India Flash Back

[cherlapalli_jailer]

PIC : GWALIOR FORT , 19th century . 

Although Gwalior is synonymous with the Scindias , it wasn't always so . Ranoji Scindia first established the dynasty at Ujjain in 1731 . All affairs concerning the state were conducted from there itself . The shift north to Gwalior happened much later .

[cherlapalli_jailer]

PANHALA FORT ( 1894 ) 

The fort at Panhala was originally built by Raja Bhoj during the 12th /13th century . It is most famous for a seige and a dramatic escape during Chhatrapati Shivaji's times .Captured by Aurangzeb in 1701 ,recaptured few months later by Ramchandra Pant . Was the residence of Maharani Tarabai for much of the eighteenth century , until her death . The famous ' Kolhapur gadi ' ( seat ) of Maratha power was at this place . Was annexed by the British in 1827 .

[TheWall]

good post....ee ficha fook fostlu soodaleka sasthunna db lo...good relief

[cherlapalli_jailer]

A Mahalaxmi temple built by the Marathas at Jhansi . Maratha rule led to a large number of temples , ghats etc being built all over the country for eg by Ahilya Holkar . Many ghats such as Bhosale Ghat , Scindia ghat etc were built at Varanasi n other places . Women like Parvatibai also offered large donations to Gurudwaras too like the Golden Temple at Amritsar . All this was only possible due to the POLITICAL INFLUENCE the Marathas weilded in those parts .

[cherlapalli_jailer]

The white and green waters of the Indus and the Kabuli gently caressed the base of the low hill on which stood the fort of Attock . The light coloured sandstone structure gleamed brightly under the scorching sun , while the intertwining waters of the Kabuli and the Indus rivers shimmered like an ocean of emeralds and diamonds . The holy river , the very cradle of civilisation , flowed silently and elegantly ; oblivious to the chaos unfolding on either side of its banks . 

Raghunathrao gazed silently at the mountains on the other side , his hand resting on the beautiful crenellations of the fort . He could see a few empty boats still floating in the water below , remnants of Jehan Khan's and Timur Shah's dramatic escape to the safety of the Hindukush . His gaze turned to the small village of Khairabad on the opposite bank , with little sign of life . 'What kind of people resided beyond this river , in those foreboding mountains ? 'he wondered . The Indus seemed like a hallowed portal to him , a road leading to another world , rather than just another mute river

[cherlapalli_jailer]

The dry brown-red cedar leaf crunched under the horse’s hoof, splintering into a hundred pieces with a distinct crackle. Rehmat Khan Barakzai, astride the sturdy Arabian horse, wrapped his keffiyah closer to his face, to protect himself from the chilly autumn winds that had begun to blow across the Afghan city of Kandahar. He looked across the barren landscape, a drab mixture of grey , light brown and yellow. Here and there, the spruce and deodar trees sprang out of the ground, bereft of leaves, which lay scattered at the base of their trunks. He scanned the area with the vision of a hawk, his eyes honed in the Pashtun highlands, watching the Afghans, clad in their usual long flowing clothes,go about their daily business. A bearded man carting away some fruit, a man on horseback rushing away to somewhere, few others strolling towards a mosque.Rehmat Khan was annoyed that the person he was waiting for hadn’t yet showed up. He put a hand to his forehead and peered into the distance. Rehmat Khan spotted a lone horseman, slowly making his way towards him. The outline of the pancake shaped kapol which covered his head could be clearly made out. Finally!, thought Rehmat Khan Barakzai, even as he raised his right hand and waved it, signalling to the new comer.

“Taso sanga yay?” asked Barakzai, cheerfully in a loud voice as Mohamadzai came within earshot. “Pakhair” replied Mohamadzai , his white teeth glistening in a broad smile. He was well into his fifties, with a rapidly graying beard and cheeks which had grown infirm with age. There was still a firm determination in his eyes though, a sign of the numerous trials by fire he had to undergo as Khan of his tribe.

Barakzai gave a sharp jab to this horse with his right heel, and turned towards the dusty road leading to the tomb of Sher-e-Surkh. The old fort at Kandahar towered above them, lording over the Pashtun heartland. The two warlords had been invited to a jirga by the Pir Sabir Shah. Slowly they made their way their horses moving in a rhythmic trot over the barren track. It was customary for the Pashtuns to conduct such jirgas from time to time. These councils, would then decide issues of social and political importance to the Pashtuns. The untimely death of Nadir Shah, the Persian ,had prompted this latest jirga.

[Maximus]

[Anta Assamey]

Good Post   :4_12_13:

 

 

P.S --> Where is Golconda man.. :15_3_321:

[moviefan]

everytime i see some big monuments , naa first thought . " Yentha mandhi slaves ni torture petti build chesaro"

[varudu]

i feel entha mandi mana desani tokkina still we are back on track

[agora]

very GP  &.,?  &.,?

[Silver_mani]

gp mayya