World Of Tourism

The top 10 most searched for holiday destinations for 2009 have now been named
Beach holiday hotspots in Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Cyprus feature prominently in the top 10, suggesting that Brits are still determined to take holidays despite the difficult economic conditions.

Flight search engine Skyscanner.net compiled the list based on the most searched for destinations by UK travellers for travel in 2009. The most popular destinations in Spain are Malaga, Alicante and Tenerife, which come in second, third and fourth respectively. Palma in Majorca is seventh, and the up and coming Spanish region of Murcia is tenth.
But heading the list in number one spot is London. This confirms that domestic air travel remains strong and more Brits are looking to take holidays in the UK such as short city breaks. Four other UK cities also made the top 50.

People looking for good value holidays outside the Eurozone have ensured that Turkey has become an increasingly popular holiday destination in the last year or so. This is confirmed by the appearance of Dalaman in Turkey in fifth spot in the most searched for flight destinations.
Long-time holiday favourites Faro in Portugal and Paphos in Cyprus appear in sixth and ninth place respectively. Not surprisingly a skiing holiday destination also appears in the top 10. Geneva in Switzerland, one of the gateways to the Alps, is the eighth most searched for destination.

Skyscanner co-founder Barry Smith comments: “It’s still early days for 2009 bookings, but already we can see that British people don’t want to give up their beach holidays, even when times are tough. This year, it’s all about making your money go as far as possible, which is why Spain remains an extremely popular destination for British travellers. It’s close, warm and still very good value. Turkey is another value destination, jumping up five places compared to last year’s top 10, partly because it’s outside the Eurozone.”
Skyscanner is predicting that short haul destinations will be the winners in 2009. Of the top 50 most searched for destinations only eight were outside Europe. But New York and Orlando in Florida remain popular despite the pound weakening against the dollar, as both made the top 20. source:http://www.holidayextras.co.uk/news/hx-travel/most-popular-destinations-for-2009-revealed-11509.html

Delhi is a momentous city and a graceful capital. New Delhi the third largest city of India is a synthesis of the ancient and the modern. Delhi is a magnificent place to explore with your family and friends. Delhi has been a most important tourist destination and is the ideal holiday option for your tours to India.In the middle of the obligation visit places during your tours to Delhi are its monuments, museums, galleries and other places of interest. Right from shopping to visiting the attractions, a New Delhi tour is certain to chuck up many wonderful moments for you to appreciate. Each occurrence, all sound, every stench shouts that you've arrived somewhere magical. Delhi is the exact place to shop for all persons who love shopping. Delhi has abundant enormous shopping complexes.

The second characteristic is the Yamuna floodplains; New Delhi fabrication west of the Yamuna river, although for the most part, New Delhi is an interior city. East of the river is the urban area of Shahdara. The temperature varies from 40 degrees Celsius in summers to around 4 degrees Celsius in winters. Delhi has a semi-arid weather with high distinction between summer and winter temperatures. One of the Famous bazaars I tartan out was Palika Bazaar on the south side of Connaught Place. There were electronics/camera/phone shops, souvenir shops, clothing shops, and DVD/video game shops. As in all of the bazaars, the shop owners were continuously asking me to come take a look. It’s derivative how the structure most essential to modern Indian democracy came up as an addition. Earlier called the Circular House, it was added to the arrangement at a later phase following the reforms which created a large governmental Assembly.

Its effect from a distance has been described. It resembles a Spanish bull-ring, lying like a mill-wheel dropped accidentally on its side. Today they house the chambers of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha (Upper House) and the library. The boundary wall has blocks of stonework impressed in geometrical patterns that echo the Mughal jalis.To obtain a visitor’s pass to Sansad Bhawan, Indian nationals should apply to the Parliament Secretariat. Foreign nationals should apply through their embassies or high commissions.

