8:40 AM |


Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai

The Haji Ali Dargah is not a very popular destination amongst foreign tourists but for Indians it certainly is one. Those visiting Mumbai in the state of Maharashtra make it a point to the Dargah (tomb). The tomb is of Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, a rich Muslim businessman who gave away all his wealth away to the poor before leaving for Mecca. About 30 to 40 thousand pilgrims visit the tomb on Thursdays and Fridays alone, so you can see how popular this place is. You might consider taking a trip to the Haji Ali Dargah if you are in Mumbai. It is situated on an islet off the coast of Worli in the South of Mumbai. Even Hindus visit this shine in large numbers.




The Haji Ali Dargah is a mosque and dargah (tomb) located on an islet off the coast of Worli in the Southern part of Mumbai. Near the heart of the city proper, the dargah is one of the most recognisable landmarks of Mumbai. An exquisite example of Indo-Islamic Architecture, associated with legends about doomed lovers, the dargah contains the tomb of Sayed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari.
Background

The Haji Ali Dargah was constructed in 1431 in memory of a wealthy Muslim merchant, Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, who gave up all his worldly possessions before making a pilgrimage to Mecca. Hailing from Bukhara, in the ancient Persian Empire (present day Uzbekistan), Bukhari travelled around the world in the early to mid 15th century, and then settled in present day Mumbai.
According to legends surrounding his life, once the Saint saw a poor woman crying on the road, holding an empty vessel. He asked her what the problem was, she sobbed that her husband would thrash her as she stumbled and accidentally spilled the oil she was carrying. He asked her to take him to the spot where she spilt the oil. There, he jabbed a finger into the soil and the oil gushed out. The overjoyed woman filled up the vessel and went home.
Later, Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari had a recurring and disturbing dream that he had injured Earth by his act. Full of remorse, he soon fell ill and directed his followers to cast the coffin carrying his body into the Arabian Sea. Haji Ali died during his journey to Mecca and miraculously the casket carrying his body, floated back to these shores, getting stuck in the string of rocky islets just off the shore of Worli. Thus, the Dargah was constructed there.
On Thursdays and Fridays, the shrine is visited by at least 40,000 pilgrims. Irrespective of faith and religion, people visit the dargah to get the blessings of the legendary saint. Sometimes, especially on Fridays, various Sufi musicians perform a form of devotional music called Qawwali at the dargah.





The Structure


The Dargah is built on a tiny islet located 500 meters from the coast, in the middle of Worli Bay, in the vicinity of Worli. The edifice is a brilliant specimen of the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. The islet is linked to the city precinct of Mahalakshmi by a narrow causeway, which is nearly a kilometre (0.62 mile) long.
The accessibility to the dargah is very much dependent on the tides. As, the causeway is not bound by railings, when the causeway gets submerged during high tide it becomes inaccessible citation needed. Therefore, the dargah is accessible only during low tide. This walk on the causeway, with the sea on both sides, is one of the highlights of a trip to the shrine.
The whitewashed structure occupies an area of a marble courtyard contains the central shrine. The tomb within the mosque is covered by a brocaded red and green chaddar (tomb cover sheet). It is supported by an exquisite silver frame, supported by marble pillars. The main hall has marble pillars embellished with artistic mirror work: blue, green, yellow chips of glass arranged in kaleidoscopic patterns interspersed with Arabic patterns which spell the ninety-nine names of Allah. As per the Muslim traditions separate praying rooms for ladies and gents are provided here to pay their respects. During the high tide, the dargah seems completely isolated with no access. It looks more like a little island.





Repair and Renovation


The six hundred year old Dargah structure has corroded, due to constant erosion, saline winds and constant flow of 80,000 people per week. The structural upgradation of the Dargah started in October 2008. The Dargah will be beautified with first and second quality white marble, which will be brought from Makrana, Rajasthan, the same place from where marble for the Taj Mahal was brought.
The repair and structural upgradation work is envisaged to take 24 months divided into two Phases. Phase One will involve reconstruction of Mosque and Minarets, Phase Two will involve renovation of the Sanitarium Building. When the reconstruction work is complete, the holy shrine will give the feel of a Taj right in Mumbai’s brackish sea water.




BY
Fathin Nouri Bt Samsudin
A13A1438 ( L2T2, GROUP 5)


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Kocatepe Mosque, Turkey

12:55 AM |

Do you ever hear about it??

