India is touching dizzying heights of glory with back-to-back massive constructions. The country, which is now home to the world’s tallest Statue of Unity in Gujarat, the world’s tallest Shiva statue in Rajasthan, and the world’s tallest railway bridge in Jammu & Kashmir, will see the inauguration of more wonders including the world’s largest Vedic monument in Bengal, and the world’s tallest temple in Uttar Pradesh.

The world’s tallest temple in question is Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir under construction at a whopping cost of $1 billion. Speculated to be one of the most expensive temple buildings in the world, this ISKCON temple will boast an astounding height of 700 feet on completion. Interestingly, the temple will surpass the world’s tallest Statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (597 feet) in height.

The temple complex sprawls over 62 acres, while the 7-story temple building will have a total floor area of 540,000 square feet. A contemporary touch to the temple’s traditional Nagara style of architecture is meant to serve ISKCON’s purpose to reinterpret the profound wisdom from India’s ancient scriptures like Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam within the modern context to render their eternal relevance to the current generation.

The towering structure will have four temples on its four ends. The temples will be dedicated to Krishna Balram, Radha Krishna, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and Swami Prabhupada. The main temple housing the idols of Radha Krishna will have a grand prayer hall that can accommodate 5000 devotees at a time. The prayer hall will be beautified with sculptures and frescoes depicting the life of Lord Krishna in Vrindavan. The soon-to-be inaugurated Mayapur ISKCON Temple near Kolkata will have the largest prayer hall with space for 10,000 devotees.

Anticipated to be a colossal wonder of white marble, the world’s tallest ISKCON temple will feature a lotus-shaped dome with the glass surface that will be dazzling on moonlight nights. The temple is a dream project for renowned architect Bimal Patel, a Padma Shri awardee, and his team. He is the chief architect for the Rs 14000cr Centra Vista, Gandhinagar Akshardham Temple, Gujarat High Court, Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, Varanasi Viswanath Dham, and the new campus of IIM Ahmedabad.

The upcoming Radha Krishna temple site in the holy land of Vrindavan will also house a spiritual sanctuary comprising 12 forests, which will be named Madhuvana, Talavana, Kumudavana, Bahulavana, Kamyavana, Khadiravana, Vrindavana, Bhadravana, Bilvavana, Lohavana, Bhandiravana, and Mahavana after the twelve gardens of Brijbhumi. These forests are said to be modelled on the gardens described in the stories of Sri Krishna. Each forest will be landscaped with orchards, lush vegetation, green pastures, waterfalls, lotus ponds, musical fountains and artificial hillocks.

There will be a heritage museum, a library, a cultural center, and a viewing tower with telescopes at the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Temple complex. Visitors can catch panoramic views of the premises, Vrindavan town and the Yamuna River from the viewing tower. The 7-storey temple tower will have an elevator. Visitors will be able to enjoy a light and sound show on the universe’s planetary systems, as described in the Vedic literatures of Bharat.

Seva being integral to the culture and philosophy of ISKCON temples worldwide, the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir will have a spacious Annadanam Hall and food distribution counters. Sadhus, pilgrims and the underprivileged will be served sattvic meals in the well-ventilated Annadanam Hall, while the food distribution counters will offer one serving of prasadam to every visitor. A huge temple kitchen where sattvic food will be cooked for the deities, priests and visitors is also on the construction agenda.

An expansive biodiversity park within the temple complex will feature themed zones like sacred forest, butterfly park, and ayurvedic herbal garden. It will not only serve as a natural habitat for some local species of flora and fauna, but also provide a serene space for visitors to revel in the beauty of nature. Beautiful nature trails will meander through flower gardens, trees, small lakes, and water fountains. A walk through the ayurvedic herbal garden will enrich your knowledge of medicinal plants.

One of the most interesting facts about ISKCON’s Vrindavan Chandrodaya Temple is that its foundation is deeper than the world’s tallest skyscraper Burj Khalifa in Dubai by five meters. Burj Khalifa has got its foundation rooted 50 meters under the surface. Moreover, the temple will have earthquake-proof features, like shock-absorbing foundations and seismic isolation systems. Despite its location in the earthquake-prone region of the country, the temple can withstand intense tremors up to magnitude 7.5.

Reportedly, one end of the temple complex will be connected to the other end with skywalks. Devotees from across the country will have various accommodation options to enjoy the divine bliss for a few days within the complex. Other than a helipad, the temple site will have a 12-acre parking lot, goshalas, and a huge convention hall for religious and cultural events. The convention hall can also be booked for marriages and other social ceremonies.

Interestingly, the temple site is expected to have a Krishna theme park with fun rides among various attractions for young devotees (kids). other than community development, welfare programs for the underprivileged and widows of Vrindavan will be on the agenda of the temple body, as per reports. While Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir is expected to be fully completed in 2026, its south wing is set for inauguration in the auspicious month of Kartik in 2023.

Vrindavan is a 3-hr drive from New Delhi IGI Airport, which is well connected with major US cities by Air India, British Airways and other airlines.

The post Interesting Facts about Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir in India: World’s Tallest Temple under Construction appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Among the festivals of India, Holi is the only festival which celebrates love and harmony, friendship and brotherhood with various colors. The celebration of Holi is a common thread of unity in the socio-cultural diversity of India. The festival of colors is celebrated in different ways but with equal enthusiasm across the country, which will leave you surprised. Somewhere it is traditional, while somewhere it is trendy. Somewhere it is a color chaos, while somewhere it is a colorful extravaganza. Somewhere Holi is a genuine celebration of age-old folk cultures, whereas somewhere it is a sinful frenzy of urbanites. You can soak in flamboyance of colors, no matter which part of India you visit this time.

