Spending yearly vacation in a fantastic country would be the dream of every vacationer. But, for an enjoyable vacation, an effective plan must be devised, which should include everything vital to make a vacation memorable. In other words, you should ask yourself a number of questions before devising an effective plan for vacation, such as which destination would you like to go for vacation, what are the activities you are planning during your vacation, whether you are interested in exploring new places or culture of a place, or would you like to enjoy adventure trips, and so on. However, it would be quite confusing for a common man to plan a vacation. Here comes the importance of tour agents. No matter what your tastes are, they will take all steps to make your vacation an enjoyable as well as a wonderful experience.
With umpteen destinations to choose from, one of the best destinations preferred by most of the people across the globe is Hong Kong/China destination. China is the world's third largest country, with great cultural and ethnic diversities. As per the records of the World Tourism Organization, China is the fifth most popular tourist destination in the world, and is estimated to become the first in the next 15 years.
In addition to being home to the Great Wall - one of the Seven Wonders of the World, China has to its credit a continuum of tourist attractions, with 23 provinces, four municipalities, five autonomous region, and two administrative regions. Beijing - the capital city of China - comes with such renowned attractions as Temple of Heaven Park, the Summer Palace, and the Imperial Palace Museum within the Forbidden City, which in turn is the world's largest palace complex. Along with cities such as Macau, Shanghai, and Lhasa - Hong Kong is also one of the much famed tourist places in China.
Now we will discuss some of the top attractions in the city of Hong Kong. The city boasts of such a great number of attractions that it takes months to explore all of them. Just few among the Hong Kong attractions are the peak tower with Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum and rooftop observation area; Man Mo Temple; Wong Tai Sin Temple, an ancient shrine famed for its fortune-tellers; the Bank of China Tower, one of the tallest building in the world that is noted for its architecture; the Avenue of Stars, which is graced and illuminated with tons of twinkling lights; the Clock Tower - one of the oldest landmarks that is situated on the site of the old Kowloon Station; Hong Kong Park, featuring a 1400 sq mt conservatory, air-conditioned sports center, and Olympic Square; and Statue Square, a popular pedestrian in the central district. Equally important are such attractions of Hong Kong as Hong Kong Disneyland, Central District that is home to many government buildings, Ladies Market, Repulse Bay, and Mongkok that is much favored for its teaming activities.
Hong Kong also offers excellent opportunities to enjoy a range of activities. Taking a helicopter ride, riding the peak tram, riding the cable car, riding the century-old tram, and taking a harbor cruise are just few among them. In addition, superb facilities are made available to enjoy exciting and interesting sport activities like sedan chair race, horse racing, swimming, and wind surfing. Also, worth mentioning is the night life in Hong Kong, with its British as well as Irish themed bars, dance clubs, and modern bars offering live music shows and fun. Nightlife in Hong Kong is mainly spread throughout three areas in Kowloon: cocktail bars in Tsim Sha Tsui, pubs on the Ashley Road, and clubs on the Prat and Chatham Roads. Apart from this, Hong Kong boasts of a chain of music clubs and theaters, each of them ensuring fun and entertainment in a relaxing environment.
Above all, Hong Kong hosts a great number of festivals and events, such as Chinese New Year; Birthday of Che Kung, dedicated to Che Kung - the general of the Sung Dynasty; Spring Lantern Festival; and Hong Kong International Film Festival, which is to honor Asian film festivals as well as eminent film makers. Also, great is the gastronomy of Hong Kong. Hong Kong's hall mark is perhaps its world-class cuisine, covering regional, English, continental, and western. An array of restaurants, pubs, bars, and eateries can be seen here.
So what all to dream? Just plan your vacation with us and feel relaxed. All you have to do is to logon to our website and share your interests and likes and dislikes with us.
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/discover-the-perfect-vacation-in-hong-kong-and-china-200182.html
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
09 September 2007
12 August 2007
The Taj Mahal -- An Emperor's Tribute to His Beloved
by Gautam Chatterjea
Agra, 200 kilometres from Delhi, was the seat of the Mughal dynasty since the 15th century.
