Indian government has released new 100 rupee notes which feature a motif of ‘Rani ki Vav’ stepwell on the reverse side. One of the most historic and best tourist attractions in Gujarat, Rani ki Vav is a unique architectural wonder. It was built as an inverted temple as homage to the sanctity of water.

Those who have watched Amol Palekar’s Paheli do remember the stepwell scene in Rajasthan featuring Rani Mukherjee as a newlywed bride who halts on the way to her in-laws and feels a mystic presence around herself. There are many stepwells in Gujarat and Rajasthan, the Rajputana states of India. But, Rani Ki Vav stepwell is more exquisite, magnificent and marvelous than other stepwells. In 2014,UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in India incorporated Rani Ki Vav, which is also known as Queen’s Stepwell.

UNESCO recognized Rani Ki Vav as a masterpiece of technological excellence in ground water management in the 11th century. This stepwell is an age-old model of how ground water was preserved and utilized in those days. In addition to this, Rani Ki Vav is a work of Indian subterranean architecture with ornamental sculptures. The stepwell is a seven-storied structure underground. It measures about 64 meters in length, 20 meters in width and 27 meters in depth.

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As the history goes, Patan where the stepwell is located was the capital of Gujarat when King Siddharja Jaysingh was in power. Then, it was known as Anhilpur Patan. The construction of Rani Ki Vav was commissioned in the Solanki or Chalukya regime. It is said that the stepwell was built as a tribute to Bhimdev the First whose father had founded the Solanki dynasty in 1050 AD. The construction was proposed by the queen Udayamati, wife of Bhimdev the First.

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Sculptural beauty is the mainstay of Rani Ki Vav as a historic attraction for tourists. The inner walls, pillars and columns are intricately sculpture. Most of the sculptures represent the incarnations of Lord Vishnu Rama, Krishna, Narasimha, Varah, Baman, Matsya, and Kalki. The other sculptures are shaped as beautiful dancing women of the Heaven including Nagkanya, Yogini and Urvasi. There are nearly 1000 sculptures. A carving of Lord Vishnu resting on the thousand-hooded serpent named Sheshnag is found at the water level.

After years of its construction, the stepwell was flooded by the Saraswati River and filled with silt. It remained covered with silt till the late 1980s. Then, the Archeological Survey of India discovered and excavated it. Rani Ki Vav with most of the carvings in pristine condition is an interface between a stepwell and a temple. It resembles a subterranean temple with carvings of deities in stone, which symbolizes the age-old faith in sanctity of water. Such stepwells were the sites for not only water preservation and distribution but also worship and socialization in the bygone eras.

The steps lead to the deepest bottom through several pillared pavilions. The lowermost step ends at a small gate which opens to a 30-km tunnel. It is supposed to have been used as an escape to the nearby town Sidhpur in times of invasion by enemies. The World Heritage Site status has made Rani Ki Vav the queen of stepwells in India, for its sheer magnificence, intricate carvings, celestial sculptures, and water-preserving technology.

‘Rani Ki Vav’ stepwell in Patan district of Gujarat is a 125-km long drive from Ahmadabad and 118 kms away from Gandhinagar. Modhera, the ancient Sun Temple, is another must-visit tourist attraction on the way. These days cheap flights to Ahmedabad International Airport are available for online booking throughout the year.

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Taj Falaknuma is one of the few Indian heritage palaces with a glorious history of the royal era. A priceless inheritance of the princely state of Hyderabad in British India, the palace was a regal residence of Nizam Mehboob Ali Khan Bahadur. ‘Falak-numa’ is an Urdu word meaning ‘Like the Sky’ or ‘Mirror of the Sky’. It is as grand and spectacular as the Buckingham Palace in London. Brilliant in design and luxurious in décor, the palace stands tall commanding an awe of its being a rare architecture. Only five kms away from the Charminar, Falaknuma Palace is a must visit. Travel Beats shares the most interesting facts about Taj Falaknuma Palace to make you understand why it is one of the best in the world.

Hyderabad City owes its distinction of possessing such a magnificent heritage palace to Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra, brother-in-law of the then Nizam Mehboob Ali Khan, and Prime Minister of then princely state.

An unrivaled palace like Falaknuma Palace was Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra’s dream, inspired by his extensive travel across India and abroad. His dream became a reality at a whopping cost of 40 lakh INR some 130 years ago. It took nine years from its foundation in 1884 to completion in 1893.

Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra, who was nicknamed Sir Vikar, had called an English architect to get the best design for his dream palace. Spread over an area of 32 acres on a 2000-ft high hilltop, the palace is a unique architecture with a harmonious blend of Italian and Tudor styles.

The location of Falaknuma Palace is a vintage point offering sweeping views of Hyderabad City. Being at a distance from crowd and congestion in the heart of the city, the palace breathes freely. Made of fine-quality Italian marble, the palace shines like a diamond under the moonlit sky.

With two wings spread out in two directions, the palace resembles a scorpion, Sir Vikar’s star sign. It has various sections for different purposes. The ceiling of the grand reception hall in the main building boasts eye-catching frescoes.

The library at Falaknuma Palace is as majestic as Windsor Castle’s library in England. Modeled after Windsor Castle’s library, it treasures a large collection of rare manuscripts and books from the Nizam’s repertoire. The billiards table in the billiards room is one of the two pieces of its kind. The other is at the Buckingham Palace in London.

Of the things to see at Falaknuma Palace, there is a musical instrument weighing 2 tons in weight in the ballroom. It is believed to be the only one of its kind. The center of attraction is the colossal dining hall with the world’s longest table (108 feet) that can accommodate 100 people at a time.

The palace is famous for its sophisticated interior design which aesthetically appeals to the senses. The palace is decorated with rare artifacts including life-size oil paintings of important personas from the Nizam dynasty, and jade statues. Falaknuma Palace has the world’s largest collection of Venetian chandeliers including the most magnificent 40 in the main hall.

Mehboob Ali Khan, who was the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad Princely State in British India, was invited for a tour of Falaknuma Palace. Everything about the palace stole the show with him. He was so impressed that his visit became a stay for one month. Sir Vikar offered the palace as a gift to him, but he refused to accept it as a gift and paid a handsome amount instead.

The palace was the first to have got electricity in the whole state. It boasts of the largest electrical switchboards in India. it has been visited and admired by many prominent guests including King Edward VIII from England, Tsar Nicholas II from Russia, and Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India.

However, the marvel of the palace faded away in the late 1950’s due to poor maintenance. It remained in the wilderness till the Taj Hotels Group restored it to its glory through extensive renovation and made it a heritage hotel, with the help of Princess Esra Jah, wife of Mukarram Jah who is a survivor of Osman Ali Khan, the richest Nizam and most prosperous man in the world in his days.

Falaknuma Palace reopened its doors as a heritage hotel full of splendors in November 2010. The interior was elaborately furnished with classic furniture and upholstered with beautiful handmade tapestries.

It has won several prestigious awards in hospitality till date. With many such feathers in its cap, Taj Falaknuma Palace is evidently a rare jewel in the crown of Hyderabad.

Taj Falaknuma has recently topped TripAdvisor’s list of the best palace hotels across the world.

About Travel Beats

Travel Beats is a digital publication by Indian Eagle, a leading international travel organization. It connects the Indian diaspora in the US with the stories of India. Indian Eagle offers the best deals for flights to India from USA and Canada.

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India and history are the two sides of the same coin. The soil of the country is soaked in the centuries-old history of bravery, chivalry, revolution, wars, freedom, martyrdom, subjugation, violence, and peace. Many episodes of the Indian history have been converted into dramatic stories which have found an audience even outside of India, while a few are still waiting to be heard by a global audience. One such story is that of Pratapgarh Fort, which is seldom told and heard beyond the demography of Maharashtra.

Pratapgarh Fort stands for the history, glory and pride of the Maratha community in India. The fort itself is a living legend of the Maratha Chieftain Chhatrapati Shivaji’s landslide victory over Afjal Khan, chief commander of the Bijapur Sultanate. Evidently, the fort is a testimony to the then unconquerable power and indomitable spirit of the Maratha. Today, Pratapgarh Fort is not just a historic place but a tourist spot too. Thanks to this episode of the Maratha history!

Really, the fort has the features of a tourist attraction – scenic landscape, lush greenery, serene surrounding and idyllic coastal setting. Built by Shivaji in 1656, Pratapgarh Fort is a strong citadel with sprawling complex on the Konkan coast, some 24 kms from Mahabaleshwar, one of the most popular Maharashtra hill stations. A fleet of 450 steps leads to the top of the fort, which commands 360 degree views of the horizon over the panoramic Konkan coast.

