INDIA COMPETITION

Historical Places in India:

Abu, Mount (Rajasthan): Hill station in Rajasthan; contains famous Dilwara Jain Temple and Training College for the Central Reserve Police.

Adam’s Bridge: Very nearly joined to India between two point’s viz. Mannar Peninsula and Dhanushkodi by a line of sand banks and rocks called Adam’s Bridge.

Adyar (Tamil Nadu): A Suburb of Chennai, headquarters of the Theosophical Society.

Afghan Church (Mumbai): It is built in 1847 known as St. John’s Church. It is dedicated to the British soldiers who died in the Sind and Afghan campaign of 1838 and 1843.

Aga Khan Palace: In Pune where Mahatma Gandhi was kept interned with his wife Kasturba Gandhi. Kasturbha died in this palace.

Agra (Uttar Pradesh): Famous for Taj Mahal, Fort and Pearl mosque. Sikandra, the tomb of Akbar, is situated here. It is also a centre of leather industry.

Ahmednagar (Maharashtra): It was founded by Ahmed Nizam Shahi. It is the district headquarters of Ahmednagar district. It is an industrial town well known for its handloom and small scale industries.

Ahmadabad (Gujarat): Once capital of Gujarat. A great cotton textile centre of India. Anti-reservation riots rocked the city in April 1985.

Ajmer (Rajasthan): It has Mayo College and the tomb of Khwaja Moinud-din Chishti, which is a pilgrim centre for Muslims; Pushkar Lake, a place of Hindu pilgrimage, is about two miles from here.

Aliabet: Is the site of India’s first off-shore oil well-nearly 45 km from Bhavnagar in Gujarat State. On March 19, 1970, the Prime Minister of India set a 500-tonne rig in motion to inaugurate “Operation Leap Frog” at Aliabet.

Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh): Seat of Muslim University, manufacture locks, scissors, knives and dairy products.

Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh): A famous and important place of pilgrimage for Hindus, confluence of three revers-Ganges, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati. It is the seat of a University and trading centre.

Alandi (Maharashtra): Popularly called ‘Devachi Alandi’ is hallowed by the association of saint Dhyaneshwar the author of ‘Dhyaneshwari’ who lived and attained Samadhi here at the age of twntyone. Two fairs are held annually one on Ashadha Ekadasi and the other Karthikai Ekadasi.

Amber Palace: Deserted capital near Jaipur (Rajasthan) containing the finest specimens of Rajput architecture.

Almora (Uttaranchal): This city is one the Kashaya hill. The clean and majestic view of the Himalayan Peak is breath catching. The woolen shawl of Almora is very famous in the region. It is a good hill resort.

Amarnath (Kashmir): 28 miles from Pahalgam, and is a famous pilgrim centre of Hindus.

Amboli (Maharashtra): Nestling in the ranges of Sahyadri, Amboli is a beautiful mountain resort in Ratnagiri district. The climate is cool and refreshing; and ideal place for holiday.

Amritsar (Punjab): A border town in the Punjab, sacred place for Sikhs (Golden Temple), scene of Jallianwala Bagh tragedy in April 1919. The 400^th anniversary of Amritsar was celebrated with great gusto in October 1977. The city was founded by Guru Ram Dass.

Arikkamedu (Puducherry): It is one of the archaeological places. It describes the relationship between Tamils and Romes (Yavanas) for trade purpose.

Arvi (Maharashtra): Near Pune, India’s first satellite communication centre has been located here.

Ashoka Pillar (Madhya Pradesh): It was erected by Emperor Ashoka. It is now the official symbol of Modern India and the symbol is four back-to-back lions. In the lower portion of the column are representation of a lion, elephant, horse and bull. The pillar stands about 20 m high.

Aurangabad (Maharashtra): It is one of the important towns in Maharashtra. Tomb of Emperor Aurangzeb and his attract many tourists. Ellora and Ajanta caves are reached from here.

Auroville (Punducherry): It is an international township constructed near Pondicherry with the help of UNESCO.

Avadi: Situated at Chennai in Tamil Nadu, it is known for the government-owned Heavy Vehicles Factory. Vijayanta and Ajit tanks are manufactured here.

Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh): Birth place of Rama is situated on the banks of the river Gogwa. The famous ‘Babri Masjid’ built on the birth place of Rama by the Mughal rulers in 15^th century has been taken over by the Hindus after 400 years.

Badrinath (Uttarakhand): It is a place of pilgrimage noted for the temple of Lord Vishnu for the Hindus, near Gangotri Glacier in Himalayas.

Bahubali (Maharashtra): A pilgrim center for jains, of both Svetambar and Digambar Jains; there is a giant idol of Shree Bahubali the son of Bhagwan Adinath, the first Tirthankar.

Bangalore (Karnataka): It is the capital city of Karnataka State and an important industrial centre. The places worth-seeing are Vidhan Saudha, Lal Bagh gardens, etc. The BHEL, HAL, IIM are situated here.

