Bhangarh-Asia's Most Haunted Place

At the edge of the Sariska Tiger Reserve, between Jaipur and Alwar in Rajasthan, is Bhangarh, popularly known as the “ghost city of India. It is considered to be the Most Haunted Place in whole Asia.

Bhangarh is a place between Jaipur and Delhi in Rajasthan state of India known for its ruins. Bhangarh is also a pre-historic site. The most remarkable of its buildings are the temples of Gopinath, Shiva (Someshwar), Mangla Devi, Lavina Devi and Keshava Rai. Other buildings include shops along the main road, several havelis, a mosque, and a palace. The palace was protected by two inner fortifications across the valley. The town is separated from the plain by ramparts with five gates.

The town was established in 1573 (VS 1631) during the rule of Bhagwant Das as the residence of his second son Madho Singh, the younger brother of Emperor Akbar’s general, Man Singh I. Madho Singh participated in many campaigns with his father and brother. The next ruler of Bhangarh was his son Chhatr Singh, after whose death in 1630, Bhangarh slowly declined. When the Mughal Empire became weaker after the death of Aurangzeb, Jai Singh II attached Bhangarh to his state by force in 1720. After this Bhangarh diminished in population, and since the famine of 1783 (VS 1840) the town has remained uninhabite

The city, according to legend, was cursed by a tantrik in the sixteenth century. Singhia, a lecherous tantrik, was attracted to the beautiful queen of Bhangarh, Ratnavati. One day, he saw her maid buying some hair oil for the queen and put a love spell on it. The queen was a tantrik herself. One look at the swirling oil and she threw the flagon away. As soon as it touched the ground, the stone magnified into a boulder and moved towards Singhia. Dying, the magician cursed the palace with the death of all who dwelt in it. The next year there was a battle between Bhangarh and Ajabgarh in which Princess Ratnavati perished. Legends says that there are ghosts in Bhangarh and that is why entry is prohibited for tourists in the fort after sunset and before sunrise.The locals believe that the princess Ratnavati has taken birth somewhere else and that the fort and the empire of Bhangarh is waiting for her return to put an end to the curse.

The Internet is flooded with horror tales. People claim to have heard the tinkling of payals, seen the ruined market come to life, many tourists who take photographs inside the ruins find weird colour spots in the pictures. 

Entry to Bhangarh is legally prohibited between sunset and sunrise. Such is the town's reputation that even the Archeological Survey of India doesn't have an office here though government rules state that every historical site must have an office of the ASI. The nearest one is a kilometre away — enough distance between officials and the spooks.


                                                                                         I don’t claim the information to be my own. The information is compiled from different sources

India International Trade Fair (IITF)

The India International Trade Fair (IITF) began in 1980 and since then has evolved as major event for the business community. It is a premier event organized by the India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO), the nodal trade promotion agency of the Government of India. The event is held between 14 - 27 November every year at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India. It is Asia’s largest Trade Fair. The IITF is one of the largest trade fairs in the world, in terms of exhibitors and visitor participation and has evolved as an iconic national event.

The IITF is a major tourist attraction in the city of Delhi and lakhs of people visit this fair every year. This annual event acts as a platform for manufacturers, traders, exporters and importers and displays a wide range of products and services including: Automobiles, Coir Products, Jute, Textiles, Garments, Household appliances, Kitchen appliances, Processed food, Beverages, Body care and healthcare Products, Furniture, Toys, etc.

The unique aspect of the IITF is the participation of almost all states and union territories of India, apart from domestic and foreign companies. IITF, 2011 saw participation of 7,000 exhibitors, including overseas participation from 28 countries, representing over 350 companies. A large number of domestic and foreign business persons visited the fair and the fair attracted trade delegations from 73 countries. Over one million general visitors also visited the fair during 14-27th November, 2011.