We at Indian Eagle handpicked five places from across India and explored what makes them the best destinations for fun-filled, spectacular Holi celebrations.

Shantiniketan

Holi is a cultural festival celebrated with an aura of sophistication in Rabindranath Tagore’s Shantiniketan, an international seat of learning and literature in Bengal. Though Holi is known as Dol Yatra all over the state, the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore introduced it as Vasanta Utsav attributing a cultural dimension to it. Dressed in shades of yellow, orange and green, boys and girls choreograph the celebration in rhythmic fashions – singing and dancing. In Shantiniketan, the atmosphere of the day is a miasma of colorfulness and literary fervor as the students of Vishva Bharati University celebrate the festival through the poems and songs, composed by the Bard of Bengal himself.

Shantiniketan, which is also famous for its age-old Pous Mela, is a nearly 4-hour train journey or road trip from Kolkata. Know how to save big on flights to Kolkata, India.  

Delhi

In Delhi, the cosmopolitan ways of Holi celebration are unique to the capital’s multicultural milieu. Holi celebration is not less musical and crazy than a DJ party with foot-tapping numbers from Bollywood movies. The Delhites who are Page 3 celebrities throw parties in resorts and farm houses. The temperature of the atmosphere soars so high that they cool off themselves with sips of bhang lassi and thandai. Delhi is also famous for the Holi Cow Festival, an organized event of music and madness. Do watch the video of the song, “Balam pitchkari jo tune mujhe mari” from the music album of the movie Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani to get a hang of how madly Delhites celebrate the festival of colors.

Delhi has global air connectivity. Especially, Air India operates several nonstop flights to Delhi IGI Airport from USA, UK and other parts of the world.  

Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad is the best place to celebrate this spring festival in Gujarat. Be the festival Holi or Navratri, Gujarati celebrates it traditionally. Holi is a cultural extravaganza in the capital of Gujarat. The celebration begins with the breaking of earthen pots of buttermilk hung from a rope in the streets after the joyous procession of menfolk through lanes and alleys comes to an end. This ceremony is observed in honor of Lord Krishna who used to steal the pots of butter and buttermilk from Gopis’ houses. In some parts of the city, Gujarati belles wearing ghagra with mirror work and the men wearing colorful turbans play dandiya to spread euphoria all around. Haryana celebrates Holi in the same fashion.

Ahmedabad, India’s first UNESCO World heritage city is well-connected with the rest of India. Cheap airfare deals for flights to Ahmedabad from USA will leave you amazed. 

Mathura & Vrindavan

Mathura and Vrindavan are the best places to celebrate Holi in North India. These two destinations for pilgrims and tourists are mythically associated with the legends of Krishnaleela or Rasleela. It is said that the zest the Brajwasis (people of Vrindavan) play Holi with is not felt in the rest of India during the festival. Their festive spirit is so high that the celebration begins 40 days prior to the day of Holi. Boys are dressed like Krishna, and girls dress themselves like Gopis (female admirers of Krishna). The Lathmar Holi of Barsana, the village of Sri Radha, is the main attraction. The boys of Vrindavan play colors with the girls of Barsana in a flirtatious manner. They drench each other with colored water and sprinkle gulal in the air.

You can reach Mathura and Vrindavan by road from New Delhi Airport in nearly 3 hours. Check the interesting facts of the world’s tallest temple, Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir which is currently under construction in Mathura for a whopping cost of INR 700 crores (USD 102 million).  

Manipur

The way Manipur celebrates the Holi Festival is culturally unique, Northeast India. The festivity begins on the Full Moon day of Phalguna and spans for six days. The age-old Yaosang Festival of the state was merged with Holi celebration during the rise of Vaishnavism. The tradition of celebrating Holi through cultural performances including folk dance forms and songs has been replaced with the trend – music band culture. Setting fire to a thatched hut of hay and twigs marks the beginning of the festivity. The boys and girls play gulal, the following day. The sight of devotees wearing white & yellow turbans, dancing in front of the Krishna temple and offering gulal to the obedience of the Lord is a wonderful spectacle to witness. The celebration ends with a religious procession to the capital city, Imphal.

The post Holi Festival: Best Places to Have Fun and Witness Unity in Diversity of India appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

No doubt, India is full of incredible sights, stories and spots from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. But, what is the most incredible about India? The Kumbh Mela – the confluence of religious faith, cosmic energy, ethereal power and divine love on earth. Also known as Magh Mela, this religious festival of India is believed to be as old as the universe itself. A whopping 15 million visitors are expected to turn up at the ongoing Kumbh Mela 2019 at Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh.

Kumbh Mela 2019: Budget, Revenues, Facilities and Other Amazing Facts

The state government of Uttar Pradesh allocated INR 4200 crore for Kumbh Mela 2019, which is over thrice the budget for the Maha Kumbh 2013. It is expected that the economic activities to be taking place over the 50 days will generate a whopping revenues of INR 1.2 lakh crore and create employment for over 6 lakh workers in various sectors. The budget of Kumbh 2019 is six times more than the Rs. 720cr Isha Ambani wedding in December 2018.