Barauni (North Bihar): Famous for a big oil refinery.

Bardoli (Gujarat): Bardoli in Gujarat State has occupied a permanent place in Indian History for no-tax payment campaign launched by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel against the British rule.

Baroda (Gujarat): Baroda, (Vadodara) the capital of former Baroda State is one of the main towns in Gujarat State. Laxmi Vilas Palace is a tourist attraction.

Belur (West Bengal): Near Calcutta, famous for a monastery founded by Swami Vivekananda; a beautiful temple dedicated to Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa. It is also known for paper industry. There is another place of the same name in Karnataka, it is a famous pilgrim centre known for Channa Keshava Temple.

Belgaum (Karnataka): It is a border town in Karnataka State. It has remained a place of dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka States.

Bhakhra (Punjab): It is a village in Punjab State where the Bhakra Dam has been constructed across the river Sutlej in a natural gorge just before the river enters the plains 80 km upstream Ropar.

Bhilai (Chhattisgarh): It is known for the gigantic steel plants set up with the help of Russian Engineers.

Bhimashankar (Maharashtra): One of the five Jyothirlingas in Maharashtra is at Bhimashankar. The beautiful Shiva temple here was constructed by Nana Parnavis the ancient statesman of the Peshwas.

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Capital of Madhya Pradesh. MIC gas leaked out from the Union Carbide factory in December 1984, and more than 3000 persons died. It was the worst industrial disaster in the world.

Bhubaneswar (Orissa): It is the capital city of Orissa. Lingaraja Temple is worth-seeing.

Bijapur (Karnataka): It was the capital of old Adil Shahi Sultan of Bijapur. Gol Gumbaz, the biggest tomb in India constructed here, is called the whispering gallery. The town is rich with the remains of palaces, mosques and tombs.

Bodh Gaya (Bihar): It is situated six miles south of Gaya in Bihar State. Gautama Budha attained enlightenment in a full moon light in the month of Baisakha under the peepal tree.

Bokaro (Jharkhand): The fourth and the biggest steel plant are here.

Buland Darwaza (Uttar Pradesh): It is the Gateway of Fatehpur-Sikri built by Akbar. This is the highest and the greatest gateway in India. It was erected to commemorate the victorious campaign of Akbar in the Deccan in 1602 A.D.

Bull Temple (Karnataka): It is situated near Bugle Hill, with a height of 6.2 m (20ft) high stone monolith Nandi Bull. The Bull is carved out of a single stone.

Chandernagore (West Bengal): Situated on the river Hooghly. It was previously a French settlement. Now it has been merged with the Indian Union.

Chennai (capital of Tamilnadu): It is the third largest city in India. Known for Fort St. George, Light-house, St Thomas Mount, and Integral Coach Factory.

Chandigarh (Punjab & Haryana): Chadigarh the joint capital of the States of Punjab and Haryana is a planned and beautiful city. It is situated at the foot of the Himalayas. It was designed by Mont Corbusier.

Cherrapunji (Meghalaya): It is the place of heaviest rainfall. It receives 426” of rain yearly.

Chidambaram (Meghalaya): It is a town in South Arcot district of Tamil Nadu. It is famous for its great Hindu Siva Temple dedicated to Lord ‘Nataraja’, the cosmic dancer. It is the seat of ‘Annamalai University’ founded in 1929. The name of the town comes from Tamil ‘Chit’ plus ‘Ambalam’- the atmosphere of wisdom.

Chilka Lake (Orissa): It is the Queen of Natural Scenery in Orissa, though separated from the Bay of Bangal by a long strip of sandy ridge, exchanges water with the sea. It is an excellent place for fishing and duck shooting.

Chittaranjan (West Bengal): It is famous for locomotive works. Railway engines are manufactured here.

Chittorgarh (Rajasthan): It was once the capital of Udaipur. It is known for the Tower of Victory built by Rana Kumbha and Mira Bai Temple.

Chowpathy Beach (Mumbai): A popular beach with Lokmanya Tilak and Vallabhbhai Patel statues where the political meetings for freedom struggle took place, now the coconut day celebration and Ganesh immersion take place.

Chusul (Ladakh): It is situated in Ladakh at a height of about 14,000 feet. Chusul is perhaps the highest aerodrome in India.

Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu): It is famous for Textile Industry. Government of India Forest College is situated here.

Courtallam (Tamil Nadu): Adjoining Tenkasi and 3 miles south is a common man’s health resort. Famous for its waterfall and a good summer resort.

Cuttack (Orissa): It is the oldest town and once upon a time the capital of Orissa during the medieval period to the end of the British rules. The city is noted for fine ornamental work of gold & silver.

Dakshineswar (Kolkata): It is at a distance of about five miles from Calcutta where Swami Vivekananda was initiated into religious life by Swami Ramakrishna Paramhansa.

Dalal Street: Stock exchange Market in Mumbai.

Dalmianagar (Jharkhand): Cement manufacturing.

