The Indian food history is the history of invention in times of necessity and inheritance from diverse cultures. Some dishes were invented for the sake of masses, while some others were borrowed from across geographies. Many such interesting stories of Indian food are still unheard of. Travel Beats, a community portal for Indian Diaspora, takes a few picks from the grave of history to share with you.

Petha is as old as the Taj Mahal 

What to eat in Agra? Whoever has been to the city of the Taj Mahal says that Petha is the best thing to eat in Agra. The invention of Agra ka Petha is linked to the construction of the Taj Mahal in the Mughal Empire. When the colossal monument was under construction, some 21,000 workers were bored of the daily meal comprising only dal and roti. The then Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan shared his concern with master architect Ustad Isa Effendi, who requested Pir Naqshbandi Sahib for a solution to the Emperor’s worries. It is believed that the Pir went into a trance during prayers one day and received the recipe of Petha from the Almighty. Then, some 500 cooks made Petha for the workers.

CHECK Best Dishes of Agra

Dal Bati was a means of survival during wars 

What is the best food to eat in Rajasthan? It is Dal Bati Churma in Jaipur, Mewar, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Udaipur. How the recipe of Dal Bati Churma was invented is a story worth sharing. The origin of this Rajasthani food is the famous Chittorgarh Fort in Mewar. Bati is dough of wheat dipped in ghee, a long-lasting food which the Rajput kings of Mewar required for survival in adverse conditions during wars. Bati could be made with the few ingredients and the little water available in the barren lands of Rajasthan. This culinary invention evolved into a delight with two other items – Dal and Churma – over the years.

SHARE Inforgraphic of Chittorgarh Fort

Mysore Pak journeyed from palace to public  

What is the best taste of Mysore? It is the Mysore Pak, a signature sweetmeat of South India. The Mysore Pak history is traced to the kitchen of the Mysore Palace in the early 20^th century when Nalawadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar was the king in power. Kakasura Madappa, the then royal cook in the Mysore Palace, used to please the King with different dishes. One day he made new sweet dish with the mix of chickpea flour, ghee and sugar. When the King tasted it, it melted at the tip of his tongue. On being asked the name of the dish, the cook invented the name ‘Mysore Paka’ in a split of second. ‘Paka’ is a Kannada word meaning a sweet concoction. Mysore is a weekend getaway from Bengaluru City.

KNOW Best Food of Mysore

Khaja is inherited from the Mauryan & Gupta empires 

What is the best sweet of Odisha? Undoubtedly, it is Khaja. Though the culinary art of making Khaja is a matter of pride for the people of Orissa, the recipe is believed to have been borrowed from the Gangetic plains of Bihar around 2000 years ago. The history of Khaja dates back to the Maurya and Gupta empires in ancient India. Today, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh are homes to this Indian dessert. Each of these states offers a different taste of Khaja. The Khaja of Rajgir in Bihar is famous for its puffiness, while the Khaja of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh is known for its dry outside and juicy inside.

Do You Know 10 Varieties of Dosa

Jalebi is not essentially Indian but Asian in identity 

Jalebi, one of the most popular Indian sweet dishes, owes its origin to West Asia. The Persian-speaking invaders introduced Jalebi to India in the medieval era. This sweetmeat was called ‘Kundalika’, and ‘Jalavallika’ in India in the 15^th century. The poor were offered platefuls of Jalebi during Ramadan in Iran. It is called ‘Zalabia’ in the Arabian countries, ‘Zilebi’ in the Maldives, ‘Zlebia’ in Tunisia, Libya and Algeria, and ‘Jeri’ in Nepal. References to the Indian version of Jalebi are found in “Priyamkarnrpakatha” by Jinasura, a Jain author of the mid-15^th century.