Shah Jahan the erstwhile emperor, in 1612 married a nubile beauty Arjuman, and lovingly called her Mumtaj Mahal literally meaning 'ornate crown of the place'. Mumtaj Mahal was two years younger to Shah Jahan and in their married life of 18 years she bore him 14 children. During her last childbirth Mumtaj Mahal passed away in 1631. On her demise the bereaved emperor was shattered and withdrew himself from active governance of his kingdom.
Mumtaj Mahal had died at Berhampur in the India state of Kalinga, now known as Orissa and was buried at the banks of river Tapti. Sometime later after the emperor could gather himself, he asked his son Suja to exhume his mother's body and lay her to rest at Agra the seat of his kingdom.
Not to be contented with an ordinary tomb on the grave of his wife, Shah Jahan decided to create a magnificent memorial in remembrance of Mumtaj Mahal that the world will ever marvel at. He invited the most renowned architects, artisans and construction experts from many countries of the world and expressed his desire for the creation of a unique mausoleum in memory of his wife at the banks of river Yamuna at Agra where the empress was finally laid to rest. Finally, after years of creating hundreds of designs for this memorial edifice, an artist from Persia named Isfan Diya Rumi produced the design that Shah Jahan was eventually satisfied with.
And the construction of a marvellous memoriam began which took 22 years to complete with a labour force of 20,000 workers and skilled artisans. It was originally named 'Rouza-e-Mumtaj Mahal' [the Mausoleum of Mamtaj Mahal], but eventually came to be short named as the Taj Mahal.
On the border panels of the four entrances to the central tomb are inscriptions from the holy Quran. The perspective design employs a gradual enlargement of calligraphy towards the top, so that any one reading it standing on the platform 100 feet below will still read the letters in optical proportions at the top. This uniquely arranged calligraphy was etched by Amanat Khan Miraji of Kandahar.
The cost of the edifice when completed in 1653 stood at Indian Rupees 30 million.
At the entrance of the edifice, the visitor will read on the plaque these details on the memorial:
"The Taj Mahal was built between 1631 and 1653 by Emperor Shah Jahan (1627 - 1658) as the tomb for his wife Arjuman better known as Mumtaj Mahal, born in 1592, the daughter of Asaf Khan, she married Shah Jahan in 1612 and died in 1631. After his death the Emperor was buried by her side."
The architectural marvel was built over a 20 metre deep foundation of wells, wooden logs, sandstone and mortar fillings that has stood through 350 years. The Taj has three gates and four Minarets each 140 feet high placed at the four ends of the main platform. The minarets also employ a unique design in that it will always fall outwards should it encounter collapse in a disaster. The main gate displays on its top 22 small domes in two rows that account for the number of years it took Taj to be built. The main platform is approached through a wonderfully laid out garden and water channels with fountains. Garden planners from Kashmir, the place famous for its beautiful gardens, created the garden complex. The mausoleum also has a prayer mosque and a guesthouse for royal visitors on either side of the main structure set at equal distance and built symmetrically.
The emperor in his old age during house detention by his son Aurangzeb, with failing vision would take the help of the reflection from the crystals embedded in the pillars of the fort's balcony facing the edifice, to look at his beloved wife's memorial - The Taj, two kilometres away.
The Taj Mahal is indeed the epitome of the greatest tribute of an emperor to his beloved. Shah Jahan's passions in building the memorial of Mumtaj Mahal was expressed in his own words as:
"The felon who seeks shelter in this mausoleum will find his misdeed annulled ... the sinner will be forgiven for his sin. Sighs will have no bounds at this tomb, that's the eventual embodiment of HIS creation."
Millions of people from round the world have seen the beautiful edifice that is regarded to be the most wonderful thing on the planet created 350 years ago. A traveller has recorded "if it is assumed that there is nothing else worth seeing in India, even then a visit to the magnificent Taj would always compensate for the effort of coming here."
And finally the memorial now basks in the pride of being recognised among the seven new wonders of the world. More on Taj Mahal at: www.indiadreamtours.com
The curious would find it interesting to know that the ancient Indian civilization and its culture has many wonders hidden in every fold of this great land that has remained the centre of attention for the world for many many centuries.
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=579772
Agra, 200 kilometres from Delhi, was the seat of the Mughal dynasty since the 15th century.
