Forwards4all: 11/09/12

[forwards4all] Darjeeling: The Queen of the Hills

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Darjeeling: The Queen of the Hills

The mention of Darjeeling often conjures images of imposing snow-peak mountains, lofty hills carpeted with tea gardens and of course the famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Located in the Indian state of West-Bengal, it is flanked by Bhutan on the East and Nepal on the West and stands on a narrow ridge enclosed by mountains.

Darjeeling's temperate climate is one of the other reasons which attracts tourists. Summer months of April through June are the best time to visit, when the climate is balmy and pleasant with a maximum temperature of 25°C. You can get to Darjeeling by Air, Road, or Train. The nearest airport is Bagdogra Airport and the nearest Train station is the New Jalpaiguri Station (NJP). Most people fly into Bagdogra from Delhi or Kolkata.

Darjeeling, nestled among rolling mountains, is a perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Popular places to visit include Tiger Hill, Batasia Loop and the War Memorial, and the Himalayan Zoological Park and Snow Leopard Breeding Center.

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[forwards4all] The Buddist Town of Nepal

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The Buddist Town of Nepal

Patan Durbar Square a is situated in Alipur near Khatmandu. It is probably the Buddhist temples in Nepal that are built in the shikhara style. A five-minute walk north of Rudravarna Mahavihar is the Mahaboudha Temple. The temple's outer walls, which are made from terracotta, are covered in images of the Buddha. It is because of this feature that the temple is also referred to as the temple of 9000 Buddhas. The temple's unique style was inspired by the temples of Bodh Gaya in India. It is said that Abhayaraj, the builder of the temple, conceived the idea of Mahadboudha Temple while on pilgrimage in India.

Another architectural masterpiece of Patan is the Golden Temple. The temple is full of artwork of all kinds from its pagoda roofs to its numerous metal sculptures. The temples and monasteries of Patan, most of which lie concealed behind houses, seem to preserve in them fragments of the past. The environment around them seems to have changed very little. In Patan, it seems, the houses haven't crowded these historical and cultural monuments, but that they have given them refuge by enclosing them.

As you pass through the narrow, sun-deprived streets of Patan, you can hear, in between the roar of the vehicles zooming past, the monotonous melody of hammers coming down on metal. The artists of Patan are at work. Walking in Patan is like taking a tour of an artist's studio; everywhere there's an artist engrossed in making something or the other. And all around there are works that every artist wishes to match.