This year will mark the 32nd edition of the IITF and as always will have B2B (Business to business) and B2C (Business to consumer) components. The fair presents an interesting range; right from local artisans to MNC’s, covering diverse sectors, primarily in the consumer goods category. The theme is "Skilling India” which is more pertinent, contemporary and is an extremely important objective of India today.

                                                                       I don’t claim the information to be my own. The information is compiled from different sources

Shree Padmanabhaswamy Temple - World's Richest Hindu Temple

Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Thiruvananthapuram, India. The shrine is currently run by a trust headed by the royal family of Travancore. It has become the World’s richest Hindu temple (overtaking the Tirupati Temple) after a vast treasure trove of gold coins, jewels and precious stones were unearthed. The opening of four vaults reveals a vast bounty that unofficial estimates at 22 billion US dollars (1,00,000 Crores).

The origin of the Temple of Sree Padmanabhaswamy is lost in antiquity. It is not possible to determine with any exactitude, from any reliable historical documents or other sources as to when and by whom the original idol of Sree Padmanabhaswamy was consecrated. The Temple has references in Epics and Puranas. Srimad Bhagavatha says that Balarama visited this Temple, bathed in Padmatheertham and made several offerings.

The temple is one of 108 Divya Desams (Holy Abodes of Vishnu) – principal centres of worship of the deity in Vaishnavism. Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple gave its name to Kerala’s state capital Thiruvananthapuram. ‘Thiru’ ‘Anantha’ ‘Puram’ means Sacred Abode of Lord Anantha Padmanabha. The city is also known as Anandapuram (City of Bliss) and Syananduram (Where Bliss is not far off). Ananda refers to Sree Padmanabha Himself. Hindu scriptures refer to the Supreme Being as 'Sachidananda' (Absolute Truth, Absolute Consciousness and Absolute Bliss).

The marvelous idol of Sree Padmanabhaswamy is seen reclined on the mighty five hooded serpent Anantha. The supreme God is in conscious cosmic slumber with the head positioned to the south and the feet to the north. Anantha (or the endless) spreads its hoods above the head of the Idol. The three coils represent the three characteristics of mankind Sattva, Rajas and Tamas and its five hoods indicate the Panchendriyas(five senses) or the five elements(Panchabhootas). From the navel of the Lord emerges a lotus on which Lord Brahma, the Creator, is seated. Just below the stretched right arm of the Lord is the Shiva Linga of the Destroyer. Brahma, Vishnu(Padmanabha) and Shiva represent the ‘Srushti, Stithi and Samharam’.

In line with the Temple Entry Proclamation, only those who profess the Hindu faith are permitted entry to the temple. Devotees have to strictly follow the dress code.

This south Indian Temple which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu was already a popular pilgrimage center in Kerala and the discovery of the treasures and the labeling of being the richest Hindu temple in the world have made the temple more popular.

 http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/11000/richest-hindu-temple                                                                

                                                                                              I don’t claim the information to be my own. The information is compiled from different sources

India first superfast double decker train

The first superfast air-conditioned Double Decker (12931/12932) Ahmedabad-Mumbai express train was flagged off on September 19, 2012 by the Union Minister of State for Railways Bharat Sinh Solanki. 

"The train is equipped with modern amenities and its coaches have some very special features for comfortable travelling. It has a seating capacity for around 1,500 passengers. 

According to Western Railways, superior suspension technology in its coaches ensures a comfortable journey for passengers.

Minister of State for Railways Bharat Sinh Solanki flags off the new Double-decker Superfast Express (Ahmedabd to Mumbai Central) at Kalupur Railway station in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
A visitor looks at the newly-launched Double Decker AC Superfast Express train at a railway station in Ahmedabad on September 19, 2012. 

Inner view of the train - A passenger (L) and policewoman (R). The train can travel the 500 km journey from Ahmedabad to Mumbai Central in seven hours.