HAVE Best Sweets of Bengal

Dum Biryani was a meal for the poor in Awadh  

The origin of Biryani is the princely state of Hyderabad in the era of Nizams, according to several historic sources. The recipe of Biryani is as old as the Mughal history of India, according to some historians. Some debate that Biryani was introduced during Timur’s invasion of India in the early medieval era. Though the origin of Biryani is debated, Dum Biryani or Biryani of Awadh was originated in Lucknow. The Nawab of Awadh ordered to cook a meal in huge handis (round-shaped brass pots) for all the poor people of his region when there was scarcity of food. A huge amount of food was cooked with minimum resources in covered and sealed pots. This art of cooking became known as ‘dum’.

This article featuring lesser-known Indian food facts is brought to you as part of the campaign, “Explore India with Indian Eagle”, aiming to promote what is unheard about India through our overseas Indian community portal, Travel Beats. Travel Beats is a subsidiary of IndianEagle.com, a leading online air travel booking portal for overseas Indians.

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The post Interesting Facts about Origin of Some Popular Indian Dishes from Indian Food History appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The Independence Day of India (August 15) is the day to recall sacrifices by the freedom fighters that made evergreen history for generations. The map of India is dotted with multiple sights and spots of freedom struggle as the freedom movement had spread like wild fire across the country. Some of our customers who are flying to India in the second week of August this year approached us with a request to recommend the best places to visit on Independence Day in India. Indian Eagle picks up the following:

Cellular Jail, the Andamans

The Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands tops the list of the places to visit on the Independence Day of India. It is a living witness to the brutal treatment of the freedom fighters behind the bars. The Cellular Jail reminds generations of the solitary confinement that the heroes of the National Freedom Movement were sentenced to suffer for years during the colonial rule. An important chapter in the history of British India, the Cellular Jail was declared a national memorial in 1969. On display are the sculptures silently retelling the stories of atrocity that the prison inmates were subjected to.

Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar

Jallianwala Bagh is a must visit in Punjab. Located near the Golden Temple, it is the site where General Dyer shed the blood of thousands who had assembled for a meeting in protest against the Rowlatt Act in 1919. The massacre of 1919 which Jallianwala Bagh has been bearing witness to in form of bullet marks on inside of the wall is one of the most condemnable British acts during the colonial times of India. Jallianwala Bagh is a must stop during Punjab travel at any time of the year.

Indian Coffee House, Kolkata

If you are in Kolkata this Independence Day, do visit Coffee House nearby Presidency University on College Street, have a cup of brewing coffee, and take a walk down the memory lane to the bygone decades when the College Street Coffee House used to be a hotbed of debates on politics, art, music, cinema and culture in the then Calcutta. A favorite haunt of the elite, the literati, and intellectuals of Bengal, including Satyajit Ray, Amartya Sen, Mrinal Sen, Ritwik Ghatak, Samaresh Majumdar, Sunil Ganguly and likes, Coffee House was also frequented by the then political revolutionaries. In the post-independence era, Kolkatas College Street Coffee House witnessed to several mass agitations and movements in the changing socio-political landscape of Bengal. Integral to the cultural history of Bengal, Indian Coffee House in Kolkata is one of the best places to visit on the Independence Day of India.

Also Check: Proposed Museum on History of College Street and Coffee House

Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram

The Sabarmati Ashram was Mahatma Gandhijis workplace for social activism and his activities for National Freedom Movement. He spent 12 years of his life here. The ashram is the place where Satyagraha, Civil Disobedience Movement and Swadeshi Movement had gathered momentum at. Situated on the bank of the Sabarmati River, the ashram is one of the best places to visit in Ahmedabad.Gandhijis Dandi March to disobey the Salt Act implemented by the British began from the ashram in 1930. The Sabarmati Ashram introduces visitors to Gandhijis values, philosophy, vision and support for self-reliance.

India Gate, New Delhi

The India Gate, one of the most popular Delhi attractions, is not just a monumental architecture but also a war memorial. Also known as the All India War Memorial, the India Gate has been carrying the names of nearly 70, 000 soldiers who fought and died in the First World War, and the names of some 12, 516 Indian soldiers who embraced martyrdom on the North-west Frontier. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the India Gate and the Flame of the Immortal Soldier under the archway stand for the martyrs of India. It is a must see during Independence Day celebrations on August 15.

