WEST BENGAL GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

• AMONG THE HIMALAYAN RANGES OF THIS REGION, SINGALILA RANGE HOSTS SANDAKFU WHICH AT 3,636 METRES (11,929 FT) IS THE HIGHEST POINT OF WEST BENGAL. 

• TWO HIGH PEAKS, TIGER HILL AND GHOOM ARE SEEN NEAR THE TOWN OF DARJEELING. MANY RANGES BRANCH OFF IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS FROM TIGER HILL. DURPINDARA IS AN IMPORTANT MOUNTAIN IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE MOUNTAINOUS REGION. 

• A FEW HILLS ALSO OCCUR IN THE TERAI OR DOOARS REGION AT THE FOOT OF THE HIMALAYAS. SOME REMNANTS OF THE SIWALIKS CAN BE SEEN IN THE JALPAIGURI DISTRICT, WHERE THEY ARE KNOWN AS THE BUXA-JAYANTI HILLS.

• A SMALL COASTAL REGION IS ON THE EXTREME SOUTH, WHILE THE SUNDARBANS MANGROVE FORESTS FORM A REMARKABLE GEOGRAPHICAL LANDMARK AT THE GANGES DELTA.

WEST BENGAL GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

• WEST BENGAL IS ON THE EASTERN BOTTLENECK OF INDIA, STRETCHING FROM THE HIMALAYAS IN THE NORTH TO THE BAY OF BENGAL IN THE SOUTH. 

• THE STATE HAS A TOTAL AREA OF 88,752 SQUARE KILOMETRES (34,267 SQ MI). THE DARJEELING HIMALAYAN HILL REGION IN THE NORTHERN EXTREME OF THE STATE BELONGS TO THE EASTERN HIMALAYA. 

• THIS REGION CONTAINS SANDAKFU (3,636 M OR 11,929 FT)—THE HIGHEST PEAK OF THE STATE.THE NARROW TERAI REGION SEPARATES THIS REGION FROM THE PLAINS, WHICH IN TURN TRANSITIONS INTO THE GANGES DELTA TOWARDS THE SOUTH. 

• THE RARH REGION INTERVENES BETWEEN THE GANGES DELTA IN THE EAST AND THE WESTERN PLATEAU AND HIGH LANDS. THE CHOLA RANGE IS SITUATED ON THE SIKKIM AND BHUTAN BORDER. THE HIGHEST PEAK IS RISHILA. 

• THE TOWN OF KALIMPONG IS SITUATED IN THIS REGION. NEORA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK IS LOCATED HERE. THE RELATIVELY LOW-HEIGHT BUXA-JAYANTI RANGE, A PART OF THE SIVALIK, IS ALSO LOCATED HERE.

WEST BENGAL BACKGROUND

 

 

• FROM THE 3RD CENTURY BC THE BROADER REGION OF BENGAL FORMED PART OF ASHOKA’S EMPIRE. IN THE 4TH CENTURY BC IT WAS ABSORBED INTO THE GUPTA EMPIRE. 

• FROM THE 13TH CENTURY IT WAS UNDER MUSLIM RULE UNTIL IT CAME UNDER THE BRITISH IN THE 18TH CENTURY. 

• AT INDIAN INDEPENDENCE IN 1947, BENGAL WAS PARTITIONED, THE EASTERN SECTOR BECOMING EAST PAKISTAN (LATER BANGLADESH) AND THE WESTERN SECTOR BECOMING INDIA’S WEST BENGAL. 

• ALTHOUGH IN AREA WEST BENGAL RANKS AS ONE OF THE SMALLER STATES OF INDIA, IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN POPULATION WITH OVER 91 MILLION PEOPLE.

WEST BENGAL BACKGROUND

 

• WEST BENGAL  IS A STATE IN THE EASTERN REGION OF INDIA AND IS THE NATION'S FOURTH MOST POPULOUS.IT IS ALSO THE SEVENTH MOST POPULOUS SUB-NATIONAL ENTITY IN THE WORLD.

