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Summary on Chapter No.8 TOURISM IN DIFFERENT STATES AND TERRITORIES

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India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. is a country with rich and varied history and civilization that includes an ancient, medieval, Pre Mughal, Mughal and Colonial past. Each state reflects its own unique identity and this makes India a most exciting tourist destination-truly “Incredible India”.

The Andaman and Nicobar is a group of 572 serene scenic islands with Port Blair as the capital having open beaches, an ocean brimming with interesting marine life and coral gardens. The cellular jail is the most important tourist spot where many freedom fighters were imprisoned during India’s struggle for independence. Havelock Island is considered one of the best island tourist destinations; The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park at Wandoor is at a distance of 29 kms from Port Blair covering an area of 281.5 sq kms. The Nicobar Islands are separated from the Andaman Islands by the ten degree channel. It comprises of 28 islands. The coconut palm, casuarinas and pandanus abound on these islands.

Chandigarh serves as the capital of Haryana and Punjab. It was planned by famous French architect Le Corbusier and is known as one of the best experiments in urban planning and modern architecture in 20 th century. The rock garden is a most unique garden that displays various art objects made up of industrial and urban waste. In Daman and Dui the Church of Bom Jesus was built by the Portuguese in 17th century and is famous for the impressive rosewood carving.

Delhi: India Gate situated along the ceremonial Rajpath Avenue in New Delhi is a memorial raised in honor of the Indian soldiers who died during the Afghan wars and World War I. Sansad Bhavan is a circular building. Rashtrapati Bhavan, built with a mix of Western and Indian styles, was originally built for the Governor General of India, now it is Presidential Palace. The Purana Quila is very good example of Mughal military architecture. Built by Pandavas, renovated by Humayun with later modifications by Sher Shah Suri. The Red Fort was made in 1639, when Shah Jahan decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi. The Qutub Minar is located in South Delhi. It was built by Qutub uddin Aibak of the Slave Dynasty, who took possession of Delhi in 1206. It is the first monument built by a Muslim ruler in India, heralded the beginning of a new style of art and architecture that came to be known as the Indo-Islamic style. Tughlaqabad, the strongest fort in Delhi, was built when Ghazi Malik founded the Tughlaq Dynasty in 1321. Connaught Palace a heritage building is one of the largest commercial areas in Delhi.

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Chandni Chowk located in the old Delhi is a fascinating market and Asia’s largest wholesale market. It was created by Shah Jahan the builder of Taj Mahal. With the most famous mosque of Delhi Jama Masjid in the Vicinity, along with Sis Ganj Gurudwara, Jain Mandir and a lot of small temples, the place witnesses genuine cultural harmony. The National Museum is one of the largest museums in India. The Jantar Mantar consists of 13 architectural astronomy Instruments, built by Maharaja Jai Singh. It is a UNESCO World Heritage. Raj Ghat at the banks of Yamuna River is a final resting place of Mahatma Gandhi. Lotus Temple (Bahai Temple) proclaims the unity of all people and religions. Jama masjid is the largest mosque in India. Its courtyard can hold an incredible 25,000 devotees.

Pondicherry has four main beaches. The Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a renown ashram in India, with devotees from India and abroad.

Andhra Pradesh: Located in Tirumala hills in the Chitoor district Tirupati is by far the most sought after religious destination in south India. The Charminar was built in 1591 AD. The exquisitely shaped minaret is 56 meters high with a double balcony. The Golconda Fort was originally a mud fort founded by the Kakatiya Kings of Warngal during 13th century. Golconda attained glory under the Qutub Shahi dynasty. This is where the priceless Kohinoor diamond was found. The tombs of legendary Qutub Shahi kings lie about a kilometer away from Golconda Fort. The tombs are said to be the oldest historical monuments in Hyderabad. Ramoji Film City is the world’s largest integrated film studio complex and one of Asia’s most popular tourism and recreation centers. Nagarjunakonda was a historical Buddhist town, approximately 1700 years ago, now an island near Nagarjuna Sagar in Guntur district. The magnificent Chowmala Palace was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and where Nizams entertained their official guests and royal visitors.

Arunachal Pradesh: Wildlife sanctuaries are: Pakhui Wildlife sanctuary Seijosa, Wild life sanctuary Naharlagun, Dr. D. Ering Memorial Wildlife sanctuary Pasighat, Roing, Kamlang wildlife Sanctuary Miao and National Parks such as :Namdhapa National Park Miao, Jengging, Dihang-Debang Biosphere reserve Dibang valley . Monastery is an important seat of Mahayana . Menga Cave is a natural cave dedicated to Lord .

