Picture Page on India
Outline
1. Arts and Creations of Early India
o Zodiacal Instruments
o Delhi Observatory
o A Piece of Art
2. Major Human Interaction Points
o City of Pushkar
o Recreational Fairs
o Umaid Bhawan Palace
3. Natural Environments and Habitats
o Island of Kavaratti
o Keoladeo Ghana National Park
o Himalayas
Arts and Creations of Early India
Zodiacal Instruments
The Zodiacal Instruments in Jaipur were used to observe the
latitudes and longitudes of the sun and planets. Although they appear to be
sundials, they are used very differently. The angle and orientation of the
gnomons are related to the positions of individual Zodiacal signs at the time
of observation (any one instrument can only be used for about 2 hours of any
day).
Delhi Observatory
The Indian astronomer Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II (1688-1743 AD) built a series of stone observatories throughout India. Pictured here is an overview of the observatory in Delhi. The structure to the right is the gnomon of a great sundial (those are normal sized stairs leading up its edge).
A Piece of Art
This is a painting of MYSORE VASUDEVACHARYA (1865-1961). He
is the most widely performed Karnatik music composer of this century. His
compositions, such as Brochevarevarura, Bhajare Manasa, and Devadideva Sri
Vasudeva are very popular with performing musicians. He wrote two books in Kannada, Naa Kanda Kalavidaru (The
artistes I knew) and Nenapugalu (Memories). The first is a collection of essays
on fellow artistes, while the second describes his experiences as a musician in
the Mysore court.
Major Human Interaction
Points
City of Pushkar
In India, every activity has a spiritual
side. The city of Pushkar celebrates with a religious festival. Pushkar is one
of the only cities in India with a temple dedicated to Brahma, the god of
creation. The little lake of Pushkar is one of many holy lakes in India.
Thousands of pilgrims come from all around for a purifying bath.
Recreational Fairs
Circuses, magic shows, carousels
and a big wheel are installed near the fair grounds. The fair ends with 4 days
of a more official part including camel races, horse races and a cattle beauty
contest. All these activities take place in front of a very attentive audience,
in the middle of the bright colors of turbans and sarees.
Umaid Bhawan Palace
The only palace to be built in the 20th century, it was meant to be a famine relief project which gave employment to citizens for 16 long years. An impressive sandstone structure, the palace is today run as a hotel while a part of it is still retained by the erstwhile family.
Natural Environments and
Habitats
Island of Kavaratti
Kavaratti is a beautiful calm
lagoon and forms an ideal spot for water sports, swimming and basking on warm
sandy beaches. The Ajara and Jamnath mosques (of the 52 on the island) have the
best wood carving; a well within is believed to have medicinal water. Marine
life exhibits can be seen at the new marine aquarium. Kayaks are available on
hire and one can also enjoy viewing the exotic marine life through glass bottom
boats.
Keoladeo Ghana National
Park
Bharatpur, along with Deeg and
Dholpur, are all right around this amazing national park. Keoladeo Ghana
National Park is a world famous bird sanctuary contains 40 acres of landscape
environs, and includes many different types of cranes and hundreds of other sea
lurching birds and animals.
Himalayas
The Himalaya is located just north of India and is the
highest mountain on the earth. These stretch 2,500 km from NW to SE and between
150 and 400 km. from north to south. They provide a dramatic barrier between
South Asia and China. Their scale is unparalleled anywhere in the world. Of the
94 mountains in Asia above 7,300m, all but two are in the Himalaya (including
the Karakoram). There is no place in the world with mountains as high.
Submitted by Kyle Kasperbauer on 11-1-01.