• WEST BENGAL IS THE SIXTH-LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO INDIA'S GDP. IT IS BORDERED BY THE COUNTRIES OF NEPAL, BHUTAN, AND BANGLADESH AND THE STATES OF ORISSA, JHARKHAND, BIHAR, SIKKIM, AND ASSAM AND HAS AN AREA OF 34,267 SQ MI (88,752 SQ KM); THE CAPITAL IS KOLKATA (CALCUTTA).

• WEST BENGAL ENCOMPASSES TWO BROAD NATURAL REGIONS, THE GANGETIC PLAIN IN THE SOUTH AND THE SUB-HIMALAYAN AND HIMALAYAN AREA IN THE NORTH. 

WEST BENGAL TOURIST MAP

• I WILL NOW AFTER A LONG PAUSE TRY TO SHOW YOU THE EASTERN PART OF THE INDIA i.e. WEST BENGAL

NELLORE,ANDHRA PRADESH

• NELLORE WAS KNOWN BY THE NAME OF VIKRAMA SIMHAPURI TILL 13TH CENTURY. THE DISTRICT HAD AN IMPORTANT ROLE DURING THE EMERGENCE OF THE TELUGU LANGUAGE AND THE FORMATION OF THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH. 

• IT HAD BEEN UNDER THE RULE OF MAURYA DYNASTY, KHARAVELA OF CHEDI DYNASTY, SATAVAHANAS, KAKATIYAS, PALLAVAS, CHOLAS, EASTERN GANGAS OF KALINGA EMPIRE , TELUGU CHOLAS, PANDYAS AND OTHER DYNASTIES. 

• THE CITY DERIVES ITS NAME FROM THE TAMIL, “NELL” WHICH MEANS RICE, AS PADDY CULTIVATION IS THE PREDOMINANT OCCUPATION IN THIS REGION. 

• NOTHING CERTAIN IS KNOWN OF THE HISTORY OF NELLORE BEFORE THE TIME OF THE CHOLAS. THE NEOLITHIC AGE IN NELLORE IS MORE OBSCURE THAN THE PALEOLITHIC AGE. 

• IT IS NOT CLEAR TO WHAT EXTENT THIS DISTRICT WAS OCCUPIED BY THE DRAVIDIANS. IT IS SUPPOSED THAT NELLORE WAS SITUATED IN DANDAKARANYA FORESTS INTO WHICH THE ARYAS FIRST PENETRATED AS ADVENTUROUS SAGES WITH THE RISE OF THE MAURYAN EMPIRE. 

• NELLORE CAME UNDER MAURYAN INFLUENCE AND WAS PART OF THE ASHOKAN EMPIRE IN THE 3RD CENTURY B.C. IT WAS NEXT INCLUDED IN THE PALLAVA DOMINION BETWEEN THE FOURTH AND SIXTH CENtury A.D. 

• BEFORE THE DISTRICT WAS TAKEN OVER THE BRITISH IT WAS RULED BY THE NAWABS. DURING THE BRITISH RULE THE DISTRICT WAS AT PEACE AND DID NOT UNDERGO ANY MAJOR POLITICAL CHANGES. 

• THE PERIOD AFTER INDIAN INDEPENDENCE BROUGHT ABOUT MAJOR POLITICAL CHANGES IN THE DISTRICT. UNTIL 1 OCTOBER 1953, THE DISTRICT WAS PART OF THE MADRAS (NOW CHENNAI) STATE BUT ON 1 NOVEMBER 1956 WHEN THE STATES WERE RECOGNISED ON THE BASIS OF LINGUISTIC DIFFERENCES, THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH CAME INTO EXISTENCE. DURING THAT TIME NELLORE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE FORMATION OF THE STATE AND POTTI SRIRAMULU, A TELUGU PATRIOT AND ACTIVIST HAD GIVEN A LOT OF EFFORT TO SET UP ANDHRA PRADESH.

NELLORE,ANDHRA PRADESH

• NELLORE IS A CITY, AN URBAN AGGLOMERATION, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AND HEADQUARTERS OF POTTI SRI RAMULU NELLORE DISTRICT, FORMERLY NELLORE DISTRICT. IN THE SOUTH INDIAN STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH. 