Maha Kumbh Mela 2019 at Prayagraj sprawls over 3,200 hectares, twice the size of the area allocated to the previous Kumbh events. Allahabad City has undergone a massive infrastructure overhaul, which includes the upgrading of nine railways stations and the construction of a new airport terminal. More than 4,200 premium tents have been setup across the fairground, and 40,000 street lights have been installed across the city. The state government has installed 1, 22,000 eco-friendly toilets for the convenience of millions of pilgrims. A new 100-bed central hospital has been set up to attend to emergency medical needs of devotees.

The hospitality sector is reported to have employed 2, 50,000 people, including 150,000 jobs in aviation. 45,000 jobs have been generated for tour operations. The number of employment opportunities in eco-tourism and medical tourism is nearly 85,000. In addition, another 55,000 new jobs have been created in the unorganized sector for tour guides, taxi drivers, interpreters, volunteers, etc. to make a living during Maha Kumbh 2019. The festival will have created 600,000 jobs until a few weeks following March 4, according to Fortune India. 

Evidently, it is not just difficult but impossible to imagine the gigantic proportions of Maha Kumbh 2019 unless you travel on cheap last minute flights to India and visit the event in person. There are many interesting things to know about Kumbh Mela, beyond the budget of Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj this year. We at Travel Beats, an overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle Travel, mined some amazing and lesser-known facts about Kumbh Mela from 640 AD to the present.

The streets of Prayagraj are transformed into a work of art with 300 resplendent murals. Important episodes of the Hindu mythology like Kshirasagara Manthana were recreated on the parapets of Prayagraj. #KumbhMela2019 #StunningMurals #ExploreIndia #Exclusive pic.twitter.com/6Bqqutpt3t

— Indian Eagle (@indianeagle) January 10, 2019

Awesome, Interesting, Lesser-known Facts about Kumbh Mela

The origin of Kumbh is associated with the mythical story of Samudra Manthan, a massive sea exploration on earth by the Devas and the Asuras in the divine era of India. A pitcher filled with amrita, the elixir of immortality, came out of the core of the sea during the exploration. When the Devas and the Asuras, driven by a desire to be blessed with immortality, got into a clash over the pitcher, four drops of amrita fell at Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik which became the venues of Kumbh Mela.

The most spectacular ceremony to behold during the festival is ritual bathing on the banks of the holy rivers – the Ganga in Haridwar, the Kshipra in Ujjain, the Godavari in Nashik, and the Sangam where the Ganga, the Yamuna and the Saraswati get merged in Allahabad. It is believed that each of these rivers turns into a pitcher of amrita (nectar) on different days of the festival – Makar Sankranti, Paush Purnima, Basant Panchami, Rath Saptami, Mauni Amavasy, and Bhisma Ekadeshi.

This religious fair is held over a sprawling area of 50.83 square kilometers. The premise of the Kumbh Mela is 200 times larger than the Vatican City of Rome, the smallest country in the world.

Such a large number of sadhus (hermits) visit Kumbh Mela 2019 that it won’t be unjust to call it the fair of sadhus. Several groups of sadhus from every nook and corner of India travel all the distance to take a holy dip into the sacred rivers during the festival. The Nagas who stay naked from head to toe, the Parivrajakas who do not speak a single word to pursue absolute silence, the Kalpavasis who take bath at three different times of the day, the Urdhwavahurs who believe in severe austerity, and the Shirshasins who meditate for long hours while standing on their heads.

If the clock is set back, we find a reference to the number of devotees at Prayag Kumbh Mela, in the writings of Hiuen Tsang, a historic traveler from China, who visited India during the regime of Harshavardhana in 640 AD. Hiuen Tsang mentioned in his chronicle that the Kumbh Festival had fetched 5 million footfalls to Prayag in 640AD when Indian population was around 6 crore.

Impressed with the colossal dimensions of the Kumbh Mela 2019, Harvard University is looking to take on it as a case study. The researchers at Harvard University are interested in studying the economics behind the festival and analyzing the statistics of its evolution.

Mark Twin, a famous American writer, visited India during the Kumbh Mela in 1895. He was so overwhelmed to see the practice of austerity by millions of Indians including the young and the old, the strong and the frail, the rich and the poor traveling from remote corners of the country that he called it the wonderful power of a faith beyond imagination.

There is a great demand for mud and cow dung among the devotees during the festival. The sale of these natural commodities goes up with the festival reaching its peak. It is a golden opportunity for money-making individuals to make a quick buck by selling mud and cow dung at unreasonable prices. Kumbh Mela has got many nicknames for its fame spread far and wide across the world. The most popular are the largest pilgrimage on earth, the world’s biggest fair, and the greatest show on earth.

So huge is the rush of people traveling to Allahabad for the Prayagraj Kumbh 2019 is that Indian Railways extended the window for buying unreserved train tickets up to 15 days. Hundreds of special trains are running to and from Allahabad. Even, thousands of tickets have been booked for last minute air travel to India from USA, Australia, Europe and the Middle East. “We have been receiving an influx of calls with booking queries for cheap flights tickets to India for Kumbh 2019. It’s overwhelming!” exclaimed the chief travel economist of Indian Eagle.

The post INR 4200 Crore for 50-day Kumbh Mela 2019 to Generate INR 1200 Billion and 6 lakh Jobs in India appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Among the most interesting stories of India are stories of the few offbeat temples which are known for unusual offerings to the presiding deities. The unusual offerings to some of these Indian temples are age-old traditions, while devotees make offbeat offerings to some temples out of their unconventional beliefs. We at Travel Beats, an Indian Diaspora community portal by Indian Eagle Travel offer you a walk through some of these temples to leave you with a gaping mouth in wonder. 

