The Haunted Village of Kuldhara, Rajasthan

The State of Rajasthan is one of the most popular tourist destinations due to its rich cultural heritage, historical places and monuments. However, one such tourist attraction exists that is renowned for being haunted and hence attracts visitors. 

Village - Kuldhara

District and City - Jaisalmer

State - Rajasthan

Renowned As - Haunted Village 

Distance from the city of Jaisalmer - 20 km

Managed By - Archaeological Survey of India 

( ASI )

Entry Fees -  ₹10 / Person and ₹ 50 / Car 

Timings - 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Time Required For A Visit - 2 to 3 hours 

Best time to Visit - Winter Months ( October to February )

The village of Kuldhara is a popular tourist site that can be reached via vehicles from the nearest city of Jaisalmer. The popularity of the abandoned village lies on the local legend that is very intriguing to say the least. It is believed that the village was founded in the 13th century by a Brahim by the name of Kandhan who dug a well and named it Udhansar. Historical accounts of those times show that this region had a number of villages centred around a temple of a Goddess. It was majorly populated by the Paliwal Brahmins. Until the 18th Century it was a well - settled region with a population of about 1000 residents. There are inscriptions found on the ruined walls of the temple, various pillars around the wells that show sculptures of Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesh, Mahishasura Mardini. The group of villages were bustling and leading their lives by means of agriculture, trade and banking.

However, the eerie legend states that the 85 odd villages with a population of 1000 plus villagers disappeared overnight and no one knows where they went and settled.

The reason being that the evil state minister Salim Singh who would already levy unreasonable taxes on the villagers, once got smitten with the daughter of the village chief and asked for her hand in marriage. The Chief requested for a night to ponder and within the night he commanded all the villages to be emptied to escape from the atrocities of the minister. It is believed that the villagers cursed the place while leaving and to this day no one has resettled the place and the belief is that it is haunted.

However, modern day historians and archeologists believe that the reason for mass migration might be the shortage of water due to the drying up of a nearby river Kakni , the 3 wells and a step well and / or tectonic activity.

Today, the site is full of ruins of the village houses, wells, cremation grounds and the temple. There are houses with no roofs, walls crumbling and the scientists concur that this disintegration is not on par with natural processes that occur with time. Hence, the theory of earthquake and / or dwindling water supply may be a more logical explanation.However, the locals do believe the legend and there have been instances where reporters, paranormal experts have felt the presence of spirits, shadows and unexplained voices. 

Visitors who are interested in paranormal activities like to conduct experiments to check for them.Those interested in the sad history of the place feel emotional on seeing the wiping out a bustling and prosperous community from their homeland.

Images - Wikipedia

 

Gandhinagar District, Gujarat

The district of the Gandhinagar in the state of Gujarat was a part of the Bombay State. It was created on the 1st of May 1960 when the State of Bombay was sub divided. Gandhinagar City was not the State capital. The capital was the city of Ahmedabad which was later on changed to Gandhinagar on the 2nd of August, 1965. Thus the city is both the district headquarters as well as the State capital. The district lies in the central region of Gujarat and has been named after the "Father of the Nation", Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi who hails from the State.

Here are more details of the district. 

Area - 649 sq.km

Population - 13,91,753 as per 2011 Census

District Headquarters - Gandhinagar City 

Administrative Division - 

Number of Talukas - 4

Talukas - Gandhinagar, Kalol, Dehgam, Mansa

Villages - 216

Languages Spoken - Gujarati, Hindi, English

Geographical Borders -

Northeast - Sabarkantha and Aravalli

Southeast - Kheda 

Southwest - Ahmedabad

Northwest - Mehsana

Primary Crops - Millet, Pulses, Castor, Fennel, Vegetables, Paddy, Groundnut, Wheat, Maize, Cotton, Edible Oil Seeds, Sesame etc 

Water Sources - Rivers Sabarmati and Meshvo. Dams, Karai and Sant Sarovar Dam 

Natural Resources - Rich Flora and Fauna, Teak wood, Minerals like Simple Coal, White Coal, Common Clay, Common Sand, Brick Clay etc. The district has wide variety of animal species that include Nilgai, Hyenas, Blackbucks to name a few.

Economy - Milk production,  Agriculture, Small scale Industries such as Office Stationery, Leather and Leather Goods, Ceramics, Electronics, Agricultural implements, Food Processing, Mineral - based Industries, Textiles, Industrial Instruments, Wood Products, Services in the public sector being the backbone of the economy of the district.

