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OWLET Real baby OWL i witnessed in Sundernagar in evenig today and captured
One more owl i witnessed in morning too in legal premises but that owl ran away from my thor and this one also runs away and does not gets in visibility of humans
Captured the rare
#FAPS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY by #SDBWP NATURE #SDBgtfas
Lionel Messi scored in injury time to give Argentina a 1-0 victory over Brazil on Wednesday night in an exhibition between South American rivals.
Messi scored his 15th goal in 53 international appearances, sidestepping two defenders before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Victor. The reigning FIFA player of the year has 19 goals in 16 games for Barcelona and 66 in his last 65 games for his club.
Brazil's best chance came in the 16th minute when Daniel Alves, Messi's Barcelona teammate, hit the crossbar from inside the penalty area. Ronaldinho, in his first Brazil appearance since April 2009. had several shots on goal.
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The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu Himachal Around the World to more than 50+Countries & 200+Major Destinations across 6 Continents.
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These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
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FAN BEING CHASED DURING LIVE MATCH IN DOHA DURING ARGENTINA vs BRAZIL LIVE MATCH AT KHALIFA STADIUM 2010-11-17 21_41_15 DOHA KHALIFA
Messi scores to lead Argentina over Brazil 1-0
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DOHA, Qatar – Lionel Messi scored in injury time to give Argentina a 1-0 victory over Brazil on Wednesday night in an exhibition between South American rivals.
Messi scored his 15th goal in 53 international appearances, sidestepping two defenders before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Victor. The reigning FIFA player of the year has 19 goals in 16 games for Barcelona and 66 in his last 65 games for his club.
Brazil's best chance came in the 16th minute when Daniel Alves, Messi's Barcelona teammate, hit the crossbar from inside the penalty area. Ronaldinho, in his first Brazil appearance since April 2009. had several shots on goal.
Copyright 2011 © sundeepkullu.com All rights reserved.
The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form in full or in part in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu Himachal Around the World to more than 50+Countries & 200+Major Destinations across 6 Continents.
Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu
sb@sundeepkullu.com
+91 9816499629
+974 55344547
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
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Tsomoriri Wetland Conservation Reserve
Tsomoriri Lake
Tsomoriri or Lake Moriri (official name: Tsomoriri Wetland Conservation Reserve), in the Changthang (literal meaning, northern plains) area, is a High Altitude Lake (HAL) with an altitude of 4,595 m (15,075 ft) in Ladakh, India and is the largest of the High Altitude Lakes in the Trans-Himalayan biogeographic region, entirely within India. It is hemmed between Ladakh in the North and Tibet in the east and Zanskar in the west; the Changthang plateau is the geographical setting with snow peaks that provides the source of water for the Lake. Accessibility to the lake is limited to summer season only.[1] Tsokar means salty lake in local language and salt was extracted from this lake in earlier times, till the end of 1959, for consumption by the local people. It is oligotrophic in nature and its waters are alkaline. The lake formerly had an outlet to the south, but it has contracted considerably and has become land locked; as a result; the water is now brackish to saline. The lake is fed by springs and snow-melt in two major stream systems, one entering the lake from the north, the other from the southwest. Both stream systems create extensive marshes where they enter the lake.
Topography
As per a classification of the Himalayan Lakes done on the basis of their origin, there are four groups and Tsomoriri falls under the third group of “Remnant Lakes". The classification as reported states:[2]
(i) Glacial lakes which are formed in and around glaciers; (ii) Structural lakes, formed by folds or faults due to movements in earth’s crust (e.g. Nainital lake in Uttaranchal), (iii) Remnant lakes which were originally structural but represent the remnants of vast lakes (e.g., Tsomoriri, Tso Kar, Pangong Tso in Ladakh, and Dal Lake in Kashmir), (iv) Natural dammed lakes i.e., temporary water bodies formed along the river courses due to deposition of rocks or debris e.g. Gohna Tal in Garhwal, Uttaranchal.
The Changthang plateau in the eastern Ladakh represents a landscape of low productive Ecosystems which protects unique floral and faunal species.The area is an extension of the western Tibetan plateau that lies above 4,500 m (14,800 ft) msl and supports diverse but low populations of several globally threatened mammals.[2] The Lake's basin could also be categorised as an endorheic basin since it is a closed drainage basin that retains water and allows no outflow to other bodies of water such as rivers or oceans.
Tso Moriri Lake, Korzok, in Ladakh.
The lake is surrounded by the elevated valley of Rupshu with hills rising to 6,000 m (20,000 ft). “Changpas", the nomadic migratory shepherds (pastoral community) of yak, sheep, goat, and horses of Tibetan origin and who are engaged in trade and work on caravans in Ladakh region, are the main inhabitants of the area.[3][4]. Changpa herders use the land of this valley as grazing ground and for cultivation.[2]
The Working Report (2006) of the Planning Commission of the Government of India also reports:[2]
Despite a poor vegetation cover, relatively low standing biomass and high anthropogenic pressure, this area sustains a considerably high livestock population. Steady increase in the livestock population in the area is mainly attributed to influx of nomadic herders from Tibet during recent decades and promotion of Pashmina goat production by the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) for fine quality under wool (Pashmina). The herders and AHD officials, in recent years have begun to raise concern over degradation of pastures, resultant shortage of forage, and mass mortality of livestock during severe winters.
The Korzok Monastery, on the western bank of the lake is 400 years old and attracts tourists and Buddhist pilgrims. Tourism during May – September attracts large number of foreign and local tourists even though tented accommodation is the facility available, apart from a small PWD guest house close to the Lake.[1]
[edit]Access
Further information: Leh
The lake is located to the Southeast of Leh in Eastern Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, at a road distance of 215 kilometres (134 mi). Leh is also connected by Air with many destinations in India.
[edit]Hydrology and water quality
The Lake, draining a catchment area of 120 km2 (46 sq mi) is enclosed by rolling hills of the Tibetan cold desert on the western side with steep hills and by the Pare Chu, which flows on the southern side. Another wetland, the Nuro Sumdo (with a catchment area of 20 km2/7.7 sq mi), lies between Tsomoriri in the north, and the Pare Chu in the south, a bog which drains into the Pare Chu. Several small mountain streams feed the Lake notably through pasture land at Peldo Le. The lake is fed by springs and snow melt and has a maximum depth of 40 m (130 ft). Aridity and cold desert conditions prevail in the lake region; with summer temperature varying from 0 ° to 30 °C (32 °-86 °F) and winter temperature recording −10 ° and −40 °C (14 ° to -40 °F). Geologically the lake is in the Cambrian/Pre-Cambrian terrain.[5][6]
[edit]Avifauna and flora
Tibetan Ass in the vicinity of Tsomoriri Lake
An avifaunal survey of the Lake and its adjoining Nuro Sumdo wetland conducted in July 1996 revealed the following facts:[6][5]
Thirty-four species of birds included 14 species of water birds (some are pictured in the gallery) of which following are the vulnerable species
Black-necked Cranes (Grus nigricollis) endangered.
Bar-headed Geese (Anser indicus)– only breeding ground in India
Brown-headed Gulls (Larus brunnicephalus)
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) (rare)
Ferruginous Pochard
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis (rare)
Tibetan gazelle, Procapra picticaudata, Goa antelope (threatened)
Ovis ammon hogdsoni (Argali)(Vul)
Lynx
[edit]Mammalian fauna
Nayan Ovis ammon hodgsoni
Bharal (Pseudois nayaurr) Himalayan blue sheep
Tibetan Ass (Kiang) or Equus kiang, endemic to the Tibetan Plateau
Great Tibetan Sheep
One species of marmot, Marmota himalayana in large numbers seen on the hill slopes surrounding the lake and also along the roadsides
One species of hare, Lepus oistolus
One species of vole, Alticola roylei
Three species of mouse hares, Ochotona macrotis, Ochotona curzoniae or Tibetan Sand Fox and Scincella ladacensis
[edit]Large carnivores fauna
Carnivores fauna reported are:
the Snow Leopard (Uncia uncial)
the Tibetan Grey Wolf (Canilupus chanku)
[edit]Vegetation
While the deeper parts of the lake have no vegetation, the shallow areas are reported to have Potamogeton sps. Marshes have several species of sedges and reeds, particularly Carex, Caragana and Astragalus sps., which are all representative of the surrounding arid steppe vegetation. Details of the Vegetation recorded in the area comprises the following:[6]
Characteristic Caragana and Astragalus species
Potamogeton species
Several species of Carex, Primula (low growing herb), and Pedicularis(parasite plant)
Common species of Juncus thomsonii and Leontopodium sp
Phytoplankton species of Oocystis with density was 900 cells/L to a depth of 25 m (82 ft). Specimens of the diatom Cyclotella also recorded.
Pastures for domestic livestock
[edit]Ramsar site
Largely based on the ecological diversity of the Lake (explained in the previous section) and its surroundings, the Tsomiriri was notified in November 2002 under the List of Ramsar Wetland sites under the Ramsar Convention. The justification could be summarized as:[6]
The faunal collection is unique and has a large variety with endemic and vulnerable species
The herbivore species are also endemic to the region
The lake plays a fundamental role as breeding grounds and key staging posts on migration routes for several water birds belonging to six families, which is distinctive of wetland diversity and productivity
Tsomoriri Lake
[edit]Threats to the lake
There are a number of threats to the Lake, such as:[1][6]
Increase in the number of tourists visiting the lake affects breeding of avi fauna
Construction of a road right up to the Lake
Pasture degradation affecting wildlife, particularly wild herbivores (marmots, hares, ungulates)
An increase in the grazing of Sheep in the wetlands surrounding the Lake
The absence of a proper garbage disposal Facility at the Lake.
Dogs kept by the people who live near the lake are known to attack the cranes and destroy their eggs.
Jeep safaris have been known to chase wildlife such as Kiang and approach close to the breeding ground.
Lack of regulations and monitoring by the government.
[edit]Conservation efforts
The need for evolving a strategy and an action plan to preserve the extreme fragility of the lake ecosystem has been recognized with the needed emphasis at the National and International level to develop the lake conservation activity with participation of all stakeholders.[7] The actions initiated in this direction are:
Tsomoriri is an administratively declared Wetland Reserve. Legally, shooting wildlife is prohibited. The State Department of Wildlife has set up a check post near Mahe Bridge at the entrance towards the lake.[6][5] WWF-India Project has established a field office at Korzok in Rupshu near Tsomoriri for ‘Conservation of High Altitude Wetlands in Ladakh Region’ to carry out surveys, interact with tourists, tour guides, act as information centre and conduct education awareness programmes for locals, tourists etc.
Wildlife Institute of India has also set up a field station at Leh to carry out scientific research in the region. Nature clubs have been set up and Information booklet on the lake published. Efforts of WWF – India has also resulted in the local community declaring Tsomoriri as a ‘Sacred Gift for a Living Planet’ during the Annual Conference held in Nepal in November 2000.[6]
Some of the other achievements so far reported on the Lake’s conservation are:[7]
Regulation in consultation with local community Vehicular traffic flow and parking has been restructured with restriction of camping sites around the lake
The Indo Tibetan Border Petrol (ITBP), tour operators and local population have introduced regular garbage clean up operations
Korzok community living around the lake has voluntarily built traditional and social fencing around the wetland to protect breeding and feeding grounds from vehicular traffic
Tsomoriri Conservation Trust has been set up.
Twenty Nature Clubs have been registered in different schools in Ladakh
The Indian Army has committed to support and set up a Nature Interpretation Centre at 'Hall of Fame', Leh.
[edit]World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) role
World Wildlife Fund for Nature — India (WWF-India) is spearheading the efforts at conservation of the Tsomoriri lake in particular, and the Ladakh region in general. WWF’s activities as a NGO have spanned more than 30 years. The main objective set by WWF is[8] the main activities planned for the Tsomoriri and other wetlands in Ladakh regions are:[7]
The Promotion of Nature Conservation and Environmental Protection as the Basis for Sustainable and Equitable Development.
Evolve plan to establish a Sustainable Tourism Model managed by Local Communities at Tsomoriri
Carry on with the biological and socio-economic surveys around selected wetlands and document for future reference
Organize capacity building training programmes for Tour operators, Army, Teachers and local communities
Frequent education and awareness Programmes for various target groups
Management Planning for Tsomoriri and also Tsokar and Pangong Tso lakes by involving major stakeholders
To set guidelines for introducing Eco-Tourism Certification Scheme in Ladakh
To mobilise financial resources to carry out a comprehensive Strategic Environment Assessment
Develop Environmental Management Systems, implement and certify the Environment Management Systems with special focus on tourism sector
Maintain and enhance existing field presence at Tsomoriri, Leh, and Tsokar and increase presence at Chushul and Hanle marshes as well to achieve better results
Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tso_Moriri
Pangong Tso
Pangong Tso (or Pangong Lake; Tso: Ladakhi for lake) is an endorheic lake in the Himalayas situated at a height of about 4,350 m (14,270 ft). It is 134 km (83 mi) long and extends from India to Tibet. 60% of the length of the lake lies in Tibet, which is today under China's rule. The lake is 5 km (3.1 mi) wide at its broadest point. During winter the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water.
The lake is in the process of being identified under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance. This will be the first trans-boundary wetland in South Asia under the convention.
Himachal Pradesh Border Leh Laddakh by sundeepkullu.com WORLD IS MY STUDIO.
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh (Hindi: हिमाचल प्रदेश [ɦɪmaːtʃəl prəd̪eːʃ] ( listen)) is a state in Northern India. It is spread over 21,495 sq mi (55,673 km²),[4] and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east. The literal meaning of Himachal Pradesh is Region of snowy mountains.[5]
Himachal Pradesh was anciently known as Dev Bhumi (The Abode of Gods) and is known to be abundant in natural beauty[6] After the Anglo Gorkha War, the British colonial government came into power. It was initially part of Punjab, except the Siba State of Punjab Hills which was under the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh until 1857.[7] In 1950 Himachal was declared as a union territory but after the State of Himachal Pradesh Act 1971, Himachal emerged as the 18th state of the Indian Union. Himachal has many prestigious boarding schools. Hima means snow in Sanskrit. It was named by one of the great Sanskrit scholars of Himachal Pradesh, Acharya Diwakar Datt Sharma
Himachal Pradesh has one of the highest per capita incomes of any state in India. Due to the abundance of perennial rivers, Himachal also sells hydro electricity to other states such as Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan.[8] The economy of the state is highly dependent on three sources: hydroelectric power, tourism and agriculture.[9]
Hindus make up 95% of the state population, making it the most Hindu state (proportionally), in India. According to a 2005 Transparency International survey, Himachal Pradesh is ranked the second-least corrupt state in the country after Kerala.[10]
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History
Main article: History of Himachal Pradesh
The history of the area that now constitutes Himachal Pradesh dates back to the time when the Indus valley civilisation flourished between 2250 and 1750 BCE.[11] Tribes such as the Koilis, Halis, Dagis, Dhaugris, Dasa, Khasas, Kinnars and Kirats inhabited the region from pre-historic era. During the Vedic period, several small republics known as "Janapada" existed which were later conquered by the Gupta Empire.[12] After a brief period of supremacy by king Harshavardhana, the region was once again divided into several local powers headed by chieftains, including some Rajput principalities. These kingdoms that enjoyed a large degree of independence were devastated by Muslim invaders a number of times.[11] Mahmud Ghaznavi conquered Kangra at the beginning of the 10th century. Timur and Sikander Lodi also marched through the lower hills of the state and captured a number of forts and fought many battles.[11] Several hill states acknowledged Mughal suzerainty and paid regular tribute to the Mughals.[13]
Sansar Chand (c.1765–1823)
The Gurkhas, a martial tribe came to power in Nepal in the year 1768.[11] They consolidated their military power and began to expand their territory.[11] Gradually the Gorkhas annexed Sirmour and Shimla. With the leadership of Amar Singh Thapa, Gorkhas laid siege to Kangra. They managed to defeat Sansar Chand, the ruler of Kangra, in 1806 with the help of many provincial chiefs. However Gorkhas could not capture Kangra fort which came under Maharaja Ranjeet Singh in 1809. After the defeat the Gorkhas began to expand towards the south of the state. However, Raja Ram Singh, Raja of Siba State re-captured the fort of Siba from the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Samvat 1846,[11] during the First Anglo-Sikh War. They came into direct conflict with the British along the tarai belt after which the British expelled them from the provinces of the Satluj.[11] Thus the British gradually emerged as the paramount powers.[11] The revolt of 1857 or first Indian war of independence resulted due to the building up of political, social, economic, religious and military grievances against the British government.[11] People of the hill states were not as politically active as the people in other parts of the country.[11] They remained more or less inactive and so did their rulers, with the exception of Bushahr.[11] Some of them even rendered help to the British government during the revolt. Among them were the rulers of Chamba, Bilaspur, Bhagal and Dhami. The rulers of Bushars rather acted in a manner hostile to the interests of British.[11]
The British territories in the hill came under British Crown after Queen Victoria's proclamation of 1858. The states of Chamba, Mandi and Bilaspur made good progress in many fields during the British rule.[11] During World War I, virtually all rulers of the hill states remained loyal and contributed to the British war effort both in the form of men and materials. Amongst these were the states of Kangra, Jaswan, Datarpur, Guler, Nurpur, Chamba, Suket, Mandi and Bilaspur.[11]
After independence the Chief Commissioner's Province of H.P. came into being on 15 April 1948 as a result of integration of 28 petty princely states (including feudatory princes and zaildars) in the promontories of the western Himalaya, known in full as the Simla Hills States & four Punjab southern hill States by issue of the Himachal Pradesh (Administration) Order, 1948 under Sections 3 & 4 of the Extra-Provincial Jurisdiction Act, 1947 (later renamed as the Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1947 vide A.O. of 1950). The State of Bilaspur was merged in the Himachal Pradesh on 1 April 1954 by the Himachal Pradesh and Bilaspur (New State) Act, 1954. Himachal became a part C state on 26 January 1950 with the implementation of the Constitution of India and the Lt. Governor was appointed. Legislative Assembly was elected in 1952. Himachal Pradesh became a Union Territory on 1 November 1956.[11] Following area of Punjab State namely Simla, Kangra, Kulu and Lahul and Spiti Districts, Nalagarh tehsil of Ambala District, Lohara, Amb and Una kanungo circles, some area of Santokhgarh kanungo circle and some other specified area of Una tehsil of Hoshiarpur District besides some parts of Dhar Kalan Kanungo circle of Pathankot tehsil of Gurdaspur District; were merged with Himachal Pradesh on 1 November 1966 on enactment of Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 by the Parliament. On 18 December 1970, the State of Himachal Pradesh Act was passed by Parliament and the new state came into being on 25 January 1971. Thus Himachal emerged as the eighteenth state of the Indian Union.[11]
Geography and climate
Main article: Geography of Himachal Pradesh
Dal Lake
A summer view of Khajjiar.
Climate
Temperature [citation needed]
• Avg. Winter7 °C (45 °F)
• Avg. Summer28 °C (82 °F)
Precipitation1,469 mm (57.8 in)
Himachal is situated in the western Himalayas. Covering an area of 55,673 kilometres (34,594 mi),[4] Himachal Pradesh is a mountainous state with elevation ranging from about 350 metres (1,148 ft) to 7,000 metres (22,966 ft) above the sea level.[14]
Lahaul, Himachal Pradesh.
The drainage system of Himachal is composed both of rivers and glaciers. Himalayan rivers criss-cross the entire mountain chain. In fact the rivers are older than the mountain system.[15] Himachal Pradesh provides water to both the Indus and Ganges basins.[16] The drainage systems of the region are the Chandra Bhaga or the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas, the Sutlej and the Yamuna. These rivers are perennial and are fed by snow and rainfall. They are protected by an extensive cover of natural vegetation. [16]
There is great variation in the climatic conditions of Himachal due to extreme variation in elevation. The climate varies from hot and sub-humid tropical in the southern tracts to cold, alpine and glacial in the northern and eastern mountain ranges with more elevation.[17] The state has areas like Dharamsala that receive very heavy rainfall, as well as those like Lahaul and Spiti that are cold and almost rainless. Broadly Himachal experience three seasons; hot weather season, cold weather season and rainy season. Summer lasts from mid April till the end of June and most parts become very hot (except in alpine zone which experience mild summer) with the average temperature ranging from 28 °C (82 °F) to 32 °C (90 °F). Winter lasts from late November till mid March. Snowfall is common in alpine tracts (generally above 2,200 metres (7,218 ft) i.e. in the Higher and Trans-Himalayan region).
[edit]Flora and fauna
Main article: Wildlife of Himachal Pradesh
Asian Paradise Flycatcher in Kullu
Himalyan Monal at Birds Park in Shimla
According to 2003 Forest Survey of India report, legally defined forest areas constitute 66.52% of the area of Himachal Pradesh, although area under tree cover is only 25.78%.[18] Vegetation in the state is dictated by elevation and precipitation.
The southern part of the state, which is at the lowest elevations, has both tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests and tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests.[18] These are represented by northwestern thorn scrub forests along the border with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and by Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests in the far southeast. Sal and shisham are found here.
Rising into the hills, we find a mosaic of western Himalayan broadleaf forests and Himalayan subtropical pine forests. Various deciduous and evergreen oaks live in the broadleaf forests, while Chir pine dominates the pine forests. Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests grow near treeline, with species that include East Himalayan Fir, West Himalayan Spruce, Deodar (State tree), and Blue pine.
In the uppermost elevations we find western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows in the northeast and northwestern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows in the northwest. Trees are sturdy with a vast network of roots. Alders, birches, rhododendrons and moist alpine shrubs are there as the regional vegetation. The rhododendrons can be seen along the hillsides around Shimla from March to May. The shrublands and meadows give way to rock and ice around the highest peaks.
Himachal is also said to be the fruit bowl of the country with orchards scattered all over the place. Meadows and pastures are also seen clinging to steep slopes. After the winter season, the hillsides and orchards bloom with wild flowers, while gladiolas, carnations, marigolds,[19] roses, chrysanthemums, tulips and lilies are carefully cultivated. The state government is gearing up to make Himachal Pradesh as the flower basket of the world.
Himachal Pradesh is a well known habitat to a variety of animals. There are around 1200 bird and 359 animal species in the state.[20] This includes the Leopard, Snow leopard (State animal), ghoral, musk deer and Western Tragopan. It has 12 major national parks and sanctuaries — the largest number in the Himalayan region. The Great Himalayan National Park in Kullu district was created to conserve the flora and fauna of the main Himalayan range, while the Pin Valley National Park to conserve the flora and fauna of the cold desert.
[edit]Subdivisions
Main article: Districts of Himachal Pradesh
BilaspurChambaHamirpurKangraKinnaurKulluLahaul and SpitiMandiShimlaSirmaurSolanUna
Himachal Pradesh is divided into 12 districts namely, Kangra, Hamirpur, Mandi, Bilaspur, Una, Chamba, Lahul and Spiti, Sirmaur, Kinnaur, Kullu, Solan and Shimla. The state capital is Shimla which was formerly British India's summer capital under the name Simla.
A district of Himachal Pradesh is an administrative geographical unit, headed by a Deputy Commissioner or District Magistrate, an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service. The district magistrate or the deputy commissioner is assisted by a number of officers belonging to Himachal Administrative Service and other Himachal state services. Each district is subdivided into Sub-Divisions, governed by a sub-divisional magistrate, and again into Blocks. Blocks consists of panchayats (village councils) and town municipalities. A Superintendent of Police, an officer belonging to the Indian Police Service is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining law and order and related issues of the district. He is assisted by the officers of the Himachal Police Service and other Himachal Police officials.
SOURCE en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himachal_Pradesh
[edit]
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Eibsee
Eibsee is a lake in Bavaria, Germany, 9km southwest of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and roughly 100km southwest of Munich. At an elevation of 973.28 m, its surface area is 177.4 ha. Eibsee lies at the base of the Zugspitze (2950 meters above sea level), Germany's highest mountain.
As of May 2010, trains from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen leave roughly once an hour and the trip takes about an hour and a half[1]. Buses travel regularly from the train station in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Eibsee[2]. A valid train ticket can often be used to ride the bus
Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eibsee
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a mountain resort town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, and the district is on the border with Austria. Nearby is Germany's highest mountain, Zugspitze, at 2961 m (9714 ft.).
Origin
Garmisch-Partinkirken was at first two separate cities (Garmisch and Partinkirken).Until the Olympics were held right in between the two cities and often faught over simple things. So, as a compromise, they merged together to create Garmisch-Partinkirken and make the process much easier.
[edit]History
Garmisch (in the west) and Partenkirchen (in the east) were separate towns for many centuries, and still maintain quite separate identities.
Partenkirchen originated as the Roman town of Partanum on the trade route from Venice to Augsburg and is first mentioned in the year A.D. 15. Its main street, Ludwigsstrasse, follows the original Roman road.
Garmisch is first mentioned some 800 years later as Germaneskau ("German District"), suggesting that at some point a Teutonic tribe took up settlement in the western end of the valley.
The valley came under the rule of the Bishop of Freising and was governed by a bishop's representative known as a Pfleger (caretaker or warden) from Werdenfels Castle on a cliff north of Garmisch.
The discovery of America at the turn of the 16th century led to a boom in shipping and a sharp decline in overland trade, which plunged the region into a centuries-long economic depression. The valley floor was swampy and difficult to farm. Bears, wolves and lynxes were a constant threat to livestock. The population suffered from periodic epidemics, including several serious outbreaks of bubonic plague. Adverse fortunes from disease and crop failure occasionally led to witch hysteria. Most notable of these were the notorious trials and executions of 1589-1596, in which 63 victims — more than 10 percent of the population at the time — were burned at the stake or garroted.
Werdenfels Castle, where the accused were held, tried and executed, became an object of superstitious horror and was abandoned in the 17th century. It was largely torn down in the 1750s and its stones used to build the baroque Neue Kirche (New Church) on Marienplatz, which was completed in 1752. It replaced the nearby Gothic Alte Kirche (Old Church), parts of which predated Christianity and may originally have been a pagan temple. Used as a storehouse, armory and haybarn for many years, it has since been re-consecrated. Some of its medieval frescoes are still visible.
Garmisch and Partenkirchen remained separate until their respective mayors were forced by Adolf Hitler to combine the two market towns in 1935 in anticipation of the 1936 Winter Olympic games. Today, the united town is casually (but incorrectly) referred to as Garmisch, much to the dismay of Partenkirchen's residents. Most visitors will notice the slightly more modern feel of Garmisch while the fresco-filled, cobblestoned streets of Partenkirchen offer a glimpse into times past. Early mornings and late afternoons in pleasant weather often find local traffic stopped while the dairy cows are herded to and from the nearby mountain meadows.
[edit]Transportation
Garmisch-Partenkirchen,
painting by Anton Doll
The town is served by Federal Highway 2 as a continuation of the A95 Autobahn (motorway), which ends at Eschenlohe 16 km north of the city.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is on the Munich–Garmisch-Partenkirchen line and the Mittenwald Railway (Garmisch–Mittenwald–Innsbruck). It is the terminus of the Außerfern Railway to Reutte in Tirol / Kempten im Allgäu and the Bavarian Zugspitze Railway (with sections of rack railway) to the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany. Regional services run every hour to München Hauptbahnhof and Mittenwald and every two hours to Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof and Reutte. In addition there are special seasonal long-distance services, including ICEs, to Berlin, Hamburg, Dortmund, Bremen and Innsbruck.
Several accessible hiking trails from the town are especially spectacular and cover both the lower and higher elevations.
[edit]Sports
Aerial view of
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
In 1936 it was the site of the Winter Olympic Games, the first to feature alpine skiing. A variety of Nordic and alpine World Cup ski races are held here, usually on the Kandahar Track outside town. Traditionally, a ski jumping contest is held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on New Year's Day, as a part of the Four Hills Tournament (Vierschanzen-Tournee). The World Alpine Ski Championships were held in Garmisch in 1978 and 2011.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is also a favored holiday spot for skiing, snowboarding, and hiking, having some of the best skiing areas (Garmisch Classic and Zugspitze) in Germany.
It was announced on December 7, 2007, that Garmisch-Partenkirchen is part of a Bavarian bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, with partner candidates Munich and Schönau am Königsee (near Berchtesgaden). The Winter Olympics were last held in the German-speaking Alps in 1976 in nearby Innsbruck, Austria.
[edit]Public institutions
The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies[2] is also located in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The Marshall Center is an internationally funded and mostly U.S.-staffed learning and conference center for governments from around the world, but primarily from the former Soviet Union and Eastern European countries. It was established in June 1993, replacing the U.S. Army Russian Institute. Near the Marshall Center is the American Armed Forces Recreation Centers (Edelweiss Lodge and Resort) in Garmisch that serves U.S. and NATO military and their families. A number of U.S. troops and civilians are stationed in the town to provide logistical support to the Marshall Center and Edelweiss Recreation Center.
Zugspitze
Zugspitze
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zugspitze
The Zugspitze massif from the west (left: the summit)
Elevation2,962 m (9,718 ft) [1]
Prominence1,746 m (5,728 ft) [2]
↓ Fern Pass → Parseierspitze
Parent peakFinsteraarhorna / Mont Blancb
Isolation = 24.6 km → Acherkogel
ListingCountry high point (Germany)
Ultra
Location
Zugspitze
Germany
Location on Austria/Germany border
LocationTyrol, Austria
Bavaria, Germany
RangeWettersteingebirge, Eastern Alps
Coordinates47°25′16″N 10°59′07″ECoordinates: 47°25′16″N 10°59′07″E[2]
Geology
TypeWetterstein limestone[3]
Age of rockTriassic
Climbing
First ascent27 August 1820 by Josef Naus, Johann Georg Tauschl and survey assistant, Maier
Easiest routeReintal Route
Geography
Map showing the Zugspitze's location
The Zugspitze belongs to the Wetterstein range of the Northern Limestone Alps.
The border between Germany and Austria goes right over the mountain. There used to be a border checkpoint at the summit. But since Germany and Austria are now both part of the Schengen zone, the border crossing is no longer manned.
The exact height of the Zugspitze was a matter of debate for quite a while. Given figures ranged from 2,690–2,970 metres (8,830–9,740 ft), but it is now generally accepted that the peak is 2,962 m (9,718 ft) above sea level as a result of a survey carried out by the Bavarian State Survey Office. The lounge at the new café is named "2962" for this reason.
[edit]Location and surrounding area
Aerial photograph
View from the Alpspitze of the Zugspitze summit and the Höllentalferner glacier in 2007
Annotated aerial photograph of the Zugspitze massif
At 2,962 metres (9,718 ft) (eastern peak) the Zugspitze is the highest mountain of the Zugspitze massif. This height is referenced to the Amsterdam Gauge and is given by the Bavarian State Office for Survey and Geoinformation.[4] The same height is recorded against the Trieste Gauge used in Austria, which is 27 cm lower. Originally the Zugspitze had three peaks: the east, middle and west summits (Ost-, Mittel- and Westgipfel). The only one that has remained in its original form is the east summit, which is also the only one that lies entirely on German territory. The middle summit fell victim to one of the cable car summit stations in 1930. In 1938 the west summit was blown up to create a building site for a planned flight control room for the Wehrmacht. This was never built however. Originally the height of the west summit was given as 2,964 m (9,724 ft).[5]
The Zugspitze rises eleven kilometres southwest of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and just under six kilometres east of Ehrwald. The border between Germany and Austria runs over the west summit; thus the Zugspitze massif belongs to the German state of Bavaria and the Austrian state of Tyrol. The municipalities responsible for it are Grainau and Ehrwald. To the west the Zugspitze massif drops into the valley of the River Loisach, which flows around the massif towards the northeast in a curve whilst, in the east, the streams of Hammersbach and Partnach have their source. To the south the Gaistal valley and its river, the Leutascher Ache, separate the Wetterstein Mountains from the Mieming Chain. To the north at the foot of the Zugspitze is the lake of Eibsee. The next highest mountain in the area is the Acherkogel (3,008 m or 9,869 ft) in the Stubai Alps, which gives the Zugspitze an topographic isolation value of 24.6 kilometres. The reference point for the prominence is the Parseierspitze (3,036 m or 9,961 ft). In order to climb it from the Zugspitze, a descent to the Fern Pass (1,216 m or 3,990 ft) is required, so that the prominence is 1,746 m (5,728 ft).[6]
[edit]Zugspitze Massif
The massif of the Zugspitze has several other peaks. To the south the Zugspitzplatt is surrounded in an arc by the Zugspitzeck (2,820 m or 9,250 ft) and Schneefernerkopf (2,874 m or 9,429 ft), the Wetterspitzen (2,747 m or 9,012 ft), the Wetterwandeck (2,698 m or 8,852 ft), the Plattspitzen (2,679 m or 8,789 ft) and the Gatterlköpfen (2,490 m or 8,170 ft). The massif ends int the Gatterl (2,024 m or 6,640 ft), a wind gap between it and the Hochwanner. Running eastwards away from the Zugspitze is the famous Jubilee Ridge or Jubiläumsgrat over the Höllentalspitzen towards the Alpspitze and Hochblassen. The short crest of the Riffelwandkamm runs northeast over the summits of the Riffelwandspitzen (2,626 m or 8,615 ft) and the Riffelköpfe (2,459 m or 8,068 ft), to the Riffel wind gap (Riffelscharte, 2,161 m or 7,090 ft). From here the ridge of the Waxensteinkamm stretches away over the Riffelspitzen to the Waxenstein.[7]
[edit]Zugspitzplatt
The Zugspitzplatt above the Reintal valley in 2006
The Platt or Zugspitzplatt is a plateau below the summit of the Zugspitze to the south and southeast which lies at a height of between 2,000 and 2,650 m (6,600 and 8,690 ft). It forms the head of the Reintal valley and has been shaped by a combination of weathering, karstification and glaciation. The area contains roches moutonnées, dolines and limestone pavements as a consequence of the ice ages. In addition moraines have been left behind by various glacial periods. The Platt was completely covered by a glacier for the last time at the beginning of the 19th century. Today 52% of it consists of scree, 32% of bedrock and 16% of vegetation-covered soils, especially in the middle and lower areas.[8]
[edit]Climate
Climatic diagram for the Zugspitze: normal periods 1961-1990
From a climatic perspective the Zugspitze lies in the temperate zone and its prevailing winds are Westerlies. As the first high orographic obstacle to these Westerlies in the Alps, the Zugspitze is particular exposed to the weather. It is effectively the north barrier of the Alps (Nordstau der Alpen), against which moist air masses pile up and release heavy precipitation. At the same time the Zugspitze acts as protective barrier for parts of the Alps to the south. By contrast, Föhn weather conditions push in the other direction against the massif, affecting the region for about 60 days per year. These warm, dry air masses stream from south to north and can result in unusually high temperatures in winter. Nevertheless frost dominates the picture on the Zugspitze with an average of 310 days per year. The nearest place with comparable values is the island of Spitsbergen in the Arctic Ocean.
For the decades from 1961 to 1990 - designated by the World Meteorological Organization as the "normal period" - the average annual precipitation on the Zugspitze was 2,003.1 mm; the wettest month being April with 199 mm, and the driest, October with 108.8 mm.[9] By comparison the values for 2009 were 2,070.8 mm, the wettest month being March with 326.2 mm and the driest, January, with 56.4 mm.[10] The average temperature in the normal period was -4.8 Celsius, with July and August being the warmest at 2.2 °C and February, the coldest, with -11.4 °C.[9] By comparison the average temperature in 2009 was -4.2 °C, the warmest month was August at 5.3 °C and the coldest was February at -13.5 °C.[10] The average sunshine during the normal period was 1,846.3 hours per year, the sunniest month being October with 188.8 hours and the darkest being December with 116.1 hours.[9] In 2009 there were 1,836.3 hours of sunshine, the least occurring in February with just 95.4 hours and the most in April with 219 hours.[10] In 2009, according to the weather survey by the German Met Office, the Zugspitze was the coldest place in Germany with a mean annual temperature of -4.2 °C.[11]
The lowest measured temperature on the Zugspitze was -35.6 °C in 14 February 1940. The highest temperature occurred on 5 July 1957 when the thermometer reached 17.9 °C. A squall on 12 June 1985 registered 335 km/h, the highest measured wind speed on the Zugspitze. In April 1944 meteorologists recorded a snow depth of 8.3 metres.[12][13]
[edit]Geology
The north face of the Zugspitze seen from the Eibsee lake
All mountain-building strata consists of sedimentary rocks of the Mesozoic era, that were originally laid down on the seabed. The base of the mountain comprises muschelkalk beds; its upper layers are made of Wetterstein limestone. With steep rock walls up to 800 metres high, it is this Wetterstein limestone from the Upper Triassic that is mainly responsible for the rock faces, arêtes, pinnacles and the summit rocks of the mountain. Due to the frequent occurrence of marine coralline algea in the Wetterstein limestone it can be deduced that this rock was at one time formed in a lagoon. The colour of the rock varies between grey-while and light grey to speckled. In several places it contains lead and zinc ore. These minerals were mined between 1827 and 1918 in the Höllental valley. The dark grey, almost horizontal and partly grass-covered layers of muschelkalk run from the foot of the Great Riffelwandspitze to the Ehrwalder Köpfe. From the appearance of the north face of the Zugspitze it can be seen that this massif originally consisted of two mountain ranges that were piled on top of one another.[14]
[edit]Flora
The Eibsee in front of the Zugspitze: woods on the northern shore
The flora on the Zugspitze is not particularly diverse due to the soil conditions, nevertheless the vegetation, especially in the meadows of Schachen, the Tieferen Wies near Ehrwald, and in the valleys of Höllental, Gaistal and Leutaschtal is especially colourful.
The shaded and moist northern slopes of the massif like, for example, the Wettersteinwald, are some of the most species-rich environments on the Zugspitze. The Mountain Pine grows at elevations of up to 1,800 metres. The woods lower down consist mainly of Spruce and Fir, but Honeysuckle, Woodruff, poisonous Herb Paris, Meadow-rue and Speedwell[disambiguation needed ] also occur here. Dark Columbine, Alpine Clematis, Blue and Yellow Monkshood, Stemless carline thistle, False aster, Golden cinquefoil, Round-leaved saxifrage, Wall hawkweed, Alpine calamint and Alpine Forget-me-not flower in the less densely wooded places, whilst Cinquefoil, Sticky Sage, Butterbur, Alpenrose, Turk's cap lily and Fly Orchid thrive on the rocky soils of the mountain forests. Lily of the Valley and Daphne also occur, especially in the Höllental, in Grainau and by the Eibsee.[15]
To the south the scene changes to Larch (mainly in the meadow of Ehrwalder Alm and the valleys of Gaistal and Leutaschtal) and pine forests and into mixed woods of Beech and Sycamore. Here too, Mountain Pine grows at the higher elevations of over 2,000 metres.
Relatively rare in the entire Zugspitze area are trees like the Lime, Birch, Rowan, Juniper and Yew. The most varied species of moss, that often completely cover limestone rocks in the open, occur in great numbers.
Bilberry, Cranberry and Cowberry are restricted to dry places and Lady's Slipper Orchid occurs in sheltered spots. Below the Waxenstein are fields with raspberries and occasionally wild strawberries too. The Alpine poppy and Purple mountain saxifrage both thrive up to a very great height. On the scree slops there are Penny-cress and Mouse-ear chickweed as well as Mountain avens, Alpine toadflax, Mint and Musky Saxifrage or Cloth of Gold. Following snowmelt Dark stonecrop and Snow gentian are the first to appear, their seeds beginning to germinate as early as August. And well-known Alpine flowers like the Edelweiss, Gentians and, more rarely, Cyclamen flower on the Zugspitze.
[edit]Fauna
Alpine choughs on the Zugspitzeck
The rocks around the Zugspitze are a habitat for Chamois and Marmots are widespread on the southern side of the massif. At the summit there are frequently Alpine Choughs, drawn there by people feeding them. Somewhat lower down the mountain there are Mountain Hare and the Hazel Dormouse. Alpine birds occurring on the Zugspitze include the Golden Eagle, Rock Ptarmigan, Snow Finch, Alpine Accentor and Brambling. The Crag Martin which has given its name to the Schwalbenwand ("Swallows' Wall") at Kreuzeck is frequently encountered. The basins of Mittenwald and Seefeld, as well as the Fern Pass are on bird migration routes.
The Viviparous lizard inhabits rocky terrain, as does the black Alpine Salamander known locally as the Bergmandl, which can be seen after rain showers as one is climbing. Butterflies like Apollo, Alpine Perlmutter, Gossamer-winged butterfly, Geometer moth, Ringlet and Skipper may be seen on the west and south sides of the Zugspitze massif, especially in July and August.[16] The woods around the Zugspitze are home to Red Deer, Red Squirrel, Weasel, Capercaillie, Hazel Grouse and Black Grouse. On the glaciers live glacier fleas (Desoria saltans) and water bears.[17]
[edit]Glaciers
Three of the five German glaciers are found on the Zugspitze massif: the Höllentalferner the Southern and Northern Schneeferner.
[edit]Höllentalferner
The Höllentalferner in 2009
The Höllentalferner lies northeast of the Zugspitze in a cirque below the Jubilee Ridge (Jubiläumsgrat) to the south and the Riffelwandspitzen peaks to the west and north. It has a northeast aspect. Its accumulation zone is formed by a depression, in which large quantities of avalanche snow collect. To the south the Jubiläumsgrat shields the glacier from direct sunshine. These conditions meant that the glacier only lost a relatively small area between 1981 and 2006.[18] In recent times the Höllentalferner reached its greatest around 1820 with an area of 47 hectares. Thereafter its area reduced continually until the period between 1950 and 1981 when it grew again, by 3.1 hectares to 30.2 hectares. Since then the glacier has lost (as at 2006) an area of 5.5 hectares and now has an area of 24.7 hectares. In 2006 the glacier head was at 2,569 m and its lowest point at 2,203 metres.[19]
[edit]Schneeferner
The Northern Schneeferner and winter sport infrastructure in 2009
[edit]Northern Schneeferner
Southwest of the Zugspitze, between the Zugspitzeck and Schneefernerkopf, is the Northern Schneeferner which has an eastern aspect. With an area of 30.7 hectares (2006) it is the largest German glacier. Around 1820 the entire Zugspitzplatt was glaciated, but of this Platt Glacier (Plattgletscher) only the Northern and Southern Schneeferner remain. The reason for the relatively constant area of the Northern Schneeferner in recent years, despite the lack of shade, is the favourable terrain that results in the glacier tending to grow or shrink in depth rather than area. In the recent past the glacier has also been artificially fed by the ski region operators, using piste tractors to heap large quantities of snow onto the glacier in order to extend the skiing season. At the beginning of the 1990s, ski slope operators began to cover the Northern Schneeferner in summer with artificial sheets in order to protect it from sunshine.[20][21] The Northern Schneeferner reached its last high point in 1979, when its area grew to 40.9 hectares. By 2006 it had shrunk to 30.7 hectares. The glacier head then lay at 2,789 m and the foot at 2,558 metres.[22]
[edit]Southern Schneeferner
The Southern Schneeferner is surrounded by the peaks of the Wetterspitzen and the Wetterwandeck. It is also a remnant of the once great Platt Glacier. Today, the Southern Schneeferner extends up as far as the arête and therefore has no protection from direct sunshine. It has also been divided into two basins by a ridge of rock that has appeared as the snow has receded. It is a matter of debate whether the Southern Schneeferner should still be classified as a glacier.[23] The Southern Schneeferner also reached its last high point in 1979, when it covered an area of 31.7 hectares. This had shrunk by 2006 to just 8.4 hectares however. The highest point of the glacier lies at an elevation of 2,665 metres and the lowest at 2,520 metres.[24]
[edit]Caves
Below the Zugspitzplatt chemical weathering processes have created a large number of caves and abîmes in the Wetterstein limestone. In the 1930s the number of caves was estimated at 300. By 1955 62 caves were known to exist and by 1960 another 47 had been discovered. The first cave explorations here took place in 1931. Other, largest exploratory expeditions took place in 1935 and 1936 as well as between 1955 and 1968. During one expedition, in 1958, the Finch Shaft (Finkenschacht) was discovered. It is 131 metres deep, 260 metres long and has a watercourse. There is a theory that this watercourse could be a link to the source of the River Partnach.[Note 1][25][26]
[edit]Name
From the early 14th century, geographic names from the Wetterstein Mountains began to be recorded in treaties and on maps, and this trend intensified in the 15th century. In 1536 a border treaty dating to 1500 was refined in that its course was specified as running over a Schartten ("wind gap" or "col").[27] In the 17th century the reference to this landmark in the treaty was further clarified as "now known as the Zugspüz" (jetzt Zugspüz genant).[27] The landmark referred to was a wind gap on the summit of the Zugspitze and is used time and again in other sources. During the Middle Ages Scharte was a common name for the Zugspitze.[27]
The Zugspitze was first mentioned by name in 1590. In a description of the border between the County of Werdenfels and Austria, it states that the same border runs "from the Zugspitz and over the Derle" (von dem Zugspitz und über den Derle")[28] and continues to a bridge over the River Loisach. Another border treaty in 1656 states: "The highest Wetterstein or Zugspitz" ("Der höchste Wetterstain oder Zugspitz").[28] There is also a map dating to the second half of the 18th century that shows "the Reintal in the County of Werdenfels". It covers the Reintal valley from the Reintaler Hof to the Zugspitzplatt and shows prominent points in the surrounding area, details of tracks and roads and the use pasture use. This includes a track over the then much larger Schneeferner glacier to the summit region of the Zugspitze. However the map does not show any obvious route to the summit itself.[29]
The name of the Zugspitze is probably derived from its Zugbahnen or avalanche paths. In winter avalanches sweep down from the upper slopes of the massif into the valley and leave behind characteristic avalanche remnants in the shape of rocks and scree. Near the Eibsee lake there are several plots of land with the same root: Zug, Zuggasse, Zugstick, Zugmösel or Zugwankel.[28] Until the 19th century the name der Zugspitz was commonplace. It was described as die Zugspitze for the first time on a map printed in 1836.[30]
[edit]Summit cross
Summit cross on the Zugspitze
Since 1851 there has been a summit cross on the top of Zugspitze. The driving force behind the erection of a cross on the summit was the priest, Christoph Ott. He was a keen meteorologist and whilst observing conditions from the Hoher Peißenberg mountain he saw the Zugspitze in the distance and was exercised by the fact that "the greatest prince of the Bavarian mountains raised its head into the blue air towards heaven, bare and unadorned, waiting for the moment when patriotic fervour and courageous determination would see that his head too was crowned with dignity."[31] As a result he organised an expedition from 11 to 13 August 1851 with the goal of erecting a summit cross on the Zugspitze. Twenty eight bearers were led through the gorge of the Partnachklamm and the Reintal valley under the direction of forester, Karl Kiendl, up to the Zugspitze. The undertaking, which cost 610 Gulden and 37 Kreuzer, was a success. As a result, a 28-piece, 14 foot high, gilded iron cross now stood on the West Summit. Ott himself did not climb the Zugspitze until 1854. After 37 years the cross had to be taken down after suffering numerous lightning strikes; its support brackets were also badly damaged. In the winter of 1881–1882 it was therefore brought down into the valley and repaired. On 25 August 1882 seven mountain guides and 15 bearers took the cross back to the top. Because an accommodation shed had been built on the West Summit, the team placed the cross on the East Summit. There is remained for about 111 years, until it was removed again on 18 August 1993. This time the damage was not only caused by the weather, but also by an ill-disciplined American soldier who had shot at the cross in 1945, at the end of the Second World War. Because the summit cross could no longer be repaired, a replica was made that was true to the original cross. After two months the rack railway carried the new cross on 12 October to the Zugspitzplatt, from where it was flown to the summit by helicopter. The new cross has a height of 4.88 metres.[32] It was renovated and regilded in 2009 for 15,000 euros and, since 22 April 2009, has stood once again on the East Summit.[33]
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
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These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
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Malana is an ancient village to the north-east of Kullu Valley. This solitary village in the Malana Nala, a side valley of the Parvati Valley, is isolated from the rest of the world. The majestic peaks of Chandrakhani and Deotibba shadow the village. It is situated on a remote plateau by the side of torrential Malana river at a height of 3029 m above the sea level. Unaffected by the modern civilisation, Malana has its own lifestyle and social structure. People are strict in following their customs. Malana has been the subject of various documentaries including, Malana: Globalization of a Himalayan Village,[1] and Malana, A Lost Identity.[2] The existing speakers of the autochthonus language Kanashi, the traditional language of the inhabitants of Malana are approximately 1700. According to the 1961 census, language speakers were 563. Today the population of Malana is at least three times as large as 40 years ago.[3]
Geography
Malana is located at 32°0'19"N 77°14'43"E . It has an average elevation of 3029 metres (9940 feet).
History
Malana has a history and it goes back to Jamlu rishi (sage) who inhabited this place and made rules and regulations. It is one of the oldest democracies of the world with a well organized parliamentary system. All of this is guided by the their devta (deity) Jamlu rishi.[4] Although Jamlu is currently identified with a sage from the Puranas, this is a relatively recent development. Jamlu is believed to have been worshipped in pre-Aryan times. Penelope Chetwood recounts a tale about an orthodox Brahmin priest, who visited Malana, and tried to educate the locals about the pedigree of their god, and what subsequently befell the hapless priest.[5]
Malana is considered to be one of the first democracies in the world. According to tradition, the residents of Malana are the descendant of Aryans, and they acquired their independence during the Mughal reign when the Emperor Akbar walked to the village in order to cure an ailment that he was afflicted with; after having been successfully cured he put out an edict stating that all the inhabitants of the valley would never be required to pay tax. An alternative tradition suggests that Malana was founded by remnants of Alexander the Great's Army.
A dam project, the Malana Hydro Power Station, has brought Malana much closer to the rest of the world and provides revenue for the region. A new road has shortened the walking time from several days to just 4 hours.
[edit]Language
The residents of Malana speak Kanashi/Raksh (supposedly the dialect of devils residing there long ago),[6] which is understood only by the villagers. "Kanashi, the language of Malana, does not resemble any of the dialects spoken in its neighbourhood but seems to be a mixture of Sanskrit and several Tibetan dialects."[7] Ethnologue, citing a reference from 2002, classifies Malana as a Tibetan-Burmese language, rather than as a member of the Indo-European languages that includes Sanskrit,[8] and notes that Kanashi has "no intelligibility with any Tibeto-Burman languages of Lahul-Spiti and Kinnaur" and that Malana is surrounded by Indo-Aryan language speaking populations. The Hydro Malana Project has also ruined the beauty of the valley
[edit]Culture and lifestyle
The village administration is democratic and is believed[by whom?] to be the oldest republic of the world.[9]
The social structure of Malana in fact rests on villagers' unshaked faith in their powerful deity, Jamblu Devta. The entire administration of the village is controlled by him through a village council. This council has eleven members and they are believed as delegates of Jamblu who govern the village in his name. His decision is ultimate in any dispute and any outsider authority is never required. It is although a real fact that Malanis through this council perform a political system of direct democracy very similar to that of ancient Greece. Thus Malana has been named the Athens of Himalayas[10]
Malanis (the inhabitants of Malana) admire their culture, customs and religious beliefs. They generally do not like to change though some traces of modernization are visible.
People in Malana consider all non-Malani to be inferior and consequently untouchable. Visitors to Malana town must pay particular attention to stick to the prescribed paths and not to touch any of the walls, houses or people there. If this does occur, visitors are expected to pay a forfeit sum, that will cover the sacrificial slaughter of a lamb in order purify the object that has been made impure. Malani people may touch impure people or houses as long as they follow the prescribed purification ritual before they enter their house or before they eat. Malanis may never accept food cooked by a non-Malani person, unless they are out of the valley (in which case their Devt can't see them). Malanis may offer visitors food but all utensils will have to undergo a strict purification ritual before they can be used again.
Despite of being a part of the Kullu valley, the Malanis have very distinct physical features, and a dialect which is different from the rest of the valley. There are various legends about their origin. According to one of them, it is believed that they are the descendants of Greek soldiers of Alexander's army. As the legend goes, some soldiers took refuge in this remote land after Alexander left the country and later settled there permanently. This myth is however disputed because there are those who claim that it is the valley of Kalash, in Pakistan that is actually the area in which Alexander the Great's soldiers took refuge. This legend is also inconsistent with the legendary descent of the local people from Indo-Aryans who would predate Alexander the Great's soldiers by approximately a thousand years. Recent genetic typing of the Malani population is more consistent with an Indo-Aryan origin with a large proportion of Y-DNA haplotypes J2 and R1a associated with Indo-Aryan influences in South Asia than with a Greek origin which would have a different characteristic mix of Y-DNA haplotypes.[11]
Malana was also once famous for producing some of the best quality hashish (Cannabis resin) in the world, known as "Malana Cream", which sells for 1,200-1,800 rupees per tola (= 10 grams).
"With hope I built character...with character I built respect....with respect I built pride...with pride I finally built MYSELF...and with all that built I realized....I matter." - SDBWQ
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St. Charles's Church, Vienna
The St. Charles's Church (German: Karlskirche) is a church situated on the south side of Karlsplatz, Vienna. It is located on the edge of the 1st district, 200 metres outside the Ringstraße. It is one of the most outstanding baroque church structures, and boasts a dome in the form of an elongated ellipsoid.
Ever since Karlsplatz was restored as an ensemble in the late 1980s, the Karlskirche has garnered fame due to its dome and its two flanking columns of bas-reliefs, as well as its role as an architectural counterweight to the buildings of the Musikverein and of the Vienna University of Technology.
The church is cared for by a religious order and has long been the parish church as well as the seat of the Catholic student ministry of the Vienna University of Technology.
Design and construction
Karlskirche column, with spiral as on Trajan's Column
In 1713, one year after the last great plague epidemic, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, pledged to build a church for his namesake patron saint, Charles Borromeo, who was revered as a healer for plague sufferers. An architectural competition was announced, in which Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach prevailed over, among others, Ferdinando Galli-Bibiena and Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt. Construction began in 1716 under the supervision of Anton Erhard Martinelli. After J. B. Fischer's death in 1723, his son, Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach, completed the construction in 1737 using partially altered plans. The church originally possessed a direct line of sight to the Hofburg and was also, until 1918, the imperial patron parish church.
As a creator of historic architecture, J. B. Fischer united the most diverse of elements. The façade in the center, which leads to the porch, corresponds to a Greek temple portico. The neighboring two columns, crafted by Lorenzo Mattielli, found a model in Trajan's Column in Rome. Next to those, two tower pavilions extend out and show the influence of the Roman baroque (Bernini and Borromini). Above the entrance, a dome rises up above a high drum, which the younger J. E. Fischer shortened and partly altered.
[edit]Iconography
The iconographical program of the church originated from the imperial official Carl Gustav Heraeus and connects St. Charles Borromeo with his imperial benefactor. The relief on the pediment above the entrance with the cardinal virtues and the figure of the patron on its apex point to the motivation of the donation. This sculpture group continues onto the attic story as well. The attic is also one of the elements which the younger Fischer introduced. The columns display scenes from the life of Charles Borromeo in a spiral relief and are intended to recall the two columns, Boaz and Jachim, that stood in front of the Temple at Jerusalem. They also recall the Pillars of Hercules and act as symbols of imperial power. The entrance is flanked by angels from the Old and New Testaments.
