Exterminator

Jaigarh Fort,Jaipur,Rajasthan

My first interaction with cannon was “Jahan Kosha” during my schooldays, while on a visit to Murshidabad, West Bengal. It was a fabulous experience to get acquainted with ensembles of various sized cannons, from miniature to mammoth. Jahan Kosha was the biggest and it was believed that thundering of Jahan Kosha would have annihilated the entire world. In sixteenth century it was an effort by the rulers of Bengal intended to keep the marauders at bay.

Jaivana Cannon

Now, it was my journey to interact with the World`s largest cannon on wheels. The image of Jahan Kosha was peeping through my memory as we were approaching the Jaigarh fort of Jaipur, Rajasthan. The picturesque scenario of the vast stretch of the Aravalli Hills, were spread like a natural barrier to the enemies trying to access the fort and on top of the hill the sprawling stretch of the ramparts of Jaigarh fort emerged like a reminder of a fairy tale. Sounding like hooves of thousand horses immediately a spell of torrential rain trampled with their war cry accompanied with thundering mirth and the weather shrouded with sudden gloom. The rain slowly ceased after repressing the unruly dust and as we reached the fort Sun already came out with ebullient sheen.

Jaivana cannon

First glimpse of the legendary cannon Jaivana was inexplicably very engrossing. Lifting the muzzle on gigantic wheels it was gleaming in predatory elegance, like a creepy crocodile basking before deadly assault. Huge strapping body and bigger than all my previous experiences. Jaivana, the legacy on wheels was manufactured in the foundry of Jaigarh fort with a disastrous shelling range over 30-kilometres. It was test fired only once to witness the capacity of shelling and measure the enormity of rampage and as expected it landed shell on the target very viciously and ghastly. The shock wave produced due to its thundering hurl caused casualty in gunner’s side too.

foundry of Jaigarh fort,Jaipur

The felicitation of life

Khajuraho temple

I was in a dilemma, how to encapsulate the experience of my Khajuraho visit. Should I reckon Khajuraho as the fervour of an unknown sculptor who depicted many moods of life on the solid rocks of sand stone? Was it a tribute to divinity and life, expressed through a pulsating Indian art form on the temple walls of Khajuraho? Should it be named, a thrilling synthesis of idolatry and art of love making? Sometime, I felt it like flaunt of living, felicitation of biological relationship between men and women or the teachings of love making expressed on the temple walls of Khajuraho. The display of arousing moods of playful human body or precisely the art of erotica has transformed into a spectacular form of art, which proclaimed bold and proud maturity, thousand years ago. The panoply of sculptures of Hindu god and the expressive love makers on temple walls, gravitated, hypnotised, churned my nerve and surreally left their everlasting magnificence in my memory.

The divine sculptures on Khajuraho temple

The jubilation of life or splendid picture of living Khajuraho, began its journey during the reign of King Bidyadhar Chandella, who initiated the work of the temple arena. As per myth, the King was a descendent of the moon. The heritage site of Khajuraho was a collaboration of Chandella Kings during 950AD to 1150AD and to save the ravages of invasion the inhabitation was shifted from this area. As the time elapsed the premise of Khajuraho remained shrouded with forests to slip away into oblivion and to some extent escaped the threat of demolition by the invaders. After a long time it was rediscovered and brought to light again with measures of restoration taken by British engineer T.S.Burt. The temple achieved its deserved recognition before the world with thronged inquisitive visitors but, all available accounts of History remain veiled before the inevitable questions in respect of Khajuraho.

Insignia of tourism

Cooch Behar Palace

West Bengal has diverse range of fascinating holiday destinations. Somewhere the sun rises midst of sea and somewhere a glimpse of sun smear the snow clad peaks in golden tint. Somewhere, it is spell binding display of generosity of nature that resuscitate the soul and somewhere it is reminder of exquisite historic legacies with assiduous treasure of myths and lore. Each of them is unique in their identity with fathomless beauty. Surrounded by wide stretch of forests and wildlife sanctuaries, blending the grandeur of royal era the district of Cooch Behar frames the explicit picture, like an insignia in the tourism map of India.

Cooch Behar Palace

Erstwhile princely state Cooch Behar was among few richest states of India during British domination. At the royal coronation of Edward-VII in 1902, apart from two other kings of Indian princely states the illustrious king of Cooch Behar Nripendra Narayan was accorded the honour of riding as honorary ADCs beside the royal carriage and he was founder President of the Calcutta club.

Present palace of Cooch Behar was built in 1887 during Nripendra Narayan`s rule with estimated cost of construction was Rs. 80, 00,000/-. The palace is an assortment or a confluence of fascinating western architectures and it was one of the finest in India.

Educated in pioneer institutes of India and England, 21-st king of Cooch Behar, Nripendra Narayan was among the new generation of rulers of Indian princely states who were described as less flamboyant, less self-indulgent, than their predecessors, more conscious of the need for changes and the reformation of their states. King Nripendra Narayan was married to Suniti Devi, and the royal couple extended their support in many social reforms. Abundant examples of discriminating architectures and regal edifices of Cooch Behar carry the flavour of splendour and the legacies that remind the rich history of Bengal.