The Comforting Retreats in Gorgeous Indian State Goa

The Comforting Retreats in Gorgeous Indian State Goa

Asia / Hotels

A comfortable place to stay in a Tourist Spot makes the journey more enjoyable. Goa is a paradise for beach lovers. Sprawling sands of different hues are a marvel of this tiny tourist destination. Clear waters of the sea are clear and inviting. Hours can be spent on a beach doing just absolutely nothing apart from gazing at the blue sky above.

Goa Hotels comes with all modern amenities. But this does not necessarily mean that these hotels are modern to look at too. The traditional look hides the modern to please a tourist’s sense of the traditional. 

5 Star Deluxe Hotels also have a long chain. The dreamy holiday location has some extremely sensuous accommodations. The hotel comes with an offer of suites, rooms, apartments, villas, conference hall, adventure sports, children centre and squash playing facilities etc.

Majorda Beach Resort is another one out of the Luxury Hotels Goa. From Dabolim airport the accommodation is just at a distance of twenty minutes. It is one grand place among the 5 star deluxe hotels Goa. The resort enjoys 20 acres of wide open space. The place is much visited for its famous five dining places like the Sea Shells which is best known for its delicious fish meals. Buffet Breakfast can be enjoyed at the Garden Café. Tropical drinks are available with light snacks. Special cottages offer a private stay at the resort, especially for the honeymoon couples.

Goan hospitality can be enjoyed at Renaissance Goa Resort which is very near to the beautiful beach of Colva. One can shop at leisure at the nearby market place of Goa. Studio apartments offer a peaceful stay for those on the lookout for a quiet holiday.

Article source by :- travelzink

For more information visit :- http://www.travelthemes.in/

Ram Navami Celebrations

Ram Navami Celebrations

The Celebrations of Ram Navami start with the worship of Sun God. On the day, people wake up early in the morning, take bath and pay honors to Sun God. Thereafter, they would chant mantras of Lord Rama and offers fruits and flowers to the deity. The devotees of Lord Rama would observe a whole-day fast on the festival, which they would break only in the midnight, by eating a fruit. In many parts of India, satsangs are organized by cultural committees to commemorate the birth of Lord Rama. The congregation of the devotees would sing Bhajans, chant mantras in the praise of the God and listen to the legendary stories.

 

As a part of the Celebrations, people would keep their home clean and decorate it beautifully. In the households where pujas are conducted, the pictures of Lord Rama, his wife Sita and brother Lakshman are hung. The devotees would offer flowers, burn dhoop and incense sticks. A thali used for the performance of the pooja would typically contain prasad and other items necessary for the ritual, including roli (sacred tilak), rice, lota (container filled with water), flowers, a bell, earthen lamp or deep and a conch. Everyone in a family takes part in the puja, which is conducted by the elderly member of the family. While worshipping the deity, songs are sung. When the puja is over, prasad is distributed among all the people gathered for the worship of Lord Rama.

In many parts of India, typically South India, small idols of Lord Rama and Sita are worshipped in the households, which are take to a procession on the streets, in the evening. In many Temples, Kalyanam' (a ceremonial wedding) is performed by the Temple priests. Panakam, a sweet drink prepared by mixing jaggery with ginger and pepper, is a specialty of Ram Navami in southern parts of India. The dish is prepared as a prasad. It is first offered to the deity, and then distributed amongst the devotees. When the idols of the deity are taken to a procession, the devotees often play with Water and colors, to mark the birth of the God.


article sources by :- festivalasia

For more information visit :- http://www.travelthemes.in/

Sindhudurg Fort, Maharashtra

Sindhudurg Fort, Maharashtra 

Historic Monuments, Maharashtra, Sindhudurg  

India is full of interesting historical forts. A beautiful and well preserved example is the spectacular Sindhudurg Fort in Maharashtra, looking out over the Arabian Sea.

HISTORY

 
Sindhudurg Fort was built in 1664 by King Shivaji. The strategic rocky island location was carefully chosen to counter foreign forces, and to keep the nearby villages in check.

Located 510kms south of Mumbai and 130kms north of Goa the construction was done under the supervision of Hiroji Indulkar, an able architect. It is said that Shivaji invited 100 Portuguese experts from Goa for the construction of the fort and that 3000 workers were employed round the clock for three years to build Sindhudurg.