Santi Institute Library, Kolkata

A most significant among the age-old, red-brick buildings in Kolkatas Bowbazar is the Santi Institute. The 100-year-old building of the Santi Institute is not just an iconic library of 41000 books of various genres but also a lesser-known historical place. Founded as a haven of peaceful reading after the First World War, the library was started with just 27 books and 21 young members. Gradually, it grew into a hub of stimulating discussions and animated debates among the then liberals, revolutionaries and freedom fighters. A favorite of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the Santi Institute Library in Bowbazar was also frequented by Bipin Behari Ganguli, Surendranath Banerjee, the educationist Triguna Sen, the historian Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, and the the famous lawyer Radhabinod Pal.

Agra Fort, Agra

The Agra Fort, an integral part of the Mughal history of India, is associated with the history of British India as well. One of the world heritage sites recognized by UNESCO, the Agra Fort was the site of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, it was the first seed of the National Freedom Movement. Located by the Yamuna River, the fort features a unique blend of Hindu and Islamic styles in construction as well as design.

Netaji Bhawan, Kolkata

Netaji Bhawan or Netaji Shubhash Chandra Boses residence in Kolkata City is among the places that remind of British India, freedom fighters and national movement. It is the place where he was put under house arrest and where he escaped from to Berlin in 1941. A part of Netajis life, struggle and mission for freedom of India, the house has got a museum and a library today.

Viceregal Lodge, Shimla

Viceregal Lodge, a splendid English Renaissance architecture of colonial times in India, is not just a tourist attraction of Shimla but also a historic place. Viceregal Lodge was the summer residence of Lord Dufferin, the Viceroy of British India, and the place where discussions on the most fateful India-Pakistan partition were held. Also known as Rashtrapati Niwas, this colossal landmark in Shimla houses a museum exhibiting some stories of Indian freedom movement.

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The story of Chittorgarh Fort is one of the timeless stories of Royal India, spanning from the 7^th century till the British Raj. The eventful chronicle of the fort is an unforgettable episode in the Rajput history of Rajasthan. It has been immortalized in the memory of mankind by not only Rajput rulers’ valor but also Rajput women’s spirit of sacrifice. The tales of Rani Padmavati and Rani Karnavati embracing death on a pyre in order to save their dignity from the lecherous invaders like Allauddin Khilji are eternally associated with the bygone days of Chittorgarh Fort.

Inside the timeworn fort complex, one of the largest in India, are some structures including Kirti Stambha and Vijay Stambha that still stand tall. Then an impregnable edifice on a hilltop, Chittorgarh Fort suffered blows of invasion by Allauddin Khilji in 1303, Bahadur Shah of Gujarat in 1534, and Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1567. But the Rajput rulers of the fort neither stooped nor gave in to the sultans of Delhi. Indian Eagle shares some interesting facts of Chittorgarh Fort through the infographic below:

How to reach Chittorgarh Fort 

Chittorgarh can be reached via roadway and air travel from Jaipur and Udaipur in Rajasthan. Both Jaipur and Udaipur are a short domestic flight away from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. Indian Eagle books the cheapest flights to IGI Airport from the USA. Log on to IndianEagle.com and find the best itinerary from any major US city to New Delhi according to your travel dates. September to March is the best time to visit Chittorgarh.

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Unfortunately, India’s first underground restaurant in Ahmedabad pulled its shutters down in a week of its opening due to operational issues. Don’t feel disappointed! The underground museum at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi is the newest of all tourist attractions in India. With the first phase opened in 2014, it is India’s first underground museum sprawling over 1.30 lakh square feet across three floors. The museum is designed by Saroj Ghose, an eminent museologist, and cost INR 80 crore.

India’s first underground museum at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi is an enlightening walk through the era of the British Raj, the history of India’s freedom movement, and the offices of Indian presidents from Dr. Rajendra Prasad to the present president Pranab Mukherjee.