India Gate is constructed as a memorial and was built in the memory of 90,00 soldiers who laid down their lives during world war I. Located at Rajpath, India Gate is 42 m high and is popular relaxation area during the summer evenings. India Gate also act as popular picnic spot during winter. Also known as the All India War Memorial, India Gate was designed and constructed by Lutyens. Who is considered the chief proclaimed in designing the New Delhi plans? Facing the elephantine arch of India Gate is a classical version of the chhattri or cenotaph so dear to Hindu kings and the sure symbol of regality in India. Lutyens possibly designed it as a token gesticulation to keep the King who wanted oriental features happy. But chances are he would silent have favored to describe it as an open cupola or a baldachin.
source:http://www.itvoir.com/portal/boxx/modules/blogs/Blog-Detail.asp?BlogID=5400

Even as the world excitedly talks about the recently discovered mummy believed to be of Egyptian queen Hatshepsut, in India the mystery surrounding Mumtaz Mahal's burial at the Taj Mahal has deepened with several Mughal historians asserting that her body was not mummified.

Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the 17th century Taj Mahal in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal who died delivering their 14th child in Burhanpur, a town in Maharashtra.

The queen's body was buried in Burhanpur itself but was believed to have been recovered for transportation to Agra where it was reburied in a grave in the Taj Mahal complex for at least 12 years to be again shifted to her final resting place in the basement of the monument.

As there is no detailed description or reference to any kind of treatment given to the body to keep it in recognisable shape for more than 12 years, two conjectures are now being offered.

One, the body remained buried in Burhanpur, only some symbolic relics were brought to Agra in a lead coffin. Two, the body decomposed and virtually vanished, leaving behind some bones and perhaps the bare skelton.

"Obviously the coffin was not opened, otherwise we would have had some account of what remained inside it," says R. Nath, a Mughal historian. "In any case, how does it matter what state the body was in."

Afzal Khan, a historian of Aligarh Muslim University, says, "It is possible that the body might have been thoroughly decomposed, given the long duration for which it was kept outside and the time taken to transport it from the south to Agra. Since there are no accounts of how the whole process was carried out, one can only guess what could have happened to the body of Mumtaz."

A senior guide, 75-year-old SK Tripathi, says the body is believed to have been placed in a lead and copper coffin, which was air tight and sealed. It was kept at the Taj Mahal premises for a little over 12 years and was shifted as soon as more than half the edifice was constructed. The real graves of the two are in the basement, totally sealed.

"No one has gone there to see what state they are in now," he adds.

Archaeological Survey of India officials in Agra say they have no idea when was the last time someone had a close look at the basement and the foundation of the Taj Mahal, let alone the original graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.

"We have no records of any such inspection," says one official.

The one little passage near the stair case leading to the main marble edifice was sealed more than a decade ago with a brick wall, which means there is now no way one can enter the sealed chambers below the Taj.

RC Sharma, a historian, says the body of Mumtaz Mahal was buried in Burhanpur. "What came to Agra must have been just bones in a coffin which was again reburied in the Taj complex."

From historical records available this was a unique feat. "Mumtaz was buried thrice at three different places," says Amit Mukherjea, who heads the history department of St John's College in Agra.

Most people do not know that the foundation of the Taj was actually laid in Burhanpur but because of the problems and costs involved in the transportation of marble from Rajasthan, Agra became the final choice.

"It was in Ahu Khana in Burhanpur on the bank of the Tapti river that her body was buried to be later transferred to Agra," according to KK Mohammed of ASI.

But the question relating to the technique of embalming and preservation remains unanswered.

Afsar Ahmed, a media researcher deeply interested in Mughal history, told IANS, You might find it difficult to believe but there's a possibility that the body of Mumtaz Mahal is still preserved in the Taj Mahal in the same condition as she was when she passed away. Mumtaz Mahal was buried six months after she passed away in June 1631. She was, however, buried in Jan 1632."

The question that arises now is: how was her body preserved? Ahmed quotes a report prepared by Armanul Haq, the curator in the Museum of History and Medicine in the Jamia Hamdard University, who claims that Mumtaz Mahal's body was preserved according to Unani techniques.

The process was used because cutting a body after death is prohibited in Islam. That is why when Mumtaz Mahal passed away in 1631 in Burhanpur, her body was kept in a tin box filled with such herbs as would stop the decay of flesh.

"The airtight tin box was filled with herbs like the ash of Babul tree (acacia), Mehendi (henna), Kapoor crystals (camphor), sandalwood ash, and then again camphor applied in layers upon layers. These herbs would have created a vacuum inside the box and prevented the decay of the body. A point to be noted here is that none of these herbs were put inside Mumtaz Mahal's body," says Ahmed.

If her body is still preserved and in fine shape, shall we call it the success of the Indian technique of mummification?

Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/