This program continues in the interior as well, above all in the dome fresco by Johann Michael Rottmayr of Salzburg and Gaetano Fanti (pseudoarchitecture) which displays an intercession of Charles Borromeo, supported by the Virgin Mary. Surrounding this scene are the cardinal virtues. The frescos in a number of side chapels are attributed to Daniel Gran.
The gold piece high above the altar symbolizing Yahweh.
The high altar painting portraying the ascension of the saint was conceptualized by the elder Fischer and executed by Ferdinand Maximilian Brokoff. The altar paintings in the side chapels are by various artists, including Daniel Gran, Sebastiano Ricci, Martino Altomonte and Jakob van Schuppen.
Full view of the Altar
As strong effect emanates from the directing of light and architectural grouping, in particular the arch openings of the main axis. The color scheme is characterized by marble with sparring and conscious use of gold leaf. The large round glass window high above the main altar with the Hebrew Tetragrammaton/Yahweh symbolizes God's omnipotence and simultaneously, through its warm yellow tone, God's love.Below is a representation of Apotheosis of Saint Charles Borromeo.
Next to the structures at Schönbrunn Palace, which maintain this form but are more fragmented, the Karlskirche is Fischer's greatest work. It is also an expression of the Austrian joie de vivre stemming from the victorious end of the Turkish Wars.
Karlsplatz
Karlsplatz ("Charles' Square") is a town square on the border of the first and fourth districts of Vienna. It is one of the most frequented and best connected transportation hubs in Vienna. The Karlskirche is located here.
Resselpark, adorned with numerous monuments, takes up the most area in the plaza and is on the south side. The Evangelische Schule (Evangelical School) and the Technische Universität Wien (Vienna Technical University) are located here. The plaza is closed in by Karlskirche (which has a water tank and a Henry Moore sculpture in front of it), the main building of the Vienna Museum, and the Winterthur Insurance building. Separated from the plaza to the north are the buildings of the Wiener Musikverein (Vienna Music Society), the Künstlerhaus (art house), and the Handelsakademie (business school). A Video of the plaza and a eventlist are available on the Website of the association karlsplatz.org Verein zur Förderung d. kulturellen Belebung öffentlicher Räume [1].
On the Karlsplatz the exhibition of the United Buddy Bears was shown in 2006 for the first time in Austria. The exhibition was opened by Christiane Hörbiger, Film actress and UNICEF Ambassador, together with Grete Laska, Deputy Mayor of Vienna and Karin Schubert, Mayor of Berlin. According to the City of Vienna, project partners, they were able to count nearly 1 million visitors over the 6 weeks of the exhibition[1].
The first district can be reached either by subway or via Operngasse (a street). The pavilions of the former Karlsplatz Stadtbahn Station remain despite the construction of the U-Bahn system.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlskirche
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlsplatz
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Lahaul and Spiti district
The district of Lahaul-Spiti in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh consists of the two formerly separate districts of Lahaul and Spiti. The present administrative centre is Keylong in Lahaul. Before the two districts were merged, Kardang was the capital of Lahaul, and Dhankar the capital of Spiti.
Kunzum la or the Kunzum Pass (altitude 4,551 m; 14,931 ft) is the entrance pass to the Spiti Valley from Lahaul. It is 21 km from Chandra Tal.[1] This district is connected to Manali through the Rohtang Pass. To the south, Spiti ends 24 km from Tabo, at the Pare chu gorge where the road enters Kinnaur and joins with National Highway No. 22.[2]
The two valleys are quite different in character. Spiti is more barren and difficult to cross, with an average elevation of the valley floor of 4,270 m (14,009 ft). It is enclosed between lofty ranges, with the Spiti river rushing out of a gorge in the southeast to meet the Sutlej River. It is a typical mountain desert area with an average annual rainfall of only 170 mm (6.7 inches).[3]
Flora and fauna
Lahaul valley in winter
Mountain peak in Lahaul and Spiti district
The harsh conditions of Lahaul permit only scattered tufts of hardy grasses and shrubs to grow, even below 4,000 metres. Glacier lines are usually found at 5,000 metres.
Animals such as yaks and dzos roam across the wild Lingti plains. However, over-hunting and a decrease in food supplies has led to a large decrease in the population of the Tibetan antelope, argali, kiangs, musk deer, and snow leopards in these regions, reducing them to the status of endangered species. However, in the Lahaul valley, one can see ibex, brown bears, foxes and snow leopards during winter.
[edit]People
Mother and child in near Gandhola Monastery. 2004
The language, culture, and populations of Lahaul and Spiti are closely related. Generally the Lahaulis are of Tibetan and Indo-Aryan descent, while the Spiti Bhotia are more similar to the Tibetans, owing to their proximity to Tibet. Fairer skin and hazel-colored eyes are commonly seen among the Lahaulis.
The languages of both the Lahauli and Spiti Bhutia belong to the Tibetan family. They are very similar to the Ladakhi and Tibetans culturally, as they had been placed under the rule of the Guge and Ladakh kingdoms at occasional intervals.
Among the Lahaulis, the family acts as the basic unit of kinship. The extended family system is common, evolved from the polyandric system of the past. The family is headed by a senior male member, known as the Yunda, while his wife, known as the Yundamo, attains authority by being the oldest member in the generation. The clan system, also known as Rhus, plays another major role in the Lahauli society.
The Spiti Bhutia community has an inheritance system that is otherwise unique to the Tibetans. Upon the death of both parents, only the eldest son will inherit the family property, while the eldest daughter inherits the mother's jewellery, and the younger siblings inherit nothing. Men usually fall back on the social security system of the Trans-Himalayan Gompas.
[edit]Lifestyle
The lifestyles of the Lahauli and Spiti Bhotia are similar, owing to their proximity. Polyandry was widely practiced by the Lahaulis in the past, although this practice has been dying out. The Spiti Bhutia do not generally practice polyandry any more, although it is accepted in a few isolated regions.
Divorces are accomplished by a simple ceremony performed in the presence of village elders. Divorce can be sought by either partner. The husband has to pay compensation to his ex-wife if she does not remarry. However, this is uncommon among the Lahaulis.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Potato farming is common. Occupations include animal husbandry, working in government programs, government services, and other businesses and crafts that include weaving. Houses are constructed in the Tibetan architectural style, as the land in Lahul and Spiti is mountainous and quite prone to earthquakes.
[edit]Religion
Kunzum Pass between Lahul & Spiti
Ki-Gompa Spiti
Most of the Lahaulis follow a combination of Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyu order, while the Spiti Bhotia follow Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelugpa order. Within Lahoul/swangla, the Baralacha-La region had the strongest Buddhist influence, owing to its close proximity to Spiti. Lahoul/swangla has temples such as Triloknath , where pilgrims worship a certain god in different manifestations, notably in the form of Shiva and Avalokiteshvara where Udaipur is a puritan temple. This bas-relief, of marble, depicts the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara (the embodiment of the Buddha's compassion) in a stylized seated position; Hindu devotees take it to be Shiva Nataraj, Shiva dancing. This image appears to be of sixteenth century Chamba craftsmanship. It was created to replace the original black stone image of the deity, which became damaged by art looters. This original image is kept beneath the plinth of the shrine. It appears to be of 12th century Kashmiri provenance . Much of the art thieves are active in this remote belt because of neglected gompas and temples.
Before the spread of Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism, the people were adherents of the religion 'Lung Pe Chhoi', an animistic religion that had some affinities with the Bön religion of Tibet. While the religion flourished, animal and human sacrifices were regularly offered up to the 'Iha', a term that refers to evil spirits residing in the natural world, notably in the old pencil-cedar trees, rocks and caves. Vestiges of the Lung Pe Chhoi religion can be seen in the behaviour of the Lamas, who are believed to possess certain supernatural powers.
The Losar festival (also known as Halda in Lahauli) is celebrated between the months of January and February. The date of celebration is decided by the Lamas. It has the same significance as the Diwali festival of Hinduism, but is celebrated in a Tibetan fashion.
At the start of the festival, two or three persons from every household will come holding burning incense. The burning sticks are then piled into a bonfire. The people will then pray to Shiskar Apa, the goddess of wealth (other name Vasudhara) in the Buddhist religion.
In the Pattan belt of the valley in Lahoul most population follows Hinduism,but counts for 14 percent of the total and they are called swanglas. The fagli festival is celebrated between February and March all over the valley. This festival is a new year festival and closely precedes beginning of tibetian and Chinese calendar. Notable is the Pattan people are the late settlers in the valley around 1500 A.D. and have broad highlights and have distinct language on the likes the central Asians,chamba, pangi, pashtoons and uyghurs. This belt is known for the convergence for chandra and bhaga rivers to form Chenab.
[edit]Tourism
Ki Gompa
The natural scenery and Buddhist monasteries, such as Ki, Dhankar, Shashur, Guru Ghantal and Tayul Gompas, are the main tourist attractions of the region.
One of the most interesting places is the Tabo Monastery, located 45 km from Kaza, Himachal Pradesh, the capital of the Spiti region. This monastery rose to prominence when it celebrated its thousandth year of existence in 1996. It houses a collection of Buddhist scriptures, Buddhist statues and Thangkas. The ancient gompa is finished with mud plaster, and contains several scriptures and documents. Lama Dzangpo heads the gompa here. There is a modern guest house with a dining hall and all facilities are available.
Another famous gompa, Kardang Monastery, is located at an elevation of 3,500 metres across the river, about 8 km from Keylong. Kardang is well connected by the road via the Tandi bridge which is about 14 km from Keylong. Built in the 12th century, this monastery houses a large library of Buddhist literature including the main Kangyur and Tangyur scriptures.
The treacherous weather in Lahaul and Spiti permits visitors to tour only between the months of June to October, when the roads and villages are free of snow and the high passes (Rothang La and Kunzum La) are open. It is possible to access Spiti from Kinnaur (along the Sutlej) all through the year, although the road is sometimes temporarily closed by landslides or avalanches.
Buddhist Monasteries in Spiti: Spiti is one of the important centers of Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh. It is popularly known as the 'land of lamas'. The valley is dotted by numerous Buddhist Monasteries or Gompas that are famous throughout the world and are a favorite of Dalai Lama.
Kye Monastery: Kye Monastery in Spiti is the main research center of the Buddhists in India. Near about 300 lamas are receiving their religious training from here. It is oldest and biggest monastery in Spiti. It houses the rare painting and beautiful scriptures of Buddha and other gods and goddess. You may also find rare 'Thangka' paintings and ancient musical instruments 'trumpets, cymbals, and drums in the monastery.
Tabo Monastery: Perched at an amazing altitude of 3050 meters, Tabo Monastery in the valley of Spiti is often referred to as the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'. The 10th century Tabo Monastery was founded by the great scholar, Richen Zangpo, and has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The monastery houses more than 6 lamas and contains the rare collection of scriptures, pieces of art, wall paintings -Tankhas and Stucco.
Flora and fauna of Spiti Valley: The valley is blessed with the good population of snow leopards, ibex, Himalayan Brown Bear, Musk Deer, Himalayan Blue Sheep etc. which serves as the boon for the wildlife lovers. There are two important protected areas in the region that are a home to snow leopard and its prey including the Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Surprisingly, due to ardent religious beliefs, people of Spiti do not hunt these wild animals.
Apart from the exotic wildlife, the Valley of Spiti is also known for its amazing wealth of flora and the profusion of wild flowers. Some of the mot common species found here include Causinia thomsonii, Seseli trilobum, Crepis flexuosa, Caragana brevifolia and Krascheninikovia ceratoides. Then there are more than 62 species of medicinal plants found here.
Adventure activities:
To- do-Trials: For trekkers, the Spiti Valley is a paradise, offering challenging treks to explore the new heights of the Himalayas. The treks takes you to the most remote areas including the rugged villages and old Gompas followed by the exotic wildlife trails. Some of the popular trekking routes in the area includes Kaza-Langza-Hikim-Comic-Kaza, Kaza-Ki-Kibber-Gete-Kaza, Kaza-Losar-Kunzum La and Kaza-Tabo-Sumdo-Nako. Please note that you carry all the necessary things before out for the trekking tour to Spiti. Tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, heavy woollens and sunglasses are a must.
Skiing: Skiing is the popular adventure sports in Spiti and is popular in India from the past few years. The amazing snow clad mountains with the added advantage of inspiring heights are enough to allure the adventure spirits of the avid skier, providing all the thrill and fun attracted to the sport. People from all around the globe come to experience this enthralling adventure activity.
Yak Safari: The most exciting of all adventure activities in Spiti is the Yak safari. You can hire the Yak to see the flora and fauna of trans-Himalayan desert. It is, in fact, the lifetime opportunity that you won't find anywhere else so easily. Apart from this, horse safaris are also conducted in this area.
Sources en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahaul_and_Spiti_district
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To protect my work i load pictures only on flickr and they are in web compatible resolutions only.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
Groups i administer on facebook and flickr (1000 plus members allready in few months )
ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY & WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF SERIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS on facebook
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111942842150274
HIMACHAL Kullu Manali, Sundernagar Mandi, Dharamsala,Shimla,Lahaul Spiti12
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=234474081858
ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY & WORLD THROUGH SERIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS EYES
www.flickr.com/groups/prodigious/
I intent to publish in near future the TRAVEL PHOTOBOOKS on
Landscapes in 6 Continents (Title 1- Stupendous Landscapes across 6 Continents) ,
Wonders of World (Title 2 - "Ancient and New 7 Wonders of World from a Himalayan Photographers Eye") ,
28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (Title 3 -"All 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India") ,
Himalayas in India, Nepal, China, Tibet & Bhutan (Title 4 -"Stupendous Himalayas"),
UNESCO Interesting World Heritage Sites across globe ( Title 5 - "Best of UNESCO World Heritage Sites") ,
Himachal Pradesh (Title 6 - "Unforgettable Himachal Pradesh" Photostories by SunDeep® Bhardwaj sundeepkullu.com)
I do not allow downloading of my images and they are digitally watermarked with Digimarc (DMRC) which makes it easier for me to identify any unauthorised party using the across web or any media. Even if my work is downloaded in full or in part Digimarc is capable of tracing the use of images across web or any other media. Due to previous copyright infringement by parties not authorised in written by me, i have penalised parties using my images without my permisision. I stock my photos on my official website sundeepkullu.com and flickr (the world's best photography website for professionals amateurs and serious photographers as well as photo admirers) in web compatible resolutions only with no permissions to download or use my pictures in any kind of media without prior written permission from me. Thanks for your understanding.
Thanks for your LIKES and COMMENTS and VISITING
WORLD IS MY STUDIO "I live with one vision to create things that would outlast me. I discovered photography as a means for me to connect with my innerself"........... SunDeep® Bhardwaj Kullu
SDBWP™
"Someday there will be someone who will love everything about you, even the parts that you don't even like yourself" - SDBWQ
Copyright © sundeepkullu.com All rights reserved.
The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting Sundeep Bhardwaj @
For any direct correspondance with me contact me on
www.facebook.com/sundeephimachal (Primary) or
www.facebook.com/SundeepBhardwaj (Secondary)
www.facebook.com/sundeepkullu (Tertiary).
E-mail me on
sb@sundeepkullu.com (Primary) or
wittysam@gmail.com (Secondary) or
admin@phototube.co (For Photo Tube . Co related) or
enquiries@himachalculturalvillage.com (For Himachal Cultural Village . Com related).
INDIA ROAMING AND HIMACHAL +91 9816499629 (Please drop me a SMS message)
WORLD ROAMING +974 55344547 (I prefer all correspondances on facebook as i am still on my World Tour which i started 5 years before and may be in some other country.Will definately contact back whenever next to internet or reply by SMS)
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
All rights reserved.
copyright 2011 © sundeepkullu.com
Developer - phototube.co
Affiliation - himachalculturalvillage.com
HIGH RESOLUTION images on sundeepkullu.com WORLD IS MY STUDIO This picture is LOW RESOLUTION for web compatibility **Sorry Guys i have deleted most of my pictures from facebook due to copyright infringement by parties not authorised by me.But i have made a flash website for exibiting my Photostories Do visit sundeepkullu.com
And alternatively my pictures can be see in better resolutions on
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam or
fFULL SCREEN SLIDE SHOW www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/show
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/collections/
***DO NOT COMMENT ON FACEBOOK AS I DO NOT USE IT FOR STOCKING MY PHOTOS.
Link to my Flickr Photostream where you can comment flickr.com/photos/wittysam
Lahaul and Spiti district
The district of Lahaul-Spiti in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh consists of the two formerly separate districts of Lahaul and Spiti. The present administrative centre is Keylong in Lahaul. Before the two districts were merged, Kardang was the capital of Lahaul, and Dhankar the capital of Spiti.
Kunzum la or the Kunzum Pass (altitude 4,551 m; 14,931 ft) is the entrance pass to the Spiti Valley from Lahaul. It is 21 km from Chandra Tal.[1] This district is connected to Manali through the Rohtang Pass. To the south, Spiti ends 24 km from Tabo, at the Pare chu gorge where the road enters Kinnaur and joins with National Highway No. 22.[2]
The two valleys are quite different in character. Spiti is more barren and difficult to cross, with an average elevation of the valley floor of 4,270 m (14,009 ft). It is enclosed between lofty ranges, with the Spiti river rushing out of a gorge in the southeast to meet the Sutlej River. It is a typical mountain desert area with an average annual rainfall of only 170 mm (6.7 inches).[3]
Flora and fauna
Lahaul valley in winter
Mountain peak in Lahaul and Spiti district
The harsh conditions of Lahaul permit only scattered tufts of hardy grasses and shrubs to grow, even below 4,000 metres. Glacier lines are usually found at 5,000 metres.
Animals such as yaks and dzos roam across the wild Lingti plains. However, over-hunting and a decrease in food supplies has led to a large decrease in the population of the Tibetan antelope, argali, kiangs, musk deer, and snow leopards in these regions, reducing them to the status of endangered species. However, in the Lahaul valley, one can see ibex, brown bears, foxes and snow leopards during winter.
[edit]People
Mother and child in near Gandhola Monastery. 2004
The language, culture, and populations of Lahaul and Spiti are closely related. Generally the Lahaulis are of Tibetan and Indo-Aryan descent, while the Spiti Bhotia are more similar to the Tibetans, owing to their proximity to Tibet. Fairer skin and hazel-colored eyes are commonly seen among the Lahaulis.
The languages of both the Lahauli and Spiti Bhutia belong to the Tibetan family. They are very similar to the Ladakhi and Tibetans culturally, as they had been placed under the rule of the Guge and Ladakh kingdoms at occasional intervals.
Among the Lahaulis, the family acts as the basic unit of kinship. The extended family system is common, evolved from the polyandric system of the past. The family is headed by a senior male member, known as the Yunda, while his wife, known as the Yundamo, attains authority by being the oldest member in the generation. The clan system, also known as Rhus, plays another major role in the Lahauli society.
The Spiti Bhutia community has an inheritance system that is otherwise unique to the Tibetans. Upon the death of both parents, only the eldest son will inherit the family property, while the eldest daughter inherits the mother's jewellery, and the younger siblings inherit nothing. Men usually fall back on the social security system of the Trans-Himalayan Gompas.
[edit]Lifestyle
The lifestyles of the Lahauli and Spiti Bhotia are similar, owing to their proximity. Polyandry was widely practiced by the Lahaulis in the past, although this practice has been dying out. The Spiti Bhutia do not generally practice polyandry any more, although it is accepted in a few isolated regions.
Divorces are accomplished by a simple ceremony performed in the presence of village elders. Divorce can be sought by either partner. The husband has to pay compensation to his ex-wife if she does not remarry. However, this is uncommon among the Lahaulis.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Potato farming is common. Occupations include animal husbandry, working in government programs, government services, and other businesses and crafts that include weaving. Houses are constructed in the Tibetan architectural style, as the land in Lahul and Spiti is mountainous and quite prone to earthquakes.
[edit]Religion
Kunzum Pass between Lahul & Spiti
Ki-Gompa Spiti
Most of the Lahaulis follow a combination of Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyu order, while the Spiti Bhotia follow Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelugpa order. Within Lahoul/swangla, the Baralacha-La region had the strongest Buddhist influence, owing to its close proximity to Spiti. Lahoul/swangla has temples such as Triloknath , where pilgrims worship a certain god in different manifestations, notably in the form of Shiva and Avalokiteshvara where Udaipur is a puritan temple. This bas-relief, of marble, depicts the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara (the embodiment of the Buddha's compassion) in a stylized seated position; Hindu devotees take it to be Shiva Nataraj, Shiva dancing. This image appears to be of sixteenth century Chamba craftsmanship. It was created to replace the original black stone image of the deity, which became damaged by art looters. This original image is kept beneath the plinth of the shrine. It appears to be of 12th century Kashmiri provenance . Much of the art thieves are active in this remote belt because of neglected gompas and temples.
Before the spread of Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism, the people were adherents of the religion 'Lung Pe Chhoi', an animistic religion that had some affinities with the Bön religion of Tibet. While the religion flourished, animal and human sacrifices were regularly offered up to the 'Iha', a term that refers to evil spirits residing in the natural world, notably in the old pencil-cedar trees, rocks and caves. Vestiges of the Lung Pe Chhoi religion can be seen in the behaviour of the Lamas, who are believed to possess certain supernatural powers.
The Losar festival (also known as Halda in Lahauli) is celebrated between the months of January and February. The date of celebration is decided by the Lamas. It has the same significance as the Diwali festival of Hinduism, but is celebrated in a Tibetan fashion.
At the start of the festival, two or three persons from every household will come holding burning incense. The burning sticks are then piled into a bonfire. The people will then pray to Shiskar Apa, the goddess of wealth (other name Vasudhara) in the Buddhist religion.
In the Pattan belt of the valley in Lahoul most population follows Hinduism,but counts for 14 percent of the total and they are called swanglas. The fagli festival is celebrated between February and March all over the valley. This festival is a new year festival and closely precedes beginning of tibetian and Chinese calendar. Notable is the Pattan people are the late settlers in the valley around 1500 A.D. and have broad highlights and have distinct language on the likes the central Asians,chamba, pangi, pashtoons and uyghurs. This belt is known for the convergence for chandra and bhaga rivers to form Chenab.
[edit]Tourism
Ki Gompa
The natural scenery and Buddhist monasteries, such as Ki, Dhankar, Shashur, Guru Ghantal and Tayul Gompas, are the main tourist attractions of the region.
One of the most interesting places is the Tabo Monastery, located 45 km from Kaza, Himachal Pradesh, the capital of the Spiti region. This monastery rose to prominence when it celebrated its thousandth year of existence in 1996. It houses a collection of Buddhist scriptures, Buddhist statues and Thangkas. The ancient gompa is finished with mud plaster, and contains several scriptures and documents. Lama Dzangpo heads the gompa here. There is a modern guest house with a dining hall and all facilities are available.
Another famous gompa, Kardang Monastery, is located at an elevation of 3,500 metres across the river, about 8 km from Keylong. Kardang is well connected by the road via the Tandi bridge which is about 14 km from Keylong. Built in the 12th century, this monastery houses a large library of Buddhist literature including the main Kangyur and Tangyur scriptures.
The treacherous weather in Lahaul and Spiti permits visitors to tour only between the months of June to October, when the roads and villages are free of snow and the high passes (Rothang La and Kunzum La) are open. It is possible to access Spiti from Kinnaur (along the Sutlej) all through the year, although the road is sometimes temporarily closed by landslides or avalanches.
Buddhist Monasteries in Spiti: Spiti is one of the important centers of Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh. It is popularly known as the 'land of lamas'. The valley is dotted by numerous Buddhist Monasteries or Gompas that are famous throughout the world and are a favorite of Dalai Lama.
Kye Monastery: Kye Monastery in Spiti is the main research center of the Buddhists in India. Near about 300 lamas are receiving their religious training from here. It is oldest and biggest monastery in Spiti. It houses the rare painting and beautiful scriptures of Buddha and other gods and goddess. You may also find rare 'Thangka' paintings and ancient musical instruments 'trumpets, cymbals, and drums in the monastery.
Tabo Monastery: Perched at an amazing altitude of 3050 meters, Tabo Monastery in the valley of Spiti is often referred to as the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'. The 10th century Tabo Monastery was founded by the great scholar, Richen Zangpo, and has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The monastery houses more than 6 lamas and contains the rare collection of scriptures, pieces of art, wall paintings -Tankhas and Stucco.
Flora and fauna of Spiti Valley: The valley is blessed with the good population of snow leopards, ibex, Himalayan Brown Bear, Musk Deer, Himalayan Blue Sheep etc. which serves as the boon for the wildlife lovers. There are two important protected areas in the region that are a home to snow leopard and its prey including the Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Surprisingly, due to ardent religious beliefs, people of Spiti do not hunt these wild animals.
Apart from the exotic wildlife, the Valley of Spiti is also known for its amazing wealth of flora and the profusion of wild flowers. Some of the mot common species found here include Causinia thomsonii, Seseli trilobum, Crepis flexuosa, Caragana brevifolia and Krascheninikovia ceratoides. Then there are more than 62 species of medicinal plants found here.
Adventure activities:
To- do-Trials: For trekkers, the Spiti Valley is a paradise, offering challenging treks to explore the new heights of the Himalayas. The treks takes you to the most remote areas including the rugged villages and old Gompas followed by the exotic wildlife trails. Some of the popular trekking routes in the area includes Kaza-Langza-Hikim-Comic-Kaza, Kaza-Ki-Kibber-Gete-Kaza, Kaza-Losar-Kunzum La and Kaza-Tabo-Sumdo-Nako. Please note that you carry all the necessary things before out for the trekking tour to Spiti. Tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, heavy woollens and sunglasses are a must.
Skiing: Skiing is the popular adventure sports in Spiti and is popular in India from the past few years. The amazing snow clad mountains with the added advantage of inspiring heights are enough to allure the adventure spirits of the avid skier, providing all the thrill and fun attracted to the sport. People from all around the globe come to experience this enthralling adventure activity.
Yak Safari: The most exciting of all adventure activities in Spiti is the Yak safari. You can hire the Yak to see the flora and fauna of trans-Himalayan desert. It is, in fact, the lifetime opportunity that you won't find anywhere else so easily. Apart from this, horse safaris are also conducted in this area.
Sources en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahaul_and_Spiti_district
IF YOU LIKE AND WANT TO COMMENT ANY PICTURES IN SDBWP (SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography)
PLEASE SIGN IN TO FLICKR (using yahoo ID) AND COMMENT ONLY THERE
Thanks for your understanding.
sundeepkullu.com is my official website and if you LIKE to COMMENT go to sundeepkullu.com and click on photos you like to COMMENT by clicking thumbnails under different pages or alternatively by visiting flickr.com/photos/wittysam. You may need to sign-in to flickr.com with your Yahoo account to comment on my flickr Photostream where i stock my World Tour Pictures shot in 50+ Countries 200+ Destinations across 6 Continents.
To protect my work i load pictures only on flickr and they are in web compatible resolutions only.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
Groups i administer on facebook and flickr (1000 plus members allready in few months )
ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY & WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF SERIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS on facebook
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111942842150274
HIMACHAL Kullu Manali, Sundernagar Mandi, Dharamsala,Shimla,Lahaul Spiti12
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=234474081858
ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY & WORLD THROUGH SERIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS EYES
www.flickr.com/groups/prodigious/
I intent to publish in near future the TRAVEL PHOTOBOOKS on
Landscapes in 6 Continents (Title 1- Stupendous Landscapes across 6 Continents) ,
Wonders of World (Title 2 - "Ancient and New 7 Wonders of World from a Himalayan Photographers Eye") ,
28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (Title 3 -"All 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India") ,
Himalayas in India, Nepal, China, Tibet & Bhutan (Title 4 -"Stupendous Himalayas"),
UNESCO Interesting World Heritage Sites across globe ( Title 5 - "Best of UNESCO World Heritage Sites") ,
Himachal Pradesh (Title 6 - "Unforgettable Himachal Pradesh" Photostories by SunDeep® Bhardwaj sundeepkullu.com)
I do not allow downloading of my images and they are digitally watermarked with Digimarc (DMRC) which makes it easier for me to identify any unauthorised party using the across web or any media. Even if my work is downloaded in full or in part Digimarc is capable of tracing the use of images across web or any other media. Due to previous copyright infringement by parties not authorised in written by me, i have penalised parties using my images without my permisision. I stock my photos on my official website sundeepkullu.com and flickr (the world's best photography website for professionals amateurs and serious photographers as well as photo admirers) in web compatible resolutions only with no permissions to download or use my pictures in any kind of media without prior written permission from me. Thanks for your understanding.
Thanks for your LIKES and COMMENTS and VISITING
WORLD IS MY STUDIO "I live with one vision to create things that would outlast me. I discovered photography as a means for me to connect with my innerself"........... SunDeep® Bhardwaj Kullu
Copyright © sundeepkullu.com All rights reserved.
The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting Sundeep Bhardwaj @
For any direct correspondance with me contact me on
www.facebook.com/sundeephimachal (Primary) or
www.facebook.com/SundeepBhardwaj (Secondary)
www.facebook.com/sundeepkullu (Tertiary).
E-mail me on
sb@sundeepkullu.com (Primary) or
wittysam@gmail.com (Secondary) or
admin@phototube.co (For Photo Tube . Co related) or
enquiries@himachalculturalvillage.com (For Himachal Cultural Village . Com related).
INDIA ROAMING AND HIMACHAL +91 9816499629 (Please drop me a SMS message)
WORLD ROAMING +974 55344547 (I prefer all correspondances on facebook as i am still on my World Tour which i started 5 years before and may be in some other country.Will definately contact back whenever next to internet or reply by SMS)
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
All rights reserved.
copyright 2011 © sundeepkullu.com
Developer - phototube.co
Affiliation - himachalculturalvillage.com
HIGH RESOLUTION images on sundeepkullu.com WORLD IS MY STUDIO This picture is LOW RESOLUTION for web compatibility **Sorry Guys i have deleted most of my pictures from facebook due to copyright infringement by parties not authorised by me.But i have made a flash website for exibiting my Photostories Do visit sundeepkullu.com
And alternatively my pictures can be see in better resolutions on
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam or
fFULL SCREEN SLIDE SHOW www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/show
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/collections/
***DO NOT COMMENT ON FACEBOOK AS I DO NOT USE IT FOR STOCKING MY PHOTOS.
Link to my Flickr Photostream where you can comment flickr.com/photos/wittysam
Lahaul and Spiti district
The district of Lahaul-Spiti in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh consists of the two formerly separate districts of Lahaul and Spiti. The present administrative centre is Keylong in Lahaul. Before the two districts were merged, Kardang was the capital of Lahaul, and Dhankar the capital of Spiti.
Kunzum la or the Kunzum Pass (altitude 4,551 m; 14,931 ft) is the entrance pass to the Spiti Valley from Lahaul. It is 21 km from Chandra Tal.[1] This district is connected to Manali through the Rohtang Pass. To the south, Spiti ends 24 km from Tabo, at the Pare chu gorge where the road enters Kinnaur and joins with National Highway No. 22.[2]
The two valleys are quite different in character. Spiti is more barren and difficult to cross, with an average elevation of the valley floor of 4,270 m (14,009 ft). It is enclosed between lofty ranges, with the Spiti river rushing out of a gorge in the southeast to meet the Sutlej River. It is a typical mountain desert area with an average annual rainfall of only 170 mm (6.7 inches).[3]
Flora and fauna
Lahaul valley in winter
Mountain peak in Lahaul and Spiti district
The harsh conditions of Lahaul permit only scattered tufts of hardy grasses and shrubs to grow, even below 4,000 metres. Glacier lines are usually found at 5,000 metres.
Animals such as yaks and dzos roam across the wild Lingti plains. However, over-hunting and a decrease in food supplies has led to a large decrease in the population of the Tibetan antelope, argali, kiangs, musk deer, and snow leopards in these regions, reducing them to the status of endangered species. However, in the Lahaul valley, one can see ibex, brown bears, foxes and snow leopards during winter.
[edit]People
Mother and child in near Gandhola Monastery. 2004
The language, culture, and populations of Lahaul and Spiti are closely related. Generally the Lahaulis are of Tibetan and Indo-Aryan descent, while the Spiti Bhotia are more similar to the Tibetans, owing to their proximity to Tibet. Fairer skin and hazel-colored eyes are commonly seen among the Lahaulis.
The languages of both the Lahauli and Spiti Bhutia belong to the Tibetan family. They are very similar to the Ladakhi and Tibetans culturally, as they had been placed under the rule of the Guge and Ladakh kingdoms at occasional intervals.
Among the Lahaulis, the family acts as the basic unit of kinship. The extended family system is common, evolved from the polyandric system of the past. The family is headed by a senior male member, known as the Yunda, while his wife, known as the Yundamo, attains authority by being the oldest member in the generation. The clan system, also known as Rhus, plays another major role in the Lahauli society.
The Spiti Bhutia community has an inheritance system that is otherwise unique to the Tibetans. Upon the death of both parents, only the eldest son will inherit the family property, while the eldest daughter inherits the mother's jewellery, and the younger siblings inherit nothing. Men usually fall back on the social security system of the Trans-Himalayan Gompas.
[edit]Lifestyle
The lifestyles of the Lahauli and Spiti Bhotia are similar, owing to their proximity. Polyandry was widely practiced by the Lahaulis in the past, although this practice has been dying out. The Spiti Bhutia do not generally practice polyandry any more, although it is accepted in a few isolated regions.
Divorces are accomplished by a simple ceremony performed in the presence of village elders. Divorce can be sought by either partner. The husband has to pay compensation to his ex-wife if she does not remarry. However, this is uncommon among the Lahaulis.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Potato farming is common. Occupations include animal husbandry, working in government programs, government services, and other businesses and crafts that include weaving. Houses are constructed in the Tibetan architectural style, as the land in Lahul and Spiti is mountainous and quite prone to earthquakes.
[edit]Religion
Kunzum Pass between Lahul & Spiti
Ki-Gompa Spiti
Most of the Lahaulis follow a combination of Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyu order, while the Spiti Bhotia follow Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelugpa order. Within Lahoul/swangla, the Baralacha-La region had the strongest Buddhist influence, owing to its close proximity to Spiti. Lahoul/swangla has temples such as Triloknath , where pilgrims worship a certain god in different manifestations, notably in the form of Shiva and Avalokiteshvara where Udaipur is a puritan temple. This bas-relief, of marble, depicts the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara (the embodiment of the Buddha's compassion) in a stylized seated position; Hindu devotees take it to be Shiva Nataraj, Shiva dancing. This image appears to be of sixteenth century Chamba craftsmanship. It was created to replace the original black stone image of the deity, which became damaged by art looters. This original image is kept beneath the plinth of the shrine. It appears to be of 12th century Kashmiri provenance . Much of the art thieves are active in this remote belt because of neglected gompas and temples.
Before the spread of Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism, the people were adherents of the religion 'Lung Pe Chhoi', an animistic religion that had some affinities with the Bön religion of Tibet. While the religion flourished, animal and human sacrifices were regularly offered up to the 'Iha', a term that refers to evil spirits residing in the natural world, notably in the old pencil-cedar trees, rocks and caves. Vestiges of the Lung Pe Chhoi religion can be seen in the behaviour of the Lamas, who are believed to possess certain supernatural powers.
The Losar festival (also known as Halda in Lahauli) is celebrated between the months of January and February. The date of celebration is decided by the Lamas. It has the same significance as the Diwali festival of Hinduism, but is celebrated in a Tibetan fashion.
At the start of the festival, two or three persons from every household will come holding burning incense. The burning sticks are then piled into a bonfire. The people will then pray to Shiskar Apa, the goddess of wealth (other name Vasudhara) in the Buddhist religion.
In the Pattan belt of the valley in Lahoul most population follows Hinduism,but counts for 14 percent of the total and they are called swanglas. The fagli festival is celebrated between February and March all over the valley. This festival is a new year festival and closely precedes beginning of tibetian and Chinese calendar. Notable is the Pattan people are the late settlers in the valley around 1500 A.D. and have broad highlights and have distinct language on the likes the central Asians,chamba, pangi, pashtoons and uyghurs. This belt is known for the convergence for chandra and bhaga rivers to form Chenab.
[edit]Tourism
Ki Gompa
The natural scenery and Buddhist monasteries, such as Ki, Dhankar, Shashur, Guru Ghantal and Tayul Gompas, are the main tourist attractions of the region.
One of the most interesting places is the Tabo Monastery, located 45 km from Kaza, Himachal Pradesh, the capital of the Spiti region. This monastery rose to prominence when it celebrated its thousandth year of existence in 1996. It houses a collection of Buddhist scriptures, Buddhist statues and Thangkas. The ancient gompa is finished with mud plaster, and contains several scriptures and documents. Lama Dzangpo heads the gompa here. There is a modern guest house with a dining hall and all facilities are available.
Another famous gompa, Kardang Monastery, is located at an elevation of 3,500 metres across the river, about 8 km from Keylong. Kardang is well connected by the road via the Tandi bridge which is about 14 km from Keylong. Built in the 12th century, this monastery houses a large library of Buddhist literature including the main Kangyur and Tangyur scriptures.
The treacherous weather in Lahaul and Spiti permits visitors to tour only between the months of June to October, when the roads and villages are free of snow and the high passes (Rothang La and Kunzum La) are open. It is possible to access Spiti from Kinnaur (along the Sutlej) all through the year, although the road is sometimes temporarily closed by landslides or avalanches.
Buddhist Monasteries in Spiti: Spiti is one of the important centers of Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh. It is popularly known as the 'land of lamas'. The valley is dotted by numerous Buddhist Monasteries or Gompas that are famous throughout the world and are a favorite of Dalai Lama.
Kye Monastery: Kye Monastery in Spiti is the main research center of the Buddhists in India. Near about 300 lamas are receiving their religious training from here. It is oldest and biggest monastery in Spiti. It houses the rare painting and beautiful scriptures of Buddha and other gods and goddess. You may also find rare 'Thangka' paintings and ancient musical instruments 'trumpets, cymbals, and drums in the monastery.
Tabo Monastery: Perched at an amazing altitude of 3050 meters, Tabo Monastery in the valley of Spiti is often referred to as the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'. The 10th century Tabo Monastery was founded by the great scholar, Richen Zangpo, and has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The monastery houses more than 6 lamas and contains the rare collection of scriptures, pieces of art, wall paintings -Tankhas and Stucco.
Flora and fauna of Spiti Valley: The valley is blessed with the good population of snow leopards, ibex, Himalayan Brown Bear, Musk Deer, Himalayan Blue Sheep etc. which serves as the boon for the wildlife lovers. There are two important protected areas in the region that are a home to snow leopard and its prey including the Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Surprisingly, due to ardent religious beliefs, people of Spiti do not hunt these wild animals.
Apart from the exotic wildlife, the Valley of Spiti is also known for its amazing wealth of flora and the profusion of wild flowers. Some of the mot common species found here include Causinia thomsonii, Seseli trilobum, Crepis flexuosa, Caragana brevifolia and Krascheninikovia ceratoides. Then there are more than 62 species of medicinal plants found here.
Adventure activities:
To- do-Trials: For trekkers, the Spiti Valley is a paradise, offering challenging treks to explore the new heights of the Himalayas. The treks takes you to the most remote areas including the rugged villages and old Gompas followed by the exotic wildlife trails. Some of the popular trekking routes in the area includes Kaza-Langza-Hikim-Comic-Kaza, Kaza-Ki-Kibber-Gete-Kaza, Kaza-Losar-Kunzum La and Kaza-Tabo-Sumdo-Nako. Please note that you carry all the necessary things before out for the trekking tour to Spiti. Tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, heavy woollens and sunglasses are a must.
Skiing: Skiing is the popular adventure sports in Spiti and is popular in India from the past few years. The amazing snow clad mountains with the added advantage of inspiring heights are enough to allure the adventure spirits of the avid skier, providing all the thrill and fun attracted to the sport. People from all around the globe come to experience this enthralling adventure activity.
Yak Safari: The most exciting of all adventure activities in Spiti is the Yak safari. You can hire the Yak to see the flora and fauna of trans-Himalayan desert. It is, in fact, the lifetime opportunity that you won't find anywhere else so easily. Apart from this, horse safaris are also conducted in this area.
Sources en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahaul_and_Spiti_district
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Eibsee
Eibsee is a lake in Bavaria, Germany, 9km southwest of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and roughly 100km southwest of Munich. At an elevation of 973.28 m, its surface area is 177.4 ha. Eibsee lies at the base of the Zugspitze (2950 meters above sea level), Germany's highest mountain.
As of May 2010, trains from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen leave roughly once an hour and the trip takes about an hour and a half[1]. Buses travel regularly from the train station in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Eibsee[2]. A valid train ticket can often be used to ride the bus
Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eibsee
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a mountain resort town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, and the district is on the border with Austria. Nearby is Germany's highest mountain, Zugspitze, at 2961 m (9714 ft.).
Origin
Garmisch-Partinkirken was at first two separate cities (Garmisch and Partinkirken).Until the Olympics were held right in between the two cities and often faught over simple things. So, as a compromise, they merged together to create Garmisch-Partinkirken and make the process much easier.
[edit]History
Garmisch (in the west) and Partenkirchen (in the east) were separate towns for many centuries, and still maintain quite separate identities.
Partenkirchen originated as the Roman town of Partanum on the trade route from Venice to Augsburg and is first mentioned in the year A.D. 15. Its main street, Ludwigsstrasse, follows the original Roman road.
Garmisch is first mentioned some 800 years later as Germaneskau ("German District"), suggesting that at some point a Teutonic tribe took up settlement in the western end of the valley.
The valley came under the rule of the Bishop of Freising and was governed by a bishop's representative known as a Pfleger (caretaker or warden) from Werdenfels Castle on a cliff north of Garmisch.
The discovery of America at the turn of the 16th century led to a boom in shipping and a sharp decline in overland trade, which plunged the region into a centuries-long economic depression. The valley floor was swampy and difficult to farm. Bears, wolves and lynxes were a constant threat to livestock. The population suffered from periodic epidemics, including several serious outbreaks of bubonic plague. Adverse fortunes from disease and crop failure occasionally led to witch hysteria. Most notable of these were the notorious trials and executions of 1589-1596, in which 63 victims — more than 10 percent of the population at the time — were burned at the stake or garroted.
Werdenfels Castle, where the accused were held, tried and executed, became an object of superstitious horror and was abandoned in the 17th century. It was largely torn down in the 1750s and its stones used to build the baroque Neue Kirche (New Church) on Marienplatz, which was completed in 1752. It replaced the nearby Gothic Alte Kirche (Old Church), parts of which predated Christianity and may originally have been a pagan temple. Used as a storehouse, armory and haybarn for many years, it has since been re-consecrated. Some of its medieval frescoes are still visible.
Garmisch and Partenkirchen remained separate until their respective mayors were forced by Adolf Hitler to combine the two market towns in 1935 in anticipation of the 1936 Winter Olympic games. Today, the united town is casually (but incorrectly) referred to as Garmisch, much to the dismay of Partenkirchen's residents. Most visitors will notice the slightly more modern feel of Garmisch while the fresco-filled, cobblestoned streets of Partenkirchen offer a glimpse into times past. Early mornings and late afternoons in pleasant weather often find local traffic stopped while the dairy cows are herded to and from the nearby mountain meadows.
[edit]Transportation
Garmisch-Partenkirchen,
painting by Anton Doll
The town is served by Federal Highway 2 as a continuation of the A95 Autobahn (motorway), which ends at Eschenlohe 16 km north of the city.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is on the Munich–Garmisch-Partenkirchen line and the Mittenwald Railway (Garmisch–Mittenwald–Innsbruck). It is the terminus of the Außerfern Railway to Reutte in Tirol / Kempten im Allgäu and the Bavarian Zugspitze Railway (with sections of rack railway) to the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany. Regional services run every hour to München Hauptbahnhof and Mittenwald and every two hours to Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof and Reutte. In addition there are special seasonal long-distance services, including ICEs, to Berlin, Hamburg, Dortmund, Bremen and Innsbruck.
Several accessible hiking trails from the town are especially spectacular and cover both the lower and higher elevations.
[edit]Sports
Aerial view of
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
In 1936 it was the site of the Winter Olympic Games, the first to feature alpine skiing. A variety of Nordic and alpine World Cup ski races are held here, usually on the Kandahar Track outside town. Traditionally, a ski jumping contest is held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on New Year's Day, as a part of the Four Hills Tournament (Vierschanzen-Tournee). The World Alpine Ski Championships were held in Garmisch in 1978 and 2011.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is also a favored holiday spot for skiing, snowboarding, and hiking, having some of the best skiing areas (Garmisch Classic and Zugspitze) in Germany.
It was announced on December 7, 2007, that Garmisch-Partenkirchen is part of a Bavarian bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, with partner candidates Munich and Schönau am Königsee (near Berchtesgaden). The Winter Olympics were last held in the German-speaking Alps in 1976 in nearby Innsbruck, Austria.
[edit]Public institutions
The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies[2] is also located in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The Marshall Center is an internationally funded and mostly U.S.-staffed learning and conference center for governments from around the world, but primarily from the former Soviet Union and Eastern European countries. It was established in June 1993, replacing the U.S. Army Russian Institute. Near the Marshall Center is the American Armed Forces Recreation Centers (Edelweiss Lodge and Resort) in Garmisch that serves U.S. and NATO military and their families. A number of U.S. troops and civilians are stationed in the town to provide logistical support to the Marshall Center and Edelweiss Recreation Center.
Zugspitze
Zugspitze
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zugspitze
The Zugspitze massif from the west (left: the summit)
Elevation2,962 m (9,718 ft) [1]
Prominence1,746 m (5,728 ft) [2]
↓ Fern Pass → Parseierspitze
Parent peakFinsteraarhorna / Mont Blancb
Isolation = 24.6 km → Acherkogel
ListingCountry high point (Germany)
Ultra
Location
Zugspitze
Germany
Location on Austria/Germany border
LocationTyrol, Austria
Bavaria, Germany
RangeWettersteingebirge, Eastern Alps
Coordinates47°25′16″N 10°59′07″ECoordinates: 47°25′16″N 10°59′07″E[2]
Geology
TypeWetterstein limestone[3]
Age of rockTriassic
Climbing
First ascent27 August 1820 by Josef Naus, Johann Georg Tauschl and survey assistant, Maier
Easiest routeReintal Route
Geography
Map showing the Zugspitze's location
The Zugspitze belongs to the Wetterstein range of the Northern Limestone Alps.
The border between Germany and Austria goes right over the mountain. There used to be a border checkpoint at the summit. But since Germany and Austria are now both part of the Schengen zone, the border crossing is no longer manned.
The exact height of the Zugspitze was a matter of debate for quite a while. Given figures ranged from 2,690–2,970 metres (8,830–9,740 ft), but it is now generally accepted that the peak is 2,962 m (9,718 ft) above sea level as a result of a survey carried out by the Bavarian State Survey Office. The lounge at the new café is named "2962" for this reason.
[edit]Location and surrounding area
Aerial photograph
View from the Alpspitze of the Zugspitze summit and the Höllentalferner glacier in 2007
Annotated aerial photograph of the Zugspitze massif
At 2,962 metres (9,718 ft) (eastern peak) the Zugspitze is the highest mountain of the Zugspitze massif. This height is referenced to the Amsterdam Gauge and is given by the Bavarian State Office for Survey and Geoinformation.[4] The same height is recorded against the Trieste Gauge used in Austria, which is 27 cm lower. Originally the Zugspitze had three peaks: the east, middle and west summits (Ost-, Mittel- and Westgipfel). The only one that has remained in its original form is the east summit, which is also the only one that lies entirely on German territory. The middle summit fell victim to one of the cable car summit stations in 1930. In 1938 the west summit was blown up to create a building site for a planned flight control room for the Wehrmacht. This was never built however. Originally the height of the west summit was given as 2,964 m (9,724 ft).[5]
The Zugspitze rises eleven kilometres southwest of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and just under six kilometres east of Ehrwald. The border between Germany and Austria runs over the west summit; thus the Zugspitze massif belongs to the German state of Bavaria and the Austrian state of Tyrol. The municipalities responsible for it are Grainau and Ehrwald. To the west the Zugspitze massif drops into the valley of the River Loisach, which flows around the massif towards the northeast in a curve whilst, in the east, the streams of Hammersbach and Partnach have their source. To the south the Gaistal valley and its river, the Leutascher Ache, separate the Wetterstein Mountains from the Mieming Chain. To the north at the foot of the Zugspitze is the lake of Eibsee. The next highest mountain in the area is the Acherkogel (3,008 m or 9,869 ft) in the Stubai Alps, which gives the Zugspitze an topographic isolation value of 24.6 kilometres. The reference point for the prominence is the Parseierspitze (3,036 m or 9,961 ft). In order to climb it from the Zugspitze, a descent to the Fern Pass (1,216 m or 3,990 ft) is required, so that the prominence is 1,746 m (5,728 ft).[6]
[edit]Zugspitze Massif
The massif of the Zugspitze has several other peaks. To the south the Zugspitzplatt is surrounded in an arc by the Zugspitzeck (2,820 m or 9,250 ft) and Schneefernerkopf (2,874 m or 9,429 ft), the Wetterspitzen (2,747 m or 9,012 ft), the Wetterwandeck (2,698 m or 8,852 ft), the Plattspitzen (2,679 m or 8,789 ft) and the Gatterlköpfen (2,490 m or 8,170 ft). The massif ends int the Gatterl (2,024 m or 6,640 ft), a wind gap between it and the Hochwanner. Running eastwards away from the Zugspitze is the famous Jubilee Ridge or Jubiläumsgrat over the Höllentalspitzen towards the Alpspitze and Hochblassen. The short crest of the Riffelwandkamm runs northeast over the summits of the Riffelwandspitzen (2,626 m or 8,615 ft) and the Riffelköpfe (2,459 m or 8,068 ft), to the Riffel wind gap (Riffelscharte, 2,161 m or 7,090 ft). From here the ridge of the Waxensteinkamm stretches away over the Riffelspitzen to the Waxenstein.[7]
[edit]Zugspitzplatt
The Zugspitzplatt above the Reintal valley in 2006
The Platt or Zugspitzplatt is a plateau below the summit of the Zugspitze to the south and southeast which lies at a height of between 2,000 and 2,650 m (6,600 and 8,690 ft). It forms the head of the Reintal valley and has been shaped by a combination of weathering, karstification and glaciation. The area contains roches moutonnées, dolines and limestone pavements as a consequence of the ice ages. In addition moraines have been left behind by various glacial periods. The Platt was completely covered by a glacier for the last time at the beginning of the 19th century. Today 52% of it consists of scree, 32% of bedrock and 16% of vegetation-covered soils, especially in the middle and lower areas.[8]
[edit]Climate
Climatic diagram for the Zugspitze: normal periods 1961-1990
From a climatic perspective the Zugspitze lies in the temperate zone and its prevailing winds are Westerlies. As the first high orographic obstacle to these Westerlies in the Alps, the Zugspitze is particular exposed to the weather. It is effectively the north barrier of the Alps (Nordstau der Alpen), against which moist air masses pile up and release heavy precipitation. At the same time the Zugspitze acts as protective barrier for parts of the Alps to the south. By contrast, Föhn weather conditions push in the other direction against the massif, affecting the region for about 60 days per year. These warm, dry air masses stream from south to north and can result in unusually high temperatures in winter. Nevertheless frost dominates the picture on the Zugspitze with an average of 310 days per year. The nearest place with comparable values is the island of Spitsbergen in the Arctic Ocean.
For the decades from 1961 to 1990 - designated by the World Meteorological Organization as the "normal period" - the average annual precipitation on the Zugspitze was 2,003.1 mm; the wettest month being April with 199 mm, and the driest, October with 108.8 mm.[9] By comparison the values for 2009 were 2,070.8 mm, the wettest month being March with 326.2 mm and the driest, January, with 56.4 mm.[10] The average temperature in the normal period was -4.8 Celsius, with July and August being the warmest at 2.2 °C and February, the coldest, with -11.4 °C.[9] By comparison the average temperature in 2009 was -4.2 °C, the warmest month was August at 5.3 °C and the coldest was February at -13.5 °C.[10] The average sunshine during the normal period was 1,846.3 hours per year, the sunniest month being October with 188.8 hours and the darkest being December with 116.1 hours.[9] In 2009 there were 1,836.3 hours of sunshine, the least occurring in February with just 95.4 hours and the most in April with 219 hours.[10] In 2009, according to the weather survey by the German Met Office, the Zugspitze was the coldest place in Germany with a mean annual temperature of -4.2 °C.[11]
The lowest measured temperature on the Zugspitze was -35.6 °C in 14 February 1940. The highest temperature occurred on 5 July 1957 when the thermometer reached 17.9 °C. A squall on 12 June 1985 registered 335 km/h, the highest measured wind speed on the Zugspitze. In April 1944 meteorologists recorded a snow depth of 8.3 metres.[12][13]
[edit]Geology
The north face of the Zugspitze seen from the Eibsee lake
All mountain-building strata consists of sedimentary rocks of the Mesozoic era, that were originally laid down on the seabed. The base of the mountain comprises muschelkalk beds; its upper layers are made of Wetterstein limestone. With steep rock walls up to 800 metres high, it is this Wetterstein limestone from the Upper Triassic that is mainly responsible for the rock faces, arêtes, pinnacles and the summit rocks of the mountain. Due to the frequent occurrence of marine coralline algea in the Wetterstein limestone it can be deduced that this rock was at one time formed in a lagoon. The colour of the rock varies between grey-while and light grey to speckled. In several places it contains lead and zinc ore. These minerals were mined between 1827 and 1918 in the Höllental valley. The dark grey, almost horizontal and partly grass-covered layers of muschelkalk run from the foot of the Great Riffelwandspitze to the Ehrwalder Köpfe. From the appearance of the north face of the Zugspitze it can be seen that this massif originally consisted of two mountain ranges that were piled on top of one another.[14]
[edit]Flora
The Eibsee in front of the Zugspitze: woods on the northern shore
The flora on the Zugspitze is not particularly diverse due to the soil conditions, nevertheless the vegetation, especially in the meadows of Schachen, the Tieferen Wies near Ehrwald, and in the valleys of Höllental, Gaistal and Leutaschtal is especially colourful.
The shaded and moist northern slopes of the massif like, for example, the Wettersteinwald, are some of the most species-rich environments on the Zugspitze. The Mountain Pine grows at elevations of up to 1,800 metres. The woods lower down consist mainly of Spruce and Fir, but Honeysuckle, Woodruff, poisonous Herb Paris, Meadow-rue and Speedwell[disambiguation needed ] also occur here. Dark Columbine, Alpine Clematis, Blue and Yellow Monkshood, Stemless carline thistle, False aster, Golden cinquefoil, Round-leaved saxifrage, Wall hawkweed, Alpine calamint and Alpine Forget-me-not flower in the less densely wooded places, whilst Cinquefoil, Sticky Sage, Butterbur, Alpenrose, Turk's cap lily and Fly Orchid thrive on the rocky soils of the mountain forests. Lily of the Valley and Daphne also occur, especially in the Höllental, in Grainau and by the Eibsee.[15]
To the south the scene changes to Larch (mainly in the meadow of Ehrwalder Alm and the valleys of Gaistal and Leutaschtal) and pine forests and into mixed woods of Beech and Sycamore. Here too, Mountain Pine grows at the higher elevations of over 2,000 metres.
