https://www.thetajtours.com/indias-5-best-destinations-for-yoga-and-meditation/

Meditation is a technique for personal growth that has been practiced for thousands of years around the world with repeatable results.

There is no aspect of your life that cannot be improved by meditation, whether it is in business, relationships, health, or developing any personal quality, such as willpower. The highest purpose of meditation, however, is to discover your Highest Self.

1. Ananda in the Himalayas

Ananda is based on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, who showed how everyone can realize God in their daily lives as a tangible, loving reality. One can expand your sense of harmony, and gain an increased sense of God’s active presence in your life through ancient and effective techniques including meditation, Kriya Yoga, spiritually oriented Hatha Yoga, community, and divine friendship.It was founded in 1968 by Yogananda’s direct disciple, Swami Kriyananda, who passed away in 2013.

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2. Tushita MeditationCentre, Dharamshala

Tushita is a centre for the study and practice of Buddhism from the Tibetan Mahayana tradition. We're located in Northern India, in the forested hills above the town of McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala - the seat in exile of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

It aims to provide a friendly and conducive environment for people of all nationalities and backgrounds to learn about and put into practice the teachings of the Buddha. With this in mind we offer regular drop-in events and courses on introductory Buddhist philosophy and meditation, as well as intermediate level courses and group retreats for more experienced students.

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3. Parmarth Niketan,Rishikesh

Parmarth Niketan is a true spiritual heaven, lying on the holy banks of Mother Ganga in the lap of the lush Himalayas. It is the largest ashram in Rishikesh, providing its thousands of pilgrims who come from all corners of the Earth with a clean, pure and sacred atmosphere as well as abundant, beautiful gardens. With over 1,000 rooms, the facilities are a perfect blend of modern amenities and traditional, spiritual simplicity. Parmarth Niketan is located on the banks of the sacred Ganges River.

https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/essence-of-north-india/

4. Yoga Institute,Mumbai

The Yoga Institute, Santacruz (East), Mumbai, founded in 1918 by Shri Yogendraji and is the oldest organized centre of yoga in the world. With a broader vision of becoming a householder to propagate the message of yoga, Shri Yogendraji believed that the benefits of yoga should be shared to all instead of keeping it as a secret for very few. Thus Shri Yogendra became known as the Father of Modern Yoga Renaissance.

Since many people came to learn yoga only as a solution for their health problems, the founder emphasized on teaching yoga as a way of life and to remove obstacles in one’s personality for a better way of living. The Yoga Institute was thus designed more as a ‘Life School’ where one learnt to live. The simplicity, sincerity and non-commercial angle of The Yoga Institute caters to householders and offers guidelines of how to manage self and keep up one’s sanity as well as balance in today’s competitive, tension ridden world.

https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/exotic-south-india-with-goa-and-mumbai/

5. Yoga VidyaSpiritual Retreats, Kerala

Ayuryoga Eco-Ashram is the permanent campus of Yoga Vidya Spiritual Retreats, which is a group of young spiritual teachers with a traditional ashram and monastic backgrounds and deeply passionate about spiritual and cultural exchange of East and West.

All our teachers are either monks or scholars or spiritual seekers who are enriched with years of experience in teaching the students from different countries around the world. They offer a wide range of body-mind-spiritual retreats, trainings, courses that includes Asanas, breathing (pranayamas), Chakra balancing practices, meditation, ayurveda, detox kriyas, Sanskrit Language and a practical philosophy to live a dynamic life with a peaceful heart.

The uniqueness of our courses is that we don't impose any fixed manuals, guidelines, books, traditions, rules etc... We evaluate each student individually and respect their choices and requirements throughout the programs.

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https://www.thetajtours.com/the-night-viewing-of-taj-mahal-in-september-2017/

In the month of September 2017, the Taj Mahal will be open for the night viewing from 4^th September to 8^th September 2017. It is open two days before and two days after the full moon. The tickets are booked 24 hours in advance. The visitor is required to fill up a detailed form along with the copy of their passport.

Altogether, 400 tourists are permitted per night for the visit. The 400 tourists are divided into a batch of 50. There are only eight batches. The timings for the night view commences from 8:30 PM to 12:30 AM according to the Indian Standard Time.

WHAT IS NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE TAJ MAHAL

There are certain things which are not permitted inside the Taj Mahal. Any electronic gadget apart from your camera and mobile phone, eatables, wires, any sharp article like swiss knife, nail cutter, no religious books except travel guide books, match box, lighter, cigarette, liquor, and any promotional material.

HOW TO CLICK PHOTOGRAPHS DURING NIGHT VIEWING

Thenight viewing is one of the most breath taking, life time experience. The Taj is not lit up by artificial lights. It is the moonlight that lit up the entire structure. The time duration per batch is only 30 minutes, so normal photography will not be possible. In order to capture the moment, first change your camera or mobile to night vision mode. And then click the photographs. Another thing is that you will not be able to take selfie.

TheTaj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World which is considered as the most photogenic destinations of India. It is one of the most exquisite structures ever built by any emperor. It was constructed by the fifth Mughal emperor in the fond memory of his favorite wife Mumtaj Mahal. The Taj Mahal in terms of architecture, is one of the most symmetrical structures in the world, constructed using pure white marble and adorned with precious and semi precious stones. The construction started in 1631 and got completed in 1653 AD; 20,000 workers worked day and night together for 22 years.  

