Banswara

Banswara anand sagar lake

Banswara is situated in south Rajasthan in India. Banswara princely state was founded by Maharawal Jagmal Singh. Banswara princely state was founded by Maharawal Jagmal Singh. It is named for the "bans" or bamboo forests in the area. It is also known as 'City of Hundred Islands', due to presence of numerous islands in the Mahi River, which flows through Banswara.Banswara (literally " the forest country" ), was a Rajput feudatory state in Rajputana during British India. It borders on Gujarat and is bounded on the north by the native states of Dungarpur and Udaipur or Mewar; on the north-east and east by Partabgarh; on the south by the dominions of Holkar and the state of Jabua; and on the west by the state of Rewa Kantha.

Geography:

District Banswara is situated in the southern - most part of Rajasthan. It has an area of 5037 square Kilometer and lies between 23.11° N to 23.56° N latitudes and 73.58° E to 74.49° E. longitudes.

It is bounded on the north by Dhariawad Tehsil of Udaipur District and Pratapgarh District, on the east by Ratlam District of Madhya Pradesh, on the west by Sagwara and Aspur Tehsils of Dungarpur District, and on the south by Jhabua District of Madhya Pradesh. It also touches the boundary of Panchmahal District of Gujrat on the south-west.

The region represents a rugged terrain undulated by short ridges west of Banswara. The eastern part of it is occupied by flat-topped hills of the Deccan trap. It has the southern end of the Aravali mountains. 

Famous Tourist Places in Banswara:

Abdullah Pir Dargah 

The Dargah of Abdulla Pir is also called as Dargah of Abdul Rasul. Many Muslim devotees from various parts of the world visit this shrine. Abdullah Pir is located amidst beautiful gardens; it is a shrine with a domed roof and a solid white marbled structure with four entrances.

Brahma Temple 

Brahma Temple located at Cheench. Lord Brahma is the main deity at this popular temple. The main deity statue is of black stone and is of an average height of a man.

Madareshwar Temple 

The temple of Madareshwar is located in a natural cave on a hill on the eastern part of Banswara city.  It offers a breathtaking and native view. A visit to this temple gives a feel of the famous Amarnath Pilgrimage to the devotees due to the identical location in a cave.

Paraheada 

Paraheada is a famous Shiva temple and has many inscriptions providing the evidence of Paramar Emperors at this place.

Raj Mandir 

Shri Raj Mandir is also popularly known as the City Palace. It is a perfect example of ancient architectural style of the Rajputs. This place is a beautiful structure and is still owned by the Royal family descendants.

Ram Kund 

Ram Kund is a place amidst hills. Popularly known as Phati Khan this is a deep cave under a hill.  It has a pool of very cold water flowing throughout the year. 

Sai Baba Mandir 

The Sai Baba temple is very famous in Banswara. It is dedicated to Shri Sai Baba believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva. This temple is built on the top of a hill situated at a distance. The temple has the marble idol of Shri Sai baba as a main deity and the statues of Nandi, Tortoise and Ganesha made in black stone. 

Tripura Sundari 

Tripura Sundari is located about 19 Km from Banswara and 5 Km from Talwara. The place gets its name from a temple here dedicated to goddess Tripura Sundari also called Turtia Mata in the local dialect. The exact date of its construction is not yet known but it is believed that the temple was constructed approximately before the reign of the Kushana emperor Kanishka who ruled here in the first century AD. Magnificently carved out of black stone, the main idol is shown riding a tiger. The goddess has 18 hands each carrying a symbol. The temple is said to be one of the Shakti Peeths of the Hindus. A Shakti Peeth is a revered place of worship of the Hindus. According to the Hindu mythology, when Lord Shiva lost his wife Sati he was overwhelmed with grief. He carried the dead body of his beloved and went for a tour of Mrityulok (abode of the Dead). The other gods were troubled to see him carrying the body wherever he went. As a result they decided to cut the body into pieces. The body was fragmented into 52 parts with the help of the Lord Vishnu’s sudarshan chakra (discus), and each place where a part fell on earth became a Shakti Peeth.

Anand Sagar Lake 

Anand Sagar is an artificial lake on the eastern side of the town also known as Bai Talaab. The chhatris or cenotaphs of former rulers of the Princely state are located close by. The holy trees known as "Kalpa Vriksha" are located in the vicinity as well. These two trees are considered divine and are believed to fulfill the wishes of the devotees. Peaceful and charming surroundings add to the ambience of the place.

Diablab Lake 

Diablab Lake is close by to the city of Banswara. The numerous lotus flowers occupying a major portion of the lake are the main attraction here. Boat riding and the beautiful gardens around the lake attract tourists to this place.