Relatively rare in the entire Zugspitze area are trees like the Lime, Birch, Rowan, Juniper and Yew. The most varied species of moss, that often completely cover limestone rocks in the open, occur in great numbers.
Bilberry, Cranberry and Cowberry are restricted to dry places and Lady's Slipper Orchid occurs in sheltered spots. Below the Waxenstein are fields with raspberries and occasionally wild strawberries too. The Alpine poppy and Purple mountain saxifrage both thrive up to a very great height. On the scree slops there are Penny-cress and Mouse-ear chickweed as well as Mountain avens, Alpine toadflax, Mint and Musky Saxifrage or Cloth of Gold. Following snowmelt Dark stonecrop and Snow gentian are the first to appear, their seeds beginning to germinate as early as August. And well-known Alpine flowers like the Edelweiss, Gentians and, more rarely, Cyclamen flower on the Zugspitze.
[edit]Fauna
Alpine choughs on the Zugspitzeck
The rocks around the Zugspitze are a habitat for Chamois and Marmots are widespread on the southern side of the massif. At the summit there are frequently Alpine Choughs, drawn there by people feeding them. Somewhat lower down the mountain there are Mountain Hare and the Hazel Dormouse. Alpine birds occurring on the Zugspitze include the Golden Eagle, Rock Ptarmigan, Snow Finch, Alpine Accentor and Brambling. The Crag Martin which has given its name to the Schwalbenwand ("Swallows' Wall") at Kreuzeck is frequently encountered. The basins of Mittenwald and Seefeld, as well as the Fern Pass are on bird migration routes.
The Viviparous lizard inhabits rocky terrain, as does the black Alpine Salamander known locally as the Bergmandl, which can be seen after rain showers as one is climbing. Butterflies like Apollo, Alpine Perlmutter, Gossamer-winged butterfly, Geometer moth, Ringlet and Skipper may be seen on the west and south sides of the Zugspitze massif, especially in July and August.[16] The woods around the Zugspitze are home to Red Deer, Red Squirrel, Weasel, Capercaillie, Hazel Grouse and Black Grouse. On the glaciers live glacier fleas (Desoria saltans) and water bears.[17]
[edit]Glaciers
Three of the five German glaciers are found on the Zugspitze massif: the Höllentalferner the Southern and Northern Schneeferner.
[edit]Höllentalferner
The Höllentalferner in 2009
The Höllentalferner lies northeast of the Zugspitze in a cirque below the Jubilee Ridge (Jubiläumsgrat) to the south and the Riffelwandspitzen peaks to the west and north. It has a northeast aspect. Its accumulation zone is formed by a depression, in which large quantities of avalanche snow collect. To the south the Jubiläumsgrat shields the glacier from direct sunshine. These conditions meant that the glacier only lost a relatively small area between 1981 and 2006.[18] In recent times the Höllentalferner reached its greatest around 1820 with an area of 47 hectares. Thereafter its area reduced continually until the period between 1950 and 1981 when it grew again, by 3.1 hectares to 30.2 hectares. Since then the glacier has lost (as at 2006) an area of 5.5 hectares and now has an area of 24.7 hectares. In 2006 the glacier head was at 2,569 m and its lowest point at 2,203 metres.[19]
[edit]Schneeferner
The Northern Schneeferner and winter sport infrastructure in 2009
[edit]Northern Schneeferner
Southwest of the Zugspitze, between the Zugspitzeck and Schneefernerkopf, is the Northern Schneeferner which has an eastern aspect. With an area of 30.7 hectares (2006) it is the largest German glacier. Around 1820 the entire Zugspitzplatt was glaciated, but of this Platt Glacier (Plattgletscher) only the Northern and Southern Schneeferner remain. The reason for the relatively constant area of the Northern Schneeferner in recent years, despite the lack of shade, is the favourable terrain that results in the glacier tending to grow or shrink in depth rather than area. In the recent past the glacier has also been artificially fed by the ski region operators, using piste tractors to heap large quantities of snow onto the glacier in order to extend the skiing season. At the beginning of the 1990s, ski slope operators began to cover the Northern Schneeferner in summer with artificial sheets in order to protect it from sunshine.[20][21] The Northern Schneeferner reached its last high point in 1979, when its area grew to 40.9 hectares. By 2006 it had shrunk to 30.7 hectares. The glacier head then lay at 2,789 m and the foot at 2,558 metres.[22]
[edit]Southern Schneeferner
The Southern Schneeferner is surrounded by the peaks of the Wetterspitzen and the Wetterwandeck. It is also a remnant of the once great Platt Glacier. Today, the Southern Schneeferner extends up as far as the arête and therefore has no protection from direct sunshine. It has also been divided into two basins by a ridge of rock that has appeared as the snow has receded. It is a matter of debate whether the Southern Schneeferner should still be classified as a glacier.[23] The Southern Schneeferner also reached its last high point in 1979, when it covered an area of 31.7 hectares. This had shrunk by 2006 to just 8.4 hectares however. The highest point of the glacier lies at an elevation of 2,665 metres and the lowest at 2,520 metres.[24]
[edit]Caves
Below the Zugspitzplatt chemical weathering processes have created a large number of caves and abîmes in the Wetterstein limestone. In the 1930s the number of caves was estimated at 300. By 1955 62 caves were known to exist and by 1960 another 47 had been discovered. The first cave explorations here took place in 1931. Other, largest exploratory expeditions took place in 1935 and 1936 as well as between 1955 and 1968. During one expedition, in 1958, the Finch Shaft (Finkenschacht) was discovered. It is 131 metres deep, 260 metres long and has a watercourse. There is a theory that this watercourse could be a link to the source of the River Partnach.[Note 1][25][26]
[edit]Name
From the early 14th century, geographic names from the Wetterstein Mountains began to be recorded in treaties and on maps, and this trend intensified in the 15th century. In 1536 a border treaty dating to 1500 was refined in that its course was specified as running over a Schartten ("wind gap" or "col").[27] In the 17th century the reference to this landmark in the treaty was further clarified as "now known as the Zugspüz" (jetzt Zugspüz genant).[27] The landmark referred to was a wind gap on the summit of the Zugspitze and is used time and again in other sources. During the Middle Ages Scharte was a common name for the Zugspitze.[27]
The Zugspitze was first mentioned by name in 1590. In a description of the border between the County of Werdenfels and Austria, it states that the same border runs "from the Zugspitz and over the Derle" (von dem Zugspitz und über den Derle")[28] and continues to a bridge over the River Loisach. Another border treaty in 1656 states: "The highest Wetterstein or Zugspitz" ("Der höchste Wetterstain oder Zugspitz").[28] There is also a map dating to the second half of the 18th century that shows "the Reintal in the County of Werdenfels". It covers the Reintal valley from the Reintaler Hof to the Zugspitzplatt and shows prominent points in the surrounding area, details of tracks and roads and the use pasture use. This includes a track over the then much larger Schneeferner glacier to the summit region of the Zugspitze. However the map does not show any obvious route to the summit itself.[29]
The name of the Zugspitze is probably derived from its Zugbahnen or avalanche paths. In winter avalanches sweep down from the upper slopes of the massif into the valley and leave behind characteristic avalanche remnants in the shape of rocks and scree. Near the Eibsee lake there are several plots of land with the same root: Zug, Zuggasse, Zugstick, Zugmösel or Zugwankel.[28] Until the 19th century the name der Zugspitz was commonplace. It was described as die Zugspitze for the first time on a map printed in 1836.[30]
[edit]Summit cross
Summit cross on the Zugspitze
Since 1851 there has been a summit cross on the top of Zugspitze. The driving force behind the erection of a cross on the summit was the priest, Christoph Ott. He was a keen meteorologist and whilst observing conditions from the Hoher Peißenberg mountain he saw the Zugspitze in the distance and was exercised by the fact that "the greatest prince of the Bavarian mountains raised its head into the blue air towards heaven, bare and unadorned, waiting for the moment when patriotic fervour and courageous determination would see that his head too was crowned with dignity."[31] As a result he organised an expedition from 11 to 13 August 1851 with the goal of erecting a summit cross on the Zugspitze. Twenty eight bearers were led through the gorge of the Partnachklamm and the Reintal valley under the direction of forester, Karl Kiendl, up to the Zugspitze. The undertaking, which cost 610 Gulden and 37 Kreuzer, was a success. As a result, a 28-piece, 14 foot high, gilded iron cross now stood on the West Summit. Ott himself did not climb the Zugspitze until 1854. After 37 years the cross had to be taken down after suffering numerous lightning strikes; its support brackets were also badly damaged. In the winter of 1881–1882 it was therefore brought down into the valley and repaired. On 25 August 1882 seven mountain guides and 15 bearers took the cross back to the top. Because an accommodation shed had been built on the West Summit, the team placed the cross on the East Summit. There is remained for about 111 years, until it was removed again on 18 August 1993. This time the damage was not only caused by the weather, but also by an ill-disciplined American soldier who had shot at the cross in 1945, at the end of the Second World War. Because the summit cross could no longer be repaired, a replica was made that was true to the original cross. After two months the rack railway carried the new cross on 12 October to the Zugspitzplatt, from where it was flown to the summit by helicopter. The new cross has a height of 4.88 metres.[32] It was renovated and regilded in 2009 for 15,000 euros and, since 22 April 2009, has stood once again on the East Summit.[33]
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
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EIBSEE LAKE GARMICH PARTENKIRCHEN BAVARIA OBERBAYERN ZUGSPITZE SOUTHERN GERMANY MUNICH GERMANY's HIGHEST MOUNTAIN
SPAIN BARCELONA ANTONI GAUDI ARCHITECTURE
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Antoni Plàcid Guillem Gaudí i Cornet (Catalan pronunciation: [ənˈtɔni ɡəwˈði]; 25 June 1852 – 10 June 1926) was a Spanish Catalan[3] architect who worked during the Modernisme (Art Nouveau) period but became famous for his unique and highly individualistic designs regarded as beyond the scope of Modernisme.[4] He is sometimes referred to, in English, by the Spanish translation of his name, Antonio Gaudí.
Later years
The Casa Milà, in the Eixample, Barcelona.
Gaudí was a devout Catholic, to the point that in his later years he abandoned secular work and devoted his life to Catholicism and his Sagrada Família. He designed it to have 18 towers, 12 for the 12 apostles, 4 for the 4 evangelists, one for Mary and one for Jesus. One of his closest family members – his niece Rosa Egea – died in 1912, only to be followed by a "faithful collaborator", Francesc Berenguer Mestres, two years later. After these tragedies, Barcelona fell on hard times economically. The construction of La Sagrada Família slowed; the construction of La Colonia Güell ceased altogether. Four years later in 1918, Eusebi Güell, his patron, died.[11]
Perhaps it was because of this unfortunate sequence of events that Gaudí changed. He became reluctant to talk with reporters or have his picture taken and solely concentrated on his masterpiece, La Sagrada Família.[11] He spent the last few years of his life living in the crypt of the "Sagrada Familia".[citation needed]
On 7 June 1926[12] Gaudí was hit by a tram. Because of his ragged attire and empty pockets, many cab drivers refused to pick him up for fear that he would be unable to pay the fare. He was eventually taken to a paupers' hospital in Barcelona. Nobody recognized the injured artist until his friends found him the next day. When they tried to move him into a nicer hospital, Gaudí refused, reportedly saying "I belong here among the poor."[13] He died three days later on 10 June 1926, at age 73, and was interred at La Sagrada Família.[11]
Although Gaudí was constantly changing his mind and recreating his blueprints, the only existing copy of his last recorded blueprints was destroyed by the anarchists in 1938 during the Spanish Civil War — complicating the completion of his design.
Completion of the Sagrada Familía is planned for 2026, the centennial of Gaudí's death, with controversy over the proposed route of a high-speed rail tunnel passing approximately thirty meters below its site.[14][15][16][17] Supporters of the tunnel point to many successful tunneling projects under city centers. Detractors cite a metro tunnel in Barcelona’s Carmel district that collapsed and destroyed an entire city block on February 1, 2005.[18] The route passes near some of Gaudí's other works, Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, although deep underground.
In November 2010 Pope Benedict XVI consecrated Sagrada Familia and the interior of the church is open and accessible giving a spectacular view of the expansive forest like interior. The use of external light through the stain glass windows and the 'Glory of God' window in the roof is every changing and dynamic. The elevators that take you up to the various viewing points in the spires give access to a multitude of view points that provide unique vistas of the Cathedral and Barcelona.
[edit]Artistic style
Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, Sagrada Família, under construction since 1882.
Gaudí's first works were designed in the style of gothic architecture and traditional Catalan architectural modes, but he soon developed his own distinct sculptural style. French architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, who promoted an evolved form of gothic architecture, proved a major influence on Gaudí. The student went on to contrive highly original designs – irregular and fantastically intricate. Some of his greatest works, most notably La Sagrada Família, have an almost hallucinatory power.
He once said on the subject of gothic architecture:
Gothic art is imperfect, it means to solve; it is the style of the compass, the formula of industrial repetition. Its stability is based on the permanent propping of abutments: it is a defective body that holds with support… gothic works produce maximum emotion when they are mutilated, covered with ivy and illuminated by the moon.[19]
The same expressive power of Gaudí's monumental works exists in his oddly graceful chairs and tables. Gaudí's architecture is a total integration of materials, processes and poetics. His approach to furniture design exceeded structural expression and continued with the overall architectural idea.[20]
[edit]Interests
Gaudí, throughout his life, studied nature's angles and curves and incorporated them into his designs and mosaics. Instead of relying on geometric shapes, he mimicked the way men stand upright. The hyperboloids and paraboloids he borrowed from nature were easily reinforced by steel rods and allowed his designs to resemble elements from the environment.
Gaudí was so inspired by nature, he says, because:
Those who look for the laws of Nature as a support for their new works collaborate with the Creator.[21]
Because of his rheumatism, the artist observed a strict vegetarian diet, used homeopathic drug therapy, underwent water therapy, and hiked regularly. Long walks, besides suppressing his rheumatism, further allowed him to experience nature.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoni_Gaud%C3%AD
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Kullu
Location of Kullu
in Himachal Pradesh and India
Coordinates31°58′N 77°06′ECoordinates: 31°58′N 77°06′E
CountryIndia
StateHimachal Pradesh
District(s)Kullu
Zonal HeadquartersMandi
Population18,306 (10th) (2011)
Time zoneIST (UTC+05:30)
Area
• Elevation
• 1,220 metres (4,000 ft)
Codes[show]
Kullu, once known as Kul-anti-peetha - "the end of the habitable world",[1] is the capital town of the Kullu District, in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley about ten kilometres north of the airport at Bhuntar.
Kullu is a broad open valley formed by the Beas river between Manali and Largi. This valley is famous for its beauty and its majestic hills covered with Pine and Deodar Forest and sprawling Apple Orchards.The course of the Beas river presents a succession of magnificent, clad with forests of Deodar, towering above trees of Pine on the lower rocky ridges. Kullu valley is sandwiched between the Pir Panjal, Lower Himalayan and Great Himalayan range.
History
Kullu (1,220 m or 4,000 ft) was once known as Kulanthpitha - `the end of the habitable world`. Beyond rose the forbidding heights of the Greater Himalayas and, by the banks of the shining river Beas, lay the fabled `Silver Valley`.
The Chinese pilgrim monk Xuanzang visited the Kullu Valley in 634 or 635 CE. He described it as a fertile region completely surrounded by mountains, about 3,000 li in circuit, with a capital 14 or 15 li in circumference. It contained a stupa (tope) built by Ashoka, which is said to mark the place where the Buddha preached to the local people and made conversions, stupa was taken away by a mughal ruler and put in feroz shah kotla maidan in Delhi. There were some twenty Buddhist monasteries, with about 1,000 monks, most of whom were Mahayanist. There were also some fifteen Hindu temples, and people of both faiths lived mixed together. There were meditation caves near the mountain passes inhabited by both Buddhist and Hindu practitioners. The country is said to have produced gold, silver, red copper, crystal lenses and bell-metal.[2]
"Thus, Ku-zu is the Bu-nan name for Kuḷū. . . . Dr. Vogel in his MS. notes on Lahul gives Ku-zuṅ as the Gārī (Bu-nan) name of Kuḷū. Ku-zuṅ is the locative case of Ku-zu. He adds that Kuḷū is called Ram-ti by the people of Ti-nan, and Ram-di by those of Caṅsa (Me-rlog). The Tibetans call it Ñuṅ-ti."[3]
Kullu got its first motorable access only after Indian Independence. The long centuries of seclusion have, however, allowed the area to retain a considerable measure of its traditional charm. The road through the Kullu Valley and Lahaul is now paved all the way, to connect and provide the major access route between the northern Indian plains to Leh in Ladakh.
Further information can be read at hpkullu.gov.in, The Official Website of Kullu District.
[edit]Administrative
Kullu town, as the administrative headquarter of Kullu district, has the offices of Deputy Commissioner (the district's chief officer earlier known as District Collector), the Superintendent of Police and the District courts. It is also the largest and the most varied constituency of Lok Sabha, the lower house of the parliament of India.
[edit]Demographics
Kullu as seen from Bhekhli village
As of 2011 India census,[4] Kullu had a population of 18306. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Kullu has an average literacy rate of 81%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 77%. In Kullu town, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit]Geography
Bekhali Mountain
Kullu town has an average elevation of 1,220 m or 4,000 ft). It lies on the bank of Beas River. A major tributary, Sar-vari, (derived from "Shiv-Baardi") leads to the less explored and steeper Lug-valley on the west. On the east of Kullu lies a broad mountainous ridge having the village-temples of Bijli Mahadev, Mount Nag and Pueed. Beyond the ridge lies Manikaran valley, along the Parvati river which joins Beas in Bhuntar. On the South of Kullu lie towns of Bhuntar, Out (leading to Anni, Banjar and Siraj Valley) and Mandi (in Mandi district). Historically Kullu was accessible from Shimla via Siraj valley or through passes on the west leading to Jogindernagar and onto Kangra. To the north lies the famous town of Manali, which through the Rohtang pass leads onto the Lahaul and Spiti Valley. Once can see an enormous change in the climate as one climbs up the windward side of the ranges to proceed to the leeward and much drier plateaus to the north of Manali.
[edit]How to reach
[edit]Air
The nearest airport (IATA code KUU) is at Bhuntar town, situated on NH21 at the confluence of the Parvati and Beas rivers (latitude 31.8763 N and longitude 77.1541 E), about 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Kullu town. The airport is also known as Kullu-Manali airport and has more than a kilometre long runway. Indian Airlines and some private airlines have regular flights to the airport.
Chandigarh airport is the nearest large airport.
[edit]Road
Kullu can be reached from Delhi by national highway NH 1 up to Chandigarh and from there by national highway NH21 that passes through Bilaspur, Sundernagar and Mandi towns. The road distance from Delhi to Chandigarh is 248 km and from Chandigarh to Kullu is 233 km; the total distance from Delhi to Kullu thus is 481 km (299 mi).
NH21 goes further to Manali and from there to Rohtang Pass and Leh.
[edit]Rail
Kullu is not easily approachable by rail. The nearest broad gauge railheads are at Chandigarh (235 km (146 mi)) away and Pathankot. The nearest narrow gauge railhead is at Joginder Nagar (100 kilometres (62 mi)) away.
See Bilaspur-Mandi-Leh Railway for the proposed railway passing this area.
[edit]Kullu attractions
Handloom Kullu Shawl is the best treasure one can look for. Kullu Shawls are made of many natural fibers such as pashmina, sheep-wool, angora etc..
Raghunath Temple
In the 17th century, Raja Jagat Singh of Kullu committed a great wrong. To atone for the sin, he sent a senior courtier to Ayodhya for a statue of Lord Raghunath - Lord Rama. This temple was built by Raja Jagat Singh to house the image and even today, is greatly revered.
Shringi Rishi Temple- Banjar
About 60 km. from Kullu is Banjar valley wherein Shringi Rishi Temple is located. Shringi Rishi is the ruling deity of Banjar valley. In fact, before the Lord Rama's advent into Kullu valley from Ayodhya Puri,Lord Shringi was the ruling deity of Kullu. Shringi rishi is one among the "atthara kardoo" (eighteen chief deities) of the Kullu valley. [more inform.- shringi rishi Wikipedia, Yeshwant Singh tutorials].
Maha Devi Tirth Temple Shri Mahadevi Tirth, popularly known as Vaishno Devi Mandir (by localities), situated about two kilometers North from the Kullu valley on Kullu Manali road, though a newly founded temple, yet it is acknowledged like any old famous temple. The foundation of this temple was laid by [Swami Sewak Das Ji].
Bijli Mahadev
Bijli Mahadev Temple is one of the most excellent forms of art in India. It is located at 2,435 meters from sea level and is about 10 km away from Kullu. The staff of the temple is 60 feet high and can be seen from the Kullu valley too. It is the highest point around Kullu from where the beautiful view of the whole town, and more can be experienced.
Devta Narsingh
Temple of Devta Narsingh is a famous temple of deity 'Narsingh' and situated in Sultanpur block of Kullu.
Raison
By the banks of the Beas -and on the Kullu-Manali highway - Himachal Tourism runs a camping site here. Ideal for a taste of adventure.
Shoja
At 2692 m, this is a vantage point for a complete panorama of the Kullu area - snow peaks and valleys, meadows and forests, rivers and streams.
Basheshwar Mahadev Temple, Bajaura One of the most charming temples in the Kullu valley, this is renowned for its intricate stone carvings
Kasol
An open glade by the banks of the river Parvati. Clean white sand separates the lush green grass from the waters. A good spot for trout. Himachal Tourism has a Tourist Hut here.
Naggar
For 1400 years this was the capital of Kullu. Its 16th century stone and wood castle is now a hotel run by Himachal Tourism. Here, a gallery houses the paintings of the Russian artist, Nicholas Roerich. Naggar also has three other old shrines. Other Attractions
Kullu Dussehra
When Dussehra celebrations come to an end in the rest of the country, they begin at Kullu. The State government has accorded the status of International festival to the Kullu Dussehra, which attracts tourists in large numbers. About 200 local deities come to pay homage to Lord Raghunath.[5] This is a time when the valley is at its colourful best.
Kullu Holi
Holi is the festival of colors celebrated for two days in Kullu.Its unique feature is that people of the town collect in temple and then they proceed to houses of town people singing sacred holi songs and in return they are given sweets,pakoras and hard drinks etc. Women also take part in the festival with same enthusiasm and happiness as Men.
Fishing and Adventure
The Kullu valley has numerous places for trout fishing. These include Katrain, Raison, Kasol and Naggar, then along the river Tirthan near Larji, in the Sainj Valley and in the Hurla khud.
The valley is the nucleus of several trek routes. Some major ones are over the Chanderkhani Pass to Malana, over the Jalori Pass or Bashleo Pass to Shimla, and over the Pin Parvati Pass to Sarahan.
White water rafting is popular on the Beas river.
[edit]Kullu Valley
Himalayas from Kullu Valley, Himachal Pradesh.
Kullu Valley is the largest valley in the Kullu district, in Himachal Pradesh, India. The Beas River runs through the middle of the valley. It is also called the "Valley of the Gods" or "Dev Bhumi".[6]
It connects with the Lahul and Spiti valleys via Rohtang Pass, situated at 3,978 m (13,051 ft) 51 km (32 mi) from Manali city.
[edit]Culture
Kullu Valley, also known as the "Valley of Gods", is well known for the seven day festival of Kullu Dussehra, a celebration of Avatar Lord Rama's victory over the evil king Ravana. The festival takes place in the months of October or November, depending upon the Hindu calendar.
Due to it being the commercial and economic center, the township of Kullu has had an eclectic influx of nearby village/district inhabitants, shop owners and government employees from bordering states who give a different feel from the rest of the valley. This has also contributed to a stronger sports and educational infrastructure in the town.
[edit]Vicinity
Other places of interest in the area include Manikaran (famous for its hot springs) and hot water springs at Vashisht village near Manali, 40 km north of Kullu, a hub for tourists and rock climbers. Malana, Kaish-Dhaar in Lug Valley, Bijli Mahadev, Bhekhli and Bajaura house the famous temples of the region and places like Kasol and Gohar. Manali is perhaps the most famous town and center of all tourist attractions in the state. Manali also has a well-known temple dedicated to the mythical princess Hadimba.
The economy of the town largely depends on tourism, horticulture (apples, plums, pears, and almonds) and handicrafts (shawls, caps, etc.).
Text above is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Unported License (CC-BY-SA) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_Creative_Commons_... and the GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from Wikipedia, a non-profit organization and the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer).Donate to Wikimedia. donate.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Fundraiser...
Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu | 70 + Countries | 555 + Destinations | 2222 + Photostories | 6 Continents | 16 Years Travel Photography | 5 Years World Tour-2007 onwards | 5 Years Incredible India-1998 onwards| 5 Years Unforgettable Himachal-1993 onwards | 7 Years Travel & FINE ART Photography-2005 onwards| Landscapes & Portraits | SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography | THE WORLD IS MY STUDIO | "111 WOW" iPhone Application soon | SDBWP™ | sundeepkullu.com - since 2010 | phototube.co - Planned 2014 | himachalculturalvillage.com - Planned 2016 | fineartim.com Planned - Planned 2015
Still on my World Tour since year 2007 i plan to take these figures to 7777 Fine Art Photostories | 777 Destinations | 77 Countries | 7 Continents | 17 Years
www.sundeepkullu.com/magazine-interviews.html
WORLD IS MY STUDIO
Still on my World tour entering 6th year of World travel to 70+Countries 555+Destinations across 6 Continents and 16 th year of Travel Photography I am busy designing my first Travel Photostories Book named "111 MIRACULOUS WONDERS OF WORLD YOU MUST SEE WHEN YOU ALIVE" and corresponding "111 WOW" iPhone Application soon by the end of this year 2012 with special emphasis to following:
1. UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES ( List of Confirmed 936 sites )
2. UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES ( Tentative list submitted by the countries )
2. NEW 7 WONDERS OF WORLD ( 7-7-2007 List )
3. NEW 7 WONDERS OF WORLD FINALISTS
4. NEW 7 WONDERS OF NATURE ( 11-11-2011 to 2012 List )
5. NEW 7 WONDERS OF NATURE FINALISTS
6. RAMSAR WETLAND RESERVE OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE
7. INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE In terms of the NATURAL BEAUTY of the site HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE and MODERN WORLD POPULARITY as a list compiled by SunDeep Bhardwaj Kullu for 111 WOW Travel Photostories Book series by year statrting 2012. In the book photographs of stunning places on earth worth FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY are published in Digital and Coffee Table book format. Online auctions and Online Exibitions on FINE ART INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM F.A.I.M. ( fineartim.com/) will be available in times to come with with EXHIBITIONS in artists hometown and exclusive art gallery HIMACHAL CULTURAL VILLAGE ( Ethnic cultural experience in the Himalayas of India ) HCV Kullu-Manali, Near Naggar Castle & Roerich Art Gallery, Naggar , Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India ( Proposed)
8. WONDERS OF WORLD WIKIPEDIA LIST
9 .OTHER WONDERS OF WORLD LISTS INTERNET & LISTOLOGY
10. Most Exotic locations to travel on Earth across 7 Continents
11. Unexplored Spectacular Landscapes of World
12. Himalayan Arc ( 2400 Kms/ 1500 Miles) Stupendous Landscapes, Culture and People Photostories
13. Historic Cities of the World
14. Famous citiscapes froma himalayan photographer eyes
15.Himalayas in INDIA , TIBET, NEPAL, BHUTAN, PAKISTAN, ARUNACHAL PRADESH, PAKISTAN & CHINA
16. Unforgettable Himachal in Incredible India a journey of people, culture, festivals by sundeepkullu.com/
17 World People & Portraits
18. Most sacred sites of the World
Biggest Socila & Sports Gatherings in the Modern World
19. Clours of India by Sundeep Bhardwaj
Tallest , Largest, Highest, Lowest points and places and architecture on Earth
20. World Festivals
Covered till date:
6 Continents | 70+Countries | 555+Destinations | 16 Years | 2222+ Fine Art Photostories
Planning to take above figures and my Timeline to:
7 Continents | 77 Countries | 777 Destinations | 17 Years | 7777 Fine Art Photostories
SunDeep ™ Bhardwaj World Photography ™ | SDBWP™ | 7 years Amazing World Tour May 2007-till date-continued to 2014 if possible | 10 years Incredible India tour from year 1997-2007 May including Unforgettable Himachal Tour since Childhood |
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Recently Explored 16 Destinations ( In first half of 2012)
*INDIA- Mayad Valley, Lahaul , Rohtang Pass, Manikaran, Jispa, Sissu, Gondla, Deepak Taal, Baralachha Pass, Zing Zing Bar, Deepak Taal , Suraj Taal, Kasol, Kullu-Manali, Bhunter, Keyong
*AUSTRALIA-Melbourne-Great Ocean Road-Twelve Apostles this week
*BELGIUM Brussels
*DENMARK-Copenhagen, VIETNAM Hanoi-Halong Bay
*MALAYSIA-Kuala Lumpur-Kanting Falls-Batu Caves-Petronas Twin Towers
*CANADA-Quebec-Ontario-Montreal
*SOUTH AFRICA Johnnesburg-The Cradle of Mankind-Stolkfontien Caves and Lion & Rino Park
*INDIA-Kashmir-Gulmarg-Srinagar-HIMACHAL-Kullu-Manali-Shimla-Lahaul-Spiti -Dharamshala-Kinnaur-Udaipur-Leh-Laddakh-*KERALA-Athirappily & Vazhachal Falls
*GERMANY-BAVERIA-Black Forest-Oberbayern-Garmich Patenkirchen-Eibsee Lake-Zugspitze
*UK-SCOTLAND Glencoe-Fort William-Castle around Scotland-Lochness-ENGLAND-London-Manchester-Glasgow
*ITALY-Rome-UNESCO Heritage Sites around Rome
*VATICAN CITY-Samallest Country in the World
*CHINA-Shanghai-Zhejiang-Hangzhou-The West Lake-Chongquing-Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area-Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries-Lushan-Buddha JAPAN Horyuji Temple 1300 years old Japan's most sacred place & UNESCO site
*UAE-Al Ain-Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Burj Al Arab-Al Khaleefa Tallest building in the World,
*SWEDEN-Stocholm-National Parks
*NORWAY-Oslo
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ITALY ROME Colosseum
New Seven Wonders of the World
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New Seven Wonders of the World was a project that attempted to update the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World concept with a modern list of wonders. A popularity poll was led by Canadian-Swiss Bernard Weber and organized by the Swiss-based, government-controlled New7Wonders Foundation, with winners announced on July 7, 2007 in Lisbon.
The New7Wonders Foundation claimed that more than 100 million votes were cast through the Internet or by telephone. Nothing prevented multiple votes, so the poll was considered "decidedly unscientific".According to John Zogby, founder and current President/CEO of the Utica, New York-based polling organization Zogby International, New7Wonders Foundation drove “the largest poll on record”.
The program drew a wide range of official reaction. Some countries touted their finalist and tried to get more votes cast for it, while others downplayed or criticized the contest.After supporting the New7Wonders Foundation at the beginning of the campaign, by providing advice on nominee selection, The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) distanced itself from the undertaking in 2007.
The New7Wonders Foundation, established in 2001, relied on private donations and the sale of broadcast rights and received no public funding or taxpayers' money.[7] After the final announcement, New7Wonders said it didn't earn anything from the exercise and barely recovered its investment.
In 2007 the foundation launched a similar contest, called New7Wonders of Nature, which will be the subject of voting until mid-2011.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Seven_Wonders_of_the_World
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India unexplored landscapes places travel incredible india himalayas
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TWELVE APOSTLES VICTORIA AUSTRALIA
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The Twelve Apostles (Victoria)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Twelve Apostles
The Twelve Apostles, Victoria, Australia
Nearest city:Princetown, Victoria
Coordinates:38°39′57″S 143°06′16″ECoordinates: 38°39′57″S 143°06′16″E
The Twelve Apostles is a collection of limestone stacks off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park, by the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. Their proximity to one another has made the site a popular tourist attraction.
Contents [hide]
1 Features
2 Formation and history
3 Gallery
4 See also
5 References
6 External links
[edit]Features
The Twelve Apostles is a collection of eight miocene limestone rock stacks[1] jutting from the water in Port Campbell National Park, between Princetown and Peterborough on the Great Ocean Road.[2]
Tourism activities (including helicopter tours)[3] are conducted from a visitor centre, situated on the inland side of the Great Ocean Road; with parking and viewing areas.[4] Parks Victoria classifies the structure as nationally significant,[1] with the area being one of Victoria's major tourist features; attracting approximately two million visitors a year.[5] Parks Victoria was responsible for the construction of board-walks, tracks, and viewing areas.[6]
[edit]Formation and history
The Twelve Apostles in 2005
The apostles were formed by erosion: the harsh weather conditions from the Southern Ocean gradually eroded the soft limestone to form caves in the cliffs, which then became arches, which in turn collapsed; leaving rock stacks up to 45 metres high.[6] The site was known as the Sow and Piglets until 1922 (Muttonbird Island, near Loch Ard Gorge, was the Sow, and the smaller rock stacks the Piglets);[7] after which it was renamed to The Apostles for tourism purposes. The formation eventually became known as the Twelve Apostles, despite only ever having nine stacks.[8]
In 2002, the Port Campbell Professional Fishermen's Association unsuccessfully attempted to block the creation of a proposed marine national park at the Twelve Apostles location,[9] but were satisfied with the later Victorian Government decision to not allow seismic exploration at the same site by Benaris Energy;[10] believing it would harm marine life.[11]
The stacks are susceptible to further erosion from the waves. On 3 July 2005, a 50 metre tall stack collapsed, leaving eight remaining.[12] On 25 September 2009, it was thought that another of the stacks fell, but this was actually one of the smaller stacks of the Three Sisters formation.[13] The rate of erosion at the base of the limestone pillars is approximately 2 cm per year.[14] Due to wave action eroding the cliff face existing headlands are expected to become new limestone stacks in the future.
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Disneyland Magn'Hom Paris
Disneyland Paris comprises two theme parks, a retail, dining and entertainment district, and seven Disney-owned hotels. Operating since 12 April 1992, it was the second Disney resort to open outside the United States (following Tokyo Disney Resort) and the first to be owned and operated by Disney.
Disneyland Paris is owned and operated by French company Euro Disney S.C.A., a public company of which 39.78 percent of its stock is held by The Walt Disney Company, 10 percent by the Saudi Prince Alwaleed and 50.22 percent by other shareholders. The senior leader at the resort is chairman and CEO Philippe Gas.
The complex was a subject of controversy during the periods of negotiation and construction in the late 1980s and early '90s, when a number of prominent French figures voiced their opposition and protests were held by French labour unions and others. A further setback followed the opening of the resort as park attendance, hotel occupancy and revenues fell below projections. The complex was renamed from Euro Disney Resort to Disneyland Paris in 1994. In July 1995, the company saw its first quarterly profit.
A second theme park, Walt Disney Studios Park, opened to the public 16 March 2002.
With 15,405,000 combined visitors to the resort's Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park in the fiscal year of 2009, it is France's and Europe's most visited tourist site.[2]
Background and development
Following the success of Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, plans to build a similar theme park in Europe emerged in 1972. Upon the leadership of E. Cardon Walker, Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983 in Japan with instant success, forming a catalyst for international expansion. In late 1984 the heads of Disney's theme park division, Dick Nunis and Jim Cora, presented a list of approximately 1,200 possible European locations for the park.[3]
By March 1985, the number of possible locations for the park had been reduced to four; two in France and two in Spain.[4] Both of these nations saw the potential economic advantages of a Disney theme park and competed by offering financing deals to Disney.[5]
Both Spanish sites were located near the Mediterranean Sea and offered a subtropical climate similar to Disney's parks in California and Florida. Disney had also shown interest in a site near Toulon in southern France, not far from Marseille. The pleasing landscape of that region, as well as its climate, made the location a top competitor for what would be called Euro Disneyland. However, thick layers of bedrock were discovered beneath the site, which would render construction too difficult. Finally, a site in the rural town of Marne-la-Vallée was chosen because of its proximity to Paris and its central location in Western Europe. This location was estimated to be no more than a four-hour drive for 68 million people and no more than a two-hour flight for a further 300 million.
Michael Eisner, Disney's CEO at the time, signed the first letter of agreement with the French government for the 20-square-kilometre (4,940-acre) site on 18 December 1985, and the first financial contracts were drawn up during the following spring. The final contract was signed by the leaders of the Walt Disney Company and the French government and territorial collectivities on 24 march 1987. Construction began in August 1988, and in December 1990, an information centre named "Espace Euro Disney" was opened to show the public what was being constructed. Plans for a theme park next to Euro Disneyland based on the entertainment industry, Disney-MGM Studios Europe, quickly went into development, scheduled to open in 1996 with a construction budget of US$2.3 billion.[6] The construction manager was Bovis.[7]
[edit]Hotels, recreation and restaurants
In order to control a maximum of the hotel business, it was decided that 5,200 Disney-owned hotel rooms would be built within the complex. In March 1988, Disney and a council of architects (Frank Gehry, Michael Graves, Robert A.M. Stern, Stanley Tigerman and Robert Venturi) decided on an exclusively American theme in which each hotel would depict a region of the United States. At the time of the opening in April 1992, seven hotels collectively housing 5,800[8] rooms had been built.
By the year 2017, Euro Disney, under the terms specified in its contract with the French government, will be required to finish constructing a total of 18,200 hotel rooms at varying distances from the resort.[9] An entertainment, shopping and dining complex based on Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney was designed by Frank Gehry.
With its towers of oxidised silver and bronze-coloured stainless steel under a canopy of lights, it opened as Festival Disney.[10]
For a projected daily attendance of 55,000, Euro Disney planned to serve an estimated 14,000 people per hour inside the Euro Disneyland park. In order to accomplish this, 29 restaurants were built inside the park (with a further 11 restaurants built at the Euro Disney resort hotels and five at Festival Disney). Menus and prices were varied with an American flavour predominant and Disney's precedent of not serving alcoholic beverages was continued in the park.
2,300 patio seats (30% of park seating) were installed to satisfy Europeans' expected preference of eating outdoors in good weather. In test kitchens at Walt Disney World, recipes were adapted for European tastes. Walter Meyer, executive chef for menu development at Euro Disney and executive chef of food projects development at Walt Disney World noted, "A few things we did need to change, but most of the time people kept telling us, 'Do your own thing. Do what’s American'."[11]
[edit]Recruitment
Unlike Disney's American theme parks, Euro Disney aimed for permanent employees (an estimated requirement of 12,000 for the theme park itself), as opposed to seasonal and temporary part-time employees. Casting centres were set up in Paris, London, Amsterdam. However, it was understood by the French government and Disney that "a concentrated effort would be made to tap into the local French labour market".[5] Disney sought workers with sufficient communication skills, who spoke two European languages (French and one other), and were socially outgoing. Following precedent, Euro Disney set up its own Disney University to train workers. 24,000 people had applied by November 1991.[5]
[edit]Controversies
The prospect of a Disney park in France was a subject of debate and controversy. Critics, who included prominent French intellectuals, denounced what they considered to be the cultural imperialism, or ‘neoprovincialism’ of Euro Disney and felt it would encourage in France an unhealthy American type of consumerism. For others, Euro Disney became a symbol of America within France. On 28 June 1992 a group of French farmers blockaded Euro Disney in protest of farm policies the United States supported at the time.
A journalist in the French newspaper Le Figaro wrote, “I wish with all my heart that the rebels would set fire to [Euro] Disneyland."[12] Ariane Mnouchkine, a Parisian stage director, named the concept a “cultural Chernobyl;”[13] a phrase which would be echoed in the media and grow synonymous with Euro Disney's initial years.
In response, French philosopher Michel Serres noted, "It is not America that is invading us. It is we who adore it, who adopt its fashions and above all, its words." Euro Disney S.C.A.'s then-chairman Robert Fitzpatrick responded, "We didn’t come in and say O.K., we’re going to put a beret and a baguette on Mickey Mouse. We are who we are."[5] It also came to light that Walt Disney’s surname originates from a village in Normandy called Isigny-sur-Mer. Originally d’Isigny ("of Isigny"), it was later Americanized into Disney.
Topics of controversy further included Disney's American managers requiring English to be spoken at all meetings and Disney's appearance code for members of staff, which listed regulations and limitations for the use of make up, facial hair, tattoos, jewellery and more.
French labour unions mounted protests against the appearance code, which they saw as “an attack on individual liberty.” Others criticised Disney as being insensitive to French culture, individualism, and privacy, because restrictions on individual or collective liberties were illegal under French law, unless it could be demonstrated that the restrictions are requisite to the job and do not exceed what is necessary.
Disney countered by saying that a ruling that barred them from imposing such an employment standard could threaten the image and long-term success of the park. "For us, the appearance code has a great effect from a product identification standpoint," said Thor Degelmann, Euro Disney’s personnel director. "Without it we couldn't be presenting the Disney product that people would be expecting."[14]
[edit]Opening day
On 12 April 1992, Euro Disney Resort and its theme park, Euro Disneyland, officially opened. Visitors were warned of chaos on the roads and a government survey indicated that half a million people carried by 90,000 cars might attempt to enter the complex. French radio warned traffic to avoid the area. By midday, the car park was approximately half full, suggesting an attendance level below 25,000. Speculative explanations ranged from people heeding the advice to stay away to the one-day strike that cut the direct RER railway connection to Euro Disney from the centre of Paris.[12]
[edit]Financial, attendance and employment status
In May 1992, entertainment magazine The Hollywood Reporter reported that about 25% of Euro Disney's workforce — approximately 3,000 men and women — had resigned their jobs because of unacceptable working conditions. It also reported that the park's attendance was far behind expectations. However, the disappointing attendance can be at least partly explained by the recession and increased unemployment which was affecting France and indeed most of the rest of the developed world at this time; when construction of the resort began, the economy was still on an upswing.[15]
Euro Disney S.C.A. responded in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, in which Robert Fitzpatrick claimed only 1,000 people had left their jobs. In response to the financial situation, Fitzpatrick ordered that the Disney-MGM Studios Europe project would be put on hiatus until a further decision could be made. Prices at the hotels were reduced.
Despite these efforts, in May 1992, daily park attendance was around 25,000 (some reports give a figure of 30,000) instead of the predicted 60,000. The Euro Disney Company stock price spiralled downwards and on 23 July 1992, Euro Disney announced an expected net loss in its first year of operation of approximately 300 million French francs. During Euro Disney's first winter, hotel occupancy was such that it was decided to close the Newport Bay Club hotel during the season.
Initial hopes were that each visitor would spend around US$33 per day, but near the end of 1992, analysts reckoned spending to be around 12% lower.[16] Efforts to improve attendance included serving alcoholic beverages with meals inside the Euro Disneyland park, in response to a presumed European demand, which began 12 June 1993.[17]
In January 1994, Sanford Litvack, an attorney from New York City and former U.S. Assistant Attorney General, was assigned to be Disney's lead negotiator regarding Euro Disney's future. On 28 February Litvack made an offer (without the consent of Eisner or Frank Wells)[citation needed] to split the debts between Euro Disney's creditors and Disney. After the banks showed interest, Litvack informed Eisner and Wells.[citation needed] On 14 March, the day before the annual shareholders meeting, the banks capitulated to Disney's demands.
The creditor banks bought US$500 million worth of Euro Disney shares, forgave 18 months of interest and deferred interest payments for three years. Disney invested US$750 million into Euro Disney and granted a five-year suspension of royalty payments. In June that same year, Saudi Arabian Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud cut a deal whereby the Walt Disney Company bought 51% of a new US$1.1 billion share issue, the rest being offered to existing shareholders at below-market rates, with the Prince buying any that were not taken up by existing shareholders (up to a 24.5% holding).
[edit]1995 turnaround
On 31 May 1995, a new attraction opened at the theme park. Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune had been planned since the inception of Euro Disneyland under the name Discovery Mountain, but was reserved for a revival of public interest. With a redesign of the attraction (which had premiered as Space Mountain at the Walt Disney World Resort's Magic Kingdom in 1975) including a "cannon launch" system, inversions, and an on-ride soundtrack, the US$100 million attraction was dedicated in a ceremony attended by celebrities such as Elton John, Claudia Schiffer and Buzz Aldrin.
On 25 July 1995, Euro Disney S.C.A. reported its first ever quarterly profit of US$35.3 million. On 15 November, the results for the fiscal year ending 30 September were released; in one year the theme park's attendance had climbed from 8.8 million to 10.7 million — an increase of 21%. Hotel occupancy had also climbed from 60 to 68.5%. After debt payments, Disneyland Paris ended the year with a net profit of US$22.8 million.
[edit]2000 onwards
In 2002, Euro Disney S.C.A. and the Walt Disney Company announced another annual profit for Disneyland Paris. However, it then incurred a net loss in the three years following. In 2005, the Walt Disney Company agreed to write off all debt to the Walt Disney Company made by Euro Disney S.C.A.. As of 2007 the park was approximately US$2 billion in debt. In August 2008, Disneyland Paris was the most visited attraction in Europe, receiving more visitors than the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower combined.[18]
Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland_Paris
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Linderhof Palace (German: Schloss Linderhof) is in Germany, near Oberammergau in southwest Bavaria near Ettal Abbey. It is the smallest of the three palaces built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and the only one which he lived to see completed.
Development of the building
Ludwig already knew the area around Linderhof from his youth when he had accompanied his father King Maximilian II of Bavaria on his hunting trips in the Bavarian Alps. When Ludwig II became king in 1864 he inherited the so-called Königshäuschen from his father, and in 1869 began enlarging the building. In 1874 he decided to tear down the Königshäuschen and rebuild it on its present-day location in the park. At the same time three new rooms and the staircase were added to the remaining U-shaped complex, and the previous wooden exterior was clad with stone façades. The building was designed in the style of the second rococo-period. Between 1863 and 1886 a total of 8,460,937 marks[1] was spent constructing Linderhof.
[edit]Symbolic background
Although Linderhof is much smaller than Versailles, it is evident that the palace of the French Sun-King Louis XIV (who was an idol for Ludwig) was its inspiration. The staircase, for example, is a reduction of the famous Ambassador's staircase in Versailles, which would be copied in full in Herrenchiemsee. Stylistically, however, the building and its decor take their cues from the mid-18th century Rococo of Louis XV, and the small palace in the Graswang was more directly based on that king's Petit Trianon on the Versailles grounds.[2] The symbol of the sun that can be found everywhere in the decoration of the rooms represents the French notion of absolutism that, for Ludwig, was the perfect incorporation of his ideal of a God-given monarchy with total royal power. Such a monarchy could no longer be realised in Europe in the second half of the nineteenth century. The bedroom was important to the ceremonial life of an absolute monarch; Louis XIV of France used to give his first (lever) and last audience (coucher) of the day in his bedchamber. In imitation of Versailles, the bedroom is the largest chamber of Linderhof Palace. By facing north, however, the Linderhof bedroom inverts the symbolism of its Versailles counterpart, showing Ludwig's self-image as a "Night-King."
The location of the palace near Ettal Abbey again presents another interesting point. Because of its architecture Ludwig saw the church of the monastery as the room where the holy grail was preserved. This fact connects the idea of a baroque palace to the one of a "medieval" castle such as Neuschwanstein and reminds of the operas of Richard Wagner whose patron Ludwig was.
[edit]The rooms
Linderhof, in comparison to other palaces, has a rather private atmosphere. In fact, there are only four rooms that have a real function.
[edit]Hall of Mirrors
This room was used by the king as some kind of living room. He enjoyed sitting in the niche, sometimes reading there the whole night. Because Ludwig II used to sleep in the daytime and stay awake in the night, the mirrors created an unimaginable effect for him when they reflected the light of the candles a thousand times. The parallel placement of some mirrors evoke the illusion of a never ending avenue.
Ivory chandelier
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The middle table has a top with lapis-lazuli, amethyst and chalcedony inlay work and shows the Bavarian coat of arms in glass mosaic.
A carpet made of ostrich plumes.
An ivory candelabra in the alcove with 16 branches.
Two mantelpieces clad with lapis-lazuli and decorated with gilded bronze ornaments.
[edit]Eastern and Western Tapestry Chambers
The two tapestry chambers are almost identical and have no specific function. The western one is sometimes called "Music Room" because of the Aeolodion (an instrument combining piano and harmonium) in it. Only the curtains and the coverings on the furniture are real products of the Parisian Gobelin Manufactory. The scenes on the walls are painted on rough canvas in order to imitate real tapestries.
[edit]Audience Chamber
The audience chamber is located to the west of the castle and is flanked by the yellow and lilac cabinets. The cabinets were only used as antechambers to the larger rooms. Ludwig II never used this room to hold an audience. This would have contradicted to the private character of Linderhof Palace and the chamber would have been much too small for it. He rather used it as a study where he thought about new building projects. That there is an audience chamber in Linderhof, however, reminds us of the demand of the king on an absolute monarchy.
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Two round tables with malachite tops, gift of Czarina Maria Alexandrovna to King Ludwig II.
Throne baldachin with ostrich feather bunches (as an oriental symbol of royal power).
[edit]Dining Room
This room is located to the east and is flanked by the pink and blue cabinets. The pink cabinet, unlike the other cabinets, had a real function. The king used it as a robing room. The dining room is famous for its disappearing dumb-waiter called "Tischlein deck dich". This table was installed so that Ludwig could dine alone here. Yet the staff had to lay the table for at least four persons because it is said that the king used to talk to imaginary people like Louis XV, Mme de Pompadour or Marie Antoinette while he was eating. For Ludwig II enjoyed the company of those people and admired them. You can find portraits of them in the cabinets, and scenes of their lives everywhere in the castle's rooms.
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Meissen porcelain centrepiece with china flowers.
[edit]Bedchamber
The model for this room was not Louis XIV's bedchamber in Versailles but the bedroom of the Rich Rooms in Munich Residence. This room was completely rebuilt in 1884 and could not be totally finished until the king's death two years later. The position of the bed itself on steps in the alcove that is closed off by a gilded balustrade gives it the appearance of an altar and thereby glorifies the night-kingdom of Ludwig II.
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A glass candelabra with 108 candles.
Two console tables of Meissen porcelain (which was the king's favorite china)
[edit]The park
The gardens surrounding Linderhof Palace are considered one of the most beautiful creations of historicist garden design. The park combines formal elements of Baroque style or Italian Renaissance gardens with landscaped sections that are similar to the English garden.
[edit]Formal gardens
The palace is surrounded by formal gardens that are subdivided into five sections that are decorated with allegoric sculptures of the continents, the seasons and the elements:
The northern part is characterized by a cascade of thirty marble steps. The bottom end of the cascade is formed by the Neptune fountain and on top of it there is a Music Pavilion.
The centre of the western parterre is formed by basin with the gilt figure of "Fama". In the west there is a pavilion with the bust of Louis XIV. In front of it you see a fountain with the gilt sculpture "Amor with dolphins". The garden is decorated with four majolica vases.
The crowning of the eastern parterre is a wooden pavilion containing the bust of Louis XVI. 24 steps below it there is a fountain basin with a gilt sculpture "Amor shooting an arrow". A sculpture of "Venus and Adonis" is placed between the basin and the palace.
The water parterre in front of the castle is dominated by a large basin with the gilt fountain group "Flora and puttos". The fountain itself is nearly 25 meters high.
The terrace gardens form the southern part of the park and correspond to the cascade in the north. On the landing of the first flight there is the "Naiad fountain" consisting of three basins and the sculptures of water nymphs. In the middle arch of the niche you see the bust of Marie Antoinette of France. These gardens are crowned by a round temple with a statue of Venus formed after a painting by Antoine Watteau (The Embarkation for Cythera).
[edit]Landscape garden and structures in the park
The landscape garden covers an area of about 50 hectares (125 acres) and is perfectly integrated in the surrounding natural alpine landscape. There are several buildings of different appearance located in the park.
Venus Grotto
Venus Grotto
The building is wholly artificial and was built for the king as an illustration of the First Act of Wagner's "Tannhäuser". Ludwig liked to be rowed over the lake in his golden swan-boat but at the same time he wanted his own blue grotto of Capri. Therefore 24 dynamos had been installed and so already in the time of Ludwig II it was possible to illuminate the grotto in changing colours.
Hunding's Hut
This hut was inspired by Richard Wagner's directions for the First Act of the "Valkyrie". Ludwig used to celebrate Germanic feasts in this house.
Gurnemanz Hermitage
Ludwig came here for contemplation every year on Good Friday. For this day he wanted a flowering meadow. If there was no such meadow because there was still snow lying, the garden director had to plant one for the king.
These three structures, the "Venus Grotto", "Hunding's Hut" and "Gurnemanz Hermitage" remind us another time of the operas of Richard Wagner. But besides that and the baroque architecture Ludwig was also interested in the oriental world.
Moorish Kiosk
The Moorish kiosk
This building was designed by the Berliner architect Karl von Diebitsch for the International Exhibition in Paris 1867. Ludwig II wanted to buy it but was forestalled by the railroad king Bethel Henry Strousberg. Ludwig bought the pavilion after the bankruptcy of Strousberg. The most notable piece of furniture of this building is the peacock throne.
Moroccan House
This house had really been built in Morocco for the International Exhibition in Vienna 1873. The king bought it in 1878 and let it decorate in a more royal way.
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Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries *
Brief Description
Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries, home to more than 30% of the world's pandas which are classed as highly endangered, covers 924,500 ha with seven nature reserves and nine scenic parks in the Qionglai and Jiajin Mountains. The sanctuaries constitute the largest remaining contiguous habitat of the giant panda, a relict from the paleo-tropic forests of the Tertiary Era. It is also the species' most important site for captive breeding. The sanctuaries are home to other globally endangered animals such as the red panda, the snow leopard and clouded leopard. They are among the botanically richest sites of any region in the world outside the tropical rainforests, with between 5,000 and 6,000 species of flora in over 1,000 genera.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Country China
TypeNatural
Criteriax
Reference1213
Region **Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription2006 (30th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List
** Region as classified by UNESCO
The Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries (simplified Chinese: 四川大熊猫栖息地; traditional Chinese: 四川大熊貓棲息地; pinyin: Sìchuān Dàxióngmāo Qīxīdì) located in southwest Sichuan province of China, is the home to more than 30% of the world's highly endangered Giant Pandas and is among the most important sites for the captive breeding of these pandas. It covers 9245 km² with seven nature reserves and nine scenic parks in the Qionglai and Jiajin Mountains. Along with the Giant Panda, the sanctuary is a refuge to other endangered species such as the red panda, the snow leopard, and the clouded leopard. Outside of the tropical rainforests, it is among the botanically richest sites of the world, and is home to between 5,000 and 6,000 species of flora. It has been noted that the region is similar to the paleo-tropic forests of the Tertiary Era.
Mount Emei
"Omei Shan" redirects here. For the bird, see Grey-faced Liocichla.
"峨眉山" redirects here. For the county-level city, see Emeishan City.
Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
CountryPeople's Republic of China
TypeCultural and Natural (Mixed)
Criteriaiv, vi, x
Reference779
Region **Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription1996 (20th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List
** Region as classified by UNESCO
Mount Emei
Emei Shan
Mount Emei
Emeishan City, Sichuan
Elevation3,099 m (10,167 ft)
Location
Coordinates29°31′11″N 103°19′57″ECoordinates: 29°31′11″N 103°19′57″E
Part of the series on
Chinese martial arts
List of Chinese martial arts
Terms
Kung fu (功夫)
Wushu (武術)
Qigong (氣功)
Historical places
Shaolin Monastery (少林寺)
Wudang Mountains (武當山)
Mount Hua (華山)
Mount Emei (峨嵋山)
Kunlun Mountains (崑崙山)
Historical people
Yim Wing-chun (嚴詠春)
Hung Hei-gun (洪熙官)
Fong Sai-yuk (方世玉)
Dong Haichuan (董海川)
Yang Lu-ch'an (楊露禪)
Wu Quanyou (吳全佑)
Ten Tigers of Canton (廣東十虎)
Chen Fake (陳發科)
Chan Heung (陳享)
Wong Fei-hung (黃飛鴻)
Sun Lu-t'ang (孫祿堂)
Huo Yuanjia (霍元甲)
Yip Man (葉問)
Wang Zi-Ping (王子平)
Famous modern actors
Bruce Lee (李小龍)
Jackie Chan (成龍)
Sammo Hung (洪金寶)
Yuen Biao (元彪)
Jet Li (李連杰)
Donnie Yen (甄子丹)
Legendary figures
Bodhidharma (菩提達摩)
Zhang Sanfeng (張三丰)
Eight immortals (八仙)
Five Elders (五祖)
Related
Hong Kong action cinema
Wushu (sport)
Wuxia (武俠)
This box: view talk edit
Mount Emei (Chinese: 峨嵋山; pinyin: Éméi Shān; Wade–Giles: O2-mei2 Shan1, pronounced [ɤ̌měɪ̯ ʂán]) is a mountain in Sichuan province, China. Mount Emei is often written as 峨眉山 and occasionally 峩嵋山 or 峩眉山 but all three are translated as Mount Emei or Mount Emeishan: the word 峨 can mean "high" or "lofty", but the mountain's name is merely a toponym that carries no additional meaning.
Orographically, Mt. Emei sits at the western rim of the Sichuan Basin. The mountains west of it are known as Daxiangling.[1] A large surrounding area of countryside is geologically known as the Permian Emeishan Large Igneous Province, a large igneous province generated by the Emeishan Traps volcanic eruptions during the Permian Period. At 3,099 metres (10,167 ft), Mt. Emei is the highest of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China.[2]
Administratively, Mt. Emei (Emeishan) is located near the county-level city of the same name (Emeishan City), which is part of the prefecture-level city of Leshan.
Mt. Emei was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.[3]
Leshan Giant Buddha
Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
CountryPeople's Republic of China
TypeMixed
Criteriaiv, vi, x
Reference779
Region **Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription1996 (20th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List
** Region as classified by UNESCO
The Leshan Giant Buddha (simplified Chinese: 乐山大佛; traditional Chinese: 樂山大佛; pinyin: Lèshān Dàfó) was built during the Tang Dynasty (618–907AD). It is carved out of a cliff face that lies at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers in the southern part of Sichuan province in China, near the city of Leshan. The stone sculpture faces Mount Emei, with the rivers flowing below his feet. It is the largest carved stone Buddha in the world[1] and it is by far the tallest pre-modern statue in the world.
The Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. It was not damaged by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.[2]
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I travelled to most exotic places on this earth in last 9 years since 2003. I was exploring India from east to west and north to south till mid 2007. Then i started my World tour to 6 continents in May 2007 & entering 2012, my World tour is still on & i am exploring more and more exotic places around all major countries. I believe "World is just amazing" and every place & face has a unique story to tell. I connect to my subjects as to my soul.
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My latest 15 explored destinations in my 6th year of World tour so far to 70+Countries & 300+Destinations across 6 Continents and 9 th year of Travel Photography & Videography of Places People Culture Landscapes.Recently explored these exotic places in CHINA Mout.Emai-Leshan-Chengdu-Chongquing , JAPAN Horyuji Temple 1300 years old Japan's most sacred place & UNESCO site UAE-Al Ain-Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Burj Al Arab-Al Khaleefa Tallest building in the World, SWEDEN-Stocholm-National Parks, AUSTRALIA-Melbourne-Great Ocean Road-Twelve Apostles this week. BELGIUM Brussels, DENMARK-Copenhagen, VIETNAM Hanoi-Halong Bay MALAYSIA-Kuala Lumpur-Kanting Falls-Batu Caves-Petronas Twin Towers , CANADA-Quebec-Ontario-Montreal, ATLANTIC-GREENLAND-LABRADOR PENINSULA-Lebrador Sea, SOUTH AFRICA Johnnesburg-The Cradle of Mankind-Stolkfontien Caves and Lion & Rino Park with others INDIA-Kashmir-Gulmarg-Srinagar CHINA-Shanghai-Zhejiang-Hangzhou-The West Lake GERMANY-BAVERIA-Black Forest-Oberbayern-Garmich Patenkirchen-Eibsee Lake-Zugspitze HIMACHAL-Kullu-Manali-Shimla-Lahaul-Spiti -Dharamshala-Kinnaur-Udaipur-Leh-Laddakh UK-SCOTLAND Glencoe-Fort William-Castle around Scotland-Lochness INDIA Jog Falls Ooty Goa Athirappily & Vazhachal Falls Kerala UK-ENGLAND-London-Manchester-Glasgow & others ITALY-Rome-Vatican City and Other UNESCO Heritage Sites around Rome. Soon my first book on 111 MIRACULOUS WONDERS OF WORLD YOU MUST SEE WHEN U ALIVE will be out with "111 WOW" i Phone application by the end of this year. Updating my official website sundeepkullu.com
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The Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries consist of seven nature reserves and nine scenic parks.
Seven Nature Reserves
Wolong Nature Reserve (Chinese: 卧龙自然保护区)
Fengtongzhai Nature Reserve (Chinese: 蜂桶寨自然保护区)
Mt. Siguniang Nature Reserve (Chinese: 四姑娘山自然保护区)
Laba River Nature Reserve (Chinese: 喇叭河自然保护区)
Heishui River Nature Reserve (Chinese: 黑水河自然保护区)
Jintang-Kongyu Nature Reserve (Chinese: 金汤—孔玉自然保护区)
Caopo Nature Reserve (Chinese: 草坡自然保护区)
Nine Scenic Parks
Mt. Qingcheng-Dujiangyan Scenic Park (Chinese: 青城山—都江堰风景名胜区)
Mt. Tiantai Scenic Park (Chinese: 天台山风景名胜区)
Mt. Siguniang Scenic Park (Chinese: 四姑娘山风景名胜区)
Xiling Snow Mountain Scenic Park (Chinese: 西岭雪山风景名胜区)
Mt. Jiguan-Jiulonggou Scenic Park (Chinese: 鸡冠山—九龙沟风景名胜区)
Mt. Jiajin Scenic Park (Chinese: 夹金山风景名胜区)
Miyaluo Scenic Park (Chinese: 米亚罗风景名胜区)
Mt. Lingzhen-Mt. Daxue Scenic Park (Chinese: 灵鹫山—大雪峰风景名胜区)
Mt. Erlang Scenic Park (Chinese: 二郎山风景名胜区)
As the bodhimaṇḍa of Samantabhadra
Mount Emei is one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China, and is traditionally regarded as the bodhimaṇḍa, or place of enlightenment, of the bodhisattva Samantabhadra. Samantabhadra is known in Mandarin as Pǔxián Púsà (普賢菩薩).
16th and 17th century sources allude to the practice of martial arts in the monasteries of Mount Emei[4] made the earliest extant reference to the Shaolin Monastery as Chinese boxing's place of origin.[5]
[edit]Buddhist architecture on Emei
This is the location of the first Buddhist temple built in China in the 1st century CE.[3] The site has seventy-six Buddhist monasteries of the Ming and Qing period, most of them located near the mountain top. The monasteries demonstrate a flexible architectural style that adapts to the landscape. Some, such as the halls of Baoguosi, are built on terraces of varying levels, while others, including the structures of Leiyinsi, are on raised stilts. Here the fixed plans of Buddhist monasteries of earlier periods were modified or ignored in order to make full use of the natural scenery. The buildings of Qingyinge are laid out in an irregular plot on the narrow piece of land between the Black Dragon River and the White Dragon River. The site is large and the winding foot path is 50 km, taking several days to walk.[6]
Cable cars ease the ascent to the two temples at Jinding (3,077 m), an hour's hike from the mountain's peak.[2][7]
[edit]Sunrise and clouds sea
Great spectacles of Mount Emei include the sunrise and Clouds Sea seen from the Golden Summit of the mountain.
The sunrise is very varied, but optimally begins with the ground and sky being in the same dark purple, soon showing rosy clouds, followed by a bright purple arc and then a semicircle where the sun is coming up.[8]
The Clouds Sea includes several cloud phenomena, e.g. clouds appearing in the sky above, in addition to the regular clouds beneath.[8]
[edit]Climate
The summit of Mount Emei has an alpine subarctic climate (Köppen Dwc), with long, cold (but not severely so) winters, and short, cool summers. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from −5.7 °C (21.7 °F) in January to 11.6 °C (52.9 °F), and an annual mean of 3.07 °C (37.5 °F). Precipitation is common year-round, but due to the influence of the monsoon, rainfall is especially heavy in summer, and more than 70% of the annual total occurs from June to September.
Head of the statue
Construction was started in 713, led by a Chinese monk named Haitong. He hoped that the Buddha would calm the turbulent waters that plagued the shipping vessels traveling down the river. When funding for the project was threatened, he is said to have gouged out his own eyes to show his piety and sincerity. After his death, however, the construction was stuck due to insufficient funding. About 70 years later, a jiedushi decided to sponsor the project and the construction was completed by Haitong's disciples in 803.
Apparently the massive construction resulted in so much stone being removed from the cliff face and deposited into the river below that the currents were indeed altered by the statue, making the waters safe for passing ships.
[edit]Degradation
The Leshan Buddha has been affected by the pollution emanating from the unbridled development in the region. According to Xinhua news agency, the Leshan Giant Buddha and many Chinese natural and cultural heritage sites in the region have seen degradations from weathering, air pollution, and swarms of tourists. The government has promised to restore the site to its former condition.[3]
[edit]Dimensions
At 71 metres (233 feet) tall, the statue depicts a seated Maitreya Buddha with his hands resting on his knees. His shoulders are 28 metres wide and his smallest toenail is large enough to easily accommodate a seated person. There is a local saying: "The mountain is a Buddha and the Buddha is a mountain". This is partially because the mountain range in which the Leshan Giant Buddha is located is thought to be shaped like a slumbering Buddha when seen from the river, with the Leshan Giant Buddha as its heart.
BARCELONA SPAIN CATALUNYA ANTONI GAUDI ARCHITECTURE
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The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
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These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
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Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu
sb@sundeepkullu.com
+91 9816499629
+974 55344547
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower (French: La Tour Eiffel, [tuʁ ɛfɛl], nickname La dame de fer, the iron lady) is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The tower is the tallest building in Paris[10] and the most-visited paid monument in the world; millions of people ascend it every year. Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair.
The tower stands 324 metres (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-storey building. Upon its completion, the Eiffel Tower surpassed the Washington Monument to assume the title of the tallest man-made structure in the world, a title it held for 41 years, until the Chrysler Building in New York City was built in 1930. However, due to the addition, in 1957, of the antenna atop the Eiffel Tower, is now taller than the Chrysler Building. Not including broadcast antennas, it is the second-tallest structure in France, after the Millau Viaduct.
The tower has three levels for visitors. Tickets can be purchased to ascend, by stairs or lift, to the first and second levels. The walk from ground level to the first level is over 300 steps, as is the walk from the first to the second level. The third and highest level is accessible only by elevator. Both the first and second levels feature restaurants.
The tower has become the most prominent symbol of both Paris and France, often in the establishing shot of films set in the city.
History
Eiffel Tower under construction in July 1888
Eiffel Tower Construction view: girders at the first storey
Panoramic view during ascension of the Eiffel Tower by the Lumière brothers, 1898
25 August 1944: American soldiers watch as the Tricolor flies from the Eiffel Tower again.
Franz Reichelt's preparations and fall from the Eiffel Tower.
Lightning strikes the Eiffel Tower on 3 June 1902, at 9:20 pm
Adolf Hitler with the Eiffel Tower in the background
The structure was built between 1887 and 1889 as the entrance arch for the Exposition Universelle, a World's Fair marking the centennial celebration of the French Revolution. Three hundred workers joined together 18,038 pieces of puddled iron (a very pure form of structural iron), using two and a half million rivets, in a structural design by Maurice Koechlin. Eiffel was assisted in the design by engineers Émile Nouguier and Maurice Koechlin and architect Stephen Sauvestre.[11] The risk of accident was great as, unlike modern skyscrapers, the tower is an open frame without any intermediate floors except the two platforms. However, because Eiffel took safety precautions, including the use of movable stagings, guard-rails and screens, only one man died. The tower was inaugurated on 31 March 1889, and opened on 6 May.
The tower was much criticised by the public when it was built, with many calling it an eyesore. Newspapers of the day were filled with angry letters from the arts community of Paris. One is quoted extensively in William Watson's US Government Printing Office publication of 1892 Paris Universal Exposition: Civil Engineering, Public Works, and Architecture: "And during twenty years we shall see, stretching over the entire city, still thrilling with the genius of so many centuries, we shall see stretching out like a black blot the odious shadow of the odious column built up of riveted iron plates."[12] Signers of this letter included Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier, Charles Gounod, Charles Garnier, Jean-Léon Gérôme, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, and Alexandre Dumas.
Novelist Guy de Maupassant—who claimed to hate the tower[13]—supposedly ate lunch in the Tower's restaurant every day. When asked why, he answered that it was the one place in Paris where one could not see the structure. Today, the Tower is widely considered to be a striking piece of structural art.
One of the great Hollywood movie clichés is that the view from a Parisian window always includes the tower. In reality, since zoning restrictions limit the height of most buildings in Paris to 7 stories, only a very few of the taller buildings have a clear view of the tower.
Eiffel had a permit for the tower to stand for 20 years; it was to be dismantled in 1909, when its ownership would revert to the City of Paris. The City had planned to tear it down (part of the original contest rules for designing a tower was that it could be easily demolished) but as the tower proved valuable for communication purposes, it was allowed to remain after the expiry of the permit. The military used it to dispatch Parisian taxis to the front line during the First Battle of the Marne.
Timeline of events
10 September 1889
Thomas Edison visited the tower. He signed the guestbook with the following message—
To M Eiffel the Engineer the brave builder of so gigantic and original specimen of modern Engineering from one who has the greatest respect and admiration for all Engineers including the Great Engineer the Bon Dieu, Thomas Edison.
1910
Father Theodor Wulf measured radiant energy at the top and bottom of the tower, discovering at the top more than was expected, and thereby detecting what are today known as cosmic rays.[14]
4 February 1912
Austrian tailor Franz Reichelt died after jumping 60 metres from the first deck of Eiffel tower with his home-made parachute.
1914
A radio transmitter located in the tower jammed German radio communications during the lead-up to the First Battle of the Marne.
1925
The con artist Victor Lustig "sold" the tower for scrap metal on two separate, but related occasions.[15]
1930
The tower lost the title of the world's tallest structure when the Chrysler Building was completed in New York City.
1925 to 1934
Illuminated signs for Citroën adorned three of the tower's four sides, making it the tallest advertising space in the world at the time.
1940–1944
[citation needed] Upon the German occupation of Paris in 1940, the lift cables were cut by the French so that Adolf Hitler would have to climb the steps to the summit. The parts to repair them were allegedly impossible to obtain because of the war. In 1940 German soldiers had to climb to the top to hoist the swastika, but the flag was so large it blew away just a few hours later, and was replaced by a smaller one. When visiting Paris, Hitler chose to stay on the ground. It was said that Hitler conquered France, but did not conquer the Eiffel Tower. A Frenchman scaled the tower during the German occupation to hang the French flag. In August 1944, when the Allies were nearing Paris, Hitler ordered General Dietrich von Choltitz, the military governor of Paris, to demolish the tower along with the rest of the city. Von Choltitz disobeyed the order. Some say Hitler was later persuaded to keep the tower intact so it could later be used for communications. The lifts of the Tower were working normally within hours of the Liberation of Paris.
3 January 1956
A fire damaged the top of the tower.
1957
The present radio antenna was added to the top.
1980s
A restaurant and its supporting iron scaffolding midway up the tower was dismantled; it was purchased and reconstructed on St. Charles Avenue and Joesphine Street in the Garden District of New Orleans, Louisiana, by entrepreneurs John Onorio and Daniel Bonnot, originally as the Tour Eiffel Restaurant, later as the Red Room and now as the Cricket Club (owned by the New Orleans Culinary Institute). The restaurant was re-assembled from 11,000 pieces that crossed the Atlantic in a 40-foot (12 m) cargo container.
31 March 1984
Robert Moriarty flew a Beechcraft Bonanza through the arches of the tower.[16]
1987
A.J. Hackett made one of his first bungee jumps from the top of the Eiffel Tower, using a special cord he had helped develop. Hackett was arrested by the Paris police upon reaching the ground.[17]
27 October 1991
Thierry Devaux, along with mountain guide Hervé Calvayrac, performed a series of acrobatic figures of bungee jump (not allowed) from the second floor of the Tower. Facing the Champ de Mars, Thierry Devaux was using an electric winch between each figure to go back up. When firemen arrived, he stopped after the sixth bungee jump.[18]
New Year's Eve 1999
The Eiffel Tower played host to Paris' Millennium Celebration. On this occasion, flashing lights and four high-power searchlights were installed on the tower, and fireworks were set off all over it. An exhibition above a cafeteria on the first floor commemorates this event. Since then, the light show has become a nightly event. The searchlights on top of the tower make it a beacon in Paris' night sky, and the 20,000 flash bulbs give the tower a sparkly appearance every hour on the hour.[19]
28 November 2002
The tower received its 200,000,000th guest.[20][21]
2004
The Eiffel Tower began hosting an ice skating rink on the first floor each winter.[22]
Engraved names
Main article: The 72 names on the Eiffel Tower
Gustave Eiffel engraved on the tower seventy-two names of French scientists, engineers and other notable people. This engraving was painted over at the beginning of the twentieth century but restored in 1986–1987 by the Société Nouvelle d'exploitation de la Tour Eiffel, a company contracted to operate business related to the Tower.
Design of the tower
Material
The pig iron structure of the Eiffel Tower weighs 7,300 tonnes while the entire structure, including non-metal components, is approximately 10,000 tonnes. As a demonstration of the economy of design, if the 7,300 tonnes of the metal structure were melted down it would fill the 125 metre square base to a depth of only 6 cm (2.36 in), assuming the density of the metal to be 7.8 tonnes per cubic metre. Depending on the ambient temperature, the top of the tower may shift away from the sun by up to 18 cm (7.1 in) because of thermal expansion of the metal on the side facing the sun.
The third floor of the Eiffel Tower, at night, seen from Trocadéro
Wind considerations
At the time the tower was built many people were shocked by its daring shape. Eiffel was criticised for the design and accused of trying to create something artistic, or inartistic according to the viewer, without regard to engineering. Eiffel and his engineers, however, as experienced bridge builders, understood the importance of wind forces and knew that if they were going to build the tallest structure in the world they had to be certain it would withstand the wind. In an interview reported in the newspaper Le Temps, Eiffel said:
Now to what phenomenon did I give primary concern in designing the Tower? It was wind resistance. Well then! I hold that the curvature of the monument's four outer edges, which is as mathematical calculation dictated it should be [...] will give a great impression of strength and beauty, for it will reveal to the eyes of the observer the boldness of the design as a whole.[23]
Researchers have found that Eiffel used empirical and graphical methods accounting for the effects of wind rather than a specific mathematical formula. Careful examination of the tower shows a basically exponential shape; actually two different exponentials, the lower section overdesigned to ensure resistance to wind forces. Several mathematical explanations have been proposed over the years for the success of the design; the most recent is described as a nonlinear integral equation based on counterbalancing the wind pressure on any point on the tower with the tension between the construction elements at that point.[24][25] As a demonstration of the tower's effectiveness in wind resistance, it sways only 6–7 cm (2–3 in) in the wind.[24][25][26]
Maintenance
Maintenance of the tower includes applying 50 to 60 tonnes of paint every seven years to protect it from rust.
Aesthetic considerations
In order to maintain a uniform appearance to an observer on the ground, three separate colours of paint are used on the tower, with the darkest on the bottom and the lightest at the top. On occasion the colour of the paint is changed; the tower is currently painted a shade of bronze.[27] On the first floor there are interactive consoles hosting a poll for the colour to use for a future session of painting.
The only non-structural elements are the four decorative grillwork arches, added in Stephen Sauvestre's sketches, which served to reassure visitors that the structure was safe, and to frame views of other nearby architecture.[28][29][30]
Tourism
Popularity
More than 200,000,000 people have visited the tower since its construction in 1889,[31] including 6,719,200 in 2006.[26] The tower is the most-visited paid monument in the world.[32]
Passenger Elevators
View of Eiffel Tower from the Montparnasse Tower.
Ground to the second level
The original elevators to the first and second floors were provided by two companies. Both companies had to overcome many technical obstacles as neither company (or indeed any company) had experience with installing elevators climbing to such heights with large loads. The slanting tracks with changing angles further complicated the problems. The East and West elevators were supplied by the French company Roux Combaluzier Lepape, using hydraulically powered chains and rollers. Contemporary engravings of the elevators cars show that the passengers were seated at this time but it is not clear whether this was conceptual. It would be unnecessary to seat passengers for a journey of a couple of minutes. The North and South elevators were provided by the American company Otis using car designs similar to the original installation but using an improved hydraulic and cable scheme. The French elevators had a very poor performance and were replaced with the current installations in 1897 (West Pillar) and 1899 (East Pillar) by Fives-Lille using an improved hydraulic and rope scheme. Both of the original installations operated broadly on the principle of the Fives-Lille lifts.[33][34]
The Fives-Lille elevators from ground level to the first and second levels are operated by cables and pulleys driven by massive water-powered pistons. The hydraulic scheme was somewhat unusual for the time in that it included three large counterweights of 200 tonnes each sitting on top of hydraulic rams which doubled up as accumulators for the water. As the elevators ascend the inclined arc of the pillars, the angle of ascent changes. The two elevator cabs are kept more or less level and indeed are level at the landings. The cab floors do take on a slight angle at times between landings.
The Eiffel Tower illuminated in blue to celebrate the French presidency of the EU (July 2008)
The principle behind the elevators is similar to the operation of a block and tackle but in reverse. Two large hydraulic rams (over 1 metre diameter) with a 16 metre travel are mounted horizontally in the base of the pillar which pushes a carriage (the French word for it translates as chariot and this term will be used henceforth to distinguish it from the elevator carriage) with 16 large triple sheaves mounted on it. There are 14 similar sheaves mounted statically. Six wire ropes are rove back and forth between the sheaves such that each rope passes between the 2 sets of sheaves 7 times. The ropes then leave the final sheaves on the chariot and passes up through a series of guiding sheaves to above the second floor and then via a pair of triple sheaves back down to the lift carriage again passing guiding sheaves.
This arrangement means that the elevator carriage, complete with its cars and passengers, travels 8 times the distance that the rams move the chariot, the 128 metres from the ground to the second floor. The force exerted by the rams also has to be 8 times the total weight of the lift carriage, cars and passengers, plus extra to account for various losses such as friction. The hydraulic fluid was water, normally stored in three accumulators, complete with counterbalance weights. To make the elevator ascend, water was pumped using an electrically driven pump from the accumulators to the two rams. Since the counterbalance weights provided much of the pressure required, the pump only had to provide the extra effort. For the descent, it was only necessary to allow the water to flow back to the accumulators using a control valve. The lifts were operated by an operator perched precariously underneath the lift cars. His position (with a dummy operator) can still be seen on the lifts today.
The Fives-Lille elevators were completely upgraded in 1986 to meet modern safety requirements and to make the elevators easier to operate. A new computer controlled system was installed which completely automated the operation. One of the three counterbalances was taken out of use, and the cars were replaced with a more modern and lighter structure. Most importantly, the main driving force was removed from the original water pump such that the water hydraulic system provided only a counterbalancing function. The main driving force was transferred to a 320 kW electrically driven oil hydraulic pump which drives a pair of hydraulic motors on the chariot itself, thus providing the motive power. The new lift cars complete with their carriage and a full 92 passenger load weigh 22 tonnes.
Due to elasticity in the ropes and the time taken to get the cars level with the landings, each elevator in normal service takes an average of 8 minutes and 50 seconds to do the round trip, spending an average of 1 minute and 15 seconds at each floor. The average journey time between floors is just 1 minute.
The original Otis elevators in the North and South pillars in their turn proved to be inferior to the new (in 1899) French elevators and were scrapped from the South pillar in 1900 and from the North pillar in 1913 after failed attempts to re-power them with an electric motor. The North and South pillars were to remain without elevators until 1965 when increasing visitor numbers persuaded the operators to install a relatively standard and modern cable hoisted system in the north pillar using a cable-hauled counterbalance weight, but hoisted by a block and tackle system to reduce its travel to one third of the elevator travel. The counterbalance is clearly visible within the structure of the North pillar. This latter elevator was upgraded in 1995 with new cars and computer controls.
The South pillar acquired a completely new fairly standard electrically driven elevator in 1983 to serve the Jules Verne restaurant. This was also supplied by Otis. A further four-ton service elevator was added to the South pillar in 1989 by Otis to relieve the main elevators when moving relatively small loads or even just maintenance personnel.
The East and West hydraulic (water) elevator works are on display and, at least in theory, are open to the public in a small museum located in base of the East and West tower, which is somewhat hidden from public view. Because the massive mechanism requires frequent lubrication and attention, public access is often restricted. However, when open, the wait times are much less than the other, more popular, attractions. The rope mechanism of the North tower is visible to visitors as they exit from the elevator .
Second to the third level
The original spiral stairs to the third floor which were only 80 centimetres wide. Note also the small service elevator in the background.
The original elevators from the second to the third floor were also of a water-powered hydraulic design supplied by Léon Edoux. Instead of using a separate counterbalance, the two elevator cars counterbalanced each other. A pair of 81 metre long hydraulic rams were mounted on the second level reaching nearly half way up to the third level. An elevator car was mounted on top of the rams. Ropes ran from the top of this car up to a sheave on the third level and back down to a second car. The result of this arrangement was that each car only travelled half the distance between the second and third levels and passengers were required to change elevators halfway walking between the cars along a narrow gangway with a very impressive and relatively unobstructed downward view. The ten-ton cars held 65 passengers each or up to four tons.
One interesting feature of the original installation was that the hoisting rope ran through guides to retain it on windy days to prevent it flapping and becoming damaged. The guides were mechanically moved out of the way of the ascending car by the movement of the car itself. In spite of some antifreeze being added to the water that operated this system, it nevertheless had to close to the public from November to March each year.
The original Hydraulic pump for the Edoux lifts
The original elevators complete with their hydraulic mechanism were completely scrapped in 1982 after 97 years of service. They were replaced with two pairs of relatively standard rope hoisted cars which were able to operate all the year round. The cars operate in pairs with one providing the counterbalance for the other. Neither car can move unless both sets of doors are closed and both operators have given a start command. The commands from the cars to the hoisting mechanism are by radio obviating the necessity of a control cable. The replacement installation also has the advantage that the ascent can be made without changing cars and has reduced the ascent time from 8 minutes (including change) to 1 minute and 40 seconds. This installation also has guides for the hoisting ropes but they are electrically operated. The guide once it has moved out of the way as the car ascends automatically reverses when the car has passed to prevent the mechanism becoming snagged on the car on the downward journey in the event it has failed to completely clear the car. Unfortunately these elevators do not have the capacity to move as many people as the three public lower elevators and long lines to ascend to the third level are common. Most of the intermediate level structure present on the tower today was installed when the elevators were replaced and allows maintenance workers to take the elevator half way.
The replacement of these elevators allowed the restructuring of the criss-cross beams in upper part of the tower and further allowed the installation of two emergency staircases. These replaced the dangerous winding stairs that were installed when the tower was constructed.
Restaurants
The tower has two restaurants: Le 58 tour Eiffel, on the first floor 311 ft (95 m) above sea level; and the Le Jules Verne, an expensive gastronomical restaurant on the second floor, with a private lift. This restaurant has one star in the Michelin Red Guide. In January 2007, the multi-Michelin star chef Alain Ducasse was brought in to run Jules Verne.[35]
Attempted relocation
According to interviews given in the early 1980s, Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau negotiated a secret agreement with French President Charles de Gaulle for the tower to be dismantled and temporarily relocated to Montreal to serve as a landmark and tourist attraction during Expo 67. The plan was allegedly vetoed by the company which operated the tower out of fear that the French government could refuse permission for the tower to be restored to its original location.[36]
Reproductions
Replica at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel, Nevada, United States
Main article: List of Eiffel Tower replicas
As one of the most iconic images in the world, the Eiffel Tower has been the inspiration for the creation of over 30 duplicates and similar towers around the world.
Communications
Since the beginning of the 20th century, the tower has been used for radio transmission. Until the 1950s, an occasionally modified set of antenna wires ran from the summit to anchors on the Avenue de Suffren and Champ de Mars. They were connected to long-wave transmitters in small bunkers; in 1909, a permanent underground radio centre was built near the south pillar and still exists today. On 20 November 1913, the Paris Observatory, using the Eiffel Tower as an antenna, exchanged sustained wireless signals with the United States Naval Observatory which used an antenna in Arlington, Virginia. The object of the transmissions was to measure the difference in longitude between Paris and Washington, D.C.[37] Today, both radio and television stations broadcast their signals from the top of the Eiffel.
Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower
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Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohenschwangau_Castle
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WORLD IS MY STUDIO sundeepkullu.com
CONFLUENCE OF INDUS 3 km southeast of Nimmu at Ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir Himachal Border India SunDeepKulluDOTcom 111 WOW
“Confluence” Coordinates: 33°46'19?N 76°50'43?E
This is my faourite shot of the Confluence of Indus and Zanskar Rivers is 3km southeast of Nimmu village at Ladakh, India. The Indus runs through entire Ladakh all along by your side serving as a constant companion and you feel a sense of respect for this stream of water that is the lifeline of the people of Ladakh, especially since Ladakh experiences a rainfall of only 2 to 3 inches throughout the year. A land of endless beauty in the form of dry land with monasteris dotting its landscape and lakes so pure that you can only stand agape in awe, is made more exotic by the Indus, on the banks of which one can spend endless evenings just looking into the vastness of Ladakh and reasonably concluding that it is this virgin nature of the land mostly untouched since decades that has kept the people in this gifted land insulated from the world that we claim to be modern.
Soon my first book on 111 MIRACULOUS WONDERS OF WORLD YOU MUST SEE WHEN U ALIVE will be out with "111 WOW" i Phone application by the end of this year. Updating my official website sundeepkullu.com
With Indus constantly flowing by our side, you do not realise that you had reached Nimu. It was only when the driver pointed out that the grandiosity of the sight that unfolded right before our eyes came to the fore. Right in front of us were the Indus and Zanskar Rivers getting lost into each other as if they had flown all along just for that. From this point on, beyond this Confluence of the two, the stream of water is regarded as the Indus River and the Zanskar does not exist beyond this point.
What amazes you most about this Confluence is the difference in colours of the two rivers. The Zanskar no more remains its muddy self beyond this point and loses its parent nature in the process of becoming a part of the Indus making it a sight worth jotting down in your memory book.
The Indus is bright blue, the Zanskar is muddy. The mighty river Indus originates in Tibet, enters Ladakh region of India, flows through Kashmir & enters Pakistan, where it ends it's journey by emptying into the Arabian sea near Karachi. It has many tributeries, some of which are big rivers themselves. One of the world's oldest civilization, the Indus Valley Civilization, grew up in its valley about 35000 years back.
The Suru and Zangskar valleys form a great trough at the foot of the northern, heavily glaciated flank of the Himalayas, while opposite rise the mountains of the Zanskar range. The Suru River forms the western and northern boundary of the Zanskar range. The Suru, after receiving the combined waters of the Dras and Shingo Rivers a short distance north of Kargil, joins the Indus at Marol in Baltistan, which is now on the Pakistan side of the Line of Control.
The Zanskar River is a north-flowing tributary of the Indus. In its upper reaches, the Zanskar has two main branches. First of these, the Doda, has its source near the Pensi-la (4,400 m) (14,450 ft) mountain-pass and flows south-eastwards along the main Zanskar valley leading towards Padum, the capital of Zanskar. The second branch is formed by two main tributaries known as Kargyag river, with its source near the Shingo La (5,091 m) (16,703 ft), and Tsarap river, with its source near the Baralacha-La. These two rivers unite below the village of Purne to form the Lungnak river (also known as the Lingti or Tsarap). The Lungnak river then flows north-westwards along a narrow gorge towards Zanskar's central valley (known locally as gzhung khor), where it unites with the Doda river to form the main Zanskar river. This river then takes a north-eastern course through the dramatic Zanskar Gorge until it joins the Indus near Nimmu in Ladakh.
Thanks Friends Followers Subscribers of sundeepkullu.com/ for your warm wishes on this 23-05 2012 Birthday and making my day so Special.
Well just back from UK busy for next 1 day but will be free on 26 27 28 29 th May as they are my OFF days. I made a resolution to thank each one of you for your wishes individually in your personal e-mail or in comments reply or on my blogs and my official website sundeepkullu.com/
Available on Skype / Facetime / Viber / WhatsApp / Facebook / Google Talk / Yahoo Messenger on 26 , 27 , 28, and 29 th May 2012
to talk to you all friends. Cheers and thanks in advance for your wishes and thoughtfullness on my Birthday May 23rd This 2012.
WORLD IS MY STUDIO
Still on my World tour entering 6th year of World travel to 70+Countries 555+Destinations across 6 Continents I am busy designing my first Travel Photostories Book named "111 MIRACULOUS WONDERS OF WORLD YOU MUST SEE WHEN YOU ALIVE" and corresponding "111 WOW" iPhone Application soon by the end of this year 2012 with special emphasis to following:
1. UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES ( List of Confirmed 936 sites )
2. UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES ( Tentative list submitted by the countries )
2. NEW 7 WONDERS OF WORLD ( 7-7-2007 List )
3. NEW 7 WONDERS OF WORLD FINALISTS
4. NEW 7 WONDERS OF NATURE ( 11-11-2011 to 2012 List )
5. NEW 7 WONDERS OF NATURE FINALISTS
6. RAMSAR WETLAND RESERVE OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE
7. INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE In terms of the NATURAL BEAUTY of the site HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE and MODERN WORLD POPULARITY as a list compiled by SunDeep Bhardwaj Kullu for 111 WOW Travel Photostories Book series by year statrting 2012. In the book photographs of stunning places on earth worth FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY are published in Digital and Coffee Table book format. Online auctions and Online Exibitions on FINE ART INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM F.A.I.M. ( fineartim.com/) will be available in times to come with with EXHIBITIONS in artists hometown and exclusive art gallery HIMACHAL CULTURAL VILLAGE ( Ethnic cultural experience in the Himalayas of India ) HCV Kullu-Manali, Near Naggar Castle & Roerich Art Gallery, Naggar , Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India ( Proposed)
8. WONDERS OF WORLD WIKIPEDIA LIST
9 .OTHER WONDERS OF WORLD LISTS INTERNET & LISTOLOGY
10. Most Exotic locations to travel on Earth across 7 Continents
11. Unexplored Spectacular Landscapes of World
12. Himalayan Arc ( 2400 Kms/ 1500 Miles) Stupendous Landscapes, Culture and People Photostories
13. Historic Cities of the World
14. Famous citiscapes froma himalayan photographer eyes
15.Himalayas in INDIA , TIBET, NEPAL, BHUTAN, PAKISTAN, ARUNACHAL PRADESH, PAKISTAN & CHINA
16. Unforgettable Himachal in Incredible India a journey of people, culture, festivals by sundeepkullu.com/
17 World People & Portraits
18. Most sacred sites of the World
Biggest Socila & Sports Gatherings in the Modern World
19. Clours of India by Sundeep Bhardwaj
Tallest , Largest, Highest, Lowest points and places and architecture on Earth
20. World Festivals
Covered till date:
6 Continents | 70+Countries | 555+Destinations | 16 Years | 2222 Fine Art Photostories
Planning to take above figures and my Timeline to:
7 Continents | 77 Countries | 777 Destinations | 17 Years | 7777 Fine Art Photostories
SunDeep ™ Bhardwaj World Photography ™ | SDBWP™ | 7 years Amazing World Tour May 2007-till date-continued to 2014 if possible | 10 years Incredible India tour from year 1997-2007 May including Unforgettable Himachal Tour since Childhood |
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+91 8527745789 India and World roaming
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Thanks and regards sundeepkullu.com/ — at Sundeep™ Bhardwaj World Photography SDBWP™
Available on Skype / Facetime / Viber / WhatsApp / Facebook / Google Talk / Yahoo Messenger on 26 , 27 , 28, and 29 th May 2012 to talk to you all friends. Cheers and thakns for your wishes and thoughtfullness.
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Recently Explored in first half of 2012
*AUSTRALIA-Melbourne-Great Ocean Road-Twelve Apostles this week
*BELGIUM Brussels
*DENMARK-Copenhagen, VIETNAM Hanoi-Halong Bay
*MALAYSIA-Kuala Lumpur-Kanting Falls-Batu Caves-Petronas Twin Towers
*CANADA-Quebec-Ontario-Montreal
*SOUTH AFRICA Johnnesburg-The Cradle of Mankind-Stolkfontien Caves and Lion & Rino Park
*INDIA-Kashmir-Gulmarg-Srinagar-HIMACHAL-Kullu-Manali-Shimla-Lahaul-Spiti -Dharamshala-Kinnaur-Udaipur-Leh-Laddakh-*KERALA-Athirappily & Vazhachal Falls
*GERMANY-BAVERIA-Black Forest-Oberbayern-Garmich Patenkirchen-Eibsee Lake-Zugspitze
*UK-SCOTLAND Glencoe-Fort William-Castle around Scotland-Lochness-ENGLAND-London-Manchester-Glasgow
*ITALY-Rome-UNESCO Heritage Sites around Rome
*VATICAN CITY-Samallest Country in the World
*CHINA-Shanghai-Zhejiang-Hangzhou-The West Lake-Chongquing-Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area-Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries-Lushan-Buddha JAPAN Horyuji Temple 1300 years old Japan's most sacred place & UNESCO site
*UAE-Al Ain-Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Burj Al Arab-Al Khaleefa Tallest building in the World,
*SWEDEN-Stocholm-National Parks
*NORWAY-Oslo
Among all the exotic places i have trevelled to in last 16 years, this place stands to be the most exotic place i have ever seen in my life. The very reason it makes the first page of my Travel Photostories book. For complete story visit my official website sundeepkullu.com
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Mount Emei
"Omei Shan" redirects here. For the bird, see Grey-faced Liocichla.
"峨眉山" redirects here. For the county-level city, see Emeishan City.
Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
CountryPeople's Republic of China
TypeCultural and Natural (Mixed)
Criteriaiv, vi, x
Reference779
Region **Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription1996 (20th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List
** Region as classified by UNESCO
Mount Emei
Emei Shan
Mount Emei
Emeishan City, Sichuan
Elevation3,099 m (10,167 ft)
Location
Coordinates29°31′11″N 103°19′57″ECoordinates: 29°31′11″N 103°19′57″E
Part of the series on
Chinese martial arts
List of Chinese martial arts
Terms
Kung fu (功夫)
Wushu (武術)
Qigong (氣功)
Historical places
Shaolin Monastery (少林寺)
Wudang Mountains (武當山)
Mount Hua (華山)
Mount Emei (峨嵋山)
Kunlun Mountains (崑崙山)
Historical people
Yim Wing-chun (嚴詠春)
Hung Hei-gun (洪熙官)
Fong Sai-yuk (方世玉)
Dong Haichuan (董海川)
Yang Lu-ch'an (楊露禪)
Wu Quanyou (吳全佑)
Ten Tigers of Canton (廣東十虎)
Chen Fake (陳發科)
Chan Heung (陳享)
Wong Fei-hung (黃飛鴻)
Sun Lu-t'ang (孫祿堂)
Huo Yuanjia (霍元甲)
Yip Man (葉問)
Wang Zi-Ping (王子平)
Famous modern actors
Bruce Lee (李小龍)
Jackie Chan (成龍)
Sammo Hung (洪金寶)
Yuen Biao (元彪)
Jet Li (李連杰)
Donnie Yen (甄子丹)
Legendary figures
Bodhidharma (菩提達摩)
Zhang Sanfeng (張三丰)
Eight immortals (八仙)
Five Elders (五祖)
Related
Hong Kong action cinema
Wushu (sport)
Wuxia (武俠)
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Mount Emei (Chinese: 峨嵋山; pinyin: Éméi Shān; Wade–Giles: O2-mei2 Shan1, pronounced [ɤ̌měɪ̯ ʂán]) is a mountain in Sichuan province, China. Mount Emei is often written as 峨眉山 and occasionally 峩嵋山 or 峩眉山 but all three are translated as Mount Emei or Mount Emeishan: the word 峨 can mean "high" or "lofty", but the mountain's name is merely a toponym that carries no additional meaning.
Orographically, Mt. Emei sits at the western rim of the Sichuan Basin. The mountains west of it are known as Daxiangling.[1] A large surrounding area of countryside is geologically known as the Permian Emeishan Large Igneous Province, a large igneous province generated by the Emeishan Traps volcanic eruptions during the Permian Period. At 3,099 metres (10,167 ft), Mt. Emei is the highest of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China.[2]
Administratively, Mt. Emei (Emeishan) is located near the county-level city of the same name (Emeishan City), which is part of the prefecture-level city of Leshan.
Mt. Emei was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.[3]
Leshan Giant Buddha
Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
CountryPeople's Republic of China
TypeMixed
Criteriaiv, vi, x
Reference779
Region **Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription1996 (20th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List
** Region as classified by UNESCO
The Leshan Giant Buddha (simplified Chinese: 乐山大佛; traditional Chinese: 樂山大佛; pinyin: Lèshān Dàfó) was built during the Tang Dynasty (618–907AD). It is carved out of a cliff face that lies at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers in the southern part of Sichuan province in China, near the city of Leshan. The stone sculpture faces Mount Emei, with the rivers flowing below his feet. It is the largest carved stone Buddha in the world[1] and it is by far the tallest pre-modern statue in the world.
The Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. It was not damaged by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.[2]
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As the bodhimaṇḍa of Samantabhadra
Mount Emei is one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China, and is traditionally regarded as the bodhimaṇḍa, or place of enlightenment, of the bodhisattva Samantabhadra. Samantabhadra is known in Mandarin as Pǔxián Púsà (普賢菩薩).
16th and 17th century sources allude to the practice of martial arts in the monasteries of Mount Emei[4] made the earliest extant reference to the Shaolin Monastery as Chinese boxing's place of origin.[5]
[edit]Buddhist architecture on Emei
This is the location of the first Buddhist temple built in China in the 1st century CE.[3] The site has seventy-six Buddhist monasteries of the Ming and Qing period, most of them located near the mountain top. The monasteries demonstrate a flexible architectural style that adapts to the landscape. Some, such as the halls of Baoguosi, are built on terraces of varying levels, while others, including the structures of Leiyinsi, are on raised stilts. Here the fixed plans of Buddhist monasteries of earlier periods were modified or ignored in order to make full use of the natural scenery. The buildings of Qingyinge are laid out in an irregular plot on the narrow piece of land between the Black Dragon River and the White Dragon River. The site is large and the winding foot path is 50 km, taking several days to walk.[6]
Cable cars ease the ascent to the two temples at Jinding (3,077 m), an hour's hike from the mountain's peak.[2][7]
[edit]Sunrise and clouds sea
Great spectacles of Mount Emei include the sunrise and Clouds Sea seen from the Golden Summit of the mountain.
The sunrise is very varied, but optimally begins with the ground and sky being in the same dark purple, soon showing rosy clouds, followed by a bright purple arc and then a semicircle where the sun is coming up.[8]
The Clouds Sea includes several cloud phenomena, e.g. clouds appearing in the sky above, in addition to the regular clouds beneath.[8]
[edit]Climate
The summit of Mount Emei has an alpine subarctic climate (Köppen Dwc), with long, cold (but not severely so) winters, and short, cool summers. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from −5.7 °C (21.7 °F) in January to 11.6 °C (52.9 °F), and an annual mean of 3.07 °C (37.5 °F). Precipitation is common year-round, but due to the influence of the monsoon, rainfall is especially heavy in summer, and more than 70% of the annual total occurs from June to September.
Head of the statue
Construction was started in 713, led by a Chinese monk named Haitong. He hoped that the Buddha would calm the turbulent waters that plagued the shipping vessels traveling down the river. When funding for the project was threatened, he is said to have gouged out his own eyes to show his piety and sincerity. After his death, however, the construction was stuck due to insufficient funding. About 70 years later, a jiedushi decided to sponsor the project and the construction was completed by Haitong's disciples in 803.
Apparently the massive construction resulted in so much stone being removed from the cliff face and deposited into the river below that the currents were indeed altered by the statue, making the waters safe for passing ships.
[edit]Degradation
The Leshan Buddha has been affected by the pollution emanating from the unbridled development in the region. According to Xinhua news agency, the Leshan Giant Buddha and many Chinese natural and cultural heritage sites in the region have seen degradations from weathering, air pollution, and swarms of tourists. The government has promised to restore the site to its former condition.[3]
[edit]Dimensions
At 71 metres (233 feet) tall, the statue depicts a seated Maitreya Buddha with his hands resting on his knees. His shoulders are 28 metres wide and his smallest toenail is large enough to easily accommodate a seated person. There is a local saying: "The mountain is a Buddha and the Buddha is a mountain". This is partially because the mountain range in which the Leshan Giant Buddha is located is thought to be shaped like a slumbering Buddha when seen from the river, with the Leshan Giant Buddha as its heart.
MESSI AT ARGENTINA vs BRAZIL at DOHA QATAR 2010-11-17 20_28_36_01 DOHA KHALIFA
Messi scores to lead Argentina over Brazil 1-0
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DOHA, Qatar – Lionel Messi scored in injury time to give Argentina a 1-0 victory over Brazil on Wednesday night in an exhibition between South American rivals.
Messi scored his 15th goal in 53 international appearances, sidestepping two defenders before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Victor. The reigning FIFA player of the year has 19 goals in 16 games for Barcelona and 66 in his last 65 games for his club.
Brazil's best chance came in the 16th minute when Daniel Alves, Messi's Barcelona teammate, hit the crossbar from inside the penalty area. Ronaldinho, in his first Brazil appearance since April 2009. had several shots on goal.
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Lahaul and Spiti district
The district of Lahaul-Spiti in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh consists of the two formerly separate districts of Lahaul and Spiti. The present administrative centre is Keylong in Lahaul. Before the two districts were merged, Kardang was the capital of Lahaul, and Dhankar the capital of Spiti.
Kunzum la or the Kunzum Pass (altitude 4,551 m; 14,931 ft) is the entrance pass to the Spiti Valley from Lahaul. It is 21 km from Chandra Tal.[1] This district is connected to Manali through the Rohtang Pass. To the south, Spiti ends 24 km from Tabo, at the Pare chu gorge where the road enters Kinnaur and joins with National Highway No. 22.[2]
The two valleys are quite different in character. Spiti is more barren and difficult to cross, with an average elevation of the valley floor of 4,270 m (14,009 ft). It is enclosed between lofty ranges, with the Spiti river rushing out of a gorge in the southeast to meet the Sutlej River. It is a typical mountain desert area with an average annual rainfall of only 170 mm (6.7 inches).[3]
Flora and fauna
Lahaul valley in winter
Mountain peak in Lahaul and Spiti district
The harsh conditions of Lahaul permit only scattered tufts of hardy grasses and shrubs to grow, even below 4,000 metres. Glacier lines are usually found at 5,000 metres.
Animals such as yaks and dzos roam across the wild Lingti plains. However, over-hunting and a decrease in food supplies has led to a large decrease in the population of the Tibetan antelope, argali, kiangs, musk deer, and snow leopards in these regions, reducing them to the status of endangered species. However, in the Lahaul valley, one can see ibex, brown bears, foxes and snow leopards during winter.
[edit]People
Mother and child in near Gandhola Monastery. 2004
The language, culture, and populations of Lahaul and Spiti are closely related. Generally the Lahaulis are of Tibetan and Indo-Aryan descent, while the Spiti Bhotia are more similar to the Tibetans, owing to their proximity to Tibet. Fairer skin and hazel-colored eyes are commonly seen among the Lahaulis.
The languages of both the Lahauli and Spiti Bhutia belong to the Tibetan family. They are very similar to the Ladakhi and Tibetans culturally, as they had been placed under the rule of the Guge and Ladakh kingdoms at occasional intervals.
Among the Lahaulis, the family acts as the basic unit of kinship. The extended family system is common, evolved from the polyandric system of the past. The family is headed by a senior male member, known as the Yunda, while his wife, known as the Yundamo, attains authority by being the oldest member in the generation. The clan system, also known as Rhus, plays another major role in the Lahauli society.
The Spiti Bhutia community has an inheritance system that is otherwise unique to the Tibetans. Upon the death of both parents, only the eldest son will inherit the family property, while the eldest daughter inherits the mother's jewellery, and the younger siblings inherit nothing. Men usually fall back on the social security system of the Trans-Himalayan Gompas.
[edit]Lifestyle
The lifestyles of the Lahauli and Spiti Bhotia are similar, owing to their proximity. Polyandry was widely practiced by the Lahaulis in the past, although this practice has been dying out. The Spiti Bhutia do not generally practice polyandry any more, although it is accepted in a few isolated regions.
Divorces are accomplished by a simple ceremony performed in the presence of village elders. Divorce can be sought by either partner. The husband has to pay compensation to his ex-wife if she does not remarry. However, this is uncommon among the Lahaulis.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Potato farming is common. Occupations include animal husbandry, working in government programs, government services, and other businesses and crafts that include weaving. Houses are constructed in the Tibetan architectural style, as the land in Lahul and Spiti is mountainous and quite prone to earthquakes.
[edit]Religion
Kunzum Pass between Lahul & Spiti
Ki-Gompa Spiti
Most of the Lahaulis follow a combination of Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyu order, while the Spiti Bhotia follow Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelugpa order. Within Lahoul/swangla, the Baralacha-La region had the strongest Buddhist influence, owing to its close proximity to Spiti. Lahoul/swangla has temples such as Triloknath , where pilgrims worship a certain god in different manifestations, notably in the form of Shiva and Avalokiteshvara where Udaipur is a puritan temple. This bas-relief, of marble, depicts the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara (the embodiment of the Buddha's compassion) in a stylized seated position; Hindu devotees take it to be Shiva Nataraj, Shiva dancing. This image appears to be of sixteenth century Chamba craftsmanship. It was created to replace the original black stone image of the deity, which became damaged by art looters. This original image is kept beneath the plinth of the shrine. It appears to be of 12th century Kashmiri provenance . Much of the art thieves are active in this remote belt because of neglected gompas and temples.
Before the spread of Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism, the people were adherents of the religion 'Lung Pe Chhoi', an animistic religion that had some affinities with the Bön religion of Tibet. While the religion flourished, animal and human sacrifices were regularly offered up to the 'Iha', a term that refers to evil spirits residing in the natural world, notably in the old pencil-cedar trees, rocks and caves. Vestiges of the Lung Pe Chhoi religion can be seen in the behaviour of the Lamas, who are believed to possess certain supernatural powers.
The Losar festival (also known as Halda in Lahauli) is celebrated between the months of January and February. The date of celebration is decided by the Lamas. It has the same significance as the Diwali festival of Hinduism, but is celebrated in a Tibetan fashion.
At the start of the festival, two or three persons from every household will come holding burning incense. The burning sticks are then piled into a bonfire. The people will then pray to Shiskar Apa, the goddess of wealth (other name Vasudhara) in the Buddhist religion.
In the Pattan belt of the valley in Lahoul most population follows Hinduism,but counts for 14 percent of the total and they are called swanglas. The fagli festival is celebrated between February and March all over the valley. This festival is a new year festival and closely precedes beginning of tibetian and Chinese calendar. Notable is the Pattan people are the late settlers in the valley around 1500 A.D. and have broad highlights and have distinct language on the likes the central Asians,chamba, pangi, pashtoons and uyghurs. This belt is known for the convergence for chandra and bhaga rivers to form Chenab.
[edit]Tourism
Ki Gompa
The natural scenery and Buddhist monasteries, such as Ki, Dhankar, Shashur, Guru Ghantal and Tayul Gompas, are the main tourist attractions of the region.
One of the most interesting places is the Tabo Monastery, located 45 km from Kaza, Himachal Pradesh, the capital of the Spiti region. This monastery rose to prominence when it celebrated its thousandth year of existence in 1996. It houses a collection of Buddhist scriptures, Buddhist statues and Thangkas. The ancient gompa is finished with mud plaster, and contains several scriptures and documents. Lama Dzangpo heads the gompa here. There is a modern guest house with a dining hall and all facilities are available.
Another famous gompa, Kardang Monastery, is located at an elevation of 3,500 metres across the river, about 8 km from Keylong. Kardang is well connected by the road via the Tandi bridge which is about 14 km from Keylong. Built in the 12th century, this monastery houses a large library of Buddhist literature including the main Kangyur and Tangyur scriptures.
The treacherous weather in Lahaul and Spiti permits visitors to tour only between the months of June to October, when the roads and villages are free of snow and the high passes (Rothang La and Kunzum La) are open. It is possible to access Spiti from Kinnaur (along the Sutlej) all through the year, although the road is sometimes temporarily closed by landslides or avalanches.
Buddhist Monasteries in Spiti: Spiti is one of the important centers of Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh. It is popularly known as the 'land of lamas'. The valley is dotted by numerous Buddhist Monasteries or Gompas that are famous throughout the world and are a favorite of Dalai Lama.
Kye Monastery: Kye Monastery in Spiti is the main research center of the Buddhists in India. Near about 300 lamas are receiving their religious training from here. It is oldest and biggest monastery in Spiti. It houses the rare painting and beautiful scriptures of Buddha and other gods and goddess. You may also find rare 'Thangka' paintings and ancient musical instruments 'trumpets, cymbals, and drums in the monastery.
Tabo Monastery: Perched at an amazing altitude of 3050 meters, Tabo Monastery in the valley of Spiti is often referred to as the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'. The 10th century Tabo Monastery was founded by the great scholar, Richen Zangpo, and has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The monastery houses more than 6 lamas and contains the rare collection of scriptures, pieces of art, wall paintings -Tankhas and Stucco.
Flora and fauna of Spiti Valley: The valley is blessed with the good population of snow leopards, ibex, Himalayan Brown Bear, Musk Deer, Himalayan Blue Sheep etc. which serves as the boon for the wildlife lovers. There are two important protected areas in the region that are a home to snow leopard and its prey including the Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Surprisingly, due to ardent religious beliefs, people of Spiti do not hunt these wild animals.
Apart from the exotic wildlife, the Valley of Spiti is also known for its amazing wealth of flora and the profusion of wild flowers. Some of the mot common species found here include Causinia thomsonii, Seseli trilobum, Crepis flexuosa, Caragana brevifolia and Krascheninikovia ceratoides. Then there are more than 62 species of medicinal plants found here.