Do you ever wanna to see it by your own?? Tadaa…


This is the largest mosque in Ankara at Turkey. It can be seen from almost anywhere in central Ankara. Can’t u imagine how big this mosque and its take for two hours to get out of the area afterwards.
The idea of building the Kocatepe Mosque dates back to the 1940s. On December 8, 1944, Ahmet Hamdi Akseki, the Vice-President of Turkish Religious Affairs, along with seventy-two founding members, established a society known as the "Society to Build a Mosque in Yenişehir, Ankara." In 1947 this society called for projects to be drawn up by architects, but none of the submitted projects were accepted.
In 1956, through the efforts of the late Adnan Menderes, Prime Minister of the time, land was allocated for the project to build a mosque in Ankara, and a request for projects was made once again in 1957. This time thirty-six projects were evaluated, with the joint project of Vedat Dalokay and Nejat Tekelioğlu being chosen as the one to be implemented.
The accepted project was an innovative and modern design. The construction started, but due to heavy critique from conservatives for its modernist look, the construction was stopped at the foundation level. Vedat Dalokay later built a modified version of the Kocatepe Mosque after winning an international competition for the Shah Faisal Masjid in Islamabad,Pakistan in 1969. This mosque, which can accommodate 24,000 people, is one of the largest mosques of the world, and accepted by many as the frontiers of modern Islamic architecture.

After a third architectural competition in 1967, a more conservative or nostalgic design by Hüsrev Tayla and M. Fatin Uluengin was chosen to be built. Completed in 1987, this project is built in a neo-classical Ottoman architecture style, and is an eclectic building inspired by the Selimiye mosquein Edirne, and the Sehzade and Sultan Ahmet mosques in Istanbul.


Yes, there is an underground garage, there is also a huge shopping mall under the mosque.  This is not an odd juxtaposition, most mosques either have a shopping area under them or right next door.  After all, the faithful are commanded to go to pray five times a day...that is a lot of chances for drive-by shopping! 


Looking up to the top of the dome.  All of the indoor pictures were taken with the camera on the "night" setting, which (while it did turn out better than the blacks and grays that the standard setting produced) was not much for resolution. Its pretty..

        
...to set you up for a closer shot of the main chandelier.  The chandeliers have, between them, one ton of gold that was donated by local merchants as a sign of faith. 


Ton of golden in this chandelier..


 

 Interior design of Kocatepe Mosque..

For the traveler, don't miss your opportunity to visit this beautiful mosque...the architecture of this building is so unbelievable..grab your chance and have fun!!

bY:

AMEYLIA BINTI MOHD RADZI
A13A0052
L2T2/GROUP 5


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Bali Museum, Indonesia

10:20 AM |


 Bali Museum is strategically located in Major Wisnu Street   in Denpasar Bali and it is find it due to the location is in the heart town. In the north side there are glorious temple of Jagatnatha, meanwhile in front of it the Puputan Badung (Badung Courtyard) and four face statue (Catur Muka Statue) are located. The development of Bali Museum is begun by the existence of initiative how to vitally the heritage of Balinese culture and taking care of, preserve and maintaining. The initiative is based on the existence of feeling to worry, that there is symptom a kind of culture erosion, so that the cultural heritage become totally disappeared, lose, what omit only photograph and documentations.


Bali Museum History
Bali Museum save the Balinese culture heritage, emerge the founding plan a museum which afterward becomes the Bali Museum:

  • The early planning of Bali Museum founding was Governmental functionary of Dutch, Bali King, Society Prominent, all artists like: WFJ Kroon (assistant of Dutch Resident), Curt Grundler (a Germany Architect), I Gusti Alit Ngurah (Bestuurder Penegara Badung), I Gusti Bagus Jelantik (King of Karangasem), I Gusti Ketut Djelantik (King of Buleleng), King of Tabanan, and all artists like I Gusti Ketut Kandel, I Gusti Ketut Rai. The Planning is happened in year 1910 with the elementary concept Bali Museum building structure that was solidarity of the structure between temple building (Sanctum) and Palace (Keraton).
  • After agreed on the concept of the museum building structure, hence founded a mains building which deflect finished in year 1925. Because of the ancient object collection which had been collected is not yet adequate and then during 7 years (1925-1932), the mains building stood functioned for the exhibition purpose. All meritorious experts in checking object taken as collection of Bali Museum for example: DR.W.F. Stutterheim, G.I. Graider, G.M. Hendrikss, DR.R. Goris, and artist of Walter Spies
  • Bali Museum in the beginning is handled by an institution that is called Bali Museum Institution and opened officially on 8 December 1932 with the name of Bali Museum
  • The management hereinafter by institution of Bali Museum has been reverted to Government of Indonesia since 5 January 1966.


