Bijapur indiamart.com/

Mogul ruler Aurangzeb, the most trecherous ruler. muslimworldjournal.com

During the tumultuous time, instead of being loyal to the Sultanate of Bijapur, Khan Muhammad and Abdul Razzaq Qadiri indulged in acts of treason and passed on certain military secrets to the Moguls.
Also known as Abdul Razzaq Dargah, the structure has two domes and beautifully carved chambers. Jod Gumbaz is in the midst of a garden which has now become a picnic spot. The tombs are on a higher since the graves are built at the floor level with galleries within the domes. It is surprising that the tombs were built on the advice of Afzal khan, the army chief who later was killed in the war against Marathas. The traitors mortal remains are buried here. Jod Gumbaz is just one km away from Afzal khan’ cenotaph.

Often referred to as the twin domes of the tombs of Khan Muhammad and Abdul Razzaq Qadiri, they also go by the name of 'Two Sisters’.
http://www.dsource.in/resource/monuments-bijapur/jod-gumbaz
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurangzeb#Expansion_of_the_Mughal_Empire

55 ton gun. Malik-e-Maidan tope, Bijapur /travelkabaap.com

Machine Gun, Malik Maidan tof, Bijapur dsource.in

In the medieval and later periods, cannons and guns played a great role in wars between Indian rulers and in many cases, more than strategy, fire power decided the fate of a ruler and his victory. When the British East India company in the 18th century became a force to reckon with, they gradually introduced powerful cannons and weapons. Their fire power was far superior than Indian rulers, with which they threatened the Indian rulers and over a period of time established their hegemony.

Machine Gun, Malik Maidan tof, Bijapur dsource.in

Both Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and northern part of Karnataka were known to have produced fine, powerful cannons centuries ago to face the powerful enemies from the north and north west. The rulers of Bengal had excellent foundries where they could make powerful guns to use them against other rulers and the English company which frequently violated trade agreements with them. So, possessing powerful cannons and guns was more an asset than a liability because they acted as deterrents in case of enemy invasions.

Bijapur, Karnataka. maps of India

Bijapur city, Karnataka is a tourist paradise where the visitors can see a variety of historical buildings, mostly built in Indo-Islamic style. The Sultanate was ruled by Muslims who belonged to Shia sect. There are other attraction as well. The one that is worthy of mention is the gun - Malik-e-Maidan or Muluk-e-Maidan meaning ''the Monarch of the Plains''.

Machine Gun, Malik Maidan tof, Bijapur pinterest.com

Above image: The "Malik-i-Maidan" (Master of the Field) cannon, stated to be the largest piece of cast bronze ordnance in the world, was utilized by the Deccan Sultanates during the Battle of Talikota (1565). It was provided by Ali Adil Shah I (Bijapur Sultanate) ...................................................
Malik-e-Maidan Tope is believed to be the biggest old gun on earth Weighing 55 tons, 4 m in length and 1.5 m wide; it is on the Sherza Burj (Lion Gate) on a stage. The diameter of the bore is approximately 15 inches. It means the blast from the gun was heavy. The gag/spout of the gun has formed a lion head with open jaws, and between the jaws are engraved elephants to make it resemble the lion is eating up the elephant. The eyes and whiskers nostril and the ears of the lion are well highlighted. This famous gun arrived from Ahmadnagar in the seventeenth century as a war trophy. Transporting the huge gun posed a big problem and at last it reached the present site drawn by ten elephants, 400 bulls and numerous men. It is said they brought two huge guns and one was stuck in the river bed when crossing it. When in use, the cannon was mounted on a swivel mechanism which allowed it to turn 180 degrees. To prevent accidental firing toward Bijapur, massive walls on the rear side were built as a precaution. As the cannon was capable of generating unbearable loud noise and heat, the gunner, upon lighting the fuse, had to submerge himself in a near-by water tank to avoid injuries The water tank can be seen even to day, but it is covered.

Carving on Malik Maidan tof, Bijapur.gunhistoryindia.com

Ibrahim Adil Shah II had this huge gun Malik-e-Maidan set on the highest point of the tower in the Bijapur Fort between two bastions on the west mainly to defend the fort. It was to defend the Maratha army. The gun is made of an alloy of five metals including copper, iron and tin and this combination makes it strong, rust-proof, besides the surface has a green sheen and does not get hot under the scorching sun. When striking, it produces peculiar sound. With Arabic and Persian inscription on it, it is mentioned that this gun was cast in Ahmednagar in the 17th century or prior to that.

Malik-e-Maidan tope, Bijapur, Persian inscription iksoochi.blogspot.com

Malik-e-Maidan Tope (Tof), during a major war against the mighty Vijayanagara rulers at Talikote in the year January 1565, played no less role on the battle field. Being one of the largest artillery in the world, its fire power was a menace to the equally strong Vijayanagara army. The outcome of the war was the end of Vijayanagar empire and the great dynasty. Yet another reason was the betrayal of two Muslim commanders (Gilani Brothers) in the Vijayanagara army who suddenly turned against the Vijayanagara kings.
Bidar fort, Basavakalyan Fort, etc Karnataka. have good collection of cannons.
http://karnatakatravel.blogspot.in/2010/05/malik-e-maidan-tope-bijapur.html
http://www.gunhistoryindia.com/2013/07/malik-e-maidan-tope-canon-bijapur.http http://travelkabaap.com/travel/malik-e-maidan/
http://travelkabaap.com/travel/malik-e-maidan/

Jal Mahal Palace, Jaipurgocityguides.com

proposed model Jal Mahal Palace, Jaipur.cgtrader.com

In Rajasthan, there are stunning palatial palaces built centuries ago by rich Maharajahs and some of them are well embellished and get the attention of tourists. Built in Rajput -Mogul style, they are not only attractive, but also innovative, in particular, those with lattice windows -jallis that come up with fine geometric pattern and chhatris. Jal Mahal palace in Jaipur is a unique palace in the middle of a lake.- a nice place to relax in the hot tropical summer. An interesting feature is two thirds of its building is below the surface of the water. The govt. is working on a grand plan to convert into a classic building without disturbing its heritage value.