Also Read - 

Incredible India: Indian Railways - World's Largest Employer

Incredible India: Kharagpur - World's Longest Railway Platform

Incredible India: Shaan - e - Bhopal : World's First Broad Gauge Rail Coach Restaurent

 I don’t claim the information to be my own. The information is compiled from different sources

Magnificent Mary

Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom, (born 1 March 1983), also known as MC Mary Kom, Magnificent Mary or simply Mary Kom, is an Indian boxer belonging to Kom tribal community of north-eastern state of Manipur. She has won five consecutive World Boxing Championship Titles and is the only pugilist to win a medal in each one of the six Championships. She is the only Indian woman boxer to have qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics, competing in the flyweight (51kg) category and winning the bronze medal. She has also been ranked as No. 4 AIBA World Women's Ranking Flyweight category.

A mother of two, Mary Kom started her career as an athlete but later switched to boxing following the success of fellow Manipuri boxer Dingko Singh. She started her boxing career in 2000 after which there was no stopping her. In 2001, she lost in the final and had to settle for a silver medal. In 2002, she started her domination at the AIBA World Championships where she won her first gold. She continued to dominate women's boxing till 2006 after which she took a 2-year sabbatical due to the birth of her twins. After a two-year break, she won a silver medal at the 2008 Asian Women's Boxing Championship in India and a fourth successive gold medal at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship in China, followed by a gold medal at the 2009 Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam.

At London Olympics 2012, she stood third in the competition and garnered her first olympic Bronze medal.

In 2010, she was voted India's Sportswoman of the Year. Mary Kom also became the International Boxing Association's Ambassador for Women's Boxing in 2009. 

Her feat earned her the title of 'Magnificent Mary' from the AIBA. 

                                                                                               I don’t claim the information to be my own. The information is compiled from different sources

Dhai Seedhi Ki Masjid : Asia's Smallest Mosque

Some things in Bhopal are difficult to miss; like Upper Lake, the largest manmade lake in India, which dominates the landscape here, or Taj-ulMasjid, the immense mosque – one of Asia’s largest – which tops any list of city sights.  But until recently I, like pretty much everyone else who’s ever been Bhopal, had no idea that this fascinating city was also home to the Asia’s smallest mosque – Dhai Seedhi Ki Masjid (Mosque of two and half step).

It is on the campus of Gandhi Medical College. Dhai Seedi Ki Masjid is in one of the watchtowers. It is the oldest mosque in Bhopal city, initially built as a makeshift mosque during the construction of the Fatehgarh fort started by Dost Mohammad Khan. It was built so that the guards deployed at Fatehgarh Fort could perform Namaaz.

                                                                                                       I don’t claim the information to be my own. The information is compiled from different sources

Taj-Ul-Masjid : Asia's Largest Mosque

Taj-ul-Masajid literally means "the crown of mosques", also spelt as Taj-ul-Masaajid and Taj-ul-Masjid,  is a mosque situated in Bhopal, India. This is the largest mosque in Asia.

The construction of the mosque was started by Sultan Jahan Begum (1868-1901) ruler of Bhopal (wife of Nawab Hameeduddeen Khan) and continued to be built by her daughter Shah Jahan Begum,till her lifetime. The mosque was not completed due to lack of funds, and after a long lay-off, construction was resumed in 1971 by great efforts of Allama Mohammad Imran Khan Nadwi Azhari of Bhopal. The construction was completed by 1985 and the eastern gate was renovated grandly using ancient motifs from circa 1250 Syrian mosques by the contribution of the Emir of Kuwait to commemorate the memory of his departed wife.

The Taj-ul-Masjid is constructed around a huge courtyard and a big tank in the centre. The gateway is double storeyed with four archways and nine cusped manifold openings that open in main prayer hall of the impressive Masjid. Eleven arches adorn the Quibla wall of the prayer hall. The pillars of the hall are heavily patterned with intricate designs and finally culminate topped with twenty seven ceilings. The octagonal mirrors rising to a height of eighteen storeys are a marvel in itself.