10 Best Destinations of India that is paradise for Photographers

India is a land of many religion, languages, customs, traditions and history. Ten best destinations that is considered a paradise for Photographers are:
1. Ladakh
Spectacularly jagged, arid mountains enfold this magical Buddhist ex-kingdom. Picture-perfect Gompas (Tibetan Buddhist monasteries) dramatically crown rocky outcrops amid whitewashed stupas and mani walls. Colorful fluttering prayer flags share their spiritual messages metaphorically with the mountain breeze. Prayer wheels spun clockwise release more merit-making mantras. Gompa interiors are colorfully awash with the murals and statuary of countless bodhisattvas.
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2. Rajasthan
Rajasthan is the Land of the Maharajas. It is home to the chivalrous Rajputs, and its battle-scarred heritage has legacies of pride and tradition. The upper echelons of this medieval society built magnificent palaces and forts, many of which are now glorious hotels and museums. In addition, stunning handicrafts and fine arts were developed and nurtured through patronage by the maharajas. Village life remains steeped in tradition but, just like the rest of India, the pace of change is accelerating. Turbaned men still barter for decorated camels.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/tour-of-rajasthan/

3. Taj Mahal, Agra
The Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World which is considered as the most photogenic destinations of India. It is one of the most exquisite structures ever built by any emperor. It was constructed by the fifth Mughal emperor in the fond memory of his favorite wife Mumtaj Mahal. The Taj Mahal in terms of architecture, is one of the most symmetrical structures in the world, constructed using pure white marble and adorned with precious and semi precious stones. The construction started in 1631 and got completed in 1653 AD; 20,000 workers worked day and night together for 22 years.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/golden-triangle-tour/

4. Varanasi
Varanasi or Benaras, (also known as Kashi) is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Varanasi`s Prominence in Hindu mythology is virtually unrevealed. Regarded as the spiritual capital of India, the city draws pilgrims who bathe in the River Ganges’ sacred waters and perform funeral rites. Along its winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the “Golden Temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/golden-triangle-with-khajuraho-and-varanasi/

5. Madurai
Madurai is an energetic, ancient city on the Vaigai River in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Its skyline is dominated by the 14 colorful gopurams (gateway towers) of Meenakshi Amman Temple. Covered in bright carvings of Hindu gods, the Dravidian-style temple is a major pilgrimage site. Millions attend the processions and ceremonies of April's Chithirai Festival celebrating Meenakshi and Lord Vishnu.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/religious-tour-of-south-india/

6. Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in state of Punjab North West of India. At the center of its walled old town, the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) is the holiest gurdwara of the Sikh religion. The other tourist places in Amritsar are Charles W. Bartlett, Amritsar (The Lake by the Golden Temple) 1920, Durgiana Temple, Gobindgarh Fort, Golden Temple, Harmandir Sahib, Jallianwala Bagh, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum, Mata Lal Devi Temple, and Wagah Border
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/essence-of-north-india/

7. Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra
One of the best known and most impressive groups of cave temples is Ajanta Caves - these impressive structures form a popular tourist destination. These caves contain some of the richest collections of ancient art in region. Ajanta art inspired numerous artists of the late 19th - early 20th centuries, many people were essentially obsessed with copying Ajanta paintings, there have been written numerous books about this phenomenal achievement of humanity.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/western-india/

8. Hampi
The magnificent ruins of Hampi dot an unearthly landscape that has captivated travelers for centuries. Heaps of giant boulders perch precariously over kilometers of undulating terrain, their rusty hues offset by jade-green palm groves, banana plantations and paddy fields. While it’s possible to see this World Heritage Site in a day or two, plan on lingering for a while.
The main travelers’ ghetto has traditionally been Hampi Bazaar, a village crammed with budget lodges, shops and restaurants, and towered over by the majestic Virupaksha Temple. Tranquil Virupapur Gaddi across the river has become a new popular hang-out. However, recent demolitions in both areas have seen businesses closed, with the future of Hampi bitterly contested between locals and authorities.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/the-exotic-south/

9. Kerala
Kerala, a state on India's tropical Malabar Coast, has nearly 600km of Arabian Sea shoreline. It's known for its palm-lined beaches and backwaters, a network of canals. Inland are the Western Ghats, mountains whose slopes support tea, coffee and spice plantations as well as wildlife. National parks like Eravikulam and Periyar, plus Wayanad and other sanctuaries, are home to elephants, langur monkeys and tigers.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/kerala-gods-own-country/
https://www.thetajtours.com/ten-best-destinations-of-india-that-is-paradise-for-photographers/
10. North East of India
If you want to see nature's real beauty then a visit to North East India is a must. Consisting of 7 states also called 'Seven Sisters' North East India has some real surprises for the travelers coming here. Not so much established on the travelers map, yet the North Eastern India, has its own charm that will sweep you off your feet. Come here for once and lose yourself in its charismatic magic.
North East India Tourism holds various tourist attractions and famous places to visit that you are going to know in this North East India Travel Info Guide.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/passage-to-north-and-east-india/

12 Amazing Places to Visit in Udaipur

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Udaipur lies in the Girwa valley in the middle of the Aravali hill and is described as a romantic city with its lakes, gardens, temple and palaces. It was founded in 1553 by Maharana Udai Singh of the Sisodia dynasty of Rajput, when he shifted his capital from the city of Chittorgarh to Udaipur. It remained as the capital city till 1818 when it became a British princely state, and thereafter the Mewar province became a part of Rajasthan when India gained independence in 1947.

1. UDAIPUR CITY PALACE
The City Palace stands over Lake Pichola. It has beautiful balconies, cupolas, and towers of the palace give a wonderful view of the lake and the surrounding city. This complex consists of four major and several minor palaces that collectively form the magnificent City Palace. The main part of the palace is preserved as a museum displaying artifacts.

