history – VAGABOND IMAGES

Ranthambore Fort: Red lake, langurs and a Ganesha with three eyes

Upendra SwamiOctober 25, 20202161 Views11

It is said to be one of the strongest forts in India. It isn’t a surprise as a fort sitting on a hilltop with deep trenches on three sides, surrounded by many other hills covered by severely dense tiger infested forests could have been nothing else but a very formidable one. Currently the fort is right in the middle of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and National Park. It is said that this region was part of the Chahamana Kingdom of Shakambhari. Shakambhari is where present day Sambhar is. Those who have visited Sambhar Lake will know that there is a very famous and revered Shakambhari temple at Sambhar. The kingdom ruled the many parts of the present day Rajasthan for many centuries until the 12th century. Some historical references say that Chauhans were derived from Chahamanas. Th...

India

Where a Shah Jahan’s queen lies in solitude on the other side of Taj

Upendra SwamiMarch 13, 20201380 Views8

At a very remote corner just outside the boundary of Taj Mahal complex towards its Eastern gate, when you climb the narrow stairs of Sandali Masjid you get an eerie feeling. With monkeys and dogs around, what attracts you more is the presence of a big number of cats, many of them black. Sandali Masjid is also called as Kali Masjid. Mosque is at the one side of the complex, with its back towards the Taj complex across the road. While right in front of the mosque, in the middle of a garden is an octagonal tomb. Its onion shaped dome in white marble signifies that it belongs to someone from the royal family. We are told that it belongs to the first queen of the fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jahan- Kandahari Begum. Platform of Kandahari Begum's tomb You will hardly find any tourists here. F...

IndiaNews

When story transcends literature and becomes an art and drama

Upendra SwamiFebruary 8, 2020446 Views0

We all have listened to stories in our childhood. And, I am certainly not talking here about text book stories but about bedtime stories listening to grandmas in particular. It never used to be a simple narration. Grandmas will be sourcing all elements of theatrics to make it as dramatic as possible. That used to be its most fascinating part even if content in the story was good for nothing. That is perhaps the strength of story telling. A very good content can be very boring to listen, while an ordinary story can be made captivating by a story teller. And, it has nothing to do with being a kid. A good story mesmerises adults equally. Fortunately, art of storytelling has seen a great revival recently. From audio stories to story telling festivals, people are enjoying it. Udaipur Ta...

India

There would have been no Jaisalmer without Gadsisar

Upendra SwamiFebruary 3, 2020603 Views2

In the maps, Gadsisar Lake of Jaisalmer is said to be as big as the city itself! Besides size, it also shares most of its age. In about 800 years of the existence of the city, this lake has been there for almost 700 years, quenching its thirst! Neither of them would have existed for so long without the other. Just outside the Gadsisar Lake (stone spells it wrong) At a glance around you can see the huge mounds of sand on the other side. Even if you approach closer, you will feel as if you have reached the edge of the desert. But, it actually is the high and long bund of the Gadsisar Lake. Moving ahead, you will find a huge arched gateway with two watch towers on either side, five beautifully carved oriel windows and one big entrance and two smaller ones on the either side of it...

IndiaPhotogallery

Lodurva, a temple to see and a love story for delight

Upendra SwamiJanuary 28, 2020918 Views2

The vast barren dunes of Thar are strewed with many mysteries of history… many of them untold, a few unexplained. A lot of it might be because of absence of more written account of those times. Erstwhile capital of the Jaisalmer Rawals- Lodurva stands one among those. Nothing remains of the capital city, but for a beautiful Jain temple. The deserted ruins of Lodurva, the Bhati Rajput capital before Jaisalmer, are 17 km northwest of Jaisalmer and 10 km beyond Amar Sagar. Lodurva itself is on the banks of river Kak. Shikhars of temples as seen from outside There would have been a perfect logic for any strongman to rule this place. This place was on ancient silk route and entry point to India, hence rich traders would have been passing through here on regular basis. This would have als...