Dandi (Gujarat): It is famous for Salt Satyagraha (Dandi March) staged by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930.

Darjeeling (West Bengal): Famous for tea, orange and cinchona, fine hill station, famous for its scenic beauty.

Daulatabad (Maharashtra): The fort previously called Devagiri is believed to have constructed by the Yadava Kings in 1338. The fort is very impregnable.

Dayalbagh (Uttar Pradesh): Near Agra; known for Dayalbagh Industrial Institute, shoe manufacture. Religious and cultural seat of a section of the Hindus.

Dehu (Maharashtra): Dehu, a town on the banks of the river Indrayani is the birth place of the famous saint-poet Tukaram whose ‘Abhangas’ have a pride of place in Marathi literature.

Dehradun (Uttarakhand): It is the gateway to the Garhwal Himachal such as Badrinath and Joshimath. The Forest Research Institute is situated here.

Delhi: India’s capital. The Red Fort, the Jama Masjid, The Qutub Minar, the Rajghat (Mahatma Gandhi’s Samadhi), the Humayun’s tomb, Shanti Van (where Prime Minister Nehru was cremated), are located here. It established by Tomaras in 736 A.D.

Dhanbad (Jharkhand): Famous for coal mines and the Indian School of Mines, National Fuel Research Institute.

Dhariwal (Punjab): It is famous for woolen goods.

Dibrugarh (Assam): It is a town in Assam and the Terminus of rail and river communications along the Brahmaputra from Calcutta.

Digboi (Assam): It is known for its oil-fields and oil refinery. It is one of the oldest oil refineries which is still operative in the world.

Dilwara Temples (Rajasthan): It is near Mt. Abu. There are five Hindu Temples constructed here between 11^th and 13 Century A.D.

Dindigul (Tamli Nadu): It is famous for cigar, tobacco and locks.

Dum Dum (Kolkata): It is a famous Air Port and Government Arsenal.

Durgapur: In West Bengal in known for a gigantic steel plant set up here with the help of British Engineers.

Dwaraka (Gujarat): It is one of the seven most important places of Hindu pilgrimage. Krishna the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu made Dwaraka as his centre to recapture Mathura.

Eagle’s Nest: It is the name given to the historic fort at Rajgarh in the Kolaba district of Maharashtra where, 3000 years ago, Chhatarpati Shivaji, the great warrior-statesman, was crowned.

Elephanta Caves (Maharashtra): Situated in an island 15 miles from Mumbai famous for the statues of Shiva and Parvati. The most striking statue of Trimurti, Shiva in three moods as the Creator, the Destroyer and the Preserver.

Ellora and Ajanta (Maharashtra): It is in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra State. The Buddhist cave temples richly ornamented with sculpture and carved with paintings of exceptional skill attract many tourists.

Ernakulam (Kerala): The back-waters in Ernakulam are a tourist attraction. The Central Institute of Fisheries Technology is situated here.

Faridabad (Haryana): It is an industrial township situated at about 18 miles from Delhi.

Fatehpur Sikri (Uttar Pradesh): It was once the capital of the Mughal Empire. This city was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569. It is now in a deserted condition.

Ferozabad (Uttar Pradesh): Noted for glass bangle industry.

Gateway of India (Mumbai): It is in Mumbai harbor erected in 1911 on King George V’s visit to India.

Gangotri (Uttarakhand): This is the source of the holy Ganges. The tiny village has the temple of the Goddess Ganga on the banks of the Bhagirathi River, which eventually becomes the holy Ganges.

Gaumuka (Uttarakhand): Guamukh the actual source of the river is at the base of the Bhagirathi peaks. The glaciers of Gangotri which is 24 km long, ends at Gaumukh where the Bhagirathi river finally appers.

Gazipur (U.P.): Known for the government opium factory.

Gaya (Bihar): It is the place where Lord Buddha got enlightenment. It is a pilgrimage centre not only for the Buddhists but also for the Hindus. Hindus from all over the country come here to make offerings and pray for the salvation of their ancestors.

Gilgit (Kashmir): It is now under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. Ii is of great strategic importance.

Golconda (Hyderabad): It is an ancient city of India situated about 7 miles west of Hyderabad. Formerly there was a diamond mine.

Golconda Fort (Andhra Pradesh): The historical fort is well praised in the literature, prose and poetry. Golconda was the capital of Qutub Shahi Sultans who ruled Deccan from 1518 to 1687 A.D.

Golden Temple (Punjab): It is a sacred place of the Sikhs in Amritsar.

Gol Gumbaz (Karnataka): It is the biggest dome in India.

Gomateswara (Karnataka): This is a 2,000 year old and very high statue of a Jain sage, carved out of a single stone.

Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh): The famous temple of Gorakhpur is here which specializes in publishing Hindu religious literature.

Guntur (Andhra Pradesh): It is a centre of cotton and tobacco production in Andhra Pradesh.

Gulbarga (Karnataka): It was the capital of Bahmani Kingdom. Its fort is a remarkable building with 15 towers, within the fort is a large mosque built on the model of the famous mosques of Cordoba in Spain.

Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh): Situated in M.P. is famous for Rani Lakshmi Bai’s Chaatri and Tansen’s tomb.

Haldighat (Uttar Pradesh): A famous mountain passes where rana Pratap fought Mughal forces led by Man Singh and Asaf Khan.

Hampi (Karnataka): In Karnataka State is the location of ruins of Vijaynagar. The capital of famous Vijaynagar Empire.

Hardwar (UttaraKhand): It is at the base of the Siwalik Hills, where the Ganges River coming down from the Himalayas passes and enters the plains. The Daksha Mahadev Temple, 4 km downstreams in Hardwar is the most important temple.

Hirakud (Orissa): Twenty six kilometers from one end to the other on the river Mahanadi is Hirakud the longest mainstream dam in the world.

Howrah Bridge (Kolkata): A cantilever spans bridge over river Hoogly connecting Howrah and Kolkata.

Hyderabad-Secunderabad: Twin city capital of Andhra Pradesh. It is on the banks of the river ‘Musi’ and famous for Salarjung museum- one of the best in Asia. It is also a famous communication centre in India as it is centrally situated. Charminar built in 1591 is located here.

Imphal (Manipur): Situated in the north-east frontier, is the capital of Manipur state on the border of India ans Myanmar (Burmah). Famous for handloom industry and the Manipuri dance.

Ita Nagar (Arunachal Pradesh): The capital of Arunachal Pradesh is a tropical forest region in the foothills surrounded with wild mountain stream and placid lakes with abundant opportunities for river rafting, boating and trekking.

India Gate (New Delhi): A memorial in New Delhi facing the Rashtrapathi Bhavan.

Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh): Standing on the river Narmada, Jabalpur is a city in Madhya Pradesh famous for Marble Rocks and Dhunva Dhar waterfalls.

Jadugoda: In Bihar is famous for Uranium Ore Mill.

Jagdish Temple: It is a fine Indo-Aryan temple built by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1651. A blackstone image of Lord Vishnu as Lord Jagdish is found here.

Jaipur (Rajasthan): A historically important place and is famous for its handicrafts. Maharaja Jai Singh Observatory and Hawa Mahal are situated here. It is the capital of Rajasthan or called rose-pink city, a huge historic fort (Amber) is situated here. The city was founded by astrologer Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II.

Jaisalmer (Rajasthan): The remote fortress city on the edge of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert. It is 287 km from Jodhpur.

Jakrem (Tripura): It is 64 km from shilling and is known for its hot spring which is said to possess curative qualities.

Jalandhar (Punjab): Situated in Punjab is the centre for surgical and sports goods industry.

Jallianwala Bagh (Amritsar, Punjab): It was the scene of Indiscriminal shooting by General Dyer on 13^th April 1919, when a meeting was being held. A Martyr’s memorial has been erected to commemorate those killed in the firing.

Jama Masjid (Hyderabad, AP): The Masjid lies near the North-east point of the building of Charminar, built by Sultan Mohammed Qutub Shah the fifth King of the Qutub Shahi dynasty in 1594.

Jamshedpur (Jharkhand): Centre of iron and steel industry. Tata Iron and Steel Factory is located here.

Jantar Mantar (Delhi): Site of the famous observatory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh built in 1899 is found in Rajasthan.

Jealgora: In Bihar is known for Central Fuel Research Institute.

Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh): A key railway junction in Uttar Pradesh. It is noted for the played by Queen Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi in the War of Independence in 1857.

Jharia: In Bihar is famous for coal-mining.

Jog Falls (or) Gersoppa Falls (Karnataka): Formed by river Sharavati, falls through a height of 830 ft.

Juma Masjid, Mandu: Is in Madhya Pradesh. It depicts a synthesis of Hindu and Muslim styles in architecture.

Junagadh (Gujarat): Located below Girnar Hill in Gujarat State is an ancient city in India. Gir Forest, a wildlife sanctuary famous for its lions is located here.

Kailasha Temple (Maharashtra): A rock-cut temple in Ellora caves.

Kalpakkam: Near Chennai in Tamil Nadu is known for Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS).

Kanchi or Conjeevaram (Tamil Nadu): This was the famous capital of Pallavas and is situated near Channai. Famous ancient temples here are well-known for its architecture.

Kandala (Maharashtra): It is a popular mountain resort in Maharashtra. Nestling in the Western Ghats it is an ideal resort for a peaceful holiday.

Kandla (Guajarat): The Kandla port is the main gateway for the trade of north-west India.

Kanheri (Mumbai): Situated near Mumbai, the famous spot of the ancient Buddhist caves of 1^st Century A.D.

Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh): An industrial city of U.P. famous for its sugar, cotton, woolen, soap, iron, leather, tent and hosiery industries situated on the banks of the Ganga.

Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu): The southernmost tip of India where the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean meet. The sun-rising and sun-setting are picturesque scenes. Vevekananda rock memorial has also been constructed now. On the rock called Sripadaparai, a mammoth 133 ft. statue of the unmatched Poet-Saint thiruvalluvar was unveiled on 1 January 2000.

Kapilavastu (Bihar): Ancient kingdom in north India connected with Lord Buddha.

Kasauli (Himachal Pradesh): A hill station in Himachal Pradesh where the famous Pasteur Institute is located.

Kaveripumpattinam (Tamil Nadu): The place where the river Cauvery mingles with the ocean. Two great epics of Tamil literature Manimegalai and Silappadhikaram vividly portray life scenes of this place during Chola and Pandya period.

Kaziranga (Assam): In Assam is the sanctuary of the Indian one-horned rhinos.

Kedarnath (Uttarakhand): The temple of Lord Kedar (Shiva), surrounded by snow-capped peaks in one of the Hindu pilgrimage centres.

Khadakvasla (Pune): Near Pune. National Defence Academy is situated here.

Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh): Famous for its temples and erotic sculpture.

Khindsey Talao (Mumbai): This beautiful lake is set like a gem in the green expanse at the foot of the Ramtek hill.

Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu): A hill station in Tamil Nadu situated near Madurai.

Koderma (Bihar): In Bihar famous for mica mines.

Kolar (Karnataka): It is known for its gold fields.

Kolhapur (Maharashtra): Kolhapur posses’ historical as well as mythological importance. It is known as Dakshin Kashi on account of its deity Mahalakshmi or Ambabai built by Chalukya King Karnadev in 634 AD. Kolhapur was the capital of Chatrapati Shivaji in 1708.

Kolkata (West Bengal): It is known as the commercial capital of India. It has a port of heavy traffic. Dum Dum airport, National Library,Diamond harbor, Victoria Memorial are well-known.

Konark (Orissa): Town, north of Puri is famous for black pagodas and Sun Temple.

Koyna (Maharashtra): Hydroelectri project in Maharashtra, supplies power to Mumbai and Pune. The place was hit by earthquake in December 1967.

Kundanpur (Bihar): The birth place of the 24^th Jain Tirthankar Mahaveer is well-known as a pilgrim centre.

Kurukshetra (Haryana): The town near Ambala. Here the great battle Mahabharatha took place between Kauravas and Pandavas.

Leh (Ladakh): Capital of Ladakh; once a caravan centre of central Asia.

Lothal (Gujrat): Oil wells in Cambay Basin.

Madurai (Tamil Nadu): Famous Meenakshi Temple dedicated to Lord Siva is located here.

Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra): Hill station in Maharashtra is situated at a height of 4500 ft. in the Western Ghats.

Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nahu): Famous for the monumental architecture of Pallavas. An atomic power station is located near at Kalpakkam.

Mahabodhi Temple (Bihar): It is a Buddha temple with the Jataka stories engraved on the walls. The famous Magadha University exists beside the temple.

Mahrangarh Fort (Rajasthan): Five km away from the centre town of Jodhpur. Commissioned by Roa Jodh in 1959, this fortran eyrie is a master piece of medieval defence.

Mandore (Rajasthan): The ancient capital of the Rathore Marwars, the Rajputs of Rajasthan.

Meerut (Uttar Pradesh): This was the first place where the 1857 Mutiny first broke out. The Suraj Khund is the most interesting temple and there is a Moghul Mausoleum, near the old Shapir Gate.

Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh): Place of Ram Ganga, famous for cutlery, brassware and mangoes.

Mukteshwar (Uttar Pradesh): Veterinary Research Institute is located here.

Murad (Maharashtra): Seaside holiday resort of Maharashtra.

Mathura (Uttar Pradesh): It is a holy city and birth place of Lord Krishna.

Meenakshi temple (Tamil Nadu): Famous Hindu temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

It is remarkable for its most picturesque 850 ft. high temple with its magnificent Gopurams. One of its principal structures is the hall of thousand pillars in which a group of figures are cerved out of a single stone.

Mussoorie (Uttarakhand): A hilly resort has good rock climbing and mountaineering assets and has good fishing spots.

Mumbai (Maharashtra): Called the gateway of India is the second biggest city and port in India. It is the capital of Maharashtra state. The Prince of Wales Museum, Aarey Milk Colony, film capital of the country, Centre of oil industry and Petrochemicals, etc. are noteworthy.

Nagpur (Maharashtra): Former capital of Madhya Pradesh now in Maharashtra. Famous for textiles and oranges.

Nagercoil (Tamil Nadu): There is a temple of snakes or Nagaraja-snake god. The temple is filled with images of snakes and the Dvarapalakas are the snakes guarding the temple.

Nagarjuna Konda-Sagar (Andhra Pradesh): The reservoir is named after Buddhist Phillosopher Acharya Nagarjuna who propounded the Madhyamik school of Mahayana Buddhism.

Naharkhatia (Assam): Place near Digboi in Assam where oil has been struck.

