Sunday 13 August 2017

TOURIST PLACES OF PUNE

              RELIGIOUS SITES

1.
Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple
 Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple

Dagadusheth Halwai (Dagadusheth Gadve) was Lingayat trader and Sweet maker (Halwai in Marathi). He originally came from Karnataka and settled in Pune. After he gained fame as a Halwai, that became his surname. His original Halwai shop still exists under the name Kaka Halwai near Datta Mandir in Pune. Mr. Dagdusheth Halwai was a successful sweetmeat seller and a rich businessman. In late 1800s, he lost his son in a plague epidemic. This caused Dagdusheth and his wife to go into deep depression. To heal themselves, their Guru, Shri Madhavnath Maharaj recommended building a Ganesh temple. This was completed in 1893. Lokmanya Tilak, the Indian Nationalist leader and a contemporary of Dagdusheth, was a close friend of him. Tilak saw his dedication and also the construction of the temple and it was here that the idea of celebrating public Ganesh festival struck him. It proved to be an epoch making event in Indian history. The temple is a beautiful construction and boasts a rich history of over 100 years. Jay and Vijay, the two sentinels made of marble catch the eye of all at the outset. The construction is so simple that all the proceedings in the temple along with the beautiful Ganesh idol can be seen even from outside. The Ganesh idol is 7.5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. It is adorned with nearly 8 kilos of gold. The devotees of Lord Ganesh offer Him gold and money and with every offering the Lord gets richer and richer. Moreover, heaps of coconuts offered to the deity are yet another feature of the temple. Daily pooja, abhisheka and the arti of Lord Ganesh are worth attending. The lighting of the temple during the Ganesh festival is marvelous. Shrimant Dagdusheth Ganpati Trust looks into the maintenance of the temple. Various cultural activities like music concerts, bhajans, and Atharvasheersh recitation are organized by the trust. Shri Datta Mandir placed in Budhwar Peth, Pune was their residential Building. Dagduseth's grandson govindseth was also famous for his kindness and generosity.In Pune, govind halwai chowk is famous by his name. He later established the Halwai Ganapati Trust. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, during the British Raj, gave a public form to the Ganesh festival celebrations as a way of getting around an order that barred public meetings.


2.
Darshan Museum
Darshan Museum

Sadhu Vaswani Mission is a charitable organisation based in Pune, India. It is engaged in various philanthropic activities in fields such as education, healthcare, social service, animal rights, feeding of the poor and spiritual upliftment. Its spiritual head is the educationist, poet, U Thant Peace Award-winner and modern saint J. P. Vaswani. The organisation was founded by Sadhu T. L. Vaswani (Sadhu is an Indian title for one who undertakes and is proficient in spiritual austerities) in Hyderabad, Sindh. It was called the Brotherhood Association then. After his demise the organisation was renamed to its current name. Sadhu Vaswani (as he was affectionately called) was a prolific writer of inspirational texts during the freedom struggle in India as well as of insightful spiritual texts throughout his lifetime. His spiritual poems have been compiled into the Nuri Granth which is probably the world's largest single compilation of spiritual poems by a single author. The Darshan Museum is a 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) biographical museum located at the first floor of the mission, dedicated to and showcasing the life, teachings and principles of founder Vaswani. The museum was established and inaugurated on August 1, 2011. The inauguration was done at the hands of Bollywood actor, Aamir Khan alongside spiritual leader J.P. Vaswani.


3.
ISKCON NVCC Temple
ISKCON NVCC Temple

ISKCON New Vedic Cultural Center (NVCC) is a temple of Radha-Krishna located in Kondhwa about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of Pune. It is a pleasant and calm place in the outskirts of the city of Pune. It was recently inaugurated on the auspicious occasion of Nityananda Tryodshi which falls on 23 February 2013 and the President of India Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the Vedic Cultural Centre of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on February 24, at Pune. All through the temple we can feel the presence of Lord. Also there is a huge Matchless Gift stall where we can purchase items related to Krishna. There is a Govinda's restaurant and a Govinda's stall where we get sanctified food of all kinds(south Indian, north Indian, Chinese etc.) but everything is offered to Lord krishna.


4.
Sri Bala Ji Mandir
Sri Bala Ji Mandir


5.
Malshej Ghat
Malshej Ghat

Malshej Ghat is a mountain pass in the Western Ghats range in the Thane-Pune district of Maharashtra, India. The site is nestled in the lofty rugged hills of the Western Ghats. The site is home to hundreds of different kinds of flora and fauna especially the avian population such as quails, rails, crakes, flamingos and cuckoos. Malshej ghat, with average height of 700 mts is situated in Pune district near the borders of Thane and Ahmednagar districts. It is at a distance of 130 km north of Pune and 154 km from Mumbai towards northeast. The nearest railhead is Kalyan in Thane District or Karjat near Mumbai. From Kalyan Rail Station, one can take state buses that commute frequently between Kalyan and Ahmednagar. State Bus Station is right next to the railway station. Any Ahmednagar Bound Bus will stop at Malshej Ghat. It will approximately take 1.5 hrs by Bus from Kalyan. To go to Malshej ghat by road From Pune, take Pune-Nashik highway (NH-50) to Alephata and turn left on Kalyan-Ahmednagar Highway (SH-222) towards Kalyan. From Mumbai, take NH3 to Bhiwandi and turn towards Murbad or take state highway via Kalyan, Murbad, Saralgaon and Vaishakhare. It is known for landslides during monsoons.


