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If you have even a tiny bit interest in architecture, you probably know the fame Muslim architecture has courted in South Asia, especially due to the Taj Mahal in Agra. What I didn’t know was, there’s another little dwelling of this beautiful architecture in Pakistan. Lahore is one of the major cities of Pakistan, known for its crowded structure and food markets. When I went to Lahore to visit a friend, I was expecting nothing extra ordinary due to similar cultures of the three countries India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. However, when I got there I realized it wasn’t culture that had summoned me to Lahore. My destiny had planned for me a visit to one of the richest heritages of architecture. My first day was scheduled for visiting some of the major mosques of Lahore. Wazir Khan mosque with its precise carving and detailed symmetry was aw-inspiring for me. Every inch of the artistic walls of this mosque demands and deserves attention. My next stop was the masterpiece built by emperor Aurangzeb, the Mughal sensation who has been known for building the Badshahi mosque some 350 years ago. The elegant domes of this mosque and its giant entrances claim a […]
Guide to Islamabad Visiting a city for the first time you may seem to face a challenge; a proper visit takes a lot of planning. We here tell you how to see the best of Islamabad without you juggling with guide-books. We welcome you to the green, calm and peaceful city of Pakistan. Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan. It is a moderately populated city, where the culture is preserved with the tints of urban life. Islamabad is a diverse cultural and historical city situated between the green mountains, shows the development of the nation since formation in 1947. Here is a complete tour guide to the 2nd most beautiful city in the world. Hotels to Stay-In: Islamabad Serena Hotel The five-star deluxe hotel of Islamabad combines local culture and heritage for travelers, with its vast peaceful garden and Islamic architecture. The Hotel provides facilities like Airport transport, 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi access, Mini bar, a choice of Cuisine and Restaurants, Souvenir shop and Traditional Embroidery Shop, Spa, Heated outdoor pool, Fitness center, Banquet and Conference facilities, 24-hour Business center. The average price per night starts […]
Chandigarh is known to be a masterfully designed city, owing to the well-designed infrastructure and innumerable roundabouts.Chandigarh is regarded as one of the cleanest cities in India with pollution free environment and beautifully wide roads. The tranquillity and unanimity of this city will gratify and tickle your soul from the inside. The like-mindedness of the people to keep it clean and smoke-free is something encipher and bountiful. The beautiful city has set a benchmark which is relatively difficult for other citites to be on par with. To justify the beauty that is Chandigarh, the city is named as the capital of two states which is Haryana and Punjab. The city is intricately divided into several sectors, each boasting its own unique forms of entertainment and attractions. The blissful History of Chandigarh Fun Fact: Despite the well-organized blueprint of the city, one might notice the absence of a sector 13. That is because 13 is regarded to be an ominous number in the Indian culture. This is only one of the several facts about Chandigarh that we’ll be discussing in this article. The city of Chandigarh is not only touted as the city of art but also of history. Chandigarh originated […]
ltachuna is a name of a place that I heard of ever since I was a kid.Well I have been there several times since my mother’s mamas(maternal uncles) live there.My mother grew up in the golden 50’s in West Bengal,India.She was born in a year when India got its independence from the British Raj. Her memory paints a virtual picture of the time of the era of Golden 60,s.The era which was all around the world a time of creating legends in arts,Cinema Literature and Politics.The Great Bengali Hero Uttam Kumar was very much alive then and his films were very much loved by the people at that time. Itachuna was also known as ‘Bargee Danga’ This was a term given to Maratha warriors attacking Bengal. Khanyan is the train station on the way from Howrah to Burdwan and is located about 55 Km away.It takes about 45 -50 minutes by train. This is the station where the famous king of Bengali Cinema Uttam Kumar did a scene of film called Nayak. Itachuna could have been considered as a semi town from 50 years ago.Situated in Hooghly,West Bengal,India and at a distance of 60 km from downtown’ Calcutta is a […]
Jeddah or Jiddah is the port city of Saudi Arabia.It is belived to be the place where Mother Hawa(Eve),wife of the first man landed on Earth. Her grave is also located in Jeddah. The history of Jeddah is not the topic of this post but let me assure you it is very interesting.Jeddah once had the largest airport in the world and so had it appeared in Guiness Book of Worlds record,some where in 1983 or later. Brief History: Jeddah has a history of about 2500 years.Interesting to know is that the people of Thamud also lived here.Alexander the Great is supposedly have visited Jeddah.The history of Jeddah will be a topic by itself.The modern Jeddah has its root after it was conquered by the family of King Abdul Aziz. Jeddah in the 80’s: I myself feel delighted and happy to write on Jeddah aas this is a city I grew up in.The first time I visted Jeddah,Saudi Arabia was in 1977 when the world was really omenice to live in.Growing up in Jeddah in the eighties :1980’s was really an experience worth remembering. We really did see ladies selling gold coins on the streets of Jeddah.They would cover their […]