With its public opening scheduled on October 2 coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum is full of historical interests, including unforgettable events in the history of India’s freedom struggle from the Swadeshi Movement of 1905 to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919 to the Dandi March of 1930.

The underground museum has brought alive those intriguing stories of the fight for independence by displaying a number of life-size wax effigies which seem to bring alive the past. The replica of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in Punjab, one of the most brutal crimes against humanity, will surely give you goose bumps.

What is the most unique about the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum is projection of historical facts through virtual-reality storytelling. The museum features a giant television screen to offer a virtual tour of the President’s private study. You can see yourself with the first citizen of India in a virtual world by pressing the button attached to the television screen.

The attraction of India’s first underground museum at Rashtrapati Bhavan also comprises a virtual reality experience of some landmark moments from the eventful life of Mahatma Gandhi, such as signing the Gandhi Irwin Pact at the Viceroy House and the Dandi March.

The personal belongings of Indian presidents are among the best things to see at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum in New Delhi. You can see a collection of books penned by the former President APJ Abdul Kalam and the priceless gifts that President Pranab Mukherjee received on his visits to various countries on display.

Interestingly, the Mercedes that the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi received from then King of Jordan, and the veena that Dr. Kalam used to play in solitude are among the few show-stealing exhibits at the museum.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum also houses an art gallery with larger-than-life paintings, historic artifacts and lively portraits of Indian presidents on a spectacular display. The art gallery is like a corridor with a hidden passage to the glorious past of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. A section of the gallery exhibits rare photographs of Indian presidents with dignitaries from across the world.

The museum also hosts a unique hand-shadow show to give a picture of how India elects its president and how the presidential office functions. The hand-shadow show also highlights significance of the national emblem of India and other such key aspects.

Also Check List of Upcoming Tourist Attractions in India

What’s more? Visitors can get themselves clicked at the President’s Study at India’s first underground museum at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. No doubt, this story-telling museum is one of the best among all new tourist attractions in India.

Travel Beats is a digital lifestyle portal for the Indian community by IndianEagle, a leading international travel organization booking trips between New Delhi and USA. Subscribe to Travel Beats for interesting stories and latest updates from USA and India.

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The foundation stone of the new capital of Andhra Pradesh was ceremoniously laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday. The new capital city Amaravati is being referred to as people’s capital because soil and water from 16,000 villages in the state, prominent seats of pilgrimage from across the country, and some foreign countries were used for the foundation ceremony, attended by around 4 lakh people. Spread over 54,000 acres between Vijayawada and Guntur, Amaravati is easily accessible because of its central location. The upcoming capital of Andhra Pradesh holds lots of economic, geographic, cultural and historic value. We at Indian Eagle take a walk through the history, culture and religious value of Amaravati.

The History of Amaravati

The history of Amaravati or Amaravathi dates from the 2^nd century BC. If the 2000-year old history is believed, it was a thriving capital of the Satvahana Kingdom in ancient India just as Patliputra (modern-day Patna) was the capital of Magadh during the Maurya era. The rulers of the Satvahana dynasty were in power from 3^rd century BC to 2^nd CE between the Maurya and Gupta eras, which are considered golden times of India. Evidently, Amaravati has rich history for being the yesteryear capital city of the Satvahana Empire.

The history of Amaravathi continued till the fall of Nizams in the princely state of Hyderabad. After the fall of the Satvahana Kingdom, the Pallava Dynasty annexed the Krishna River valley where Amravati is located. Then the region was ruled by the Chalukyas and the Cholas subsequently till Amaravati was made part of the Telugu Empire by the Kakatiyas in the medieval times.

The rulers of several dynasties added to the history of Amaravati from the medieval times of India till the end of the Mughal era. The Delhi Sultanate, the Bahmani Sultanate, the Golconda Sultanate, the Vijayanagar Empire, and the Mughal Empire possessed Amaravathi successively till the first Nizam of Hyderabad occupied it. Even Hyder Ali of Mysore possessed it for a brief period. Amravati was colonized by the French in 1750 and by the British in 1759, too.