6.
Sinhagad Fort
Sinhagad Fort

Sinhagad (also known as Sinhgarh or Sinhgad) is a hill fortress located at around 25 km southwest to the city of Pune, India. Some of the information available at this fort suggests that the fort could have been built 2000 years ago. The caves and the carvings in the Kaundinyeshwar temple stand as proofs for the same. Previously known as Kondhana, the fort had been the site of many battles, most notably the Battle of Sinhagad in 1670. Perched on an isolated cliff of the Bhuleswar range in the Sahyadri Mountains, the fort is situated on a hill about 760 metres above ground and 1,312 metres above mean sea level. The Sinhagad (Lion's Fort) was strategically built to provide natural protection due to its very steep slopes. The walls and bastions were constructed only at key places. There are two gates to enter the fort, the Kalyan Darwaza and Pune Darwaza which are positioned at the south east and north-east ends respectively. The fort was also strategically located at the centre of a string of other Maratha occupied forts such as Rajgad Fort, Purandar Fort and Torna Fort. The Sinhgad Fort was initially known as "Kondana" after the sage Kaundinya. The Kaundinyeshwar temple coupled with the caves and carvings indicate that the fort had probably been built around two thousand years ago. It was seized by Muhammad bin Tughlaq from the Koli in 1328 AD. Sinhagad: View from the "Pune Darwaja" Shahaji Bhosale, as the commander of Ibrahim Adil Shah I, was entrusted with the control of the Pune region. His son Shivaji, refused to accept the Adilshahi and initiated the task of setting up Swarajya. Shivaji gained control of Kondana in 1647 by convincing Siddi Amber, the Adilshahi Sardar who controlled the fort, that he, the son of Shahaji Bhosale, could manage the fort's defences optimally. Bapuji Mudgal Deshpande played a key role in this activity. Adil Shah jailed Siddi Amber for this treasonous act and schemed to get it back. He imprisoned Shahaji Bhosale for a concocted crime and informed Shivaji. In 1649, Adil Shah traded the fort for Shahaji's release. Shivaji Maharaj recaptured it in 1656 again with the help of Bapuji Mudgal Deshpande who convinced the Fort commander by giving land in the newly created Shivapur village and peacefully gained control of the fort.


7.
Sarasbaug Ganpati Temple
Sarasbaug Ganpati Temple

The Sarasbaug temple houses the idol of Shree Siddhivinayak ("God who makes wishes true"). A sacred ground of faith for millions of devotees in Pune and around the world, on an average the Sarasbaug temple receives ten thousand visitors a day and this figure goes up to eighty thousand devotees per day on Ganesha Chaturthi and other special occasions. Various dignitaries and luminaries throughout India have made it a point to visit this sacred temple to seek the blessings of Shri Siddivinayak. In the 18th century, soon after completion of Shree Devdeveshwar Temple on Parvati hill, Shrimant Balaji Baji Rao turned his attention towards the development and beautification of environs of Parvati hills. He decided to construct a lake at the foothills of Parvati. An island of about 25,000 sq.ft. (2,370 m2) area was retained in the middle of this lake. Later on, a beautiful garden was created on this island. Shrimant Nanasaheb Peshwa gave it a poetic name, “The Sarasbaug ”. In 1784, Shrimant Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa built a small temple in Sarasbaug and installed the idol of Shree Siddhivinayak Gajanan, the God he worshiped. Sarasbaug has now become a place of worship for people from all over the world and also a popular hang-out for Punekars.


8.
Chaturshringi Temple
Chaturshringi Temple

The Chattushringi Temple also spelt as Chattushrungi Temple is a Hindu temple in the city of Pune in Maharashtra state of India. The temple is located on the slope of a hill on Senapati Bapat Road. It is said to have been built during the reign of the Maratha king Shivaji. The temple is looked after by Chattushringi Devasthan (Temple) trustees. Chattushringi (Chattu means four) is a mountain with four peaks. The Chattushringi temple is 90 feet high and 125 feet wide and is a symbol of power and faith. One has to climb more than 100 steps to reach the shrine of Goddess Chattushringi. In the temple premises there are also temples of Goddess Durga and Lord Ganesh. This includes eight miniature idols of Ashtavinayaka. These small temples are located on the four separate hillocks.Also includes the temple of vetal maharaj at the baner pashan end. The legend associated with the temple is that, once there was a rich and prosperous merchant named Durlabhsheth Pitambardas Mahajan who was an ardent believer of Goddess Saptashrungi devi and visited all Her temples everywhere. But as he grew older, he could no longer travel and this hindered him from visiting the temples. Then one night the Goddess Saptashrungi devi appeared in his dream and told him, "if you can not come to me, I will come to you & stay near you." She told him to come to a mountain situated in the North-West of Pune & dig there. The place as described by the goddess was traced out and miracle happened as he found a natural statue of goddess (swayambhu devi). He constructed the temple at that place and this is the same temple which was renovated time to time, which is the present temple.


9.
Pu La Deshpande Garden
Pu La Deshpande Garden

The garden was built in inspiration of 300-year-old Okayama's Kōraku-en Garden, so it is also called as Pune-Okayama Friendship Garden. The garden contains natural flow of water from canal which is been spread across the garden. The garden is well maintained and walking on the lawn is not allowed. Pu La Deshpande Garden is built on 10 acres. The style is devised in such a way that people can take a walk through a garden enjoying the landscape, which changes along the garden paths. The landscape keep changing during walking. The garden is having colorful fishes. you can see these fishes from a small bridge in the center of garden. This Japanese garden has been named after Pu La Deshpande, a well known Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India. The entry fee is 5 rupees for adults and children 3 years and above. The eatables are not allowed in the garden. There is a paid parking space available outside the garden. Also children can enjoy in a children play area near parking. The phase 2 of this garden is known as Mughal Garden and is a replica of the Mughal garden in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. BJP corporator took up project to install Surya Namaskar statues and those are been opened to public on 19th June 2017 by Mukta Tilak. Photography is strictly not allowed. If carrying a camera you will be stopped and asked for permit. The same can be obtained from Sambhaji Uddan, J. M. Road.