2. LAKE PALACE Currently a hotel, but was originally called Jagniwas and served as a summer palace. Built between 1743 and 1746 on the island near Jagmandir in Lake Pichola, the palace, which faces east, is a wondrous sight to behold. The walls are made of black and white marbles and adorned with semi-precious stones and ornamented niches. Gardens, fountains, pillared terraces, and columns line its courtyards.

3. JAG MANDIR Jagmandir is a palace constructed on an island on the Lake Pichola. Also called the ‘Lake Garden Palace’, the construction for this began in 1620 and was completed around 1652. The royal family used the palace as its summer resort and for hosting parties. Interestingly, Prince Khurram - later Emperor Shah Jahan - was given shelter here when he rebelled against his father Emperor Jahangir. The Palace had such an impact on Emperor Shah Jahan that it went on to become the inspiration for one of the most magnificent Wonders of the World, The Taj Mahal.

4. MONSOON PALACE - SAJJANGARH It is situated outside Udaipur; this 19th-century palace is built on top of Bansdara hills. It was used as a monsoon palace and hunting lodge, its builder, Maharana Sajjan Singh, originally planned to make it an astronomical center. The plan was cancelled with Maharana Sajjan Singh's premature death. It is still an amazing sight on the Udaipur skyline and offers spectacular views of the city and the areas around.

5. JAGDISH TEMPLE It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the structure is an architectural marvel with carved pillars, graceful ceilings and painted walls. This three-storied temple was built by Maharana Jagat Singh I. An example of the Indo-Aryan style of architecture, Jagdish Temple was built in 1651 and continues to be one of the most famous temples in and around Udaipur.

6. FATEH SAGAR LAKE It is delightful lake, bordered by hills and woodlands, lies to the north of Lake Pichola. This artificial lake is connected to Lake Pichola by a canal. The lake houses the beautiful Nehru Island as well as an islet on which stands the Udaipur Solar Observatory. It was inaugurated by the Duke of Connaught and was initially called Connaught Bundh.

7. LAKE PICHOLA Picholi was the name of a village that lent its name to the lake. The islands of Jagniwas and Jagmandir are housed in this lake. Along the eastern banks of the lake lies the City Palace. A boat ride in the lake around sunset offers a breathtaking view of the Lake and City Palace.

8. SAHELIYON KI BARI Built by Maharana Sangram Singh II as a garden for women, Saheliyon-ki-Bari or the Garden of the Maidens is a popular tourist destination. Along with a small museum, it has several attractions such as marble elephants, fountains, kiosks and a lotus pool.

9. BAGORE KI HAVELI Bagore-ki-Haveli is located by Lake Pichola, at Gangaur Ghat. Amar Chand Badwa, the Prime Minister of Mewar, built it in the 18th century. The massive palace has over a hundred rooms that display costumes and modern art. The glass and mirrors in the interiors are structured in classical haveli style.

10. BHARATIYA LOK KALA MANDAL It is dedicated to the study of folk art, culture, songs and festivals of Rajasthan, Gujrat and Madhya Pradesh, Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal is a cultural institution in Udaipur. Besides propagating folk culture, it also has a museum that exhibits various artefacts of Rajasthani culture.

11. UDAIPUR SOLAR OBSERVATORY The Udaipur Solar Observatory is built on an island in the Fateh Sagar Lake. Being surrounded by water reduces air turbulence caused by ground heat and makes the location perfect for an observatory. It is modeled after the Solar Observatory at Big Bear Lake in Southern California.

12. JAISAMAND LAKE Jaisamand Lake is known for being the second largest man-made sweet water lake in Asia. It is popular among the locals as a weekend picnic destination. Locals say that the lake was constructed to halt the waters of Ruparel River. This lake boasts of a large island, which is home to various species of birds, at its centre.

10 Best Destinations for Dark Tourism in India

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Dark tourism or Black tourism or Grief tourism involves traveling to places historically associated with death, suffering, torture and tragedy. This concept is becoming popular day by day especially among youth.
1. Sites of Indus Valley Civilization
The sites of the Indus Valley Civilization were excavated in 1921 by an archaeological campaign under Sir John Hubert Marshall. Marshall, Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni and Madho Sarup Vats began excavating Harappa in 1921, finding buildings and artefacts indicative of an ancient civilization. More than 1,400 sites have been excavated in India. The reason for the sudden decline of the Indus civilization is still based on assumptions

2. Kanpur during 1857 Kanpur formerly called Cawnpore, was a part of British Empire. During the first war of Indian independence in 1857, the Indian soldiers severing joined the rebels. At that time Kanpur was under General Wheeler. On 27 June the British, together with servants, women and children, were escorted by the rebel army to the river. What happened next has become known as the Satichaura Ghat Massacre. Exactly how it started remains unclear to this day, but fighting broke out and the rebels attacked the boats. General Wheeler was killed in this battle. Eventually only four of the British men survived, of a party that had managed to get away as the fighting broke out.

3. Lucknow during 1857 (the Residency)
In Lucknow, the British Commissioner/Governor Sir Henry Lawrence became worried about developments and fearing that conflict was imminent decided to fortify the Residency from 23 May 1857. His premonitions proved right on 30 May when tensions escalated into open rebellion also in Lucknow and the surrounding area. The rebels launched assault on 30 June, but were unable to breach the walls, so they started a first siege during which they repeatedly shelled the Residency with artillery. Henry Lawrence was one of the first to be killed in these barrages. In the following nearly 90 days, the population inside the besieged Residency kept on dwindling. Some of them dying as a result of the ongoing fighting and others succumb to disease and the increasingly poor living conditions.