Devotees Offer Chocolates to Munch Murugan in Kerala 

If you happen to visit the Chemmoth Sree Subramaniya Swami Temple in Kerala, make sure to offer Munch chocolates to the deity Munch Murugan. How the deity, the son of Lord Shiva, came to be known as Munch Murugan is one of the interesting stories of India. The deity developed a sweet tooth for chocolates since a Muslim boy offered a Munch to him. One day the boy rang the temple bell for fun and got scolded for doing so. He fell sick that night and kept chanting Murugan’s name unconsciously. The next morning, his parents took him to the temple. When the boy felt better, the priest asked him to offer something to the deity as it is a tradition. The boy took a Munch out of his pocket and put it on the altar. Since then Munch Murugan has been receiving loads of Munch chocolates from children who visit the temple to pray for good marks in examinations.

Devotees Get Books & DVDs as Prasad at Lord Shiva Temple in Kerala

Do you ever expect to get CDs, DVDs or textbooks as holy prasad in exchange of your offerings at some temple? If yes, travel to India and visit the Lord Shiva Temple at the National Heritage Center in Thrissur, Kerala. The temple authorities believe that knowledge is the best gift of God and that devotees should be blessed with it. That is why knowledge dissemination through distribution of books and writing materials is considered the holiest prasad to visitors at this temple in Kerala.

Lord Vishnu is Offered Different Types of Dosa in Madurai

Alagar Temple in Madurai is one of the unique places to visit in India for unusual offering to the deity. Originally named Kallazhagar Temple, it is a temple of Lord Vishnu. At this Madurai temple, the deity is offered different types of dosas (a South Indian delicacy) which are later distributed as prasad among devotees. Devotees on visit to the temple bring grains which are used to make crispy dosas. The first dosa is offered to Lord Vishnu and the rest is distributed to visitors after prayers.

Devotees Get Fruit Jam as Prasad at Lord Murugan Temple in Tamil Nadu

What devotes are given at Lord Murugan Temple in Tamil Nadu is among the interesting facts about Incredible India. Located in the Palani Hills, the temple is known for offering a unique prasad to devotees. The prasad is no traditional sweet but jam made of jaggery, sugar candy and five fruits. The holy jam is known as Panchamritham. The temple has got a plant where the jam is manufactured.

Liquor is Offered to Khabees Baba Temple in Uttar Pradesh

The Khabees Baba Temple at 80 km distance from Lucknow in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is one of the most offbeat places to visit in India. Surprisingly, there is neither any idol nor any priest at this temple, except a pair of two slipper-shaped structures on an elevated platform that seems to be an altar. Visitors offer liquor to the altar at the Khabees Baba Temple in Lucknow out of devotion to a mystic saint who is believed to have lived there 150 years back. Devotees receive a portion of the liquor offered here.

Clocks and Watches are Offered to Brahma Baba Temple in Uttar Pradesh  

Image Credit: Wishesh.com

If the offering of alcohol and chocolates to deities (mentioned above) does not surprise you, visit Brahma Baba’s Temple in Uttar Pradesh and see what devotees offer to please the deity there. Devotees of all religions – Hinduism, Islam and Christianity – offer clocks and watches as tokens of gratitude towards the deity for fulfilling their wishes. Among the most interesting stories of India, the story of Brahma Baba Temple dates back to the time when a man asked the deity to bless him with driving skills. When he began to drive, he offered a clock as a thanksgiving gift to the temple. Since then it has been a tradition at Brahma Baba Temple. Surprisingly, there is neither security nor any priest to take care of the temple.

Chinese Dishes are Offered to a Temple of Goddess Kali in Kolkata   

A visit to the Chinese Kali Temple in Chinatown is the most interesting things to do in Kolkata. The temple is named so since the Chinese residents of Chinatown worship Goddess Kali. They offer different Chinese dishes like noodles, dim sum and chopsuey, not traditional Indian sweets to the deity. The worshipping of Goddess Kali by the Chinese inhabitants of Chinatown in Kolkata is also an instance of religious tolerance in India.

Toy Planes are Offered to a Gurudwara in Punjab for Visa Approval  

Why Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh Gurudwara in Jalandhar is called Airplane Gurudwara or Hawai Jahaj Gurudwara is one of the interesting stories of India. Devotees offer toy airplanes as prasad to this offbeat temple in Punjab as they believe that this unconventional offering will result in visa approval for them and fulfill their dreams of going abroad. And that’s why many shops outside the temple sell toy aircrafts.

Devotees Get Prasad with Rat Saliva in Karni Mata Temple in Rajasthan  

Karni Mata Temple in Bikaner, Rajasthan, is one of the most offbeat places to visit in India. It is a temple of about 20,000 black rats which are kabbas and considered holy. The prasad brought by devotees for the deity is also offered to the rats. Then devotees receive the prasad laced with rat saliva, which is believed to bring good luck to them.

Devotees Get Cloth Moist with Menstrual Fluid at Kamakhya Temple in Assam

Kamakhya Devi Temple in Assam is one of the most offbeat destinations in India. What is offered to devotees in return of their visit to the temple during the famous Ambubachi Festival in June is one of the most unconventional and interesting stories of India. The Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati remains closed for the first three days of the festival and opens its door on the fourth day when small pieces of cloth moist with the supposedly menstrual fluid of the goddess are distributed as prasad to thousands of devotees who gather at the temple complex on this occasion.