10.
Phoenix Market City
Phoenix Market City

Phoenix Market City is a shopping mall developed by Phoenix Mills Limited located in Pune, Maharashtra. It was opened in January 2013 and is the largest mall in the city, with the area of 3.4 million square feet. It is located in the Vimannagar area of Pune. Phoenix Market City has four floors of retail space and several features such as a retail zone, a food court with fine dining restaurants and quick service restaurants, and a nine-screen PVR Cinemas. The food court at the mall has several options, such as Wow Momo, Sbarro, Subway, and KFC. Other notable restaurants at the mall include Bar Bar, Café 212, CCD The Lounge, Rajdhani, China Express, Coastabay, Domino's Pizza, Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Noodle Bar, Chili's, Burger King, Punjab Grill and more. The mall also hosts Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Mad Over Donuts, Krispy Kreme, Cream Center, Kwality Walls, Papa John's, Costa Coffee, as well as other establishments. Multinational companies for clothing and style are Adidas, Puma, Zara, Nike, Jack&Jones Tommy Hilfiger etc. The mall also consists of Reliance Trends, Reliance Digital and others.

11.
National Defence Academy
National Defence Academy

The National Defence Academy (NDA) is the Joint Services academy of the Indian Armed Forces, where cadets of the three services, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force train together before they go on to pre-commissioning training in their respective service academies. The NDA is located at Khadakwasla near Pune, Maharashtra. It is the first tri-service academy in the world. NDA alumni have led and fought in every major conflict in which the Indian Armed Forces has been called to action since the academy was established. The alumni include 3 Param Vir Chakra recipients and 9 Ashoka Chakra recipients. National Defence Academy has produced 27 service Chiefs Of Staff till date. Current Chiefs Of Staff of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force are all NDA alumni. In 1941, Lord Linlithgow, then Viceroy of India received a gift of £100,000 from a grateful Sudanese Government towards building a war memorial in recognition of the sacrifices of Indian troops in the liberation of Sudan in the East African Campaign during World War II. At the end of the war, Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck, then Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, drawing on experiences of the army during the war, led a committee to study various military academies around the world and submitted a report to the Government of India in Dec. 1946. The committee recommended the establishment of a Joint Services Military Academy, with training modelled on the United States Military Academy at West Point.

12.
Mulshi Dam
Mulshi Dam

Mulshi is the name of a major dam on the Mula river in India. It is located in the Mulshi taluka administrative division of the Pune district of Maharashtra State. Water from the dam is used for irrigation as well as for producing electricity at the Bhira hydroelectric power plant, operated by Tata Power. The station operates six 25MW Pelton turbines established in 1927 and one 150MW Pumped Storage Unit. Water from this reservoir located in Krishna river basin is diverted to the Bhira power house for generating Hydro electricity. In 1920-21, during the construction of the dam and power station, Pandurang Mahadev Bapat led Mulshi Satyagrah, a movement to represent farmers whose land had been taken to build the project. He was dubbed Senapati (commander) in recognition of his leadership.

13.
Khadakwasla Dam
Khadakwasla Dam

Khadakwasla Dam is a dam on the Mutha River 20 km (12 mi) from the city of Pune in Maharashtra, India. This dam across the river Mutha created an attractive lake, now known as Khadakwasla Lake. This lake is the main source of water for Pune and its suburbs. The largest lake in the area is Mulshi lake, some 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Khadakwasla, which has a rather large dam confining it. It releases water into the Mula River, which meanders some 75 km (47 mi) before reaching Pune district near Dapodi and meets up with the Mutha River in Central Pune at the Sangam Bridges and continuing Eastwards via Bund Garden to Daund before joining the River Bhima. Though there is a water supply set-up near Holkar Bridge, next to Bombay Engineering Group and Centre (BEG), there is very little water in the hyacinth-choked Mula River, except during the monsoons. In the vicinity of Khadakwasla Dam, there is the well-known National Defence Academy, the Institute of Advanced Technology (IAT) earlier collocated with CME, Dapodi and Central Water & Power Research Station (CWPRS). A few kilometres up the road lie Sinhagad Fort and the twin dams of Panshet and Varasgaon which mainly supply water for irrigation. Khadakwasla Dam burst at 0730 hrs on 12 July 1961, causing the greatest ever natural disaster to strike Pune. It was not blown up, as some people have been led to believe-it simply collapsed at the point of greatest impulsive force, unable to withstand the destructive forces generated by three times the quantity of water gushing in from upstream than it was meant to store at peak capacity as placid water.

14.
Bhatghar Dam
Bhatghar Dam

Bhatghar Dam, is a gravity dam on Yelwanti river near Bhor, Pune district in State of Maharashtra in India. The height of the dam above lowest foundation is 57.92 m (190.0 ft) while the length is 1,625 m (5,331 ft). The volume content is 650 km3 (160 cu mi) and gross storage capacity is {{convert 650.00|km3|abbr=on}}.