Distance from 

Ahmedabad - 28.5 km

Vadodara - 133 km

Surat - 285 km

Mumbai - 545.6 km

How to reach :-

Via Airports - The nearest airport is Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport at a distance of 19 km via roadways. It is well - connected with most national and international cities.

Via Railways - The Kalupur Railway Station connects the district with all major cities of the country. While, on the western side of the Sabarmati river, the closest station is Gandhigram Railway Station.

Via Roadways - GSRTC ( Gujarat we State Road Transport Corporation ) runs various buses connecting the district towns, villages and other cities of the state and the country. The Sarkhej - Gandhinagar Highway connects it to Ahmedabad, while the Ahmedabad - Vadodara Highway connects Gandhinagar with both the cities 

Unique Local handicrafts / Artefacts -

Embroidery, Bandhini Textile, Ari Bharat Work, Toran and Chaklas,Wooden Blocks with Carved Designs,  Abhala and Bhitiya etc

Major Tourist Attractions - 

Akshardham Temple, Adalaj Stepwell, Capital Complex, Dandi Kutir, Hanumanji Mandir, Indira Dinosaur and Fossil Park, Sarita Udyan, Trimandir, Mahatma Mandir among others.

Emergency Contact Information -

District Collector and Jilla Seva Sadan Kacheri,

Near Pathika Ashram,

GH Road, Sector 11,

Gandhinagar,

Gujarat - 382017

Numbers - 

+91 79 23259030

+91 79 23259040

EmailAddress - 

collector-gnr@gujarat.gov.in

District EOCs Helpline No. - +91 79 23259030

Commissioner of Rescue & Relief - 1070

District Emergency Response Center Call - +917923256720

Women Helpline - 1091

Child Helpline - 1098

Ambulance helpline - 108

Fire and Rescue - 101

Images - Wikipedia and www.mapsofindia.com

Harihareshwar Temple and Beach, Maharashtra

Town - Harihareshwar

District - Raigad

State - Maharashtra

Harihareshwar town is well known for quite a few tourist attractions, the main being the Lord Shiva temple due to which the town is called Dev Ghar , meaning House of God.

Visiting the temple and the beach is a must in a visit to this place, nestled in the Sahyadri ranges of the Konkan region of the state of Maharashtra.

The temple complex has a main Lord Shiv temple along with a Lord Kaal Bhairav temple that is to be visited first before taking darshan of the Shiv Linga in the main temple.

It is believed that Lord Shiva created Kal bhairav and blessed him with all the mantras.

The Shiv temple has idols of Goddess Parvati,Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma.

The linga is quite ancient and has historical importance. The temple architecture is in the Hoysala style. It was built by Veer Narasimha II.

There is a pradakshina path around the temple which the devotees can partake in, though it is not advisable during the high tide. One also has to beware of crabs on this path. 

Behind the temple there is a huge rock boulder that appears to be broken into two parts. 

It is believed that it was broken by the mighty Bhim, one of the five Pandava princes as it stood in the way of reaching the temple.

Quite a few stalls by the locals in the temple complex provide Maharashtra's iconic fast food, Vada pav along with cold drinks etc. 

Local guides are also available for any interested tourists wanting to know the rich and ancient history of the temple.

Adjoining the temple is the Harihareshwar beach.

The beach is about 2.4 km long  and one of the most underrated beaches of Maharashtra. The beach has black silt and rocky formations.

The beach is a haven for adventure enthusiasts for it offers a plethora of water activities and sports, ranging from motor boat rides, jet skiing, water scooters, banana boats, ETV ride etc.

Horse cart riding along the beach is also available.

The beauty of the Sahyadri ranges and the Arabian sea is a picturesque combination that enthralls the tourists. 

Visiting Harihareshwar as a weekend getaway is very popular, especially for people of the metros, Mumbai and Pune. The Harihareshwar temple and its beach is a must-see in such a tourists itinerary. 

Pictures - Trawell.in

Devbhoomi Dwarka, Gujarat

The district of Devbhoomi Dwarka lies on the southern coast of the Gulf of Kutch in the district of Gujarat. It is one of the four holiest places in India, also referred to as Chaar Dham. Its name is derived from the Dwarkadhish Temple in the city of Dwarka which was built in the 6th and the 7th Century.  It was created by dividing the then Jamnagar district on the 15th of August in the year 2013. It is a very popular pilgrimage destination for the Hindus due to its connection with Lord Krishna who resided here after the Mahabharat war.  There are many famous Hindu temples that are high on the itinerary of the religious tourist. National parks, Beaches and Food Safaris are an added attraction for a visitor to the district. 