Bottles of Wine are Offered to Kal Bhairav Nath Temple in Madhya Pradesh

Kal Bhairav Nath Temple of Ujjain is one of the most popular Shiva shrines in India. The guardian deity of Ujjain City in Madhya Pradesh, Kal Bhairav Nath is offered bottles of wine every day. Evidently wine is the only holy prasad given to devotees at Kal Bhairav Nath Temple. Different brands of wine are available outside the temple throughout the year. The temple was built during the Maratha regime, according to some Maratha legends.

Devotees Get Jaggery Water from the Mouth of Lord Vishnu Idol in Andhra Pradesh

Panakala Narasimha Swamy Temple in Andhra Pradesh is one of the few Indian temples which are known for unusual offerings to deities. An idol of Lord Vishnu in Narasimha avatar (sphinx) is worshipped at this temple on the top of Mangalagiri Hils. As per the age-old tradition of this temple, jaggery water is poured into the mouth of the idol. It is believed that when the deity feels full, half of the jaggery water comes back out of the mouth and it is distributed as holy prasad to devotees.

Travel to India

India is an endless saga of incredible stories, offbeat tourist places and interesting things. Travel on cheap flights to India and explore the country’s kaleidoscopic diversity. Subscribe to Travel Beats for more such stories and get discount airfare deals for India.   

The post Interesting Stories of Offbeat Indian Temples and Unusual Offerings to Deities appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Political pilgrimage is one of the emerging trends in India. It seems a potential source of revenues for Indian Tourism as the country is to get a temple in honor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Proposed by JP Singh, a diehard follower and supporter of the Prime Minister, the Narendra Modi Temple will come up in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

A sprawling area of 5 acres or 20, 234 square meters has been chosen for the proposed Narendra Modi temple in Meerut City, Uttar Pradesh. The temple will reportedly house a 100ft statue of PM Modi and cost a whopping INR 10 crore. The foundation brick will be laid at the site on October 23 this year (2017) as per the announcement in a press conference yesterday.

The upcoming Narendra Modi temple in Meerut City is the second shrine in the name of PM Modi. Rajkot in Gujarat is where the first Prime Minister Modi temple was built and inaugurated in 2006. Initially a photograph of the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was installed at the altar of the Modi Temple in Rajkot. In 2015, the temple got an idol carved by artisans from Odisha and funded by the Om Yuva Group, an organization of 350 local youths.

It will take 2 years to build the PM Narendra Modi Temple in Meerut City. The 100-foot statue will be worshiped daily and offered prayers twice a day as at the Rajkot temple of PM Modi in Gujarat. The upcoming temple will also commemorate “PM Modi’s model of development” for a brighter India.

The proposal to dedicate a temple to PM Modi in Uttar Pradesh is part of JP Singh’s post-retirement plan for social welfare of the poor. Recently, he retired as an assistant engineer in the irrigation and water department after 30 years of service to the government of Uttar Pradesh. He said in the press conference:

“I am inspired by the love Narendra Modiji has for Mother India. The ‘Modi Magic’ deserves a temple. To highlight our respect for him and our belief in his work, I have planned to build a temple and dedicate to him. I want to now dedicate my life to the needy and the poor by working for social welfare. The plan to build the Narendra Modi temple is a step in this direction.”

Interestingly, there are two temples in honor of Sonia Gandhi, President of Indian National Congress, in Telangana. One is in Karimnagar, and the other is in Mahbubnagar. The upcoming Modi Temple in Meerut City is supposed to be part of a tourism circuit in Uttar Pradesh.

Meerut is a 2-hour drive from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. Even popular tourist places like Haridwar, Nainital and Dehradun are short road trips from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.

Also Check: World’s Tallest Temple under Construction in India

The post India to Get Narendra Modi Temple with 100ft Idol of PM Modi for INR 10 Crore appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Dr. Frank Islam is one of the few Indian American entrepreneurs and philanthropists who stick to their roots in India. Based in Washington DC, he donated $2 million for the foundation of a business school at Aligarh Muslim University in Uttar Pradesh, India. He visited India and laid the foundation stone for the project in March 2016.

The former founder and CEO of the technology firm QSS Group; Dr. Frank Islam belongs to Azamgarh District in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh where he runs a philanthropic foundation to empower the less privileged with skills for employability. He traveled to the United States from India to realize his ‘American dream’ at the age of 15.

Aligarh Muslim University where Dr. Frank Islam graduated from conferred an honorary doctor of science degree on him and named the business school Frank and Debbie Islam Management Complex. In his acceptance speech during the convocation ceremony, he attributed his success as an entrepreneur and leader to the university.

Academy Award winning musician A R Rahman, veteran Indian actor Dilip Kumar and late Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, former President of India, are other recipients of honorary doctorate in science from Aligarh Muslim University. – IndianEagle  

The business school at Aligarh Muslim University will nurture the best minds in leadership and entrepreneurship for generations, according to Dr. Frank Islam. The new management complex will consist of an academic area, an administrative area, a faculty area, a library, an open air theatre and an activity room. The Frank and Debbie Islam Management Complex is expected to open its door in 2017.

The business school will foster spirit of innovation through student exchange programs with top universities in the United States and leading business schools from across the world. – Dr. Frank Islam

He is also planning to set up a technical college for girls in Azamgarh, which will be named after his mother Qumran Nisan who he describes as ‘a liberator of the human potential.’ This philanthropic initiative is inspired by his mother’s liberal thoughts about education of girls in India. The Qumran Nisan College will empower girls with technical, vocational and professional skills at the post-secondary level of education. This project is awaiting approval from the Home Ministry of India.