Jal Mahal meaning "Water Palace" in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur city, the capital of Rajasthan, India is an inspiring place; it looks as if the entire palace is floating in the center of the lake. It is said the Maharajah used to stay here while on hunting trips to the near-by wooded areas. Jal Mahal was built by Sawai Pratap Singh of Amber in 1799 A.D. in the midst of the Man Sagar lake for pleasure and entertainment. It is interesting to note the Lake was formed by constructing a dam between two hills by Sawai Man Singh I. During winter months one can see a large number of migratory birds in the lake roosting. It is just 4 km to the north of Jaipur and is located on the main Amer-Jaipur road.

Jal Mahal Palace, Jaipur.

The Jal Mahal palace, built in a typical Rajput- Mogul style of architecture (common in Rajasthan), has a fascinating view of the lake itself with the back drop of the surrounding Nahargarh ("tiger-abode") hills. It is a five-story structure of which four floors remain underwater when the lake is full,exposing the top floor. Though 4 stories of the building are under the surface of the water (depth of water in the lake is 15 feet) they are well into the bed of the lake. At Gaitore across the lake, Jai Singh II builtchhatris and cenotaphs over cremations platforms of the Kachwaha rulers of Jaipur.

Built in red sandstone, the palace needed major repair and restoration work due to partial seepage and wall damage caused by wetness and water logging. The Government of Rajasthan, under a restoration project took care of all the immediate repair work to preserve this heritage site. The palace has an impressive look, this being due to octagonal chhatris on the four corners, The rectangular Chhatri on the roof is of different type not native to this state but is native to Bengal.

The palace is off limits to the majority of visitors as repair and restoration work is going on besides some additions like roof-top terrace garden, fresh plastering of walls using traditional methods to give back heritage appearance, semi-octagonal towers with impressive cupola at each corner etc. It is to be transferred to a high class hotel in the near future. As for walls, the plaster consisted of old traditional building materials -partly organic material- a mortar mix of lime, sand and surkhi mixed with jaggery, guggal and methi powder. This reduced the seepage in the building considerably. De-silting was done in the lake in recent the past. The private party who took a long lease was busy restorating the building and had a plan to construct additional first class hotels in the future. A sum of Rs1.5 billion was spent several years back on the restoration project with support from the state government. The Jal Mahal palace, I understand, is not open yet to visitors because repair work is not finished so far.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jal_Mahal
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/travel/scs-nod-to-jal-mahal-tourism-development-project-at-jaipur/articleshow/35072536.cms?from=mdr

Deeg palace, Bharatpur Rajasthan triphobo.com

Deeg Palace, Rajasthan en.wikipedia.org/

Built in 1772, Deeg Palace has become a luxurious summer resort after 1972. Jat ruler Badan Singh, who ascended the throne in 1721, built it here. Deeg, Rajasthan was the original capital of the Jat rulers and they shifted the capital to Bharatpur; it is said, for security reasons. The palace is about 32 km from Bharatpur. The Muslim invaders of Delhi used to attack Deeg because of its strategic location and proximity to Agra. Prince Suraj Mal, being shrewd as he was, did not want to take any risk and decided to have a fort built in a safe place. In earnest, he began the construction of a fortress around the palace in 1730. The fort was a formidable one with massive walls and deep and wide moat all around to keep the invaders away.

Entrance to Deeg palace, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. reamtrails.in

Entrance to Deeg palace, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. thinkingparticle.com

In the vicissitude of time, Deeg saw many ups and downs and once it became a center of a major battle between the combined forces of the Moguls and Marathas on one side and Rajputs on the other. In this battle, Suraj Mal emerged victorious and this well-earned victory gave him lots of confidence. At one point Suraj Mal raided the red fort, Delhi and plundered it, carrying away a huge bundle of valuables, besides an entire marble building, which was dismantled and numbered. The palace -Deeg was then built with marbles taken away from Delhi.

Deeg palace, Bharatpur, Rajasthan facebook.com

Deeg palace, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, Charbagh garden en.wikipedia.org/

Deeg palace garden with fountains, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. goibibo.com/

The palace in quadrangle form has a garden and walk-ways at its center. Decorative flowerbeds, shrubs, trees and fountains were introduced to cool the place considerably during summer. The jat rulers were influenced by the Mogul architecture and built the building on the Mogul model. Their gardens show the influence of Mogul Charbagh that provides a serene and cool ambiance for relaxation near the palace. Two huge water tanks, Gopal Sagar and Rup Sagar, on either side were built to keep the palace cool and comfortable during horrible hot days in this part of India.This palace is known for its beauty, grandeur and, of course, its nice and cool gardens. A famous week-end spot one can not miss the Mogul and Rajasthani splendor of this historical palace.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deeg_Palace