Here is more information regarding the place. 

Area - 4,051 sq.km

Elevation - 47 meters

Population - 7,52,484 as per 2011 Census

District Headquarters - Jamkhambhaliya city

Administrative Division - Saurashtra

Number of Talukas - 4

Talukas - Bhanvad, Dwarka (Okhamandal), Kalyanpur, Khambhalia (Jamkhambhaliya)

Villages - 249

Languages Spoken - Gujarati, Hindi, English

Geographical Borders -

North, South, West - The Arabian Sea

East - Jamnagar District

South - Porbandar District

Primary Crops - Cumin, Coriander, Cotton, Chickpea, Wheat, Garlic, Groundnut, Sesame

Water Sources - Rivers Ghee and Gomati

Dams Veradi, Ghee, Sani, Sinhan Vartu

Natural Resources - Minerals Bauxite, Limestone

Occupations - Agricultural, Mining, Industries, Tourism etc

Industries - Oil refinery, Salt production, Production of Washing Soda and Baking Soda

Distance from ( Via Roadways )

Ahmedabad - 397.3 km

Vadodara - 506.8 km

Surat - 662.8 km

Mumbai - 930 km

How to reach 

Via Airways - 

Nearest airports are  Jamnagar at a distance of 85 km, Porbandar Airport at 112 km and Rajkot at 182 kms.

Via Railways - The district of Devbhoomi Dwarka is well connected via railways with most major cities of the State and the Country such as Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru among others. 

Via Roadways - 

GSRTC (  Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation ) runs various buses connecting the district towns, villages and other cities of the state and the country. Various private bus services are also available

Handicrafts - Patola Silk, Bandhini, Folk art printed on fabrics, Handicrafts items 

Tourist Attractions - Gomti Ghat, Dwarka,Bet Dwarka,Bhai Mohkam Singh Ji Gurdwara Panj Payara, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Mandir, Gosaiji Bethak, Harshad Mata, Aaradhna Dham, Shardapith, Pindara, Ghumli, Kileshwar, Hathla, Indreshwar Mahadev Temple, Sudama Setu, ISKCON Dwarka Temple, Makardhwaj Hanuman Temple, 

Narara Island, Narara Marine National Park, Son Kansari Temple, Dhingeshwar Mahadev Temple, Momai Murvel Beach, Panoti Temple. Shani Vav, Rukmini Devi Mandir, Dwarka Lighthouse, among others 

Emergency Contact Information -

District Collector Office

1st Floor, Lalpur Bypass Road,

Dharampur,Khambhalia,

Gujarat - 361305

Contact Numbers -

+91 2833 232805

+91 2833 232102

+91 2833 232804/05

Email Address- collector-devbdwarka@gujarat.gov.in

District Helpline - +91 2833 1077

District EOCS Helpline No. - +91 2833 232125

Commissioner of Rescue & Relief - 1070

Child Helpline - 1098

Women Helpline - Domestic Violence, Eve Teasing, Employment etc - 181 

Women Emergency Helpline - Ahmedabad 1091

Crime Stopper - 1090 

Commissioner of Rescue & Relief - 1070

Citizen's Call Center - 155300

District Emergency Response Center - 02833-1077

Recommended Reading - The State of Gujarat

Images - wikipedia and www.mapsofindia.com

Taj Nasedar Palace- Uttar Pradesh

 This 5 star hotel in Uttar Pradesh Agra is like a fairy tale palace of India.. 

Enjoy rooms enriched with artwork from the Maharaja’s own collection and authentic furniture.The hues of the rooms are inspired from the marigolds and jasmines which are offered to the holy Ganges.

There are modern amenities like a flat-screen TV, a minibar and a DVD player. Over the years, royalty and celebrities have stayed at this luxury hotel, making it their home, although for a short while. 

There are many amenities and beautiful dining experiences such as dinner by the pool, barbequebarbeque. Also the dining area is intricately designed for every guest and resembles the beautiful era of Royals. 

The cuisine reflects the royal past of the Palace, and the cultural heritage of Varanasi, and also includes a fascinating array of gourmet global dishes.

Varanasi is the spiritual capital of India. 