• IT IS ABOUT 453 KILOMETRES (281 MI) SOUTH EAST OF STATE CAPITAL, HYDERABAD, LOCATED ON THE BANKS OF THE PENNA RIVER. NELLORE IS ALSO FAMOUS FOR ITS PRODUCTION OF MICA (GUDUR), LEMON (GUDUR) AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS SUCH AS RICE AND IT IS ALSO FAMOUS FOR OTHER TEMPLES LIKE NARASIMHA SWAMY KONDA, JONNAVADA KAMAKSHI AMMAVARI TEMPLE, AYYAPPA TEMPLE, GOLAGAMUDI VENKAYA SWAMI TEMPLE, RAJARAJESWARI TEMPLE, PENCHALAKONA. NELLORE IS ALSO KNOWN FOR AQUACULTURE.

• IT IS ONE OF THE FASTEST DEVELOPING CITIES IN ANDHRA PRADESH

KOLLERU LAKE ,VIJAYWADA ,ANDHRA PRADESH

• Thousands of fish tanks were dug up inside the wetland converting the lake into a mere drain. Apart from this the farmers had converted the land use pattern of the lake. 

                                   

• This had a lot of impact in terms of pollution leading to even difficulty in getting drinking water for the local people. The total area of the lake converted to aquaculture ponds accounts for 99.73km2 in 2004in comparison to 29.95km2 in 1967. 

                        

• The area under agricultural practice in the wetland also increased from 8.40 km2 in 1967 to 16.62km2 in 2004. Sewage inflow from the towns of Eluru, Gudivada and even Vijayawada and industrial effluents, pesticides and fertilizers from the Krishna-Godavari delta region contaminate the lake. 

                         

• Eleven major industries release about 7.2 million litres of effluents into the lake every day. 

KOLLERU LAKE ,VIJAYWADA ,ANDHRA PRADESH

• Kolleru Lake is the largest freshwater lake and is located in Andhra Pradesh. Kolleru is located between Krishna and Godavari delta and covers an area of 308 km². 

                                            

• The lake serves as a natural flood-balancing reservoir for these two rivers. The lake is fed directly by water from the seasonal Budameru and Tammileru streams, and is connected to the Krishna and Godavari systems by over 68 inflowing drains and channels. 

                              

• It serves as a habitat for migratory birds. It supports the livelihood of fishermen and riparian population in the area. The lake was notified as a wildlife sanctuary in November 1999 under India's Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and designated a wetland of international importance in November 2002 under the international Ramsar Convention.

                                      

AMARAVATI MUSEUM ,VIJAYWADA ,ANDHRA PRADESH

• The Archaeological Museum at Amaravati houses mainly Buddhist relics. The antiquities found here include collections from Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh which belong to the period between 3rd century BC to 12th century AD. 

                                             

• It contains panels, chakras and caskets containing relics, broken railings and sculptures etc. The exhibits are arranged in different galleries. Gallery I exhibits inscribed relief of Buddha from Gummadidurru, Image of Buddha, Terracotta, Coins, Beads, Dome-slabs, Pillar fragments and Miscellaneous Sculptures. 

                                      

• Gallery II exhibits relics of 2nd century BC, inscribed pillars, drum and dome slabs, stone-wheel from Lingarajapalli and Buddha images form Alluru. The museum is open  from 0900 to 1700 on all days except Fridays. 

KONDAPALLI FORT ,VIJAYWADA ,ANDHRA PRADESH

• The KONDAPALLI FORT has served a number of different purposes at different points in time. Though originally built as a recreational House for the Kings, later it went on to develop into a thriving business centre. Its last known use was as a training base for the British rulers. 

                                     

• Also worth a mention here is the Dargah of Garib sahib, a renowned Persian Saint. It lies at a close distance from the Kondapalli fort. 

                                       

• Thus, lies the formidable hill fort of Kondapalli, a majestic structure commanding the skyline of the Kondapalli hill range. The Archaeological department of Andhra Pradesh has undertaken a number of projects for the renovation and restoration of the fort and the various structures located within it. 