15.
Varasgaon Dam
Varasgaon Dam

Varasgaon is a dam on the Mose river which supplies water to city of Pune, Maharashtra, India. It is situated on Mose river. It is also called Veer Baaji Pasalkar Dam. It is one of the three major dams which provide water to Pune city. It is located around 40 km from Pune city. The Panshet dam is adjacent to Varasgaon dam, and together both have become a popular picnic spots. During the monsoon or just after monsoon the hills around are lush green with plenty of waterfall. Water sports are also played in this dam. About 30 minutes from Varasgaon is Lavasa whose construction was halted by the Bombay High Court on 7 December 2010, partially due to the proximity as it is feared that it could lead to contamination of water supply to Pune. Apart from this, around 18 indigenous tribal villages were displaced with meager or no compensation due to the Lavasa project. Villagers have reported misappropriation of land (in the name of agricultural irrigation) through compensation cheques that bounced on depositing and agents that threaten the locals with death if the land wasn't sold to them. Some were relocated to hill tops where Varasgaon water was then supplied to them by tankers.


16.
Raja Dhinkar Kelkar Museum
Raja Dhinkar Kelkar Museum

The Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum is in Pune, Maharashtra, India. It contains the collection of Dr. Dinkar G. Kelkar (1896–1990), dedicated to the memory of his only son, Raja. The three-storey building houses various sculptures dating back to the 14th century.[citation needed] There are also ornaments made of ivory, silver and gold, musical instruments (a particularly fine collection),[citation needed] war weapons and vessels. The collection was started around 1920 and by 1960 it contained around 15,000 objects.In 1962, Dr. Kelkar donated his collection to the Government of Maharashtra. The museum now holds over 20,000 objects of which 2,500 are on display. These consist of mainly Indian decorative items from everyday life and other art objects, mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum's collection depicts the skills of the Indian artists of the time.


17.
National War Museum
National War Museum

The National War Memorial Southern Command is a war memorial in Pune Cantonment, India, dedicated to post-Independence war martyrs. This is the only war memorial in South Asia which has been erected by citizens' contributions. The memorial was unveiled and dedicated to the nation on August 15, 1998. A Mig 23 BN, used in the Kargil War, is on display at the memorial. A replica of the now decommissioned frigate INS Trishul, which served in the Liberation of Goa and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, is also on display. Recently, the Pune Cantonment Board sanctioned a sum of ₹32,00,000 ($47,550) for renovation of the memorial. The work included laying a new lawn, landscaping and laying pathways for visitors.


18.
Joshi Museum Of Miniature Railway
Joshi Museum Of Miniature Railway

Joshi's Museum of Miniature Railway is a miniature railway museum located in the Karve Road locality of Pune, a city in the state of Maharashtra, India. The museum hosts working models of various types of trains. It was started by Bhausaheb Joshi. The museum was conceptualized and started by B. S. Joshi, popularly known as Bhausaheb Joshi. Through his childhood hobby of collecting and making models, he started working on this concept in the 1960s. He initially made mobile working models, which he would set up in various cities for the public to view. His first exhibition took place in Pune at the Gokhale Hall in 1982. In 1984 the layout was displayed in Mumbai (then Bombay) and again in 1986, in Pune's Dastur High School. It was then that Joshi decided to have a permanent exhibition to avoid the inconveniences of mobile models. The present layout of the museum was fabricated in 1991 and the museum opened on 1 April 1998. Over time the layout was enlarged with many additions of digital controls and multiple models. The museum's present proprietor is Dr. Ravi Joshi, Bhausaheb's son.


19.
Tribal Museum
Tribal Museum

The Tribal Museum is an ethnographic museum in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand, showing the life of Thailand's minority hill tribes. The Rough Guide notes that the Tribal Museum "enjoys a superb location behind the artfully landscaped Ratchamangkla Park. Overlooking a tree-lined lake, the very pretty and peaceful setting makes a visit worthwhile, as does the opportunity to learn something about the various hill tribes before heading off on a trek." The "useful wall chart" explains life in a village around the year, "giving a month-by-month picture of the agricultural activities, ceremonies and festivals of the tribes featured", while the photographs and models of village houses give "a good idea of the different styles of architecture, and a display of hill-tribe instruments accompanied by taped music".


20.
Mahatma Phule Museum
Mahatma Phule Museum

Mahatma Phule Museum is a museum located in Pune, a city in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It was founded in 1875 and was then called the Poona Industrial Museum, subsequently it was named Lord Reay Museum. In 1968 it was renamed as Mahatma Phule Museum. The museum contains sections that contain some pictures, charts, models and machines and science models. The displays are related to industry and engineering, geology and minerals, handicrafts and cottage industries, agriculture, forestry, natural history and armoury. The armoury has weapons of the Mughal and Maratha period. There are charts that detail various forts in Pune district. The natural history section has a taxidermy collection of various species of animals, birds, insects, snakes and fishes. The industrial section has models of Indian hydro-electric and irrigation projects and oil refining methods that explain scientific agriculture.


21.
Osho Garden
Osho Garden

Rajneesh (born Chandra Mohan Jain, 11 December 1931 – 19 January 1990), also known as Osho, Acharya Rajneesh, or simply Rajneesh, was an Indian thinker and leader of the Rajneesh movement. During his lifetime he was viewed as a controversial mystic, guru, and spiritual teacher. In the 1960s he travelled throughout India as a public speaker and was a vocal critic of socialism, Mahatma Gandhi, and Hindu religious orthodoxy. He advocated a more open attitude towards human sexuality, earning him the sobriquet "sex guru" in the Indian and later international press, although this attitude became more acceptable with time. In 1970 Rajneesh spent time in Mumbai initiating followers known as "neo-sannyasins." During this period he expanded his spiritual teachings and through his discourses gave an original insight into the writings of religious traditions, mystics, and philosophers from around the world. In 1974 Rajneesh relocated to Pune where a foundation and ashram was established to offer a variety of "transformational tools" for both Indian and international visitors. By the late 1970s, tension between the ruling Janata Party government of Morarji Desai and the movement led to a curbing of the ashram's development.


