i-Home Jobs

Beautiful Places of India

From the Kashmir in the North to Kanyakumari in the South , India is full of beautiful places. In India one can find mountains, rivers, forests, desserts, lakes, sea and green plains. Everything that Mother Nature has in her heart she has given to India

Agra Fort

The high red sandstone ramparts of this great monument stretch for almost 2.5 kilometres, dominating a bend in the river Yamuna, northwest of the Taj Mahal. The foundation of this majestic citadel was laid by the Emperor Akbar and it developed as a stronghold of the Mughal Empire under successive generations.

The curved bastions of the huge walls are interrupted by impressive gates of which only the Amar Singh gate is now open to the public. The original and grandest entrance was through the Delhi Gate, which leads to the inner portal called the Hathi Pol or Elephant Gate.

The graceful Diwan-i-Am or the Hall of Public Audiences, made of red sandstone, was constructed by Shahjahan in 1628. Three rows of white polished stucco pillars topped by peacock arches support the flat roof. Today, this Hall is bereft of brocade decorations, silk carpets and satin canopies which would have enhanced the elegance of the settings when the Emperor sat down with his subjects to hear their complaints.

The Agra Fort houses the Royal Pavilions, which were designed to catch the cool breeze wafting across the river. Other attractions comprise the Macchi Bhawan or the Fish Palace, the Hammam-i-Shahi or the Royal Bath, the Nagina Masjid or the Gem Mosque, and the Zenana Meena Bazaar, where the ladies of the court would browse through goods like silk, jewellery and brocade.

Past the Chitor gate, installed in 1568, is the Diwan-i-Khas, or the Hall of Private Audience. Here, the emperor would receive kings, dignitaries and ambassadors. Tucked away by the west wall of the hall is the Mina Masjid or the Heavenly mosque, where Shahjahan prayed when he was imprisoned in the Fort by his son Aurangzeb.

A doorway from the rear of the Diwan-i-Khas leads to the Mussaman Burj, a two-storeyed pavilion, where Shahjahan caught the last glimpse of the Taj Mahal before he died. Surrounded by a verandah, the elegant chamber has a lattice-screen balustrade with ornamental niches; exquisite inlay covers almost every surface and a marble chhatri (umbrella) on top adds the finishing touch.

The Khas Mahal or the Private Palace was used by the emperor as a sleeping chamber and is designed for comfort, with cavities in the room to insulate against the heat. The Mahal is flanked by two golden pavilions. Other ornate palaces within the Fort are the Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors), the Shah Jahani Mahal (Shahjahan's Palace), Jahangiri Mahal (Jahangir's Palace) and the Akbari Mahal (Akbar's Mahal). These palaces are hybrid in design and some are distinctly Mughal in style while others like the Jahangiri Mahal are almost entirely Hindu in their interior design.

Buland Darwaza

Buland Darwaza, at Fatehpur Sikri, Agra

Buland Darwaza or the gate of Magnificence, was built in 1601 A.D. by Akbar to commemorate his conquest of Gujarat. Its gateway is approached by 42 steps. The Buland Darwaza is 40 metres high and 35 metres wide. It is the greatest gateway in the world. The gateway is of red sandstone decorated by carving and inlaying of white marble. On the central face of the Buland Darwaza there is an inscription in beautiful lettering.
The inscription is not only famous for its calligraphy, but also throws light on Akbar's religious broad - mindedness. The inscription is a message from Jesus Christ advising his followers not to consider this world as their permanent home. The inscription reads: Jesus son of Mary, on whom be peace, said, "The world is a bridge. Pass over it, but build no house upon it. Who hopes for an hour, hopes for eternity. The world is an hour. Spend it in prayer, for The rest is unseen."

The Charminar

The Charminar in Hyderabad, is a massive arch built by Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah, in 1591 to commemorate the end of the plague in the city. The symbol of the city, the Charminar, is an impressive square monument with four minarets. The arch is illuminated daily in the evening, an unforgettable sight indeed. The city of Hyderabad, with its delightful blend of the ancient and the modern, presents to the onlooker an interesting skyline with modern buildings standing shoulder to shoulder with fascinating 400 year old edifices. It boasts of some fine examples of Qutab Shahi architecture - the Jami Masjid, the Mecca Masjid, Toli Masjid, and of course, the impressive symbol of Hyderabad, the Charminar.

The Charminar in Hyderabad
The Charminar in Hyderabad, at the capital city of Andhra Pradesh, is a massive arch built by Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah, in 1591 to commemorate the end of the plague in the city. The symbol of the city, the Charminar, is an impressive square monument with four minarets. The arch is illuminated daily in the evening, an unforgettable sight indeed.

The city of Hyderabad, with its delightful blend of the ancient and the modern, presents to the onlooker an interesting skyline with modern buildings standing shoulder to shoulder with fascinating 400 year old edifices. It boasts of some fine examples of Qutab Shahi architecture - the Jami Masjid, the Mecca Masjid, Toli Masjid, and of course, the impressive symbol of Hyderabad, the Charminar.

Ellora Caves

The caves of Ellora constitute one of the most beautiful expressions of the art of the Indian Middle Ages, and are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated outside the city of Aurangabad, 400km northeast from Bombay, it was created between AD 350 and 1000 by Buddhists, Hindus and Jains who laboured to sculpt temples from the living rock. These breathtaking caves are remarkable for their sculptures and architecture

Ethipothala Falls

Ethipothala Falls, Andra Pradesh

11 kms downstream, from the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam are the Ethipothala waterfalls, in a beautiful valley. The Chandravanka stream here cascades into a breathtaking lagoon and flows on through the lush valley.

Access
Air : The nearest airport is in Hyderabad at a distance of 149 km.
Rail : The nearest rail head is Macherla, which is 29 km from Nagarjuna Sagar.
Bus : Regular service from Hyderabad, Warangal and Vijaywada to Nagarjuna Sagar.

Accomodation
-A.P Tourism's Ethipothala guest house