After Shivaji, Sindhudurg passed through the hands of Rajaram-Tarabai, Angres, Peshwa and the Bhosales of Kolhapur. It was briefly captured by the British in 1765 Ad And was renamed by them as ‘Fort Augustus’. Later in 1818 AD, the British dismantled the fort’s defence structures.

STRUCTURE

  
The 48 acre Sindhudurg fort has a four km long zigzag line of a 9 metres high and 3 metres wide rampart with 42 bastions.

The fort is approachable from the Malavan pier by a boat through a narrow navigable channel between two smaller islands of Dhontara and Padmagad. The main gate, flanked by massive bastions, faces the city.

One of the most interesting features of this port is that the design of main door is an enigma, a hallmark of Maratha Architecture of fort building so that the entry can’t be located by attacking forces. The technique was so deceptive that the entrance was concealed due to blind curves. The zigzag pattern of outer wall was so built that the enemy would be visible from any point inside the fort and the troops inside could fire their guns and cannons effectively.

INTERESTING FACTS AND ATTRACTIONS INSIDE THE FORT

Shivaji’s palm and footprints are preserved here on dried lime slabs in a tower. Inside the Fort, temples of Bhavanimata, Shambhu Mahadev, Jirimiri, Mahapurush and Shivajeshwar are worth seeing, all of which are in good condition. Chatrapati Shivaji’s younger son Rajaram in his remembrance built this temple. Shivaji’s idol stands in a boatman’s attire inside the temple and probably only one of its’ kind in the country – where the image of Shivaji is without a beard. Outside the southern wall there is a small beach, called Ranichi Vela (Queen’s private beach), where Queen Tarabai, daughter-in law of Shivaji, used to enjoy her sea-bath. Inside the fort there are three wells of drinkable water, which is a nature’s marvel as sea surrounds the fort on all four sides.
On a rocky island between Sindhudurg and the coast stood the small fort of Padmagad, now in ruins. It acted as a shield for Sindhudurg and was also used for shipbuilding
The fort also houses a coconut tree which has a branch and also gives fruit. (No other coconut tree has a branch.)
There is a hidden passage that starts in a temple that looks like a water reservoir and goes under the island for 3 km, under the sea for 12 km, and from there 12 km to a nearby village. The tunnel was used as an escape route for the women if the enemy entered the fort. However, the British partially closed this passage after the fort was abandoned.

Article by :- Mahindra Homestays

For more information visit :-  http://www.travelthemes.in/

Beautiful beach in Konkan - Tarkarli Beach

Beautiful beach in Konkan - Tarkarli Beach

Tarkarli is a narrow stretch of beach with pristine waters, located at the convergence of the Karli River and the Arabian Sea. It is 546 k.m. away from Mumbai, 6 kms. south of Malvan, on the west coast of India. This place has gained prominence because of its transparently clear seas, where on a fairly sunny day, one can see the sea- bed up to a depth of 20 feet. This beach can be rightly called as ‘Queen Beach’ of Sindhudurg.

Sea and sand blending in enchanting natural harmony, gracefully cruising boats in calm and cool river waters add to the beauty of this beach. Here newly built M .T. D.C. Cottages are ready to provide you comfortable accommodation and recreation facilities. Now MTDC has made houseboat facility available at Tarkarli. 2 houseboats, namely, Hiranyakeshi (a deluxe houseboat) and Karli (a standard houseboat) are at the service of discerning traveler. These fully equipped luxury boats have the Hi-tech equipment and all luxurious amenities on board. For more details and latest tariff visit MTDC site on web.

TARKARLI BEACH

For adventure water sports lovers, snorkeling and scuba diving facilities are also available at Tarkarli. For novice, well-trained snorkeling guides will guide snorkeling trip ensuring safety and make it sure that one can have the first and finest ever experience of marine life.

While at Trakarli, do make a point to taste special Malvani food such as variety of fish items, ‘kombadi-vada’. 
  
Activities to do:  

Scuba Diving: Do you want to explore the Konkan below water in Arabian Sea?   Programs are offered for all ages - Open Water, Advanced Water, Rescue Diver, Dive Master, Certified Diving etc. Water Sport, Scuba Diving, Snorkelling.