22.
Gram Sanskruti Udyan

23.
Kamla Nehru Park
Kamla Nehru Park

Kamla Nehru Park is situated on Dr. Ketkar road, Erandwana, Pune. This park has a jogging track, Playground for kids,a fountain and two lawns. A military jet (HAL HF-24 Marut) is also kept in one of the lawns. There are stalls of food item outside this park's main gate. The a temple of Lord Dutta next to this park. This park is couple of kilometers from Deccan Gymkhana.


24.
Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge

Blue Ridge town is a township built under new township act by Paranjape Developers. Such towns are also known as Integrated townships. It is located in Mulshi taluka of Pune district in Maharashtra state India. Town area is approximately 138 acres and was designed to be a self sufficient town with various amenities available inside the town. Paranjape developers initiated the project under new township project act of Maharashtra government. Citizens started occupying the houses since 2010.
Before the township the area was mostly farm land belonging to farmers of Hinjawadi and Maan villages. The Hinjawadi IT Park a.k.a. Rajiv Gandhi IT Park is located nearby. Paranjape developers purchased the land for purpose building the township under new township act.


25.
Aga Khan Palace
Aga Khan Palace

The Aga Khan Palace was built by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III in Pune, India. Built in 1892, it is one of the biggest landmarks in Indian history. The palace was an act of charity by the Sultan who wanted to help the poor in the neighbouring areas of Pune, who were drastically hit by famine. Aga Khan Palace is a majestic building and is considered to be one of the greatest marvels of India. The palace is closely linked to the Indian freedom movement as it served as a prison for Mahatma Gandhi, his wife Kasturba Gandhi, his secretary Mahadev Desai and Sarojini Naidu. It is also the place where Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai died. In 2003, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) declared the place as a monument of national importance. Historically, the palace holds great significance. Mahatma Gandhi, his wife Kasturba Gandhi and his secretary Mahadev Desai were interned in the palace from 9 August 1942 to 6 May 1944, following the launch of Quit India Movement. Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai died during their captivity period in the palace and have their Samadhis located over there. Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi have their memorials located in the same complex, near Mula river. In 1969, Aga Khan Palace was donated to the Indian people by Aga Khan IV as a mark of respect to Gandhi and his philosophy. Today the palace houses a memorial on Gandhi where his ashes were kept. The then prime minister Indira Gandhi had visited the place in 1974 where she allotted a sum of ₹200,000 (US$3,100) every year, for its maintenance. The amount rose to ₹1 million (US$16,000) till the 1990s, after which the national monument of India, was neglected for many years due to improper allocation of funds. There was a protest held at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi near Pune railway station in July 1999 to protest against the worsening condition of the monument.




Monday 12 June 2017

TOURIST PLACES OF PUNJAB

 AMRITSAR


Amritsar

Sri Harmandir Sahib (The habitation God) (Punjabi: ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ), likewise Sri Darbar Sahib casually alluded to as the Golden Temple, is the holiest Gurdwara of Sikhism, situated in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. Amritsar (truly, the tank of nectar of interminability) was established in 1577 by the fourth Sikh master, Guru Ram Das. The fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan, planned the Harmandir Sahib to be inherent the focal point of this heavenly tank, and upon its development, introduced the Adi Granth, the sacred writing of Sikhism, inside the Harmandir Sahib. The Harmandir Sahib complex is additionally home to the Akal Takht (the honored position of the ageless one, constituted by the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind). While the Harmandir Sahib is viewed as the home God's otherworldly property, the Akal Takht is the seat of God's worldly specialist. The development of Harmandir Sahib was proposed to manufacture a position of love for men and ladies from varying backgrounds and all religions to come and love God similarly. Appropriately, as a motion of this non-partisan all inclusiveness of Sikhism, Guru Arjan had extraordinarily welcomed Muslim Sufi holy person, Hazrat Mian Mir to establish the framework stone of the Harmandir Sahib. The four passages (speaking to the four bearings) to get into the Harmandir Sahib likewise symbolize the openness of the Sikhs towards all individuals and religions. More than 100,000 individuals visit the heavenly place of worship day by day for love, and furthermore share mutually in the free group kitchen and supper (Langar) paying little respect to any refinements, a custom that is a sign of all Sikh Gurdwaras. The present-day gurdwara was remodeled in 1764 by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia with the assistance of other Sikh Misls. In the mid nineteenth century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh secured the Punjab district from outside assault and secured the upper floors of the gurdwara with 750kg of gold, which gives it its particular appearance and its English name.