The mosque is one of the most important Muslim landmarks in the city of Bhopal, and is multi-purpose as it is used as a madarsa, a Islamic religious school during the day.

                                                                                             I don’t claim the information to be my own. The information is compiled from different sources

World's Largest Photo Album (Wedding)

Bharatmatrimony.com, largest matchmaking company with presence both online, with over 450 Matrimony portals, and offline with 150+ company owned retail outlets, gathered to set the Guinness Book of World Record with the World’s Largest Photo Album (Wedding) featuring the contributions by the public.

Millionweddingpics.com is a BharatMatrimony initiative to enter into the Guinness Book of World Records by creating the world's largest wedding album. www.millionweddingpics.com was launched by India's greatest all-rounder Kapil Dev and his wife Romi Dev in NewDelhi on Valentine's Day. BharatMatrimony aims to collect over 1 million wedding photos through millionweddingpics.com.

The World’s largest Photo Album (Wedding) is 14 feet (4.26 meters) in width and 17 feet in Length (5.18 meters) in physical size. Guinness World Records adjudication authority examined the album and presented a certificate to Mr. Murugavel Janakiraman, Founder & CEO of BharatMatrimony.com commemorating this feat.

This is a spectacular milestone on Matrimony Day, April 14th as Bharatmatrimony celebrate 15 years of its journey towards creating happy marriages.

BharatMatrimony.com is owned by Consim Info. Pvt. Ltd,India’s leading internet business group with leadership presence in all key categories. The group currently owns and operates BharatMatrimony.com and has 400+ community portals.

Consim Info Pvt. Ltd is a leading service-oriented organisation catering to the needs of people through Internet and mobile. From starting off with uniting people in matrimony, the Consim Group has extended its services to aid in buying and selling of property, job searches, and providing value-based information.

 http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/2000/largest-photo-album

                                                                                       I don’t claim the information to be my own. The information is compiled from different sources

High Passes (La in Ladakhi)

Ladakh is an exotic destination with plenty of high passes, steep mountains and valleys abound. The route to Ladakh by road is through several scenic Mountain passes, known as 'La' in the local Ladakhi language and 'Ladakh' therefore means 'Land of Passes.' You can find some of the highest motorable roads in the world in Ladakh, which traverse these high passes and take you to exotic hidden destinations  high in the Himalayas.

All the roads built on these high passes are part of the Himank project of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the Ladakh region of northernmost India that started in August 1985. Himank is responsible for the construction and maintenance of roads and related infrastructure including what are claimed to be the world's highest motorable roads across the Khardung La, Tanglang La and Chang La passes. Himank's work ensures access to sensitive military areas including the world's highest battle-ground at the Siachen Glacier and Pangong Tso Lake (at 14500 ft) whose waters span the de facto India-China border. Himank's personnel battle tough terrain and extreme climatic conditions and are constrained in most areas to work within a short working season of four months as roads get blocked by heavy snow and extreme cold temperatures.

Manali - LEH Highway

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Rohtang Pass – 13,000ft (3978m) - If you travel from Manali in Himachal Pradesh to Leh you will cross the impressive Rohtang Pass, which is at a height of 13,000ft (3978m).  This is one of the highest motorable roads in the world. The Rohtang Pass is only open in midsummer from mid-July to September. 

Baralacha La – 16,050ft (4892m) - The Baralacha-la Pass is also along the Manali-Leh Highway. This pass is at the lofty height of 16,050ft (4892m). It is situated at a tri-junction of three roads, one from Manali, one from Leh and one from Spiti & Lahaul. The view from Baralacha-La is spectacular with the Himalayas extending along the horizon, as far as the eye can see.

Lachulung La - 16,600ft (5,059m) - A pass on the Zanskar Range, Lachulung La at 16,600ft (5,059m), is a rocky height with views of the undulating hills and Ladakh plateau below. Lachulung La is a mountain pass along the Leh-Manali highway. 