Nainital (Uttarakhand): This lake dotted area of the Kumaon Hills, was the summer capital of Uttar Pradesh. The legend believed is that Goddess Shakti lost her eyes when Lord Shiva was curling her and the spot, where the eyes fell became a lake called ‘naina’ (eyes) Tal (lake) was thus given its name.

Nalanda (Bihar): Here was the famous University and Educational centre of ancient’s times. The Chinese traveler Hieun Tsang visited India in 7^th century had mentioned about this University.

Narsobachiwadi (Maharashtra): It is a prominent pilgrimage of Lord Shree Dattatreya, situated near the confluence Krishna and the Panchaganga Rivers.

Nasik (Maharashtra): Site of Security Printing Press in Maharashtra.

Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu): The Blue Mountains of Tamil Nadu. Famous for tea plantation.

Nilokheri (Haryana): Place in Haryana, famous community development project of Dr. S. K. Dey.

Pataliputra (Bihar): Ancient name or Patna, capital of Bihar State. Famous for Ashoka edicts inscribed on rocks and pillars.

Palitana (Gujarat): Famous for its holy hills.

Pali (Sudhagad, Maharashtra): One of the most sacred places known for the temple of Vithoba, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, it is also called Dhakshina Kashi, a pilgrim centre.

Panipati (Haryana): Historical place in Haryana, famous for the three battles in 1526, 1556 and 1761.

Pawapur (Bihar): It is one of the holiest of Jain Pilgrim places. The Jal Mandir (water temple) in Kamal Sarover (Lotus pool) is most sacred. The big lake filled with lotus is a charming place and the white marble temple stands in the middle.

Planetarium, Birla (Kolkata): It is a dome-shaped building where the exact panorama of the sky is depicted, and the position of various constellations is clearly shown. The second planetarium in India has been set up in Mumbai. The third planetarium was opened in New Delhi in 1984.

Plassey (West Bengal): A village in West Bengal, famous for the Battle of Plassey where Clive beat Siraj-ud-Daulah.

Puducherry : A Union Territory – formerly under French possession. Famous for Aurobindo Ashram and ‘Auroville’ International Township, built in the name of Aurobindo.

Ponpadirkootam (Tamil Nadu): A village in Chingleput where a unique four hand Rama in gold is a feast for our eyes.

Port Blair (Gujarat): Capital of Andaman & Nicobar islands.

Porbandar (Gujarat): The Birth Place of Mahatma Gandhi. It is identified with Sudamapur of the epic times and we can still see the old temple of Sudama, a friend of Lord Krishna.

Pune (Maharashtra): Pune, capital of Maratha Empire during Shivaji’s rule, had turned to be an educational and cultural centre.

Puri (Orissa): Summer capital of Orissa famous for Jagannath Temple.

Pusa (West Bengal): Famous for agricultural station.

Qutub Minar (New Delhi): The tallest minaret in the world (990 ft. high), completed by Sultan Iltutmish in 1232 A. D.

Rajghat (New Delhi): famous for the Samadhi of Mahtama Gandhi on the banks of the river Yamuna.

Rajgir (Bihar): Rajgir was called Rajgriha or King’s home in olden days. Ajatashatru named it Giribraja. It was Jarasandha’s capital. Vardhaman Mahavir, who preached the Jain Religion and spent 14 years of his active life here, Mahaveer called his first Dharma Sabha or religious assembly on Bipul Parbat here.

Rashtrapati Bhavan (New Delhi): The official residence of the President of India in Delhi, built by the British architect Edwin Lutyens.

Ratnagiri (Maharashtra): British place of Lokmanya Tilak. It has a minor port Bhagvati and a fort belonging to the 15^th century.

Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu): A pilgirimage spot in South India as equal to that of Benaras. There is the temple of Lord shiva.

Red Fort (Delhi): It is a fort built of red stone by Shah Jahan in Delhi on the Banks of the river Yamuna. It consists of Diwan-i-Am, diwan-i-Khas and other wonderful crations. In 2007, UNESCO announced the Red Fort as one of the Heritage site in India.

Rishikesh (Uttarakhand): It is a Hindu pilgrim centre. Rishikhesh is the starting point for treks to Himalayan pilgirimage centre like Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri.

Rourkela (Orissa): Rourkela is the first steel plant of India envisaged in the public sector and has been in operation since February 1959 which has set in a new era in the Steel Industry of India.

Salar Jung Museum (Andhra Pradesh): It is the personnel collection of Mir Yusuf Ali Khan, better known as Salar Jung who had devoted his wealth and leisure to gather out treasures from every walk of life.

Sambhar (Rajasthan): It is a salt lake in Rajasthan. Only lake of its kind in India.

Sanganer (Rajasthan): It is the centre of hand block printing and handmade paper industry.

Sabarmati (Guajarat): It is a place in Gujarat where Gandhiji established a Harijan Ashram. It is also the name of a river in Gujarat.

Sathanur Dam (Tamil Nadu): 22 miles from Tiruvannamalai a vast forest has been turned into a huge reservoir and a dam is a tourist spot.