Jallianwala Bagh
Jallianwala Bagh

Akal Takht
Akal Takht










Tarn Taran Sahib
Tarn Taran Sahib
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panroma
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panroma











Wagah Border
Wagah Border

Rambagh Garden
Rambagh Garden
         
Harike Wetland & Bird Sanctuary
Harike Wetland & Bird Sanctuary

                                             







Bathinda Fort
Bathinda Fort 
Khalsa College
Khalsa College
 









CHANDIGARH


Chandigarh


Chandigarh is a city and a union region of India that fills in as the capital of the Indian conditions of Haryana and Punjab. As a union domain, the city is represented specifically by the Union Government and is not some portion of either state. Chandigarh is circumscribed by the condition of Punjab toward the north, west and south, and to the condition of Haryana toward the east. Chandigarh is thought to be a piece of the Chandigarh capital locale or Greater Chandigarh, which incorporates Chandigarh, and the city of Panchkula (in Haryana) and urban communities of Kharar, Kurali, Mohali, Zirakpur (in Punjab). It is found 260 km (162 miles) north of New Delhi, 229 km (143 miles) southeast of Amritsar and only 116 km (72 miles) southwest of Shimla. Chandigarh was one of the early arranged urban communities in post-autonomy India and is globally known for its engineering and urban outline. The all-inclusive strategy of the city was set up by Swiss-French modeler Le Corbusier, which changed from prior arrangements made by the Polish draftsman Maciej Nowicki and the American organizer Albert Mayer. A large portion of the administration structures and lodging in the city, were composed by the Chandigarh Capital Project Team headed by Le Corbusier, Jane Drew and Maxwell Fry. In 2015, an article distributed by BBC named Chandigarh as one of the ideal urban communities of the world regarding engineering, social development and modernisation. 

Chandigarh's Capitol Complex was in July 2016 pronounced by UNESCO as World Heritage at the 40th session of World Heritage Conference held in Istanbul. UNESCO engraving was under "The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier an exceptional commitment to the Modern Movement". The Capitol Complex structures incorporate the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Punjab and Haryana Secretariat and Punjab and Haryana Assembly alongside landmarks Open hand, Martyrs Memorial, Geometric Hill and Tower of Shadow. The city has one of the most astounding per capita pay in the nation. The city was accounted for to be one of the cleanest in India in view of a national government contemplate. The union region additionally heads the rundown of Indian states and domains as per Human Development Index. In 2015, an overview by LG Electronics, positioned Chandigarh as the most joyful city in India over the bliss record. The metropolitan of Chandigarh-Mohali-Panchkula by and large structures a Tri-city, with a consolidated populace of more than 2 million.



Leisure Valley
Leisure Valley


Shanti Kunj
Shanti Kunj



Chhatbir Zoo
Chhatbir Zoo


The Rock Garden
The Rock Garden


Sukhna Lake
Sukhna Lake


Le Corbusier Centre
Le Corbusier Centre


Goverment Museum & Art Gallery
Goverment Museum &
Art Gallery

Sarkaria Cactus Garden
Sarkaria Cactus Garden


Timber Trail
Timber Trail


Butterfly Park
Butterfly Park


Yadvinder Garden
Yadvinder Garden



Garden Of Fragrance
Garden Of Fragrance


Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden



Mohendra Zoological Park
Mohendra Zoological Park


Chattbir Zoo
Chattbir Zoo


Terraced Garden
Terraced Garden


International Dolls Museum
International Dolls Museum


JALANDHAR


Jalandhar


Jalandhar (Punjabi: Gurmukhi: ਜਲੰਧਰ), in the past known as Jullundur in British India, is a city in the Doaba area of the northwestern Indian condition of Punjab. Jalandhar is the most seasoned city in the Indian condition of Punjab and is one of the most seasoned in the nation. It was otherwise called Prasthala the capital of the Trigarta domain administered by the Katoch administration. Lately the city has experienced fast urbanization and has formed into an exceptionally industrialized focal point of business. Jalandhar has been shortlisted for the second period of the "Savvy City" activity of the Indian Government. Jalandhar used to be the capital of Punjab from India's freedom (in 1947) until Chandigarh was built in 1953. Jalandhar is arranged close by the Grand Trunk Road and is an all around associated rail and street intersection. Jalandhar is 144 km northwest of Chandigarh, the state capital of Punjab and Haryana.


Imam Nasir Masjid
Imam Nasir Masjid


Shaheed-E-Azam / Sardaar Bhagat Singh Museum
Shaheed-E-Azam / Sardaar Bhagat Singh
Museum


Wonderland Theme Park
Wonderland Theme Park 


Devi Talab Mandir
Devi Talab Mandir


St. Mary's Cathedral Church
St. Mary's Cathedral Church


Pushpa Gujral Science City
Pushpa Gujral Science City


Company Bagh
Company Bagh


Nikku Park
Nikku Park


Rangla Punjab Haveli
Rangla Punjab Haveli


Prithvi Planet
Prithvi Planet


LUDHIANA


Ludhiana


Ludhiana is located at 30.9°N 75.85°E. It has an average elevation of 244 metres (798 ft). Ludhiana City, to its residents, consists of the Old City and the New City (or the residential and official quarters of the colonial British encampment, traditionally known as Civil Lines; this is as opposed to the Army Lines, which are no longer extant as the British Cantonment was abandoned in 1845). The land dips steeply to the north and the west where, before 1785, the river Sutlej ran.[citation needed]. The Old Fort was at the banks of the Sutlej (and now houses the College of Textile Engineering). Legend has it that an underground tunnel connects it to the fort in Phillaur – although why this should be is debatable, as the Sutlej was the traditional dividing line between the principalities, often occupied by enemy forces. The ground is of yellow sandstone and granite, forming small hillocks, plateaus and dips.[citation needed]. The tree of largest natural extraction was the kikar, or Acacia indica, but has been supplanted by the eucalyptus, transplanted from rural Australia in the late 1950s by the government of Chief Minister Pratap Singh Kairon. Gulmohars and jacarandas were planted by the British along the avenues of Civil Lines, as were other flowering trees, while the Old City contains almost no vegetation or parks, except for a few isolated pipal trees, holy to the Hindus, as it is supposed to be the abode of Lord Shiva.