A computer science graduate from the University of Colorado, Dr. Frank Islam currently heads the F1 Investment Group. He made headlines when President Barack Obama appointed him General Trustee of the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He is a member of several boards and advisory councils including the US Institute of Peace, the Woodrow Wilson Center, Johns Hopkins University, George Mason University, the American University in the Emirates and likes.

Said to be worth $300 million among the Indians in Washington DC, Dr. Frank Islam resides in a 40,000 square feet mansion with five bedrooms, a guesthouse, a swimming pool and a backyard tea house in Potomac, Maryland. He had started his entrepreneurial venture with only $500, optimism and never-say-die attitude.

Dr. Frank Islam’s journey from India to the United States is one of the inspirational stories of the ‘American dream’ that many self-made Indian entrepreneurs and philanthropists in USA connect with. To conclude in his own words: “I always say, from the dusty streets of Azamgarh to Aligarh to America, I crossed the ocean to realize and to achieve and to attain the American dream.”

Read More News & Stories of Indian Americans

The post Success Story of Dr Frank Islam: An Inspirational Journey from Azamgarh to America appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

“Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost.” if you believe in the maxim, you need to get lost in order to explore Lucknow, one of the ancient Indian cities. A cultural potboiler of food, music, art, and handicraft, Lucknow is a heritage city dating thousands of years back. The city has become a mine of interesting facts during its journey from the Sultanate Era till the present decade through the British Raj. Indian Eagle collects the most interesting facts of Lucknow to help you get lost in search of more about the city.

1 The origin of Lucknow is a myth to the common man. It is traced thousands of years back to the Suryavanshi Dynasty. If age-old legends are to be believed, Lakshmana, who accompanied Lord Rama in exile, was the founder of the ancient city of Lucknow, which was built on and around an elevated piece of land near the Gomati River. Then, it was named Lakshmanpur.

2 Lucknow owes its cultural and historic evolution to the Mughal Empire. Lucknow cradled the dynasty of the Nawabs in the first half of the 18^th century when the then Mughal Emperors appointed Nawabs for smooth administration of Awadh.

3 Since the second half of the 18^th century, Lucknow had flourished by leaps and bounds in all areas including poetry, music, dance, and others. The regime of the fourth Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula was the golden period of the city.

4 The seat of administration was shifted from Awadh to Lucknow during the British era of India. The city witnessed many uprisings against the British Rule. However, Lucknow was made the capital of Uttar Pradesh after India gained independence in 1947.

5 Lucknow was one of the hotspots of rebellious activities during the Rebellion of 1857, the first war of freedom from the British Rule in India. The fire of the uprising spread from Lucknow to Kanpur and then to Bengal.

6 When the British gained absolute control over Awadh, Sir Henry Lawrence imprisoned the then Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. The nawab was exiled to Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1856. His wife Begum Hazrat Mahal had to seek shelter in Nepal.

7 In the beginning of the 20^th century, Lucknow had lent support to the Khilafat Movement, a political campaign by the Muslim community for separation of an Islamic country out of British India.

8 Lucknow is one of the cultural capitals in North India. The bygone regime of the Nawabs in the city is best remembered for cultural extravagance. The Nawabs of Lucknow were the patrons of art and culture. They patronized not only cultural pursuits like music and dance but also construction of historic monuments which still stand today.

9 It is among the interesting facts of Lucknow that the Turkish architecture has a bearing on the heritage of Lucknow. For instance, the Rumi Darwaza (60 feet high), the historic gateway to the city of Lucknow, is similar to the Gateway to Constantinople. That is why the Rumi Darwaza is nicknamed the Turkish Gateway.

10 Among the tourist attractions of Lucknow, Bara Imambara is a colossal edifice. Bara Imambara houses Asia’s largest hall without any additional support of beams or pillars.  About 22,000 laborers were put to work during construction of this landmark monument.

11 Lucknow heritage is a blend of architectural influences from other countries. The University of Lucknow is inspired by the European architecture. Among the historical palaces, Dilkusha Kothi is an example of English Baroque architecture. It was built as a summer resort by a British resident in 1800.

12 Among the things to see in Lucknow, Bara Imambara and Chhota Imambara are an interface between the Mughal architecture and the Turkish architecture. Lucknow’s La Martiniere College was constructed in the Indo-European style.

13 On its list of tourist attractions, Lucknow boasts a stepwell. Shahi Bavali, the royal well at Bara Imambara, is identical to the stepwells of Rajasthan and Gujarat in construction, not grandeur. A fleet of stairs leads to the well at a depth of several feet, and the well is surrounded by bathrooms on the first and second floors.

14 Lucknow’s Awadhi cuisine is unique to the food culture of India. The Awadhi cuisine of Lucknow is known for multiple varieties of biryani, kebab and bread. Shami Kebab, Galawati Kebab, Kakori Kebab, Seekh Kebab, and Ghutwa Kebab are some of the different flavors of Lucknow food.

15 Lucknow Mahotsava is a popular festival of art and culture in the calendar of Lucknow events. Part of Heritage India tourism, the festival is annually held to promote the city’s art and culture at international levels.

16 Lucknow has been the cradle of Kathak, one of the classical Indian dance forms. Kathak gained popularity under patronage of Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh. Also, Lucknow is home to Begum Akhtar, an eminent Ghazal singer. The city is the birthplace of a few great Indian musicians: Naushad, Talat Mahmood and Anup Jalota. Legendary Urdu poet Kaifi Azmi and Kathak exponent Birju Maharaj also belong to this city of Nawabs.

