Khajuraho is a group of temples located in North India. These temples are known best for their erotic sculptures. The meticulously detailed carvings in the temples depict a celebration of love, life and worship. They provide you with a look into the ancient Tantric practices. There are more than twenty temples here that depict sexuality. These temples are built of sandstone, and date back to the 10th and 11th century. There were eighty five temples constructed in total at the time of building, but there are only about twenty remaining now. The temples are divided into three groups depending on their position – Western, Eastern and Southern. The Western Group is home to the major temples, including the magnificent Kandariya Mahadeo Temple.  [...]

About eighty per cent of the total population in the world has faith in one religion. And out of these close to seventy per cent believe in one of the four biggest religions in the world. The Big four religions are – Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. Both Christianity and Islam religions have their roots in Judaism. Judaism is the most ancient and surviving monotheistic religion that is known in the west. The history of Judaism is remarkable. The practitioners of Judaism are known as Jews. The Hebrew Bible is the holy book of the Jews. The book has mainly descriptions of the history of the world, plus the story of how the Israelites journeyed from creation, to the great flood, till they reached the Promised Land of Canaan. Abraham  [...]

Hampi is a city that is filled with fascinating ruins from the Vijayanagar Empire from the 15th Century. The city has close to five hundred historical monuments all of them dotting the hill and valleys of the location. The city is a stronghold of heritage and has an illustrious history. The glorious history of the region is showcased and born testimony to by the numerous monuments here. There are a huge number of intricate carvings and other marvelous feats of architectures to be seen in this region. The engravings on the various monuments have their own stories to tell of the events that happen ed centuries ago. The city was known then and now as a city that welcomed arts and culture and was a hub for both of these. The ruins of Hampi extend  [...]

Mithila was the capital of the kingdom of Videha which existed in the Indian subcontinent in the ancient times. Although Mithila was the name of the capital city, the name was used for the Videha Kingdom as a whole too. The modern day regions that come under the Videha Kingdom are also referred to by the same name. The city of Mithila has been identified to be located in Janakpur, situated in the Dhanusa district of Nepal. Janakpur  . . . Janakpur is described to be the seat of King Janak, ruler of Mithila for many years very long ago. This was described in Ramayana, the sacred epic of the Hindus, by Valmiki, the Indian saint and author. The city was decribed as the capital by Tulsidas, another saint. Janakpur is now situated in present day  [...]

Nijo Castle (Nijo jo) is one of Japan’s most amazing castles. It was constructed in sixteen three originally, and was intended as the official residence in Tokyo for the first Tokugawa Shogun. Nijo castle went under several names in the past, and is a historical monument. There are two fortification rings. Ninomaru Garden and the Ninomaru Palace as well as a moat surrounded area in the interiors. Ninomaru Palace is the most notable location in the interior of the castle grounds. The Nightingale floor is one of the most fun places inside the castle. The Uguisu Bari, its name in Japanese, is called the nightingale floor because the wooden floors are designed to squeak and creak and generally make a lot of noise when someone steps on them.  [...]

Amber or Amer Fort is situated at about eleven kilo meters from the city of Jaipur in the state of Rajasthan in India. The city of Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan. The Amber Fort was actually the bastion of the clan of Kachchawa. The fort served as their citadel until the clan made up their minds to transfer the seat of the government and the capital into Jaipur. Amber Fort was originally only a part of the Fort of Jaigharh. Both these forts were connected with each other through a number of fortified secret passages. The original fort was constructed by the Meenas. The Meenas were said to be the actual inhabitants of this area. The Amber Fort, as it stands now, was constructed later. The construction of this fort was commissioned by Raja  [...]

The literal meaning of ‘Hawa Mahal’ is ‘Palace of Winds’. This beautiful piece of work was built in the year 1799. Very often, as kids, we were warned not to build castles in the air. However, here is a very example of what Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh of Jaipur went ahead and did. The Hawa Mahal Jaipur is an important landmark in the Pink City. Although this monument is nothing more than a façade, it is an interesting and beautiful one nonetheless. The honeycombed building was originally built so that the women of the royal family could come to the balconies and the screened windows of this structure. Rajput Style of Architecture: The Hawa Mahal Jaipur is a smart example of the marriage between the Rajput and Mughal styles of architecture.  [...]

The Mehrangarh Fort is said to be related to Rao Jodha. He was the fifteen ruler of Rathore in the year 1458. After his accession, Jodha was said to be advised that he needed to shift his capital to a safer place. The Mandore Fort, which was over 1000 years old, was beginning to deteriorate and crumble. It was this incident that led to the foundation of the Mehrangarh Fort. This is one fort that has no history of any seizure ever. The invincible fort has fortifications that measure up to a good 6 meters thick. Some of the walls of the fort are still known to bear marks that it has borne from cannons that were hurled at it years back. The Fort, as it stands today, is a testimony to the legends and chronicles of the royalty of Jodhpur. About  [...]

Hawa Mahal Jaipur is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. It is also a major tourist attraction. Hawa Mahal Jaipur is a sight to behold. The palace is reminiscent of Rajputana architecture. It stills sings the royal family’s glories. The palace has a fine blend of Mughal architecture, which differentiates it from other palaces. Hawa Mahal literally means Palace of the Winds. Hawa Mahal Jaipur was constructed in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. The façade of the palace resembles a pyramid. The palace comprises five stories. There are nearly 953 tiny windows carved out of intricate lattice work. Another term for these pink windows made of sandstone is ‘jharokha’. These windows are extremely stylish and resemble a mammoth honeycomb. There  [...]

Varanasi is by far the holiest city in India. Kashi and Benaras are the other names of the city. Kashi has been for centuries the city of ‘moksha’ for Hindus. The city is renowned for its top-quality silk. The ‘paan’ available at Varanasi is much sought after. Varanasi is also known for the Benares Hindu University and Avimukta, which reminds one of the ancient world. For centuries, Varanasi has served as the most important pilgrimage centre for the Hindus. Varanasi in India is one of the seven holiest cities. In addition, it is one of the Shakti Peethas. Of the twelve Jyotir Linga sites present in India, Varanasi is one of them. Most Hindus would prefer being cremated at this holy city because they believe that this will lead to nirvana,  [...]