Adventure activities:
To- do-Trials: For trekkers, the Spiti Valley is a paradise, offering challenging treks to explore the new heights of the Himalayas. The treks takes you to the most remote areas including the rugged villages and old Gompas followed by the exotic wildlife trails. Some of the popular trekking routes in the area includes Kaza-Langza-Hikim-Comic-Kaza, Kaza-Ki-Kibber-Gete-Kaza, Kaza-Losar-Kunzum La and Kaza-Tabo-Sumdo-Nako. Please note that you carry all the necessary things before out for the trekking tour to Spiti. Tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, heavy woollens and sunglasses are a must.
Skiing: Skiing is the popular adventure sports in Spiti and is popular in India from the past few years. The amazing snow clad mountains with the added advantage of inspiring heights are enough to allure the adventure spirits of the avid skier, providing all the thrill and fun attracted to the sport. People from all around the globe come to experience this enthralling adventure activity.
Yak Safari: The most exciting of all adventure activities in Spiti is the Yak safari. You can hire the Yak to see the flora and fauna of trans-Himalayan desert. It is, in fact, the lifetime opportunity that you won't find anywhere else so easily. Apart from this, horse safaris are also conducted in this area.
Sources en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahaul_and_Spiti_district
IF YOU LIKE AND WANT TO COMMENT ANY PICTURES IN SDBWP (SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography)
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To protect my work i load pictures only on flickr and they are in web compatible resolutions only.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
Groups i administer on facebook and flickr (1000 plus members allready in few months )
ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY & WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF SERIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS on facebook
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111942842150274
HIMACHAL Kullu Manali, Sundernagar Mandi, Dharamsala,Shimla,Lahaul Spiti12
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=234474081858
ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY & WORLD THROUGH SERIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS EYES
www.flickr.com/groups/prodigious/
I intent to publish in near future the TRAVEL PHOTOBOOKS on
Landscapes in 6 Continents (Title 1- Stupendous Landscapes across 6 Continents) ,
Wonders of World (Title 2 - "Ancient and New 7 Wonders of World from a Himalayan Photographers Eye") ,
28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (Title 3 -"All 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India") ,
Himalayas in India, Nepal, China, Tibet & Bhutan (Title 4 -"Stupendous Himalayas"),
UNESCO Interesting World Heritage Sites across globe ( Title 5 - "Best of UNESCO World Heritage Sites") ,
Himachal Pradesh (Title 6 - "Unforgettable Himachal Pradesh" Photostories by SunDeep® Bhardwaj sundeepkullu.com)
I do not allow downloading of my images and they are digitally watermarked with Digimarc (DMRC) which makes it easier for me to identify any unauthorised party using the across web or any media. Even if my work is downloaded in full or in part Digimarc is capable of tracing the use of images across web or any other media. Due to previous copyright infringement by parties not authorised in written by me, i have penalised parties using my images without my permisision. I stock my photos on my official website sundeepkullu.com and flickr (the world's best photography website for professionals amateurs and serious photographers as well as photo admirers) in web compatible resolutions only with no permissions to download or use my pictures in any kind of media without prior written permission from me. Thanks for your understanding.
Thanks for your LIKES and COMMENTS and VISITING
WORLD IS MY STUDIO "I live with one vision to create things that would outlast me. I discovered photography as a means for me to connect with my innerself"........... SunDeep® Bhardwaj Kullu
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Lahaul and Spiti district
The district of Lahaul-Spiti in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh consists of the two formerly separate districts of Lahaul and Spiti. The present administrative centre is Keylong in Lahaul. Before the two districts were merged, Kardang was the capital of Lahaul, and Dhankar the capital of Spiti.
Kunzum la or the Kunzum Pass (altitude 4,551 m; 14,931 ft) is the entrance pass to the Spiti Valley from Lahaul. It is 21 km from Chandra Tal.[1] This district is connected to Manali through the Rohtang Pass. To the south, Spiti ends 24 km from Tabo, at the Pare chu gorge where the road enters Kinnaur and joins with National Highway No. 22.[2]
The two valleys are quite different in character. Spiti is more barren and difficult to cross, with an average elevation of the valley floor of 4,270 m (14,009 ft). It is enclosed between lofty ranges, with the Spiti river rushing out of a gorge in the southeast to meet the Sutlej River. It is a typical mountain desert area with an average annual rainfall of only 170 mm (6.7 inches).[3]
Flora and fauna
Lahaul valley in winter
Mountain peak in Lahaul and Spiti district
The harsh conditions of Lahaul permit only scattered tufts of hardy grasses and shrubs to grow, even below 4,000 metres. Glacier lines are usually found at 5,000 metres.
Animals such as yaks and dzos roam across the wild Lingti plains. However, over-hunting and a decrease in food supplies has led to a large decrease in the population of the Tibetan antelope, argali, kiangs, musk deer, and snow leopards in these regions, reducing them to the status of endangered species. However, in the Lahaul valley, one can see ibex, brown bears, foxes and snow leopards during winter.
[edit]People
Mother and child in near Gandhola Monastery. 2004
The language, culture, and populations of Lahaul and Spiti are closely related. Generally the Lahaulis are of Tibetan and Indo-Aryan descent, while the Spiti Bhotia are more similar to the Tibetans, owing to their proximity to Tibet. Fairer skin and hazel-colored eyes are commonly seen among the Lahaulis.
The languages of both the Lahauli and Spiti Bhutia belong to the Tibetan family. They are very similar to the Ladakhi and Tibetans culturally, as they had been placed under the rule of the Guge and Ladakh kingdoms at occasional intervals.
Among the Lahaulis, the family acts as the basic unit of kinship. The extended family system is common, evolved from the polyandric system of the past. The family is headed by a senior male member, known as the Yunda, while his wife, known as the Yundamo, attains authority by being the oldest member in the generation. The clan system, also known as Rhus, plays another major role in the Lahauli society.
The Spiti Bhutia community has an inheritance system that is otherwise unique to the Tibetans. Upon the death of both parents, only the eldest son will inherit the family property, while the eldest daughter inherits the mother's jewellery, and the younger siblings inherit nothing. Men usually fall back on the social security system of the Trans-Himalayan Gompas.
[edit]Lifestyle
The lifestyles of the Lahauli and Spiti Bhotia are similar, owing to their proximity. Polyandry was widely practiced by the Lahaulis in the past, although this practice has been dying out. The Spiti Bhutia do not generally practice polyandry any more, although it is accepted in a few isolated regions.
Divorces are accomplished by a simple ceremony performed in the presence of village elders. Divorce can be sought by either partner. The husband has to pay compensation to his ex-wife if she does not remarry. However, this is uncommon among the Lahaulis.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Potato farming is common. Occupations include animal husbandry, working in government programs, government services, and other businesses and crafts that include weaving. Houses are constructed in the Tibetan architectural style, as the land in Lahul and Spiti is mountainous and quite prone to earthquakes.
[edit]Religion
Kunzum Pass between Lahul & Spiti
Ki-Gompa Spiti
Most of the Lahaulis follow a combination of Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyu order, while the Spiti Bhotia follow Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelugpa order. Within Lahoul/swangla, the Baralacha-La region had the strongest Buddhist influence, owing to its close proximity to Spiti. Lahoul/swangla has temples such as Triloknath , where pilgrims worship a certain god in different manifestations, notably in the form of Shiva and Avalokiteshvara where Udaipur is a puritan temple. This bas-relief, of marble, depicts the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara (the embodiment of the Buddha's compassion) in a stylized seated position; Hindu devotees take it to be Shiva Nataraj, Shiva dancing. This image appears to be of sixteenth century Chamba craftsmanship. It was created to replace the original black stone image of the deity, which became damaged by art looters. This original image is kept beneath the plinth of the shrine. It appears to be of 12th century Kashmiri provenance . Much of the art thieves are active in this remote belt because of neglected gompas and temples.
Before the spread of Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism, the people were adherents of the religion 'Lung Pe Chhoi', an animistic religion that had some affinities with the Bön religion of Tibet. While the religion flourished, animal and human sacrifices were regularly offered up to the 'Iha', a term that refers to evil spirits residing in the natural world, notably in the old pencil-cedar trees, rocks and caves. Vestiges of the Lung Pe Chhoi religion can be seen in the behaviour of the Lamas, who are believed to possess certain supernatural powers.
The Losar festival (also known as Halda in Lahauli) is celebrated between the months of January and February. The date of celebration is decided by the Lamas. It has the same significance as the Diwali festival of Hinduism, but is celebrated in a Tibetan fashion.
At the start of the festival, two or three persons from every household will come holding burning incense. The burning sticks are then piled into a bonfire. The people will then pray to Shiskar Apa, the goddess of wealth (other name Vasudhara) in the Buddhist religion.
In the Pattan belt of the valley in Lahoul most population follows Hinduism,but counts for 14 percent of the total and they are called swanglas. The fagli festival is celebrated between February and March all over the valley. This festival is a new year festival and closely precedes beginning of tibetian and Chinese calendar. Notable is the Pattan people are the late settlers in the valley around 1500 A.D. and have broad highlights and have distinct language on the likes the central Asians,chamba, pangi, pashtoons and uyghurs. This belt is known for the convergence for chandra and bhaga rivers to form Chenab.
[edit]Tourism
Ki Gompa
The natural scenery and Buddhist monasteries, such as Ki, Dhankar, Shashur, Guru Ghantal and Tayul Gompas, are the main tourist attractions of the region.
One of the most interesting places is the Tabo Monastery, located 45 km from Kaza, Himachal Pradesh, the capital of the Spiti region. This monastery rose to prominence when it celebrated its thousandth year of existence in 1996. It houses a collection of Buddhist scriptures, Buddhist statues and Thangkas. The ancient gompa is finished with mud plaster, and contains several scriptures and documents. Lama Dzangpo heads the gompa here. There is a modern guest house with a dining hall and all facilities are available.
Another famous gompa, Kardang Monastery, is located at an elevation of 3,500 metres across the river, about 8 km from Keylong. Kardang is well connected by the road via the Tandi bridge which is about 14 km from Keylong. Built in the 12th century, this monastery houses a large library of Buddhist literature including the main Kangyur and Tangyur scriptures.
The treacherous weather in Lahaul and Spiti permits visitors to tour only between the months of June to October, when the roads and villages are free of snow and the high passes (Rothang La and Kunzum La) are open. It is possible to access Spiti from Kinnaur (along the Sutlej) all through the year, although the road is sometimes temporarily closed by landslides or avalanches.
Buddhist Monasteries in Spiti: Spiti is one of the important centers of Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh. It is popularly known as the 'land of lamas'. The valley is dotted by numerous Buddhist Monasteries or Gompas that are famous throughout the world and are a favorite of Dalai Lama.
Kye Monastery: Kye Monastery in Spiti is the main research center of the Buddhists in India. Near about 300 lamas are receiving their religious training from here. It is oldest and biggest monastery in Spiti. It houses the rare painting and beautiful scriptures of Buddha and other gods and goddess. You may also find rare 'Thangka' paintings and ancient musical instruments 'trumpets, cymbals, and drums in the monastery.
Tabo Monastery: Perched at an amazing altitude of 3050 meters, Tabo Monastery in the valley of Spiti is often referred to as the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'. The 10th century Tabo Monastery was founded by the great scholar, Richen Zangpo, and has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The monastery houses more than 6 lamas and contains the rare collection of scriptures, pieces of art, wall paintings -Tankhas and Stucco.
Flora and fauna of Spiti Valley: The valley is blessed with the good population of snow leopards, ibex, Himalayan Brown Bear, Musk Deer, Himalayan Blue Sheep etc. which serves as the boon for the wildlife lovers. There are two important protected areas in the region that are a home to snow leopard and its prey including the Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Surprisingly, due to ardent religious beliefs, people of Spiti do not hunt these wild animals.
Apart from the exotic wildlife, the Valley of Spiti is also known for its amazing wealth of flora and the profusion of wild flowers. Some of the mot common species found here include Causinia thomsonii, Seseli trilobum, Crepis flexuosa, Caragana brevifolia and Krascheninikovia ceratoides. Then there are more than 62 species of medicinal plants found here.
Adventure activities:
To- do-Trials: For trekkers, the Spiti Valley is a paradise, offering challenging treks to explore the new heights of the Himalayas. The treks takes you to the most remote areas including the rugged villages and old Gompas followed by the exotic wildlife trails. Some of the popular trekking routes in the area includes Kaza-Langza-Hikim-Comic-Kaza, Kaza-Ki-Kibber-Gete-Kaza, Kaza-Losar-Kunzum La and Kaza-Tabo-Sumdo-Nako. Please note that you carry all the necessary things before out for the trekking tour to Spiti. Tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, heavy woollens and sunglasses are a must.
Skiing: Skiing is the popular adventure sports in Spiti and is popular in India from the past few years. The amazing snow clad mountains with the added advantage of inspiring heights are enough to allure the adventure spirits of the avid skier, providing all the thrill and fun attracted to the sport. People from all around the globe come to experience this enthralling adventure activity.
Yak Safari: The most exciting of all adventure activities in Spiti is the Yak safari. You can hire the Yak to see the flora and fauna of trans-Himalayan desert. It is, in fact, the lifetime opportunity that you won't find anywhere else so easily. Apart from this, horse safaris are also conducted in this area.
Sources en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahaul_and_Spiti_district
IF YOU LIKE AND WANT TO COMMENT ANY PICTURES IN SDBWP (SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography)
PLEASE SIGN IN TO FLICKR (using yahoo ID) AND COMMENT ONLY THERE
Thanks for your understanding.
sundeepkullu.com is my official website and if you LIKE to COMMENT go to sundeepkullu.com and click on photos you like to COMMENT by clicking thumbnails under different pages or alternatively by visiting flickr.com/photos/wittysam. You may need to sign-in to flickr.com with your Yahoo account to comment on my flickr Photostream where i stock my World Tour Pictures shot in 50+ Countries 200+ Destinations across 6 Continents.
To protect my work i load pictures only on flickr and they are in web compatible resolutions only.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
Groups i administer on facebook and flickr (1000 plus members allready in few months )
ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY & WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF SERIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS on facebook
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111942842150274
HIMACHAL Kullu Manali, Sundernagar Mandi, Dharamsala,Shimla,Lahaul Spiti12
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=234474081858
ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY & WORLD THROUGH SERIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS EYES
www.flickr.com/groups/prodigious/
I intent to publish in near future the TRAVEL PHOTOBOOKS on
Landscapes in 6 Continents (Title 1- Stupendous Landscapes across 6 Continents) ,
Wonders of World (Title 2 - "Ancient and New 7 Wonders of World from a Himalayan Photographers Eye") ,
28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (Title 3 -"All 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India") ,
Himalayas in India, Nepal, China, Tibet & Bhutan (Title 4 -"Stupendous Himalayas"),
UNESCO Interesting World Heritage Sites across globe ( Title 5 - "Best of UNESCO World Heritage Sites") ,
Himachal Pradesh (Title 6 - "Unforgettable Himachal Pradesh" Photostories by SunDeep® Bhardwaj sundeepkullu.com)
I do not allow downloading of my images and they are digitally watermarked with Digimarc (DMRC) which makes it easier for me to identify any unauthorised party using the across web or any media. Even if my work is downloaded in full or in part Digimarc is capable of tracing the use of images across web or any other media. Due to previous copyright infringement by parties not authorised in written by me, i have penalised parties using my images without my permisision. I stock my photos on my official website sundeepkullu.com and flickr (the world's best photography website for professionals amateurs and serious photographers as well as photo admirers) in web compatible resolutions only with no permissions to download or use my pictures in any kind of media without prior written permission from me. Thanks for your understanding.
Thanks for your LIKES and COMMENTS and VISITING
WORLD IS MY STUDIO "I live with one vision to create things that would outlast me. I discovered photography as a means for me to connect with my innerself"........... SunDeep® Bhardwaj Kullu
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Quebec City
Quebec ( /kw?'b?k/ or /k?'b?k/; French: Québec [keb?k] ( listen)), also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City (French: Ville de Québec) is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of 2011, the city has a population of 516,622,[1] and the metropolitan area has a population of 765,706[2], making it the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about 233 kilometres (145 mi) to the southwest.
The narrowing of the Saint Lawrence River approximate to the city's promontory, Cap-Diamant (Cape Diamond), and Lévis, on the opposite bank, provided the name given to the city, Kébec, an Algonquin word meaning "where the river narrows". Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Quebec City is one of the oldest cities in North America. The ramparts surrounding Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec) are the only remaining fortified city walls that still exist in the Americas north of Mexico, and were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 as the 'Historic District of Old Québec'.[3][4]
According to the federal and provincial governments, Québec is the city's official name in both French and English, although Quebec City is commonly used, particularly to distinguish the city from the province. The city's most famous landmark is the Château Frontenac, a hotel which dominates the skyline. The National Assembly of Quebec, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (National Gallery of Quebec), and the Musée de la civilisation (Museum of Civilization) are found within or near Vieux-Québec.
Quebec
Quebec /kw?'b?k/ or /k?'b?k/ (French: Québec [keb?k] ( listen))[7] is a province in east-central Canada.[8][9] It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level. Quebec is Canada's largest province by area and its second-largest administrative division; only the territory of Nunavut is larger. It is bordered to the west by the province of Ontario, James Bay and Hudson Bay, to the north by Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay, to the east by the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick. It is bordered on the south by the US states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. It also shares maritime borders with Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.
Quebec is Canada's second most populous province, after Ontario. Most inhabitants live in urban areas near the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City, the capital. English-speaking communities and English-language institutions are concentrated in the west of the island of Montreal but are also significantly present in the Outaouais, Eastern Townships, and Gaspé regions. The Nord-du-Québec region, occupying the northern half of the province, is sparsely populated and inhabited primarily by Aboriginal peoples.[10]
Sovereignty plays a large role in the politics of Quebec, and the official opposition social democratic Parti Québécois advocates national sovereignty for the province and secession from Canada. Sovereignist governments have held referendums on independence in 1980 and 1995; both were voted down by voters, the latter defeated by a very narrow margin.[11] In 2006, the Canadian House of Commons passed a symbolic motion, the Québécois nation motion, recognizing the "Québécois as a nation within a united Canada."[12][13]
While the province's substantial natural resources have long been the mainstay of its economy, sectors of the knowledge economy such as aerospace, information and communication technologies, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry also play leading roles. These many industries have all contributed to helping Quebec become the second most economically influential province, second only to Ontario.[14]
Old Quebec
Historic District of Old Quebec *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Old Quebec (French: Vieux-Québec) is a historic neighbourhood of Quebec City, the capital of the province of Quebec in Canada. Comprising the Upper Town (French: Haute-Ville) and Lower Town (French: Basse-Ville), the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Administratively, Old Quebec is part of the Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–colline Parlementaire district in the borough of La Cité–Limoilou.
The area is sometimes referred to as the Latin Quarter (French: Quartier latin), but this title refers more to area around the Séminaire de Québec, the original site of Laval University.
History
Old Quebec is the oldest part of Quebec City, chosen in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain as the location for the Chateau Saint-Louis. Old Quebec maintained a strong military and administrative presence from its beginning, a use determined by the strategic heights of Cap Diamant. While the Lower Town was populated with merchants and craftsmen, the Upper Town was inhabited by military officials and members of the clergy.
This strong military presence long limited the city's expansion. At the end of the 19th century, many wanted to demolish the fortifications, judging them to be unnecessary and a hindrance to urban development. However, Governor Dufferin successfully managed to preserve the character of the walled city, while adapting the further expansion of the modern city.
Despite having undergone some degradation in the 1950s, the Old City has been subject to somewhat of a renaissance period since the 1970s.
The rich historic nature of Old Quebec is marked by the city's ramparts, fortifications, and many historic houses and buildings. The legacy of previous generations and the beauty of the district make it particularly unique.
The majority of buildings in the neighborhood date from 19th century, although the construction of some date back to 17th and 18th centuries. It also is home to several commercial streets, including Rue Saint-Jean, Rue Sainte-Anne and Rue De Buade. Many institutions are still housed in the heart of the city, such as the Quebec City Council, the Séminaire de Québec, the Ursulines Convent, and the Augustinian monastery. As a popular tourist destination, Old Quebec is also home to several hotels, including the famous Château Frontenac. Guided ghosts tours are also of interest to its residents and visitors.
Ramparts of Quebec City
World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1985
National Historic Site of Canada in 1948
Located in Canada, the Ramparts of Quebec City are the only remaining fortified city walls in the Americas, north of Mexico.[1] The English began fortifying the existing walls,[2] after they took Quebec City from the French in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759.
The wall surrounds most of Old Quebec, which was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1985.[3] The fortifications were designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1948.
***Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
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I travelled to most exotic places on this earth in last 9 years since 2003. I was exploring India from east to west and north to south till mid 2007. Then i started my World tour to 6 continents in May 2007 & entering 2012, my World tour is still on & i am exploring more and more exotic places around all major countries. I believe "World is just amazing" and every place & face has a unique story to tell. I connect to my subjects as to my soul.
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My latest 15 explored destinations in my 6th year of World tour so far to 70+Countries & 300+Destinations across 6 Continents and 9 th year of Travel Photography & Videography of Places People Culture Landscapes.Recently explored these exotic places in JAPAN Horyuji Temple 1300 years old Japan's most sacred place & UNESCO site UAE-Al Ain-Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Burj Al Arab-Al Khaleefa Tallest building in the World, SWEDEN-Stocholm-National Parks, AUSTRALIA-Melbourne-Great Ocean Road-Twelve Apostles this week. BELGIUM Brussels, DENMARK-Copenhagen, VIETNAM Hanoi-Halong Bay MALAYSIA-Kuala Lumpur-Kanting Falls-Batu Caves-Petronas Twin Towers , CANADA-Quebec-Ontario-Montreal, ATLANTIC-GREENLAND-LABRADOR PENINSULA-Lebrador Sea, SOUTH AFRICA Johnnesburg-The Cradle of Mankind-Stolkfontien Caves and Lion & Rino Park with others INDIA-Kashmir-Gulmarg-Srinagar CHINA-Shanghai-Zhejiang-Hangzhou-The West Lake GERMANY-BAVERIA-Black Forest-Oberbayern-Garmich Patenkirchen-Eibsee Lake-Zugspitze HIMACHAL-Kullu-Manali-Shimla-Lahaul-Spiti -Dharamshala-Kinnaur-Udaipur-Leh-Laddakh UK-SCOTLAND Glencoe-Fort William-Castle around Scotland-Lochness INDIA Jog Falls Ooty Goa Athirappily & Vazhachal Falls Kerala UK-ENGLAND-London-Manchester-Glasgow & others ITALY-Rome-Vatican City and Other UNESCO Heritage Sites around Rome. Soon my first book on 111 MIRACULOUS WONDERS OF WORLD YOU MYST SEE WHEN U ALIVE will be out with "111 WOW" i Phone application by the end of this year. Updating my official website sundeepkullu.com
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Eibsee
Eibsee is a lake in Bavaria, Germany, 9km southwest of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and roughly 100km southwest of Munich. At an elevation of 973.28 m, its surface area is 177.4 ha. Eibsee lies at the base of the Zugspitze (2950 meters above sea level), Germany's highest mountain.
As of May 2010, trains from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen leave roughly once an hour and the trip takes about an hour and a half[1]. Buses travel regularly from the train station in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Eibsee[2]. A valid train ticket can often be used to ride the bus
Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eibsee
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a mountain resort town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, and the district is on the border with Austria. Nearby is Germany's highest mountain, Zugspitze, at 2961 m (9714 ft.).
Origin
Garmisch-Partinkirken was at first two separate cities (Garmisch and Partinkirken).Until the Olympics were held right in between the two cities and often faught over simple things. So, as a compromise, they merged together to create Garmisch-Partinkirken and make the process much easier.
[edit]History
Garmisch (in the west) and Partenkirchen (in the east) were separate towns for many centuries, and still maintain quite separate identities.
Partenkirchen originated as the Roman town of Partanum on the trade route from Venice to Augsburg and is first mentioned in the year A.D. 15. Its main street, Ludwigsstrasse, follows the original Roman road.
Garmisch is first mentioned some 800 years later as Germaneskau ("German District"), suggesting that at some point a Teutonic tribe took up settlement in the western end of the valley.
The valley came under the rule of the Bishop of Freising and was governed by a bishop's representative known as a Pfleger (caretaker or warden) from Werdenfels Castle on a cliff north of Garmisch.
The discovery of America at the turn of the 16th century led to a boom in shipping and a sharp decline in overland trade, which plunged the region into a centuries-long economic depression. The valley floor was swampy and difficult to farm. Bears, wolves and lynxes were a constant threat to livestock. The population suffered from periodic epidemics, including several serious outbreaks of bubonic plague. Adverse fortunes from disease and crop failure occasionally led to witch hysteria. Most notable of these were the notorious trials and executions of 1589-1596, in which 63 victims — more than 10 percent of the population at the time — were burned at the stake or garroted.
Werdenfels Castle, where the accused were held, tried and executed, became an object of superstitious horror and was abandoned in the 17th century. It was largely torn down in the 1750s and its stones used to build the baroque Neue Kirche (New Church) on Marienplatz, which was completed in 1752. It replaced the nearby Gothic Alte Kirche (Old Church), parts of which predated Christianity and may originally have been a pagan temple. Used as a storehouse, armory and haybarn for many years, it has since been re-consecrated. Some of its medieval frescoes are still visible.
Garmisch and Partenkirchen remained separate until their respective mayors were forced by Adolf Hitler to combine the two market towns in 1935 in anticipation of the 1936 Winter Olympic games. Today, the united town is casually (but incorrectly) referred to as Garmisch, much to the dismay of Partenkirchen's residents. Most visitors will notice the slightly more modern feel of Garmisch while the fresco-filled, cobblestoned streets of Partenkirchen offer a glimpse into times past. Early mornings and late afternoons in pleasant weather often find local traffic stopped while the dairy cows are herded to and from the nearby mountain meadows.
[edit]Transportation
Garmisch-Partenkirchen,
painting by Anton Doll
The town is served by Federal Highway 2 as a continuation of the A95 Autobahn (motorway), which ends at Eschenlohe 16 km north of the city.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is on the Munich–Garmisch-Partenkirchen line and the Mittenwald Railway (Garmisch–Mittenwald–Innsbruck). It is the terminus of the Außerfern Railway to Reutte in Tirol / Kempten im Allgäu and the Bavarian Zugspitze Railway (with sections of rack railway) to the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany. Regional services run every hour to München Hauptbahnhof and Mittenwald and every two hours to Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof and Reutte. In addition there are special seasonal long-distance services, including ICEs, to Berlin, Hamburg, Dortmund, Bremen and Innsbruck.
Several accessible hiking trails from the town are especially spectacular and cover both the lower and higher elevations.
[edit]Sports
Aerial view of
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
In 1936 it was the site of the Winter Olympic Games, the first to feature alpine skiing. A variety of Nordic and alpine World Cup ski races are held here, usually on the Kandahar Track outside town. Traditionally, a ski jumping contest is held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on New Year's Day, as a part of the Four Hills Tournament (Vierschanzen-Tournee). The World Alpine Ski Championships were held in Garmisch in 1978 and 2011.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is also a favored holiday spot for skiing, snowboarding, and hiking, having some of the best skiing areas (Garmisch Classic and Zugspitze) in Germany.
It was announced on December 7, 2007, that Garmisch-Partenkirchen is part of a Bavarian bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, with partner candidates Munich and Schönau am Königsee (near Berchtesgaden). The Winter Olympics were last held in the German-speaking Alps in 1976 in nearby Innsbruck, Austria.
[edit]Public institutions
The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies[2] is also located in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The Marshall Center is an internationally funded and mostly U.S.-staffed learning and conference center for governments from around the world, but primarily from the former Soviet Union and Eastern European countries. It was established in June 1993, replacing the U.S. Army Russian Institute. Near the Marshall Center is the American Armed Forces Recreation Centers (Edelweiss Lodge and Resort) in Garmisch that serves U.S. and NATO military and their families. A number of U.S. troops and civilians are stationed in the town to provide logistical support to the Marshall Center and Edelweiss Recreation Center.
Zugspitze
Zugspitze
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zugspitze
The Zugspitze massif from the west (left: the summit)
Elevation2,962 m (9,718 ft) [1]
Prominence1,746 m (5,728 ft) [2]
↓ Fern Pass → Parseierspitze
Parent peakFinsteraarhorna / Mont Blancb
Isolation = 24.6 km → Acherkogel
ListingCountry high point (Germany)
Ultra
Location
Zugspitze
Germany
Location on Austria/Germany border
LocationTyrol, Austria
Bavaria, Germany
RangeWettersteingebirge, Eastern Alps
Coordinates47°25′16″N 10°59′07″ECoordinates: 47°25′16″N 10°59′07″E[2]
Geology
TypeWetterstein limestone[3]
Age of rockTriassic
Climbing
First ascent27 August 1820 by Josef Naus, Johann Georg Tauschl and survey assistant, Maier
Easiest routeReintal Route
Geography
Map showing the Zugspitze's location
The Zugspitze belongs to the Wetterstein range of the Northern Limestone Alps.
The border between Germany and Austria goes right over the mountain. There used to be a border checkpoint at the summit. But since Germany and Austria are now both part of the Schengen zone, the border crossing is no longer manned.
The exact height of the Zugspitze was a matter of debate for quite a while. Given figures ranged from 2,690–2,970 metres (8,830–9,740 ft), but it is now generally accepted that the peak is 2,962 m (9,718 ft) above sea level as a result of a survey carried out by the Bavarian State Survey Office. The lounge at the new café is named "2962" for this reason.
[edit]Location and surrounding area
Aerial photograph
View from the Alpspitze of the Zugspitze summit and the Höllentalferner glacier in 2007
Annotated aerial photograph of the Zugspitze massif
At 2,962 metres (9,718 ft) (eastern peak) the Zugspitze is the highest mountain of the Zugspitze massif. This height is referenced to the Amsterdam Gauge and is given by the Bavarian State Office for Survey and Geoinformation.[4] The same height is recorded against the Trieste Gauge used in Austria, which is 27 cm lower. Originally the Zugspitze had three peaks: the east, middle and west summits (Ost-, Mittel- and Westgipfel). The only one that has remained in its original form is the east summit, which is also the only one that lies entirely on German territory. The middle summit fell victim to one of the cable car summit stations in 1930. In 1938 the west summit was blown up to create a building site for a planned flight control room for the Wehrmacht. This was never built however. Originally the height of the west summit was given as 2,964 m (9,724 ft).[5]
The Zugspitze rises eleven kilometres southwest of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and just under six kilometres east of Ehrwald. The border between Germany and Austria runs over the west summit; thus the Zugspitze massif belongs to the German state of Bavaria and the Austrian state of Tyrol. The municipalities responsible for it are Grainau and Ehrwald. To the west the Zugspitze massif drops into the valley of the River Loisach, which flows around the massif towards the northeast in a curve whilst, in the east, the streams of Hammersbach and Partnach have their source. To the south the Gaistal valley and its river, the Leutascher Ache, separate the Wetterstein Mountains from the Mieming Chain. To the north at the foot of the Zugspitze is the lake of Eibsee. The next highest mountain in the area is the Acherkogel (3,008 m or 9,869 ft) in the Stubai Alps, which gives the Zugspitze an topographic isolation value of 24.6 kilometres. The reference point for the prominence is the Parseierspitze (3,036 m or 9,961 ft). In order to climb it from the Zugspitze, a descent to the Fern Pass (1,216 m or 3,990 ft) is required, so that the prominence is 1,746 m (5,728 ft).[6]
[edit]Zugspitze Massif
The massif of the Zugspitze has several other peaks. To the south the Zugspitzplatt is surrounded in an arc by the Zugspitzeck (2,820 m or 9,250 ft) and Schneefernerkopf (2,874 m or 9,429 ft), the Wetterspitzen (2,747 m or 9,012 ft), the Wetterwandeck (2,698 m or 8,852 ft), the Plattspitzen (2,679 m or 8,789 ft) and the Gatterlköpfen (2,490 m or 8,170 ft). The massif ends int the Gatterl (2,024 m or 6,640 ft), a wind gap between it and the Hochwanner. Running eastwards away from the Zugspitze is the famous Jubilee Ridge or Jubiläumsgrat over the Höllentalspitzen towards the Alpspitze and Hochblassen. The short crest of the Riffelwandkamm runs northeast over the summits of the Riffelwandspitzen (2,626 m or 8,615 ft) and the Riffelköpfe (2,459 m or 8,068 ft), to the Riffel wind gap (Riffelscharte, 2,161 m or 7,090 ft). From here the ridge of the Waxensteinkamm stretches away over the Riffelspitzen to the Waxenstein.[7]
[edit]Zugspitzplatt
The Zugspitzplatt above the Reintal valley in 2006
The Platt or Zugspitzplatt is a plateau below the summit of the Zugspitze to the south and southeast which lies at a height of between 2,000 and 2,650 m (6,600 and 8,690 ft). It forms the head of the Reintal valley and has been shaped by a combination of weathering, karstification and glaciation. The area contains roches moutonnées, dolines and limestone pavements as a consequence of the ice ages. In addition moraines have been left behind by various glacial periods. The Platt was completely covered by a glacier for the last time at the beginning of the 19th century. Today 52% of it consists of scree, 32% of bedrock and 16% of vegetation-covered soils, especially in the middle and lower areas.[8]
[edit]Climate
Climatic diagram for the Zugspitze: normal periods 1961-1990
From a climatic perspective the Zugspitze lies in the temperate zone and its prevailing winds are Westerlies. As the first high orographic obstacle to these Westerlies in the Alps, the Zugspitze is particular exposed to the weather. It is effectively the north barrier of the Alps (Nordstau der Alpen), against which moist air masses pile up and release heavy precipitation. At the same time the Zugspitze acts as protective barrier for parts of the Alps to the south. By contrast, Föhn weather conditions push in the other direction against the massif, affecting the region for about 60 days per year. These warm, dry air masses stream from south to north and can result in unusually high temperatures in winter. Nevertheless frost dominates the picture on the Zugspitze with an average of 310 days per year. The nearest place with comparable values is the island of Spitsbergen in the Arctic Ocean.
For the decades from 1961 to 1990 - designated by the World Meteorological Organization as the "normal period" - the average annual precipitation on the Zugspitze was 2,003.1 mm; the wettest month being April with 199 mm, and the driest, October with 108.8 mm.[9] By comparison the values for 2009 were 2,070.8 mm, the wettest month being March with 326.2 mm and the driest, January, with 56.4 mm.[10] The average temperature in the normal period was -4.8 Celsius, with July and August being the warmest at 2.2 °C and February, the coldest, with -11.4 °C.[9] By comparison the average temperature in 2009 was -4.2 °C, the warmest month was August at 5.3 °C and the coldest was February at -13.5 °C.[10] The average sunshine during the normal period was 1,846.3 hours per year, the sunniest month being October with 188.8 hours and the darkest being December with 116.1 hours.[9] In 2009 there were 1,836.3 hours of sunshine, the least occurring in February with just 95.4 hours and the most in April with 219 hours.[10] In 2009, according to the weather survey by the German Met Office, the Zugspitze was the coldest place in Germany with a mean annual temperature of -4.2 °C.[11]
The lowest measured temperature on the Zugspitze was -35.6 °C in 14 February 1940. The highest temperature occurred on 5 July 1957 when the thermometer reached 17.9 °C. A squall on 12 June 1985 registered 335 km/h, the highest measured wind speed on the Zugspitze. In April 1944 meteorologists recorded a snow depth of 8.3 metres.[12][13]
[edit]Geology
The north face of the Zugspitze seen from the Eibsee lake
All mountain-building strata consists of sedimentary rocks of the Mesozoic era, that were originally laid down on the seabed. The base of the mountain comprises muschelkalk beds; its upper layers are made of Wetterstein limestone. With steep rock walls up to 800 metres high, it is this Wetterstein limestone from the Upper Triassic that is mainly responsible for the rock faces, arêtes, pinnacles and the summit rocks of the mountain. Due to the frequent occurrence of marine coralline algea in the Wetterstein limestone it can be deduced that this rock was at one time formed in a lagoon. The colour of the rock varies between grey-while and light grey to speckled. In several places it contains lead and zinc ore. These minerals were mined between 1827 and 1918 in the Höllental valley. The dark grey, almost horizontal and partly grass-covered layers of muschelkalk run from the foot of the Great Riffelwandspitze to the Ehrwalder Köpfe. From the appearance of the north face of the Zugspitze it can be seen that this massif originally consisted of two mountain ranges that were piled on top of one another.[14]
[edit]Flora
The Eibsee in front of the Zugspitze: woods on the northern shore
The flora on the Zugspitze is not particularly diverse due to the soil conditions, nevertheless the vegetation, especially in the meadows of Schachen, the Tieferen Wies near Ehrwald, and in the valleys of Höllental, Gaistal and Leutaschtal is especially colourful.
The shaded and moist northern slopes of the massif like, for example, the Wettersteinwald, are some of the most species-rich environments on the Zugspitze. The Mountain Pine grows at elevations of up to 1,800 metres. The woods lower down consist mainly of Spruce and Fir, but Honeysuckle, Woodruff, poisonous Herb Paris, Meadow-rue and Speedwell[disambiguation needed ] also occur here. Dark Columbine, Alpine Clematis, Blue and Yellow Monkshood, Stemless carline thistle, False aster, Golden cinquefoil, Round-leaved saxifrage, Wall hawkweed, Alpine calamint and Alpine Forget-me-not flower in the less densely wooded places, whilst Cinquefoil, Sticky Sage, Butterbur, Alpenrose, Turk's cap lily and Fly Orchid thrive on the rocky soils of the mountain forests. Lily of the Valley and Daphne also occur, especially in the Höllental, in Grainau and by the Eibsee.[15]
To the south the scene changes to Larch (mainly in the meadow of Ehrwalder Alm and the valleys of Gaistal and Leutaschtal) and pine forests and into mixed woods of Beech and Sycamore. Here too, Mountain Pine grows at the higher elevations of over 2,000 metres.
Relatively rare in the entire Zugspitze area are trees like the Lime, Birch, Rowan, Juniper and Yew. The most varied species of moss, that often completely cover limestone rocks in the open, occur in great numbers.
Bilberry, Cranberry and Cowberry are restricted to dry places and Lady's Slipper Orchid occurs in sheltered spots. Below the Waxenstein are fields with raspberries and occasionally wild strawberries too. The Alpine poppy and Purple mountain saxifrage both thrive up to a very great height. On the scree slops there are Penny-cress and Mouse-ear chickweed as well as Mountain avens, Alpine toadflax, Mint and Musky Saxifrage or Cloth of Gold. Following snowmelt Dark stonecrop and Snow gentian are the first to appear, their seeds beginning to germinate as early as August. And well-known Alpine flowers like the Edelweiss, Gentians and, more rarely, Cyclamen flower on the Zugspitze.
[edit]Fauna
Alpine choughs on the Zugspitzeck
The rocks around the Zugspitze are a habitat for Chamois and Marmots are widespread on the southern side of the massif. At the summit there are frequently Alpine Choughs, drawn there by people feeding them. Somewhat lower down the mountain there are Mountain Hare and the Hazel Dormouse. Alpine birds occurring on the Zugspitze include the Golden Eagle, Rock Ptarmigan, Snow Finch, Alpine Accentor and Brambling. The Crag Martin which has given its name to the Schwalbenwand ("Swallows' Wall") at Kreuzeck is frequently encountered. The basins of Mittenwald and Seefeld, as well as the Fern Pass are on bird migration routes.
The Viviparous lizard inhabits rocky terrain, as does the black Alpine Salamander known locally as the Bergmandl, which can be seen after rain showers as one is climbing. Butterflies like Apollo, Alpine Perlmutter, Gossamer-winged butterfly, Geometer moth, Ringlet and Skipper may be seen on the west and south sides of the Zugspitze massif, especially in July and August.[16] The woods around the Zugspitze are home to Red Deer, Red Squirrel, Weasel, Capercaillie, Hazel Grouse and Black Grouse. On the glaciers live glacier fleas (Desoria saltans) and water bears.[17]
[edit]Glaciers
Three of the five German glaciers are found on the Zugspitze massif: the Höllentalferner the Southern and Northern Schneeferner.
[edit]Höllentalferner
The Höllentalferner in 2009
The Höllentalferner lies northeast of the Zugspitze in a cirque below the Jubilee Ridge (Jubiläumsgrat) to the south and the Riffelwandspitzen peaks to the west and north. It has a northeast aspect. Its accumulation zone is formed by a depression, in which large quantities of avalanche snow collect. To the south the Jubiläumsgrat shields the glacier from direct sunshine. These conditions meant that the glacier only lost a relatively small area between 1981 and 2006.[18] In recent times the Höllentalferner reached its greatest around 1820 with an area of 47 hectares. Thereafter its area reduced continually until the period between 1950 and 1981 when it grew again, by 3.1 hectares to 30.2 hectares. Since then the glacier has lost (as at 2006) an area of 5.5 hectares and now has an area of 24.7 hectares. In 2006 the glacier head was at 2,569 m and its lowest point at 2,203 metres.[19]
[edit]Schneeferner
The Northern Schneeferner and winter sport infrastructure in 2009
[edit]Northern Schneeferner
Southwest of the Zugspitze, between the Zugspitzeck and Schneefernerkopf, is the Northern Schneeferner which has an eastern aspect. With an area of 30.7 hectares (2006) it is the largest German glacier. Around 1820 the entire Zugspitzplatt was glaciated, but of this Platt Glacier (Plattgletscher) only the Northern and Southern Schneeferner remain. The reason for the relatively constant area of the Northern Schneeferner in recent years, despite the lack of shade, is the favourable terrain that results in the glacier tending to grow or shrink in depth rather than area. In the recent past the glacier has also been artificially fed by the ski region operators, using piste tractors to heap large quantities of snow onto the glacier in order to extend the skiing season. At the beginning of the 1990s, ski slope operators began to cover the Northern Schneeferner in summer with artificial sheets in order to protect it from sunshine.[20][21] The Northern Schneeferner reached its last high point in 1979, when its area grew to 40.9 hectares. By 2006 it had shrunk to 30.7 hectares. The glacier head then lay at 2,789 m and the foot at 2,558 metres.[22]
[edit]Southern Schneeferner
The Southern Schneeferner is surrounded by the peaks of the Wetterspitzen and the Wetterwandeck. It is also a remnant of the once great Platt Glacier. Today, the Southern Schneeferner extends up as far as the arête and therefore has no protection from direct sunshine. It has also been divided into two basins by a ridge of rock that has appeared as the snow has receded. It is a matter of debate whether the Southern Schneeferner should still be classified as a glacier.[23] The Southern Schneeferner also reached its last high point in 1979, when it covered an area of 31.7 hectares. This had shrunk by 2006 to just 8.4 hectares however. The highest point of the glacier lies at an elevation of 2,665 metres and the lowest at 2,520 metres.[24]
[edit]Caves
Below the Zugspitzplatt chemical weathering processes have created a large number of caves and abîmes in the Wetterstein limestone. In the 1930s the number of caves was estimated at 300. By 1955 62 caves were known to exist and by 1960 another 47 had been discovered. The first cave explorations here took place in 1931. Other, largest exploratory expeditions took place in 1935 and 1936 as well as between 1955 and 1968. During one expedition, in 1958, the Finch Shaft (Finkenschacht) was discovered. It is 131 metres deep, 260 metres long and has a watercourse. There is a theory that this watercourse could be a link to the source of the River Partnach.[Note 1][25][26]
[edit]Name
From the early 14th century, geographic names from the Wetterstein Mountains began to be recorded in treaties and on maps, and this trend intensified in the 15th century. In 1536 a border treaty dating to 1500 was refined in that its course was specified as running over a Schartten ("wind gap" or "col").[27] In the 17th century the reference to this landmark in the treaty was further clarified as "now known as the Zugspüz" (jetzt Zugspüz genant).[27] The landmark referred to was a wind gap on the summit of the Zugspitze and is used time and again in other sources. During the Middle Ages Scharte was a common name for the Zugspitze.[27]
The Zugspitze was first mentioned by name in 1590. In a description of the border between the County of Werdenfels and Austria, it states that the same border runs "from the Zugspitz and over the Derle" (von dem Zugspitz und über den Derle")[28] and continues to a bridge over the River Loisach. Another border treaty in 1656 states: "The highest Wetterstein or Zugspitz" ("Der höchste Wetterstain oder Zugspitz").[28] There is also a map dating to the second half of the 18th century that shows "the Reintal in the County of Werdenfels". It covers the Reintal valley from the Reintaler Hof to the Zugspitzplatt and shows prominent points in the surrounding area, details of tracks and roads and the use pasture use. This includes a track over the then much larger Schneeferner glacier to the summit region of the Zugspitze. However the map does not show any obvious route to the summit itself.[29]
The name of the Zugspitze is probably derived from its Zugbahnen or avalanche paths. In winter avalanches sweep down from the upper slopes of the massif into the valley and leave behind characteristic avalanche remnants in the shape of rocks and scree. Near the Eibsee lake there are several plots of land with the same root: Zug, Zuggasse, Zugstick, Zugmösel or Zugwankel.[28] Until the 19th century the name der Zugspitz was commonplace. It was described as die Zugspitze for the first time on a map printed in 1836.[30]
[edit]Summit cross
Summit cross on the Zugspitze
Since 1851 there has been a summit cross on the top of Zugspitze. The driving force behind the erection of a cross on the summit was the priest, Christoph Ott. He was a keen meteorologist and whilst observing conditions from the Hoher Peißenberg mountain he saw the Zugspitze in the distance and was exercised by the fact that "the greatest prince of the Bavarian mountains raised its head into the blue air towards heaven, bare and unadorned, waiting for the moment when patriotic fervour and courageous determination would see that his head too was crowned with dignity."[31] As a result he organised an expedition from 11 to 13 August 1851 with the goal of erecting a summit cross on the Zugspitze. Twenty eight bearers were led through the gorge of the Partnachklamm and the Reintal valley under the direction of forester, Karl Kiendl, up to the Zugspitze. The undertaking, which cost 610 Gulden and 37 Kreuzer, was a success. As a result, a 28-piece, 14 foot high, gilded iron cross now stood on the West Summit. Ott himself did not climb the Zugspitze until 1854. After 37 years the cross had to be taken down after suffering numerous lightning strikes; its support brackets were also badly damaged. In the winter of 1881–1882 it was therefore brought down into the valley and repaired. On 25 August 1882 seven mountain guides and 15 bearers took the cross back to the top. Because an accommodation shed had been built on the West Summit, the team placed the cross on the East Summit. There is remained for about 111 years, until it was removed again on 18 August 1993. This time the damage was not only caused by the weather, but also by an ill-disciplined American soldier who had shot at the cross in 1945, at the end of the Second World War. Because the summit cross could no longer be repaired, a replica was made that was true to the original cross. After two months the rack railway carried the new cross on 12 October to the Zugspitzplatt, from where it was flown to the summit by helicopter. The new cross has a height of 4.88 metres.[32] It was renovated and regilded in 2009 for 15,000 euros and, since 22 April 2009, has stood once again on the East Summit.[33]
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Eibsee
Eibsee is a lake in Bavaria, Germany, 9km southwest of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and roughly 100km southwest of Munich. At an elevation of 973.28 m, its surface area is 177.4 ha. Eibsee lies at the base of the Zugspitze (2950 meters above sea level), Germany's highest mountain.
As of May 2010, trains from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen leave roughly once an hour and the trip takes about an hour and a half[1]. Buses travel regularly from the train station in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Eibsee[2]. A valid train ticket can often be used to ride the bus
Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eibsee
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a mountain resort town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, and the district is on the border with Austria. Nearby is Germany's highest mountain, Zugspitze, at 2961 m (9714 ft.).
Origin
Garmisch-Partinkirken was at first two separate cities (Garmisch and Partinkirken).Until the Olympics were held right in between the two cities and often faught over simple things. So, as a compromise, they merged together to create Garmisch-Partinkirken and make the process much easier.
[edit]History
Garmisch (in the west) and Partenkirchen (in the east) were separate towns for many centuries, and still maintain quite separate identities.
Partenkirchen originated as the Roman town of Partanum on the trade route from Venice to Augsburg and is first mentioned in the year A.D. 15. Its main street, Ludwigsstrasse, follows the original Roman road.
Garmisch is first mentioned some 800 years later as Germaneskau ("German District"), suggesting that at some point a Teutonic tribe took up settlement in the western end of the valley.
The valley came under the rule of the Bishop of Freising and was governed by a bishop's representative known as a Pfleger (caretaker or warden) from Werdenfels Castle on a cliff north of Garmisch.
The discovery of America at the turn of the 16th century led to a boom in shipping and a sharp decline in overland trade, which plunged the region into a centuries-long economic depression. The valley floor was swampy and difficult to farm. Bears, wolves and lynxes were a constant threat to livestock. The population suffered from periodic epidemics, including several serious outbreaks of bubonic plague. Adverse fortunes from disease and crop failure occasionally led to witch hysteria. Most notable of these were the notorious trials and executions of 1589-1596, in which 63 victims — more than 10 percent of the population at the time — were burned at the stake or garroted.
Werdenfels Castle, where the accused were held, tried and executed, became an object of superstitious horror and was abandoned in the 17th century. It was largely torn down in the 1750s and its stones used to build the baroque Neue Kirche (New Church) on Marienplatz, which was completed in 1752. It replaced the nearby Gothic Alte Kirche (Old Church), parts of which predated Christianity and may originally have been a pagan temple. Used as a storehouse, armory and haybarn for many years, it has since been re-consecrated. Some of its medieval frescoes are still visible.
Garmisch and Partenkirchen remained separate until their respective mayors were forced by Adolf Hitler to combine the two market towns in 1935 in anticipation of the 1936 Winter Olympic games. Today, the united town is casually (but incorrectly) referred to as Garmisch, much to the dismay of Partenkirchen's residents. Most visitors will notice the slightly more modern feel of Garmisch while the fresco-filled, cobblestoned streets of Partenkirchen offer a glimpse into times past. Early mornings and late afternoons in pleasant weather often find local traffic stopped while the dairy cows are herded to and from the nearby mountain meadows.
[edit]Transportation
Garmisch-Partenkirchen,
painting by Anton Doll
The town is served by Federal Highway 2 as a continuation of the A95 Autobahn (motorway), which ends at Eschenlohe 16 km north of the city.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is on the Munich–Garmisch-Partenkirchen line and the Mittenwald Railway (Garmisch–Mittenwald–Innsbruck). It is the terminus of the Außerfern Railway to Reutte in Tirol / Kempten im Allgäu and the Bavarian Zugspitze Railway (with sections of rack railway) to the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany. Regional services run every hour to München Hauptbahnhof and Mittenwald and every two hours to Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof and Reutte. In addition there are special seasonal long-distance services, including ICEs, to Berlin, Hamburg, Dortmund, Bremen and Innsbruck.
Several accessible hiking trails from the town are especially spectacular and cover both the lower and higher elevations.
[edit]Sports
Aerial view of
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
In 1936 it was the site of the Winter Olympic Games, the first to feature alpine skiing. A variety of Nordic and alpine World Cup ski races are held here, usually on the Kandahar Track outside town. Traditionally, a ski jumping contest is held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on New Year's Day, as a part of the Four Hills Tournament (Vierschanzen-Tournee). The World Alpine Ski Championships were held in Garmisch in 1978 and 2011.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is also a favored holiday spot for skiing, snowboarding, and hiking, having some of the best skiing areas (Garmisch Classic and Zugspitze) in Germany.
It was announced on December 7, 2007, that Garmisch-Partenkirchen is part of a Bavarian bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, with partner candidates Munich and Schönau am Königsee (near Berchtesgaden). The Winter Olympics were last held in the German-speaking Alps in 1976 in nearby Innsbruck, Austria.
[edit]Public institutions
The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies[2] is also located in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The Marshall Center is an internationally funded and mostly U.S.-staffed learning and conference center for governments from around the world, but primarily from the former Soviet Union and Eastern European countries. It was established in June 1993, replacing the U.S. Army Russian Institute. Near the Marshall Center is the American Armed Forces Recreation Centers (Edelweiss Lodge and Resort) in Garmisch that serves U.S. and NATO military and their families. A number of U.S. troops and civilians are stationed in the town to provide logistical support to the Marshall Center and Edelweiss Recreation Center.
Zugspitze
Zugspitze
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zugspitze
The Zugspitze massif from the west (left: the summit)
Elevation2,962 m (9,718 ft) [1]
Prominence1,746 m (5,728 ft) [2]
↓ Fern Pass → Parseierspitze
Parent peakFinsteraarhorna / Mont Blancb
Isolation = 24.6 km → Acherkogel
ListingCountry high point (Germany)
Ultra
Location
Zugspitze
Germany
Location on Austria/Germany border
LocationTyrol, Austria
Bavaria, Germany
RangeWettersteingebirge, Eastern Alps
Coordinates47°25′16″N 10°59′07″ECoordinates: 47°25′16″N 10°59′07″E[2]
Geology
TypeWetterstein limestone[3]
Age of rockTriassic
Climbing
First ascent27 August 1820 by Josef Naus, Johann Georg Tauschl and survey assistant, Maier
Easiest routeReintal Route
Geography
Map showing the Zugspitze's location
The Zugspitze belongs to the Wetterstein range of the Northern Limestone Alps.
The border between Germany and Austria goes right over the mountain. There used to be a border checkpoint at the summit. But since Germany and Austria are now both part of the Schengen zone, the border crossing is no longer manned.
The exact height of the Zugspitze was a matter of debate for quite a while. Given figures ranged from 2,690–2,970 metres (8,830–9,740 ft), but it is now generally accepted that the peak is 2,962 m (9,718 ft) above sea level as a result of a survey carried out by the Bavarian State Survey Office. The lounge at the new café is named "2962" for this reason.