Mogul Dynasty, Indian subcontinent slideshare.net

Mogul Dynasty, Indian subcontinent. wordpress.com

The Mogul Empire was founded in 1526 by none other than Babur, a warrior chieftain from a land what today is known as Uzbekistan. Being a good war strategist with help from neighboring empires, he defeated the Sultan of Delhi Ibrahim Lodhi, in the First Battle of Panipat and put the plains of Upper India under his control. The Mogul imperial rule saw its gradual heyday from 1600 to the rule of Babur's grandson, Akbar. The prestige of imperial rule lasted till 1720. The reign of last major emperor, Aurangzeb, saw maximum geographical extent, however, being a treacherous ruler, war-monger and religious bigot, toward the end of his rule, the Mogul opulence and reputation began to go down hill. Relentless wars with the Marathas and others had an impact on the Mogul treasury that became almost empty. The ruinous wars of succession in the three decades among Mogul rulers following the death of Aurangzeb had further weakened the empire. Over a span of 132 years nearly 400 historical monuments survived, mostly made of marbles, red sandstone impregnated with gemstones, etc. Moguls introduced a fusion of Indo-Mogul style, symbolic of the blend of Indian culture.

raid on Delhi by Iranian ruler Nadir Shahen.wikipedia.org

Above image: Nadir Shah at the sack of Delhi - Battle scene with Nader Shah on horseback, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Emperor Nader Shah, the Shah of Persia (1736–47) and the founder of the Afsharid dynasty of Persia, invaded the Mogul Empire, eventually plundered Delhi in March 1739. His army had not only easily defeated the Moguls at the battle at Karnal but also captured Delhi. His army went on a killing binge. Nadir asked his soldiers to carry out the notorious ''qatl-e-aam'' (killing of common people). In a short span of six hours in one day - 22 March 1739, about 20,000 to 30,000 Indian men, women and children were butchered by merciless Afsharid troops A worst massacre in the city of Delhi, Further, some 10,000 women and children were taken slaves, according to a representative of the Dutch East India
Company in Delhi. In the wake of this worst plundering and raid on Delhi and Nader Shah's big victory against the weak and crumbling Moguls, the Dynasty lost its name and dignity in the far east in South Asia. The British East India Company that had been in India for decades was waiting for a chance to move in to get rid of the last Mogul descendants for good. ....................
Yet another blow to the Mogul supremacy was the raid by Nadir Shaw of Iran who plundered Delhi and other places besides taking away the diamond-studded golden peacock throne, koh-i-noor and Darya-i-Noor ( meaning "Mountain of Light" and "Sea of Light," respectively) diamond sand other innumerable treasures. Literally, Nadir Shah made the Moguls bleed and weakened the Mogul's regal power and influence.

The imperial Diwan of the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah en.wikipedia.org

Above image: Nasir-ud-Din Muḥammad Shah (7 August 1702 – 16 April 1748) was Mughal emperor from 1719 to 1748, was the son of Khujista Akhtar, (the fourth son of Bahadur Shah I). He ascended the throne at the young age of 17 with help from Sayyid brothers. Being ungrateful, he later got rid of them with the help of Asaf Jah I. Syed Hussain Ali Khan was murdered at Fatehpur Sikri in 1720 and Syed Hassan Ali Khan Barha was poisoned in 1722 .................
The empire later became fragmented,and the Governors or Nawabs appointed by the Moguls became independent rulers of respective regions. The wily British who had been in the subcontinent, gobbling kingdom after kingdom became a powerful force to reckon with and it was no better chance for them to reduce Mogul just a ruler of a small place with annual dole from the English company. Having acquired most parts of India except areas around Delhi during the 1857 rebellion, British East India Company took over the Delhi administration and asked the last Mogul ruler to leave his palace and made him live elsewhere as an ordinary Indian. Thus EIC and later the Crown removed the regal powers from the Nawabs and Maharajahs and made them lead a fairly comfortable lives with dole and fancy titles to cool their ego. The last Mogul ruler Bahadur shah Zafar's ill treatment by the British and killing of his young legal heirs in daylight right before the public on the outskirts of Delhi added yet another dark chapter in British India history.
At what point of time Mogul opulence and dignity had begun to go down hill,? In 1650s, it was the heyday for the Mogul kings. Their wealth was far more than any of the European kings, as a matter of fact, European ruler's opulence was nothing before the Moguls. Mogul empire started developing cracks when Aurangzeb arrived on the political scene. He imprisoned his father and murdered three of his brothers. His fanaticism further widened the cracks in the ruling class.

Mogul heir-apparent Dara Shikoh murdered by Aurangzeb. sikhiwiki.org

Dara Shikoh (20 March 1615 – 30 August 1659) being the eldest son was heir-apparent of the Mogul emperor Shah Jahan. Bestowed with the title Padshahzada-i-Buzurg Martaba ("Prince of High Rank") he was favored as a successor by his father and his older sister, Princess Jahanara Begum. A man of wisdom and commonsense, who had a flair for literary works in Persian and Urdu, Dara was a deserving candidate. Further, he had good contact with the Hindus, the main faith in the land. Being greedy, grasping and merciless, being younger than other sons of Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb set his eyes on the Mogul throne. At the instigation of Aurangzeb, the royal family was gripped with the war of succession that ensued after Shah Jahan's illness in 1657. Dara was defeated by his younger brother Prince Muhiuddin (later, the Emperor Aurangzeb). He was executed in a gruesome manner right before his son in public in 1659 by ruthless Aurangzeb who sent his father to jail and ascended the throne. Though he was great warrior, Aurangzeb's reign was a dark chapter in Indian history; it saw religious suppression and persecution of Non-Muslims, temple destruction, etc and frequents battles with other rulers. All these had a run on the Mogul coffers. Money and man power were lost and toward the end of his life, Aurangzeb almost became broke. Later under his son Bahadur Shaw I, the dynasty became an easy target for invasions from NW of India.