17 Lucknow is famous for various types of embroidery work. Chikankari, a 400-year-old embroidery art, is unique to Lucknow, the largest exporter of garments with Chikan embroidery.

18 Lucknow is India’s first ‘CCTV City’. Initially, the cityscape was brought under the surveillance of 4000 CCTV cameras. The number of cameras has been doubled this year. Advanced drones are used to keep a watch on major areas during special occasions.

Jet Airways, Flydubai and Oman Air connect Lucknow with the USA via Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Muscat respectively. E-tourist Visa to India is available at Lucknow Airport for tourists from the USA and Canada. India Tourism has started a double-decker AC train on the Delhi-Lucknow route giving smooth access from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.

About Indian Eagle

Indian Eagle is a leading international travel organization inspiring tourists for India travel and booking their cheap flights to India from USA and Canada  throughout the year. 

The post Things to Know About Lucknow, Ancient Indian Heritage City appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Holi in India is a festivity of colors and a celebration of colorfulness. It is the only Indian festival when all different colors get mingled with each other to create a unique miasma of love and harmony. The celebration of Holi has been a ubiquitous thread like a key motif in the socio-cultural fabric of India since the time immemorial. Every nook and corner boasts the frenzy of this festivity, but the exuberance brims over at Barsana and Nandgaon in Uttar Pradesh, which Indian Eagle reveals through the photographs of Lathmar Holi festival from Saurabh Chatterjee in Hyderabad.

The Holi Festival is known as Lathmar Holi in Barsana, Uttar Pradesh. A 115-km drive from New Delhi, Barsana is one of the best places to celebrate Holi in India. The way the natives of Barsana and Nandgaon celebrate Lathmar Holi is unique to offbeat India.

The tradition of Barsana’s women beating the men of Nandgaon with wooden sticks (lathi) playfully refers to the legend of Lord Krishna’s mischievous celebration of Holi with Radha and other gopis (belles) in Barasana village.

The women of Barsana are dressed in traditional wears with veils hanging over their faces. They chase the men of Nandgaon, with wooden sticks in their hands.

There is only one temple in honor of Radha in Barsana. The Radha Temple is the axis of the Lathmar Holi festival. Hundreds of men and women of all ages gather in the temple complex for celebration.

The women of Barsana in full swing of the festivity! Dressed in Indian ethnic fashion, they enjoy themselves a lot over fun games.

No one is identifiable in the pool of colors. The colors of love make them look alike creating a single canvas of love and harmony.

A man from Nandgaon playing a musical instrument to deepen the vibe of the celebration. The natives of Barsana and Nandgaon enjoy themselves over folk songs adding to the symphony of joy during the celebration.

The enthusiasm of Barsana’s women knows no bounds! Their cheerfulness adds to the free spirit of the Lathmar Holi celebration, which spreads far and leaves an indelible impression on the minds of onlookers.

The old and the hermits – no one is spared from the colors of Holi Festival in Barsana. The celebration does not keep the monks aloof from the rest of society. Each face is the face of India!

This photo story of Lathmar Holi Celebration is brought by Indian Eagle, a leading international travel organization inspiring tourists to travel India and booking their trips at the best prices.

About the contributor 

Saurabh Chatterjee is an award-winning professional photographer on a mission to capture the beauty India through his camera and initiate every camera owner into great photography through dedicated training. He is the founder of SIA Photography. His photographs have been published by National Geographic, Lonely Planet and other magazines of international repute.

The post Lathmar Holi Festival: Offbeat & Most Colorful Celebration in India appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The Ganga Aarti in the evening, people bathing in the river, sadhus chanting holy mantras, devotees offering prayers to the deities, ringing of bells in the temples, hands joint in supplication, heads bowed to the sun, boats sailing in the river and burning of dead bodies on the ghats – all these frames if combined together make a very familiar picture of Varanasi which is still intriguing, enigmatic and amazing. It is the same Varanasi whose age-old stories are passed through generations and which has fascinated people from different walks of life at home as well as abroad. Indian Eagle shares a list of the things to do in Varanasi to make your visit more memorable than the previous visits.

Riding a boat in the Ganges River is one of the must-do things in Varanasi. Sunrise and sunset are the best times of the day for a boat ride. You can best catch and click the glimpses of life on the ghats of Varanasi, from the boat sailing rhythmically in the river. The 180 degree panorama of the people busy performing different activities on the banks makes the boat ride a most delightful experience.

Visit to Varanasi is one of the best photography opportunities in India. Photographers find kicks in penetrating through the lanes and alleys of the city with their cameras. There are so many things and activities to click on that the memory of your camera may fall short of a complete album. The sightseeing of Varanasi along the banks of the Ganges River is a must-not miss for photography!

Join the devotees in morning or evening prayers to the sun, on the ghats. Prayers are offered to the rising sun and the setting sun. You may be an atheist, but if you stay away from the ghats during the ceremony, the ambience, the flamboyance, the vista, the vibe and the faith would be a great miss. Moreover, morning or evening is the best time to feel the spiritual bliss of Varanasi.

A passage through the lanes and alleys of Varanasi will help to rediscover the gastronome in you. Roaming in and around the city without eating the street food is simply impossible! The street food of Varanasi is as varied and delicious as that of Agra, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Indore and Lucknow. Let you taste buds have a twist with lassi, thandai, jalebi and kachori.