4. Amritsar (Jallianwala Bagh)
On 13th April 1919, General O Dyer ordered to fire upon unarmed people of Amritsar, who had gathered to celebrate the festival of Baisakhi. Most of the people were unaware about the martial law imposed due to the arrest and deportation of two national leaders, Satya Pal and Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew. The armed soldiers were standing at the main gate that was used for both entrance and exit. More than 1,000 people including women and children were killed and 1,000 injured.

5. Andaman & Nicobar Islands
In total 80,000 prisoners (all considered “enemies of the Empire”) are believed to have passed through Port Blair's penal colony and the Cellular Jail. Prisoners came from all parts of India. Apparently (according to one information panel in the museum) a few rebels who had revolted against British rule even in Burma were also sent here. In addition to the psychological cruelty, physical brutality was also the norm at the Andaman penal colony. Prisoners often had to work chained together and shackled. Forced labor was used in construction but also regularly in oil mills, where the prisoners had to grind coconuts by going round and round like donkeys or buffaloes. There were regular beatings for punishment, and plain torture was common too. Some prisoners were even subjected to medical experiments.

6. Delhi (with Gandhi Smriti) Gandhi Smriti also known as Birla House or Birla Bhavan, is a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, situated on Tees January Road, formerly Albuquerque Road, in New Delhi, India. It is the location where Mahatma Gandhi spent the last days of his life and was assassinated on 30 January 1948.

7. Bhopal Gas Tragedy
The Bhopal disaster or Bhopal gas tragedy was an industrial accident. It happened at a Union Carbide subsidiary pesticide plant in the city of Bhopal, India. On 3 December 1984, the plant released 42 tons of toxic methyl isocyanides (MIC) gas, exposing more than 500,000 people to toxic gases. People woke up with a burning sensation in their lungs. Thousands died immediately from the effects of the gas. Many were trampled in the panic that followed. The first official immediate death toll was 2,259. Another estimate is that 8,000 died within two weeks, that an additional 8,000 have since died from gas-related diseases.

8. Bhuj
The Bhuj earthquake, occurred on 26 January, India's 52nd Republic Day, at 08:46 AM IST and lasted for over 2 minutes. The epicenter was about 9 km south-southwest of the village of Chobari in Bhachau Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat, India. The intra plate earthquake reached 7.7 on the moment magnitude scale and had a maximum felt intensity. The earthquake killed between 13,805 and 20,023 people, injured another 167,000 and destroyed nearly 400,000 homes

9. Wagha border crossing point and ceremonies When we gained independence in 1947, India immediately broke apart along religious fault lines, with the creation of the state of Pakistan going it alone as a Muslim country, separate from predominantly Hindu India. India and Pakistan were instantly more or less at war with each other during this period, which has become known as Partition. There were large parts of the population on either side who were not Muslim (in Pakistan) or Hindu (in India), respectively. Therefore millions saw themselves forced to up sticks and resettle on the other side of the new dividing line. It was a massive movement of people accompanied with much agony, violence, deprivation and deaths.

10. Taj Palace Hotel, Mumbai In November 2008, Mumbai was attacked by a series of terrorist attacks by 10 members of a terrorist organization based in Pakistan, carried out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai. The attacks, which drew widespread global condemnation, had 164 people dead and 308 wounded.