The Bibi Ka Maqbaraen, Aurangabad, Maharashtra.wikipedia.org

The Bibi Ka Maqbara built in memory of his chief wife Dilras Banu Begum (posthumously known as Rabia-ud-Daurani) in Aurangabad, was commissioned in 1660 by emperor Aurangzeb. Often referred to as poor man's Taj, he could not afford to spend a large sum on this structure due to severe budgetary constraints. This resulted in a poor copy of the Taj Mahal.

1658- 1707 Trecherous and religious bigot, Emperor Aurangzeb /www.slideshare.ne

Thus in the Mogul Empire, fratricides frequently took place due to wars of succession. Ruler Shah Jahan had his eldest brother Khusrau Mirza killed in 1622. Shah Jahan also had his brother Shahriyar killed in 1628. Shah Jahan's son, Dara Shikoh was assassinated by four of his brother Aurangzeb's henchmen in front of his terrified son on the night of 30 August 1659 (9 September Gregorian).
So the ascendancy of treacherous Aurangzeb tolled the slow death of the Mogul rule in India. Subsequent Mogul rulers who were hard-pressed for money to maintain a huge army. The Nadir Shaw plundering and looting of Delhi accelerated the down fall of a great empire.

Tit-bits:
Murad Ali Baig's book "is about a gap in Indian history. It covers details about great emperors like Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb; The escalating rivalry between Emperor Shah Jahan's sons Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb over the throne had driven a wedge in the royal family but also changed the course of history of the nation, according to Author Murad Ali Baig.Their heyday saw the sunset when the British banished the last Mogul ruler Bahadur Shah Zafar to Burma in his old age. They also without remorse killed three of his legal heirs after the 1857 great Rebellion.

Sher Mandal (Sher Shah's Pavilion). Delhi flickr.com/

Located within the confines of the Purana Qila fort in Delhi, is a historical building called Sher Mandal (Sher Shah's Pavilion). This 16th century monument is believed to have been built on the recommendation of Babur by Farid (Sher Shah) for his son Humayun and so the name was retained as Sher Mandal. ‘Sher Shah’ had tried to finish the building as part of the fort, but he died

Sher Mandal (Sher Shah's Pavilion). Delhi.lindsaywashere.com/

when the construction was in progress. So the responsibility of completing the work fell on Mogul ruler Humayun who in turn, completed the monument. The Building was built originally as a personal observatory and library for Humayun.

This simple, but great monument is a two-story octagonal tower made of red sandstone with steep staircase leading up to the roof. Believed to be the first observatory of Delhi, the tower is characteristic of an octagonal chhatri atop supported by eight pillars and decorated with white marble in typical Mogul style. Inside the monument one could see the remnants of the decorative plaster work and traces of stone shelving where, presumably, the emperor’s books were kept.

Mogul ruler Humayun, in a freak accident, died here in 1556 after falling down a flight of stairs. This was recorded by some members of the royal court of Humayun's son Akbar. According to Fazl, a historian on 20 January 1556 (sources give 24 January), Humayun was on the roof of a recently fitted library to bless his subjects. The accident took place in the evening while he had just begun to descend. No sooner had he stepped on the second step than he heard the ''azaan'', the Muslim call to prayer. Humayun, when getting ready to pray, as he stood up, one of his legs became entangled with his robe, He tripped, resulting his fatal fall down the stairs. He sustained serious injury on his temple and died a few days later. The public announcement, it is mentioned, was made 17 days after his death and by that time ruler Akbar had already reached Delhi from Agra.

Sher Mandal (Sher Shah's Pavilion), Delhi .spaenvis.nic.in

The structure is a mix of Timurid and Safavid architecture, and is the only surviving palace structure within the fort. Earlier it was thought by some historians that Sher Mandal was built by ruler Sher Shah Suri in 1541 as a pleasure resort. The subject of original builder of this structure has been a serious one among the researchers and at last it was agreed it was built by Humayun.
Researcher Ram Nath mentions that the architectural designs of Sher Mandal fall under a homogeneous construction and is consistent with Humayan's style.The near-by Qal’a-i Kuhna masjid or the pavilion resemble any of the buildings of Sher Shah.

The building, a two-story octagonal structure (about 60 feet in height is constructed of red sandstone that gives it an impressive look.It has has two extremely steep, narrow, and irregular granite staircases and there are eighteen steps each running along the northern and southern walls connecting the two floors. There is a single staircase joining the upper floor with the terrace. The dados of the middle story contain a 12-pointed star. This was specially introduced as ruler Humayun considered it auspicious though it is an astronomical numeral.
The cruciform chamber in the upper story is an interesting one - a single square-shaped room at the center opens out into four smaller rooms. The chamber has semi-vaulted softies on the sides supporting the four arches and a vaulted ceiling. The interiors have fine designs and decorations of glazed tiles and incised stucco.
The lower story is is inaccessible and it is presumed that it corresponds to a temporary burial site of Humayan. The chamber that was initially open, was later closed out of respect and Humayun's corpse was moved to a newly commissioned tomb two years after his death in this building.
http://www.spaenvis.nic.in/index3.aspx?sslid=2053&subsublinkid=160&langid=1&mid=
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sher_Mandal

Red Taj, Agra ranasafvi.com

Red Taj, Tomb of John Hessing. Agra ranasafvi.com

The beautiful Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal is one of the world famous monuments entirely made of high quality white marble during the Mogul period. Almost every day thousands of people visit this site in Agra, near Delhi to enjoy the grandeur and beauty of this fine building which is symbolic of love of a famous ruler toward his wife who gave him inspiration and moral support during his tumultuous reign. So Agra is synonymous with the Taj, one of the most visited monuments in the world.