[edit]Location and surrounding area
Aerial photograph
View from the Alpspitze of the Zugspitze summit and the Höllentalferner glacier in 2007
Annotated aerial photograph of the Zugspitze massif
At 2,962 metres (9,718 ft) (eastern peak) the Zugspitze is the highest mountain of the Zugspitze massif. This height is referenced to the Amsterdam Gauge and is given by the Bavarian State Office for Survey and Geoinformation.[4] The same height is recorded against the Trieste Gauge used in Austria, which is 27 cm lower. Originally the Zugspitze had three peaks: the east, middle and west summits (Ost-, Mittel- and Westgipfel). The only one that has remained in its original form is the east summit, which is also the only one that lies entirely on German territory. The middle summit fell victim to one of the cable car summit stations in 1930. In 1938 the west summit was blown up to create a building site for a planned flight control room for the Wehrmacht. This was never built however. Originally the height of the west summit was given as 2,964 m (9,724 ft).[5]
The Zugspitze rises eleven kilometres southwest of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and just under six kilometres east of Ehrwald. The border between Germany and Austria runs over the west summit; thus the Zugspitze massif belongs to the German state of Bavaria and the Austrian state of Tyrol. The municipalities responsible for it are Grainau and Ehrwald. To the west the Zugspitze massif drops into the valley of the River Loisach, which flows around the massif towards the northeast in a curve whilst, in the east, the streams of Hammersbach and Partnach have their source. To the south the Gaistal valley and its river, the Leutascher Ache, separate the Wetterstein Mountains from the Mieming Chain. To the north at the foot of the Zugspitze is the lake of Eibsee. The next highest mountain in the area is the Acherkogel (3,008 m or 9,869 ft) in the Stubai Alps, which gives the Zugspitze an topographic isolation value of 24.6 kilometres. The reference point for the prominence is the Parseierspitze (3,036 m or 9,961 ft). In order to climb it from the Zugspitze, a descent to the Fern Pass (1,216 m or 3,990 ft) is required, so that the prominence is 1,746 m (5,728 ft).[6]
[edit]Zugspitze Massif
The massif of the Zugspitze has several other peaks. To the south the Zugspitzplatt is surrounded in an arc by the Zugspitzeck (2,820 m or 9,250 ft) and Schneefernerkopf (2,874 m or 9,429 ft), the Wetterspitzen (2,747 m or 9,012 ft), the Wetterwandeck (2,698 m or 8,852 ft), the Plattspitzen (2,679 m or 8,789 ft) and the Gatterlköpfen (2,490 m or 8,170 ft). The massif ends int the Gatterl (2,024 m or 6,640 ft), a wind gap between it and the Hochwanner. Running eastwards away from the Zugspitze is the famous Jubilee Ridge or Jubiläumsgrat over the Höllentalspitzen towards the Alpspitze and Hochblassen. The short crest of the Riffelwandkamm runs northeast over the summits of the Riffelwandspitzen (2,626 m or 8,615 ft) and the Riffelköpfe (2,459 m or 8,068 ft), to the Riffel wind gap (Riffelscharte, 2,161 m or 7,090 ft). From here the ridge of the Waxensteinkamm stretches away over the Riffelspitzen to the Waxenstein.[7]
[edit]Zugspitzplatt
The Zugspitzplatt above the Reintal valley in 2006
The Platt or Zugspitzplatt is a plateau below the summit of the Zugspitze to the south and southeast which lies at a height of between 2,000 and 2,650 m (6,600 and 8,690 ft). It forms the head of the Reintal valley and has been shaped by a combination of weathering, karstification and glaciation. The area contains roches moutonnées, dolines and limestone pavements as a consequence of the ice ages. In addition moraines have been left behind by various glacial periods. The Platt was completely covered by a glacier for the last time at the beginning of the 19th century. Today 52% of it consists of scree, 32% of bedrock and 16% of vegetation-covered soils, especially in the middle and lower areas.[8]
[edit]Climate
Climatic diagram for the Zugspitze: normal periods 1961-1990
From a climatic perspective the Zugspitze lies in the temperate zone and its prevailing winds are Westerlies. As the first high orographic obstacle to these Westerlies in the Alps, the Zugspitze is particular exposed to the weather. It is effectively the north barrier of the Alps (Nordstau der Alpen), against which moist air masses pile up and release heavy precipitation. At the same time the Zugspitze acts as protective barrier for parts of the Alps to the south. By contrast, Föhn weather conditions push in the other direction against the massif, affecting the region for about 60 days per year. These warm, dry air masses stream from south to north and can result in unusually high temperatures in winter. Nevertheless frost dominates the picture on the Zugspitze with an average of 310 days per year. The nearest place with comparable values is the island of Spitsbergen in the Arctic Ocean.
For the decades from 1961 to 1990 - designated by the World Meteorological Organization as the "normal period" - the average annual precipitation on the Zugspitze was 2,003.1 mm; the wettest month being April with 199 mm, and the driest, October with 108.8 mm.[9] By comparison the values for 2009 were 2,070.8 mm, the wettest month being March with 326.2 mm and the driest, January, with 56.4 mm.[10] The average temperature in the normal period was -4.8 Celsius, with July and August being the warmest at 2.2 °C and February, the coldest, with -11.4 °C.[9] By comparison the average temperature in 2009 was -4.2 °C, the warmest month was August at 5.3 °C and the coldest was February at -13.5 °C.[10] The average sunshine during the normal period was 1,846.3 hours per year, the sunniest month being October with 188.8 hours and the darkest being December with 116.1 hours.[9] In 2009 there were 1,836.3 hours of sunshine, the least occurring in February with just 95.4 hours and the most in April with 219 hours.[10] In 2009, according to the weather survey by the German Met Office, the Zugspitze was the coldest place in Germany with a mean annual temperature of -4.2 °C.[11]
The lowest measured temperature on the Zugspitze was -35.6 °C in 14 February 1940. The highest temperature occurred on 5 July 1957 when the thermometer reached 17.9 °C. A squall on 12 June 1985 registered 335 km/h, the highest measured wind speed on the Zugspitze. In April 1944 meteorologists recorded a snow depth of 8.3 metres.[12][13]
[edit]Geology
The north face of the Zugspitze seen from the Eibsee lake
All mountain-building strata consists of sedimentary rocks of the Mesozoic era, that were originally laid down on the seabed. The base of the mountain comprises muschelkalk beds; its upper layers are made of Wetterstein limestone. With steep rock walls up to 800 metres high, it is this Wetterstein limestone from the Upper Triassic that is mainly responsible for the rock faces, arêtes, pinnacles and the summit rocks of the mountain. Due to the frequent occurrence of marine coralline algea in the Wetterstein limestone it can be deduced that this rock was at one time formed in a lagoon. The colour of the rock varies between grey-while and light grey to speckled. In several places it contains lead and zinc ore. These minerals were mined between 1827 and 1918 in the Höllental valley. The dark grey, almost horizontal and partly grass-covered layers of muschelkalk run from the foot of the Great Riffelwandspitze to the Ehrwalder Köpfe. From the appearance of the north face of the Zugspitze it can be seen that this massif originally consisted of two mountain ranges that were piled on top of one another.[14]
[edit]Flora
The Eibsee in front of the Zugspitze: woods on the northern shore
The flora on the Zugspitze is not particularly diverse due to the soil conditions, nevertheless the vegetation, especially in the meadows of Schachen, the Tieferen Wies near Ehrwald, and in the valleys of Höllental, Gaistal and Leutaschtal is especially colourful.
The shaded and moist northern slopes of the massif like, for example, the Wettersteinwald, are some of the most species-rich environments on the Zugspitze. The Mountain Pine grows at elevations of up to 1,800 metres. The woods lower down consist mainly of Spruce and Fir, but Honeysuckle, Woodruff, poisonous Herb Paris, Meadow-rue and Speedwell[disambiguation needed ] also occur here. Dark Columbine, Alpine Clematis, Blue and Yellow Monkshood, Stemless carline thistle, False aster, Golden cinquefoil, Round-leaved saxifrage, Wall hawkweed, Alpine calamint and Alpine Forget-me-not flower in the less densely wooded places, whilst Cinquefoil, Sticky Sage, Butterbur, Alpenrose, Turk's cap lily and Fly Orchid thrive on the rocky soils of the mountain forests. Lily of the Valley and Daphne also occur, especially in the Höllental, in Grainau and by the Eibsee.[15]
To the south the scene changes to Larch (mainly in the meadow of Ehrwalder Alm and the valleys of Gaistal and Leutaschtal) and pine forests and into mixed woods of Beech and Sycamore. Here too, Mountain Pine grows at the higher elevations of over 2,000 metres.
Relatively rare in the entire Zugspitze area are trees like the Lime, Birch, Rowan, Juniper and Yew. The most varied species of moss, that often completely cover limestone rocks in the open, occur in great numbers.
Bilberry, Cranberry and Cowberry are restricted to dry places and Lady's Slipper Orchid occurs in sheltered spots. Below the Waxenstein are fields with raspberries and occasionally wild strawberries too. The Alpine poppy and Purple mountain saxifrage both thrive up to a very great height. On the scree slops there are Penny-cress and Mouse-ear chickweed as well as Mountain avens, Alpine toadflax, Mint and Musky Saxifrage or Cloth of Gold. Following snowmelt Dark stonecrop and Snow gentian are the first to appear, their seeds beginning to germinate as early as August. And well-known Alpine flowers like the Edelweiss, Gentians and, more rarely, Cyclamen flower on the Zugspitze.
[edit]Fauna
Alpine choughs on the Zugspitzeck
The rocks around the Zugspitze are a habitat for Chamois and Marmots are widespread on the southern side of the massif. At the summit there are frequently Alpine Choughs, drawn there by people feeding them. Somewhat lower down the mountain there are Mountain Hare and the Hazel Dormouse. Alpine birds occurring on the Zugspitze include the Golden Eagle, Rock Ptarmigan, Snow Finch, Alpine Accentor and Brambling. The Crag Martin which has given its name to the Schwalbenwand ("Swallows' Wall") at Kreuzeck is frequently encountered. The basins of Mittenwald and Seefeld, as well as the Fern Pass are on bird migration routes.
The Viviparous lizard inhabits rocky terrain, as does the black Alpine Salamander known locally as the Bergmandl, which can be seen after rain showers as one is climbing. Butterflies like Apollo, Alpine Perlmutter, Gossamer-winged butterfly, Geometer moth, Ringlet and Skipper may be seen on the west and south sides of the Zugspitze massif, especially in July and August.[16] The woods around the Zugspitze are home to Red Deer, Red Squirrel, Weasel, Capercaillie, Hazel Grouse and Black Grouse. On the glaciers live glacier fleas (Desoria saltans) and water bears.[17]
[edit]Glaciers
Three of the five German glaciers are found on the Zugspitze massif: the Höllentalferner the Southern and Northern Schneeferner.
[edit]Höllentalferner
The Höllentalferner in 2009
The Höllentalferner lies northeast of the Zugspitze in a cirque below the Jubilee Ridge (Jubiläumsgrat) to the south and the Riffelwandspitzen peaks to the west and north. It has a northeast aspect. Its accumulation zone is formed by a depression, in which large quantities of avalanche snow collect. To the south the Jubiläumsgrat shields the glacier from direct sunshine. These conditions meant that the glacier only lost a relatively small area between 1981 and 2006.[18] In recent times the Höllentalferner reached its greatest around 1820 with an area of 47 hectares. Thereafter its area reduced continually until the period between 1950 and 1981 when it grew again, by 3.1 hectares to 30.2 hectares. Since then the glacier has lost (as at 2006) an area of 5.5 hectares and now has an area of 24.7 hectares. In 2006 the glacier head was at 2,569 m and its lowest point at 2,203 metres.[19]
[edit]Schneeferner
The Northern Schneeferner and winter sport infrastructure in 2009
[edit]Northern Schneeferner
Southwest of the Zugspitze, between the Zugspitzeck and Schneefernerkopf, is the Northern Schneeferner which has an eastern aspect. With an area of 30.7 hectares (2006) it is the largest German glacier. Around 1820 the entire Zugspitzplatt was glaciated, but of this Platt Glacier (Plattgletscher) only the Northern and Southern Schneeferner remain. The reason for the relatively constant area of the Northern Schneeferner in recent years, despite the lack of shade, is the favourable terrain that results in the glacier tending to grow or shrink in depth rather than area. In the recent past the glacier has also been artificially fed by the ski region operators, using piste tractors to heap large quantities of snow onto the glacier in order to extend the skiing season. At the beginning of the 1990s, ski slope operators began to cover the Northern Schneeferner in summer with artificial sheets in order to protect it from sunshine.[20][21] The Northern Schneeferner reached its last high point in 1979, when its area grew to 40.9 hectares. By 2006 it had shrunk to 30.7 hectares. The glacier head then lay at 2,789 m and the foot at 2,558 metres.[22]
[edit]Southern Schneeferner
The Southern Schneeferner is surrounded by the peaks of the Wetterspitzen and the Wetterwandeck. It is also a remnant of the once great Platt Glacier. Today, the Southern Schneeferner extends up as far as the arête and therefore has no protection from direct sunshine. It has also been divided into two basins by a ridge of rock that has appeared as the snow has receded. It is a matter of debate whether the Southern Schneeferner should still be classified as a glacier.[23] The Southern Schneeferner also reached its last high point in 1979, when it covered an area of 31.7 hectares. This had shrunk by 2006 to just 8.4 hectares however. The highest point of the glacier lies at an elevation of 2,665 metres and the lowest at 2,520 metres.[24]
[edit]Caves
Below the Zugspitzplatt chemical weathering processes have created a large number of caves and abîmes in the Wetterstein limestone. In the 1930s the number of caves was estimated at 300. By 1955 62 caves were known to exist and by 1960 another 47 had been discovered. The first cave explorations here took place in 1931. Other, largest exploratory expeditions took place in 1935 and 1936 as well as between 1955 and 1968. During one expedition, in 1958, the Finch Shaft (Finkenschacht) was discovered. It is 131 metres deep, 260 metres long and has a watercourse. There is a theory that this watercourse could be a link to the source of the River Partnach.[Note 1][25][26]
[edit]Name
From the early 14th century, geographic names from the Wetterstein Mountains began to be recorded in treaties and on maps, and this trend intensified in the 15th century. In 1536 a border treaty dating to 1500 was refined in that its course was specified as running over a Schartten ("wind gap" or "col").[27] In the 17th century the reference to this landmark in the treaty was further clarified as "now known as the Zugspüz" (jetzt Zugspüz genant).[27] The landmark referred to was a wind gap on the summit of the Zugspitze and is used time and again in other sources. During the Middle Ages Scharte was a common name for the Zugspitze.[27]
The Zugspitze was first mentioned by name in 1590. In a description of the border between the County of Werdenfels and Austria, it states that the same border runs "from the Zugspitz and over the Derle" (von dem Zugspitz und über den Derle")[28] and continues to a bridge over the River Loisach. Another border treaty in 1656 states: "The highest Wetterstein or Zugspitz" ("Der höchste Wetterstain oder Zugspitz").[28] There is also a map dating to the second half of the 18th century that shows "the Reintal in the County of Werdenfels". It covers the Reintal valley from the Reintaler Hof to the Zugspitzplatt and shows prominent points in the surrounding area, details of tracks and roads and the use pasture use. This includes a track over the then much larger Schneeferner glacier to the summit region of the Zugspitze. However the map does not show any obvious route to the summit itself.[29]
The name of the Zugspitze is probably derived from its Zugbahnen or avalanche paths. In winter avalanches sweep down from the upper slopes of the massif into the valley and leave behind characteristic avalanche remnants in the shape of rocks and scree. Near the Eibsee lake there are several plots of land with the same root: Zug, Zuggasse, Zugstick, Zugmösel or Zugwankel.[28] Until the 19th century the name der Zugspitz was commonplace. It was described as die Zugspitze for the first time on a map printed in 1836.[30]
[edit]Summit cross
Summit cross on the Zugspitze
Since 1851 there has been a summit cross on the top of Zugspitze. The driving force behind the erection of a cross on the summit was the priest, Christoph Ott. He was a keen meteorologist and whilst observing conditions from the Hoher Peißenberg mountain he saw the Zugspitze in the distance and was exercised by the fact that "the greatest prince of the Bavarian mountains raised its head into the blue air towards heaven, bare and unadorned, waiting for the moment when patriotic fervour and courageous determination would see that his head too was crowned with dignity."[31] As a result he organised an expedition from 11 to 13 August 1851 with the goal of erecting a summit cross on the Zugspitze. Twenty eight bearers were led through the gorge of the Partnachklamm and the Reintal valley under the direction of forester, Karl Kiendl, up to the Zugspitze. The undertaking, which cost 610 Gulden and 37 Kreuzer, was a success. As a result, a 28-piece, 14 foot high, gilded iron cross now stood on the West Summit. Ott himself did not climb the Zugspitze until 1854. After 37 years the cross had to be taken down after suffering numerous lightning strikes; its support brackets were also badly damaged. In the winter of 1881–1882 it was therefore brought down into the valley and repaired. On 25 August 1882 seven mountain guides and 15 bearers took the cross back to the top. Because an accommodation shed had been built on the West Summit, the team placed the cross on the East Summit. There is remained for about 111 years, until it was removed again on 18 August 1993. This time the damage was not only caused by the weather, but also by an ill-disciplined American soldier who had shot at the cross in 1945, at the end of the Second World War. Because the summit cross could no longer be repaired, a replica was made that was true to the original cross. After two months the rack railway carried the new cross on 12 October to the Zugspitzplatt, from where it was flown to the summit by helicopter. The new cross has a height of 4.88 metres.[32] It was renovated and regilded in 2009 for 15,000 euros and, since 22 April 2009, has stood once again on the East Summit.[33]
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Leshan Giant Buddha
Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
CountryPeople's Republic of China
TypeMixed
Criteriaiv, vi, x
Reference779
Region **Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription1996 (20th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List
** Region as classified by UNESCO
The Leshan Giant Buddha (simplified Chinese: 乐山大佛; traditional Chinese: 樂山大佛; pinyin: Lèshān Dàfó) was built during the Tang Dynasty (618–907AD). It is carved out of a cliff face that lies at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers in the southern part of Sichuan province in China, near the city of Leshan. The stone sculpture faces Mount Emei, with the rivers flowing below his feet. It is the largest carved stone Buddha in the world[1] and it is by far the tallest pre-modern statue in the world.
The Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. It was not damaged by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.[2]
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I travelled to most exotic places on this earth in last 9 years since 2003. I was exploring India from east to west and north to south till mid 2007. Then i started my World tour to 6 continents in May 2007 & entering 2012, my World tour is still on & i am exploring more and more exotic places around all major countries. I believe "World is just amazing" and every place & face has a unique story to tell. I connect to my subjects as to my soul.
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My latest 15 explored destinations in my 6th year of World tour so far to 70+Countries & 300+Destinations across 6 Continents and 9 th year of Travel Photography & Videography of Places People Culture Landscapes.Recently explored these exotic places in CHINA Mout.Emai-Leshan-Chengdu-Chongquing , JAPAN Horyuji Temple 1300 years old Japan's most sacred place & UNESCO site UAE-Al Ain-Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Burj Al Arab-Al Khaleefa Tallest building in the World, SWEDEN-Stocholm-National Parks, AUSTRALIA-Melbourne-Great Ocean Road-Twelve Apostles this week. BELGIUM Brussels, DENMARK-Copenhagen, VIETNAM Hanoi-Halong Bay MALAYSIA-Kuala Lumpur-Kanting Falls-Batu Caves-Petronas Twin Towers , CANADA-Quebec-Ontario-Montreal, ATLANTIC-GREENLAND-LABRADOR PENINSULA-Lebrador Sea, SOUTH AFRICA Johnnesburg-The Cradle of Mankind-Stolkfontien Caves and Lion & Rino Park with others INDIA-Kashmir-Gulmarg-Srinagar CHINA-Shanghai-Zhejiang-Hangzhou-The West Lake GERMANY-BAVERIA-Black Forest-Oberbayern-Garmich Patenkirchen-Eibsee Lake-Zugspitze HIMACHAL-Kullu-Manali-Shimla-Lahaul-Spiti -Dharamshala-Kinnaur-Udaipur-Leh-Laddakh UK-SCOTLAND Glencoe-Fort William-Castle around Scotland-Lochness INDIA Jog Falls Ooty Goa Athirappily & Vazhachal Falls Kerala UK-ENGLAND-London-Manchester-Glasgow & others ITALY-Rome-Vatican City and Other UNESCO Heritage Sites around Rome. Soon my first book on 111 MIRACULOUS WONDERS OF WORLD YOU MUST SEE WHEN U ALIVE will be out with "111 WOW" i Phone application by the end of this year. Updating my official website sundeepkullu.com
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Head of the statue
Construction was started in 713, led by a Chinese monk named Haitong. He hoped that the Buddha would calm the turbulent waters that plagued the shipping vessels traveling down the river. When funding for the project was threatened, he is said to have gouged out his own eyes to show his piety and sincerity. After his death, however, the construction was stuck due to insufficient funding. About 70 years later, a jiedushi decided to sponsor the project and the construction was completed by Haitong's disciples in 803.
Apparently the massive construction resulted in so much stone being removed from the cliff face and deposited into the river below that the currents were indeed altered by the statue, making the waters safe for passing ships.
[edit]Degradation
The Leshan Buddha has been affected by the pollution emanating from the unbridled development in the region. According to Xinhua news agency, the Leshan Giant Buddha and many Chinese natural and cultural heritage sites in the region have seen degradations from weathering, air pollution, and swarms of tourists. The government has promised to restore the site to its former condition.[3]
[edit]Dimensions
At 71 metres (233 feet) tall, the statue depicts a seated Maitreya Buddha with his hands resting on his knees. His shoulders are 28 metres wide and his smallest toenail is large enough to easily accommodate a seated person. There is a local saying: "The mountain is a Buddha and the Buddha is a mountain". This is partially because the mountain range in which the Leshan Giant Buddha is located is thought to be shaped like a slumbering Buddha when seen from the river, with the Leshan Giant Buddha as its heart.
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Lahaul and Spiti district
The district of Lahaul-Spiti in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh consists of the two formerly separate districts of Lahaul and Spiti. The present administrative centre is Keylong in Lahaul. Before the two districts were merged, Kardang was the capital of Lahaul, and Dhankar the capital of Spiti.
Kunzum la or the Kunzum Pass (altitude 4,551 m; 14,931 ft) is the entrance pass to the Spiti Valley from Lahaul. It is 21 km from Chandra Tal.[1] This district is connected to Manali through the Rohtang Pass. To the south, Spiti ends 24 km from Tabo, at the Pare chu gorge where the road enters Kinnaur and joins with National Highway No. 22.[2]
The two valleys are quite different in character. Spiti is more barren and difficult to cross, with an average elevation of the valley floor of 4,270 m (14,009 ft). It is enclosed between lofty ranges, with the Spiti river rushing out of a gorge in the southeast to meet the Sutlej River. It is a typical mountain desert area with an average annual rainfall of only 170 mm (6.7 inches).[3]
Flora and fauna
Lahaul valley in winter
Mountain peak in Lahaul and Spiti district
The harsh conditions of Lahaul permit only scattered tufts of hardy grasses and shrubs to grow, even below 4,000 metres. Glacier lines are usually found at 5,000 metres.
Animals such as yaks and dzos roam across the wild Lingti plains. However, over-hunting and a decrease in food supplies has led to a large decrease in the population of the Tibetan antelope, argali, kiangs, musk deer, and snow leopards in these regions, reducing them to the status of endangered species. However, in the Lahaul valley, one can see ibex, brown bears, foxes and snow leopards during winter.
[edit]People
Mother and child in near Gandhola Monastery. 2004
The language, culture, and populations of Lahaul and Spiti are closely related. Generally the Lahaulis are of Tibetan and Indo-Aryan descent, while the Spiti Bhotia are more similar to the Tibetans, owing to their proximity to Tibet. Fairer skin and hazel-colored eyes are commonly seen among the Lahaulis.
The languages of both the Lahauli and Spiti Bhutia belong to the Tibetan family. They are very similar to the Ladakhi and Tibetans culturally, as they had been placed under the rule of the Guge and Ladakh kingdoms at occasional intervals.
Among the Lahaulis, the family acts as the basic unit of kinship. The extended family system is common, evolved from the polyandric system of the past. The family is headed by a senior male member, known as the Yunda, while his wife, known as the Yundamo, attains authority by being the oldest member in the generation. The clan system, also known as Rhus, plays another major role in the Lahauli society.
The Spiti Bhutia community has an inheritance system that is otherwise unique to the Tibetans. Upon the death of both parents, only the eldest son will inherit the family property, while the eldest daughter inherits the mother's jewellery, and the younger siblings inherit nothing. Men usually fall back on the social security system of the Trans-Himalayan Gompas.
[edit]Lifestyle
The lifestyles of the Lahauli and Spiti Bhotia are similar, owing to their proximity. Polyandry was widely practiced by the Lahaulis in the past, although this practice has been dying out. The Spiti Bhutia do not generally practice polyandry any more, although it is accepted in a few isolated regions.
Divorces are accomplished by a simple ceremony performed in the presence of village elders. Divorce can be sought by either partner. The husband has to pay compensation to his ex-wife if she does not remarry. However, this is uncommon among the Lahaulis.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Potato farming is common. Occupations include animal husbandry, working in government programs, government services, and other businesses and crafts that include weaving. Houses are constructed in the Tibetan architectural style, as the land in Lahul and Spiti is mountainous and quite prone to earthquakes.
[edit]Religion
Kunzum Pass between Lahul & Spiti
Ki-Gompa Spiti
Most of the Lahaulis follow a combination of Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyu order, while the Spiti Bhotia follow Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelugpa order. Within Lahoul/swangla, the Baralacha-La region had the strongest Buddhist influence, owing to its close proximity to Spiti. Lahoul/swangla has temples such as Triloknath , where pilgrims worship a certain god in different manifestations, notably in the form of Shiva and Avalokiteshvara where Udaipur is a puritan temple. This bas-relief, of marble, depicts the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara (the embodiment of the Buddha's compassion) in a stylized seated position; Hindu devotees take it to be Shiva Nataraj, Shiva dancing. This image appears to be of sixteenth century Chamba craftsmanship. It was created to replace the original black stone image of the deity, which became damaged by art looters. This original image is kept beneath the plinth of the shrine. It appears to be of 12th century Kashmiri provenance . Much of the art thieves are active in this remote belt because of neglected gompas and temples.
Before the spread of Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism, the people were adherents of the religion 'Lung Pe Chhoi', an animistic religion that had some affinities with the Bön religion of Tibet. While the religion flourished, animal and human sacrifices were regularly offered up to the 'Iha', a term that refers to evil spirits residing in the natural world, notably in the old pencil-cedar trees, rocks and caves. Vestiges of the Lung Pe Chhoi religion can be seen in the behaviour of the Lamas, who are believed to possess certain supernatural powers.
The Losar festival (also known as Halda in Lahauli) is celebrated between the months of January and February. The date of celebration is decided by the Lamas. It has the same significance as the Diwali festival of Hinduism, but is celebrated in a Tibetan fashion.
At the start of the festival, two or three persons from every household will come holding burning incense. The burning sticks are then piled into a bonfire. The people will then pray to Shiskar Apa, the goddess of wealth (other name Vasudhara) in the Buddhist religion.
In the Pattan belt of the valley in Lahoul most population follows Hinduism,but counts for 14 percent of the total and they are called swanglas. The fagli festival is celebrated between February and March all over the valley. This festival is a new year festival and closely precedes beginning of tibetian and Chinese calendar. Notable is the Pattan people are the late settlers in the valley around 1500 A.D. and have broad highlights and have distinct language on the likes the central Asians,chamba, pangi, pashtoons and uyghurs. This belt is known for the convergence for chandra and bhaga rivers to form Chenab.
[edit]Tourism
Ki Gompa
The natural scenery and Buddhist monasteries, such as Ki, Dhankar, Shashur, Guru Ghantal and Tayul Gompas, are the main tourist attractions of the region.
One of the most interesting places is the Tabo Monastery, located 45 km from Kaza, Himachal Pradesh, the capital of the Spiti region. This monastery rose to prominence when it celebrated its thousandth year of existence in 1996. It houses a collection of Buddhist scriptures, Buddhist statues and Thangkas. The ancient gompa is finished with mud plaster, and contains several scriptures and documents. Lama Dzangpo heads the gompa here. There is a modern guest house with a dining hall and all facilities are available.
Another famous gompa, Kardang Monastery, is located at an elevation of 3,500 metres across the river, about 8 km from Keylong. Kardang is well connected by the road via the Tandi bridge which is about 14 km from Keylong. Built in the 12th century, this monastery houses a large library of Buddhist literature including the main Kangyur and Tangyur scriptures.
The treacherous weather in Lahaul and Spiti permits visitors to tour only between the months of June to October, when the roads and villages are free of snow and the high passes (Rothang La and Kunzum La) are open. It is possible to access Spiti from Kinnaur (along the Sutlej) all through the year, although the road is sometimes temporarily closed by landslides or avalanches.
Buddhist Monasteries in Spiti: Spiti is one of the important centers of Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh. It is popularly known as the 'land of lamas'. The valley is dotted by numerous Buddhist Monasteries or Gompas that are famous throughout the world and are a favorite of Dalai Lama.
Kye Monastery: Kye Monastery in Spiti is the main research center of the Buddhists in India. Near about 300 lamas are receiving their religious training from here. It is oldest and biggest monastery in Spiti. It houses the rare painting and beautiful scriptures of Buddha and other gods and goddess. You may also find rare 'Thangka' paintings and ancient musical instruments 'trumpets, cymbals, and drums in the monastery.
Tabo Monastery: Perched at an amazing altitude of 3050 meters, Tabo Monastery in the valley of Spiti is often referred to as the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'. The 10th century Tabo Monastery was founded by the great scholar, Richen Zangpo, and has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The monastery houses more than 6 lamas and contains the rare collection of scriptures, pieces of art, wall paintings -Tankhas and Stucco.
Flora and fauna of Spiti Valley: The valley is blessed with the good population of snow leopards, ibex, Himalayan Brown Bear, Musk Deer, Himalayan Blue Sheep etc. which serves as the boon for the wildlife lovers. There are two important protected areas in the region that are a home to snow leopard and its prey including the Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Surprisingly, due to ardent religious beliefs, people of Spiti do not hunt these wild animals.
Apart from the exotic wildlife, the Valley of Spiti is also known for its amazing wealth of flora and the profusion of wild flowers. Some of the mot common species found here include Causinia thomsonii, Seseli trilobum, Crepis flexuosa, Caragana brevifolia and Krascheninikovia ceratoides. Then there are more than 62 species of medicinal plants found here.
Adventure activities:
To- do-Trials: For trekkers, the Spiti Valley is a paradise, offering challenging treks to explore the new heights of the Himalayas. The treks takes you to the most remote areas including the rugged villages and old Gompas followed by the exotic wildlife trails. Some of the popular trekking routes in the area includes Kaza-Langza-Hikim-Comic-Kaza, Kaza-Ki-Kibber-Gete-Kaza, Kaza-Losar-Kunzum La and Kaza-Tabo-Sumdo-Nako. Please note that you carry all the necessary things before out for the trekking tour to Spiti. Tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, heavy woollens and sunglasses are a must.
Skiing: Skiing is the popular adventure sports in Spiti and is popular in India from the past few years. The amazing snow clad mountains with the added advantage of inspiring heights are enough to allure the adventure spirits of the avid skier, providing all the thrill and fun attracted to the sport. People from all around the globe come to experience this enthralling adventure activity.
Yak Safari: The most exciting of all adventure activities in Spiti is the Yak safari. You can hire the Yak to see the flora and fauna of trans-Himalayan desert. It is, in fact, the lifetime opportunity that you won't find anywhere else so easily. Apart from this, horse safaris are also conducted in this area.
Sources en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahaul_and_Spiti_district
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To protect my work i load pictures only on flickr and they are in web compatible resolutions only.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
Groups i administer on facebook and flickr (1000 plus members allready in few months )
ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY & WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF SERIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS on facebook
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111942842150274
HIMACHAL Kullu Manali, Sundernagar Mandi, Dharamsala,Shimla,Lahaul Spiti12
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=234474081858
ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY & WORLD THROUGH SERIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS EYES
www.flickr.com/groups/prodigious/
I intent to publish in near future the TRAVEL PHOTOBOOKS on
Landscapes in 6 Continents (Title 1- Stupendous Landscapes across 6 Continents) ,
Wonders of World (Title 2 - "Ancient and New 7 Wonders of World from a Himalayan Photographers Eye") ,
28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (Title 3 -"All 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India") ,
Himalayas in India, Nepal, China, Tibet & Bhutan (Title 4 -"Stupendous Himalayas"),
UNESCO Interesting World Heritage Sites across globe ( Title 5 - "Best of UNESCO World Heritage Sites") ,
Himachal Pradesh (Title 6 - "Unforgettable Himachal Pradesh" Photostories by SunDeep® Bhardwaj sundeepkullu.com)
I do not allow downloading of my images and they are digitally watermarked with Digimarc (DMRC) which makes it easier for me to identify any unauthorised party using the across web or any media. Even if my work is downloaded in full or in part Digimarc is capable of tracing the use of images across web or any other media. Due to previous copyright infringement by parties not authorised in written by me, i have penalised parties using my images without my permisision. I stock my photos on my official website sundeepkullu.com and flickr (the world's best photography website for professionals amateurs and serious photographers as well as photo admirers) in web compatible resolutions only with no permissions to download or use my pictures in any kind of media without prior written permission from me. Thanks for your understanding.
Thanks for your LIKES and COMMENTS and VISITING
WORLD IS MY STUDIO "I live with one vision to create things that would outlast me. I discovered photography as a means for me to connect with my innerself"........... SunDeep® Bhardwaj Kullu
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Lahaul and Spiti district
The district of Lahaul-Spiti in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh consists of the two formerly separate districts of Lahaul and Spiti. The present administrative centre is Keylong in Lahaul. Before the two districts were merged, Kardang was the capital of Lahaul, and Dhankar the capital of Spiti.
Kunzum la or the Kunzum Pass (altitude 4,551 m; 14,931 ft) is the entrance pass to the Spiti Valley from Lahaul. It is 21 km from Chandra Tal.[1] This district is connected to Manali through the Rohtang Pass. To the south, Spiti ends 24 km from Tabo, at the Pare chu gorge where the road enters Kinnaur and joins with National Highway No. 22.[2]
The two valleys are quite different in character. Spiti is more barren and difficult to cross, with an average elevation of the valley floor of 4,270 m (14,009 ft). It is enclosed between lofty ranges, with the Spiti river rushing out of a gorge in the southeast to meet the Sutlej River. It is a typical mountain desert area with an average annual rainfall of only 170 mm (6.7 inches).[3]
Flora and fauna
Lahaul valley in winter
Mountain peak in Lahaul and Spiti district
The harsh conditions of Lahaul permit only scattered tufts of hardy grasses and shrubs to grow, even below 4,000 metres. Glacier lines are usually found at 5,000 metres.
Animals such as yaks and dzos roam across the wild Lingti plains. However, over-hunting and a decrease in food supplies has led to a large decrease in the population of the Tibetan antelope, argali, kiangs, musk deer, and snow leopards in these regions, reducing them to the status of endangered species. However, in the Lahaul valley, one can see ibex, brown bears, foxes and snow leopards during winter.
[edit]People
Mother and child in near Gandhola Monastery. 2004
The language, culture, and populations of Lahaul and Spiti are closely related. Generally the Lahaulis are of Tibetan and Indo-Aryan descent, while the Spiti Bhotia are more similar to the Tibetans, owing to their proximity to Tibet. Fairer skin and hazel-colored eyes are commonly seen among the Lahaulis.
The languages of both the Lahauli and Spiti Bhutia belong to the Tibetan family. They are very similar to the Ladakhi and Tibetans culturally, as they had been placed under the rule of the Guge and Ladakh kingdoms at occasional intervals.
Among the Lahaulis, the family acts as the basic unit of kinship. The extended family system is common, evolved from the polyandric system of the past. The family is headed by a senior male member, known as the Yunda, while his wife, known as the Yundamo, attains authority by being the oldest member in the generation. The clan system, also known as Rhus, plays another major role in the Lahauli society.
The Spiti Bhutia community has an inheritance system that is otherwise unique to the Tibetans. Upon the death of both parents, only the eldest son will inherit the family property, while the eldest daughter inherits the mother's jewellery, and the younger siblings inherit nothing. Men usually fall back on the social security system of the Trans-Himalayan Gompas.
[edit]Lifestyle
The lifestyles of the Lahauli and Spiti Bhotia are similar, owing to their proximity. Polyandry was widely practiced by the Lahaulis in the past, although this practice has been dying out. The Spiti Bhutia do not generally practice polyandry any more, although it is accepted in a few isolated regions.
Divorces are accomplished by a simple ceremony performed in the presence of village elders. Divorce can be sought by either partner. The husband has to pay compensation to his ex-wife if she does not remarry. However, this is uncommon among the Lahaulis.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Potato farming is common. Occupations include animal husbandry, working in government programs, government services, and other businesses and crafts that include weaving. Houses are constructed in the Tibetan architectural style, as the land in Lahul and Spiti is mountainous and quite prone to earthquakes.
[edit]Religion
Kunzum Pass between Lahul & Spiti
Ki-Gompa Spiti
Most of the Lahaulis follow a combination of Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyu order, while the Spiti Bhotia follow Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelugpa order. Within Lahoul/swangla, the Baralacha-La region had the strongest Buddhist influence, owing to its close proximity to Spiti. Lahoul/swangla has temples such as Triloknath , where pilgrims worship a certain god in different manifestations, notably in the form of Shiva and Avalokiteshvara where Udaipur is a puritan temple. This bas-relief, of marble, depicts the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara (the embodiment of the Buddha's compassion) in a stylized seated position; Hindu devotees take it to be Shiva Nataraj, Shiva dancing. This image appears to be of sixteenth century Chamba craftsmanship. It was created to replace the original black stone image of the deity, which became damaged by art looters. This original image is kept beneath the plinth of the shrine. It appears to be of 12th century Kashmiri provenance . Much of the art thieves are active in this remote belt because of neglected gompas and temples.
Before the spread of Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism, the people were adherents of the religion 'Lung Pe Chhoi', an animistic religion that had some affinities with the Bön religion of Tibet. While the religion flourished, animal and human sacrifices were regularly offered up to the 'Iha', a term that refers to evil spirits residing in the natural world, notably in the old pencil-cedar trees, rocks and caves. Vestiges of the Lung Pe Chhoi religion can be seen in the behaviour of the Lamas, who are believed to possess certain supernatural powers.
The Losar festival (also known as Halda in Lahauli) is celebrated between the months of January and February. The date of celebration is decided by the Lamas. It has the same significance as the Diwali festival of Hinduism, but is celebrated in a Tibetan fashion.
At the start of the festival, two or three persons from every household will come holding burning incense. The burning sticks are then piled into a bonfire. The people will then pray to Shiskar Apa, the goddess of wealth (other name Vasudhara) in the Buddhist religion.
In the Pattan belt of the valley in Lahoul most population follows Hinduism,but counts for 14 percent of the total and they are called swanglas. The fagli festival is celebrated between February and March all over the valley. This festival is a new year festival and closely precedes beginning of tibetian and Chinese calendar. Notable is the Pattan people are the late settlers in the valley around 1500 A.D. and have broad highlights and have distinct language on the likes the central Asians,chamba, pangi, pashtoons and uyghurs. This belt is known for the convergence for chandra and bhaga rivers to form Chenab.
[edit]Tourism
Ki Gompa
The natural scenery and Buddhist monasteries, such as Ki, Dhankar, Shashur, Guru Ghantal and Tayul Gompas, are the main tourist attractions of the region.
One of the most interesting places is the Tabo Monastery, located 45 km from Kaza, Himachal Pradesh, the capital of the Spiti region. This monastery rose to prominence when it celebrated its thousandth year of existence in 1996. It houses a collection of Buddhist scriptures, Buddhist statues and Thangkas. The ancient gompa is finished with mud plaster, and contains several scriptures and documents. Lama Dzangpo heads the gompa here. There is a modern guest house with a dining hall and all facilities are available.
Another famous gompa, Kardang Monastery, is located at an elevation of 3,500 metres across the river, about 8 km from Keylong. Kardang is well connected by the road via the Tandi bridge which is about 14 km from Keylong. Built in the 12th century, this monastery houses a large library of Buddhist literature including the main Kangyur and Tangyur scriptures.
The treacherous weather in Lahaul and Spiti permits visitors to tour only between the months of June to October, when the roads and villages are free of snow and the high passes (Rothang La and Kunzum La) are open. It is possible to access Spiti from Kinnaur (along the Sutlej) all through the year, although the road is sometimes temporarily closed by landslides or avalanches.
Buddhist Monasteries in Spiti: Spiti is one of the important centers of Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh. It is popularly known as the 'land of lamas'. The valley is dotted by numerous Buddhist Monasteries or Gompas that are famous throughout the world and are a favorite of Dalai Lama.
Kye Monastery: Kye Monastery in Spiti is the main research center of the Buddhists in India. Near about 300 lamas are receiving their religious training from here. It is oldest and biggest monastery in Spiti. It houses the rare painting and beautiful scriptures of Buddha and other gods and goddess. You may also find rare 'Thangka' paintings and ancient musical instruments 'trumpets, cymbals, and drums in the monastery.
Tabo Monastery: Perched at an amazing altitude of 3050 meters, Tabo Monastery in the valley of Spiti is often referred to as the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'. The 10th century Tabo Monastery was founded by the great scholar, Richen Zangpo, and has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The monastery houses more than 6 lamas and contains the rare collection of scriptures, pieces of art, wall paintings -Tankhas and Stucco.
Flora and fauna of Spiti Valley: The valley is blessed with the good population of snow leopards, ibex, Himalayan Brown Bear, Musk Deer, Himalayan Blue Sheep etc. which serves as the boon for the wildlife lovers. There are two important protected areas in the region that are a home to snow leopard and its prey including the Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Surprisingly, due to ardent religious beliefs, people of Spiti do not hunt these wild animals.
Apart from the exotic wildlife, the Valley of Spiti is also known for its amazing wealth of flora and the profusion of wild flowers. Some of the mot common species found here include Causinia thomsonii, Seseli trilobum, Crepis flexuosa, Caragana brevifolia and Krascheninikovia ceratoides. Then there are more than 62 species of medicinal plants found here.
Adventure activities:
To- do-Trials: For trekkers, the Spiti Valley is a paradise, offering challenging treks to explore the new heights of the Himalayas. The treks takes you to the most remote areas including the rugged villages and old Gompas followed by the exotic wildlife trails. Some of the popular trekking routes in the area includes Kaza-Langza-Hikim-Comic-Kaza, Kaza-Ki-Kibber-Gete-Kaza, Kaza-Losar-Kunzum La and Kaza-Tabo-Sumdo-Nako. Please note that you carry all the necessary things before out for the trekking tour to Spiti. Tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, heavy woollens and sunglasses are a must.
Skiing: Skiing is the popular adventure sports in Spiti and is popular in India from the past few years. The amazing snow clad mountains with the added advantage of inspiring heights are enough to allure the adventure spirits of the avid skier, providing all the thrill and fun attracted to the sport. People from all around the globe come to experience this enthralling adventure activity.
Yak Safari: The most exciting of all adventure activities in Spiti is the Yak safari. You can hire the Yak to see the flora and fauna of trans-Himalayan desert. It is, in fact, the lifetime opportunity that you won't find anywhere else so easily. Apart from this, horse safaris are also conducted in this area.
Sources en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahaul_and_Spiti_district
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To protect my work i load pictures only on flickr and they are in web compatible resolutions only.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
Groups i administer on facebook and flickr (1000 plus members allready in few months )
ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY & WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF SERIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS on facebook
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111942842150274
HIMACHAL Kullu Manali, Sundernagar Mandi, Dharamsala,Shimla,Lahaul Spiti12
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=234474081858
ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY & WORLD THROUGH SERIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS EYES
www.flickr.com/groups/prodigious/
I intent to publish in near future the TRAVEL PHOTOBOOKS on
Landscapes in 6 Continents (Title 1- Stupendous Landscapes across 6 Continents) ,
Wonders of World (Title 2 - "Ancient and New 7 Wonders of World from a Himalayan Photographers Eye") ,
28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (Title 3 -"All 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India") ,
Himalayas in India, Nepal, China, Tibet & Bhutan (Title 4 -"Stupendous Himalayas"),
UNESCO Interesting World Heritage Sites across globe ( Title 5 - "Best of UNESCO World Heritage Sites") ,
Himachal Pradesh (Title 6 - "Unforgettable Himachal Pradesh" Photostories by SunDeep® Bhardwaj sundeepkullu.com)
I do not allow downloading of my images and they are digitally watermarked with Digimarc (DMRC) which makes it easier for me to identify any unauthorised party using the across web or any media. Even if my work is downloaded in full or in part Digimarc is capable of tracing the use of images across web or any other media. Due to previous copyright infringement by parties not authorised in written by me, i have penalised parties using my images without my permisision. I stock my photos on my official website sundeepkullu.com and flickr (the world's best photography website for professionals amateurs and serious photographers as well as photo admirers) in web compatible resolutions only with no permissions to download or use my pictures in any kind of media without prior written permission from me. Thanks for your understanding.
Thanks for your LIKES and COMMENTS and VISITING
WORLD IS MY STUDIO "I live with one vision to create things that would outlast me. I discovered photography as a means for me to connect with my innerself"........... SunDeep® Bhardwaj Kullu
SDBWP™
Copyright 2011 © sundeepkullu.com All rights reserved.
The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
Linderhof Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein Castle Tour Munich Germany
Neuschwanstein Castle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 47°33′27″N 10°45′00″E
Neuschwanstein Castle
General information
Architectural styleNeo-Gothic Revival
LocationSchwangau, Germany
Construction started5 September 1869
Completedc.1892 (unfinished)
Design and construction
OwnerBavarian Palace Department
ArchitectEduard Riedel
Civil engineer
Eduard Riedel, Georg von Dollmann, Julius Hofmann
thumb|Castillo de Hades de Saint Seiya
Other designersLudwig II, Christian Jank
Neuschwanstein Castle (German: Schloss Neuschwanstein, pronounced [nɔʏˈʃvaːnʃtaɪn]) is a 19th-century Gothic Revival palace on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as an homage to Richard Wagner.
The palace was intended as a personal refuge for the reclusive king, but it was opened to the paying public immediately after his death in 1886.[1] Since then over 60 million people have visited Neuschwanstein Castle.[2] More than 1.3 million people visit annually, with up to 6,000 per day in the summer.[3] The palace has appeared prominently in several movies and was the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle[4] and later, similar structures.
Northward view from Mount Säuling (2,047 m/6,716 ft) on the border between Bavaria and Tyrol: Schwangau between large Forggensee reservoir (1952) and Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein palaces
The municipality of Schwangau lies at an elevation of 800 m (2,620 ft) at the south west border of the German state of Bavaria. Its surroundings are characterized by the transition between the Alpine foothills in the south (towards the nearby Austrian border) and a hilly landscape in the north that appears flat by comparison. In the Middle Ages, three castles overlooked the village.
One was called Schwanstein Castle.[nb 1] In 1832, Ludwig's father King Maximilian II of Bavaria bought its ruins to replace them by the comfortable neo-Gothic palace known as Hohenschwangau Castle. Finished in 1837, the palace became his family's summer residence, and his elder son Ludwig (born 1845) spent a large part of his childhood here.[citation needed]
Vorderhohenschwangau Castle and Hinterhohenschwangau Castle[nb 2] sat on a rugged hill overlooking Schwanstein Castle, two nearby lakes (Alpsee and Schwansee), and the village. Separated only by a moat, they jointly consisted of a hall, a keep, and a fortified tower house.[5] In the 19th century only ruins remained of the medieval twin castles, but those of Hinterhohenschwangau served as a lookout place known as Sylphenturm.[6]
Modern panorama from Neuschwanstein (1,008 m/3,307 ft[7]) showing (left to right): palace access road; Alpsee with locality of Hohenschwangau in front; 19th century Hohenschwangau Castle on a hill with Schwansee behind it on the right (west); locality of Alterschrofen with town of Füssen behind it; core of Schwangau in front of large Forggensee reservoir (1952); Bannwaldsee (north)
The ruins above the family palace were known to the crown prince from his excursions. He first sketched one of them in his diary in 1859.[8] When the young king came to power in 1864, the construction of a new palace in place of the two ruined castles became the first in his series of palace building projects.[9] Ludwig himself called the new palace New Hohenschwangau Castle – only after his death was it renamed Neuschwanstein.[10] The confusing result is that Hohenschwangau and Schwanstein have effectively swapped names: Hohenschwangau Castle replaced the ruins of Schwanstein Castle, and Neuschwanstein Castle replaced the ruins of the two Hohenschwangau Castles.
Linderhof Palace
Linderhof Palace (German: Schloss Linderhof) is in Germany, near Oberammergau in southwest Bavaria near Ettal Abbey. It is the smallest of the three palaces built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and the only one which he lived to see completed.
Development of the building
Ludwig already knew the area around Linderhof from his youth when he had accompanied his father King Maximilian II of Bavaria on his hunting trips in the Bavarian Alps. When Ludwig II became king in 1864 he inherited the so-called Königshäuschen from his father, and in 1869 began enlarging the building. In 1874 he decided to tear down the Königshäuschen and rebuild it on its present-day location in the park. At the same time three new rooms and the staircase were added to the remaining U-shaped complex, and the previous wooden exterior was clad with stone façades. The building was designed in the style of the second rococo-period. Between 1863 and 1886 a total of 8,460,937 marks[1] was spent constructing Linderhof.
[edit]Symbolic background
Although Linderhof is much smaller than Versailles, it is evident that the palace of the French Sun-King Louis XIV (who was an idol for Ludwig) was its inspiration. The staircase, for example, is a reduction of the famous Ambassador's staircase in Versailles, which would be copied in full in Herrenchiemsee. Stylistically, however, the building and its decor take their cues from the mid-18th century Rococo of Louis XV, and the small palace in the Graswang was more directly based on that king's Petit Trianon on the Versailles grounds.[2] The symbol of the sun that can be found everywhere in the decoration of the rooms represents the French notion of absolutism that, for Ludwig, was the perfect incorporation of his ideal of a God-given monarchy with total royal power. Such a monarchy could no longer be realised in Europe in the second half of the nineteenth century. The bedroom was important to the ceremonial life of an absolute monarch; Louis XIV of France used to give his first (lever) and last audience (coucher) of the day in his bedchamber. In imitation of Versailles, the bedroom is the largest chamber of Linderhof Palace. By facing north, however, the Linderhof bedroom inverts the symbolism of its Versailles counterpart, showing Ludwig's self-image as a "Night-King."
The location of the palace near Ettal Abbey again presents another interesting point. Because of its architecture Ludwig saw the church of the monastery as the room where the holy grail was preserved. This fact connects the idea of a baroque palace to the one of a "medieval" castle such as Neuschwanstein and reminds of the operas of Richard Wagner whose patron Ludwig was.
[edit]The rooms
Linderhof, in comparison to other palaces, has a rather private atmosphere. In fact, there are only four rooms that have a real function.
[edit]Hall of Mirrors
This room was used by the king as some kind of living room. He enjoyed sitting in the niche, sometimes reading there the whole night. Because Ludwig II used to sleep in the daytime and stay awake in the night, the mirrors created an unimaginable effect for him when they reflected the light of the candles a thousand times. The parallel placement of some mirrors evoke the illusion of a never ending avenue.
Ivory chandelier
Appointments:
The middle table has a top with lapis-lazuli, amethyst and chalcedony inlay work and shows the Bavarian coat of arms in glass mosaic.
A carpet made of ostrich plumes.
An ivory candelabra in the alcove with 16 branches.
Two mantelpieces clad with lapis-lazuli and decorated with gilded bronze ornaments.
[edit]Eastern and Western Tapestry Chambers
The two tapestry chambers are almost identical and have no specific function. The western one is sometimes called "Music Room" because of the Aeolodion (an instrument combining piano and harmonium) in it. Only the curtains and the coverings on the furniture are real products of the Parisian Gobelin Manufactory. The scenes on the walls are painted on rough canvas in order to imitate real tapestries.
[edit]Audience Chamber
The audience chamber is located to the west of the castle and is flanked by the yellow and lilac cabinets. The cabinets were only used as antechambers to the larger rooms. Ludwig II never used this room to hold an audience. This would have contradicted to the private character of Linderhof Palace and the chamber would have been much too small for it. He rather used it as a study where he thought about new building projects. That there is an audience chamber in Linderhof, however, reminds us of the demand of the king on an absolute monarchy.
Appointments:
Two round tables with malachite tops, gift of Czarina Maria Alexandrovna to King Ludwig II.
Throne baldachin with ostrich feather bunches (as an oriental symbol of royal power).
[edit]Dining Room
This room is located to the east and is flanked by the pink and blue cabinets. The pink cabinet, unlike the other cabinets, had a real function. The king used it as a robing room. The dining room is famous for its disappearing dumb-waiter called "Tischlein deck dich". This table was installed so that Ludwig could dine alone here. Yet the staff had to lay the table for at least four persons because it is said that the king used to talk to imaginary people like Louis XV, Mme de Pompadour or Marie Antoinette while he was eating. For Ludwig II enjoyed the company of those people and admired them. You can find portraits of them in the cabinets, and scenes of their lives everywhere in the castle's rooms.
Appointments:
Meissen porcelain centrepiece with china flowers.
[edit]Bedchamber
The model for this room was not Louis XIV's bedchamber in Versailles but the bedroom of the Rich Rooms in Munich Residence. This room was completely rebuilt in 1884 and could not be totally finished until the king's death two years later. The position of the bed itself on steps in the alcove that is closed off by a gilded balustrade gives it the appearance of an altar and thereby glorifies the night-kingdom of Ludwig II.
Appointments:
A glass candelabra with 108 candles.
Two console tables of Meissen porcelain (which was the king's favorite china)
[edit]The park
The gardens surrounding Linderhof Palace are considered one of the most beautiful creations of historicist garden design. The park combines formal elements of Baroque style or Italian Renaissance gardens with landscaped sections that are similar to the English garden.
[edit]Formal gardens
The palace is surrounded by formal gardens that are subdivided into five sections that are decorated with allegoric sculptures of the continents, the seasons and the elements:
The northern part is characterized by a cascade of thirty marble steps. The bottom end of the cascade is formed by the Neptune fountain and on top of it there is a Music Pavilion.
The centre of the western parterre is formed by basin with the gilt figure of "Fama". In the west there is a pavilion with the bust of Louis XIV. In front of it you see a fountain with the gilt sculpture "Amor with dolphins". The garden is decorated with four majolica vases.
The crowning of the eastern parterre is a wooden pavilion containing the bust of Louis XVI. 24 steps below it there is a fountain basin with a gilt sculpture "Amor shooting an arrow". A sculpture of "Venus and Adonis" is placed between the basin and the palace.
The water parterre in front of the castle is dominated by a large basin with the gilt fountain group "Flora and puttos". The fountain itself is nearly 25 meters high.
The terrace gardens form the southern part of the park and correspond to the cascade in the north. On the landing of the first flight there is the "Naiad fountain" consisting of three basins and the sculptures of water nymphs. In the middle arch of the niche you see the bust of Marie Antoinette of France. These gardens are crowned by a round temple with a statue of Venus formed after a painting by Antoine Watteau (The Embarkation for Cythera).
[edit]Landscape garden and structures in the park
The landscape garden covers an area of about 50 hectares (125 acres) and is perfectly integrated in the surrounding natural alpine landscape. There are several buildings of different appearance located in the park.
Venus Grotto
Venus Grotto
The building is wholly artificial and was built for the king as an illustration of the First Act of Wagner's "Tannhäuser". Ludwig liked to be rowed over the lake in his golden swan-boat but at the same time he wanted his own blue grotto of Capri. Therefore 24 dynamos had been installed and so already in the time of Ludwig II it was possible to illuminate the grotto in changing colours.
Hunding's Hut
This hut was inspired by Richard Wagner's directions for the First Act of the "Valkyrie". Ludwig used to celebrate Germanic feasts in this house.
Gurnemanz Hermitage
Ludwig came here for contemplation every year on Good Friday. For this day he wanted a flowering meadow. If there was no such meadow because there was still snow lying, the garden director had to plant one for the king.
These three structures, the "Venus Grotto", "Hunding's Hut" and "Gurnemanz Hermitage" remind us another time of the operas of Richard Wagner. But besides that and the baroque architecture Ludwig was also interested in the oriental world.