Mahi Dam 

The Mahi River originates from Sardarpura village in Madhya Pradesh and flows through M.P. Rajasthan, Gujarat and merges into bay of Khambat in Gujarat. In terms of water potential the Mahi river basin is the third largest among the river basins of Rajasthan state. Mahi Dam is a man made dam on Mahi River, and is a part of the massive Mahi Bajaj Sagar Project. The Mahi Dam reservoir is the water storage facility behind the 43 m high dam. The reservoir has huge storage capacity.

Bhim Kund 

Bhim Kund is a beautiful and scenic locale 7 km further down from Bhim Kund.  A tunnel present here is believed to be leading to a very distant place known as Ghotiya Amab.

Kagdi Pick Up Weir 

This is an attractive and beautiful garden on the banks of the Kagdi Lake and it is a part of the Mahi Bajaj Sagar project. This is a tourist attraction located 3 kms away from the main city on the Ratlam Road. Kagdi pick up weir is a beautiful fountain garden overlooking the Kagdi Lake. A visit to this garden is worthy due to the fountains, gardens and water spread across beautifully. This fountain garden mesmerizes the tourists with its ambience. 

Talwara 

It is famous for the ancient temple of the Sun God, Lord Amaliya Ganesh, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Dwarka Dhish temple and Jain temple of Sambharnath. A number of Sompura sculpture artists can be seen carving stones on the roadside in Talwara.

Fairs & Festivals in Banswara:

Bhill Community Is A Rivalry And Very Laborers Community, So They Could Managed To Get The Entertainment On Particular Festival Occasions Only. Bhills Are Commonly Tradition Followers And They Follow Kharo, Moto And Bhalo Dharms.

Holi 

Holi Is The Main Festival For The Tribals. Tribes Wear Their Traditional Dresses Carrying Swords & Sticks And Performs The "Gair Dance" Which Is A Typical Tribal Dance Of This Region.

Divo 

Divo Is A Festival And It Is Being Celebrated On The Last Day Of First Fortnight Of Shravanmas. On That Day Special Bath Will Peform To Bullocks And Animals, And Prays Them As They Are God's Different Posture. Special Food Items Will Prepare On That Day And Enjoys With Full Of Joy.

Aamligyaras 

It Is Celebrated On The 11th Day Of The Bright Half Of Phalgun And Unmarried Boys And Girls Observe Fast On This Day. They Go To A Pond In The Afternoon, Wash Themselves And Bring Small Branches Of Tamarind Trees. The Bhils Attend The Fair Armed With Bows, Arrows And Swords. This Festival Is Held At Ghodi Ranchod & Sangmeshwar. 

Baneshwar Fair 

The Biggest Tribal Fair Is Held At Baneshwar At The Confluence Of Mahi, Som And Jhakham, Which Are Believed To Be Holy Rivers Of The Region. A Number Of Tribals From Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat And Rajasthan Gather To Immerse The Mortal Remains Of The Dead. They Worship, Sing And Dance On Magh Purnima, Sometime In The Month Of February, Which Is Considered To Be A Holy Period In This Region.

Ghotia Amba Fair 

This Is A Colourful And Traditional Fair Held Every Year From Chaitra Amavas To Duje. The Bhils Gather To Take A Holy Dip In The Tank Near The Temple With Idols Of Pandavas. They Demonstrate Their Faith In The Holy Mango Trees And Kaila Pani.

Mangarh 

This Is An Important Fair Of The Tribals And Is Held On Margshisha Purnima. At This Fair The Tribals O Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh & Gujarat Participate And They Pay Tribute To Govind Guru, Founder Of The Samp Sabha.

How To Reach Banswara:

By Air

Nearest Airport Is Udaipur (160 Kms) And Airport In Indore (212 Kms)

By Bus

No Route In The District Has So Far Been Nationalised. Rajasthan, Gujarat And M.P. Roadways And The Private Travel Agencies Operate Frequent Buses To Major Cities Like Ahmadabad, Baroda, Ujjain, Bhopa, Udaipur, Jaipur , Jodhpur, Mount Abu, Bombay, Delhi Etc.

By Train

Rail Nearest Railway Station Is In Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh) (80 Kms) Connected With All The Major Cities Of The Country. 