Among the foreign pilgrims to ancient India, Chinese traveler and Buddhist monk Hiuen Tsang visited Amaravati in 640 CE.

The Culture of Amaravati

Being part of several different dynasties over centuries, Amaravathi has a miscellaneous culture which is rich and diverse. It used to have great cultural impact on the people of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra during the post-Mauryan period. The Satvahana rulers preserved Hinduism and patronized Buddhism with equal care. It enriched the culture of Amaravati with enlightenment and rationality.

Many historical facts bear a testimony to the Buddhist influence on the culture of Amravati in the bygone years. The valley between the Krishna and the Godavari River had been a prominent site of Buddhism since before the Satvahana rose to power. A stupa and a monastery were built when Ashoka was the king of the Mauryan Empire in the 2^nd century BCE. It is said that the stupa at Amravati, measuring 50 meters in diameter and 27 meters in height, was one of the biggest Buddhist stupas in Andhra Pradesh. The panels carved on it depict the story of Lord Buddha.

Amaravati is known for its own school of architecture influenced by the Buddhist art and culture. The Amravati school of architecture has unique features, which is evident from the sculptural work on the Buddhist monastery of Amaravathi.

According to art historians and art critics, the Amaravati art is among the major three ancient schools of Indian art. Many works of the Amravati art are preserved at the Government Museum in Chennai and the British Museum in London. The Southeast Asian arts including the art of Sri Lanka are found to be influenced by it.

The Religious Value of Amaravati

According to some sources related to ‘Vajrayana Buddhism’, Lord Buddha himself visited Dharanikota, a place adjacent to Amaravathi, and preached there. If this legend is believed, the history of Amaravati dates back to the 500 BCE. After the Emperor Ashoka, the Satvahana rulers contributed to the development of Buddhist culture by building imposing stupas in the Krishna River valley.

The famous Amaravati Stupa is said to have been built in presence of presence of the great saint, Acharya Nagarjuna.  Besides, Amaravathi is home to some Buddhist relics dating 2000 years back. Evidently, the upcoming capital of Andhra Pradesh is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists.

Amaravati is a seat of pilgrimage for not only Buddhists but also Hindus. It is home to several Lord Shiva temples, of which the most famous is Lord Amaralingeswara or Amareswara Swamy Temple. That is why the new capital of Andhra Pradesh is also known as Amararamam.

Of the legends of Amaravati, one says that when the demon Tarakasura was killed, a shivalingam in his throat broke into pieces which fell out of his mouth in five different spots. The most significant of the five spots is Amareswara at Amaravati, and this is the place where Indra and the other gods are said to have worshiped Lord Shiva.

Jainism used to coexist with Buddhism and Hinduism in Amaravathi during the bygone eras following the decline of the Satvahana Dynasty. Therefore, Amaravati is also known as ‘City of Tolerance’ or Sridhanyakataka. Being a center of pilgrimage for Hindus and Buddhism, Amaravati is also known as ‘Punyakshetra’ (holy land).

The upcoming capital of Andhra Pradesh is a 310-km road drive from Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana. Major international airlines operate flights to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport of Hyderabad from the US and Canada. Indian Eagle books cheap flights to Hyderabad from major North American cities.

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Kolkata Tram is one of the few historic entities without which Calcutta, the first capital of British India, cannot be pictured. It has witnessed the city’s uphill journey from the rebellious Calcutta to the peaceful Kolkata. Though a thing of past in other Indian metros and an object of disdain to urbanites today, trams still exist as a heritage of Kolkata and a reminiscence of Calcutta. The oldest operating public transport in Asia, Kolkata Tram has been on the run since 1867, through modifications.

In 2015, Dibakar Banerjee’s film Detective Byomkesh Bakshy featuring Kolkata trams with the 1940s’ black & white advertisements had revived the hopes to restore the tram’s faded glory. We at IndianEagle take on the eventful journey of Kolkata Tram from a need of the colonial times to a heritage of the 21^st century.  