Bali Museum as a Place of Interest in Denpasar Bali

  
The object collections which are kept in Bali Museum can be classified become the prehistoric object collection like: the Grave Petrify (sarkopag), the object collection coming from history era like: stupika clay containing superstitious formula Ye Te, the bronze statues (Hindu and Budha statues) and ethnography object collection like Keris, Endek Cloth, and religious ceremony equipments (Sangku, Cecepan and Sidakarya mask). In its growth, now Bali Museum have been opened generically and become the tourist destination in Denpasar Town and it is a prefect place to visit in Bali in particular on Denpasar City Tour or join Denpasar Tour Package.

-SHAMLA BALAKRISHNAN, A13A1103
-L2T1/ Group 5

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THE GARUDA WISNU KENCANA STATUE, INDONESIA

10:08 AM |

A masterpiece came from the hand of Balinese Artist Nyoman Nuarta, shaped as a large statue which built at Mandala Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, bukit Ungasan Jimbaran Bali, still on going processed and plan to be finished in the year of 2005, designed to be the landmark for tourism of Bali and Indonesia.


THE LEGEND OF GARUDA WISNU 
The establishment of the statue is God Wisnu the Protector God of Hinduism riding on mythical bird Garuda, inspired from Adi Parwa's tale on the episode of Garuda with his loyal and sacrifice to save his mother from the shackles of slavery life, by devoted his life to serve the God Wisnu by being his means of transportation. 


[ Statue of Garuda Wisnu Kencana at Candi Belahan, East Java, was built during the time of Majapahit on Airlangga's reign who ruled over Java and Bali in the 11 century, inspired the development of Garuda Wisnu Statues which could found in many places in Bali. ] 

The tale tells about a whirlpool in a sea of milk created by gods and giants by using Mount Mandara. The whirlpool caused a horse called Oncesrawa to appear, and then the Tirtha Amertha (the water of life). Anybody who drinks the Tirtha Amertha, he will never die because he will never experience being old. He will look young at all times. The gods and giants then fought to get the water, but finally the gods prevailed and took the water to keep in heaven.

Based on the tale, the Garuda eagle, the son of Goddess Winata, fought hard to get the Tirtha Amertha to free his mother from 1,000 dragons, the sons of Goddess Kadru, which had made his mother a slave. The Garuda eagle, accompanied by his parents' prayers, fought his best to beat the gods in the heaven to get the Tirtha Amertha. After a long fight, finally they made an agreement that the gods would hand over the Tirtha Amertha on one condition, i.e. that the Garuda eagle would serve God Wisnu. Garuda was very pleased with the offer because he knew that he would be able to free his mother.

Garuda eagle then took the Tirtha Amertha to the 1,000 dragons, which wanted to have eternal lives. His mother safe and free. Then Garuda told the dragons," You are all only allowed to drink the Tirtha Amertha after having a bath." The dragons soon went to bathe in the nearby river and left the water unattended. None of them realized that the water should never be left unattended. Finally, God Indra came and took the Tirtha Amertha and returned it to the heaven.

The Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue is hoped to stimulate the dynamic of physical and spiritual values, and the balance between skala and niskala (the real and unreal worlds) so that harmony on the earth can be created. The Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue is the symbol of the mission of environmental safeguard and the world savior.





























THE DIMENSION OF GARUDA WISNU KENCANA STATUE 

Outwardly the size of the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue is 146 meters high and above sea level is 283 meters. Wing's wide is 66 meter with 4000 tons total weight. The statue is made from mix copper and brass welding, several parts coat with mosaic of gold. This 146 meters high has two components there are the principal constituent the statue and the pedestal with its function as the central of World Cultural Forum For the time being, the 15% of the statue figure as Wisnu with 22 meter high exhibited at Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, meanwhile the construction of the whole statue still on going process.

