Indian History

Yoga Narasimha Temple at Melukote / Image Credit Built during the Hoysala period, Yoga Narasimha Temple at Melukote in the Mandya district of Karnataka is a sacred shrine for the Hindus. Hoysalas were a powerful south Indian dynasty which ruled from 11th to 14th century AD. Standing on a hill at a height of 1777 metres above the sea level, the shrine  is dedicated to the Narasimha, incarnation of Vishnu. Tradition has it that the idol of Narsimha in this temple was installed by Prahalad, the pious son of the demon Hiranyakasipu.  Hiranyakasipu had obtained a boon from Brahma ensuring that he could not be killed either by day or night by god, man or beast. As Hiranyakasipu was now safeguarded he began persecuting gods and men, including Prahalad who called on Vishnu for help. Then Vishnu took the form of Narsimha (half man and half lion) and slewed the demon.  The ascent to the temple is by a flight of 300 steps. The panoramic views of surrounding landscape as well as reli...

The Twin Temples of Mosale  / Image Credit Built during the Hoysala reign in the 13th century AD, Nageshvara-Chennakeshava Temple complex of Mosale (10 km from the Hassan city) houses two nearly identical shrines dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva.  Nageshvara temple at Mosale / Image Credit Located on the Hassan-Mysore road in the Hassan district, the temples of Nageshvara and Chennakeshava are now under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and known for their sculptured decoration.  

Raja Mahal Orchha / Image Credit Founded in 1531 by the Bundela Chieftain, Rudra Pratap Singh, Orchha, which literary translates into ‘hidden place’, is one of Madhya Pradesh’s greatest treasures. This historic small town on the Betwa River boasts its assembly of magnificent monuments in the form of beautiful palaces, temples and royal chhatris (cenotaphs) built along the banks of the Betwa river in the memory of Bundela Kings.  History of Orchha Kingdom Orchha kingdom was ruled by the Bundela Rajputs. In 1531, Rudra Pratap Singh was succeeded by his son, Bharatichand, who died without leaving an heir in 1554 and was in turn succeeded by his younger brother, Madhukar Shah who considerably extended the limits of his kingdom.  During their reigns Bharatichand and Madhukar Shah (reigned 1554 A.D. – 1591 AD ) had to contend Afghan ruler and Sher Shah’s son Islam Shah Suri (r. 1545–53) and the Mughal emperor Akbar. Madhukar Shah was the patron of Hindi poet Keshavdas. Chaturbhuj T...

Zaibunissa Palace / Image Credit Mughal princess Zeb-un-Nisa was the eldest child of sixth Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. She was a poetess of considerable merit and wrote under the pen name of Makhfi (meaning Hidden One in Persian). She produced a brilliant collection of beautiful poems which were published after her death in 1702 as Diwan-i-Makhfi. Born in 1738 in Daulatabad in Deccan, Zeb-un-Nisa seems to be antithetical to what Auranzeb stood for.  Strained relationship between Zeb-un-Nisa and Aurangzeb had led the father to imprison the daughter for the last 20 years of her life at Salimgarh Fort which lies adjacent to the Red Fort  in Delhi. Her grandfather, the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, had betrothed her to Sulaiman Shikoh, the eldest son of Dara Shikoh, elder brother of Aurangzeb. The marriage, however, did not take place. This is because as soon as Shah Jahan fell ill in September, 1657, it sparked a deadly war of succession among his four sons – Dara Shikoh, Shuja,...

Barabati Fort / Image Credit Steeped in history, Barabati Fort is one of the principal visitor attractions in Odisha.  Barabati Fort , Cuttack/ I mage Credit  Situated on the bank of Mahanadi river, this famous fort casts its historical shadow against the natural surroundings, and both history and nature blend into a rich, seamless harmony. Barabati Fort was built by King Anangabhima Deva III of the Eastern Ganga dynasty in 1229. Anangabhima III had dedicated his kingdom to Lord Purushottama Jagannath and proclaimed himself as the deputy (Routa) of the divinity of Puri. He had founded the city of Cuttack in the 13th century.   

Hathigumpha Inscription / Image Credit In the latter half of the first century B.C., Kalinga ruler Kharavela professed Jainism and became its great patron. It is interesting to note that though Kharavela had embraced Jainism, which stresses on non-violence, he was an imperialist to the core and entered in sanguinary conflicts with his adversaries all over India.  Kharavela is credited with setting up several images and his chief queen granted a rock-cut cave to the Jain monks. The Hathigumpha Inscription  of Kharvela  The Hathigumpha Inscription in a cavern called Hathigumpha in Udayagiri hills near Bhubaneswar in Odisha was inscribed by Kharavela . This inscription is the main source of information about Kharavela.  . 

A great centre of trade in the Mughal era, Murshidabad is closely associated with events that ultimately changed the course of modern Indian history. Once the seat of government of the Nawabs of Bengal, this historical place is located on the southern banks of the Bhagirathi in West Bengal.  The Bengal Nawab Siraj-ud-daula was defeated by Robert Clive, the architect of the British power in India, in the Battle of Plassey (now Palashi) in 1757, laying the foundation of the British Empire in India. Today known more for its silk, Murshidabad is a district town that seems to exist suspended in time somewhere between the medieval and the modern. Named after Murshid Quli Khan, the Diwan of Bengal under Aurangzeb, Murshidabad came to the forefront of attention in 1704 when he transferred his capital from Dacca to this place and renamed it Murshidabad. Murshid Quli Khan was the first Nawab of Bengal and the founder of the Nasiri dynasty which ruled Bengal from 1717 until 1740. Watercolour ...