Red Taj, Tomb of John Hessing. Agra cityseeker.com

Have you ever heard of yet another Taj called ''Red Taj'' or ''The tomb of John Hessing'' in the same city-Agra? Do you know it was built by a woman as a symbol of her love to him? In these two monuments, expression of eternal love and memory was the main theme that remains etched in pages of history. In Agra, if you run into one that is almost like a replica of the Taj, you are in surprise. It was built by one Ann, wife of one John Hessing as an expression of her deep love for her husband who happened to be a military man in India. Because of wide publicity, articles in magazines and newspapers, people visiting Agra, never fail to make a beeline to the marble edifice Taj, but they give less importance to other monuments like old colonial churches and equally interesting monuments. The Red Taj is left out by countless tourists for reasons of either poor publicity or sheer ignorance.
This not yet well-explored edify also known as John Hessing Tomb is built in Indo-Mogul style. Believe it or not, people have mentioned that because of its simplicity and color of the stone the Red Taj has a unique charm about it which is quite irresistible. The stricture stands on a square platform with a corridor around, and an impressive dome that adds extra beauty to this site.

Inside the central hall lies the grave of John Hessing with a few English inscriptions engraved on his tomb. Inscriptions read: ... the deceased colonel was a Dutchman, who died Commandant of Agra, in his 63rd year, 21 July 1803, just before (Col) Lake's successful siege of the place It is almost a mirror image of the Taj in style and design, but its simple but conventional structure makes it more interesting. Unlike the highly embellished Taj that is big this one is far smaller than the original. The tomb, is believed to have been completed in or about the year of the British conquest.

Red Taj, Tomb of John Hessing. Agra gen.wikipedia.org

In those days countless Europeans settled in India for religious freedom and took up jobs with various kingdoms. The pay was good and they were happy; many of them took employment in construction work and also in the armies. John Hessing (5 November 1739 - 21 July 1803), a Dutch traveler, became an employee in the service of the Maratha army and served in the 18th and 19th centuries, commanding big troops. Marathas headed by Daulat rao Scindia quite satisfied with his hard work and dedication, in 1799 put him in charge of the Agra Fort and its command. The East India company Army had a row with the Marathas who had successfully blocked their land-grabbing spree in this part. Frequent skirmishes were common between the English company and the Marathas. The British Army in the year 1803 raided the Agra in order to get it under their control the Second Anglo-Maratha War). Unfortunately, the commander John Hessing, despite his stiff resistance to guard the fort, was killed in action in Agra on 21 July 1803 in the battlefield. Earlier, Hessing commanded 3000 Maratha regular troops in the Battle of Kardla, where the army defeated the Nizam of Hyderabad on 12 March 1795.

Devastated and grief-stricken, his wife Ann Hessing wanted to do something in honor of her husband. So, she commissioned this monument almost on the model of the Taj in memory of Hessing, but chose red stone as the main construction material

The Red Taj is no longer a forgotten historical monument of simplicity and beauty. But, it bears testimony to the colonial era when European travelers, traders and and mercenaries lived in India comfortably and got a name for themselves in various Indian kingdoms and proved their loyalty to them. In this respect John Hessing was a military officer who gave his life for the Marathas to save the Agra Fort from the EIC army. The Red Taj or Hessing Tomb is inside Padretola, or Padresanto, a Catholic Christian cemetery in Agra.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hessinghttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/a-red-taj-in-memory-of-a-beloved-husband/as65951165.

St Paul's Cathedral, Kolkara, India en.wikipedia.org/

Church tower of St. Paul's Cathedral en.wikipedia.org

172 year old St. Paul Cathedral, Kolkata is one of the most popular churches in Asia where the only public event that had been held for 171 years was the midnight mass on Christmas Eve. From 2019 on ward, concerts related to Christ will be allowed on the Church premises and it will be free for all. Thanks to CNI (Church of North India) whose managing body has jurisdiction over this early colonial church built in Calcutta to meet the spiritual needs of a big Christian community lived there. The purpose of this arrangement is to help other communities access the free concert on the church premises and and enjoy the entertainment for a few hours in an atmosphere charged with religious fervor.

In England, long before, in the run up to Christmas, on four Sundays in many English churches concerts will be held inside the church as part of ''Advent Christ''. This practice has been vogue for a long time and it marks the beginning of new Christian year with celebrations of Christmastide - Christmas season, starting on the Christmas Eve and going up to Epiphany (12th day of Christmas),

St. Paul's cathedral, Kolkata, gettyimages

ie, January 6th. The date of beginning of Christmas Advent varies. At St. Pauls musical concerts were held to celebrate the great event last year during the Christmas time. Last year concerts included a symphony, vocal singers and string instrumental players. Incidentally, Calcutta Diocese is the oldest one in India - about 200 years. Admission is normally free and the aspirants have to get a pass beforehand. During the coming Christmas season, 2019 the Church has a plan to introduce Bengali singers as part of the concert to make the Bengali-speaking people feel at home.

Last year in the second week of December, tremors in Sikkim and NE part of India had light impact on this historical church and the facade on the east side facing Nehru street showed considerable damage, minor one that needed attention. Besides minor subsidence, cracks developed in many places and the heritage lovers and the cathedral authorities are making efforts to restore this great cathedral. The estimated cost is roughly Rs 4 crores. The church, any way, needed repairs and restoration and plans are afoot to get the old cathedral restored as early as possible. It ia main heritage site in Kolkata that carries the legacy of colonial rule that had its roots in Bengal long ago.

St. Paul' cathedral , Kolkata timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Tit-bits:

St. Paul's Cathedral with Anglican background in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, is well-known for its Gothic architecture. Completed in 1847 after eight long years, besides being the largest cathedral in Kolkata and the first Episcopal Church in Asia, It was also the first cathedral built abroad in the the British Empire. community in Calcutta in the 1800s. This cathedral was reconstructed to a revised design in "Indo-Gothic" and Gothic architectural style after the 1897 and 1934 earthquake.