Brief Intro and History: Calcutta or Kolkata was founded by the British as the capital of British India in 1757 .There is much history surrounding Kolkata and defeat of Nawab Siraj ud Dowla.But that is topic for another Post. It was formed by the combination of three villages: Kalikata Sutanati and Gobindapur After 1757 these three distict villages which had areas as European Kolkata,Tradituonak Kolkata and a market for clothes became unified as Calcutta. The orgins for the name Kalikata has few theories.Writing on Kolkata will produce chapters.Uptil 1911 Kolkata was the capital of British India and then it was moved to New Delhi. After 2000 Calcutta was spelled as Kolkata since that is how it was called by the local people except the English.Well the English have a way of simplifying’ or anglicizing any’ valuable asset or thing. It might be interesting to Brazilians that Hooghly which is about 45 minutes by train fron Kolkata had Portugese presence as early as the late 1500s. About the People and Language: The majority of the people in Kolkata or to be exact in the state are Bengalis.That means they speak the anguage Bengali.Bengalis are proud to be bengalis.Interestingly you can have […]
Chandanagore Chandannagar is a beautiful town located(once French ruled) in Hooghly,West Bengal,India and is the a scene to battles as well scenic beauty.This is rather interesting since I have been there in my childhood,passing through by train.The only thing what I knew about the place was that in British times locals committing crimes escaped to the town and were under protection.This was so because the surrounding area was under British Jurisdiction. Chandanagar is two words Chandan’ meaning Moon and Nagore meaning city.Another reason as told by the locals is that Sandalwood was found in this area.Chandan is the Bengali name for Chandanagar. The town was purchased from the Mughal Subedar for amount of 40,000 coins by the French in 1688. Fig 1.0: Chandannagar Strand. The Hooghly district is well known for many reasons and history is very interesting.But locals might not think of it so special.Until you think of the fact that going to Europe is somewhat difficult for many in this area.But a mini Europe was in this district bout 350 years ago!Despite having roots in this place I was surprised!Huh in this place,just unbelievable.This area is quite peaceful and people until recently were quite content in living their […]
Hooghly or Hugli is a district in West Bengal,India.It is very well known both in Bangladesh and India. Distance from Kolkata:45 KM Time:About 30–50minutes by train. Where to stay:Bandel or Chandanagar(if you have to stay in any case). Advice:Hotels fare around 1000 Rs or more,just stay in Kolkata.Come back next day unless you want to experience the semi urban area.To my amazement,I learned a year ago tht it ws founded by the Portuguese in 1537.The Portuguese like their fellow Europeans had come in the disguise of trade but in reality wanted to settle and rule.Vasco De Gama was a fellow Portuguese who found the sea route to India when he landed in 1498.Thanks o him the fabled land of India was finally found.There is a saying in Bengali which translates to the saying if you give an inch they will take a yard. The Portugese called Hooghly Ugolim. That Is what happened to all the Europeans who came as traders.But that is another story that the British conquered with only 1100 British soilders against an army of the nawab having 34,000 soilders and heavy artillery.Though using deception and money Robert Clive secured Bengal for the British Crown in 1757.A battle […]
Turkey. The thing that comes to mind of a person when he or she thinks of Turkey. Well Turkey in both ways are nice. There are two things that are called :Turkey. Turkey the country Turkey the bird or that might not be proper classification. It is best known in Thanksgiving. We are talking about Turkey the country. It has immense culture and history as well has beautiful scenery ,that is both in natural landscape as well as historical. There is a lot of history that is associated with Turkey. History –Constantinopole The main attraction in the last thousand years was the capital of the Byzantine Empire which was known as Constantiopole. It was founded in May,330 BC by Emperor Constantine and was to remain as capital of the Byzantine Empire for a 1000 years. There is lot of history in Turkey,as this can be a chapter or book by itself:”history in Turkey”. Advent of Islam: Islam came to this world around 632 AD. The advent of Islam led to decline of many Empires who once ruled a large part of the world like : The Persian Empire The Byzantine Empire. The Prophet Muhammad(Pbuh.) had sent letters of invitation to […]
Maldives is a beautiful Island located in north western Ocen.