Shah Jahan the erstwhile emperor, in 1612 married a nubile beauty Arjuman, and lovingly called her Mumtaj Mahal literally meaning 'ornate crown of the place'. Mumtaj Mahal was two years younger to Shah Jahan and in their married life of 18 years she bore him 14 children. During her last childbirth Mumtaj Mahal passed away in 1631. On her demise the bereaved emperor was shattered and withdrew himself from active governance of his kingdom.
Mumtaj Mahal had died at Berhampur in the India state of Kalinga, now known as Orissa and was buried at the banks of river Tapti. Sometime later after the emperor could gather himself, he asked his son Suja to exhume his mother's body and lay her to rest at Agra the seat of his kingdom.
Not to be contented with an ordinary tomb on the grave of his wife, Shah Jahan decided to create a magnificent memorial in remembrance of Mumtaj Mahal that the world will ever marvel at. He invited the most renowned architects, artisans and construction experts from many countries of the world and expressed his desire for the creation of a unique mausoleum in memory of his wife at the banks of river Yamuna at Agra where the empress was finally laid to rest. Finally, after years of creating hundreds of designs for this memorial edifice, an artist from Persia named Isfan Diya Rumi produced the design that Shah Jahan was eventually satisfied with.
And the construction of a marvellous memoriam began which took 22 years to complete with a labour force of 20,000 workers and skilled artisans. It was originally named 'Rouza-e-Mumtaj Mahal' [the Mausoleum of Mamtaj Mahal], but eventually came to be short named as the Taj Mahal.
On the border panels of the four entrances to the central tomb are inscriptions from the holy Quran. The perspective design employs a gradual enlargement of calligraphy towards the top, so that any one reading it standing on the platform 100 feet below will still read the letters in optical proportions at the top. This uniquely arranged calligraphy was etched by Amanat Khan Miraji of Kandahar.
The cost of the edifice when completed in 1653 stood at Indian Rupees 30 million.
At the entrance of the edifice, the visitor will read on the plaque these details on the memorial:
"The Taj Mahal was built between 1631 and 1653 by Emperor Shah Jahan (1627 - 1658) as the tomb for his wife Arjuman better known as Mumtaj Mahal, born in 1592, the daughter of Asaf Khan, she married Shah Jahan in 1612 and died in 1631. After his death the Emperor was buried by her side."
The architectural marvel was built over a 20 metre deep foundation of wells, wooden logs, sandstone and mortar fillings that has stood through 350 years. The Taj has three gates and four Minarets each 140 feet high placed at the four ends of the main platform. The minarets also employ a unique design in that it will always fall outwards should it encounter collapse in a disaster. The main gate displays on its top 22 small domes in two rows that account for the number of years it took Taj to be built. The main platform is approached through a wonderfully laid out garden and water channels with fountains. Garden planners from Kashmir, the place famous for its beautiful gardens, created the garden complex. The mausoleum also has a prayer mosque and a guesthouse for royal visitors on either side of the main structure set at equal distance and built symmetrically.
The emperor in his old age during house detention by his son Aurangzeb, with failing vision would take the help of the reflection from the crystals embedded in the pillars of the fort's balcony facing the edifice, to look at his beloved wife's memorial - The Taj, two kilometres away.
The Taj Mahal is indeed the epitome of the greatest tribute of an emperor to his beloved. Shah Jahan's passions in building the memorial of Mumtaj Mahal was expressed in his own words as:
"The felon who seeks shelter in this mausoleum will find his misdeed annulled ... the sinner will be forgiven for his sin. Sighs will have no bounds at this tomb, that's the eventual embodiment of HIS creation."
Millions of people from round the world have seen the beautiful edifice that is regarded to be the most wonderful thing on the planet created 350 years ago. A traveller has recorded "if it is assumed that there is nothing else worth seeing in India, even then a visit to the magnificent Taj would always compensate for the effort of coming here."
And finally the memorial now basks in the pride of being recognised among the seven new wonders of the world. More on Taj Mahal at: www.indiadreamtours.com
The curious would find it interesting to know that the ancient Indian civilization and its culture has many wonders hidden in every fold of this great land that has remained the centre of attention for the world for many many centuries.
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=579772
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