There are ponds, chambers and gardens inside the fort complex at the base. The serene and green countryside around the fort makes a perfect hideaway for those looking to spend some time quietly. The dark paths from the complex, leading to the inside and penetrating the interior, reveal the enigma of the fort. The double-line fortification dividing the massive structure into two sections – the upper and the lower – is a rare constructional feature of Pratapgarh Fort.

Built at a height of 1080 meters from the sea level, the fort is no less important than a pilgrimage spot to the people of the Maratha clan. An equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji, which dominates the summit of Pratapgarh Fort, was set up in 1959, to commemorate of Shivaji’s historic triumph over the Bijapur Sultanate. Even a road was laid up to the fort, and a guest house was built in the fort complex for tourists. Besides Shivaji’s colossal statue, there is a temple of Goddess Bhavani is on the eastern side of the lower section of the fort, adding to the pilgrimage status of the place. A black stone idol of the deity presides in the shrine.

Visit to Pratapgarh Fort is a good opportunity for the photographers to capture the natural beauty of the place in their camera lenses. This Maratha heritage has, unsurprisingly, secured a place for itself among the imposing forts of India, on the map of travel and tourism. Besides Pratapgarh Fort, there are several must-see tourist attractions in Mahabaleshwar, a hill station within short drive from Mumbai City.

Indian Eagle books cheap flights to India from USA out of its respect for NRIs’ and American tourists’ love for the heritage of India. Cheap airline tickets for flights to Mumabi International Airport from major US cities are available on IndianEagle.com.

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India does not envy the Great Wall of China. It is because India has a great wall too. A surprising secret to many tourists and travelers in the world, the Wall of Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajasthan is the Great Wall of India. IndianEagle justifies if it is right to call the Kumbhalgarh Fort Wall which stretches across the Aravalli Mountains, a jewel in the historic treasure of India.

Image Credit: India-forums.com

Mewar, a historic Rajputana region in Rajasthan, is defended by some 84 forts which have been standing tall on hilltops for ages. Kumbhalgarh Fort is one of those fortresses. Rana Kumbha, the King of Mewar, had pushed the boundary of his kingdom from Ranthambore in Rajasthan to Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh in the 15th century. He himself had architected the structure of 32 forts including Kumbhalgarh Fort to safeguard the kingdom from invasions. The architecture of Kumbhalgarh Fort is said to be the most impressive, massive and robust of all.

What has made Kumbhalgarh Fort the most famous World Heritage Site among the hill forts of India is the 36-km long wall. The wall surrounding the fort of Kumbhalgarh is one of the offbeat attractions in India. It stands as a safeguard of the colossal fort that has some 360 temples. This massive, majestic and mystifying wall is not a mere structure of bricks. It zigzags through barren valleys and along mountaintops. Built of heavy stone bricks, the 15-meter wide wall of Kumbhalgarh Fort is not just an attraction but a wonder as well. Evidently, it is rightly named the Great Wall of India after the Great Wall of China.

The imposing construction of the wall reflects the fortitude and valor of the Rajputs. Built on a hilltop about 1100 m high from the sea level, Kumbhalgarh Fort is one of the few unconquerable forts in the history of India for its wall and hostile landscape. The fort has seven huge gates. The watchtowers of the fort command stunning views of the 13 peaks of the Aravalli Mountain range. The interior of the fort consists of magnificent palaces apart from 360 temples. The fort is topped by the Badal Mahal Palace with grand rooms, painted in white, green and turquoise which make an eye-catching contrast to the grey fort and the dull landscape.

The other historic fact besides the great wall that Kumbhalgarh Fort is known for is that it is the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the legendary king and warrior of Mewar. The fort is the point of separation between Mewar and Marwar. In the Rajput history of Rajasthan, Kumbhalgarh Fort was invaded only once by the combined forces of Mughal Emperor Akbar, Raja Man Singh of Amber and Raja Udai Singh of Marwar. This Mewar fortress was renovated during the regime of Maharana Fateh Singh in the 19th century.

Today, Kumbhalgarh Fort and the surrounding wall which is next to the Great Wall of China in Asia make one of the best tourist attractions of Rajasthan. Accessible to the public, the fort can be reached from Udaipur, Ajmer, Jodhpur and Pushkar. It is said that the history of the place where Kumbhalgarh Fort was built dates back to the 2nd century, the Mauryan Era of ancient India.

Many stories of Mewar are hidden and trapped inside Kumbhalgarh Fort. Fly to India, visit Rajasthan and explore the stories behind the great wall of the fort. Book the cheapest flight to India on IndianEagle.com and have a wonderful trip!