Kolkata or was known as Calcutta. The West Bengal government changed it somewhere in 2002. Its funny for so many years you see it as Calcutta and suddenly Kolkata. We Bengalis always pronounced it as Kolkata any way. The hurt maybe more the British who lived during the British Times,sice they pronounced it as Cal cutta. History of Kolkata Bengalis take pride in Kolkata ,I don’t know why,but it does not belong to us completely.Actually history is trading post started by the Portugese in Hooghly :Bandel and Saptagram around 1600s. Lot locals has no idea the word & area Hooghly came into being due to the Portugese. The name was UGOLIM. These guys had a great fight with the Mughals and finally given permisson to settle in Bandel. So many times I passed by Bandel railway station never did I realise this place had history :Colonial and a Church from 16th century,built by Europeans! Hooghly would have been the capital of British India ,had not been for the river. The British decided to find a new place for their capital. The East India Company then were looking for a place for their trade settlement and in 1698 bought three villages.These […]
Shaddad bin Ad. When I was young I had heard about Shaddad and his earthly paradise. I never really knew who he was really. Then with the advent of modern technology lot of information has been found. Shaddad was a king who was strong and tall accompanied by long life.By today’s standard he was a giant.Well in his area he was a great king since his people were the same height anyway. Shaddad belonged to the Aad race of ancient Arabia.The Aad were sent a prophet whose name was Hud(Peace be upon him). Shaddad was around 700 years when Prophet Hud visited him. Aad The lineage of Aad: The Aad were descended from Shem (Sham),son of Prophet Nuh.Aad son of Uz son of Aram son of Iram son of Shem son of Nuh(Prophet of Islam as well in OT). Aad sons were Shadid and Shaddad. The Aad tribe(named after Aad) were invited to the Truth ,to believe in one true Creator. They rejected the Prophet Hud(Eber in OT) and were consequently destroyed.But that is totally a different story. Location:Wadi Ramm,near Jordan.Exact location has not been found,but some archaeological evidence has been found. The special interest in the Aad is that […]
Aksum History Aksum or the Kingdom of Aksum is certainly a treat for history and archaeology lovers. The location of Aksum is on the northern edge of the Red Sea Coast. Aksum is not just a city but an empire which was founded in the 1st Century CE.The Aksum empire consisted of Ethiopia,Eritrea,Djibouti,Somalia and Somaliland. Aksum was not associated with any of the semitic Sabean empires but a local power.It became the greatest market of northeastern Africa.The first African state had their own coins minted and created their own script :Ge’ez which is still in use. The name Aksum is derived from two words from local languages according to Ancient.eu. The word Agew for water and the word shum for official in Ge’ez. The water reference is because of the presence of a huge ancient rock cistern in Axum. Though the land was mainly agrarian but from the 1st century CE Axum began to prosper.It really started to rise around 350 CE.At this Axum started to have influence on Himyar (Yemen) Tribes nearby paid tributes to the Kings of Axum. (in the form of cattle). The kings were called Negasa Negast or King of Kings.Around 6th century Axum rose again […]
Egypt. In Arabic known as Misr, a beautiful country but took it for granted as I lived in Jeddah. A mistake which I made. It was the eighties and could have easily convinced my father to goto visit Egypt but my attraction was the United States.It was just 200 riyals to goto Egypt and lodging would have been at no cost since my dad had a lot of colleagues from Egypt. Facts 1 Egyptian pound =15.76 United States Dollar. History The history of Egypt is enough to write books on the topic but it is not consistent with this post. The history of Egypt goes back thousands of Years in the past.The earliest human structures goes back to 100,000 years ago.Egypt one of the superpowers of the ancient World and a contemporary to Mesopotamia or Iraq. Egypt as civilization came around 3150 B.C.. This the place Prophet Yusuf or Biblical name Joseph came and became Governor.Later on Prophet Musa (Moses) successfully took Bani Israel with him crossing the Red Sea. The red sea was parted by Allah for him. From 3150 B.C. to the downfall of Cleopatra Egypt it remained an independent state.Later on fell under Roman Empire then the […]
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