Kolkata owes the glory of this heritage to Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of India. Lord Curzon, whose name is infamous for the partition of Bengal (then undivided) in 1905, was the master brain behind the inception of Kolkata’s electric tram service in 1902. Swift transport of goods from ports to the spots of East Indian Company, and fast movement of police contingents to the sites of anti-British activities were his primary motives to set up electric tramlines across the city.

The first tram in Kolkata was a horse-drawn car. It was introduced to the then Calcutta in 1867. The horse-drawn tram cars were imported from England. – IndianEagle

Though tram is identified as one of the unique icons of Kolkata today, it was disregarded as a British import by revolutionaries of the colonial times. Many tram cars were set ablaze as a mark of protest against the British rule in Bengal. The then Calcutta police used the tram service for quick conveyance to the sites of Hindu-Muslim riots in the city during the pre-Independence era. Even mass agitation against increase of fares by only one paisa resulted in setting fire to many trams, after Independence.

READ MORE Calcutta in the 1960s

Electric tramline was the transport lifeline of Kolkata till 1920. Even after the introduction of public bus on the protest-hit streets of the then Calcutta (during the National Freedom Movement), tram was the most reliable public transport. Most of the tramlines were laid and extended that time. Kolkata’s tram service was smooth till the 1960s in the pre-Independence era. Around 300 trams used to run between Kolkata and Howrah till 1950.

With other modes of public transport hitting the city streets in both developed and developing countries, the dominance of Kolkata Tram began waning by the mid of the 1950s. India, too, caught the anti-tram sentiment which spread out to metro cities from Kanpur. Kanpur was the first Indian city to have closed the tram service in 1933. Chennai (then Madras), Delhi, and Mumbai (then Bombay) bade goodbye to tram in 1955, 1962 and 1964 respectively.

READ MORE Interesting Facts of Kolkata’s Hand-pulled Rickshaw

But Kolkata, the city of nostalgia, did not give in to the demand for removal of tramways from the surface. The tram in Kolkata survived throughout the period of automobile boom across India and is still active in some parts of the city. Though the tram service network has shrunk under pressure of urbanization, it cannot be uprooted from the being of the city.

Today, many do not know that the Howrah Bridge, the primary link between the cities – Kolkata and Howrah – over the Hooghly River (another name of the Ganges), used to have tramlines. Only 22 years ago, tram tracks were removed to pave the road for buses, cars and trucks on the Howrah Bridge, in 1993. Currently, 125 trams are operational for daily service.

READ MORE Best Street Food of Kolkata

The movie Detective Byomkesh Bakshy renewed the fame of Kolkata Tram across the country last year. The Calcutta Tramways Company was looking to leverage it for revenue generation by renting out tram cars for private tours and parties in the city. The state government of West Bengal was approached with a proposal to initiate tram services at Rajarhat, a satellite city cum Information Technology hub, a 15-km drive from Kolkata International Airport. Unfortunately, the days seem to be numbered for Kolkata Tram.

Travel Beats is a culture and news magazine by IndianEagle, a leading travel organization for Indian Diaspora. Travel Beats publishes interesting stories and features from India and USA. Subscribe to our free newsletter and don’t miss the latest updates.

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The wealth of India was the envy of many in the bygone eras. That is why the Arabs, the Turks, and the Afghans invaded and looted the treasures of kingdoms in different provinces of India. The most of Indian history comprises the stories of invasions and wars, which changed the fate of many, even that of Koh-i-Noor. The most coveted diamond of all times, Koh-i-Noor traveled from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh to London through several dynasties including the Kakatiya, the Khilji, the Mughal, the Afghans and the British over a long span of time. The dazzling beauty of this rare diamond was so irresistible that it enslaved the senses of mighty emperors and kings. This infographic by Indian Eagle depicts the eventful journey of Koh-i-Noor from a mine in India to the Tower of London, on Travel Beats.

About Indian Eagle

Indian Eagle is a USA based leading international travel organization inspiring tourists to travel and explore India at the lowest airfare from major USA cities throughout the year. 