Moorish Kiosk
The Moorish kiosk
This building was designed by the Berliner architect Karl von Diebitsch for the International Exhibition in Paris 1867. Ludwig II wanted to buy it but was forestalled by the railroad king Bethel Henry Strousberg. Ludwig bought the pavilion after the bankruptcy of Strousberg. The most notable piece of furniture of this building is the peacock throne.
Moroccan House
This house had really been built in Morocco for the International Exhibition in Vienna 1873. The king bought it in 1878 and let it decorate in a more royal way.
Source
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuschwanstein_Castle
Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohenschwangau_Castle
Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linderhof_Palace
Schloss Hohenschwangau.
Hohenschwangau Castle or Schloss Hohenschwangau (lit: High Swan County Palace) is a 19th century palace in southern Germany. It was the childhood residence of King Ludwig II of Bavaria and was built by his father, King Maximilian II of Bavaria. It is located in the German village of Schwangau near the town of Füssen, part of the county of Ostallgäu in southwestern Bavaria, Germany, very close to the border with Austria.
Hohenschwangau Castle was built on the remains of the fortress Schwanstein, which was first mentioned in historical records dating from the 12th century. A family of knights was responsible for the construction of the medieval fortress, and it served as the seat of the local government of Schwangau. In 1523, the schloss was described as having walls which were too thin to be useful for defensive purposes. After the demise of the knights in the 16th century the fortress changed hands several times. The decay of the fortress continued until it finally fell into ruins at the beginning of the 19th century.
In April 1829 Crown Prince Maximilian (the later King Maximilian II of Bavaria) discovered the historic site during a walking tour and reacted enthusiastically to the beauty of the surrounding area. He acquired the ruins - then still known as Schwanstein - in 1832. In February 1833 the reconstruction of the Castle began, continuing until 1837, with additions up to 1855. The architect in charge, Domenico Quaglio, was responsible for the neogothic style of the exterior design. He died in 1837 and the task was continued by Joseph Daniel Ohlmüller (died 1839) and Georg Friedrich Ziebland.[1] Queen Marie created an alpine garden with plants gathered from all over the alps.
Hohenschwangau was the official summer and hunting residence of Maximilian, his wife Marie of Prussia and their two sons Ludwig (the later King Ludwig II of Bavaria) and Otto (the later King Otto I of Bavaria). The young princes spent many years of their adolescence here. The King and the Queen lived in the main building, the boys in the annex.
Hohenschwangau Village on left, Schloss Hohenschwangau on right, as seen from Neuschwanstein Castle.
King Maximilian died in 1864 and his son Ludwig succeeded to the throne, moving into his father's room in the castle. As Ludwig never married, his mother Marie was able to continue living on her floor. King Ludwig enjoyed living in Hohenschwangau, especially after 1869 when the building of his own castle, Neuschwanstein, began only a stone's throw from his parental home.
Schloss Hohenschwangau
After Ludwig's death in 1886 Queen Marie was the castle's only resident until she in turn died in 1889. Her brother-in-law, Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria lived on the 3rd floor of the main building. He was responsible for the electrification in 1905 and the installation of an electric elevator. Luitpold died in 1912 and the palace was opened as a museum during the following year.
During World War I and World War II the castle suffered no damage. In 1923 the Bavarian Landtag recognised the right of the former royal family to reside in the castle. From 1933 to 1939 Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria and his family used the castle as their summer residence, and it continues to be a favourite residence of his successors. In May 1941, Prince Adalbert of Bavaria was purged from the military under Hitler's Prinzenerlass and withdrew to the family castle Hohenschwangau, where he lived for the rest of the war.
More than 300,000 visitors from all over the world visit the palace each year. The castle is open all through the year (except for Christmas). Opening hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (April through September) and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (October through March). Guided tours are provided in German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Czech, Slovenian and Japanese. Self-guided tours are not available.
The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu Himachal Around the World to more than 50+Countries & 200+Major Destinations across 6 Continents.
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These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
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Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohenschwangau_Castle
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RAWANDA KIGALI TOUR
PHOTOSTORIES from SunDeepKullu.Com World Travel Fine Art Photography Sept 2012
Having Spent interesting day in Kigali in RAWANDA where I arrived today morning via Entebbe in UGANDA the city of Hills is really great to discover and very distinct from other Africa countries.
Know Kigali Rawanda the best of best -
Rwanda is a relatively stable East African country, and easily accessible from Kenya and Uganda. It is relatively easy, safe and simple to travel around. It is landlocked, surrounded by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.
Rwanda is not only the land of a thousand hills, but also a country rich in flora and fauna and stunning natural beauty in its scenic rolling and breathtaking green savannah. The country hosts some rare species of animals like the silverback mountain Gorillas as well as unique birds and insects in the tropical forest of Nyungwe.
Understand
It's been over a decade since the civil war and genocide of 1994 that devastated this tiny country, and it's come a long way. Shake off your memories of war and expect a warm and friendly welcome to a beautiful country.
Rwanda has 3 national parks:
Akagera National Park
Volcanoes National Park – home to the mountain gorillas, this park spreads into Uganda and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Nyungwe National Park
If you are traveling overland, it is no longer possible to obtain a visa at the border. However, visa application can easily be made at www.migration.gov.rw/singleform.php. You will within a few days receive a entry visa acceptance by email. Bringing this acceptance letter, the visa will be issued at the border. The US$60 visa fee is paid at the border.
I'm not a plastic bag!
Thin plastic bags are prohibited in Rwanda. Luggage will be searched at the border and even at police checkpoints throughout the country to make sure you are not carrying plastic bags. Prior to the ban, one-time use plastic bags plagued city streets and threatened the delicate environment. Today, Rwandan cities are almost litter-free and some of the cleanest in Africa!
See
National Museum of Butare in Butare –
Lake Kivu in Western Rwanda – a large lake bordering the DRC, it's a nice place to relax for a week or so
The Genocide Memorial in Kigali – fantastic insight into one of the world's greatest tragedies
The Nyamata Genocide Memorial is a worthwhile complement to the Gisozi Memorial Centre in Kigali. Located in the town of Nyamata, 40 minutes south of Kigali on a newly paved road, the memorial is in a church where over 5000 people were killed during the 1994 genocide. Visitors take a short tour and see the evidence of the genocide that remains there today - victims' clothing piled on benches, the roof pockmarked with bullet holes, and the open crypts behind the church that hold the remains of over 40,000 people from the area. An extremely moving look into one of the places where the genocide was carried out.
The Ntarama Genocide Memorial, just 20 minutes away from the Nyamata memorial, is also worth visiting. Like the Nyamata memorial, this site was a church before the genocide, and was nationalized to serve as a memorial after thousands of people were killed within its walls. The church itself is similar to Nyamata, with victims' clothing and remains visible to offer proof of what happened there, but Ntarama also has a peaceful memorial garden and wall of names in the back of its compound. Ask the resident guide for a tour in English or French, and remember to give them a donation for the site afterwards; it gets almost no support from the government. To get there, take the highway from Kigali to Nyamata and follow the signs for the Ntarama memorial, before you reach Nyamata.
Do
Parc National des Volcans, home of the mountain gorillas, and the setting for Gorillas in the Mist author Dian Fossey's research. If you can afford it it's an excellent experience... even possible as a daytrip from Kigali. Enquire at the Rwandan Office for Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN), Boulevard de la Révolution n° 1, Kigali, +(250) 576514 or 573396, reservation@rwandatourism.com, [4]. It cost 500 US dollars per person. Besides that you will have to take an official taxi which costs you another 50 USD. Prices are rising constantly, and you should really consider if you want them to get away with these rip-off prices, because as long as there are people who pay them, they will continue to rise them.
Respect
Rwanda is a very conservative society; most people dress modestly, especially women. Wearing shorts or tight skirts and skimpy tops is likely to get you stared at twice as much as normal.
It is unusual for a couple to make public displays of affection, even though many men walk hand in hand with male friends. Also, Rwandans will generally never eat or drink in public, apart from at restaurants. Rwandan women are rarely seen smoking in public or out in bars unaccompanied.
Rwandans are very private, reserved people and loud public confrontations (shouting matches) or obvious displays of emotion (such as crying) are also frowned upon. If you feel you are being overcharged by a trader, quietly persisting with the negotiation (or your complaint!) is likely to produce results much faster than an angry outburst!
It is also impolite to make eye contact with an elder.
Please understand that Rwanda is still recovering from a civil war and genocide in which over 800,000 people, perhaps a million, were killed. Many Rwandese lost relatives and friends. Remember to be sensitive to this sad fact when dealing with Rwandese. Most people today are trying to forget the tribal divisions and would rather be referred to as Rwandese than Hutu or Tutsi. It is considered impolite to ask someone about their ethnic origin.
There is not much political discourse in Rwanda, unlike in many neighboring countries such as Uganda and Kenya where people talk freely about the government and political issues, people in Rwanda will be uncomfortable if asked their views or even if seated at a table where national politics is discussed.
Kigali in Rawanda houses several memorials, museums, and centers dedicated to the Rwandan Genocide, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. Other museums include the National Museum of Rwanda and Kandt House Museum of Natural History.
Urugwiro is the official residence of the President of Rwanda. It constitutes an entire village within the Kacyiru distrct of Kigali.
The city now has international class hotels, some played a role in history:
The Mille Collines in the Kiyovu area. This hotel became a refugee centre during the genocide, as famously depicted in the film Hotel Rwanda (although the hotel shown in the film is in fact in South Africa). It is also the setting for the famous novel Un dimanche à la piscine à Kigali, by Quebecer Gil Courtemanche, and its movie adaptation Un dimanche à Kigali.
The Kigali Serena Hotel, formerly known as the InterContinental Kigali. Formerly a Belgian-owned hotel known as the Diplomates, the hotel was briefly portrayed in the second half of Hotel Rwanda. It was later bought by the InterContinental Hotels group and remodeled in 2003.
Interesting places around Kigali
The Virunga National Park (French: Parc National des Virunga), formerly named Albert National Park, is a 7800 square km National Park that stretches from the Virunga Mountains in the South, to the Rwenzori Mountains in the North, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Rwenzori Mountains National Park and Queen Elisabeth National Park in Uganda. The park was established in 1925 as Africa's first national park. It was classified as a World Heritage Site in 1979. In recent years the park has become known for its mountain gorillas, although poaching and the Congo Civil War have seriously damaged its wildlife population.
The Lava Lake of the Nyiragongo Volcano, one of the spectacular sights of Virunga NP
Virunga NP Mountain Gorillas
Bukima Camp is situated in the foothills of the Mikeno Mountain, the home of the Congolese Mountain Gorillas
Rwenzori Mountains
Silverback of the Rugendo family at Bukima patrol Post
The cabanes are situated at the edge of the crater in sight of the lava lake, the sight of which has an astounding effect on visitors
Lake Kivu is one of three known exploding lakes
sundeepkullu2.see.me/onelife2012.
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WORLD IS MY STUDIO
Still on my World tour entering 6th year of World travel to 70+Countries 555+Destinations across 6 Continents and multiple years of Travel Photography I am busy designing my first Travel Photostories Book named "111 MIRACULOUS WONDERS OF WORLD YOU MUST SEE WHEN YOU ALIVE" and corresponding "111 WOW" iPhone Application soon by the end of this year 2012
SunDeep ™ Bhardwaj World Photography ™ | SDBWP™ | 7 years Amazing World Tour May 2007-till date-continued to 2014 if possible | 10 years Incredible India tour from year 1997-2007 May including Unforgettable Himachal Tour since Childhood |
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Recently Explored 16 Destinations ( In first half of 2012)
*INDIA- Mayad Valley, Lahaul , Rohtang Pass, Manikaran, Jispa, Sissu, Gondla, Deepak Taal, Baralachha Pass, Zing Zing Bar, Deepak Taal , Suraj Taal, Kasol, Kullu-Manali, Bhunter, Keyong
*AUSTRALIA-Melbourne-Great Ocean Road-Twelve Apostles this week
*BELGIUM Brussels
*DENMARK-Copenhagen, VIETNAM Hanoi-Halong Bay
*MALAYSIA-Kuala Lumpur-Kanting Falls-Batu Caves-Petronas Twin Towers
*CANADA-Quebec-Ontario-Montreal
*SOUTH AFRICA Johnnesburg-The Cradle of Mankind-Stolkfontien Caves and Lion & Rino Park
*INDIA-Kashmir-Gulmarg-Srinagar-HIMACHAL-Kullu-Manali-Shimla-Lahaul-Spiti -Dharamshala-Kinnaur-Udaipur-Leh-Laddakh-*KERALA-Athirappily & Vazhachal Falls
*GERMANY-BAVERIA-Black Forest-Oberbayern-Garmich Patenkirchen-Eibsee Lake-Zugspitze
*UK-SCOTLAND Glencoe-Fort William-Castle around Scotland-Lochness-ENGLAND-London-Manchester-Glasgow
*ITALY-Rome-UNESCO Heritage Sites around Rome
*VATICAN CITY-Samallest Country in the World
*CHINA-Shanghai-Zhejiang-Hangzhou-The West Lake-Chongquing-Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area-Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries-Lushan-Buddha JAPAN Horyuji Temple 1300 years old Japan's most sacred place & UNESCO site
*UAE-Al Ain-Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Burj Al Arab-Al Khaleefa Tallest building in the World,
*SWEDEN-Stocholm-National Parks
*NORWAY-Oslo
*RAWANDA-Kigali
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.For full size images contact me.
Contacts:-
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SunDeep Bhardwaj Kullu
MBA-Sales & Mktg.(Symbiosis,Pune)
B.Pub.Admn.(H.P.University,Summer Hills, Shimla)
BHM (GCC-Bangalore)
***Publishing Photostories clicked in the most exotic places on earth in 15 countries that I visited in last 6 months. For all stories of 70+ Countries go to my oficial website sundeepkullu.com ™©®
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Available on Skype / Facetime / Viber / WhatsApp / Facebook / Google Talk / Yahoo Messenger mostly.
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Copyright 2011 © sundeepkullu.com All rights reserved.
The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu Himachal Around the World to more than 50+Countries & 200+Major Destinations across 6 Continents.
Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu
sb@sundeepkullu.com
+91 9816499629
+974 55344547
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
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flickr.com/photos/wittysam or flickr.com/photos/wittysam/show to access all the Photostories.
Quebec City
Quebec ( /kw?'b?k/ or /k?'b?k/; French: Québec [keb?k] ( listen)), also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City (French: Ville de Québec) is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of 2011, the city has a population of 516,622,[1] and the metropolitan area has a population of 765,706[2], making it the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about 233 kilometres (145 mi) to the southwest.
The narrowing of the Saint Lawrence River approximate to the city's promontory, Cap-Diamant (Cape Diamond), and Lévis, on the opposite bank, provided the name given to the city, Kébec, an Algonquin word meaning "where the river narrows". Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Quebec City is one of the oldest cities in North America. The ramparts surrounding Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec) are the only remaining fortified city walls that still exist in the Americas north of Mexico, and were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 as the 'Historic District of Old Québec'.[3][4]
According to the federal and provincial governments, Québec is the city's official name in both French and English, although Quebec City is commonly used, particularly to distinguish the city from the province. The city's most famous landmark is the Château Frontenac, a hotel which dominates the skyline. The National Assembly of Quebec, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (National Gallery of Quebec), and the Musée de la civilisation (Museum of Civilization) are found within or near Vieux-Québec.
Quebec
Quebec /kw?'b?k/ or /k?'b?k/ (French: Québec [keb?k] ( listen))[7] is a province in east-central Canada.[8][9] It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level. Quebec is Canada's largest province by area and its second-largest administrative division; only the territory of Nunavut is larger. It is bordered to the west by the province of Ontario, James Bay and Hudson Bay, to the north by Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay, to the east by the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick. It is bordered on the south by the US states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. It also shares maritime borders with Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.
Quebec is Canada's second most populous province, after Ontario. Most inhabitants live in urban areas near the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City, the capital. English-speaking communities and English-language institutions are concentrated in the west of the island of Montreal but are also significantly present in the Outaouais, Eastern Townships, and Gaspé regions. The Nord-du-Québec region, occupying the northern half of the province, is sparsely populated and inhabited primarily by Aboriginal peoples.[10]
Sovereignty plays a large role in the politics of Quebec, and the official opposition social democratic Parti Québécois advocates national sovereignty for the province and secession from Canada. Sovereignist governments have held referendums on independence in 1980 and 1995; both were voted down by voters, the latter defeated by a very narrow margin.[11] In 2006, the Canadian House of Commons passed a symbolic motion, the Québécois nation motion, recognizing the "Québécois as a nation within a united Canada."[12][13]
While the province's substantial natural resources have long been the mainstay of its economy, sectors of the knowledge economy such as aerospace, information and communication technologies, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry also play leading roles. These many industries have all contributed to helping Quebec become the second most economically influential province, second only to Ontario.[14]
Old Quebec
Historic District of Old Quebec *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Old Quebec (French: Vieux-Québec) is a historic neighbourhood of Quebec City, the capital of the province of Quebec in Canada. Comprising the Upper Town (French: Haute-Ville) and Lower Town (French: Basse-Ville), the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Administratively, Old Quebec is part of the Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–colline Parlementaire district in the borough of La Cité–Limoilou.
The area is sometimes referred to as the Latin Quarter (French: Quartier latin), but this title refers more to area around the Séminaire de Québec, the original site of Laval University.
History
Old Quebec is the oldest part of Quebec City, chosen in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain as the location for the Chateau Saint-Louis. Old Quebec maintained a strong military and administrative presence from its beginning, a use determined by the strategic heights of Cap Diamant. While the Lower Town was populated with merchants and craftsmen, the Upper Town was inhabited by military officials and members of the clergy.
This strong military presence long limited the city's expansion. At the end of the 19th century, many wanted to demolish the fortifications, judging them to be unnecessary and a hindrance to urban development. However, Governor Dufferin successfully managed to preserve the character of the walled city, while adapting the further expansion of the modern city.
Despite having undergone some degradation in the 1950s, the Old City has been subject to somewhat of a renaissance period since the 1970s.
The rich historic nature of Old Quebec is marked by the city's ramparts, fortifications, and many historic houses and buildings. The legacy of previous generations and the beauty of the district make it particularly unique.
The majority of buildings in the neighborhood date from 19th century, although the construction of some date back to 17th and 18th centuries. It also is home to several commercial streets, including Rue Saint-Jean, Rue Sainte-Anne and Rue De Buade. Many institutions are still housed in the heart of the city, such as the Quebec City Council, the Séminaire de Québec, the Ursulines Convent, and the Augustinian monastery. As a popular tourist destination, Old Quebec is also home to several hotels, including the famous Château Frontenac. Guided ghosts tours are also of interest to its residents and visitors.
Ramparts of Quebec City
World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1985
National Historic Site of Canada in 1948
Located in Canada, the Ramparts of Quebec City are the only remaining fortified city walls in the Americas, north of Mexico.[1] The English began fortifying the existing walls,[2] after they took Quebec City from the French in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759.
The wall surrounds most of Old Quebec, which was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1985.[3] The fortifications were designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1948.
***Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
External Links:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:World_Heritage_Sites_in_Ca...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramparts_of_Quebec_City
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Quebec
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_City
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/show
sundeepkullu.com ™©®
*** My URL's:
phototube.co ™©® - Developer
Eureka Photography & Web Design™©® - Director
himachalculturalvillage.com ™©® Environmentalist, Exclusive Artist , Business Development Manager ( Offshore ) & NGO Founder
Getty Images - Contributer
sundeepkullu.com ™©® - Founder & CEO
I travelled to most exotic places on this earth in last 9 years since 2003. I was exploring India from east to west and north to south till mid 2007. Then i started my World tour to 6 continents in May 2007 & entering 2012, my World tour is still on & i am exploring more and more exotic places around all major countries. I believe "World is just amazing" and every place & face has a unique story to tell. I connect to my subjects as to my soul.
Do not forget to subscribe or login from toolbar at the base of any page on my official website sundeepkullu.com ™©® ( Includes connect with my facebook profile/facebook page/facebook group/facebook Like/twitter/twitter follow/Google Plus/Google Buzz/Google +1/LinkedIn/You Tube/Twitter/Facebook subscribe and not to forget TRANSLATE button to translate al tet to al major languages for subscribers followers & fans from all parts of the World.
Cheers!!!
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.For full size images contact me.
Contacts:-
Primary :
wittysam@gmail.com ( E-mail/Skype/Whatsapp/Google+/LinkedIn/Fring/Yoono/Twitter/Gmail/Instagram/http://sundeepkullu.com & Photography & Videography and Quote for Assignments related)
World Roaming +974 55344547 (Facebook Mobile/Viber/Facetime/WhatsApp)
India New Delhi & Himachal Roaming +91 8527745789 (Google Plus)
sb@sundeepkullu.com ( Facebook & Personal Mail )
Secondary :
eurekasun@yahoo.com ( Flickr & Yahoo Messenger )
admin@phototube.co ( phototube.co related )
enquiries@himachalculturalvillage.com ( himachalculturalvillage.com related )
SunDeep™©® Bhardwaj Kullu
MBA-Sales & Mktg.(Symbiosis,Pune)
B.Pub.Admn.(H.P.University,Summer Hills, Shimla)
BHM (GCC-Bangalore)
***Publishing Photostories clicked in the most exotic places on earth in 15 countries that I visited in last 6 months. For all stories of 70+ Countries go to my oficial website sundeepkullu.com ™©®
My latest 15 explored destinations in my 6th year of World tour so far to 70+Countries & 300+Destinations across 6 Continents and 9 th year of Travel Photography & Videography of Places People Culture Landscapes.Recently explored these exotic places in JAPAN Horyuji Temple 1300 years old Japan's most sacred place & UNESCO site UAE-Al Ain-Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Burj Al Arab-Al Khaleefa Tallest building in the World, SWEDEN-Stocholm-National Parks, AUSTRALIA-Melbourne-Great Ocean Road-Twelve Apostles this week. BELGIUM Brussels, DENMARK-Copenhagen, VIETNAM Hanoi-Halong Bay MALAYSIA-Kuala Lumpur-Kanting Falls-Batu Caves-Petronas Twin Towers , CANADA-Quebec-Ontario-Montreal, ATLANTIC-GREENLAND-LABRADOR PENINSULA-Lebrador Sea, SOUTH AFRICA Johnnesburg-The Cradle of Mankind-Stolkfontien Caves and Lion & Rino Park with others INDIA-Kashmir-Gulmarg-Srinagar CHINA-Shanghai-Zhejiang-Hangzhou-The West Lake GERMANY-BAVERIA-Black Forest-Oberbayern-Garmich Patenkirchen-Eibsee Lake-Zugspitze HIMACHAL-Kullu-Manali-Shimla-Lahaul-Spiti -Dharamshala-Kinnaur-Udaipur-Leh-Laddakh UK-SCOTLAND Glencoe-Fort William-Castle around Scotland-Lochness INDIA Jog Falls Ooty Goa Athirappily & Vazhachal Falls Kerala UK-ENGLAND-London-Manchester-Glasgow & others ITALY-Rome-Vatican City and Other UNESCO Heritage Sites around Rome. Soon my first book on 111 MIRACULOUS WONDERS OF WORLD YOU MYST SEE WHEN U ALIVE will be out with "111 WOW" i Phone application by the end of this year. Updating my official website sundeepkullu.com
KINDLY NOTE***The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting me.
Add me as a friend on my facebook profile 2 as my facebook profile 1 is allmost full with 4000 plus friends here - www.facebook.com/sundeephimachal
Slide Shows | Full Screen Mode | Adobe Flash or Mobile
©All rights reserved © sundeepkullu.com ™©® SunDeep™©® Bhardwaj Kullu
Share this Photostory (As i call it..) Publically with these URL Links below (Embedding Not Allowed) :
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/6939641737/in/photostream or
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/6939641737/in/photostream/...
©SunDeep™©® Bhardwaj Kullu
SDBWP™©® SunDeep™ Bhardwaj World Photography™©®,
70+Countries 300+Destinations across 7 Continents™©®
"The World is my Studio"™©®
"I live with one vision to create things that would outlast me. I discovered photography as a means for me to connect with my innerself."
Travel Photographer-Entrepreneur-Business Development Manager-Himachal Cultural Village-Environmentalist
*Friends ***DO COMMENT*** on my flickr Photostream. Thanks for your valuable feedback, comments, likes, favourites and sharing my work within my website and flickr URL's.Your comments are like a fuel to my passion of this Art of Photography ( *I have made a group for the same on flickr & facebook too as listed below)
( *I have made a group for the same on flickr & facebook too as listed below)
Do join these groups no matter you are photo admirer amatuer serious or professional photographer and even compete for Monthly Amwards & Titles-
AOP WORLD FLICKR GROUP www.flickr.com/groups/prodigious/ or short link - bit.ly/ProdigiousAOP
AOP WORLD FACEBOOK GROUP www.facebook.com/groups/111942842150274/ or short link - htp://on.fb.me/AOPworld or bit.ly/AOPworld
FLICKR AOP PRODIGIOUS AWARDS www.flickr.com/groups/candid/ or short lnk - bit.ly/AOPawards
or visit
sundeepkullu.com
™©® or
flickr.com/photos/wittysam or flickr.com/photos/wittysam/show to access all the Photostories.
Quebec City
Quebec ( /kw?'b?k/ or /k?'b?k/; French: Québec [keb?k] ( listen)), also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City (French: Ville de Québec) is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of 2011, the city has a population of 516,622,[1] and the metropolitan area has a population of 765,706[2], making it the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about 233 kilometres (145 mi) to the southwest.
The narrowing of the Saint Lawrence River approximate to the city's promontory, Cap-Diamant (Cape Diamond), and Lévis, on the opposite bank, provided the name given to the city, Kébec, an Algonquin word meaning "where the river narrows". Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Quebec City is one of the oldest cities in North America. The ramparts surrounding Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec) are the only remaining fortified city walls that still exist in the Americas north of Mexico, and were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 as the 'Historic District of Old Québec'.[3][4]
According to the federal and provincial governments, Québec is the city's official name in both French and English, although Quebec City is commonly used, particularly to distinguish the city from the province. The city's most famous landmark is the Château Frontenac, a hotel which dominates the skyline. The National Assembly of Quebec, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (National Gallery of Quebec), and the Musée de la civilisation (Museum of Civilization) are found within or near Vieux-Québec.
Quebec
Quebec /kw?'b?k/ or /k?'b?k/ (French: Québec [keb?k] ( listen))[7] is a province in east-central Canada.[8][9] It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level. Quebec is Canada's largest province by area and its second-largest administrative division; only the territory of Nunavut is larger. It is bordered to the west by the province of Ontario, James Bay and Hudson Bay, to the north by Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay, to the east by the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick. It is bordered on the south by the US states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. It also shares maritime borders with Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.
Quebec is Canada's second most populous province, after Ontario. Most inhabitants live in urban areas near the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City, the capital. English-speaking communities and English-language institutions are concentrated in the west of the island of Montreal but are also significantly present in the Outaouais, Eastern Townships, and Gaspé regions. The Nord-du-Québec region, occupying the northern half of the province, is sparsely populated and inhabited primarily by Aboriginal peoples.[10]
Sovereignty plays a large role in the politics of Quebec, and the official opposition social democratic Parti Québécois advocates national sovereignty for the province and secession from Canada. Sovereignist governments have held referendums on independence in 1980 and 1995; both were voted down by voters, the latter defeated by a very narrow margin.[11] In 2006, the Canadian House of Commons passed a symbolic motion, the Québécois nation motion, recognizing the "Québécois as a nation within a united Canada."[12][13]
While the province's substantial natural resources have long been the mainstay of its economy, sectors of the knowledge economy such as aerospace, information and communication technologies, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry also play leading roles. These many industries have all contributed to helping Quebec become the second most economically influential province, second only to Ontario.[14]
Old Quebec
Historic District of Old Quebec *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Old Quebec (French: Vieux-Québec) is a historic neighbourhood of Quebec City, the capital of the province of Quebec in Canada. Comprising the Upper Town (French: Haute-Ville) and Lower Town (French: Basse-Ville), the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Administratively, Old Quebec is part of the Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–colline Parlementaire district in the borough of La Cité–Limoilou.
The area is sometimes referred to as the Latin Quarter (French: Quartier latin), but this title refers more to area around the Séminaire de Québec, the original site of Laval University.
History
Old Quebec is the oldest part of Quebec City, chosen in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain as the location for the Chateau Saint-Louis. Old Quebec maintained a strong military and administrative presence from its beginning, a use determined by the strategic heights of Cap Diamant. While the Lower Town was populated with merchants and craftsmen, the Upper Town was inhabited by military officials and members of the clergy.
This strong military presence long limited the city's expansion. At the end of the 19th century, many wanted to demolish the fortifications, judging them to be unnecessary and a hindrance to urban development. However, Governor Dufferin successfully managed to preserve the character of the walled city, while adapting the further expansion of the modern city.
Despite having undergone some degradation in the 1950s, the Old City has been subject to somewhat of a renaissance period since the 1970s.
The rich historic nature of Old Quebec is marked by the city's ramparts, fortifications, and many historic houses and buildings. The legacy of previous generations and the beauty of the district make it particularly unique.
The majority of buildings in the neighborhood date from 19th century, although the construction of some date back to 17th and 18th centuries. It also is home to several commercial streets, including Rue Saint-Jean, Rue Sainte-Anne and Rue De Buade. Many institutions are still housed in the heart of the city, such as the Quebec City Council, the Séminaire de Québec, the Ursulines Convent, and the Augustinian monastery. As a popular tourist destination, Old Quebec is also home to several hotels, including the famous Château Frontenac. Guided ghosts tours are also of interest to its residents and visitors.
Ramparts of Quebec City
World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1985
National Historic Site of Canada in 1948
Located in Canada, the Ramparts of Quebec City are the only remaining fortified city walls in the Americas, north of Mexico.[1] The English began fortifying the existing walls,[2] after they took Quebec City from the French in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759.
The wall surrounds most of Old Quebec, which was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1985.[3] The fortifications were designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1948.
***Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
External Links:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:World_Heritage_Sites_in_Ca...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramparts_of_Quebec_City
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Quebec
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_City
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/show
sundeepkullu.com ™©®
*** My URL's:
phototube.co ™©® - Developer
Eureka Photography & Web Design™©® - Director
himachalculturalvillage.com ™©® Environmentalist, Exclusive Artist , Business Development Manager ( Offshore ) & NGO Founder
Getty Images - Contributer
sundeepkullu.com ™©® - Founder & CEO
I travelled to most exotic places on this earth in last 9 years since 2003. I was exploring India from east to west and north to south till mid 2007. Then i started my World tour to 6 continents in May 2007 & entering 2012, my World tour is still on & i am exploring more and more exotic places around all major countries. I believe "World is just amazing" and every place & face has a unique story to tell. I connect to my subjects as to my soul.
Do not forget to subscribe or login from toolbar at the base of any page on my official website sundeepkullu.com ™©® ( Includes connect with my facebook profile/facebook page/facebook group/facebook Like/twitter/twitter follow/Google Plus/Google Buzz/Google +1/LinkedIn/You Tube/Twitter/Facebook subscribe and not to forget TRANSLATE button to translate al tet to al major languages for subscribers followers & fans from all parts of the World.
Cheers!!!
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.For full size images contact me.
Contacts:-
Primary :
wittysam@gmail.com ( E-mail/Skype/Whatsapp/Google+/LinkedIn/Fring/Yoono/Twitter/Gmail/Instagram/http://sundeepkullu.com & Photography & Videography and Quote for Assignments related)
World Roaming +974 55344547 (Facebook Mobile/Viber/Facetime/WhatsApp)
India New Delhi & Himachal Roaming +91 8527745789 (Google Plus)
sb@sundeepkullu.com ( Facebook & Personal Mail )
Secondary :
eurekasun@yahoo.com ( Flickr & Yahoo Messenger )
admin@phototube.co ( phototube.co related )
enquiries@himachalculturalvillage.com ( himachalculturalvillage.com related )
SunDeep™©® Bhardwaj Kullu
MBA-Sales & Mktg.(Symbiosis,Pune)
B.Pub.Admn.(H.P.University,Summer Hills, Shimla)
BHM (GCC-Bangalore)
***Publishing Photostories clicked in the most exotic places on earth in 15 countries that I visited in last 6 months. For all stories of 70+ Countries go to my oficial website sundeepkullu.com ™©®
My latest 15 explored destinations in my 6th year of World tour so far to 70+Countries & 300+Destinations across 6 Continents and 9 th year of Travel Photography & Videography of Places People Culture Landscapes.Recently explored these exotic places in JAPAN Horyuji Temple 1300 years old Japan's most sacred place & UNESCO site UAE-Al Ain-Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Burj Al Arab-Al Khaleefa Tallest building in the World, SWEDEN-Stocholm-National Parks, AUSTRALIA-Melbourne-Great Ocean Road-Twelve Apostles this week. BELGIUM Brussels, DENMARK-Copenhagen, VIETNAM Hanoi-Halong Bay MALAYSIA-Kuala Lumpur-Kanting Falls-Batu Caves-Petronas Twin Towers , CANADA-Quebec-Ontario-Montreal, ATLANTIC-GREENLAND-LABRADOR PENINSULA-Lebrador Sea, SOUTH AFRICA Johnnesburg-The Cradle of Mankind-Stolkfontien Caves and Lion & Rino Park with others INDIA-Kashmir-Gulmarg-Srinagar CHINA-Shanghai-Zhejiang-Hangzhou-The West Lake GERMANY-BAVERIA-Black Forest-Oberbayern-Garmich Patenkirchen-Eibsee Lake-Zugspitze HIMACHAL-Kullu-Manali-Shimla-Lahaul-Spiti -Dharamshala-Kinnaur-Udaipur-Leh-Laddakh UK-SCOTLAND Glencoe-Fort William-Castle around Scotland-Lochness INDIA Jog Falls Ooty Goa Athirappily & Vazhachal Falls Kerala UK-ENGLAND-London-Manchester-Glasgow & others ITALY-Rome-Vatican City and Other UNESCO Heritage Sites around Rome. Soon my first book on 111 MIRACULOUS WONDERS OF WORLD YOU MYST SEE WHEN U ALIVE will be out with "111 WOW" i Phone application by the end of this year. Updating my official website sundeepkullu.com
KINDLY NOTE***The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting me.
Add me as a friend on my facebook profile 2 as my facebook profile 1 is allmost full with 4000 plus friends here - www.facebook.com/sundeephimachal
Slide Shows | Full Screen Mode | Adobe Flash or Mobile
©All rights reserved © sundeepkullu.com ™©® SunDeep™©® Bhardwaj Kullu
Share this Photostory (As i call it..) Publically with these URL Links below (Embedding Not Allowed) :
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/6792039960/in/photostream or
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/6792039960/in/photostream/...
©SunDeep™©® Bhardwaj Kullu
SDBWP™©® SunDeep™ Bhardwaj World Photography™©®,
70+Countries 300+Destinations across 7 Continents™©®
"The World is my Studio"™©®
"I live with one vision to create things that would outlast me. I discovered photography as a means for me to connect with my innerself."
Travel Photographer-Entrepreneur-Business Development Manager-Himachal Cultural Village-Environmentalist
*Friends ***DO COMMENT*** on my flickr Photostream. Thanks for your valuable feedback, comments, likes, favourites and sharing my work within my website and flickr URL's.Your comments are like a fuel to my passion of this Art of Photography ( *I have made a group for the same on flickr & facebook too as listed below)
( *I have made a group for the same on flickr & facebook too as listed below)
Do join these groups no matter you are photo admirer amatuer serious or professional photographer and even compete for Monthly Amwards & Titles-
AOP WORLD FLICKR GROUP www.flickr.com/groups/prodigious/ or short link - bit.ly/ProdigiousAOP
AOP WORLD FACEBOOK GROUP www.facebook.com/groups/111942842150274/ or short link - htp://on.fb.me/AOPworld or bit.ly/AOPworld
FLICKR AOP PRODIGIOUS AWARDS www.flickr.com/groups/candid/ or short lnk - bit.ly/AOPawards
sundeepkullu.com
™©®
or Visit
flickr.com/photos/wittysam or flickr.com/photos/wittysam/show to access all the Photostories.
Quebec City
Quebec ( /kw?'b?k/ or /k?'b?k/; French: Québec [keb?k] ( listen)), also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City (French: Ville de Québec) is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of 2011, the city has a population of 516,622,[1] and the metropolitan area has a population of 765,706[2], making it the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about 233 kilometres (145 mi) to the southwest.
The narrowing of the Saint Lawrence River approximate to the city's promontory, Cap-Diamant (Cape Diamond), and Lévis, on the opposite bank, provided the name given to the city, Kébec, an Algonquin word meaning "where the river narrows". Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Quebec City is one of the oldest cities in North America. The ramparts surrounding Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec) are the only remaining fortified city walls that still exist in the Americas north of Mexico, and were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 as the 'Historic District of Old Québec'.[3][4]
According to the federal and provincial governments, Québec is the city's official name in both French and English, although Quebec City is commonly used, particularly to distinguish the city from the province. The city's most famous landmark is the Château Frontenac, a hotel which dominates the skyline. The National Assembly of Quebec, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (National Gallery of Quebec), and the Musée de la civilisation (Museum of Civilization) are found within or near Vieux-Québec.
Quebec
Quebec /kw?'b?k/ or /k?'b?k/ (French: Québec [keb?k] ( listen))[7] is a province in east-central Canada.[8][9] It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level. Quebec is Canada's largest province by area and its second-largest administrative division; only the territory of Nunavut is larger. It is bordered to the west by the province of Ontario, James Bay and Hudson Bay, to the north by Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay, to the east by the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick. It is bordered on the south by the US states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. It also shares maritime borders with Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.
Quebec is Canada's second most populous province, after Ontario. Most inhabitants live in urban areas near the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City, the capital. English-speaking communities and English-language institutions are concentrated in the west of the island of Montreal but are also significantly present in the Outaouais, Eastern Townships, and Gaspé regions. The Nord-du-Québec region, occupying the northern half of the province, is sparsely populated and inhabited primarily by Aboriginal peoples.[10]
Sovereignty plays a large role in the politics of Quebec, and the official opposition social democratic Parti Québécois advocates national sovereignty for the province and secession from Canada. Sovereignist governments have held referendums on independence in 1980 and 1995; both were voted down by voters, the latter defeated by a very narrow margin.[11] In 2006, the Canadian House of Commons passed a symbolic motion, the Québécois nation motion, recognizing the "Québécois as a nation within a united Canada."[12][13]
While the province's substantial natural resources have long been the mainstay of its economy, sectors of the knowledge economy such as aerospace, information and communication technologies, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry also play leading roles. These many industries have all contributed to helping Quebec become the second most economically influential province, second only to Ontario.[14]
Old Quebec
Historic District of Old Quebec *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Old Quebec (French: Vieux-Québec) is a historic neighbourhood of Quebec City, the capital of the province of Quebec in Canada. Comprising the Upper Town (French: Haute-Ville) and Lower Town (French: Basse-Ville), the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Administratively, Old Quebec is part of the Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–colline Parlementaire district in the borough of La Cité–Limoilou.
The area is sometimes referred to as the Latin Quarter (French: Quartier latin), but this title refers more to area around the Séminaire de Québec, the original site of Laval University.
History
Old Quebec is the oldest part of Quebec City, chosen in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain as the location for the Chateau Saint-Louis. Old Quebec maintained a strong military and administrative presence from its beginning, a use determined by the strategic heights of Cap Diamant. While the Lower Town was populated with merchants and craftsmen, the Upper Town was inhabited by military officials and members of the clergy.
This strong military presence long limited the city's expansion. At the end of the 19th century, many wanted to demolish the fortifications, judging them to be unnecessary and a hindrance to urban development. However, Governor Dufferin successfully managed to preserve the character of the walled city, while adapting the further expansion of the modern city.
Despite having undergone some degradation in the 1950s, the Old City has been subject to somewhat of a renaissance period since the 1970s.
The rich historic nature of Old Quebec is marked by the city's ramparts, fortifications, and many historic houses and buildings. The legacy of previous generations and the beauty of the district make it particularly unique.
The majority of buildings in the neighborhood date from 19th century, although the construction of some date back to 17th and 18th centuries. It also is home to several commercial streets, including Rue Saint-Jean, Rue Sainte-Anne and Rue De Buade. Many institutions are still housed in the heart of the city, such as the Quebec City Council, the Séminaire de Québec, the Ursulines Convent, and the Augustinian monastery. As a popular tourist destination, Old Quebec is also home to several hotels, including the famous Château Frontenac. Guided ghosts tours are also of interest to its residents and visitors.
***Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
External Links:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:World_Heritage_Sites_in_Ca...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Quebec
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_City
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/show
sundeepkullu.com ™©®
*** My URL's:
phototube.co ™©® - Developer
Eureka Photography & Web Design™©® - Director
himachalculturalvillage.com ™©® Environmentalist, Exclusive Artist , Business Development Manager ( Offshore ) & NGO Founder
Getty Images - Contributer
sundeepkullu.com ™©® - Founder & CEO
I travelled to most exotic places on this earth in last 9 years since 2003. I was exploring India from east to west and north to south till mid 2007. Then i started my World tour to 6 continents in May 2007 & entering 2012, my World tour is still on & i am exploring more and more exotic places around all major countries. I believe "World is just amazing" and every place & face has a unique story to tell. I connect to my subjects as to my soul.
Do not forget to subscribe or login from toolbar at the base of any page on my official website sundeepkullu.com ™©® ( Includes connect with my facebook profile/facebook page/facebook group/facebook Like/twitter/twitter follow/Google Plus/Google Buzz/Google +1/LinkedIn/You Tube/Twitter/Facebook subscribe and not to forget TRANSLATE button to translate al tet to al major languages for subscribers followers & fans from all parts of the World.
Cheers!!!
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.For full size images contact me.
Contacts:-
Primary :
wittysam@gmail.com ( E-mail/Skype/Whatsapp/Google+/LinkedIn/Fring/Yoono/Twitter/Gmail/Instagram/http://sundeepkullu.com & Photography & Videography and Quote for Assignments related)
World Roaming +974 55344547 (Facebook Mobile/Viber/Facetime/WhatsApp)
India New Delhi & Himachal Roaming +91 8527745789 (Google Plus)
sb@sundeepkullu.com ( Facebook & Personal Mail )
Secondary :
eurekasun@yahoo.com ( Flickr & Yahoo Messenger )
admin@phototube.co ( phototube.co related )
enquiries@himachalculturalvillage.com ( himachalculturalvillage.com related )
SunDeep™©® Bhardwaj Kullu
MBA-Sales & Mktg.(Symbiosis,Pune)
B.Pub.Admn.(H.P.University,Summer Hills, Shimla)
BHM (GCC-Bangalore)
***Publishing Photostories clicked in the most exotic places on earth in 15 countries that I visited in last 6 months. For all stories of 70+ Countries go to my oficial website sundeepkullu.com ™©®
My latest 15 explored destinations in my 6th year of World tour so far to 70+Countries & 300+Destinations across 6 Continents and 9 th year of Travel Photography & Videography of Places People Culture Landscapes.Recently explored these exotic places in JAPAN Horyuji Temple 1300 years old Japan's most sacred place & UNESCO site UAE-Al Ain-Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Burj Al Arab-Al Khaleefa Tallest building in the World, SWEDEN-Stocholm-National Parks, AUSTRALIA-Melbourne-Great Ocean Road-Twelve Apostles this week. BELGIUM Brussels, DENMARK-Copenhagen, VIETNAM Hanoi-Halong Bay MALAYSIA-Kuala Lumpur-Kanting Falls-Batu Caves-Petronas Twin Towers , CANADA-Quebec-Ontario-Montreal, ATLANTIC-GREENLAND-LABRADOR PENINSULA-Lebrador Sea, SOUTH AFRICA Johnnesburg-The Cradle of Mankind-Stolkfontien Caves and Lion & Rino Park with others INDIA-Kashmir-Gulmarg-Srinagar CHINA-Shanghai-Zhejiang-Hangzhou-The West Lake GERMANY-BAVERIA-Black Forest-Oberbayern-Garmich Patenkirchen-Eibsee Lake-Zugspitze HIMACHAL-Kullu-Manali-Shimla-Lahaul-Spiti -Dharamshala-Kinnaur-Udaipur-Leh-Laddakh UK-SCOTLAND Glencoe-Fort William-Castle around Scotland-Lochness INDIA Jog Falls Ooty Goa Athirappily & Vazhachal Falls Kerala UK-ENGLAND-London-Manchester-Glasgow & others ITALY-Rome-Vatican City and Other UNESCO Heritage Sites around Rome. Soon my first book on 111 MIRACULOUS WONDERS OF WORLD YOU MYST SEE WHEN U ALIVE will be out with "111 WOW" i Phone application by the end of this year. Updating my official website sundeepkullu.com
Add me as a friend on my facebook profile 2 as my facebook profile 1 is allmost full with 4000 plus friends here - www.facebook.com/sundeephimachal
Slide Shows | Full Screen Mode | Adobe Flash or Mobile
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/sets/72157624062762956/
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/sets/72157624062638852/show/
©All rights reserved © sundeepkullu.com ™©®
Share this Photostory (As i call it..) Publically with these URL Links below (Embedding Not Allowed) :
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/6792039960/in/photostream or
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/6792039960/in/photostream/...
SunDeep™©® Bhardwaj Kullu
SDBWP™©® SunDeep™ Bhardwaj World Photography™©®,
70+Countries 300+Destinations across 7 Continents™©®
"The World is my Studio"™©®
"I live with one vision to create things that would outlast me. I discovered photography as a means for me to connect with my innerself."
Travel Photographer-Entrepreneur-Business Development Manager-Himachal Cultural Village-Environmentalist
*Friends ***DO COMMENT*** on my flickr Photostream. Thanks for your valuable feedback, comments, likes, favourites and sharing my work within my website and flickr URL's.Your comments are like a fuel to my passion of this Art of Photography ( *I have made a group for the same on flickr & facebook too as listed below)
( *I have made a group for the same on flickr & facebook too as listed below)
Do join these groups no matter you are photo admirer amatuer serious or professional photographer and even compete for Monthly Amwards & Titles-
AOP WORLD FLICKR GROUP www.flickr.com/groups/prodigious/ or short link - bit.ly/ProdigiousAOP
AOP WORLD FACEBOOK GROUP www.facebook.com/groups/111942842150274/ or short link - htp://on.fb.me/AOPworld or bit.ly/AOPworld
FLICKR AOP PRODIGIOUS AWARDS www.flickr.com/groups/candid/ or short lnk - bit.ly/AOPawards
sundeepkullu.com
™©®
or Visit
flickr.com/photos/wittysam or flickr.com/photos/wittysam/show to access all the Photostories.
Quebec City
Quebec ( /kw?'b?k/ or /k?'b?k/; French: Québec [keb?k] ( listen)), also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City (French: Ville de Québec) is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of 2011, the city has a population of 516,622,[1] and the metropolitan area has a population of 765,706[2], making it the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about 233 kilometres (145 mi) to the southwest.
The narrowing of the Saint Lawrence River approximate to the city's promontory, Cap-Diamant (Cape Diamond), and Lévis, on the opposite bank, provided the name given to the city, Kébec, an Algonquin word meaning "where the river narrows". Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Quebec City is one of the oldest cities in North America. The ramparts surrounding Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec) are the only remaining fortified city walls that still exist in the Americas north of Mexico, and were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 as the 'Historic District of Old Québec'.[3][4]
According to the federal and provincial governments, Québec is the city's official name in both French and English, although Quebec City is commonly used, particularly to distinguish the city from the province. The city's most famous landmark is the Château Frontenac, a hotel which dominates the skyline. The National Assembly of Quebec, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (National Gallery of Quebec), and the Musée de la civilisation (Museum of Civilization) are found within or near Vieux-Québec.
Quebec
Quebec /kw?'b?k/ or /k?'b?k/ (French: Québec [keb?k] ( listen))[7] is a province in east-central Canada.[8][9] It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level. Quebec is Canada's largest province by area and its second-largest administrative division; only the territory of Nunavut is larger. It is bordered to the west by the province of Ontario, James Bay and Hudson Bay, to the north by Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay, to the east by the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick. It is bordered on the south by the US states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. It also shares maritime borders with Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.
Quebec is Canada's second most populous province, after Ontario. Most inhabitants live in urban areas near the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City, the capital. English-speaking communities and English-language institutions are concentrated in the west of the island of Montreal but are also significantly present in the Outaouais, Eastern Townships, and Gaspé regions. The Nord-du-Québec region, occupying the northern half of the province, is sparsely populated and inhabited primarily by Aboriginal peoples.[10]
Sovereignty plays a large role in the politics of Quebec, and the official opposition social democratic Parti Québécois advocates national sovereignty for the province and secession from Canada. Sovereignist governments have held referendums on independence in 1980 and 1995; both were voted down by voters, the latter defeated by a very narrow margin.[11] In 2006, the Canadian House of Commons passed a symbolic motion, the Québécois nation motion, recognizing the "Québécois as a nation within a united Canada."[12][13]
While the province's substantial natural resources have long been the mainstay of its economy, sectors of the knowledge economy such as aerospace, information and communication technologies, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry also play leading roles. These many industries have all contributed to helping Quebec become the second most economically influential province, second only to Ontario.[14]
Old Quebec
Historic District of Old Quebec *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Old Quebec (French: Vieux-Québec) is a historic neighbourhood of Quebec City, the capital of the province of Quebec in Canada. Comprising the Upper Town (French: Haute-Ville) and Lower Town (French: Basse-Ville), the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Administratively, Old Quebec is part of the Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–colline Parlementaire district in the borough of La Cité–Limoilou.
The area is sometimes referred to as the Latin Quarter (French: Quartier latin), but this title refers more to area around the Séminaire de Québec, the original site of Laval University.
History
Old Quebec is the oldest part of Quebec City, chosen in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain as the location for the Chateau Saint-Louis. Old Quebec maintained a strong military and administrative presence from its beginning, a use determined by the strategic heights of Cap Diamant. While the Lower Town was populated with merchants and craftsmen, the Upper Town was inhabited by military officials and members of the clergy.
This strong military presence long limited the city's expansion. At the end of the 19th century, many wanted to demolish the fortifications, judging them to be unnecessary and a hindrance to urban development. However, Governor Dufferin successfully managed to preserve the character of the walled city, while adapting the further expansion of the modern city.
Despite having undergone some degradation in the 1950s, the Old City has been subject to somewhat of a renaissance period since the 1970s.
The rich historic nature of Old Quebec is marked by the city's ramparts, fortifications, and many historic houses and buildings. The legacy of previous generations and the beauty of the district make it particularly unique.
The majority of buildings in the neighborhood date from 19th century, although the construction of some date back to 17th and 18th centuries. It also is home to several commercial streets, including Rue Saint-Jean, Rue Sainte-Anne and Rue De Buade. Many institutions are still housed in the heart of the city, such as the Quebec City Council, the Séminaire de Québec, the Ursulines Convent, and the Augustinian monastery. As a popular tourist destination, Old Quebec is also home to several hotels, including the famous Château Frontenac. Guided ghosts tours are also of interest to its residents and visitors.
***Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
External Links:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:World_Heritage_Sites_in_Ca...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Quebec
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_City
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/show
sundeepkullu.com ™©®
*** My URL's:
phototube.co ™©® - Developer
Eureka Photography & Web Design™©® - Director
himachalculturalvillage.com ™©® Environmentalist, Exclusive Artist , Business Development Manager ( Offshore ) & NGO Founder
Getty Images - Contributer
sundeepkullu.com ™©® - Founder & CEO
I travelled to most exotic places on this earth in last 9 years since 2003. I was exploring India from east to west and north to south till mid 2007. Then i started my World tour to 6 continents in May 2007 & entering 2012, my World tour is still on & i am exploring more and more exotic places around all major countries. I believe "World is just amazing" and every place & face has a unique story to tell. I connect to my subjects as to my soul.
Do not forget to subscribe or login from toolbar at the base of any page on my official website sundeepkullu.com ™©® ( Includes connect with my facebook profile/facebook page/facebook group/facebook Like/twitter/twitter follow/Google Plus/Google Buzz/Google +1/LinkedIn/You Tube/Twitter/Facebook subscribe and not to forget TRANSLATE button to translate al tet to al major languages for subscribers followers & fans from all parts of the World.
Cheers!!!
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.For full size images contact me.
Contacts:-
Primary :
wittysam@gmail.com ( E-mail/Skype/Whatsapp/Google+/LinkedIn/Fring/Yoono/Twitter/Gmail/Instagram/http://sundeepkullu.com & Photography & Videography and Quote for Assignments related)
World Roaming +974 55344547 (Facebook Mobile/Viber/Facetime/WhatsApp)
India New Delhi & Himachal Roaming +91 8527745789 (Google Plus)
sb@sundeepkullu.com ( Facebook & Personal Mail )
Secondary :
eurekasun@yahoo.com ( Flickr & Yahoo Messenger )
admin@phototube.co ( phototube.co related )
enquiries@himachalculturalvillage.com ( himachalculturalvillage.com related )
SunDeep™©® Bhardwaj Kullu
MBA-Sales & Mktg.(Symbiosis,Pune)
B.Pub.Admn.(H.P.University,Summer Hills, Shimla)
BHM (GCC-Bangalore)
***Publishing Photostories clicked in the most exotic places on earth in 15 countries that I visited in last 6 months. For all stories of 70+ Countries go to my oficial website sundeepkullu.com ™©®
My latest 15 explored destinations in my 6th year of World tour so far to 70+Countries & 300+Destinations across 6 Continents and 9 th year of Travel Photography & Videography of Places People Culture Landscapes.Recently explored these exotic places in JAPAN Horyuji Temple 1300 years old Japan's most sacred place & UNESCO site UAE-Al Ain-Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Burj Al Arab-Al Khaleefa Tallest building in the World, SWEDEN-Stocholm-National Parks, AUSTRALIA-Melbourne-Great Ocean Road-Twelve Apostles this week. BELGIUM Brussels, DENMARK-Copenhagen, VIETNAM Hanoi-Halong Bay MALAYSIA-Kuala Lumpur-Kanting Falls-Batu Caves-Petronas Twin Towers , CANADA-Quebec-Ontario-Montreal, ATLANTIC-GREENLAND-LABRADOR PENINSULA-Lebrador Sea, SOUTH AFRICA Johnnesburg-The Cradle of Mankind-Stolkfontien Caves and Lion & Rino Park with others INDIA-Kashmir-Gulmarg-Srinagar CHINA-Shanghai-Zhejiang-Hangzhou-The West Lake GERMANY-BAVERIA-Black Forest-Oberbayern-Garmich Patenkirchen-Eibsee Lake-Zugspitze HIMACHAL-Kullu-Manali-Shimla-Lahaul-Spiti -Dharamshala-Kinnaur-Udaipur-Leh-Laddakh UK-SCOTLAND Glencoe-Fort William-Castle around Scotland-Lochness INDIA Jog Falls Ooty Goa Athirappily & Vazhachal Falls Kerala UK-ENGLAND-London-Manchester-Glasgow & others ITALY-Rome-Vatican City and Other UNESCO Heritage Sites around Rome. Soon my first book on 111 MIRACULOUS WONDERS OF WORLD YOU MYST SEE WHEN U ALIVE will be out with "111 WOW" i Phone application by the end of this year. Updating my official website sundeepkullu.com
Add me as a friend on my facebook profile 2 as my facebook profile 1 is allmost full with 4000 plus friends here - www.facebook.com/sundeephimachal
Slide Shows | Full Screen Mode | Adobe Flash or Mobile
©All rights reserved © sundeepkullu.com ™©® SunDeep™©® Bhardwaj Kullu
Share this Photostory (As i call it..) Publically with these URL Links below (Embedding Not Allowed) :
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/6938965409/in/photostream/ or
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/6938965409/in/photostream/...