Assam: The Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra has been set up as a grand exposition of the life and culture of the people of . Hajo located 32 kms from on the north bank of the Brahmaputra; it is a place where three religions meet – Hinduism-Islam and Buddhism. Assam’s only hill station, Haflong, is where one can see the rainbow down below. Jatinga 9 kms from Haflong is famous for the unexplained phenomenon of migratory birds ‘committing mass suicide’.

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Bihar: It is at Bodhgaya that Lord Buddha mediated under a pipal tree and attained enlightenment. The tree is called “Bodhi Tree”. A descendant of the same tree still flourishes here. The renowned Buddhist University Nalanda was established in the 5th century by Gupta emperors. Patna is the capital of the state. Pawapuri was where Lord Mahavira breathed his last around 500 B.C. and was cremated.

Chhattisgarh: The state has magnificent waterfalls, mountains, forests and wildlife. The state has 41.33% of its area under forests and is one of the richest bio-diversity areas in the country.

Goa: It is best known for its beaches which are filled with millions of tourists every year. Aguada Fort was built by the Portuguese as the first line of defense to protect Goa. Basilica of Bom Jesus holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. The body of St. Francis Xavier is kept in a well decorated casket. Dudh Sagar Waterfall is one of the highest water falls in India.

Gujarat: Adlaj Vav (step-well) is a classic example of the Indo-Islamic style of architecture and has features of both the style. The legendary shore temple of Somnath is one of the twelve most sacred Shiva shrine in India. Palitana is often referred to as the city of shrines. The 863 temples built in honor of Jain Teerthankaras are a spectacular sight to behold. Vadodara once the capital of the princely Gaekwads, Vadodara is a graceful city of palaces, parks, temples and museum. The Baroda Museum and Picture gallery was built in 1894 on the lines of Victoria & Albert and Science Museums of London. Calico Textile Museum is one of the finest textile museums in the world. Located near Vadaj, the Sabarmati Ashram was once the house of Mahatma Gandhi and it is the biggest tourism attraction in Ahmedabad and referred as the Satyagraha Ashram during the life time of Mahatma Gandhi.

Haryana: Kurukshtra is the name given to an area covering 48 kosas where 860 places of pilgrimage related to Mahabharata exist today. Feroz Shah Tuglaq’s palace and fort is an ancient and historic monument structure complete with a tehkhana and a mosque. The Bohar Monastery located in the city of Rohtak was built in 12th century and features a series of shrines with historical frescoes. The tomb of Razia Sultan, the first woman ruler of India, in the district of Kaithal is situated in the north central part of Haryana.

Himachal Pradesh: The Shimla Ridge is large open space in the heart of Shimla that affords an excellent view of the mountain ranges. Its landmarks include the neo-gothic structure of Christ Chruch and the neo-Tudor library building jakho Hill at 2455m is the Shimla’s highest peak. The summit is crowned with a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman.

Jammu and Kashmir: Gulmarg is one of the premier hill resorts in the country. Pahalgam is Kashmir’s premier resort; cool even during the height of summer. Sonamarg has its backdrop, snowy mountains against a cerulean sky. Basgo Monastery and Burdan Monastery are located

4 in the Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir. The Dal Lake is a famous lake in Srinagar, 500 or more wooden house boats are ply on the lake. During the winter sometimes it freezes. Jama Masjid in Srinagar is one of the oldest mosques in Kashmir. It was built by Sultan Sikandar in 1400 AD. Kailash Lake, popularly known as Vasuki Kunda, is situated about 17 kms from Bhadarwa in Jammu district. This is one of the major pilgrimage centers. Ladakh is the coldest Desert in the world and the highest inhabited land in the world.

Jharkhand: An important destination for Jain pilgrims, Parasnath named after Parsvanatha, the 23rd Jain Tirthankara who attained nirvava here. There are 24 Jain Temples each one dedicated tone Jain Tithankara. Jaganthpur Temple of Lord Jagannath was built in 1691 in the architectural style of the Puri Temple.

Karnataka: The most famous amongst the many gardens in Bengaluru, the botanical garden of Lal Bagh stretched over 240 acre and was laid by Hyder Ali and completed by his son Tippu Sultan. Mysore was the capital of the Wodeyars rulers of Mysore since the 14th century, until the independence from the British except for the 40 years of rule of Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan. The present grand Mysore Palace was completed in 1912. Brindavan Garden is at the base of the Krishnaraja Sager dam, across the river Cauvery. Bekal Fort is the biggest fort in Kerala. Chottanikkara is the most important temple among the 393 shrines spread over three districts of Kerala. The Divine mother known as Rajarajeswari is worshiped here in three forms, Saraswathy in the morning, Lakshmi at noon and Durga in the evening.