St. Paul's cathedral, Kolkata, gettyimages

Following this natural calamity the tower of the cathedral was rebuilt along the lines of the central Bell Harry tower of Canterbury Cathedral.On its completion, St. Paul's replaced St. John's Church as the cathedral. It is located to the east of the Victoria Memorial and at the southern edge of the maidan, a park and can accommodate 800 to 1,000 people at a time for the services. The architects were William Nairn Forbes and C.K. Robinson and the cost of construction work was about Rs. 4,35,669. Bishop Daniel Wilson, the founder of the cathedral, the other notablee were buried in the graveyard. John Paxton Norman, an acting Chief Justice who was assassinated in 1871 was also buried here. Yet another interesting fact is the cathedral has a statue of Bishop Heber (1783–1826; an English bishop, man of letters and hymn-writer), who was the Second Bishop of Calcutta; his statue was sculpted by Francis Leggatt Chantrey.

St John's church in Trichinopoly, wikipedia

Above image: St John's church in Trichinopoly, Tamil Nadu where Heber preached his last sermon and where he is buried.....................

St. Paul's cathedral, Kolkata, gettyimages

Bishop Heber, on a visit unexpectedly died on 3 April 1826 in a church founded by German missionary Christian Friedrich Schwarz in Tiruchirappali city, Tamil Nadu. The famous Bishop Heber School (founded by Friedrich Schwarz), Bishob Heber College and the busy Bishop Huber Street In Tiruch city bear his name in his honor.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Paul%27s_Cathedral,_Kolkata
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/in-a-first-st-pauls-to-open-its-doors-to-concerts/articleshow/66929560.cms
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/171-year-old-st-pauls-cathedral-set-for-renovation-in-new-year/articleshow/67111269.cms

St. Teresa’s Shrine, Mahé (Mahé Church), India.baijujoseph.com

In India, there are innumerable old churches, some dating back to 2nd century. Though St. Thomas established the seven and half churches on the coastal south Kerala, more missionaries arrived here after the discovery of sea route to India by Vasco da Gama in 1498. Anglican churches had begun to appear when the British East India company had laid strong roots in India. About the old churches in India, the shrine of St. Teresa of Avila at Mahe, is one among them, perhaps, the oldest shrine in Malabar after churches established by St. Thomas, a prime disciple of Christ. Mahé, a small town surrounded on all sides by Kerala, is part of the Union Territory of Pondicherry that was once controlled by the French. Mahe, poetically called Mayyazhi or the Eyebrow of the Sea, became the domain of the French East India Company and the 18th century fort here is a legacy of French rule.

The Carmelite Archives at Rome contained certain pretty old document regarding Christianity on the west coast of India. In a document titled "De Missione Mahinensi in Malabaribus Commentarius" by Rev. Father Ignatius A.S Hippolytes O.C.D (dated 2 July 1757), the Shrine at Mahe came up in 1736 and earlier Italian priest Rev. Dominic of St. John of the Cross established the Mahe Mission in 1723 during the reign of King Bayanor, the Raja of Kadathanad near Vatakara. The shrine was a simple one with thatched roof and was to meet the demands of a growing Christian community in this part. In December 1736 Rev. Dominic held the dedication ceremony.

St. Teresa’s Shrine, Mahé (Mahé Church), India en.wikipedia.org/

The Carmelite Missionaries engaged in missionary activities and they baptized a large number of native people. In 1736, the revelry between the French and British forces here, besides French revolution, had their echoes in Mahe. Consequently, the Shrine had borne the brunt of the wars and in March 1779, the damage was beyond redemption. It was one Abbe Duchenin in 1788 took efforts and restored it as it stands now. Later additions took place - renovation of the tower in 1855 and a clock on the tower presented by the French Marines. After a long gap in 1956 the shrine underwent major renovation including electrical installations as visitors to this place were on the increase. Later several facilities were introduced to meet the needs of the people, including Parish Hall and a New Presbytery. It was in 2010 major renovation of the Shrine was done with care and attention.

St. Teresa’s Shrine, Mahé (Mahé Church), India alicutdiocese.org

As for the the origin of the statue of St. Teresa, there are two versions; one being when the miraculous statue was taken in a ship along the West Coast of India, the seamen could not move the ship further off the coast of Mahe. as it stopped right there. There upon, they decided it was the will of St. Teresa of Avila to be enshrined

St. Teresa’s Shrine, Mahé (Mahé Church), India mahe.gov.in

at Mahe. The other version is the fishermen accidentally ran into the miraculous statue that was caught in a fishing net in the sea near Mahe. Later the statue was brought ashore and installed in the shrine.
With respect to festivities, the ''feast of the Shrine'' is a popular one that starts in the second week (5th) to fourth week (22nd) of every October with 14th and 15th being the main days of the feast. This festival of Mahe is attended by devotees from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala regardless of religions and castes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Teresa%E2%80

http://blog.baijujoseph.com/2012/06/shrine-of-st-teresa-of-avila-at-mahe.html
https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/travel/eyebrow-of-the-sea/article5304794.ece

.All saints' Church in Kirkee, Pune.

All saints' Church in Kirkee, Pune. flickr.com/flickr.com/

Established in 1869, during the colonial era, ''All Saints Church church'' was an active one mainly serving the British soldiers of Southern Command. It is said that important military officers like the commander in chief of the southern command, the governor, etc used to offer prayers in this church.