Lodhi Fort
Lodhi Fort

Rural Heritage Museum
Rural Heritage Museum

Tiger Safari Zoo
Tiger Safari Zoo

Punjab Agricultural University
Punjab Agricultural University

Gurudwara Charan Kamal Sahib
Gurudwara Charan Kamal Sahib

Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Musuem
Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Musuem

Phillaur Fort
Phillaur Fort

Nehru Rose Garden
Nehru Rose Garden

Deer Park
Deer Park


PATIALA


Patiala


Patiala state was established in 1763 by Baba Ala Singh, a Jat Sikh chieftain, who laid the foundation of the Patiala fort known as Qila Mubarak, around 'which the present city of Patiala is built. After the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 in which the Marathas were defeated by the Afghans, the writ of the Afghans prevailed throughout Punjab. It is at this stage that the rulers of Patiala began to acquire ensigns of royalty. The Patiala state saw more than forty years of ceaseless power struggle with the Afghan Durrani Empire, Maratha Empire and the Sikh Empire of Lahore. In 1808, the Raja of Patiala entered into a treaty with the British against Ranjit Singh of Lahore in 1808, thus becoming collaborator in the grand empire building process by the British in, the sub-continent of India. Patiala became a 17-guns salute state during the British Raj. The rulers of Patiala such as Karam Singh, Narinder Singh, Mahendra Singh, Rajinder Singh, Bhupinder Singh and Yadvindra Singh were treated with respect and dignity by the British. The Darshani Gate (the main gate of the Qila Mubarak), built in the 18th century. The city was built around the fort. The city of Patiala was designed and developed according to a plan akin to that of temple architecture, the first settlers of Patiala were the Hindus of Sirhind, who opened their business establishments outside the Darshani Gate. The royal house is now headed by Captain Amarinder Singh who is also the current Chief Minister of Punjab. The royals are considered cultural and political icons in east Punjab. Maharaja Karam Singh who ruled from 1813 to 1845 (the Sikh Kingdom of Patiala in Punjab) joined the British East India Company and helped the British during the First Anglo Sikh wars against the Sikh Empire of Maharajah Ranjit Singh of Punjab which was larger and extended from Tibet Kashmir, plains of Punjab to Peshawar near the Afghan borders.



Qila Mubarak
Qila Mubarak 

Moti Bagh Palace
Moti Bagh Palace

Baradari Garden
Baradari Garden

Sheesh Mahal
Sheesh Mahal

Durbar Hall
Durbar Hall

Bir Moti Bagh Wildlife Sanctuary
Bir Moti Bagh Wildlife Sanctuary

Lachman Jhoola
Lachman Jhoola

Kali Temple
Kali Temple


BHATINDA


Bhatinda


Bathinda (Punjabi: ਬਠਿੰਡਾ) (known by Invaders as Tabar-e-Hind or Tabarhindh meaning the Gateway to India) is a city and Municipal Corporation in Southern part of Punjab.The city, named after the Bhati kings, is one of the oldest cities in Punjab, India and the current administrative headquarters of Bathinda District. It is in northwestern India in the Malwa Region, 227 km west of the capital city of Chandigarh and is the fifth largest city of Punjab. Bathinda's nicknamed the 'City of Lakes', courtesy of the artificial lakes in the city.The first empress of India, Razia Sultan was imprisoned in the Qila Mubarak fort in Bathinda. Bathinda is a home of Central University of Punjab and upcoming AIIMS. Bathinda is home to two modern thermal power plants, Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant and Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant at Lehra Mohabbat. The city has a fertilizer plant, a large oil refinery,Bathinda is home of two cement plants, Ambuja Cements and UltraTech Cement Limited. A zoo, and a historic Qila Mubarak fort. Bathinda is one of the largest food grain and cotton markets in northern India; the area around Bathinda is a prolific grape growing area. It is one of the leading cities in education in Punjab. Bhatinda was changed to Bathinda to conform to the phonetical expression as locally pronounced. According to Henry George Raverty, Bathinda was known as Tabarhindh (Labb-ut-Twarikh). The earliest mention of Tabarhindh occurs in the Jami-Ul-Hakayat written about 607 Hijri or 1211 AD. In 1004, Mahmud of Ghazni besieged the local fort, which was located on the route from the northwest into the rich Ganges valley. In 1189, Muhammad Ghori attacked and occupied the fort of Bathinda. Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the ruler of this region, managed to recover possession of the fort thirteen months later in 1191 after the first battle of Tarain. In circa 1754, the town was conquered by Maharaja Ala Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala and since then it followed the history of erstwhile princely state of Patiala. With the dawn of independence and merger of Patiala and East Punjab States into a division called PEPSU, Bathinda become a full-fledged district with headquarters at Bathinda city.


