Reachout Blogs: April 2015

10 Massive Holes In The Earth's Crust

1. Dean's Blue Hole

Where: Long Island, Bahamas
Located in a bay near Clarence Town on the Bahamas' Long Island, Dean's Blue Hole is 650 feet deep and is the dreaded challenge of every professional deep-sea diver. Legend has it that the hole was dug by the devil that drags people in it and kills them.

2. Kennecott Copper Mine

Where: Salt Lake City, Utah
Also known as the Bingham Canyon Mine, the mine was named a National Historic Landmark in 1966. It is a huge 2.5 mile-wide pit located in the Oquirrh Mountains outside Salt Lake City, and is currently owned by the Rio Tinto Group, an international mining and exploration company headquartered in the United Kingdom.

3. Chand Baori

Where: Abhaneri, Rajasthan
Located opposite Harshat Mata temple in Rajasthan, India, Chand Baori (baori means a steepwell) extends approximately 100 ft into the ground making it one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India. It was constructed in 800 AD and consists of 3,500 narrow steps and over 13 stories. Movies like 'The Fall' and 'The Dark Knight Rises' have been shot here.

4. Kimberley Mine

Where: Kimberley, South Africa
This location was once home to more than 6,000 pounds of diamonds. Also known as the 'Big Hole' it is also the largest hand-dug excavation in the world to date.

5. Door To Hell

Where: Derweze, Turkmenistan
A massive molten cavity known as the Darvaza crater – nicknamed the 'door to hell' is a continuous burning hole located in Derweze, Turkmenistan. The crater, which is 69 metres wide and 30 metres deep has been burning for the last 40 years. George Kourounis, a Canadian explorer, became the first person known to have ventured into the pit last year. His aim was to explore the hole and to check if there were any signs of life.

6. The Kola Superdeep Borehole

Where: Pechengsky District, Russia
This hole is the result of a scientific drilling project of the Soviet Union in the Pechengsky District, on the Kola Peninsula. The project has dug the deepest artificial point on Earth, measuring a crazy 40,230 ft!

7. The Great Blue Hole

Where: Belize
This hole is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also a popular recreational scuba diving spot. The site was made famous by Jacques Cousteau, who declared it one of the top ten scuba diving sites in the world. The Great Blue Hole is nearly 1,000 feet wide and more than 400 feet deep.

8. The Sawmill Sink

Where: Abaco Island, Bahamas
This blue hole lies in the interior of Abaco Island in the northern Bahamas. The hole is the location for the amazing find of the remains of a 2,500-year-old giant tortoise shell. The sinkhole measures 55 feet (17 meters) across and 110 feet (33.5 meters) deep.

9. Crveno Jezero

Where: Imotski, Croatia
Crveno Jezero is the third largest sinkhole in the world. The sinkhole is named after the reddish-brown color of the surrounding cliffs, coloured by iron oxides.

10. The Devil's Sinkhole

Where: Edwards County, Texas

The Devil's Sinkhole is 350 ft deep and is home to millions of Mexican free-tailed bats. It's a scary sight when millions of bats fly from the entrance to the sinkhole.

Beautiful Ancient Temples In India

We have learnt in Indian history that temples in ancient times were once social hubs where people congregated. They were also sites where the arts of dance, music and combat were honed and have been passed down for generations. Today, these temples remind us of our past and the architectural brilliance of craftsmen in those days.

1. Brihadeshwara Temple, Tanjore, Tamil Nadu

Built by King Rajaraja Chola in 1002 AD, this temple was dedicated to Shiva and is the finest example of Dravidian art. The Brihadeshwara temple combines the best in the tradition of temple building - architecture, sculpture, painting and other allied arts. It is composed of many interconnected structures such as the Nandi pavilion, a pillared portico and a large hall. Its vimana (the roof like structure that towers above the sanctum sanctorum or main shrine) is 66 metres high.

2. Kailashnath Temple, Ellora

This was built as a dedication to Lord Shiva, the destroyer. It is a tribute to man's greatness, even though academia have not given it its due place in our school history syllabus. It was carved in perfect proportion and alignment to its adjacent structures, which include columns, flying bridges, stone arches, and statues and buildings - all made out of a single piece of rock.

3. Chennakeshava Temple, Karnataka

Situated on the banks of the Yagachi river, this temple was an early masterpiece of the Hoysala Period. It was built by the Vijayanagara ruler to commemorate their victory over the Cholas and is solely dedicated to Vishnu as most of the figural carvings depict aspects of Vishnu, particularly the incarnations and the God seated with Lakshmi.

4. Tugnath Temple, Uttarakhand

At an elevation of 3680 metres above sea level, the Tugnath Temple is the highest elevated of the Panch Kedar, the others are Madhyamaheshwar, Kedarnath, Rudranath and Kalpeshwar. The temple is connected to the Ramayana where Lord Ram meditated to release the curse of Brahmahatya for having slaughtered Ravana. The temple is quite small, and hence only 10 people are allowed in at a time.