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“A civilization is a heritage of beliefs, customs, and knowledge slowly accumulated in the course of centuries”. This famous quote by some historian is true about India, a civilization of heritage. It is the age-old monumental heritage that has eternalized the Indian civilization in the world history by inspiring generations to explore the art and culture of India. Most of the monuments including palaces and forts have not inched from their position despite the testing time has hurled blows to them over hundreds of years, but their invaders, captivators and rulers have faded into the wood. Indian Eagle salutes to the immortal heritage of India, on the World Heritage Day (April 14), with reference to some of the best and most celebrated monuments that Indians as well as NRIs are proud of.

The Taj Mahal, Agra

The one and only heritage that represents India in international tourism is the Taj Mahal of Agra, a living witness to the age-old Mughal History of India. Celebrated as an eternal memento of love, this mighty Mughal architecture is a symbol of peace, harmony and religious tolerance that India stands for. A flight to India, irrespective of the purpose, is incomplete without a glimpse of the Taj Mahal under the open sky washed by the bright sunrays or flooded by the soft moonbeams.

The Victoria Memorial, Kolkata

The Victoria Memorial, another wonder of white marble, is called the Taj Mahal of Bengal. Commissioned by Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of British India, in the memory of Queen Victoria, the marvelous architecture is the most precious gem in the treasure of Kolkata. Located in the heart of the city, the Victoria Memorial keeps Kolkata’s colonial history alive against the ravaging flow of time. It has become a pride of Kolkatans through cultural evolutions over the years. Some of you might have exclaimed in joy, “Hey, it is my Kolkata”, to see the heritage in Pradeep Sarkar’s Parineeta starring Vidya Balan.

The India Gate, Delhi

The India Gate is not just another heritage of India. It is more than a brand icon and a historic landmark of New Delhi. The Indian Gate was built in the memory of thousands of unsung soldiers who Mother India lost in the First World War, the Northwest Frontier and the Third Afghan War. A sacred tribute to the heroism, bravery, fortitude and sacrifice that India has been known for in the annals of the world history, this war memorial has been seen as a venue of mass protest against socio-political injustices in a few Bollywood movies such as Rang De Basanti and No One Killed Jessica.

The Charminar, Hyderabad

The Charminar, a monumental architecture, is the most recognized Islamic heritage of Hyderabad. The construction of the monument coincided with the foundation of the city in 1591. Why Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah commissioned the construction of the Charminar is still shrouded in mysteries due to unanimous arguments of the historians. Though intermingled with the Islamic culture and history of the city, it has been losing its sheen. Surrounded by crowded bazaars on four sides and polluted by heavy vehicular traffic around, this pride of Hyderabad is no more a glory in contrast to the cosmopolitan cum cyber image of the city.

The Gwalior Fort, Gwalior

The Gwalior Fort, the heritage of Madhya Pradesh, is a colossal defensive structure consisting of beautiful palaces and temples inside. A most important figure in the history of Central India, the fort has been standing tall through the regimes of several rulers in Madhya Pradesh. It retells the age-old stories of the Pal Dynasty, the Pratihara Dynasty, the Tomar Dynasty, the Suri Dynasty, the Mughal Dynasty, the Rana Jat Dynasty and the Maratha Dynasty. The mighty being of the Gwalior Fort has been carrying the scars inflicted by the British during the repression of the Sepoy Mutiny (The Rebellion of 1857). Gurjari Mahal and Man Mandir are the greatest attractions of this architecture.

The Amba Vilas Palace, Mysore

Popularly known as the Palace of Mysore, the Amba Vilas Palace is one of the few heritage citadels which was demolished and rebuilt multiple times. Originally built in the 14th century, the Mysore Palace went through a series of renovations till 1912. The official residence of the Wodeyar Kings, the palace is synonymous with the majesty and royalty of Mysore in Karnataka. One of the most popular tourist destinations in South India, the Mysore Palace features the finest blend of the Hindu, Muslim and Gothic architectural styles. The illumination of the palace is the mightiest attraction of the Vijaya Dashami or Dusshera festival in Mysore.

We regret having not listed, here, the majestic palaces and historic forts of the Rajputana states which are among the best heritage of India.

However, the heritage tour of India requires several trips to Indian cities. No need to worry when IndianEagle.com offers the lowest airfare throughout the year!

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