The !82 year old All saints' Church in Kirkee, Pune conducted 2138 baptisms over a period of 100 years 1837 to 1937. This church has been mainlining a perfect record of marriages, deaths and baptisms of people associated with this one since 1854. Hence lots of British, on a visit to India, go to this church and scrutinize the records of their forefathers who worked in India in the Raj or in the early colonial period.

Built in sandstone and teak wood with fine wooden ceiling in 1837, this church is 182 years old and is being well-maintained. Classified as Grade I heritage church, it was known earlier as the 'Christ Church'. Initially, the structure was a small one and in 1845 and later in 1866, additions were made to make it a large one. How come it got the new name - All Saints' church? The assumption is that, perhaps, the church was consecrated on the first of November which is All Saints' Day world over.
According to the secretary of the church Norman Laffrey since 1854, 62 Chaplains or priests have dedicated their services to the growth of this church by taking care of the spiritual need, etc of the Christian community living here. Presently, the church is serving a big community.

All saints' Church in Kirkee, Pune. lbb.in/pune

In the colonial period, it used to be a garrison church, catering to the soldiers and higher-ups, During services there used to be separate seating for higher officials. The pews in front still hold the brass plagues showing places where Governor, General Officer in Command and others would sit and the pews are provided with slots to rest their service rifles. Dating back to 1834, there are countless stone plaques in the church, commemorating their supreme sacrifices for the country during wars. Toward the altar one can see two flags of battalion adorning the sides of the wall.

Equally interesting is the presence of an old church bell that was cast in 1845. The bell that weighs about 500kg is set in the bell tower at a height of 45 feet. Yet another features that enhance the look of this beautiful churches are the stained classes that weigh close to one ton. They were specially made in Belgium, They are fixed in the west end, north face in the altar. The damaged stained classes were replaced with new ones in 2000. There is also a nice balcony made of teak wood and in the colonial era the Garrison band would play certain numbers on this balcony adding charm to the colonial legacy and tradition. It is being managed by the Bombay Diocean Association and in Nov. 2012 the church celebrated its 175 anniversary with some exciting events,

The church is in Kirkee (now known as Khadki), Pune. It was here the British East India Company' army had defeated the Peshwas (Marathas) army and had made inroads in the Deccan.
Post independence 1947, the defence ministry handed over the charge of this church to the Indian church trustees, Calcutta. Subsequently it became a part of the Churches of North India. The church also contains the regimental colors of the 23rd Bombay Light Infantry.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/All-Saints-Church-completes-175-years/articleshow/17056203.cms
https://www.puneonline.in/city-guide/churches-in-pune
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/all-saints-church-takes-pride-in-military-history/articleshow/63456604.cms

All Saints Church, Khadki, near Pune, MH .flickr.com

All Saints' Church , Khadki, near Pune India . travelogueunlimited.blogspot.in

The All Saints Church. Khadki near Pune, Maharastra had close association with the early colonial ruler- the British East India company (later a proxy government under the Crown administration) and subsequently the British government that took over the control of India after the Great Rebellion of 1857. Located on the Pune - Mumbai high way, the church' link with the British India military is quite interesting . The church has a small hall full of information related to military history of this region and the famous visitors to the church during the colonial rule spanning roughly 100 years. Mainly a garrison church, taking care of the spiritual needs of the soldiers and the senior officers serving the English military, it happened to the largest church then closest to the civilian power of the city.

Soon after the English company took over the control of the city, a summer house came up near Sangamwadi mainly for use by the governor of Bombay. The governor Mount Stuart Elphinstone was a frequent visitor and would stay here to keep him and his family away from the tropical summer heat and humidity of slowly growing Bombay city. Many famous hill stations in India like Ooty and Kodikanal, Darjeeling in West Bengal, Mussoorie in Uttrakhand and Nalthera in Himachal Pradesh were developed by the colonial rulers mainly to escape from scorching summer heat and radiation. In 1864, yet another summer residence was built at a short distance to the west. The first occupant of this home was the first crown governor of Bombay residency, Bartle Fiere. This building is now part of the Savitribhai Phuke Pune university. This residence and the other one at Sangamwadi were close to Christ church which was the old name of All Saints' Church.
The governor, in those days, would attend the Sunday services and in the front part of pews the seats are marked where the senior officers would sit according to their designation. Built in 1834, the church was consecrated by the English priest of Church of England Thomas Carr. Later he became the first ever Bishop of Bombay and the church has records dating back to 1854. In that year one J. Reynolds was the head priest or Chaplain.
The teak wood beams that support the high ceiling, cobble-stoned facade and the massive church bell (weighing 500 kg) were retained. In 1866, some expansion took place as the necessity arose. Befitting the Church's association with the military one can see on two wall panels leading up to the altar two battle standards encased in glass. Soon after the wars, these battalions and regiments were disbanded. Besides, some officers and soldiers who were killed in the war were buried here in the graveyard.
An interesting fact emerges from the Church's records. It is about the 14th Light dragons that was landed here in 1841 and based in the military station at Khadki. The soldiers took part in the Angelo-Sikh wars - first and second. Though they at last emerged victorious, the English company lost hundreds of men in the battles in Ambala, now in Punjab. Most of the casualties are commemorated in the church.
On the wall we also get some information on Bombay Sappers, dating back to 1777 when the Company groomed a group called Marine Battalion. In 1903, it was rechristened as Pioneers and later was disbanded in 1933. The plaque is in the church, but not the colors.This historical church is 150 ft long from east to west and 75 ft broad at the chancel. This post is based on the TOI article mentioned below.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/all-saints-church-takes-pride-in-military-history/articleshow/63456604.cms

All Saints' Church, Coonooholidify.com/

In the colonial history in tropical India the British, who ran the government, had to bear with tough summer heat, dust and humidity and this made them uncomfortable and feel fatigued, Being accustomed, as they were, to cool and congenial weather they looked for cool places on high hills that would be equal to the English weather. They did not have to sweat it out like sweat-hogs for a few months in the scorching sun on the plains. Their intense search for hilly places to cool off in the summer retreat bore them fruits. Invariably most of the hill stations in the Himalayas in North India, and Eastern Ghat and western Ghat mountains in south India were discovered and developed by the adventurous British . Coonoor was one of three Hill stations established by the British Raj in the Nilgiri Hills (1850 meters (6070 feet) above sea level). They also built a summer Bungalow for the governor in Ooty to relax during the summer season.