Taglang La - 17,582ft (5,359m)

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Also on the Zanskar Range, Taglang-la at 17,582ft (5,359m) is a resting place for nomadic Changpa herdsmen who can be seen with their flocks of sheep and goats, migrating in search of pasture. Taglang La is sometimes incorrectly claimed to be the world’s second highest motorable pass. It is, however, the second highest motorable mountain pass in India after Khardung La and is reached via 21 Gata loops. It is located along the Leh-Manali Highway.

Srinagar – LEH Highway

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Zoji La - 11,500ft (3,505m) - If you travel to Ladakh by road from Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, you can see panoramic vistas of the Himalayan landscape. The 434 Km long road crosses the Zoji La Pass which is 11,500ft (3,505m) high. The Zoji La Pass is snowbound in winter and this route is only open during the summer months from June to September. 

Pensi La – 14,436ft (4,400m) - Pensi La is a mountain pass in the Zanskar region of Ladakh. It is known as the Gateway to Zanskar, as it connects the Suru Valley region to the Zanskar Valley region. The summit at this end of the Suru Valley is 23,005ft (7,012m) high, while the mountain to the north is 22,549ft (6,873m). The pass is about 25 km from Rangdum Monastery.

Namika La - 12,200ft (3,719m) - Situated at a height of 12,200ft (3,719m), Namika La is on the road from Mulbek Valley to the Lamayuru Monastery in the Himalayan Zanskar Range along the Srinagar-Leh highway. 

Fotu La – 13,478ft (4,108m) - Fotu La is a mountain pass on the Srinagar-Leh highway in the Himalayan Zanskar Range. At an elevation of 13,478ft (4,108m), it is the highest point on the highway, surpassing the famed Zoji La. Fotu La is one of two high mountain passes between Leh and Kargil, the other being Namika La. 

LEH – Siachen Glacier

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Khardung La - 18,380ft (5,602m) - Khardung La located 40 Km north of Leh links the capital of Ladakh with the road to the Siachen Glacier. It is said to be the world's highest motorable pass at 18,380ft (5,602m). The spectacular view and a cup of tea from the tea-stall at Khardung La, will make you feel you're on top of the world. Built in 1976, it was opened to motor vehicles in 1988 and has since seen many automobile, motorbike and mountain biking expeditions. Maintained by the Border Roads Organisation, the pass is strategically important to India as it is used to carry supplies to the Siachen Glacier.

Saser La - 17,753ft (5,411m) - Saser La, situated at 17,753ft (5,411m),is a high mountain pass in Ladakh and India on the ancient summer caravan route from Leh in Ladakh to Yarkand in the Tarim Basin. 

LEH – Pangong Lake

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Chang La - 17,590ft (5,360m) 

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Chang la is situated at an altitude of 17,590ft (5,360m). The Changla Pass is on the route to Pangong Lake from Leh. 

Marsimik La - 18,314ft (5,582m) -

Marsimik La, elevated at 18,314ft (5,582m), is a high mountain pass in the Chang-Chemno Range in northern India about 100 km (62 miles) east of Leh. There is a road over this pass, over which suitably adapted vehicles have been driven, but it is not a motorable pass in the sense that the road is not in good enough condition to permit transit by normal vehicles. If it were motorable, it would be the highest motorable pass in Kashmir, but reports suggest that there are probably higher motorable passes in Tibet. Located 42 km (30 miles) northeast of the northwest tip of Pangong Lake, the pass is on the shortest route from there to the contested Kongka Pass area some 42 km (26 miles) further northeast on the China-India line of actual control. Marsimik La is 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) west of the sharp 6,000 to 6,500 m (19,700 to 21,300 ft) ridgeline forming the line of actual control.

I don’t claim the information to be my own. The information is compiled from different sources like http://www.ladakh.com/

Also Read - 

Incredible India: Chail - World's Highest Cricket Ground

Incredible India: Khardung La - World's Highest Motorable Road

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Incredible India: Pangong Lake