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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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Khajuraho temples are the only monuments in India which are famous for erotic sculptures, not for architecture unlike other monuments. The Khajuraho complex of temples is a UNESCO recognized world heritage site, one of the popular tourist attractions in the Madhya Pradesh travel guide. A pillar of Madhya Pradesh tourism, Khajuraho speaks of society’s liberal view of human sexuality in the bygone era. It symbolizes human passion, while the Taj Mahal stands for love. IndianEagle takes on the world famous Khajuraho sculpture in a different way. 

Khajuraho Temples stand for human passion  

Apart from the Khajuraho history, there is a legend. The curiosity about the origin of Khajuraho temples runs high until the legend is explored. According to the legend, the creators of Khajuraho were descendants of the moon god in Indian mythology. It begins with the story of Hemavati, daughter of a Brahmin priest. Attracted to her maiden beauty, the moon god descended on earth and seduced her when she was bathing, on one evening. It was the intense passion that made her give in to his advances. He could not resist the spell of her maiden charm. Their union gave birth to a son, Chandravarman.

The then society did not welcome the apparently unusual union of a god and a mortal as it was not solemnized as per traditions and through rituals. Being unwed mother of a son, Hemavati suffered harassment in society. Stung by unkind words, she retreated to the dense forest of present Madhya Pradesh in Central India. She brought up the child in the wilderness. When the boy grew up, he became founder of the Chandela dynasty.

After he became a powerful ruler, his mother visited him in dream and requested him to build temples that would concretize human passions in form of art. She told him that passion is nothing but an overwhelming human desire for love. Touched by the emptiness of his mother’s life, Chandravarman commissioned the construction of the first group of Khajuraho temples. The other temples in Khajuraho Town were built by his successors. If the legend is believed, the temples stand for love in Khajuraho.

Khajuraho sculpture was a study of eroticism

The erotic art of Khajuraho Temples has been interpreted in different ways in different times. The most popular theory refers to an important purpose of erotic sculpture on the outer surface of the temples in Khajuraho. The purpose was to teach boys the art of eroticism and its significance in human life once they attained manhood after the Brahmacharya phase of life in hermitage. The study of human passion depicted by Khajuraho sculptures was part of their preparation for the worldly role of householder.

Another popular theory of the erotic art refers to the then belief in the power of Tantrism, in the Chandela era between 950 and 1150. The ardent followers of Tantrism believed that the infinite could be achieved through the fulfillment of earthly desires. As the Chandelas were diehard believers of Tantrism, they patronized the study of eroticism in form of sculpture.

Misconceptions about Khajuraho temple sculptures

According to historians and archaeologists, only 10% of the sculptural carvings on the outer surface of the walls of Khajuraho architecture depict eroticism as an art. The rest of the carvings depict day-to-day life of different people such as farmers, potters, musicians and carpenters from different walks of society. The erotic sculpture depicting sexual indulgence of humans of opposite genders is often wrongly referred to as Kamasutra. The Khajuraho sculpture is an aesthetic art depicting eroticism without rawness and vulgarity. It neither titillates the senses nor excites basic instincts. Many fail to perceive the purity and aestheticism of Khajuraho art.

Khajuraho is accessible from Delhi, Agra and Varanasi by air. You can catch Khajuraho flights at the domestic terminal of Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. You can travel by train from Khajuraho to Orcha and Jhansi, two historic destinations in Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh.

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The strong, the brave and the formidable make history. It is absolutely true about Maharana Pratap Singh of Udaipur. His life is an eternal tale of bravery, determination and uprightness in the Rajput history of Rajasthan. He was a diehard patriot, high-minded leader, staunch warrior, caring king and worshiper of freedom. He was the only Rajput ruler to have fought with Akbar and defied his massive army. Like a dutiful son, he protected his kingdom Mewar and the subjects with all his might from the Mughal forces. Today, Indian Eagle pays tribute to Maharana Pratap on the occasion of his birthday.