All Saints' Church, Coonoor,Yamil Nadu eddieolliffe.wordpress.com

All Saints' Church, Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. eddieolliffe.wordpress.com

Built 163 years ago, the All Saints' Church, a historical Anglican church is not only one of the oldest churches in Coonoor but is also considered as the the most perfectly maintained church in India, both inside and out. The dark wood, vaulted roofing lots of stained glass and the well-painted interior and exterior never fail to get the attention of the visitors to this famous church. Adorned with impressive interiors, it is a part of the church of England. In this reformed protestant church that first came up in 1854, there lie some fine antique items such as an ancient pipe organ, fine wooden interiors and impressive stained glass windows that all add up to its classical appearance and augments the colonial charm, giving you the feeling of a typical British country-side with a building of huge dome-like structures. It still retains the rustic charm set in the midst of tall pine trees in a serene beautiful landscape. You are naturally struck by the quiet ambiance on your visit to this place where peace and tranquillity will have a soothing effect on your restless mind. There is also a well-maintained cemetery on the church premises that brings out poignant memories of those who worked hard here and died on the soils of India.

Bangalore Mysore. Ooty Map. www.samsantravels.com

This old church is on the Kotagiri road, close to Taj Garden Retreat Hotel and to Sim's Park. The Church of South India is managing this church activities. It conducts regular worship at 9.30 am every Sunday. A regular Presbyter officiates the order of Services set by the church. Easily accessible on foot from Bedford Circle, in summertime the church authorities conduct vocational programs for the school children and elders.

Tit-bits:

Surrounding area of Coonoor town, Nilgiri hill, Tamil Nadu. yatramantra.com

Coonoor, in Tamil Nadu is a dream place for writers and poets because of its beautiful surroundings, rich greenery, the manicured undulating hills and amazing scenery. The place is so breathtaking, you may feel compelled to let you get relaxed and inspired. Naturally, you get lost in its eternal beauty and silence The credit goes to John Sullivan (15 June 1788 -16 January 1855),then collector of Coimbatore, who in a letter dated January 8, 1819, written from Dimbatty Valley to Sir Thomas Munro, Governor of Madras, about the hills compared them with those in Switzerland. He mentioned, '' .....it freezes here every night, this morning we found ice in our Water chatties (clay pots).” He went on to found Ooty (Otacamund), one of the best hill stations in India. Cooner hill station is at the lower level and is equally a nice summer resort. People of this and neighboring states take refuge here on the cool hill from unbearable summer heat on the[plains.
https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/travel/where-sullivan-lost-his-heart/article4810266.ece
https://eddieolliffe.wordpress.com/2015/10/13/travel-all-saints-church-coonoor-tamil-nadu/
https://www.ftd.travel/ooty-history
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8274938273148772169#editor/target=post;postID=2399953472163127027;onPublishedMenu=postsstats;onClosedMenu=postsstats;postNum=1732;src=link

Saint Antony's Church in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. thehindu.com

St. Antony's Church in Coonoor is also one of the oldest catholic churches in this part taking care of the needs of a large Christian community here. In those days many Britishers who settled here ran tea and coffee plantations on the hills around. Sources in the the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ootacamund point out this church is one of the most prominent legacies of the early British rule.

Ooty and Coonoor hill stations maps-india.com/

Saint Antony's Church in Coonoo, Tamil Nadu roursquare.com/

The church had a humble beginning to serve the early settlers and Catholic priest T. J. Leese took the initiative and in 1863 he did something to immediately arrange for Christian worship. So, what he did was he converted a barn in Coonoor into a place of worship for the benefit of soldiers stationed at Wellington Cantonment, which now has an Army Staff college relocated after partition of India.

Saint Antony's Church in Coonoor, TN mapio.net/

As the small place was not good enough, in 1886, a new structure came up and later a big building was built to meet the spiritual needs of a large number of people. The church management started a school to meet the educational needs of the people here and the cantonment.

Saint Antony's Church in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu business.facebook.com

Surrounding area of Coonoor town, Nilgiri hill, Tamil Nadu. yatramantra.com

It was in June 2011, the silver jubilee of this church was celebrated with devotion and religious fervor. This occasion marked special masses in various languages including English, Tamil and Malayalam, a community feast and a procession. People from various communities surpassing religion and castes actively took part in this grand event. Now this church is 133 years old and is still being fairly maintained by the authorities concerned.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/125th-year-of-coonoor-church-celebrated-with-fervour/article2118492.ece

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Red Taj (The tomb of John Hessing), Agra built by a wife in memory of her husband!

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The shrine of St. Teresa of Avila at Mahe, one of the oldest churches on coastal Malabar

All saints' Church in Kirkee, Pune, an early British colonial legacy

The All Saints' Church, Khadki India and its link with colonial military

All Saints' Church, a colonial Anglican church in Coonoor hill station, Tamil Nadu

St..Antony's Church in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu - a colonial legacy