-PUVANESVARAN MATHIVALLAN (A13A1044)
-L1T2/ Group 5

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TAJ MAHAL, INDIA

9:31 AM |

TAJ MAHAL,INDIA

One knows that ‘The Taj’ is one amongst the World’s Wonders!

One knows that it is one amongst the UNESCO World Heritage Sites!! 

One knows The Taj as a legend of eternal love of an Emperor for his favourite Queen!!!


Well, ‘The Taj’ has distinctions much beyond just these!
Therefore, ‘The Taj’, surely, deserves your visit once and more!!!
  

Come, walk along the pathway beside the reflecting pool with fountains up to the mausoleum crafted in soft & pure marble and jewelled with semi precious stones, where in the serenity of paradise rests the Queen in peace with her King. Come to unfold the pages from the past to churn the charm out of its mystique and enrich your imagination about this marvel of an epic in stone, The Taj!
The grace of perfection of proportions and grandeur of geometrical patterns of well appointed gardens enhancing the poise of the whole complex together add magnificence to the delicacy of this man the of love, dedication and purity, ‘The Taj’!

Come take a dip into the saga of ‘The Taj’, culled out from no fiction but facts and unfurl a saga, which is set out of nothing but pure love!

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder! Probably for Taj Mahal, the axiom is just the other way round.The Taj is the beauty personified! The Taj displays its different moods through its varied shades. The Taj has as many shades as any kind of beauty can ever have! The Taj is pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening, golden when the moon shines and the intermediary variants during different hours of the day and during different seasons in a year.

Picturesque descriptions by the historians contemporary to the period of its making, the facts revealed by the scholars & archaeologists of today and the panoramic montage of the reasons behind its making are sketched with every step you would walk towards the mausoleum the next time you visit The Taj!

A look this time at the Taj will keep you indulged with thoughts superimposing your sight and would make you feel the presence of Shah Jahan, the Maker and Mumtaz Mahal, the Reason, as though walking along with you.

Whence its breathtaking splendour makes you wonder breathlessly and you tend to pause for a while but to continue staring at ‘The Taj’, you would sense them standing beside you!

If one has a heart that beats and that beat throbs to seek, the purity of love in galore! Surely one deserves a visit to ‘The Taj’, as much as ‘The Taj’ deserves your visit once, and more!
Come to ‘The Taj’ with blissful pride! Bring the saga come alive!! Come; fall in love, everytime!!!
   
Visiting Hours - Taj Mahal Sunrise to Sunset (Friday Closed) also Other Monuments-from sunrise to sunset

Entry Fee For Taj Mahal

S.No.Tourist TypeAmount (Rs.) (Inclusive of ASI & ADA fees )
1.Foreign tourist
750/-
2.Citizens of SAARC and BIMSTEC Countries
510/-
3.Domestic/IndianRs. 20/-
Note-
  1. For all the World Heritage Sites tickets are available on Ticket Counters of World Heritage Sites in India.
  2. A composite ticket of Taj Mahal (Inclusive of ASI & ADA fees) is available at all World Heritage Sites in india.
  3. No Entry fee for children below the age of 15 years. (both Domestic and Foreigner)
Taj Mahal in the Morning



 That said, the Taj is at its most alluring in the relative quiet of early morning, shrouded in mists and bathed with a soft red glow. As its vast marble surfaces fall into shadow or reflect the sun, its colour changes, from soft grey and yellow to pearly cream and dazzling white; it's well worth visiting at different times. This play of light is an important decorative device, symbolically implying the presence of Allah, who is never represented in anthropomorphic form.
The moods of the Taj vary from dawn to dusk.The Taj Mahal or the Crown of Palaces looks milky white in the soft light that characterizes early morning, while the afternoon sun makes it glisten bright and dazzling in the overhead sunlight, almost looking like a jewel against the opaque blue of the skyline and then comes a moonlit Taj breaking into the night sky, majestic and simply beautiful in a sense that cannot be put into words. It is at this time that it shines like a pearl.
A visitor to the monument may very well stand agape at this spectacle, the romanticism and sheer majesty of the structure unbelievably true. Its sensuous appeal was never more heightened as on a full moon night. The dome is what is highlighted, while the other aspects of the structure, though separated, each facet with its individuality intact, is nevertheless united in look, the balance is so perfect. The rows of cypress trees offset by the green carpet of grass complete the picture of idyllic proportions, resplendent in royal dignity.