10 Best Wildlife Destinations for Tiger Safari’s in India

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1. Bhandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh 
Bandhavgarh National Park, the most popular national parks in India is located in the Vindhya Hills of the Umaria district in Madhya Pradesh. Declared as a national park in 1968, it is spread across the area of 105 km². The area of Bandhavgarh is being flourished with a large biodiversity, the place which is also being famed to grip highest density of tiger population in India. Similarly, the park also beholds the largest breeding population of leopards and various species of deer. Over the years, the park has shown a great number of increases in the count of the tiger species and this is the reason why tiger tours is so famed to attract large amount of tourists at its vicinity. The other animals are White Tigers, Bengal Tigers, Leopards, Sambar, Barking Deer, Nilgai, Wild Boar, Gaur, Chausingha and Chinkara, the Asiatic jackal, Bengal fox, sloth bear, ratel, grey mongoose, striped hyena, jungle cat, leopard and tiger.
2. Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
Ranthambore National Park is one of the biggest and most renowned National Park in Northern India. The park is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan, which is about 130 km from Jaipur. Being considered as one of the famous and former hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur, today the Ranthambore National Park terrain is major wildlife tourist attraction spot that has pulled the attention of many wildlife photographers and lovers in this destination. The other animals found here are Tigers, Leopards, Striped Hyenas, Chital, Nilgai, Common or Hanuman langurs, Macaques, Jackals, Jungle cats, Caracals, Sloth bears, Black bucks, Indian Wild Boar, Common Palm Civets or Toddy cat, Desert Cats, , Indian False Vampires, Indian Flying Foxes, Indian Foxes, , Indian Mole Rats, Indian Porcupines, Small Indian Mongoose, Small Indian Civets and Common mongoose.
3. Jim Corbett National Park, Uttrakhand
Jim Corbett National Park, which is a part of the larger Corbett Tiger Reserve, a Project Tiger Reserve lies in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The magical landscape of Corbett is well known and fabled for its tiger richness. Established in the year 1936 as Hailey National Park, Corbett has the glory of being India's oldest and most prestigious National Park. It is also being honored as the place where Project Tiger was first launched in 1973. This unique tiger territory is best known as the father who gave birth of the Project Tiger in India to protect the most endangered species and the Royal of India called Tigers. Other Animals found here are Leopards are found in hilly areas but may also venture into the low land jungles. Small cats in the park include the jungle cat, fishing cat and leopard cat. Other mammals include barking deer, deer, hog deer and chital, sloth and Himalayan black bears, Indian grey mongoose, otters, yellow-throated martens, Himalayan goral, Indian pangolins, and rhesus macaques. Owls and nightjars can be heard during the night. In the summer, Indian elephants can be seen in herds of several hundred. The Indian python found in the reserve is a dangerous species, capable of killing a chital deer.
4. Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh
The lush sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha provided inspiration to Rudyard Kipling for his famous novel "Jungle Book". The Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh came into being in 1955 and forms the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve, created in 1974 under Project Tiger. The Park's landmark achievement is the preservation of the rare hard ground Swamp Deer, saving it from near extinction. Stringent conservation programs for the overall protection of the Park's fauna and flora, makes Kanha one of the most well maintained National Parks in Asia. The Reserve brings around 300 species of birds and the most commonly seen birds are the black ibis, bee-eaters, cattle egret, blossom-headed parakeets, pond heron, common teal, crested serpent eagle, grey hornbill, Indian roller, lesser adjutant, little grebes, lesser whistling teal, pied hornbill, woodpecker, pigeon, paradise flycatchers, mynas, Indian peafowl, red jungle fowl, steppe eagle, white-eyed buzzard, white-breasted kingfisher, white-browed fantail, wood shrikes and warblers among many more.
5. Sunderban National Park, West Bengal
The Sundarban National Park is a National Park, Tiger Reserve, and a Biosphere Reserve in West Bengal, India. It is part of the Sundarbans on the Ganges Delta, and adjacent to the Sundarban Reserve Forest in Bangladesh. The delta is densely covered by mangrove forests, and is one of the largest reserves for the Bengal tiger. It is also home to a variety of bird, reptile and invertebrate species, including the salt-water crocodile. The present Sundarban National Park was declared as the core area of Sundarban Tiger Reserve in 1973 and a wildlife sanctuary in 1977. On 4 May 1984 it was declared a National Park. It is a UNESCO world heritage site in scripted in 1987. It is considered as a World Network of Biosphere Reserve (Man and Biosphere Reserve) in 2001. Apart from the Bengal tiger, Fishing cats, Leopard cats, Macaques, Wild boar, Indian grey mongoose, Fox, Jungle cat, Flying fox, Pangolin, Chital, are also found in abundance in the Sundarbans.

6. Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
Pench National park, nestling in the lower southern reaches of the satpuda hills is named after Pench River, meandering through the park from north to south. It is located on the southern boundary of Madhya Pradesh, bordering Maharashtra, in the districts of Seoni and Chhindwara. Pench National Park, comprising of 758 SQ Kms, out of which a core area of 299 sq km of Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park and the Mowgli Pench Sanctuary and remaining 464 sq km of pench national park is the buffer area. The area of the present tiger reserve has a glorious history. A description of its natural wealth and richness occurs in Ain-i-Akbari. Pench Tiger Reserve and its neighborhood is the original setting of Rudyard Kipling's most famous work, The Jungle Book. The common northern plains gray langur and rhesus macaque represent the primate fauna of the area. The Indian porcupine, two species of mongoose viz. common mongoose and ruddy mongoose, and black-naped hare also occur in this Tiger Reserve.
7. Tadoba- Andhari Tiger reserve, Maharashtra
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is a Tiger reserves in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra state in central India. It is notable as Maharashtra's oldest and largest National Park. It is one of India's 41 "Project Tiger" - Tiger reserves. Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve was established as second Tiger Reserve in the Maharashtra State, in 1994-95. Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve area constitutes a unique ecosystem, comprising, wide variety of flora and fauna including diverse and rich avi-fauna with unique natural scenic beauty. Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve is a popular tourist destination in India. There is significant increase in tourist’s inflow during the recent years. Beside Tiger, it is abode to number of prominent wild denizens like Leopard, Wild dog, Sloth bear, Gaur, Sambar, Barking deer, Cheetal, Chausinga, Nilgai, Wild boar along with rare ones like Ratel, Flying squirrel, Pangolin and Rusty spotted cat. The continuity with forests of Chandrapur, Bramhapuri and Central Chanda Division enrich the conservation prospects of these species.

8. Nagarhole Tiger reserve, Karnataka
Nagarahole is named after Nagarahole, a winding river which runs eastwards through its centre. It is situated in the two districts of Mysore and Kodagu in the state of Karnataka. It was originally constituted into a sanctuary in the year 1955 covering an area of 258 sq. Km and subsequently enlarged to include the adjoining areas of Mysore district and now extends over an area of 643.39 sq. km which was given the status of a National Park in 1983. The birth of Nagarahole National Park can be traced to the notification of 285 Sq. km. Game Reserve way back in 1955, which included the reserve forests of Arkeri, Hatgat and Nalkeri in Kodagu. Subsequently, in 1974, reserved forests from the adjoining Mysore district were added to the Nagarahole Game Reserve, which was upgraded to the status of a National Park covering 643 sq. km. The herbivores are chital, sambar deer, barking deer, four-horned antelope, gaur, wild boar and Indian elephant. Nagarhole National Park provides an opportunity to see some of the southern population of gaur (jungle bison). Also, this park in Karnataka is a good place to see elephants in the luxuriant forests and bamboo thickets which they most enjoy. Their total population in southern India is now about 6500, nearly all living in the area where Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala adjoin in the shadow of the Western Ghats.

9. Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka
This National Park was formed by including most of the forest areas of the then Venugopala Wildlife Park established under Govt. Notification dated 19th February 1941 and the area was enlarged in 1985 extending over an area of 874.20 Sq.Km and named as Bandipur National Park. This reserve was brought under Project Tiger in 1973. Subsequently some adjacent reserve forest areas were added to the reserve and extending to 880.02 Sq. Km. The present area under the control of Bandipur Tiger Reserve is 912.04 Sq. Km. An area of 39.80 Sq. Km of KFDC plantation area was handed over to this division during 2007-08. During 2010-11 the Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary was handed over to Wildlife Division, Mysore. Bandipur supports a good population of endangered and vulnerable species like Indian elephants, gaurs, tigers, sloth bears, muggers, Indian rock pythons, four-horned antelopes, jackals and dholes.

10. Satpura Tiger Reserve
Satpura National Park is located in the Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh in India. Its name is derived from the Satpura range. It covers an area of 524 km2 (202 sq mi). Satpura National Park, along with the adjoining Bori and Pachmarhi wildlife sanctuaries, provides 1,427 km of unique central Indian highland ecosystem. It was set up in 1981. The terrain of the national park is extremely rugged and consists of sandstone peaks, narrow gorges, ravines and dense forests. The animals here are leopard, chital, four-horned antelope, Chinkara, wild boar, bear, black buck, fox, porcupine, flying squirrel, mouse deer, Indian giant squirrel, etc. There are a variety of birds. Hornbills and peafowl are common birds found here.

10 Best Religious Destinations in India

https://www.thetajtours.com/10-best-religious-destinations-india/

1. Ajmer is a bustling chaotic city, 13km from the traveler haven of Pushkar. It surrounds the tranquil lake of Ana Sagar, and is itself ringed by the rugged Aravalli Hills. Ajmer is Rajasthan’s most important site in terms of Islamic history and heritage. It contains one of India’s most important Muslim pilgrimage centers, the shrine of Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti, who founded India’s prime Sufi order in India. As well as some superb examples of early Muslim architecture, Ajmer is also a significant centre for the Jain religion, possessing an amazing golden Jain temple.

2. Amritsar is a city in state of Punjab North West of India, 28 kilometers from the border with Pakistan. At the center of its walled old town, the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) is the holiest gurdwara of the Sikh religion.  The other tourist places in Amritsar are Charles W. Bartlett, Amritsar (The Lake by the Golden Temple) 1920, Durgiana Temple, Gobindgarh Fort, Golden Temple, Harmandir Sahib, Jallianwala Bagh,

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum, Mata Lal Devi Temple, and Wagah Border

3. Haridwar (Hardwar) is located on the foothills of Shivaliks of Himalayan Range. In ancient scriptures Haridwar was also known as Tapovan, Mayapuri, Gangadwar and Mokshadwar. It is one of the most sacred seven cities of India. Haridwar have enormous religious significance and a key pilgrimage town for the Hindus. During Kumbh Mela and Ardh Kumbh Mela at Haridwar, more than 10 millions devotees gathered at the site. Saints, priests, and yogis from all corners of India, gathered to participate in Kumbh.

4. Pushkar is a town bordering the Thar Desert, in the northeastern Indian state of Rajasthan. It's set on Pushkar Lake, a sacred Hindu site with 52 ghats (stone staircases) where pilgrims bathe. The town has hundreds of temples, including 14th-century Jagatpita Brahma Mandir, dedicated to the god of creation, which has a distinctive red spire and walls inlaid with pilgrims’ silver coins.

5. Madurai is situated in Tamil Nadu, which is also rightly known as the ‘Temple Town’. Legends have it that drops of honey fell from the matted hair of Lord Shiva who had appeared in the dream of the then King of Madurai and that is how the city got its name. For centuries Madurai had been an important learning centre and a Hindu pilgrimage site in India. Madurai is also known for Meenakshi Amman Temple, which is one of the most famous temples in India. Walk through the alleys of Madurai and soak yourself in the sheer power of divinity.

6. Mathura The birthplace of the Hindu God Krishna, Mathura in the state of Uttar Pradesh can rightly be called a blessed land. Today, the town is dotted with a large number of temples including the Krishna Janbhoomi Temple that is thronged by a large number of devotees all through the year. However, Janmashtami is one festival during which this small town becomes overcrowded yet full of colours.

7. Rishikesh RishikeshThe emerald Ganga, innumerable Hindu temples and the heavy settlement of yoga centers, in Rishikesh divinity has been redefined. Preserving the ancient Hindu practice called Yoga, Rishikesh opens a door to a different level of spirituality in India. At Rishikesh one can praise nature in its truest forms and take a chance to lose himself in it. Therefore this exceptional city makes for an incredible religious place to visit in India.

8. Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum is the capital of the southern Indian state of Kerala. It's distinguished by its British colonial architecture and many art galleries. It’s also home to Kuthira Malika (or Puthen Malika) Palace, adorned with carved horses and displaying collections related to the Travancore royal family, whose regional capital was here from the 18th–20th centuries.

9. Tirupati Tirupatithe earthly abode of Lord Venkateswara (incarnation of Vishnu), Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is situated on the last hill of the Seshachalam range in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. Like many temples in south India, this holy temple is known for its exquisite architecture. It is also amongst the most visited Hindu temples in India as it is said that the temple attracts 60,000 pilgrims each day. One must attend the Puja that is accompanied by many hymns and praises giving it a touch of unmatched divinity. The Laddoo Prasadam is yet another attraction of Tirumala Venkateswara Temple.