Satara (Maharashtra): It is a glorious historical city, was capital of Shivaji’s empire in 1699.

Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh): Famous Buddhist stupa,  the diameter of which is 108 ft. was built in ancient times. It is the largest stupa in India.

Sarnath (Madhya Pradesh): It is a Buddhist pilgrim centre. In the Deer Park, Buddha-delivered his first sermon. Famous Ashoka Pillar is located here.

Srirangapattanam (Karnataka): It was the capital of Tipu Sultan during his time. The third mysore war was fought here and Tipu died in the battle in 1799 A.D.

Sevagram (Maharashtra): It is near Wardha in Maharashtra State. It is well-known for Gandhiji’s Ashram where Gandhi lived and worked for many years.

Shantiniketan (West Bengal): About 90 miles from Calcutta, seat of the famous Viswa Bharati University founded by poet Rabindernath Tagore. It is now a Central University.

Shanti Van or Shanti Ghat (Delhi): The place where Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was crematd on 28^th May, 1964 on the banks of Yamuna about 300 hards from Rajghat, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri has been cremated by the side of Shanti Van. Mrs. Indira Gandhi was cremated close to Shanti Van on November 3, 1984. This site is called ‘Shakti Sthal’.

Shivneri (Maharashtra): It is the birth place of Chatrapati Shivaji. The hill has about 50 Buddhist caves bearing inscription of various donors.

Sholapur (Maharashtra): ‘Sholapur Chaddan’s are the very famous bed-sheets. Handloom and power loom industry is flourishing in this town. Near the city a fort built by Hasan Gangu who was the founder of the Bahaman dynasty stands erect.

Shree Kshetra Audumbar (Maharashtra): An important pilgrim place in Sangli district, Audumbar is famous for the temple of Shree Dattatreya. There is well-known “Brahmanand Swami Math”.

Sasaram (Bihar): It is known for Shere Shah’s Tomb. Sher Shah was the famous Afghan king who drove away Humayun.

Shivapur (Madhya Pradesh): It is well-known for its national park in Madhya Pradesh.

Sibsagar (Assam): 56 km from Jorhat is most interesting historical city. It was the capital of Ahom Kings who ruled Assam for 600 years. The Shiva temple called the “Shivadol” is said to be the tallest Shiva Temple in India.

Sikandra (Uttar Pradesh): Situated near Agra, Akbar’s tomb stands here. It was commenced by Akbar and completed by his son Jahangir, after 14 year at a cost of Rs. 15 Lakhs.

Singareni (Andhra Pradesh): It is well-known for coal mines in Andhra Pradesh.

Sindri (JharKhand): The largest fertilizer factory in India and the whole of Asia is in Sindri, 77 km from Maithan. It is built on Ultra-modern lines and manufacturing ammonium sulphate fertilizer since 1956. The factory can be visited with prior permission.

Somnath (Gujarat): It is historically famous for the temple which was destroyed by Mohammed of Ghazni in 1025 A. D.

Somnath Patan (Gujarat): Wedged in between the two hills of Chadragiri and Indragiri, which rise abruptly from flat plains, Sravanabelagola 100 kms from Mysore is famous for Jain colossus (17 m height) Gomateswara which is said to be the tallest and most graceful monolithic statues in the world, erected in 10^th century A.D.

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh): India’s Satellite launching station is located here. It is on the Andhra coast, in Nellore District.

Sriperumbudur (Tamil Nadu): Birth Place of Sri Ramanuja, the propounder of Vishistadvaita. It was here Rajiv Gandhi; former Prime Minister of India was assassinated.

Srirangam (near Trichy, Tamil Nadu): The largest temple in South India dedicated to Lord Ranganath (Vishnu).

Sundarbans (West Bangal): It is the largest delta in India, housing rich forests.

Surat (Guajarat): It is popularly known as “Gate of Mecca”. The English got trading rights from the Mughal in 1612. Most of the population is engaged in diamond cutting and polishing gold and silver. Surat is equally known for its distinctive cuisine.

Taj Mahal (Uttar Pradesh): Erected by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz. It has been estimated that the cost of it was about Rs. 3 crores at that time. It is tear drop on the cheek of eternity. It was designed by Shiraz (Iranian Architect). Over 20,000 men were employed for its construction for over twenty years. The environmentalists fear that the beauty of the Taj would be marred, with the Mathura Oil Refinery going into full operation.

Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh): It has a monastery of the Mahayana sect of Buddhists built in 17^th century. Still it is the centre of religious life and rituals in the region. It is a treasure home of old scriptures, priceless images and painted tapestries.

Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu): Popularly known as granary of South India. It was once the capital of the Cholas. Famous for Brihadeeswara temple, a Hindu temple. It was built by Rajaraja, the great.

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): The Capital City of Kerala State. Padmanabha Temple is here.

Thumba (Kerala): India’s first rocket launching station.