The Taj Mahal, for which even the course of the river Yamuna is said to have been diverted, can best be described in the words of the Noble Laurette Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore,

"A teardrop in the face of eternity."
AZIZAH BINTI SHARIF
A13A1419
L2T2/GROUP 5










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WAT ARUN THAILAND

12:26 AM |

Wat Arun

This temple had also been recognized as The Temple of Dawn.  Wat Arun is a buddhist temple which located in Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River.
Construction of the stunning "phra prang" (towers), which are covered in tiny pieces of colorful Chinese ceramics, was started by King Rama II (1809-1824) and completed by King Rama III (1824-1851). Temple derives its name from Hindu god which name Aruna, who often personified as radiations of the rising sun.
Though Wat Arun's main spire 'prang' are the biggest attraction, they are actually only a small part of the complex, which also hosts lovely white buildings, shrines, ponds and tiny lanes. 'Prang' was composed in height 79 meters, the temple is surrounded by four lessor Prangs, each representaing four directors of the guardians gods. Temple briefly hosted revered Emerald Buddha after it was recaptures from Laos but it moved to Wat Phra Kaew in 1784.
Wat Arun was the best known of Thailand's landmark and the first light of morning reflects off the surface of temple with pearly iridescence. From a snapper's point of view, the best place to get a shot of Wat Arun is actually from the other side of the river, particularly at sunset. Entry to temple is 100 bath and it opened daily from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.





Siah Ai Nee A13A1122
L2T1

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Next destination--- Wat Pho, Thailand

6:30 PM |



Wat Pho is one of the largest and oldest wats in Bangkok (with an area of 50 rai, 80,000 square metres),and is home to more than one thousand Buddha images, as well as one of the largest single Buddha images of 160 ft length:the Reclining Buddha (Phra Buddhasaiyas, Thai พระพุทธไสยาสน์). The Wat Pho complex consists of two walled compounds bisected by Soi Chetuphon running east–west. The northern walled compound is where the reclining Buddha and massage school are found. The southern walled compound, Tukgawee, is a working Buddhist monastery with monks in residence and a school. Outside the temple, the grounds contain 91 chedis (stupas or mounds), four viharas (halls) and a bot (central shrine). 71 chedis of smaller size contains the ashes of the royal family, and 21 large ones contain the ashes of Buddha.The four chedis are dedicated to the four Chakri kings.The temple has sixteen gates around the complex guarded by Chinese giants carved out of rocks. These statues were originally imported as ballast on ship trading with China.
The outer cloister has images of 400 Buddhas out of the 1200 originally bought by king Rama V. In terms of architecture, these are varied in different styles and postures, but these are evenly mounted on matching gilded pedestals. The main temple is raised in marble platform punctuated by mythological lions in the gateways. The exterior balustrade has around 150 depictions of the epic, Ramakien, the ultimate message of which is transedence from secular to spiritual dimensions


Reclining Buddha

The image of reclining Buddha is 15 m high and 43 m long with his right arm supporting the head with tight curls on two box-pillows of blue, richly encrusted with glass mosaics.The 3 m high and 4.5 m long foot of Buddha displays are inlaid with mother-of-pearl. They are divided into 108 arranged panels, displaying the auspicious symbols by which Buddha can be identified like flowers, dancers, white elephants, tigers and altar accessories. Over the statue is a seven tiered umbrella representing the authority of Thailand. There are 108 bronze bowls in the corridor indicating the 108 auspicious characters of Buddha. People drop coins in these bowls as it is believed to bring good fortune, and to help the monks maintain the wat. Though the reclining Buddha is not a pilgrimage centre, it remains an object of popular piety.

Thai Massage

The temple is considered the first public university of Thailand, teaching students in the fields of religion, science and literature through murals and sculptures.In 1962 a school for traditional medicine and massage was established. The temple is home to one of the earliest Thai massage schools. Traditional Thai massage and medicine is taught at the Traditional Medical Practitioners Association Center, an open air hall outside the temple. For Thai massage therapists, the medical inscription inside the temple acts as a base for treatment. There are 60 plaques inscribed, 30 each for the front and back of human body. Therapeutic points and energy pathways known as sen were engraved and the explanations were carved on the walls next to the plaques. Full research on the diagrams is still not completed - the derivation so far is that the figures represent relationships between anatomical locations and effects produced by treatment at those locations.

 Tan Wan Er
A13A1264
L2T1/ Group 5

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