KONDAPALLI FORT ,VIJAYWADA ,ANDHRA PRADESH

• A path leads to the great reservoir, which is of immense depth and very cold. A spring surrounds the reservoir. Several bathrooms have stone pipes and cisterns. 

                                 

• There are numerous other water tanks in the fort area which usually go dry during the winter months. Beyond the reservoir is the granary, a massive stone building with high arches and receptacles for grain. Behind this lie the magazines. 

                                           

• An old English barrack and burial ground are also found within the walls. The barrack has eight large rooms apart from a building at the annex. In addition, there are several buildings standing within the fort which are now in ruins. 

KONDAPALLI FORT ,VIJAYWADA ,ANDHRA PRADESH

• The Kondapalli fort has been constructed as a majestic rocktower that rises up to three stories. The fort is entered through three massive gates, which lie in close succession at the foot of the hill. The first entrance is called the `Dargah Darwaza`.It is a 12 feet high and fifteen feet high gate that is built out of a single block of granite.

                                             

•  Besides the Dargah darwaza there is another entry gate called the Golconda darwaza located on the other end on the hill. This gate leads to the village of Jagiapett. A stone staircase marks the ascent to the summit, which is fortified with towers and loopholed bastions.

                                     

•  Above, lying at a crest between the two hills at the summit is the Tanisha Mahal or Palace. The palace is still well maintained. There is a cloistered ground storey and arched roofs found herein. It has many chambers on the ground floor and a huge hall on the upper floor. Above that is the great hall. The zenana quarters are approached along a terrace and enclosed by a high wall. 

MIRACLE: TOURISM IN INDIA: UNDAVALLI CAVES ,VIJAYAWADA,ANDHRA PRADESH

MIRACLE: TOURISM IN INDIA: UNDAVALLI CAVES ,VIJAYAWADA,ANDHRA PRADESH: "The caves of Undavalli provides the finest example of the rock cut architecture of the Buddhists in India. The most st..."

KONDAPALLI FORT ,VIJAYWADA ,ANDHRA PRADESH

• Kondapalli, an industrial town near Vijaywada is best known for the famous monument of the Kondapalli fort. Also referred to as the Kondapalli Quila, this historic fort is located on the main hill range known as Kodapalli in the Krishna district. 

                                           

• The ruins of the former citadel of the Kondapalli fort stand high over the walled enclosure of the old city, which is now overgrown. The fort was built in 1360 by the rulers of the Reddy Dynasty of Kondavid. Over the years it was the site of a number of wars of conquest and power among different dynasties. The fort was seized by the Bahmani king Humayun the Cruel in 1458 and it was fiercely contested for over two and a half centuries. 

                                           

• After having been under the control of the Bahmani Kingdom for a while, it went on to be occupied by the rulers of the Gajapati district of Orissa followed by Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire, and from then on it fell into the hands of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. In 1687 it surrendered to the emperor Aurangzeb. On 10 March 1766 it was stormed and taken from the Nizam by the British under General Caillaud. 

UNDAVALLI CAVES ,VIJAYAWADA,ANDHRA PRADESH

• Besides admiring the architectural beauty of the Undavalli caves tourists can explore the nearby area around the Undavalli caves. 

                           

• When you reach at the top of the cave you get the finest view of the agricultural environment. You can kill time picking alongside the Krishna river. 

                                       

• You can also take the leisure walk along the river and enchant with the local people. You may find children playing in the fields barefooted and their mothers working hard in the fields. 

                                 

                                

• Tourists can even take the boat ride in the river enjoying the surrounding beauty. After that you can even have lunch with the local villagers in the fields. 

UNDAVALLI CAVES ,VIJAYAWADA,ANDHRA PRADESH

• The caves of Undavalli provides the finest example of the rock cut architecture of the Buddhists in India. The most striking feature of the Undavalli cave is the 5 meter long statue of the Lord Buddha in the reclining position.

•  Another major attraction of the cave is the sculpture of the Lord Vishnu, which is made out of the single granite block.

                                       

• As the climate is warm in the summers tourists are recommended to wear the light cotton clothes to escape from the summer heat. Do not forget to carry the water bottles along with yourself. You may take help from the tour guide in order to fully explore the area and to know about its historical importance. 