5. Adi Kumbeswarar, Tamil Nadu

Located in the temple town of India, Kumbhakonam, this temple dates back to the Vijaynagara period. Adi Kumbeswarar is the presiding deity of the temple and the shrine is located in the centre. Kumbeswarar is in the form a lingam believed to have been made by Shiva himself when he mixed the nectar of immortality and sand.

6. Jagatpita Brahma Mandir, Rajasthan

Although the structure of this temple dates back to the 14th century, this temple is said to be 2000 years old. The temple is mainly built of marble and stone slabs. It has a distinct red pinnacle and a bird motif. The temple sanctum sanctorum holds the central images of Brahma and his second consort Gayatri. It witnesses a festival dedicated to Brahma during the Kartik Purnima.

7. Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Tamil Nadu

Varadharaja Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in the holy city of Kanchipuram. It is one of the Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu believed to have been visited by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars. It is believed that the lizard sculptures that adorn the ceilings of the temple when touched forgive the sins of your past life.

8. Konark Sun Temple, Odisha

This temple was built by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty around AD 1250. The temple is in the shape of a gigantic chariot with elaborately carved stone wheels, pillars and walls. A major part of the structure is now in ruins. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

9. Dilwara Temples near Mount Abu, Rajasthan

Located about 2.5 km from Mount Abu, each of these five temples are unique in their own way and were built between the 11th and 13th century AD and are remarkable for their stunning use of marble. These five temples (Vimal Vasahi, Luna Vasahi, Pittalhar Temple, Parshvanatha Temple and Mahavir Swami Temple) are considered the most beautiful Jain pilgrimage sites in the world.

topindiatravel.com

10. Pancha Ratna Temple, Bankura, West Bengal

Built in 1643 by King Raghunath Singha, this temple stands on a low square plinth and consists of an ambulatory pathway with a porch opened by three arches on the four sides of the temple. The walls are richly decorated with terracotta carvings featuring aspects of Lord Krishna's life.

11. Badami Cave Temples, Karnataka

The Badami cave temples are a complex of temples located at Badami, a town in the Bagalkot District in the northern part of Karnataka, India. They are considered an example of Indian rock-cut architecture, especially Badami Chalukya Architecture.

12. Vittala Temple, Hampi, Karnataka

Perhaps one of the most popular of all the temples in the Hampi complex, this houses the famous musical pillars that have amazing acoustics. The British wanted to find out the reason behind this, and so they cut two pillars to check if there was anything inside that was producing the sound. They found nothing but hollow pillars.

The road leading to the temple was once a market where horses were traded. Even today we can see the ruins of the market on both the sides of the road. The temple contains images of foreigners like Persians selling horses.

13. Orchha Temples, Madhya Pradesh

Orchha is another famous tourist spot located near the famous Khajuraho Temple. The town has Chaturbhuj Temple, Lakshmi Temple and Ram Raja Temple.
The Chaturbhuj temple is imposing with tall spires built atop a high platform. Its exterior is richly ornamented with lotus symbols. The Raja Ram Temple resembles a palace as the Ram is worshiped as a king here.
The Lakshmi Temple is an odd mixture of temple and fort and an unique mixture of concentric forms. It consists of an octagonal central tower inside a triangular temple. In line with this eccentricity, the entrance gate is set in a corner rather than the wall.

Scenic Indian Villages You would want to Live In

1. Kothi, Manali

Located at a distance of 16 km from Manali along the Lahaul-Spiti-Leh highway, the village of Kothi forms the bottom of the Rohtang Pass. It is possible to view the deep gorge at an elevation of 2500 metres and the River Beas rushing through it.

This is perfect for trekkers and adventure travellers as there are trails with several thermals which attract local eagles. The climb from the village to the gorge takes about an hour. And what's waiting at the top? An opportunity to go paragliding :D

2. Vashist Village, Manali

3 km away from Manali is this quieter version of the popular hill station. Many tourists visit to bathe in hot springs and visit typical Himachali temples while taking advantage of the cheap accommodation.

The houses built here have intricate carvings and are made of wood or stone.

3. Mawlynnong, Meghalaya

Dubbed as Asia's cleanest village, the residents stick to a strict code of cleanliness and expect all visitors to adopt eco-friendly habits during their stay. A skywalk offers a breathtaking view of the forest that stands 80 feet above the ground.
Mawlynnong is accessible by road and is 90 km from Shillong.

4. Naddi Village, Dharamsala

2 km from McLeodganj and at an elevation of 2000 metres, it is the only place in Dharamshala where the mountains and wide valleys on Dhaula Dhar's southern side can be seen. It is also a starting point for treks to Kareri Lake, Guna Temple and Triund.

