Monday, October 29, 2012

Bikaner Camel City of Rajasthan

Bikaner is popularly referred to as the 'Camel City of Rajasthan'. Bikaner lies on the ancient caravan routes that linked Western/Central Asia and North India with the seaports of Gujarat. Bikaner thus flourished as a major trade center during the medieval period. The kingdom of Bikaner  was established by a Rathore Prince, Rao Bikaji, son of the founder of Jodhpur, Rao Jodhaji in 1488 A.D. He was able to carve out a state named after him after hardship of 30 years.


Tours to Bikaner comprises of visit to some of the major attractions of the city. Lal Garh Fort is 3 km from the city. It houses the Shri Sadul Museum in the first floor established in 1076 AD. The rich treasure house of the artifacts and personal possessions of the Maharajas of Bikaner will impress you. Most remarkable artifact in the museum is the brass vessel known as a tokna, which was used to collect revenue and then transported to the Bikaner State Treasury by camel. The Royal Train of the Maharaja looks elegant in the front of the palace.


Junagarh Museum cannot be missed while on Bikaner. Raja Jai Singh, a General in the Mughal Army of the Emperor Akbar constructed the Junagarh Fort. It was started in 1588 AD and was completed by 1593 AD. The huge fort has a 986 m-long wall with 37 ramparts, a moat and two entrances of which the Surajpol or the Sun Gate is the main entrance.
Shiva Bari Temple is at a distance of 6 km from Bikaner. You must visit the beautiful temple with carvings and perfect finishing while on tour of the city. The bronze statue of Nandi and a Shiva lingam are noteworthy.

Tour to Bikaner is more enjoyable at the time of the much-famed Camel Festival. The Department of Tourism, Art and Culture of the Government of Rajasthan organize the festival every year in the month of January. It is an exclusive camel festival where sale and purchase of camels takes place. The festival is made entertaining by the song and dance festivals and other competitions.


Sisodia Rani ka Bagh is 8 km from Bikaner on the Bikaner - Agra road. It is a garden palace constructed for the second wife of Jai Singh. The pyramidal gardens looks beautiful over the small hillock with watercourses. There are pavilions also in the garden ornamented with wall paintings.

Camel Research Farm is a government-run camel station nearly 8 km from Bikaner. It is probably one of its kind of a farm in whole of Asia. There are about 230 camels at the research farm and three different breeds are reared here. Enjoy the camel ride, look at the baby camels and explore the small museum.


Friday, March 23, 2012

Kerala Tours - Ayurveda Expeinecs


Ayurveda - harmony of body, mind and soul

Ayurveda evolved around 600 BC in India. This new system of medicine stressed on the prevention of body ailments in addition to curing them. Followed by the Dravidians and Aryans alike, Ayurveda has been practised ever since. Today, it's a unique, indispensable branch of medicine - a complete naturalistic system that depends on the diagnosis of your body's humours vata, pitta and kapha - to achieve the right balance. Ayurveda believes in the treatment of not just the affected part, but the individual as a whole. Making it the natural way to refresh you, eliminate all toxic imbalances from the body and thus regain resistance and good health.

Kerala, the land of Ayurveda

Kerala's equable climate, natural abundance of forests (with a wealth of herbs and medicinal plants), and the cool monsoon season (June to July and October to November) are best suited for Ayurveda's curative and restorative packages. In fact, today, Kerala is the only State in India which practises this system of medicine with absolute dedication.

Monsoon, the ideal time for rejuvenation

Traditional texts reveal that the monsoon is the best season for rejuvenation programmes. The atmosphere remains dust-free and cool, opening the pores of the body to the maximum, making it most receptive to herbal oils and therapy.


Rejuvenation,Therap(Rasayana Chikitsa)

 Tones up the skin and rejuvenates and strengthens all the tissues so as to achieve ideal health and longevity. Increases 'Ojas' (primary vitality) and improves 'Sattva' (mental clarity) and thereby increases the resistance of the body. Includes head and face massage with medicated oils and creams, body massage with herbal oil or powder by hand and foot, internal rejuvenative medicines and medicated steam bath. Herbal baths are also used.  

 Body immunisation and longevity treatment (Kayakalpa Chikitsa)
It is a prime treatment for retarding the ageing process, arresting the degeneration of body cells and immunisation of the system. This includes intake of Rasayana (special Ayurvedic medicines and diet) and comprehensive body care programmes. The treatment is most effective for either sex if undertaken before the age of 50.  

 Body Sudation (Sweda Karma)

Medicated steam bath eliminates impurities from the body, improves the tone and complexion of the skin, reduces fat and is recommended for certain rheumatic diseases, particularly for pain. Precious herbs and herbal leaves are boiled and the steam is passed over the entire body for 10 to 20 minutes daily. Hand massage with herbal oils or herbal powder improves blood circulation and tones up the muscles.   

 Body slimming & Beauty care

Medicated herbal powder and medicated herbal oil massages, an Ayurvedic diet of herbal juices etc. are part of the programme.   
Herbal face pack, herbal oil massage, intake of herbal tea etc. improves complexion and beautifies the body.   

Mental and physical well being (Meditation and Yoga)

Mental and physical exercises meant to isolate ego  from the body and mind - designed to hone your concentration, improve health and help attain peace of mind through eight stages of training : 1. Disciplined behaviour (yama) 2. Self purification (niyama) 3. Bodily postures such as the lotus position (asana) 4. Control of breathing (pranayama) 5. Control of the senses (pratyahara) 6. Fixing of the mind on a chosen object (dharana) 7. Meditation (dhyana) and 8. Samadhi - a state of being where you experience absolute tranquility and well being.