It is famous for its fabrics, ivory works, sculptures and many more. Explore everything this city has to offer, and return to the Taj Nadesar Palace, for a session of pampering at the Jiva Spa, which provides aromatherapy massages, body scrubs, and other beauty treatments. Post that, indulge in a yoga class, a golf game, or a lazy river cruise, courtesy the Palace Butlers, who strive to create a memorable experience each time. 

Health and recreation-

Panoply of health and recreational activities are available at your disposal at the Taj Nadesar Palace. Besides rejuvenating spa, Yoga and meditation, a verdant golf course ensures that you down miss the fun at this imperial abode. Also available is the Buggy ride and guided nature walk to add to a wholesome experience.

Rooms available here -

1)Palace Room

Palace Rooms have a princely-inspired décor. Rich in terms of textures and colours, each Palace room has been redesigned for comfort. 

48 sq Mt

wifi 

Complimentary WiFi

maximum Occoupancy

Up to 3 guests 02 Adults and 01 Kid (upto age of 12 years)

King size bed. 

2) Royal Suite

Being in luxury while you’re a part of history is a beautiful feeling. The Royal Suites are the epitome of royal grandeur. 

92 Sq Mt

wifi 

Complimentary WiFi

maximum Occoupancy 

Up to 3 guests: 03 Adults OR 02 Adults and 02 Kids (upto age of 12 years)

bed type-King

3) Historical Suite

The Historical Suites present a welcoming ambience with traditional Banarsi upholstery, sheer fabrics, to enhance the beauty of each room.

63 Sq Mt

wifi 

Complimentary WiFi

maximum Occoupancy 

Up to 3 guests: 03 Adults OR 02 Adults and 02 Kids (upto age of 12 years)

bed type 

King

Here are some pictures-

Location-

Nadesar Palace Grounds, Uttar Pradesh 221002

Contact-

+91 5426660002

 nadesar.varanasi@tajhotels.com

Image credits-kayak.com, google

Ahmedabad District, Gujarat

The district of Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat lies on the banks of Sabarmati river. It is also a coastal district with the Arabian Sea to its West. It was established in 1411 by Sultan Ahmed Shah. It is also called the 'Manchester of India' or 'The Textile City ' due to its numerous textile mills.

Here are more details regarding the district.

Area - 8,087  sq.km

Average Elevation -  61 to 23 meters

Population - 70,45,313 as per 2011 Census

Population rank in Gujarat - 1 st out of 33

Population rank in India - 8 th out of 640

District Headquarters - Ahmedabad  city

Administrative Division - Central Gujarat

Number of Talukas - 8 

Talukas - Bavla, Dholka, Dhandhuka, Detroj, Daskroi, Mandal, Rampura, Sanand, Vikramgam, 

Villages - 512

Languages Spoken - Gujarati, Marwari, Sindhi, Urdu  Marathi, Hindi

Geographical Borders -

North -  Mehsana and Gandhinagar Districts

South - Bhavnagar and Anand 

East - Kheda

West - Surendranagar 

Primary Crops - Cotton, Groundnut, Wheat, Various Vegetables, Fennel, Pulses, Bajra, Fodder Crops 

Water Sources - Rivers Sabarmati, Narmada, Tapti, Ozat, Mahi, Purna, Aji, Banas, Daman Ganga, Shetrunj

Dams - Utavali, Khambhada 

Distance from Mumbai -

• 525.2  km ( Via Road )

• 441 km ( Aerial )

How to reach :-

Via Airport -

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport

Via Railway - Ahmedabad Station, Western Railway Zone of Indian Railways. The other major railway stations in the district are Sabarmati Junction, Asarva, Gandhigram, Vastrapur, Maninagar, Chandolia, Vatva etc. 

Via Roadways - GSRTC ( Gujarat  State Road Transport Corporation ) runs various buses connecting towns, villages and cities 

Unique Local handicrafts / Artefacts -

• Diamond Cutting 

• Textile Industry

Best time to visit - Winter months 

District Collector Contact Information - 

Mobile No -  +91 9978406201

Phone No -  07927551681

Fax No -  +917927552144

Important Contact Numbers 

1. Ambulance - 102, 108

2. Rescue and Relief - 1070

3. Child Helpline - 1098

4. Crime Stopper - 1090

5. Women's Helpline - 181

6. Citizen's Call Center - 155303 

   
   
   

Images - www.mapsofIndia.com

Wikipedia

Recommended Reading - Ahmedabad Tourism