Accommodation:

Tarkarli has a huge number resorts, hotels for every budget. During the season these hotels gets full so make sure you book your reservation in advance.. 

Getting there: 
By air: Nearest is Mumbai. 
By rail: Nearest railhead is Kudal, 45 k.m. on Konkan Railway. 
By road:
Mumbai–Tarkarli, 546 k.m.,Kolhapur–Tarkarli , 160 k.m.,Malvan –Tarkarli , 8 k.m. 
State transport buses ply From Mumbai, Kolhapur or Pune to Malvan and from Malvan to Tarkarli . Rickshaws are also available from Malvan.

Places to see nearby:


1) Sindhudurg Fort
2) Devbag
3) Dhamapur Lake 
4) Bhagwati Temple   
5) Bharadi Devi Angnewadi 
6) Jay Ganesh Temple  
7) Rameshwar Temple 
8) Amboli Hill Station 
9) Bhalachandra Maharaj Ashram  
10) Kunkeshwar Temple and Beach 
11) Bhogve Beach   
12) Nivati Beach   
13) Shiroda Velagar Beach  

Article Source: Konkan Online

If you want to get travel with experience in Konkan please visit: http://www.travelthemes.in/

Sindhudurg Fort

The name of this fort is given to Sindhudurg district. Tourists from all over the world visit this great sea fort.  Sindhudurg was built with the help of huge rocks on the ‘Kurte' island, which amazes people, and one appreciates the vision and foresight of Shivaji.

History: 

In 1664-67 AD, Shivaji erected this fort on 48 acres of   island. Shivaji Maharaj personally selected this site, a rocky island, Kurte. It took 500 stone splitters and stonebreakers, 200 black smiths, 3000 laborers and 100’s of skilled artists who toiled very hard to complete this fort in three years. A notable feature is that the foundation stones were laid down firmly in molten lead. This is evident from the stone inscriptions. One of the best preserved forts of the Marathas, the 48 acre Sindhudurg fort has a four kms long zigzag line of 9 meters high and 3 meters wide rampart with 42 bastions.

SHIVRAJESHWAR TEMPLE

Initially, 3 kms. long outer wall (Tat) was built. Average height of wall is 10 meters and breadth is 2 to 4 meters. The design of main door is an enigma. It has been a hallmark of Maratha Architecture of fort building. It defies detection of its location to the attacker. The technique was so deceptive for the enemy that they could not even realize where the entrance was due to blind curves. Zigzag pattern of outer wall was so built that   the enemy would be visible from any point inside the fort and the troops inside could fire their guns and cannons effectively and humble the enemy. Cores of hones (gold coins) form Surat bounty, were spent to built this wonderful fort.

How to get inside the fort:

The fort is approachable from the Malvan pier by a boat through a narrow navigable channel between two smaller islands of Dhontara and Padmagad. There is even a guide to take you around inside. Fort is completely cut off during the monsoons.

What to see:

Shivaji’s palm and footprints are preserved here on dried lime slabs in a tower. Inside the Fort, temples of Bhavanimata, Shambhu Mahadev, Jirimiri, Mahapurush and Shivajeshwar are worth seeing, all of which are in good Condition.

Shivrajeshwar Temple:

Chatrapati Shivaji’s younger son Rajaram in his remembrance built this temple. Shivaji’s idol stands in a boatman’s attire inside the temple and probably only one of its’ kind in the country – where the image of Shivaji is without a beard. Outside the southern wall there is a small beach, called Ranichi Vela (Queen’s private beach), where Queen Tarabai, daughter-in law of Shivaji, used to enjoy her sea-bath. The fort also houses some twenty Hindu-Muslim families, who have been living there for generations. Side the fort there are three wells of drinkable water, which is a nature’s marvel as sea surrounds the fort on all four sides. On a rocky island between Sindhudurg and the coast stood the small fort of Padmagad, now in ruins. It acted as a shield for Sindhudurg and was also used for shipbuilding.


Getting There:

By air: Nearest airports are Goa, Mumbai.

By rail: Nearest railhead is Kudal, 45 k.m. on Konkan Railway.

By road: Mumbai–Malvan, 546 k.m.  Kolhapur–Malvan, 160 k.m.

State transport and private buses ply from Mumbai, Pune and Kolhapur.

For more travel Experience please visit: http://www.travelthemes.in/

Source: Konkan Online