                             

• In winters the temperature is cool and pleasant. The ideal time to plan out the holiday trip to the Undavalli caves lies between the month of October and February.

UNDAVALLI CAVES ,VIJAYAWADA,ANDHRA PRADESH

• Undavalli Caves lies in the Undavalli village in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. From the city of Vijayawada the caves are located at the distance of 8 km and 32 km from Guntur. 

                                      

• These caves are located at the top of the high hills facing the Krishna River.These four stories caves are said to be found in the 7th century. They are associated with the Vishnukundin Kings of AD 420 – 620. 

• These exotic caves of Undavalli were dedicated to the Anantapadmanabha and Narisimhaswami. According to the historical evidences Madhava Reddy who ruled this region as the subordinate under the Reddies of Kondaveedu gifted the caves to the temple of Anantha Swamy. 

                                                   

• It is also believed that these caves were used by the Buddhist monks as the rest houses. Some of the other shrines in the cave are dedicated to the Trimurti, Brahma and Shiva. These ancient Hindu cave temples holds the great importance among the Hindus in India. 

AKKANA AND MADANNA CAVES ,VIJAYWADA ,ANDHRA PRADESH

• Akuna and Madanna Caves Akkana and Madanna, who were ministers in the court of Abdul Hasan Tanashah in the 17th century.and these rock-cut caves were named after them. Though Akkanna and Madanna were not responsible for the carving of these caves, they were actively associated with them as they had their Secretariat on these premises. These two were brothers or cousins or near relatives, (there are many versions about their relationship,) the duo had a glorious career and a tragic end.

•  These caves are dated as they belong to 6th and 7th centuries AD. The cave, facing east, has a rectangular on octagonal pillars, and lower cave is triple-celled with a pillared. This architecture echoes the richness of the bygone era and the tragic end of great administrators of Kutub Shah, who ruled this part of the country during 1611 and 1672 AD. The structures even recall the Buddhist patterns inherited from Ikshvaku art style.

                                                

•  Historians contend that the caves are assigned variously to the early Pallava, Vishnukundin and Chalukya periods. The upper cave is a rock-cut temple dedicated to the Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. The surroundings are fragrant with sweet-smelling and colourful flowers.Sure, It can be a great time to spend there, enjoying the refreshing breezes of Krishna River, under the cool shade of the neem trees. 

• A short distance away is another cave that dates back to the 2nd century BC, which hosts the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. These are located at the foot of the hillock, above which, the famous KanakaDurga temple is present, in the city of Vijayawada, Krishna District, Andhrapradesh, INDIA. The caves are sutivated on the way to kanaka durga devi temple.   

THE PRAKASAM BARRAGE ,VIJAYWADA,ANDHRA PRADESH

• After independence, the state government constructed a new regulator cum-round bridge that was named after Sri Tanguturi Prakasam, the first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Completed in 1957 it helps irrigating over 12 lakh acres. 

                                         

• The reservoir formed by this dam is a tourist attraction and also considered to be an official pilgrim lake - called "Koneru" in Telugu, in honour of the Goddess 'Kanaka Gurga'.

                               

• During the Hindu festival of Dussera, both sides of this dam are full pilgrims taking a holy bath in the Krishna. The Krishna river has its own festival called 'Pushkaram'. 

                                       

• This happens once in 12 years and is the biggest festival that happens along the river Krishna.

THE PRAKASAM BARRAGE ,VIJAYWADA,ANDHRA PRADESH

• The Prakasam Barrage stretches 1223.5 meter across the Krishna River connecting Guntur and Krishna districts. The barrage serves also as a road bridge and spans over a panoramic lake. 

                                               

• The idea of constructing a barrage across the Krishna river dates back to 1798. But it took some shape in the hands of Captain Buckle and was revised in 1839 and 1841 by Captain Best and Captain Lake(East India Company). 

                                        

• After the endorsement of Major Cotton, the board of Directors of the East India Company approved it on 5th January 1850.The original barrage was started in 1852 and completed in 1855.