10. Varanasi or Benaras, (also known as Kashi) is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Varanasi`s Prominence in Hindu mythology is virtually unrevealed. Regarded as the spiritual capital of India, the city draws pilgrims who bathe in the River Ganges’ sacred waters and perform funeral rites. Along its winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the “Golden Temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

DO YOU WANT TO DESTROY TAJ MAHAL??

The Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is one of the most exquisite structures ever built by any emperor. It was constructed by the fifth Mughal emperor in the fond memory of his favorite wife Mumtaj Mahal. The Taj Mahal in terms of architecture, is one of the most symmetrical structures in the world, constructed using pure white marble and adorned with precious and semi precious stones. The construction started in 1631 and got completed in 1653 AD; 20,000 workers worked day and night together for 22 years.
Unfortunately in past few decades, it is threatened by the environmental pollution. Many unauthorized factories are throwing their effluents into the river Yamuna. Regular, new constructions are springing up after cutting thousands of trees. The worst came when the insects started dropping on the white surface, turning it into greenish in color.
Amidst, all this state government filed a petition in the Supreme Court to cut over four hundred tress in order to lay another railway tract between Mathura and Delhi. On hearing it a Bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said “Do you want to destroy” the Taj Mahal, it is a world famous monument and you (government) want to destroy it? Have you seen the recent pictures of Taj? Go to the internet and have a look at it,” Then the bench added “If you want, then file an affidavit or application and say that the Union of India wants to destroy the Taj,” The apex court, is dealing with a petition filed by environmentalist M C Mehta, has been monitoring development in the area to protect the historic Taj Mahal.
https://www.thetajtours.com/do-you-want-destroy-taj-mahal/In order to protect the monument, the government from time to time comes up with the solutions. They court ordered all brick kilns to shut down, no industrialization to take place in the city and creation of Taj Trapezium Zone. The area of 10,400 sq km around the Taj Mahal is dedicated to protect the monument. Here construction, vehicle, cutting of trees and pollution is strictly prohibited.

Now Non Resident Indian can vote in elections from Abroad

https://www.thetajtours.com/now-non-resident-indian-can-vote-elections-abroad/

The Non Resident population who either is studying, employed or married abroad will be able to vote in India during the elections. There are twenty-five million, Non Resident Indian living outside India. In 2014, two Non Resident Indians - Shamsheer VP an NRI from Kerala and Nagender Chindam from United Kingdom filed a Public Interest Litigation in Supreme Court for providing legal voting rights to all the Non Residents staying abroad. Due to high travel cost, the Non Resident Indian could not come to India especially during election. To curb this problem our government came up with E – Voting system. A blank ballot paper was send to them via an email. And then they were supposed to fill it and send it back to the constituency. But unfortunately, this could only attract 15,000 to 20,000 Non Resident Indians to cast their vote. The government very soon has started working on software that will enable the Non Resident Indian to vote from abroad. The eligibility of the voter will be that she should be 18 years of age and holder of a legal passport. In India, the legal age to cast vote is still 18 years of age irrespective of gender, caste, economic, religion and social structure. India falls in the list of those countries who right after independence gave the voting rights to females. In India, one vote has one value. The Indian Constitution has laid down the following rules regarding disqualification of voters from the election process. If an individuals who are convicted of offences committed under Section 171E (which deals with bribery) and Section 171F (which deals with personating or undue influence at an election) of the Indian Penal Code are disqualified from participating in elections. Those convicted of offences under Section 125 (which deals with various electoral offences), Section 135 and Section 136 of the Representation of People’s Act face disqualification from elections. If an individual votes in more than one constituency, his vote is disqualified.

70 Reasons to feel proud on the 70th Independence Day

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. India built Asia’s first nuclear reactor Apsara on August 4 1956. India currently has 21 nuclear reactors in operation in 7 nuclear power plants.

2. Indian Space Research Organization, successfully launched Mars Orbiter Mission to probe Mars. India became the fourth country to reach Mars orbit, after the Russia, United States, and the European Space Agency. It is the first nation in the world to accomplish it in its first attempt.

3. India successfully launched Chandrayaan in order to explore the surface of moon. The vehicle inserted into lunar orbit in its first attempt. On the greatest achievements of Chadrayaan was the discovery of the presence of water.

4. India designed first space satellite, Aryabhata after an Indian astronomer, in 1975.

5. India is lowest cost producer of nuclear energy.

6. India has one of the largest supplies of thorium in the world.

7. India is among the first country to develop satellite for domestic    communication.

8. The Indian National Satellite System or INSAT is a series of satellites used of the telecommunications, broadcasting, meteorology, and search and rescue operations.

9. India is among the five nations to send unmanned mission to moon.

10. India developed world’s lowest cost supercomputer.

11. In 2015, eleven Indian machines found a place in the latest list of the world’s 500 most powerful supercomputers, including two in the top 100.

SPORTS

12. India has won a total of 26 Olympic medals. India won its first gold medal in men’s field hockey in the 1928 Olympic Games. Abhinav Bindra became the first Indian to win an individual gold medal in shooting at the Olympic Games.

13. India’s Sachin Tendulkar is the highest run getter in Test cricket and also scored highest number of Test and ODI centuries.

14. India won cricket world cup twice.

15. India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni is ranked 23rd in the list of world’s highest paid athletes 2015.

ARMED FORCES

16. India is one of the four countries that refused to sign Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty on matter of principle.

