Gateway Of India ( गेटवे ऑफ इंडिया )

Gateway Of India

This is how the Gateway of India History goes. Gateway of India is the popular monumental building in the South Mumbai City area near Apollo Bunder. The architect of the Gateway of India monument is built in the combination of the Hindu and Muslim style. The Gateway of India is built from the yellow color basalt rock and the reinforced concrete. The stone which was used for Gateway of India construction was transported from Gwalior city.

The central dome of the Gateway of India is fifteen meters (49 feet) in diameter and is twenty six meters (85 feet) above the ground which is the highest point. The construction cost Gateway of India was all borne by the Government of India.

The Gateway of India has become the most famous monument of the city Mumbai. The Gateway of India was constructed by the King George V and Queen Marry to Bombay, before the Darbar in Delhi in December 1911. The foundation stone of the Gateway of India monument was laid down on 31st day of March in the year 1913 and George Wittet ‘s final design of the Gateway of India was approved in August 1914.

Among main facts of Gateway of India history, there are some notable facts. The specialty about the Gateway of India is that people who comes to Mumbai greets the monument which is situated at the imperial bygone area of the Mumbai city. When people pass through the gateway of India monument the first scene that is visible is the beautiful water front at the South Mumbai.

The construction of Gateway of India is as per the style of Indo- Saracenic style. Indo- Saracenic style was more popular in Gujarat state of India in the 16th century. On the top of the Gateway of India building, there is a central dome which is having the diameter of fifteen meters.

The major purpose of the construction of the Gateway of India is the celebration of the visit of the King George V and Queen Marry to Bombay. Sir George Clark later has laid the foundation stone of the monument in 1911. The designing plan of Gateway of India monument was approved in the year 1914 and the reclamation was done in 1914 in the Apollo Bundar. The Gateway of India monument was completely designed by the George Wittet and the whole construction period took almost 4 years to be completed.

The ever first major event that happened in the Gateway of India was the passing of the First Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry troops. That was also the last troop of the British Army to leave the country of India after independence. This event was happened on 28th of February 1948.

The Gateway of India monument faces the beautiful scene of Arabian ocean which attracts the Mumbai city. The Gateway of India is the must visit tourist place specially visiting during the night time is fund. The Gateway of India History has everything that well preserved for the future generation to come!

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Ajanta Caves ( अजांठा गुफा )

Ajanta Caves

Ajanta and Ellora are the pride of Maharashtra. The rock-cut caves of both these sites are world famous and illustrate the degree of skill and artistry that Indian craftsmen had achieved several hundred years ago. Ajanta dates from 100 B.C. while Ellora is younger by some 600 years. The village of Ajanta is in the Sahyadri hills, about 99 kms. From Aurangabad; a few miles away in a mammoth horseshoe-formed rock, are 30 caves overlooking a gorge, `each forming a room in the hill and some with inner rooms. Al these have been carved out of solid rock with little more than a hammer and chisel and the faith and inspiration of Buddhism. Here, for the Buddhist monks, the artisans excavated Chaityas (chapels) for prayer and Viharas (monasteries) where they lived and taught. Many of the caves have the most exquisite detailed carvings on the walls, pillars and entrances as well as magnificent wall paintings.

These caves were discovered early in the 19th century quite by chance by a party of British Officers on manoeuvres. Today the paintings and sculptures on Buddha’s life, belonging to the more mellow and ritualistic Mahayana Buddhism period, are world famous. Copies of them were shown in the Crystal Palace exhibition in London in 1866. These were destroyed in a fire there. Further copies were published soon afterwards and four volumes of reproductions were brought out in 1933 by Ghulam Yazdani, the Director of Archaeology of the then Hyderabad State. Ajanta has formed an epicentre of interest for those who appreciate and are eager to know more about Indian history and art.

Ajanta Cave It is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India and has been listed in the World Heritage list of monuments.The 30 caves of Ajanta were created over a span of some 600 years.

In their range of time and treatments they provide a panorama of life in ancient India and are a source of all kinds of information... hair styles, ornaments, textiles, musical instruments, details of architecture, customs etc. It was from this collection of classical Indian art that a particular style was formed that traveled with Buddhism to many parts of the world. Similar paintings can be seen in Sigiriya in Sri Lanka, Bamiyan in Afghanistan, temples and shrines in Tibet, Nepal, China and Japan.

Royal patronage made Ajanta possible. Professional artists carried out much of the work and each contributed his own individual skill and devotion to this monumental work.

Visitors often ask how the artist who painted the detailed frescoes and chiseled out the intricate carvings, managed to work in the dark interiors of the caves. It has been noticed that the caves are illuminated by natural light for part of the day and it is presumed that metal mirrors or sheets of white cloth were used to reflect sunlight into the inner recesses.

Here, briefly, are some of the highlights of the caves. In the Cave 26, the sculpture is elaborate and beautiful though the painted frescoes are incomplete. The arched chapel window set in an elegantly simple façade, is repeated in an elaborate frontage in Cave 19 with its complete Chaitya and a slender votive stupa enclosing a standing Buddha at the far end. Of particular note is a sculpture of a seated Nagaraja with his consort and female attendant.

Cave 16 is an elegant Vihara with an inscription that mentions the king and his minister who had the cave built. Here a towering Buddha sits preaching. He is flanked by attendants with fly whisks.

Ajanta Cave No.1 There are undamaged portions of the wall paintings that are clear and vibrant in Caves 1, 2, 16 and 17. Cave I has the well known Bodhisattva Padmapani which is a wonderful portrayal of tender compassion. A gentle figure holding a lotus delicately in one hand.

In the same cave is the golden figure of Avalokiteswara, elaborately adorned. The women, nymphs, princess and attendants are elegant and beautifully attired. Here also is a lively panel of dancing girls and musicians. In Cave 2 there is a detailed panel of Queen Maya’s dream, of the white elephant which was interpreted by royal astrologers to mean the birth of an illustrious son. The row upon row of Buddhas, can be seen in this cave. In Cave 17, there is a flying apsara in a fashionable embroidered turban and splendid jewellery.

It is worth walking away from the caves in order to look back on to the horseshoe gorge. The ingenuous water cistern system can be seen which must have provided water for the monks and their visitors. Ajanta was on the ancient trade route leading to the coast so there must have been considerable activity and many visitors. Nobody really knows what life was like in those times and visitors can interpret the past as they wish, which is perhaps yet another secret charm of Ajanta.

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