Madhya Pradesh: The Khajuraho Group of Monuments has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered to be one of the “Seven wonders of India”. Gwalior’s main attraction is its massive hill top fort, reputed to be one of the most invincible forts in India, and the tomb of Tansen. Ujjain has some of the most artistic temples which have one of the 12 important Jyotirlingas. The temple is said to be one of the abodes of Lord Shiva.

Maharashtra: In Mumbai city the places to see are Gateway of India, Hanging Gardens, Mahalaxmi Temple, Haji Ali Shrine, Marine Drive the beaches of Juhu and Chowpathy, Mani Bhavan, Global Vipassana Pagoda and Prince of Wales Museum. Elephanta caves are located on an island amid the Arabian Sea. The city of Aurangabad is particularly famous for the heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora Caves. Aurangzeb built BIbi-ka-Maqbara as a tribute to his mother. It is an imitation of the Taj Mahal. Lonavala, khandala, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani are delightful hill resorts.

Manipur: Shree Govindajee Temple adjacent to the palace of the former ruler of is a sacred center for Vaisnavites.

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Meghalaya: Krem mawmluh cave is at a height of 4503 metres, the cave is located near Cherrapunjee. Five rivers make their way through Krem Mawmluh. Cherrapunjee 1300 meters above sea level is one of the rainiest rain-belt in the world.

Mizoram: The Tropic of Cancer runs through the very heart of , ’s capital city. This 112-year old citadel-like city with its timber houses and profusion of flowers is set on a ridge at approximately an altitude of 4000ft above sea level.

Nagaland: The War Cemetery is a memorial in honor of those officers and soldiers killed during the World War II.

Orissa (Odisha): Konark Sun Temple, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most beautiful and sacred temples of Orissa dedicated to the God Sun. In Jagnanath temple, Lord Jagannath, accompanied by the Godesses Subhadra and Balabhadra are ornamented in accordance with the occasion and seasonal change.

Punjab: The world’s largest Gurdwara, the Golden Temple is a sacred Sikh shrine that attracts pilgrims from all over the world. Every day of the year, just before sunset, a flag lowering ceremony takes place at Wagh Border between India and Pakistan.

Rajasthan: Ajmer’s pre-eminence is due to the shrine of a Muslim saint who is believed to fulfill one’s wishes. Jaipur, is often referred to as the “Pink city” as it was painted in the tone of an autumnal sunset, when Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria visited in 1883. Mt. Abu is a green oasis in the otherwise barren desert state of rajasthan.

Sikkim: is a marvelous place for meditation, almost 200 monasteries dot the divine hilltop. the capital is a charming and picturesque town with striking houses all along the hillside. is a trekker’s parardise.

Tamil Nadu: Kanchipuram is among the temple cities in india and is counted in the list of seven holy cities in the nation. Kanchipuram silk saris are woven from the silk worms bred purely on mulberry.

Tripura: According to Hindu mythology, Sundari Temple is one of the 51 holiest Shaktipeeth in India.

Uttaranchal: Dehradun the capital is the home to some of the best known educational centers and hence regarded as the “Oxford of India” The holy city of Haridwar and breathtaking city replete with temples is a magnet for religious pilgrims from all over the globe. Rishikesh, at the base of Himalayas hold deep cultural and spiritual significance for local .

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Utter Pradesh: The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The initial structures of the Agra Fort were constructed by Akber. Fatehpur Sikri recognized as one of the heritage sites of the world, was the capital of the Mughal kingdom once and it was built by the great King Akber. Lucknow has extraordinary monuments; among them are the Kaiser Bagh, Palace, and the Shaheed Smarakand the Juma Masjid. Ayodhya on the banks of the holy river Sarayu, famed as the birthplace of Rama. Mathura the birthplace of Lord Krishna is sacred town with an array of holy shrines and sacred Kunds.

West Bengal: Kolkatta, the capital of West Bengal has lot of historical locations and other tourist attractions as it was once the capital of India under British reign. Darjeeling surrounded by the snow covered Himalayan peaks is a place with stunning beauty and breathtaking views. Listed under the World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the 96 km long Toy train service is quite famous in Darjeeling. Shantineketan known as the abode of peace was second home to Rabindranath Tagore.

India is perhaps the only country in the world that affords such a diversity of experience to the tourist. Each state has its own special heritage, culture, customs, food, dress, architecture and festivals. The colors, the smells, the variety of landforms, flora and fauna are so extensive and varied that a tourist can have a memorable vacation.

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