What to take home as a souvenir from Varanasi? What to buy in the markets of Varanasi? Though there are many things to purchase for religious or nonreligious purposes, Banarasi saree is a must buy. The Banarasi saree is famous all over India. It sells at a higher price in the bustling shopping area near the Vishwanath Temple. So make sure to get it at reasonable prices in any other market.

Don’t miss a visit to the cremation sites or burning ghats of Varanasi where you can experience a concrete picture of the Hindu philosophy of life and death on earth. Human corpses are ceremonially cremated on the Manikarnika Ghat and the Harishchandra Ghat in central Varanasi. According to the philosophy, if a person is cremated here after death, his body goes back to earth and the soul journeys to the heaven.

Ganga Dussehra and Ganga Mahotsav are the greatest and most spectacular festivals of Varanasi. The Ganga Dussehra Festival will commence on June 8 this year and continue for 10 days in Varanasi, Haridwar and Rishikesh. Check our previous post on the Ganga Dussehra Festival to know more.

IndianEagle.com not only encourages devotees to visit the divine destinations like Varanasi but also offers the cheapest flights tickets to India on all occasions.

The post Tips to Make Your Varanasi Travel More Memorable than Previous Visits appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Bundelkhand Region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh is in the focus of Indian tourism because of Gulabi Gang, a group of underprivileged, deprived women at the lowest rung of the social ladder. Also known as the Pink sari brigade, Gulabi Gang is a collective voice of women is support of their rights and in protest against social injustices to them. Sampat Pal, the leader of the gang, is a torchbearer of education, emancipation and empowerment for women in Bundelkhand. Recently, she has been in news for the story of Gulabi Gang and her life has been adapted into a Bollywood movie titled Gulaab Gang which is to be released on March 7, on the eve of Women’s Day in India. Let’s have an introduction with the tourist destinations and attractions in Bundelkhand region which has drawn lavish attention in a few international film festivals.

Jhansi

The gateway to Bundelkhand, Jhansi is a historic place cum tourist destination in Uttar Pradesh. The history of Jhansi spans from the regime of the Chandela Kings before the 12th century till the British Raj in India. With the downfall of the Chandela dynasty, Jhansi was lost in the wilderness. Its resurrection happened under the sovereignty of Bir Singh Ju Deo, the King of Orchha, in the 17th century.

However, Jhansi is known worldwide for Rani Laxmi Bai and the stories of her bravery in rebellion against the British. The Rani Mahal or the Palace of Rani Laxmi Bai, now a museum, preserves historic exhibits and archaeological evidences. The Darbar Hall in the Palace is decorated with beautiful paintings of flamboyant colors. The British damaged a major percentage of the palace during the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857. The Jhansi Fort, part of Bundelkhand history, is located on a hilltop which commands a panoramic view of the city. The museum exhibiting the artifacts of the bygone historic era, is a must see in the Jhansi Fort.

Orchha

Orchha, once the capital of Bundela Rajputs, is a beautiful small town in Bundelkhand. Founded by King Rudra Pratap Singh on the Betwa River in Madhya Pradesh, Orchha means “hidden” in the language of Bundelkhand. The town was named so because it was hidden in forests before it became a habitat. Orchhat is known for its regal splendor which, though, has faded to some extent over the years. The town tells the stories of historic battles and the mythical legends of Lord Rama. Tughlaqs and Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan had invaded it.

Orchha is the place where Lord Rama is worshipped as a king. The Raj Mahal, one of the tourist attractions of Orchha, was once the seat of the monarchs in the Orchha Fort. The Ram Raj Temple is an exceptional temple built in form of fort architecture. The simple façade of the Raj Mahal is in contrast to the interior adorned with splendid paintings. The motifs, curved on the ceiling and walls, are influenced by the Mughal interior design. Sheesh Mahal in Orchha Fort is a heritage hotel now.

Chanderi

Located between Malwa and Bundelkhand, Chanderi is full of history. Because of its strategic location amidst Gujarat, Malwa, Mewar and Deccan, Chanderi has always been an attraction to tourists and traders. It had captured the imagination of the rulers, kings and emperors of several dynasties. It used to be a prosperous and culturally active zone during the imperial era of Bundelkhand. Apart from the beautiful hilly landscape, Chanderi is known for the magnificent monuments built by the Sultans of Malwa and Bundela Rajputs.

Looming large in the skyline of this historic town is a Mughal Fort. Built in the Mughal period, the fort boasts a height of 200 meters. “Khooni Darwaza” is its main gate. Koshak Mahal in Chanderi is older than the Mughal history of India. It is said to be built by Mahmud Khilji of Malwa in 1445 AD. The Archaeological Museum of Chanderi is a must visit for its impressive collection of sculptures from the different eras of Bundelkhand.

Khajuraho

Another popular tourist destination that Bundelkhand is proud of is Khajeraho or Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Khajuraho is famous for its temples with rare sculptural work which invokes wonder among visitors. The art and architecture of the temples are rare gifts to the Indian civilization. The temples were constructed in the regime of Chandela Kings who patronized craftsmanship and artistry in their kingdom. The construction of the Khajuraho temples took 100 years from 950 to 1050 A.D.

Indian Eagle, an international travel agent, offers the lowest airfare to let you explore the potential of Indian tourism. Do click your way to IndianEagle.com and see how easy it is to book the cheapest flight online.

The post Bundelkhand tourism in spotlight of international film festivals appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.