Landmarks of India

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Landmarks

Charminar, Hyderabad

Hyderabad is the creation of the Qutab Shahi rulers, who were of Turkoman origin. In 1589, it was Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah who decided to shift his capital from the legendary fortress of Golconda to the banks of the River Musi. The splendid city that arose was adorned with fine mosques and palaces built in a style of architecture that was uniquely theirs - elegant buildings with domes and minarets decorated with fine stucco ornamentation.

Standing majestically in the midst of the congestion and cacophony of the old city is the Charminar - the elegant arch, a masterpiece of Qutab Shahi architecture. An imposing square structure with its four minarets piercing the sky, the Charminar is the symbol of this historic city.

Varanasi

Varanasi is another holy dot on the life giving Ganges river. As a religious center, it is beyond compare. It is one of the foremost 'tirthas' (place of pilgrimage). Varanasi, as the legend goes, was created by Shiva, the cosmic lord. It figures prominently in the epic Mahabharat.

Varanasi has been a great center for learning and civilization and is sacred to the Hindus. Its original name, Kashi, is said to have been derived from the word 'Kasha', meaning "bright", which defines its significance as the 'city of light' or its spiritual luminance. The present name is believed to be a combination of Varuna and Asi, the two rivers on its northern and southern periphery. Banaras, as it is popularly known, is only a corruption of the name.

The city is situated on the west bank of the Ganges extending back from the riverbank ghats to a winding maze of picturesque alleys dotted with temples. Varanasi's principal attraction is a long string of bathing ghats which line the river. Pilgrims of all castes and creeds make their sin cleansing dip in atonement. It is most reputed for its silk brocade sarees and carpets.

Somnath Temple, Gujarat

This temple is one of the 12 most sacred "jyotirlingas" or Shiva Shrines in India. The treasures of the temple were ransacked by Mahmud Ghazni seven times. It was also destroyed by Allauddin Khilji and Aurangzeb. It was rebuilt each time.

Meenakshi Temple, Madurai

Madurai is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu. It is more than 2,500 years old and is an important cultural and commercial center. Even as early as 550 AD, the Pandyas in the Indian epic, Mahabharat, had made it their capital.

Legend has it that Lord Indira installed a lingam in a shrine and informed his king, who had the forest cleared and built his lotus-shaped city around it. On the day the Pandian Monarch Kulasekhara was to name his new city, Lord Shiva appeared to bless the people and nectar flowed from his matted locks. So it was called 'Madhurapuri' and later it became Madurai.

Madurai is a temple town: everything physically, emotionally, culturally and commercially revolves around its great temple, the Meenakshi. The temple complex is one of the largest and most impressive in India and its soaring towers, the tallest over 157 feet high, are visible for miles around. The temple is dedicated to Shiva, known here as Sundareswara, and his consort, the 'fish-eyed' goddess Meenakshi. It is believed that there are 30 million sculptures in the temple.

Ranakpur Jain Temple, Rajasthan

In a remote and enchanting valley of the Aravalli mountain range, about 60 miles from Udaipur, is the Chaturmukh (four faced) Ranakpur Jain Temple.

This three-storied marble complex covers 40,000 square feet. The construction of the temple began about 600 years ago and took 50 years to complete. The most outstanding feature of this temple is its infinite number of pillars, said to number 1,444 in all. None of the pillars are similarly carved.

In the main chamber of the temple are four white-marble images of Jain Trithankar (Revealer of Truth) Adinath.

Chennai (Madras)

The East India Company established a fort, Fort St. George, in a small village called Chennai. This took place in 1639 and subsequently the settlement grew into one of the largest cities in southern India. Old English buildings built in Indo-Sarascenic style are located all around this metropolis. Some places of interest include the following: Kapaleeswarar, a Shiva temple; Sri Parthasarathy Temple devoted to Lord Krishna; Santhome Cathedral Church; Fort Museum; the 12 kilometer long Marina Beach; St. Mary's Church; and the National Art Gallery.

Next to Mumbai, Madras is a major center for movie production with over 150 Tamil feature films being produced each year.

Fort St. George, in Madras, was completed in 1654 but owes its present shape to the remodeling work that was undertaken in 1749.

The 6 meters high walls of the fort have withstood several fierce sieges. The fort was attacked by Daud Khan, general of Emperor Auranbzeg, in 1701; by the Marathas in 1741; and by Haider Ali on several occasions in the late 18th century. In 1746, the British lost possession of their fort for a two-year period when they surrendered the keys to the victorious French admiral, La Bourdonnais. The keys were restored only in 1749, under the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.