Shimla Hill Station

Shimla is located towards the southern parts of the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla, the summer capital of the British India, is situated at a height of 2,196 metres. While the British have left the echoes linger on. Now It is the state capital and is at a distance of 343 km from Delhi, 260 km from Manali, and 119 km from Chandigarh. The temperature range is not very high and the maximum temperature rarely crosses 25°C during summers. Winters are cold due to the chilly winds from the upper Himalayas. today, its well developed facilities, easy accessibility and many attractions make it one of India's most popular resorts. In the Himalyan lower ranges, it is surrounded by pine, cedar, oak and rhododendron forests. Shimla has been blessed with all the natural bounties, one can think of. Dwelling on a panoramic location, the hilly town is surrounded by green pastures and snow-capped peaks. The spectacular cool hills accompanied by the structures made during the colonial era create an aura, which is very different from other hill stations. 

Popular Sightseeing spots in Shimla:

Shimla city : The ridge and the adjacent Mall form the heart of the city where vehicular traffic is not allowed a place to take a walk, also the main shopping area with most of the shops still housed in old time buildings. One tier below this shopping area is the Middle Bazaar with smaller shops mixed with residences. A tier below Middle Bazaar is the Lower Bazaar The famous Shimla Summer Festival in May or June every year lasting for 5-8 days, is celebrated on the Ridge.

Gaiety Theater on the Mall, opened on the 30th of May, 1887, Queen Victoria's Jubilee Year. Now the Gaiety is primarily known for its social club.

Viceregal Lodge located on the Observatory Hills is lalso known as Rashtrapati Niwas, it was formerly the summer residence of the British Viceroys. Situated on a very beautiful location. A big ground in front of the lodge makes the place look even better. Tourists and local young couples are often seen here. The lodge is declared as a heritage building.

Kufri,19 km from Shimla,is the highest point in the surrounding region. Kufri has a Himalyan Wild Life Zoo which hosts rare Antelopes, Birds and rare feline species. Monal the state bird of Himachal Pradesh is worth watching. A meandring path trough the potato plantations turns into a popular Ski track in Winters here. The famous heritage hotel The Wildflower Hall is also located on way to kufri at Charabada.

Tatta Pani: The name Tatta Pani, translates to "Hot - Water" in local dialect. This is about half a square kilometer area on the banks of Satluj river with boiling hot Sulpher water springs. Bathing with this water is known to be good for skin. The place is also famous for the rituals of Tula Daan, which is known to be very effective if done at tattapani on a specific day. Many pandas (people who perform the tula daan) can be seen sitting on the banks of river Satluj.

Summer Hill : A picturesque site on Shimla-Kalka Railway line. Offers shady walks in quiet surroundings. Located 7 Kms from the city centre at 1983 m above sea level.

Naldehra about 25 km from shimla is popular for a nine hole golf course, located on a gradual slope on scenic hill top surrounded by fir trees, and a picnic ground on hilltop.

Churdhar Sanctuary: The sanctuary got its name from the Chur Peak, on the top of which sits a majestic status of Lord Shiva. One is sure to come across a large number of multi-coloured and agile Monals in the adjoining forests.

Gurkha Castles:The Gurkha castles in Solan, Sirmour, Bilaspur and Shimla districts remind us of the life and time under the Gurkha regime. While most of the structures built by the Gurkhas have crumbled, the remaining few beckon tourists.

Hatkoti:Some 105-km east of Shimla, in Jubbal Tehsil on the banks of the river Pabbar, lays the mysterious valley of stone temples Hatkoti. Close by stands a small village by the name of Parhaat.

Jakhu Temple:Jakhu temple is an integral part of the list of places to visit in Shimla. No visit to the state capital Shimla is complete without visiting Jakhu Hill. This hill looms over Shimla town and is the geographical nucleus. The Hanuman temple at the top of Jakhu hill is the highest point in town.

Karyali Lake:In district Shimla,Karyali Lake lies on the northern face of the peak of Chhoti Shali.

Kotesvara Temple:The Kotesvara (also spelt as Kotesvar) temple is a magnificient structure dedicated to Shiva who is represented there in the form of 'Shivalinga'.

Padam Palace:Resting in a nest-shaped valley on the left bank of the Satluj River is Rampur's Padam Palace, 125-km from Shimla. The township came up because of its strategic location on the old Hindustan-Tibet trade route, which was accessible and not snowbound.

Shirigul Temple:One of the oldest and the most important temples of Shirigul are situated on the Chur Dhar Peak.

The Cecil:In the last quarter of the 19th century, at the site of the Cecil - towards the western stretch of Shimla's elegant Mall - stood the small 'Tendril Cottage'.

The Holme:

Perhaps a place with greater 'heritage' than many, and a recent addition to the heritage hotel list, is The Holme, at Summerhill in Shimla.