Thiru Alangadu (Tamil Nadu): Thirty seven miles from Chennai to the west and very near to Arakonam is the holy place of Thiru Alangadu connected with Karaikkal Ammayar and the cosmic dancer Lord Nataraja.

Thiruvalam (Tamil Nadu): Capital of ‘Banars’ during the early Pallava period is famous for Saivite temple with the Nandi not facing the deity but in the opposite direction.

Thekkady (Kerala): The central spot of the Periar wildlife sanctuary is in between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The Mysore Palace (Karnataka): Built in 1897, it was the residence of the Ex-ruler of Mysore state is an imposing structure. It is a good example for the Hoysala art and architectures.

Tiruchi (Tamil Nadu): It is an Educational Centre in Tamil Nadu. Bharat Heavy Electricals limited is established here.

Tiruparankundram (Tamil Nadu): A cave temple near Madurai is one of the famous shrines of Lord Muruga.

Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu): A famous early Chola Vaishnavaite shrine housing a huge stucco image of Varaha holding Bhudevi near Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu.

Tipu’s Fort (Karnataka): The fort is built of mud by kempegowda in 1537; it was rebuilt in stone in 1761 by Hyder Ali. Inside the fort walls is Tipu Sultan’s wooden palace with enough elaborate paint work surviving on the walls, niches, and railing columns to give an idea of its former glory.

Triveni (Uttar Pradesh): Here meet the rivers Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswathi. Kumba Mela is celebrated here once in 12 years when the Sun is in Aquarius facing Jupiter in the zodiac sign Leo.

Trithamukh (Tripura): It is a popular pilgrim centre for the Tribal people of Tripura. Thousands of people assemble here in January-February during the festival called Uttarayana Sankranti and have a holy bath in the river Gomati.

Tripolia Gate (Rajasthan): A gate with eight carved marble crunches under which the ruler was weighed on his birth day against money of equal weight distributed to the poor. The city was found in 1567 by Maharana, Udai Singh.

Udaipur (Rajasthan): Popularly known as city of lakes. Pichola lake is a famous one.

Udipi (Karnataka): This is the seat of Dvaita system of Hindu Philosophy propounded by Sri Madhva Changa. The beautiful Sri Krishna temple is very famous Hindu pilgrimage centre.

Udayagiri-Khandagiri Caves (Orissa): These two hills are little far away from Bhubaneswar. This was a seat of a Jain saint who lived 2000 years ago. ‘Rani Gumpha’ and ‘Hathi Gumpha’ are the most famous; consist of the rock cut inscription in India which records chronologically the deeds of king Kharavela.

Uttiramerur (Tamil Nadu): A city near Chingleput boasts of Sundara-varadaperumal temple of the period of Dandivarma Pallava is of complex design.

Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh): Mahakaleeswar Temple is sacred for the Hindus.

Vaishali (Bihar): Vaishali has withnessed the major parts of Gautama Buddha’s life. He gave his last message to his disciples at Kolhua village in the suburbs of Vaishali. On the eve of Buddha’s death centenary, the 2^nd Buddhist council was held here. The 24^th Jain Tirthankar Vardhaman Mahavir was born at Kundagram in the suburbs of Vaishali in 599 BC.

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh): ‘The Eternal City’ is an important pilgrimage of the Hindus. Lord Viswanatha’s temple is here. It was a learning place for over 2000 years. Kashi and Benaras are the other two names of Varanasi which means the city between two rivers - Varanama and Asi. It is the seat of Banaras Hindu University. Aurangzeb’s Mosque is here.

Vedanthangal (Tamil Nadu): A bird sanctuary in the swamps of Madurantakam lake.

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh): It is a natural and protected harbor on the eastern coast in Andhra Pradesh. A shipbuilding yard in located here.

Vivekananda Rock (Tamil Nadu): Mandapam of Vivekananda is in Cape Comerin.

Victoria Memorial (Kolkata): Magnificent building having an art gallery depicting the history of the British rule in India. It was erected by voluntary collections in the memory of Queen Victoria. A well laid out garden adds to the beauty.

Wardha (Maharashtra): It is a cotton producing centre in Maharashtra. It is on Chennai-Delhi rail route. Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned here.

Warrangal (Andhra Pradesh): It has historical evidence about on the seat of the Kakatiya rulers. Its chief tourist attraction is the thousand pillared temple at Hanam-Konda built by King Rudra Deva in 12^th century.

Yamunotri (Uttarakhand): It is the source of the Yamuna River. It emerges from the frozen lake of ice and glaciers on the Kalinga Parvat. There is a temple of the goddess Yamunotri on the left banks of the river. Below the temple there are many hot springs where the water emerges at boiling point.

Yarcaud (Tamil Nadu): It is a hill station 8 km away from Salem at an altitude of 5000 ft. It is a part of Servarayan hills.

Zojila (Jammu & Kashmir): It is a pass on the way from Srinagar to Leh.

A guide for travellers in India: A complete guide to all the historical and important cities and to the interesting places in India, with information on rail, steamer and air routes