AdventureInternational

Missing GOT already! Come, relive it at Girona in Spain

Upendra SwamiJanuary 5, 2020374 Views0

Missing GOT already! It’s certainly not easy to forget a series, as legendary as Game of Thrones. But, you still have chance to relive it and keep some of the memories intact. And, that too at the place which was the centre of all the action. Girona in Costa Brava’s Catalonia region of Spain is a city with rich history, culture and heritage that is evident through its vintage buildings, streets and squares in the old city centre. Located barely two hours from Barcelona, the stunning city of Girona was one of the chosen locations that hosted the filming of one of the most legendary series of all time, The Game of Thrones! Cathedral of Girona In the series, GOT fans were transported to Girona’s medieval old town which served as the major setting for the city of Braavos while Gir...

AdventureInternational

When Mount Masada becomes screen for the show

Upendra SwamiDecember 30, 2019464 Views4

Sound and light shows around historical and architectural monuments are not new. Monuments make a marvellous backdrop for such shows. We have many sound and light shows in India of this nature at almost most of our historical palaces, temples, etc. But Israel has taken this effort a bit ahead in more bigger way, where a mountain itself has become a canvas for the audio-visual show. And, it has also added many more features to this concept to make it an adventure and outing in itself, something quite unique in nature. Photo credit: Meno Greenspan The Israel Nature and Parks Authority offers a new nocturnal 45 minutes show ‘From Dusk to Dawn’ at the Masada National Park, its’ flagship site. Ranked as Israel’s most popular national park with 1 million visitors a year, the site has crea...

International

10 things not to be missed while in Bruges

Upendra SwamiOctober 15, 2019578 Views4

Bruges is said to be a city that will capture your heart. Being a major trading port, it has been an international metropolis for centuries. Despite this, it has retained its medieval charm as well as its natural beauty. Something that has helped its historic city centre to attain the tag of World Heritage Site of UNESCO. In Europe it is also referred as Venice of the North, because of its canals. It is indeed one of my favourite European cities. Although a city like Bruges is worth spending a plentiful of time, but I am shortlisting ten things that you shouldn't miss when you visit this marvellous city. Lets, have a look at them. Boating in Bruges A trip in its canals Bruges looks more charming when you take a boat trip on its canals. Half hour trips on boats are most popular a...

International

Romancing the horse coaches in Bruges

Upendra SwamiSeptember 23, 2019662 Views4

Almost every city in the world has its own distinct way for tourists to explore its destinations, landscape and heritage. Few of them still have an old world charm of doing that. Belgian city of Bruges is one of them. Actually, Bruges has not one but two classical way to be explored- by boat on its canals and by horse-drawn carriages. Both of them are fairytale sort of romantic rides in a city which is regarded by many as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I would largely agree to that. Two women with their horse carriages at Bruges market square Cobbled streets, winding canals and magnificent Gothic architecture, make Bruges a trip back to medieval times. Besides, swans gliding on canals, horse-drawn carriages, historic buildings, the Belfry and the Beguinage and ...

AdventureIndia

A panchpura and a legend of shepherd king at Raithal

Upendra SwamiAugust 12, 20191080 Views2

It’s the time of the year again, when Raithal village in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand gets ready for a unique festival. A festival celebrated to welcome the cattle folk as well as shepherds back to village after months of rearing and grazing in higher meadows of Himalayas. It’s a Holi celebrated not with colours but with butter and curd milk. More about Butter Holi of Raithal, read: Get ready for a Holi with Butter at Dayara Temple at Raithal village Raithal is also popular as base for many treks originating from or concluding at Dayara Bugyal. Truly, Raithal is no ordinary village. Besides its locational value just on the footsteps of Dayara Bugyal and its unique Butter Holi, it is also a historical village. It has got some very old traditional Garhwali homes. Many o...