AGUADA BEACH - THE HISORICAL, EXOTIC TROPICAL BEAUTY

Aguada - meaning water, the beauty of Aguada Fort attracts a number of tourists and is one of the Portuguese fort standing in Goa on Sinquerim Beach which was constructed in 1612 to guard against the Dutch and the Marathas. During the Salazar administration, Fort Aguada was repurposed for use as a prison primarily, some claim, for Salazar's political opponents. Many of its inmates are Western tourists serving time for drug-related crimes.

The solidity of the Aguada fort can be seen from the fact that neither this one has any delicate turrets nor the battlement lines are bisected by any towers. The citadel gateway being narrow is also blocked by heavy and iron studded doors thereby preventing easy access. The narrow bridge over the ditch makes it all the more difficult while the ramp into the fort inside the gateway curves off at a sharp angle and the steep steps up to the battlements do not make access any easier either. The 1st lighthouse was built here two and half centuries later. The main gate has a magazine adjacent to it, which has a unique half round design in order to deflect any enemy shots. On the north side of the fort, a rampart of red-brown laterite juts into the bay to form a jetty between two small sandy coves.

An interesting feature in the precinct of the fort is a 13 meter high lighthouse. This lighthouse, built in 1864, initially used an oil lamp. It was later renovated and modernized in 1976.
This lighthouse was home to a gigantic bell that was retrieved from amongst the ruins of the St. Augustus monastery at Old Goa. However, the bell has now been moved to the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception church at Panaji. Steps lead down from the middle of the courtyard within to an enormous vaulted cistern capable of storing ten million litres of fresh water. The other unusual feature of the fort is a four-stored Portuguese lighthouse, erected in 1864 and the oldest of its kind in Asia.

Beautiful place and can be in your must-visit list of destinations

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SPLENDID MOSQUE OF AHMEDABAD

Mosque Jama Masjid

The mosque Jama Masjid (meaning Friday Mosque) is the oldest and most splendid mosque of Ahmedabad, built in 1424 during the reign of Ahmed Shah. Lying in the old party of city, the mosque is situated opposite to Mahatma Gandhi Road, on the eastern side of Teen Darwaza.
Lying opposite to Mahatma Gandhi Road, on the eastern side of Teen Darwaza, Jama Masjid is one of the most splendid mosques of India. Constructed in the year 1423 A.D, the Ahmedabad Jama Masjid was established by Sultan Ahmed Shah, the founder of the Ahmedabad city. Read on to know more about Jama Masjid in Ahmedabad, India.
Made by using yellow sandstones, the architecture of this mosque is a blend of Hindu and Muslim styling. This edifice was built using items rescued from the demolished Hindu and Jain temples. Supported by 260 pillars, the Jama Masjid of Ahmedabad consists of 15 domes. Jama Masjid lies in the heart of the old city.
There are different entrances to the mosque. Near the eastern entrance, stands the tomb of the Sultan Ahmed Shah, which houses the graveyard of three great rulers, namely Ahmed Shah I, his son, Mohammed Shah and his grandson, Qutub-Ud-Din Ahmed Shah II. The strong structure of this mosque has been able to withstand the pressure exerted by heat and rough weather. A visit to this fabulous monument is indeed a must.

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HEAVEN ON EARTH - MANALI

Manali is the premier hill station in the Kullu valley, whose splendor lies in the ever flowing Beas river with conifer gradients and crop orchards hiking up to the snow clad knolls of Himalayas.
Manali and the surrounding area is of great significance to Indian culture and heritage as it is said to be the home of the Saptarishi, or Seven Sages.
Manali is situated near the end of the valley on the National Highway leading to Leh. The landscape here is breath taking. One sees well-defined snow capped peaks, the Beas river with its clear water meanders through the town. On the other side are deodar and pine trees, tiny fields and fruit orchards. It is an excellent place for a holiday, a favorite resort for trekkers to Lahaul & Spiti, Bara Bhangal (Kangra), and Zanskar ranges. From temples to antiquity, to picturesque sight-seeing spots and adventure activities.Minimum temp could be below -05 C from Oct till March. Dec Jan and Feb are coldest months. Rest of the year the minimum temperature would be between 15 to 20 C.
Tourism in Manali received a boost after the rise of militancy in Kashmir in the late 1980s. This once quiet village was transformed into a bustling town with many hotels and restaurants.
Some of the must see places of Manali are listed as:
1.Rohtang Pass
2.Beas Kund
3.Hindimba and Maa Sharvari temples
4.Kalath Hot Water Spring
5.Jogini  and Rozy Falls
6.Jagatsukh
7.Monasteries
8.Old Manali

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AJANTA CAVES SURPRISINGLY STUPENDOUS

Ajanta caves are one of the world heritage site since 1983.The first Buddhist cave monuments at Ajanta date from the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. During the Gupta period (5th and 6th centuries A.D.), many more richly decorated caves were added to the original group. The paintings and sculptures of Ajanta, considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a considerable artistic influence.
The caves are situated 100 km north-east of Ellora, 104 km from Aurangabad and 52 km from Jalgaon Railway Station. They are cut into the volcanic lava of the Deccan in the forest ravines of the Sahyadri Hills and are set in beautiful sylvan surroundings. These magnificent caves containing carvings that depict the life of Buddha, and their carvings and sculptures are considered to be the beginning of classical Indian art.
The 29 caves were excavated beginning around 200 BC, but they were abandoned in AD 650 in favour of Ellora. Five of the caves were temples and 24 were monasteries, thought to have been occupied by some 200 monks and artisans. The Ajanta Caves were gradually forgotten until their 'rediscovery' by a British tiger hunting party in 1819.
The elaborate architectural carving in many caves is also very rare, and the style of the many figure sculptures is a highly local one, found only at a couple of nearby contemporary sites, although the Ajanta tradition can be related to the later Hindu Ellora caves.

Ajanta caves along with Ellora caves in Aurangabad are the ones that should be included in your must-see list of India visit. It’s a great example of India’s tradition presented by its global identity.