17. India successfully launched nuclear submarine called INS Arihant.

18. India is the only country to launch nuclear submarine after five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

19. India has the third largest army in the world with more than 1.3 million army personnel.

EDUCATION

20. The Mid-Day meal scheme of Government of India is the world’s largest scheme for kids serving 120,000,000 children in over 1,265,000 schools across the country.

21. India has 5600 different newspapers and 3500 different magazines with approximately 120 million readers every day.

ECONOMICS

22. India produces lowest cost producer of steel, aluminum, cement and fertilizer.

23. India has largest single location copper smelter.

24. India produces lowest cost delivery of wireless telephony.

25. India is currently the world’s second-largest telecommunications market.

26. Indian companies with Hero MotoCorp are the world’s largest manufacturer of two wheelers.

27. India has the largest single location oil refinery capacity nearly 70m tons in the world.

28. India is the second-largest consumer of gold.

29. 90 % of all diamonds polished and processed in India.

30. India’s Bombay Stock Exchange is world’s 11th largest stock exchange.

31. With 1, 55,618 post offices and over 5, 66,000 employees, India has the largest postal network in the world.

32. India has largest number of bank account holders.

33. India’s Mukesh Ambani holds 36th position in world’s richest people list.

34. India’s Shah Rukh Khan is ranked 86th in the list of world’s highest paid celebrities.

35. India’s Amitabh Bachchan got 71st position in 2015 in the list of world’s highest paid celebrities.

36. India has largest intra-country remittances.

TRANSPORTATION

38. The Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi won the Best Airport award from the Airports Council International within 25–40 million annual passengers category in 2015.

39. Railway network in India was nationalized in 1951 and Indian Railways became one of the largest railway networks comprising 115,000 km (71,000 mi) of track over a route of 67,312 km (41,826 mi) and 7,112 stations.

40. Indian Railways carries more than 23 million passengers daily from one destination to another.

41. The Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai and the Mountain Railways of India is declared as World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

POLITICAL FRONT

42. India gave every adult Universal Adult Franchise from its first day of independence.

43. As many as 29 languages are spoken in India, by more than one million people each.

44. More than 1,650 dialects are spoken in India.

45. India witnessed 16 changes of power (Lok Sabha) at the Centre. It shows the strength of democratic values of the people of this country.

46. India has largest number of elected persons in the world, due to Panchayati Raj system across the country.

47. India has fundamental right to information.

48. India hosts Kumbh Mela, world’s largest religious congregation with 30 million pilgrims.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

49. India has one of the highest numbers of female politicians.

50. India is among the first countries to have woman (Indira Gandhi) head of state

51. Women have held high offices in India including that of the President, Prime Minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Leader of the Opposition. One of the five major states has women chief ministers.

52. Majority of candidates in these Panchayats are women. Currently 100 per cent of elected members in Kodassery Panchayat in Kerala are Women.

53. India’s Mary Kom is a five-time World Amateur Boxing champion, and the only woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships.

54. India’s Sania Mirza is currently ranked No. 1 in the women’s doubles rankings.

AGRICULTURE

55. India is the world’s largest milk producer, with 18 percent of global production.

56. India is the largest producer, consumer and importer of pulses.

57. India is the second largest producer of sugar cane in the world.

58. India is the largest producer of cotton with production of 6.51 million tons of the fiber.

59. India is the second largest producer of rice and wheat.

60. India is the largest producer of ginger, safflower and okra.

61. India is the largest producer of banana, mango, papaya, lemon, jackfruit, guava and pomegranate.

62. India is the largest producer of wood fuel.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF INDIA

63. India has world’s highest motor able pass (Khardung La at 5600m).

64. India is the largest producer of films in the world and second oldest film industry in the world.

65. India’s Aryabhata invented the number ZERO.

66. A vast majority of the historian believes that Chess was invented in India.

67. India born Satya Nadella is the current CEO of Microsoft.

68. India’s Sundar Pichai is the CEO of Google.

69. India is a cradle of many religions of the world, and has set up best example of unity in diversity

70. India has never initiated war on any country.

JAI HIND

VANDE MATRAM

https://www.thetajtours.com/70-reasons-feel-proud-70th-independence-day/

Coming Soon - Ariel view of Agra by Chopper for tourists

The tourism department of Uttar Pradesh will soon launch the Chopper service in Agra in collaboration with the national helicopter carrier Pawan Hans. The government is looking for at least three acres of land to construct the helipad. They are considering two locations in Agra, first option being Kheria, where the present airport is located. The other one is at Etmadpur. The final location is still under consideration.

                 

Deputy Director of the tourism department, Mr. Dinesh Kumar said, “This initiative is being taken to make tourism destinations of the state more attractive. After Vrindavan, Goverdhan and Varanasi, a helicopter service is in the pipeline in Agra and Ayodhya. Allahabad is another such destination.” He was referring to the Adityanath Yogi government’s proposal to start a chopper service from Noida for an aerial ‘parikrama’ of the Krishna circuit covering Mathura, Vrindavan and Goverdhan in September. Kumar said permission from the Indian Air Force and the home ministry would be sought to fly helicopters in Agra city. “We are hopeful that the department will get the permission at the earliest. We plan to start the service by October,” the official added.

The government is looking forward to include The Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Sikandra and Shiva temple for the chopper ride. This ride will last for 20 minutes. Some experts are also suggesting to include Fatehpur Sikri too. This scheme was suppose to start in 2016 but due to the election, the decision was delayed. The ride is expected to start in October this year. The amount for the tourist is yet to be decided.

This step has been taken by the government to attract more tourists every year. At the same time, the tourists in Agra will be able to stay for longer duration. As of now, Agra has hot air balloon ride only for the Taj Mahal and it is started by private firm.