5. Malana, Manali

Located in the Parvati Valley, Malana is a small village of wood and stone houses, and people who have strange customs. Touching villagers and their property (houses and temples included) is forbidden. Although this village is beautiful, it is advisable to venture forth with the help of a knowledgeable guide.

6. Tarkarli, Maharashtra

Tarkarli is a small coastal village in the Malvan taluka of the Sindhudurg district (450 km from Mumbai). It has a long and narrow strip of beaches that have pristine waters. On a clear day, it is possible to see the sea bed that lies 20 feet below. Snorkeling is a popular activity here and if you're lucky, you might see dolphins.

The Padmagarh fort is a monument worth seeing while in Tarkarli.

7. Velas, Maharashtra

Located in the Ratnagiri district, this village is a sight for turtle breeding. In 2006, a homestay programme was started where local families hosted visitors during the celebration of the Turtle Festival, where participants bid wishes of prosperity for the newly born turtle hatch-lings that make their way to the sea.

8. Pangot, Uttarakhand

The main attraction is bird watching with over 580 species that have been recorded here so far. Some commonly sighted Himalayan birds are Lammergeier, Himalayan Griffon, Rufous Bellied Woodpecker and Blue-Winged Minla.
Pangot is a 15 km drive from Nainital with views of the Cheena peak forested area.

9. Lambasingi, Andhra Pradesh

This is the only place in South India that experiences snowfall and government agencies expect it to be the next big tourism spot in the years to come. Coffee and pepper are grown in this region which are exported.

10. Kalap, Uttarakhand

Located in the upper Garhwal Himalayas, Kalap is one of the most remote places in India. Getting there requires a 4 hour trek from Netwar, a small town a few kilometres from Dehradun. The scenery here is absolutely breathtaking as it is located in the grasslands of the Himalayas.

Life is simple in Kalap as the main occupations are agriculture and animal rearing.

11. Kheerganga, Himachal Pradesh

Kheerganga lies at the end of the Parvati Valley and is a meadow at 2960 metres, where Shiva is said to have meditated for 3000 years. The hot water springs are an experience worth remembering and the 8-hour trek is absolutely worth it. The best times to visit are between May and October.

12. Tabo, Himachal Pradesh

Located in the Spiti Valley, this village is home to the 1000 year old Tabo monastery which His Holiness the Dalai Lama considers the holiest of all monasteries. Hotels are sparse, hostels and guesthouses of the monastery are other alternatives for accommodation.

13. Chitkul, Himachal Pradesh

Chitkul is the last inhabited village on the ancient India-Tibet trade route before the Indo-China border. The Kagyupa temple has a highly valued old image of the Shakyamuni Buddha, a Wheel of Life mandala and four Directional Kings on either side of the door.

14. Majuli, Assam

Majuli is an island on the Brahmaputra river and covers a total area of 1250 sq km. Rice is predominantly grown here, especially some interesting varities like komal saul that is cooked in warm water in just fifteen minutes. Another is bao dhan which is eaten as a breakfast cereal. Textiles using Muga silk are also produced here.

15. Ladghar, Maharashtra

The main attraction here is the beach "Tamas Teertha" where the sunset is a view to behold. Some parts of the sea appear to be red in colour while boat trips are available for dolphin watching.
This beach has two beautiful, ancient temples - one of Lord Shiva known as "Veleshwar" and the other of Lord Datta situated on a small hill.

16. Patnitop, Jammu and Kashmir

The strange name is actually a distortion of the original name "Patan Da Talab", meaning pond of the princess. Patnitop offers beautiful picnic spots, peaceful walks, trekking trails and views of the mountainscape of the Chenab basin.

17. Panamik, Kashmir

This is situated close to the Siachen glacier and renowned for its hot springs. The Panamik hot water spring is situated at an elevation of 10442 ft above sea level. The spring water contains high amounts of sulphur, believed to be the best for curing rheumatism and other ailments.
Panamik is also the base for trek to Ensa Gompa. The 250-year-old Ensa gompa is popular for Buddhist murals and scriptures. The gompa overlooks snowcapped mountains and the Nubra Valley.

18. Kunjkharak, Uttarakhand

Kunjkharak is located at an elevation of 2323 metres, which makes it the perfect place to view the Himalayas. It is home to the endangered khoola moss which is used in many cosmetic products.
Local legends say this was the last place on Earth that Shiva was seen before ascending to the heavens.

19. Kalsi, Uttarakhand

Kalsi is a small beautiful village situated 780 metres above sea level at the junction of the Yamuna and Tons river. The village falls on the old route to Yamunotri, the origin of river Yamuna. Sitting quietly in between the gigantic hills and plateaus, Kalsi attracts travellers with its majestic beauty. It is the buffer zone between Uttarakhand and Himanchal mountains.