I Love My India

India's history has seen a melting pot of different religions, rulers and empires -- all of which have left their mark on the countryside with their elaborate styles of architecture.

Not surprisingly, the spellbinding Taj Mahal tops the list of India's best historical destinations.
India also has some evocative, once powerful but now abandoned cities, which are architectural masterpieces. The most famous one is Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra. The incredible ruins of Hampi are just as fascinating. The state of Madya Pradesh is also full of well preserved abandoned cities, such as Orchha.
Badami and Aihole are two places that you can see historic rock-cut cave temples and experimental architecture. However, the most impressive deserted cave temples are at Ellora and Ajanta, in Maharastra. There are also some interesting ones in Mumbai -- particularly the Elephanta Caves, and Kanheri Caves in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
Cities such as Delhi and Mumbai exude history and architectural splendor -- Delhi is dotted with remnants of the Mughal rulers who once occupied the city, while Mumbai has a distinctly British influence with its grand colonial architecture.

The Taj Mahal looms fairytale-like from the banks of the Yamuna River. It's actually a tomb that contains the body of Mumtaz Mahal - the wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. He had it built as an ode to his love for her. Dating back to 1630 AD, the Taj Mahal is made out of marble and took 22 years and 20,000 workers to complete. One of the most captivating things about it is the way its color appears to gradually alter in the changing light of the day.

A city that was once the proud capital of the Mughal Empire in the 16th century, Fatehpur Sikri now stands deserted as a well preserved ghost town. It was abandoned by its occupants after only 15 years due to insufficient water supply. Constructed out of red sandstone, Fatehpur Sikri is full of regal palaces and courtyards. You can almost feel yourself being transported back to medieval times here.

Now a laid back village, Hampi was once the last capital of Vijayanagar, one of the greatest Hindu empires in India's history. It has some extremely captivating ruins, intriguingly intermingled with large boulders that rear up all over the landscape. The ruins, which date back to the 14th century, stretch for just over 25 kilometers (10 miles) and comprise more than 500 monuments. An incredible energy can be felt at this ancient place.

he celebrated Temple of Lord Jagannath now existent at Puri was constructed by Raja Ananta Varman Chodaganga Dev in 12th century A.D. The wooden images of Jagannath Balabhadra and Subhadra were installed in that temple. The management of the temple continued under the Hindu rulers till 1558, when the State of Orissa was conquered by the Afghan Nawab of Bengal and the temple was attacked by the Afgan General 'Kalapahad'. Then, an independent Khurda kingdom was established by Ramachandra Deb, who assumed the management of the temple. He consecrated the temple and reinstalled the deities. Raja Mansingh, a General of the Mughal King Akbar, defeated the Afghans and annexed Orissa in to the Mughal dominion. It remained under the Mughals till 1751 A.D.

If you want proof that the Kama Sutra originated in India, Khajuraho is the place to see. Erotica abounds here with over 20 temples devoted to sexuality and sex. The temples are best known for their erotic sculptures. However, more than that, they show a celebration of love, life and worship. They also provide an uninhibited peek into ancient Hindu faith and Tantric practices. No where else will you find such unique temples with meticulously detailed carvings.

The India Gate is the national monument of India. Situated in the heart of New Delhi, India Gate was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. Originally known as All India War Memorial, it is a prominent landmark in Delhi and commemorates the 90,000 soldiers of the British Indian Army who lost their lives while fighting for the British Indian Empire, or more correctly the British Raj in World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War.

Located in Kalkaji in the south of Delhi, it is lotus shaped and has rightly been given the name. It is made of marble, cement, dolomite and sand. It is open to all faiths and is an ideal place for meditation and obtaining peace and tranquility.
It is a very recent architectural marvel of the Bahai faith. The Bahá'í Faith is the youngest of the world's independent religions. Its founder, Bahá'u'lláh (1817-1892), is regarded by Bahá'ís as the most recent in the line of Messengers of God that stretches back beyond recorded time and that includes Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad.

Golden Temple - The golden temple of amritsar, known as swarn mandir or swarna mandir, located in Punjab, is the famous pilgrimage place for sikhs in India.The Golden Temple, Hari Mandir, in Amritsar, India is the most sacred place of the Sikh religion and where Guru Nanak lived and meditated.

Mercury in Vedic astrology is known as BUDHA, the awakened discriminating intellect and the part of us that knows. Mercury is benefice if associated with benefice grahas, and malefic is associated with malefic grahas. He is known as grahapati, or lord of the planets.