Bhatinda Fort
Bhatinda Fort

Qila Mubarak
Qila Mubarak

Rose Garden
Rose Garden

Bhatinda Lake
Bhatinda Lake

Bhatinda Zoological Park
Bhatinda Zoological Park

Lakhi Jungle
Lakhi Jungle

Bir Talab Zoo
Bir Talab Zoo

Chetak Park
Chetak Park


PATHANKOT


Pathankot


Pathankot is a city in the Punjab state of India. Pathankot was officially declared as District of Punjab state On 27 July 2011 (Before this it was a Tehsil of Gurdaspur district of Punjab, India). Pathankot district is at the meeting point of the three northern states of India -- Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Pathankot district is a border district which shares international border with Pakistan on its West. Due to its location, Pathankot serves as a travel hub for those three northerly states. Pathankot is the 9th most populous city in the state of Punjab.After Ludhiana, Amritsar & Jalandhar Pathankot is 4th Largest and populous if SUB-URBAN areas like Sarna(5 km from ISBT), Sujanpur(8 KM from ISBT), Mamun(5 km from ISBT), Jugial(9 km from ISBT) are included.Pathankot along with its nearby twin city of Kathua in J&K constitute the Kathua-Pathankot urban area. Situated in the picturesque foothills of Kangra and Dalhousie, with the river Chakki flowing close by, the city is often used as a rest-stop before heading into the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, Dalhousie, Chamba, Kangra, Dharamshala, Mcleodganj, Jwalaji, Chintpurni and deep into the Himalayas. Pathankot also serves as education hub for the nearby areas of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pardesh. Many students basically from rural areas of these states come to study here.
Pathankot is an ancient city and has historical significance. From various accounts; It may be believed that Audumbara was the name of it. Numerous coins of great antiquity found at Pathankot prove that it is one of the oldest sites in the Punjab and it must always have been a place of great significance situated as it in the foot of the hills.Pathankot was the capital of Nurpur State and its name was changed to Dhameri (Nurpur) in the time of Akbar. The Pathania clan of Rajput derived its name from ancient name of Pathankot which was Paithan at that time.


Mukteshwar Temple
Mukteshwar Temple

Ashapurni Mandir
Ashapurni Mandir

Kathgarh Temple
Kathgarh Temple

Nurpur Fort
Nurpur Fort

Ranjit Sagar Dam
Ranjit Sagar Dam

Hydraulic Research Station
Hydraulic Research Station

Shahpurkandi Fort
Shahpurkandi Fort

Kali Mata Mandir
Kali Mata Mandir


ROPAR


Ropar


Rupnagar also spelled Ropar or Rupar, is a city and a municipal council in Rupnagar district in the Indian state of Punjab. Ropar is a newly created fifth "Divisional Headquarters" of Punjab comprising Ropar, Mohali, and its adjoining districts. The ancient town of Rupnagar is said to have been named by a Raja called Rokeshar, who ruled during the 11th century and named it after his son Rup Sen. It is also one of the bigger sites belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization. The climate of Rupnagar District is characterized by general dryness (except in the south west monsoon season), a hot summer and a cold winter. The year may be divided into four seasons. The period from about middle of November to February is the cold season. This is followed by the summer season from March to about the end of June. The south-west monsoon season commences late in June and continues up to about middle of September. The period from mid September to the middle of November constitute the post-monsoon or transition season. The temperature ranges from minimum of 1 °C in winter to 47 °C in summer. May and June are generally hottest months and December and January are the coldest months. Relative humidity is high, averaging about 70% during monsoon. The average annual rainfall in district is 775.6 mm. About 78% of the annual rainfall is received during June - September. Evening in Ropar is a special one as it have very cool, breezy and cloudy kind of scenario which makes the natives rush towards the ropar lake to enjoy the landscape and its natural beauty.


Anandpur Sahib
Anandpur Sahib

Chamkaur Sahib
Chamkaur Sahib

Bhakra Nangal Dam
Bhakra Nangal Dam

Ropar Wetland
Ropar Wetland

Gurudwara Parivar Vichora Sahib
Gurudwara Parivar Vichora Sahib

Gurudwara Bhatta Sahib
Gurudwara Bhatta Sahib

Jateshwar Mahadev Temple
Jateshwar Mahadev Temple


KAPURTHALA


Kapurthala


Kapurthala is a city in Punjab state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Kapurthala District. It was the capital of the Kapurthala State (ruled by Ahluwalia Dynasty), a princely state in British India. The secular and aesthetic mix of the city with its prominent buildings based on French and Indo-Saracenic architecture self-narrate its princely past. It is also known as city of Palaces & Gardens. It is the least populated city in India.Its falls in Jalandhar Revenue division. according to 2011 census. Kapurthala was founded by Nawab Kapur Singh, who was a Jat of Virk gotra. It is known to be an erstwhile royal state. The state was ruled by the Ahluwalia dynasty, founded in 1772 by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (1718–1783), a prominent Sikh leader during the Sikh Confederacy, and also Misldar of the Ahluwalia army. He was born in village Ahlu or Ahluwal near Lahore, giving rise to the name of the family, Ahluwalia or one from Ahlu. Badar Singh, the great-grandson of Sada Singh, married the daughter of a petty sardar of the district. Their son Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was born in 1718. Jassa Singh was barely five years old when his father died in 1723. Subsequently his mother requested Mata Sundri, the widow of Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh to take care of young Jassa. Upon growing up, she put him under the care of Sikh leader Nawab Kapur Singh. Jassa Singh soon rose in ranks and, on the eve of his death, Kapur Singh appointed him his successor in 1753. And after the capture of Lahore in 1761, Khalsa honored him with the title of Sultan-ul-Qaum (King of the whole people). He was the first one to take on the surname Ahluwalia (or Walia nowadays) and his followers use the surname Walia or Ahluwalia. He founded the state of Kapurthala in 1772, and his descendants remained powerful chiefs in Punjab until the rise of Ranjit Singh (1780–1839).


Jagatjit Palace
Jagatjit Palace

Panch Mandir
Panch Mandir

Kanjli Lake
Kanjli Lake

Shalimar Garden
Shalimar Garden

State Gurudwara
State Gurudwara 

Moorish Mosque
Moorish Mosque