In 1540, Maharana Pratap was born in Kumbhalgarh Fort, about 85kms away from the City of Udaipur. Built by and named after Maharana Kumbha, the fort on a 3,500 feet high hilltop is surrounded by 13 peaks of the Aravalli mountain range. The 36km long wall fencing around Kumbhalgarh Fort is the second largest in the world. The forest on the rough landscape around the fort has been converted into a wildlife sanctuary, named after the fort. Click The Great Wall of India to know more about Kumbhalgarh Fort and its place in the history of Udaipur.

The history of Chittorgarh is incomplete without a mention of Maharana Pratap. Chittorgarh will never forget the lifelong battle that this bravest Rajput had waged to win back the fort of Chittorgarh from Akbar, the Mughal Emperor. Chittorgarh was the capital of Mewar Kingdom and the seat of Rajput royalty when Maharana Udai Singh II was in power. It was the glory and pride of Mewar which Maharana Pratap restored from the possession by the then Mughal Emperor. The Chittorgarh Fort, the largest in India, dates back to the 7th century. There are four magnificent palaces, nineteen temples and historic monuments inside the fort.

Also Check Infographic: Timeless Story of Chittorgarh Fort

An integral part of the Udaipur history, Gogunda is a small town which was Maharana Udai Singh II’s hideout Akbar seized the Chittorgarh Fort. The town was almost inaccessible because of its precarious location on a hilltop, which made it a safe shelter for the Maharana. The town witnessed the death of Maharana Udai Singh II and the coronation of Pratap Singh in 1572. Gogunda was made the temporary capital of Mewar when Pratap Singh was titled Maharana. It is Gogunda where Maharana Pratap counseled and prepared his army for the historic Battle of Haldighati.

The famous Battle of Haldighati in 1576 between the massive Mughal army led by Akbar, and the soldiers of Maharana Pratap was the hardest time in the fate of Udaipur. It was the culmination of the hostility between the Emperor and Maharana. Though Maharana’s 22,000 soldiers were outnumbered by the strength of the Mughal army of 2, 00,000 soldiers, they fought fiercely till the end and caused causalities to the enemy.

Maharana Pratap was always concerned about the security of his subjects. That is why he shifted the capital to Kumbhalgarh in the Aravalli Range to save them from consequences of the battle. Then, he brought all Rajput chieftains under one roof for the sake of Mewar’s glory and independence and built a force of tribal people by training them in warfare. Maharana remained indomitable and out of Akbar’s grasp even after 6 months of the fight.

Maharana Pratap was not just a brave warrior, caring king and valiant leader but also a man of principles. He never tried any unjust means nor transgressed from the rules of warfare to win over his enemies. Raja Man Singh of Jaipur was the Mughal army general in Akbar’s times. One Maharana got to know Raja Man Singh’s whereabouts in a jungle. He could have easily attacked Raja Man Singh when the latter was busy hunting, but he did not backstab the latter. His distinction of being just was a rare leadership trait.

When Rahim Khan-e-Khana, a Mughal army officer, was campaigning against Mewar, Maharana Pratap’s son Amar Singh caught hold of Rahim’s women and brought them to the capital. When Maharana came to know about the captivity of the women, he detested such a mean act by his son and commanded him to set them free. Maharana’s generosity touched Rahim and prevented him from campaigning against him.

Maharana Pratap’s life is a lesson on how to stand ground against all odds. When he was wandering in forests to keep away from the Mughal army after the Battle of Haldighati, his family suffered many hardships. His wives and children had to starve and spend sleepless nights under unfavorable circumstances in forests. Such a catastrophe forced him to think of surrendering to Akbar and signing a treaty of peace with the latter. He discarded such thoughts and gathered courage to tide over the waves of misfortune and face Akbar once again.

This piece of reminiscence is just a single page of the history of Mewar, Udaipur, Rajputs and Rajasthan. Booking cheap flights to India is a round-the-year opportunity to visit Rajasthan and turn over other pages of the Rajput history whenever you wish. The The cheapest air tickets to India are guaranteed at Indian Eagle!

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