©SunDeep™©® Bhardwaj Kullu
SDBWP™©® SunDeep™ Bhardwaj World Photography™©®,
70+Countries 300+Destinations across 7 Continents™©®
"The World is my Studio"™©®
"I live with one vision to create things that would outlast me. I discovered photography as a means for me to connect with my innerself."
Travel Photographer-Entrepreneur-Business Development Manager-Himachal Cultural Village-Environmentalist
*Friends ***DO COMMENT*** on my flickr Photostream. Thanks for your valuable feedback, comments, likes, favourites and sharing my work within my website and flickr URL's.Your comments are like a fuel to my passion of this Art of Photography ( *I have made a group for the same on flickr & facebook too as listed below)
( *I have made a group for the same on flickr & facebook too as listed below)
Do join these groups no matter you are photo admirer amatuer serious or professional photographer and even compete for Monthly Amwards & Titles-
AOP WORLD FLICKR GROUP www.flickr.com/groups/prodigious/ or short link - bit.ly/ProdigiousAOP
AOP WORLD FACEBOOK GROUP www.facebook.com/groups/111942842150274/ or short link - htp://on.fb.me/AOPworld or bit.ly/AOPworld
FLICKR AOP PRODIGIOUS AWARDS www.flickr.com/groups/candid/ or short lnk - bit.ly/AOPawards
sundeepkullu.com
™©®
or Visit
flickr.com/photos/wittysam or flickr.com/photos/wittysam/show to access all the Photostories.
Quebec City
Quebec ( /kw?'b?k/ or /k?'b?k/; French: Québec [keb?k] ( listen)), also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City (French: Ville de Québec) is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of 2011, the city has a population of 516,622,[1] and the metropolitan area has a population of 765,706[2], making it the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about 233 kilometres (145 mi) to the southwest.
The narrowing of the Saint Lawrence River approximate to the city's promontory, Cap-Diamant (Cape Diamond), and Lévis, on the opposite bank, provided the name given to the city, Kébec, an Algonquin word meaning "where the river narrows". Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Quebec City is one of the oldest cities in North America. The ramparts surrounding Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec) are the only remaining fortified city walls that still exist in the Americas north of Mexico, and were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 as the 'Historic District of Old Québec'.[3][4]
According to the federal and provincial governments, Québec is the city's official name in both French and English, although Quebec City is commonly used, particularly to distinguish the city from the province. The city's most famous landmark is the Château Frontenac, a hotel which dominates the skyline. The National Assembly of Quebec, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (National Gallery of Quebec), and the Musée de la civilisation (Museum of Civilization) are found within or near Vieux-Québec.
Quebec
Quebec /kw?'b?k/ or /k?'b?k/ (French: Québec [keb?k] ( listen))[7] is a province in east-central Canada.[8][9] It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level. Quebec is Canada's largest province by area and its second-largest administrative division; only the territory of Nunavut is larger. It is bordered to the west by the province of Ontario, James Bay and Hudson Bay, to the north by Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay, to the east by the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick. It is bordered on the south by the US states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. It also shares maritime borders with Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.
Quebec is Canada's second most populous province, after Ontario. Most inhabitants live in urban areas near the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City, the capital. English-speaking communities and English-language institutions are concentrated in the west of the island of Montreal but are also significantly present in the Outaouais, Eastern Townships, and Gaspé regions. The Nord-du-Québec region, occupying the northern half of the province, is sparsely populated and inhabited primarily by Aboriginal peoples.[10]
Sovereignty plays a large role in the politics of Quebec, and the official opposition social democratic Parti Québécois advocates national sovereignty for the province and secession from Canada. Sovereignist governments have held referendums on independence in 1980 and 1995; both were voted down by voters, the latter defeated by a very narrow margin.[11] In 2006, the Canadian House of Commons passed a symbolic motion, the Québécois nation motion, recognizing the "Québécois as a nation within a united Canada."[12][13]
While the province's substantial natural resources have long been the mainstay of its economy, sectors of the knowledge economy such as aerospace, information and communication technologies, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry also play leading roles. These many industries have all contributed to helping Quebec become the second most economically influential province, second only to Ontario.[14]
Old Quebec
Historic District of Old Quebec *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Old Quebec (French: Vieux-Québec) is a historic neighbourhood of Quebec City, the capital of the province of Quebec in Canada. Comprising the Upper Town (French: Haute-Ville) and Lower Town (French: Basse-Ville), the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Administratively, Old Quebec is part of the Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–colline Parlementaire district in the borough of La Cité–Limoilou.
The area is sometimes referred to as the Latin Quarter (French: Quartier latin), but this title refers more to area around the Séminaire de Québec, the original site of Laval University.
History
Old Quebec is the oldest part of Quebec City, chosen in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain as the location for the Chateau Saint-Louis. Old Quebec maintained a strong military and administrative presence from its beginning, a use determined by the strategic heights of Cap Diamant. While the Lower Town was populated with merchants and craftsmen, the Upper Town was inhabited by military officials and members of the clergy.
This strong military presence long limited the city's expansion. At the end of the 19th century, many wanted to demolish the fortifications, judging them to be unnecessary and a hindrance to urban development. However, Governor Dufferin successfully managed to preserve the character of the walled city, while adapting the further expansion of the modern city.
Despite having undergone some degradation in the 1950s, the Old City has been subject to somewhat of a renaissance period since the 1970s.
The rich historic nature of Old Quebec is marked by the city's ramparts, fortifications, and many historic houses and buildings. The legacy of previous generations and the beauty of the district make it particularly unique.
The majority of buildings in the neighborhood date from 19th century, although the construction of some date back to 17th and 18th centuries. It also is home to several commercial streets, including Rue Saint-Jean, Rue Sainte-Anne and Rue De Buade. Many institutions are still housed in the heart of the city, such as the Quebec City Council, the Séminaire de Québec, the Ursulines Convent, and the Augustinian monastery. As a popular tourist destination, Old Quebec is also home to several hotels, including the famous Château Frontenac. Guided ghosts tours are also of interest to its residents and visitors.
***Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
External Links:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:World_Heritage_Sites_in_Ca...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Quebec
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_City
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/show
sundeepkullu.com ™©®
*** My URL's:
phototube.co ™©® - Developer
Eureka Photography & Web Design™©® - Director
himachalculturalvillage.com ™©® Environmentalist, Exclusive Artist , Business Development Manager ( Offshore ) & NGO Founder
Getty Images - Contributer
sundeepkullu.com ™©® - Founder & CEO
I travelled to most exotic places on this earth in last 9 years since 2003. I was exploring India from east to west and north to south till mid 2007. Then i started my World tour to 6 continents in May 2007 & entering 2012, my World tour is still on & i am exploring more and more exotic places around all major countries. I believe "World is just amazing" and every place & face has a unique story to tell. I connect to my subjects as to my soul.
Do not forget to subscribe or login from toolbar at the base of any page on my official website sundeepkullu.com ™©® ( Includes connect with my facebook profile/facebook page/facebook group/facebook Like/twitter/twitter follow/Google Plus/Google Buzz/Google +1/LinkedIn/You Tube/Twitter/Facebook subscribe and not to forget TRANSLATE button to translate al tet to al major languages for subscribers followers & fans from all parts of the World.
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SunDeep™©® Bhardwaj Kullu
MBA-Sales & Mktg.(Symbiosis,Pune)
B.Pub.Admn.(H.P.University,Summer Hills, Shimla)
BHM (GCC-Bangalore)
***Publishing Photostories clicked in the most exotic places on earth in 15 countries that I visited in last 6 months. For all stories of 70+ Countries go to my oficial website sundeepkullu.com ™©®
My latest 15 explored destinations in my 6th year of World tour so far to 70+Countries & 300+Destinations across 6 Continents and 9 th year of Travel Photography & Videography of Places People Culture Landscapes.Recently explored these exotic places in JAPAN Horyuji Temple 1300 years old Japan's most sacred place & UNESCO site UAE-Al Ain-Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Burj Al Arab-Al Khaleefa Tallest building in the World, SWEDEN-Stocholm-National Parks, AUSTRALIA-Melbourne-Great Ocean Road-Twelve Apostles this week. BELGIUM Brussels, DENMARK-Copenhagen, VIETNAM Hanoi-Halong Bay MALAYSIA-Kuala Lumpur-Kanting Falls-Batu Caves-Petronas Twin Towers , CANADA-Quebec-Ontario-Montreal, ATLANTIC-GREENLAND-LABRADOR PENINSULA-Lebrador Sea, SOUTH AFRICA Johnnesburg-The Cradle of Mankind-Stolkfontien Caves and Lion & Rino Park with others INDIA-Kashmir-Gulmarg-Srinagar CHINA-Shanghai-Zhejiang-Hangzhou-The West Lake GERMANY-BAVERIA-Black Forest-Oberbayern-Garmich Patenkirchen-Eibsee Lake-Zugspitze HIMACHAL-Kullu-Manali-Shimla-Lahaul-Spiti -Dharamshala-Kinnaur-Udaipur-Leh-Laddakh UK-SCOTLAND Glencoe-Fort William-Castle around Scotland-Lochness INDIA Jog Falls Ooty Goa Athirappily & Vazhachal Falls Kerala UK-ENGLAND-London-Manchester-Glasgow & others ITALY-Rome-Vatican City and Other UNESCO Heritage Sites around Rome. Soon my first book on 111 MIRACULOUS WONDERS OF WORLD YOU MYST SEE WHEN U ALIVE will be out with "111 WOW" i Phone application by the end of this year. Updating my official website sundeepkullu.com
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The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting Sundeep Bhardwaj @
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INDIA ROAMING AND HIMACHAL +91 9816499629 (Please drop me a SMS message)
WORLD ROAMING +974 55344547 (I prefer all correspondances on facebook as i am still on my World Tour which i started 5 years before and may be in some other country.Will definately contact back whenever next to internet or reply by SMS)
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
All rights reserved.
copyright 2011 © sundeepkullu.com
Developer - phototube.co
Affiliation - himachalculturalvillage.com
HIGH RESOLUTION images on sundeepkullu.com WORLD IS MY STUDIO This picture is LOW RESOLUTION for web compatibility **Sorry Guys i have deleted most of my pictures from facebook due to copyright infringement by parties not authorised by me.But i have made a flash website for exibiting my Photostories Do visit sundeepkullu.com
And alternatively my pictures can be see in better resolutions on
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam or
fFULL SCREEN SLIDE SHOW www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/show
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/collections/
***DO NOT COMMENT ON FACEBOOK AS I DO NOT USE IT FOR STOCKING MY PHOTOS.
Link to my Flickr Photostream where you can comment flickr.com/photos/wittysam
Lahaul and Spiti district
The district of Lahaul-Spiti in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh consists of the two formerly separate districts of Lahaul and Spiti. The present administrative centre is Keylong in Lahaul. Before the two districts were merged, Kardang was the capital of Lahaul, and Dhankar the capital of Spiti.
Kunzum la or the Kunzum Pass (altitude 4,551 m; 14,931 ft) is the entrance pass to the Spiti Valley from Lahaul. It is 21 km from Chandra Tal.[1] This district is connected to Manali through the Rohtang Pass. To the south, Spiti ends 24 km from Tabo, at the Pare chu gorge where the road enters Kinnaur and joins with National Highway No. 22.[2]
The two valleys are quite different in character. Spiti is more barren and difficult to cross, with an average elevation of the valley floor of 4,270 m (14,009 ft). It is enclosed between lofty ranges, with the Spiti river rushing out of a gorge in the southeast to meet the Sutlej River. It is a typical mountain desert area with an average annual rainfall of only 170 mm (6.7 inches).[3]
Flora and fauna
Lahaul valley in winter
Mountain peak in Lahaul and Spiti district
The harsh conditions of Lahaul permit only scattered tufts of hardy grasses and shrubs to grow, even below 4,000 metres. Glacier lines are usually found at 5,000 metres.
Animals such as yaks and dzos roam across the wild Lingti plains. However, over-hunting and a decrease in food supplies has led to a large decrease in the population of the Tibetan antelope, argali, kiangs, musk deer, and snow leopards in these regions, reducing them to the status of endangered species. However, in the Lahaul valley, one can see ibex, brown bears, foxes and snow leopards during winter.
[edit]People
Mother and child in near Gandhola Monastery. 2004
The language, culture, and populations of Lahaul and Spiti are closely related. Generally the Lahaulis are of Tibetan and Indo-Aryan descent, while the Spiti Bhotia are more similar to the Tibetans, owing to their proximity to Tibet. Fairer skin and hazel-colored eyes are commonly seen among the Lahaulis.
The languages of both the Lahauli and Spiti Bhutia belong to the Tibetan family. They are very similar to the Ladakhi and Tibetans culturally, as they had been placed under the rule of the Guge and Ladakh kingdoms at occasional intervals.
Among the Lahaulis, the family acts as the basic unit of kinship. The extended family system is common, evolved from the polyandric system of the past. The family is headed by a senior male member, known as the Yunda, while his wife, known as the Yundamo, attains authority by being the oldest member in the generation. The clan system, also known as Rhus, plays another major role in the Lahauli society.
The Spiti Bhutia community has an inheritance system that is otherwise unique to the Tibetans. Upon the death of both parents, only the eldest son will inherit the family property, while the eldest daughter inherits the mother's jewellery, and the younger siblings inherit nothing. Men usually fall back on the social security system of the Trans-Himalayan Gompas.
[edit]Lifestyle
The lifestyles of the Lahauli and Spiti Bhotia are similar, owing to their proximity. Polyandry was widely practiced by the Lahaulis in the past, although this practice has been dying out. The Spiti Bhutia do not generally practice polyandry any more, although it is accepted in a few isolated regions.
Divorces are accomplished by a simple ceremony performed in the presence of village elders. Divorce can be sought by either partner. The husband has to pay compensation to his ex-wife if she does not remarry. However, this is uncommon among the Lahaulis.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Potato farming is common. Occupations include animal husbandry, working in government programs, government services, and other businesses and crafts that include weaving. Houses are constructed in the Tibetan architectural style, as the land in Lahul and Spiti is mountainous and quite prone to earthquakes.
[edit]Religion
Kunzum Pass between Lahul & Spiti
Ki-Gompa Spiti
Most of the Lahaulis follow a combination of Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyu order, while the Spiti Bhotia follow Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelugpa order. Within Lahoul/swangla, the Baralacha-La region had the strongest Buddhist influence, owing to its close proximity to Spiti. Lahoul/swangla has temples such as Triloknath , where pilgrims worship a certain god in different manifestations, notably in the form of Shiva and Avalokiteshvara where Udaipur is a puritan temple. This bas-relief, of marble, depicts the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara (the embodiment of the Buddha's compassion) in a stylized seated position; Hindu devotees take it to be Shiva Nataraj, Shiva dancing. This image appears to be of sixteenth century Chamba craftsmanship. It was created to replace the original black stone image of the deity, which became damaged by art looters. This original image is kept beneath the plinth of the shrine. It appears to be of 12th century Kashmiri provenance . Much of the art thieves are active in this remote belt because of neglected gompas and temples.
Before the spread of Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism, the people were adherents of the religion 'Lung Pe Chhoi', an animistic religion that had some affinities with the Bön religion of Tibet. While the religion flourished, animal and human sacrifices were regularly offered up to the 'Iha', a term that refers to evil spirits residing in the natural world, notably in the old pencil-cedar trees, rocks and caves. Vestiges of the Lung Pe Chhoi religion can be seen in the behaviour of the Lamas, who are believed to possess certain supernatural powers.
The Losar festival (also known as Halda in Lahauli) is celebrated between the months of January and February. The date of celebration is decided by the Lamas. It has the same significance as the Diwali festival of Hinduism, but is celebrated in a Tibetan fashion.
At the start of the festival, two or three persons from every household will come holding burning incense. The burning sticks are then piled into a bonfire. The people will then pray to Shiskar Apa, the goddess of wealth (other name Vasudhara) in the Buddhist religion.
In the Pattan belt of the valley in Lahoul most population follows Hinduism,but counts for 14 percent of the total and they are called swanglas. The fagli festival is celebrated between February and March all over the valley. This festival is a new year festival and closely precedes beginning of tibetian and Chinese calendar. Notable is the Pattan people are the late settlers in the valley around 1500 A.D. and have broad highlights and have distinct language on the likes the central Asians,chamba, pangi, pashtoons and uyghurs. This belt is known for the convergence for chandra and bhaga rivers to form Chenab.
[edit]Tourism
Ki Gompa
The natural scenery and Buddhist monasteries, such as Ki, Dhankar, Shashur, Guru Ghantal and Tayul Gompas, are the main tourist attractions of the region.
One of the most interesting places is the Tabo Monastery, located 45 km from Kaza, Himachal Pradesh, the capital of the Spiti region. This monastery rose to prominence when it celebrated its thousandth year of existence in 1996. It houses a collection of Buddhist scriptures, Buddhist statues and Thangkas. The ancient gompa is finished with mud plaster, and contains several scriptures and documents. Lama Dzangpo heads the gompa here. There is a modern guest house with a dining hall and all facilities are available.
Another famous gompa, Kardang Monastery, is located at an elevation of 3,500 metres across the river, about 8 km from Keylong. Kardang is well connected by the road via the Tandi bridge which is about 14 km from Keylong. Built in the 12th century, this monastery houses a large library of Buddhist literature including the main Kangyur and Tangyur scriptures.
The treacherous weather in Lahaul and Spiti permits visitors to tour only between the months of June to October, when the roads and villages are free of snow and the high passes (Rothang La and Kunzum La) are open. It is possible to access Spiti from Kinnaur (along the Sutlej) all through the year, although the road is sometimes temporarily closed by landslides or avalanches.
Buddhist Monasteries in Spiti: Spiti is one of the important centers of Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh. It is popularly known as the 'land of lamas'. The valley is dotted by numerous Buddhist Monasteries or Gompas that are famous throughout the world and are a favorite of Dalai Lama.
Kye Monastery: Kye Monastery in Spiti is the main research center of the Buddhists in India. Near about 300 lamas are receiving their religious training from here. It is oldest and biggest monastery in Spiti. It houses the rare painting and beautiful scriptures of Buddha and other gods and goddess. You may also find rare 'Thangka' paintings and ancient musical instruments 'trumpets, cymbals, and drums in the monastery.
Tabo Monastery: Perched at an amazing altitude of 3050 meters, Tabo Monastery in the valley of Spiti is often referred to as the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'. The 10th century Tabo Monastery was founded by the great scholar, Richen Zangpo, and has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The monastery houses more than 6 lamas and contains the rare collection of scriptures, pieces of art, wall paintings -Tankhas and Stucco.
Flora and fauna of Spiti Valley: The valley is blessed with the good population of snow leopards, ibex, Himalayan Brown Bear, Musk Deer, Himalayan Blue Sheep etc. which serves as the boon for the wildlife lovers. There are two important protected areas in the region that are a home to snow leopard and its prey including the Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Surprisingly, due to ardent religious beliefs, people of Spiti do not hunt these wild animals.
Apart from the exotic wildlife, the Valley of Spiti is also known for its amazing wealth of flora and the profusion of wild flowers. Some of the mot common species found here include Causinia thomsonii, Seseli trilobum, Crepis flexuosa, Caragana brevifolia and Krascheninikovia ceratoides. Then there are more than 62 species of medicinal plants found here.
Adventure activities:
To- do-Trials: For trekkers, the Spiti Valley is a paradise, offering challenging treks to explore the new heights of the Himalayas. The treks takes you to the most remote areas including the rugged villages and old Gompas followed by the exotic wildlife trails. Some of the popular trekking routes in the area includes Kaza-Langza-Hikim-Comic-Kaza, Kaza-Ki-Kibber-Gete-Kaza, Kaza-Losar-Kunzum La and Kaza-Tabo-Sumdo-Nako. Please note that you carry all the necessary things before out for the trekking tour to Spiti. Tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, heavy woollens and sunglasses are a must.
Skiing: Skiing is the popular adventure sports in Spiti and is popular in India from the past few years. The amazing snow clad mountains with the added advantage of inspiring heights are enough to allure the adventure spirits of the avid skier, providing all the thrill and fun attracted to the sport. People from all around the globe come to experience this enthralling adventure activity.
Yak Safari: The most exciting of all adventure activities in Spiti is the Yak safari. You can hire the Yak to see the flora and fauna of trans-Himalayan desert. It is, in fact, the lifetime opportunity that you won't find anywhere else so easily. Apart from this, horse safaris are also conducted in this area.
Sources en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahaul_and_Spiti_district
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UNESCO Interesting World Heritage Sites across globe ( Title 5 - "Best of UNESCO World Heritage Sites") ,
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The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting Sundeep Bhardwaj @
For any direct correspondance with me contact me on
www.facebook.com/sundeephimachal (Primary) or
www.facebook.com/SundeepBhardwaj (Secondary)
www.facebook.com/sundeepkullu (Tertiary).
E-mail me on
sb@sundeepkullu.com (Primary) or
wittysam@gmail.com (Secondary) or
admin@phototube.co (For Photo Tube . Co related) or
enquiries@himachalculturalvillage.com (For Himachal Cultural Village . Com related).
INDIA ROAMING AND HIMACHAL +91 9816499629 (Please drop me a SMS message)
WORLD ROAMING +974 55344547 (I prefer all correspondances on facebook as i am still on my World Tour which i started 5 years before and may be in some other country.Will definately contact back whenever next to internet or reply by SMS)
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
All rights reserved.
copyright 2011 © sundeepkullu.com
Developer - phototube.co
Affiliation - himachalculturalvillage.com
HIGH RESOLUTION images on sundeepkullu.com WORLD IS MY STUDIO This picture is LOW RESOLUTION for web compatibility **Sorry Guys i have deleted most of my pictures from facebook due to copyright infringement by parties not authorised by me.But i have made a flash website for exibiting my Photostories Do visit sundeepkullu.com
And alternatively my pictures can be see in better resolutions on
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam or
fFULL SCREEN SLIDE SHOW www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/show
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/collections/
***DO NOT COMMENT ON FACEBOOK AS I DO NOT USE IT FOR STOCKING MY PHOTOS.
Link to my Flickr Photostream where you can comment flickr.com/photos/wittysam
Lahaul and Spiti district
The district of Lahaul-Spiti in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh consists of the two formerly separate districts of Lahaul and Spiti. The present administrative centre is Keylong in Lahaul. Before the two districts were merged, Kardang was the capital of Lahaul, and Dhankar the capital of Spiti.
Kunzum la or the Kunzum Pass (altitude 4,551 m; 14,931 ft) is the entrance pass to the Spiti Valley from Lahaul. It is 21 km from Chandra Tal.[1] This district is connected to Manali through the Rohtang Pass. To the south, Spiti ends 24 km from Tabo, at the Pare chu gorge where the road enters Kinnaur and joins with National Highway No. 22.[2]
The two valleys are quite different in character. Spiti is more barren and difficult to cross, with an average elevation of the valley floor of 4,270 m (14,009 ft). It is enclosed between lofty ranges, with the Spiti river rushing out of a gorge in the southeast to meet the Sutlej River. It is a typical mountain desert area with an average annual rainfall of only 170 mm (6.7 inches).[3]
Flora and fauna
Lahaul valley in winter
Mountain peak in Lahaul and Spiti district
The harsh conditions of Lahaul permit only scattered tufts of hardy grasses and shrubs to grow, even below 4,000 metres. Glacier lines are usually found at 5,000 metres.
Animals such as yaks and dzos roam across the wild Lingti plains. However, over-hunting and a decrease in food supplies has led to a large decrease in the population of the Tibetan antelope, argali, kiangs, musk deer, and snow leopards in these regions, reducing them to the status of endangered species. However, in the Lahaul valley, one can see ibex, brown bears, foxes and snow leopards during winter.
[edit]People
Mother and child in near Gandhola Monastery. 2004
The language, culture, and populations of Lahaul and Spiti are closely related. Generally the Lahaulis are of Tibetan and Indo-Aryan descent, while the Spiti Bhotia are more similar to the Tibetans, owing to their proximity to Tibet. Fairer skin and hazel-colored eyes are commonly seen among the Lahaulis.
The languages of both the Lahauli and Spiti Bhutia belong to the Tibetan family. They are very similar to the Ladakhi and Tibetans culturally, as they had been placed under the rule of the Guge and Ladakh kingdoms at occasional intervals.
Among the Lahaulis, the family acts as the basic unit of kinship. The extended family system is common, evolved from the polyandric system of the past. The family is headed by a senior male member, known as the Yunda, while his wife, known as the Yundamo, attains authority by being the oldest member in the generation. The clan system, also known as Rhus, plays another major role in the Lahauli society.
The Spiti Bhutia community has an inheritance system that is otherwise unique to the Tibetans. Upon the death of both parents, only the eldest son will inherit the family property, while the eldest daughter inherits the mother's jewellery, and the younger siblings inherit nothing. Men usually fall back on the social security system of the Trans-Himalayan Gompas.
[edit]Lifestyle
The lifestyles of the Lahauli and Spiti Bhotia are similar, owing to their proximity. Polyandry was widely practiced by the Lahaulis in the past, although this practice has been dying out. The Spiti Bhutia do not generally practice polyandry any more, although it is accepted in a few isolated regions.
Divorces are accomplished by a simple ceremony performed in the presence of village elders. Divorce can be sought by either partner. The husband has to pay compensation to his ex-wife if she does not remarry. However, this is uncommon among the Lahaulis.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Potato farming is common. Occupations include animal husbandry, working in government programs, government services, and other businesses and crafts that include weaving. Houses are constructed in the Tibetan architectural style, as the land in Lahul and Spiti is mountainous and quite prone to earthquakes.
[edit]Religion
Kunzum Pass between Lahul & Spiti
Ki-Gompa Spiti
Most of the Lahaulis follow a combination of Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyu order, while the Spiti Bhotia follow Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelugpa order. Within Lahoul/swangla, the Baralacha-La region had the strongest Buddhist influence, owing to its close proximity to Spiti. Lahoul/swangla has temples such as Triloknath , where pilgrims worship a certain god in different manifestations, notably in the form of Shiva and Avalokiteshvara where Udaipur is a puritan temple. This bas-relief, of marble, depicts the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara (the embodiment of the Buddha's compassion) in a stylized seated position; Hindu devotees take it to be Shiva Nataraj, Shiva dancing. This image appears to be of sixteenth century Chamba craftsmanship. It was created to replace the original black stone image of the deity, which became damaged by art looters. This original image is kept beneath the plinth of the shrine. It appears to be of 12th century Kashmiri provenance . Much of the art thieves are active in this remote belt because of neglected gompas and temples.
Before the spread of Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism, the people were adherents of the religion 'Lung Pe Chhoi', an animistic religion that had some affinities with the Bön religion of Tibet. While the religion flourished, animal and human sacrifices were regularly offered up to the 'Iha', a term that refers to evil spirits residing in the natural world, notably in the old pencil-cedar trees, rocks and caves. Vestiges of the Lung Pe Chhoi religion can be seen in the behaviour of the Lamas, who are believed to possess certain supernatural powers.
The Losar festival (also known as Halda in Lahauli) is celebrated between the months of January and February. The date of celebration is decided by the Lamas. It has the same significance as the Diwali festival of Hinduism, but is celebrated in a Tibetan fashion.
At the start of the festival, two or three persons from every household will come holding burning incense. The burning sticks are then piled into a bonfire. The people will then pray to Shiskar Apa, the goddess of wealth (other name Vasudhara) in the Buddhist religion.
In the Pattan belt of the valley in Lahoul most population follows Hinduism,but counts for 14 percent of the total and they are called swanglas. The fagli festival is celebrated between February and March all over the valley. This festival is a new year festival and closely precedes beginning of tibetian and Chinese calendar. Notable is the Pattan people are the late settlers in the valley around 1500 A.D. and have broad highlights and have distinct language on the likes the central Asians,chamba, pangi, pashtoons and uyghurs. This belt is known for the convergence for chandra and bhaga rivers to form Chenab.
[edit]Tourism
Ki Gompa
The natural scenery and Buddhist monasteries, such as Ki, Dhankar, Shashur, Guru Ghantal and Tayul Gompas, are the main tourist attractions of the region.
One of the most interesting places is the Tabo Monastery, located 45 km from Kaza, Himachal Pradesh, the capital of the Spiti region. This monastery rose to prominence when it celebrated its thousandth year of existence in 1996. It houses a collection of Buddhist scriptures, Buddhist statues and Thangkas. The ancient gompa is finished with mud plaster, and contains several scriptures and documents. Lama Dzangpo heads the gompa here. There is a modern guest house with a dining hall and all facilities are available.
Another famous gompa, Kardang Monastery, is located at an elevation of 3,500 metres across the river, about 8 km from Keylong. Kardang is well connected by the road via the Tandi bridge which is about 14 km from Keylong. Built in the 12th century, this monastery houses a large library of Buddhist literature including the main Kangyur and Tangyur scriptures.
The treacherous weather in Lahaul and Spiti permits visitors to tour only between the months of June to October, when the roads and villages are free of snow and the high passes (Rothang La and Kunzum La) are open. It is possible to access Spiti from Kinnaur (along the Sutlej) all through the year, although the road is sometimes temporarily closed by landslides or avalanches.
Buddhist Monasteries in Spiti: Spiti is one of the important centers of Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh. It is popularly known as the 'land of lamas'. The valley is dotted by numerous Buddhist Monasteries or Gompas that are famous throughout the world and are a favorite of Dalai Lama.
Kye Monastery: Kye Monastery in Spiti is the main research center of the Buddhists in India. Near about 300 lamas are receiving their religious training from here. It is oldest and biggest monastery in Spiti. It houses the rare painting and beautiful scriptures of Buddha and other gods and goddess. You may also find rare 'Thangka' paintings and ancient musical instruments 'trumpets, cymbals, and drums in the monastery.
Tabo Monastery: Perched at an amazing altitude of 3050 meters, Tabo Monastery in the valley of Spiti is often referred to as the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'. The 10th century Tabo Monastery was founded by the great scholar, Richen Zangpo, and has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The monastery houses more than 6 lamas and contains the rare collection of scriptures, pieces of art, wall paintings -Tankhas and Stucco.
Flora and fauna of Spiti Valley: The valley is blessed with the good population of snow leopards, ibex, Himalayan Brown Bear, Musk Deer, Himalayan Blue Sheep etc. which serves as the boon for the wildlife lovers. There are two important protected areas in the region that are a home to snow leopard and its prey including the Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Surprisingly, due to ardent religious beliefs, people of Spiti do not hunt these wild animals.
Apart from the exotic wildlife, the Valley of Spiti is also known for its amazing wealth of flora and the profusion of wild flowers. Some of the mot common species found here include Causinia thomsonii, Seseli trilobum, Crepis flexuosa, Caragana brevifolia and Krascheninikovia ceratoides. Then there are more than 62 species of medicinal plants found here.
Adventure activities:
To- do-Trials: For trekkers, the Spiti Valley is a paradise, offering challenging treks to explore the new heights of the Himalayas. The treks takes you to the most remote areas including the rugged villages and old Gompas followed by the exotic wildlife trails. Some of the popular trekking routes in the area includes Kaza-Langza-Hikim-Comic-Kaza, Kaza-Ki-Kibber-Gete-Kaza, Kaza-Losar-Kunzum La and Kaza-Tabo-Sumdo-Nako. Please note that you carry all the necessary things before out for the trekking tour to Spiti. Tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, heavy woollens and sunglasses are a must.
Skiing: Skiing is the popular adventure sports in Spiti and is popular in India from the past few years. The amazing snow clad mountains with the added advantage of inspiring heights are enough to allure the adventure spirits of the avid skier, providing all the thrill and fun attracted to the sport. People from all around the globe come to experience this enthralling adventure activity.
Yak Safari: The most exciting of all adventure activities in Spiti is the Yak safari. You can hire the Yak to see the flora and fauna of trans-Himalayan desert. It is, in fact, the lifetime opportunity that you won't find anywhere else so easily. Apart from this, horse safaris are also conducted in this area.
Sources en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahaul_and_Spiti_district
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Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace (German: Schloss Schönbrunn [ʃøːnˈbʁʊn]) is a former imperial 1,400-room Rococo summer residence in Vienna, Austria. One of the most important cultural monuments in the country, since the 1960s it has been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna. The palace and gardens illustrate the tastes, interests, and aspirations of successive Habsburg monarchs.[1]
Early history
Katterburg and Gonzaga's palace near Wien river in 1672. In the background the hill of later Gloriette.
Schönbrunn from the front side, painted by Canaletto in 1758
In the year 1569, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II purchased a large floodplain of the Wien river beneath a hill, situated between Meidling and Hietzing, where a former owner, in 1548, had erected a mansion called Katterburg. The emperor ordered the area to be fenced and put game there such as pheasants, ducks, deer and boar, in order to serve as the court's recreational hunting ground. In a small separate part of the area, "exotic" birds like turkeys and peafowl were kept. Fishponds were built, too.
The name Schönbrunn (meaning "beautiful spring"), has its roots in an artesian well from which water was consumed by the court.
During the next century, the area was used as a hunting and recreation ground. Especially Eleonora Gonzaga, who loved hunting, spent much time there and was bequeathed the area as her widow's residence after the death of her husband, Ferdinand II. From 1638 to 1643, she added a palace to the Katterburg mansion, while in 1642 came the first mention of the name "Schönbrunn" on an invoice. The origins of the Schönbrunn orangery seem to go back to Eleonora Gonzaga as well.
[edit]Gardens
View of the Great Parterre on to the Gloriette.
View of the gardens.
The sculpted garden space between the palace and the Sun Fountain is called the Great Parterre. The French garden, a big part of the area, was planned by Jean Trehet in 1695. It contains, among other things, a maze.
The complex however includes many more attractions: Besides the Tiergarten, the world's oldest existing zoo (founded in 1752), an orangerie erected around 1755, staple luxuries of European palaces of its type, a palm house (replacing, by 1882, around ten earlier and smaller glass houses in the western part of the park) is noteworthy. Western parts were turned into English garden style in 1828–1852. At the outmost western edge, a botanical garden going back to an earlier arboretum was re-arranged in 1828, when the Old Palm House was built. A modern enclosure for Orangutans, was restored besides a restaurant and office rooms in 2009.
[edit]Sculptures
Lining the Great Parterre are 32 sculptures, which represent deities and virtues.
Schonbrunn Palace scupture
[edit]Gloriette
The garden axis points towards a 60 meters higher hill, which since 1775 has been crowned by the Gloriette structure (Fischer von Erlach had initially planned to erect the main palace on the top of this hill).
Maria Theresa decided Gloriette should be designed to glorify Habsburg power and the Just War [a war that would be carried out of 'necessity' and lead to peace], and thereby ordered to recycle "otherwise useless stone" which was left from the almost-demolition of Schloss Neugebäude. The same material was also to be used for the Roman ruin.
The Gloriette today houses a café and gives the visitor a view of the city.
[edit]Roman Ruin
Roman Ruin at Schönbrunn.
Originally known as the Ruin of Carthage, the Roman Ruin is a set of follies that was designed by the architect Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg and erected as an entirely new architectural feature in 1778. Fully integrated into its parkland surroundings, this architectural ensemble should be understood as a picturesque horticultural feature and not simply as a ruin, which due to lack of maintenance it had increasingly grown to resemble prior to its recent restoration.
The fashion for picturesque ruins that became widespread with the rise of the Romantic movement soon after the middle of the 18th century symbolize both the decline of once great powers and the preservation of the remains of a heroic past. Erected at the same time not far from the Roman Ruin, the Obelisk Fountain was intended to complete the iconographic program of the park at Schönbrunn as a symbol of stability and permanence.
The Roman Ruin consists of a rectangular pool enclosed by a massive arch with lateral walls, evoking the impression of an ancient edifice slowly crumbling into the ground. In the pool in front of the ruin is a seemingly haphazard arrangement of stone fragments supporting a figural group which symbolizes the rivers Danube and Enns.
The Palace of Schönbrunn commemorative coin.
[edit]The Schönbrunn Palace Silver Coin
The palace was recently selected as the main motif of a high value commemorative coin: the Austrian 10 euro The Palace of Schönbrunn Silver coin, minted on October 8, 2003. The obverse shows the central part of the frontage of the palace behind one of the great fountains in the open space.
[edit]Recent history
Schonbrunn Palace
Following the downfall of the monarchy in 1918 the newly founded Austrian Republic became the owner of Schönbrunn Palace and preserved, as a museum, the rooms and chambers.
After World War II and during the Allied Occupation of Austria (1945–1955) Schönbrunn Palace, which was empty at the time, was requisitioned to provide offices for both the British Delegation to the Allied Commission for Austria and for the Headquarters for the small British Military Garrison present in Vienna.
Later it was used for important events such as the meeting between John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev in 1961.
UNESCO catalogued Schönbrunn Palace on the World Heritage List in 1996, together with its gardens, as a remarkable Baroque ensemble and example of synthesis of the arts (Gesamtkunstwerk).
[edit]Activities at Schloss Schönbrunn today
The Schloss is Vienna's most popular tourist destination, attended by 2,600,000 visitors in 2010.[2] The whole Schönbrunn complex with Tiergarten Schönbrunn, Palmenhaus, Wüstenhaus and the Wagenburg, accounted for more than five million visitors.[3] At the official website tickets can be purchased in advance for tours. In addition to tours and tour packages, many classical concerts featuring the music of W. A. Mozart and his contemporaries can be enjoyed with the added benefit of more time in the spectacular halls, Orangerie, or Schlosstheater.
[edit]Features in movies
The gardens and palace have been the location for various movies, such as the Sissi trilogy in 1950s, in A Breath of Scandal with Sophia Loren and briefly in James Bond's The Living Daylights. Also the movie "The Great Race" was filmed there in 1965.
[edit]See also
Tiergarten Schönbrunn, the zoo in the palace gardens that claims to be the oldest one in the world.
Gloriette
List of Baroque residences
Sources en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sch%C3%B6nbrunn_Palace
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HIGH RESOLUTION images on sundeepkullu.com WORLD IS MY STUDIO This picture is LOW RESOLUTION for web compatibility **Sorry Guys i have deleted most of my pictures from facebook due to copyright infringement by parties not authorised by me.But i have made a flash website for exibiting my Photostories Do visit sundeepkullu.com
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Lahaul and Spiti district
The district of Lahaul-Spiti in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh consists of the two formerly separate districts of Lahaul and Spiti. The present administrative centre is Keylong in Lahaul. Before the two districts were merged, Kardang was the capital of Lahaul, and Dhankar the capital of Spiti.
Kunzum la or the Kunzum Pass (altitude 4,551 m; 14,931 ft) is the entrance pass to the Spiti Valley from Lahaul. It is 21 km from Chandra Tal.[1] This district is connected to Manali through the Rohtang Pass. To the south, Spiti ends 24 km from Tabo, at the Pare chu gorge where the road enters Kinnaur and joins with National Highway No. 22.[2]
The two valleys are quite different in character. Spiti is more barren and difficult to cross, with an average elevation of the valley floor of 4,270 m (14,009 ft). It is enclosed between lofty ranges, with the Spiti river rushing out of a gorge in the southeast to meet the Sutlej River. It is a typical mountain desert area with an average annual rainfall of only 170 mm (6.7 inches).[3]
Flora and fauna
Lahaul valley in winter
Mountain peak in Lahaul and Spiti district
The harsh conditions of Lahaul permit only scattered tufts of hardy grasses and shrubs to grow, even below 4,000 metres. Glacier lines are usually found at 5,000 metres.
Animals such as yaks and dzos roam across the wild Lingti plains. However, over-hunting and a decrease in food supplies has led to a large decrease in the population of the Tibetan antelope, argali, kiangs, musk deer, and snow leopards in these regions, reducing them to the status of endangered species. However, in the Lahaul valley, one can see ibex, brown bears, foxes and snow leopards during winter.
[edit]People
Mother and child in near Gandhola Monastery. 2004
The language, culture, and populations of Lahaul and Spiti are closely related. Generally the Lahaulis are of Tibetan and Indo-Aryan descent, while the Spiti Bhotia are more similar to the Tibetans, owing to their proximity to Tibet. Fairer skin and hazel-colored eyes are commonly seen among the Lahaulis.
The languages of both the Lahauli and Spiti Bhutia belong to the Tibetan family. They are very similar to the Ladakhi and Tibetans culturally, as they had been placed under the rule of the Guge and Ladakh kingdoms at occasional intervals.
Among the Lahaulis, the family acts as the basic unit of kinship. The extended family system is common, evolved from the polyandric system of the past. The family is headed by a senior male member, known as the Yunda, while his wife, known as the Yundamo, attains authority by being the oldest member in the generation. The clan system, also known as Rhus, plays another major role in the Lahauli society.
The Spiti Bhutia community has an inheritance system that is otherwise unique to the Tibetans. Upon the death of both parents, only the eldest son will inherit the family property, while the eldest daughter inherits the mother's jewellery, and the younger siblings inherit nothing. Men usually fall back on the social security system of the Trans-Himalayan Gompas.
[edit]Lifestyle
The lifestyles of the Lahauli and Spiti Bhotia are similar, owing to their proximity. Polyandry was widely practiced by the Lahaulis in the past, although this practice has been dying out. The Spiti Bhutia do not generally practice polyandry any more, although it is accepted in a few isolated regions.
Divorces are accomplished by a simple ceremony performed in the presence of village elders. Divorce can be sought by either partner. The husband has to pay compensation to his ex-wife if she does not remarry. However, this is uncommon among the Lahaulis.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Potato farming is common. Occupations include animal husbandry, working in government programs, government services, and other businesses and crafts that include weaving. Houses are constructed in the Tibetan architectural style, as the land in Lahul and Spiti is mountainous and quite prone to earthquakes.
[edit]Religion
Kunzum Pass between Lahul & Spiti
Ki-Gompa Spiti
Most of the Lahaulis follow a combination of Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyu order, while the Spiti Bhotia follow Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelugpa order. Within Lahoul/swangla, the Baralacha-La region had the strongest Buddhist influence, owing to its close proximity to Spiti. Lahoul/swangla has temples such as Triloknath , where pilgrims worship a certain god in different manifestations, notably in the form of Shiva and Avalokiteshvara where Udaipur is a puritan temple. This bas-relief, of marble, depicts the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara (the embodiment of the Buddha's compassion) in a stylized seated position; Hindu devotees take it to be Shiva Nataraj, Shiva dancing. This image appears to be of sixteenth century Chamba craftsmanship. It was created to replace the original black stone image of the deity, which became damaged by art looters. This original image is kept beneath the plinth of the shrine. It appears to be of 12th century Kashmiri provenance . Much of the art thieves are active in this remote belt because of neglected gompas and temples.
Before the spread of Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism, the people were adherents of the religion 'Lung Pe Chhoi', an animistic religion that had some affinities with the Bön religion of Tibet. While the religion flourished, animal and human sacrifices were regularly offered up to the 'Iha', a term that refers to evil spirits residing in the natural world, notably in the old pencil-cedar trees, rocks and caves. Vestiges of the Lung Pe Chhoi religion can be seen in the behaviour of the Lamas, who are believed to possess certain supernatural powers.
The Losar festival (also known as Halda in Lahauli) is celebrated between the months of January and February. The date of celebration is decided by the Lamas. It has the same significance as the Diwali festival of Hinduism, but is celebrated in a Tibetan fashion.
At the start of the festival, two or three persons from every household will come holding burning incense. The burning sticks are then piled into a bonfire. The people will then pray to Shiskar Apa, the goddess of wealth (other name Vasudhara) in the Buddhist religion.
In the Pattan belt of the valley in Lahoul most population follows Hinduism,but counts for 14 percent of the total and they are called swanglas. The fagli festival is celebrated between February and March all over the valley. This festival is a new year festival and closely precedes beginning of tibetian and Chinese calendar. Notable is the Pattan people are the late settlers in the valley around 1500 A.D. and have broad highlights and have distinct language on the likes the central Asians,chamba, pangi, pashtoons and uyghurs. This belt is known for the convergence for chandra and bhaga rivers to form Chenab.
[edit]Tourism
Ki Gompa
The natural scenery and Buddhist monasteries, such as Ki, Dhankar, Shashur, Guru Ghantal and Tayul Gompas, are the main tourist attractions of the region.
One of the most interesting places is the Tabo Monastery, located 45 km from Kaza, Himachal Pradesh, the capital of the Spiti region. This monastery rose to prominence when it celebrated its thousandth year of existence in 1996. It houses a collection of Buddhist scriptures, Buddhist statues and Thangkas. The ancient gompa is finished with mud plaster, and contains several scriptures and documents. Lama Dzangpo heads the gompa here. There is a modern guest house with a dining hall and all facilities are available.
Another famous gompa, Kardang Monastery, is located at an elevation of 3,500 metres across the river, about 8 km from Keylong. Kardang is well connected by the road via the Tandi bridge which is about 14 km from Keylong. Built in the 12th century, this monastery houses a large library of Buddhist literature including the main Kangyur and Tangyur scriptures.
The treacherous weather in Lahaul and Spiti permits visitors to tour only between the months of June to October, when the roads and villages are free of snow and the high passes (Rothang La and Kunzum La) are open. It is possible to access Spiti from Kinnaur (along the Sutlej) all through the year, although the road is sometimes temporarily closed by landslides or avalanches.
Buddhist Monasteries in Spiti: Spiti is one of the important centers of Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh. It is popularly known as the 'land of lamas'. The valley is dotted by numerous Buddhist Monasteries or Gompas that are famous throughout the world and are a favorite of Dalai Lama.
Kye Monastery: Kye Monastery in Spiti is the main research center of the Buddhists in India. Near about 300 lamas are receiving their religious training from here. It is oldest and biggest monastery in Spiti. It houses the rare painting and beautiful scriptures of Buddha and other gods and goddess. You may also find rare 'Thangka' paintings and ancient musical instruments 'trumpets, cymbals, and drums in the monastery.
Tabo Monastery: Perched at an amazing altitude of 3050 meters, Tabo Monastery in the valley of Spiti is often referred to as the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'. The 10th century Tabo Monastery was founded by the great scholar, Richen Zangpo, and has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The monastery houses more than 6 lamas and contains the rare collection of scriptures, pieces of art, wall paintings -Tankhas and Stucco.
Flora and fauna of Spiti Valley: The valley is blessed with the good population of snow leopards, ibex, Himalayan Brown Bear, Musk Deer, Himalayan Blue Sheep etc. which serves as the boon for the wildlife lovers. There are two important protected areas in the region that are a home to snow leopard and its prey including the Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Surprisingly, due to ardent religious beliefs, people of Spiti do not hunt these wild animals.
Apart from the exotic wildlife, the Valley of Spiti is also known for its amazing wealth of flora and the profusion of wild flowers. Some of the mot common species found here include Causinia thomsonii, Seseli trilobum, Crepis flexuosa, Caragana brevifolia and Krascheninikovia ceratoides. Then there are more than 62 species of medicinal plants found here.
Adventure activities:
To- do-Trials: For trekkers, the Spiti Valley is a paradise, offering challenging treks to explore the new heights of the Himalayas. The treks takes you to the most remote areas including the rugged villages and old Gompas followed by the exotic wildlife trails. Some of the popular trekking routes in the area includes Kaza-Langza-Hikim-Comic-Kaza, Kaza-Ki-Kibber-Gete-Kaza, Kaza-Losar-Kunzum La and Kaza-Tabo-Sumdo-Nako. Please note that you carry all the necessary things before out for the trekking tour to Spiti. Tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, heavy woollens and sunglasses are a must.
Skiing: Skiing is the popular adventure sports in Spiti and is popular in India from the past few years. The amazing snow clad mountains with the added advantage of inspiring heights are enough to allure the adventure spirits of the avid skier, providing all the thrill and fun attracted to the sport. People from all around the globe come to experience this enthralling adventure activity.
Yak Safari: The most exciting of all adventure activities in Spiti is the Yak safari. You can hire the Yak to see the flora and fauna of trans-Himalayan desert. It is, in fact, the lifetime opportunity that you won't find anywhere else so easily. Apart from this, horse safaris are also conducted in this area.
Sources en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahaul_and_Spiti_district
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HIMACHAL Kullu Manali, Sundernagar Mandi, Dharamsala,Shimla,Lahaul Spiti12
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Landscapes in 6 Continents (Title 1- Stupendous Landscapes across 6 Continents) ,
Wonders of World (Title 2 - "Ancient and New 7 Wonders of World from a Himalayan Photographers Eye") ,
28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (Title 3 -"All 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India") ,
Himalayas in India, Nepal, China, Tibet & Bhutan (Title 4 -"Stupendous Himalayas"),
UNESCO Interesting World Heritage Sites across globe ( Title 5 - "Best of UNESCO World Heritage Sites") ,
Himachal Pradesh (Title 6 - "Unforgettable Himachal Pradesh" Photostories by SunDeep® Bhardwaj sundeepkullu.com)
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The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu Himachal Around the World to more than 50+Countries & 200+Major Destinations across 6 Continents.
Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu
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Königssee
LocationSchönau am Königssee, Bavaria, Germany
Coordinates47°33′N 12°58′ECoordinates: 47°33′N 12°58′E
Primary inflowsSchreinbach, Obersee, Kesselbach, Eisbach, Königsbach
Primary outflowsKönigsseer Ache to Salzach
Basin countriesGermany
Max. length7.7 kilometers (4.8 mi)
Max. width1.7 kilometers (1.1 mi)
Surface area5.218 square kilometers (2.015 sq mi)
Average depth98.1 meters (322 ft)
Max. depth190 meters (620 ft)
Water volume511,785,000 m3 (414,911 acre·ft)
Surface elevation603 meters (1,978 ft)
IslandsChristlieger
SettlementsSchönau am Königssee,
St. Bartholomä
The Königssee is a lake located in the extreme southeast Berchtesgadener Land district of the German state of Bavaria, near the border with Austria. Large parts are comprised by the Berchtesgaden National Park.
St. Bartholomä and Watzmann
Lying within the Berchtesgaden Alps in the municipality of Schönau am Königsee, just south of Berchtesgaden and the Austrian City of Salzburg, the Königssee is Germany's third deepest lake. Located at a Jurassic rift it was formed by glaciers during the last ice age. It stretches about 7.7 kilometers (4.8 mi) in the north-south direction and is about 1.7 kilometers (1.1 mi) across at its widest point. Except at its outlet, the Königsseer Ache at the village of Königssee, the lake similar to a fjord is surrounded by steeply rising flanks of mountains up to 2700 m (8900 ft), including the fabled Watzmann massif in the west.
The literal translation appears to be "King's Lake", however while German: König does indeed mean "king", there had been no Bavarian kings since the days of Louis the German until Elector Maximilian I Joseph assumed the royal title in 1806. Therefore the name more probably stems from the first name Kuno of local nobles, who appear in several historical sources referring to the donation of the Berchtesgaden Provostry in the 12th century; the lake was formerly called Kunigsee.[1]
In 1944 a subcamp of the Dachau concentration camp was located nearby where Heinrich Himmler had a residence built at Schönau for his mistress Hedwig Potthast.[2]
The lake is noted for its clear water and is advertised as the cleanest lake in Germany. For this reason, only electric driven passenger ships, rowing and pedal boats have been permitted on the lake since 1909. Due to its picturesque setting, the lake and surrounding parklands are very popular with tourists and hikers. In addition, the lake's position surrounded by sheer rock walls creates an echo, which is known for its clarity. On boat tours, it has become traditional to stop and play a flugelhorn or trumpet to display the echo; formerly demonstrated by shooting a cannon, it could be heard reflected up to seven times.
Obersee
St. Bartholomä, a famous pilgrimage church with a small inn nearby, is located on a peninsula about halfway down the western lakeshore. The small Christlieger island is located near its northern end. South of the Königssee, separated by the Salet moraine, is the smaller Obersee lake with the 470 meters (1,540 ft) high Röthbach waterfall. As there is no lakeside path on the steep shore of the Königssee, St. Bartholomä and the southern edge can only be reached by boat or via hiking trails up the surrounding mountains - except for harsh winters, when the lake freezes over. Stepping on the ice however can be fatal, as for a motorist in the winter of 1964, who on his way back from St. Bartholomä drowned in his VW Beetle. The car was not detected until 1997 at a depth of about 100 m (300 ft).[3]
Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6nigssee
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Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohenschwangau_Castle
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PANGONG TSO HIGH ALTITUDE LAKE LEH LADAKH J&K HP BORDER HIMACHAL CULTURAL VILLAGE 13-10-08 569 AWJ
Copyright 2011 © sundeepkullu.com All rights reserved.
Pangong Tso (or Pangong Lake; Tso: Ladakhi for lake) is an endorheic lake in the Himalayas situated at a height of about 4,350 m (14,270 ft). It is 134 km (83 mi) long and extends from India to Tibet. 60% of the length of the lake lies in Tibet, which is today under China's rule. The lake is 5 km (3.1 mi) wide at its broadest point. During winter the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water.
The lake is in the process of being identified under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance. This will be the first trans-boundary wetland in South Asia under the convention.
A section of the lake approximately 20 km east from the Line of Actual Control is controlled by China but claimed by India. The eastern end of the lake is in Tibet and is not claimed by India. The western end of the lake is not in dispute. After the mid-19th century, Pangong Tso was at the southern end of the so-called Johnson Line, an early attempt at demarcation between India and China in the Aksai Chin region.
Flora, fauna and geography
The brackish water[7] of the lake is devoid of any micro-vegetation. Guides report that there are no fish or other aquatic life in the lake, except for some small crustaceans. On the other hand, visitors see numerous ducks and gulls over and on the lake surface. There are some species of scrub and perennial herbs that grow in the marshes around the lake.
The lake acts as an important breeding ground for a variety of birds including a number of migratory birds. During summer, the Bar-headed goose and Brahmini ducks are commonly seen here. The region around the lake supports a number of species of wildlife including the kiang and the Marmot.
Formerly, Pangong Tso had an outlet to Shyok River, a tributary of Indus River, but it was closed off due to natural damming. Two streams feed the lake from the Indian side, forming marshes and wetlands at the edges.[8] Strand lines above current lake level reveal a 5 m (16 ft) thick layer of mud and laminated sand, suggesting the lake has shrunken recently in geological scale.[7]
[edit]Getting to Pangong Tso
Pangong Tso can be reached in a five-hour drive from Leh, most of it on a rough and dramatic mountain road. The road crosses the villages of Shey and Gya and traverses the Changla pass, where army sentries and a small teahouse greet visitors. Road down from Changla Pass leads through Tangste and other smaller villages, crossing river called Pagal Naala or "The Crazy Stream". The spectacular lakeside is open during the tourist season, from May to September.
An Inner Line Permit is required to visit the lake as it lies on the Sino-Indian Line of Actual Control. While Indian nationals can obtain individual permits, others must have group permits (with a minimum of three persons) accompanied by an accredited guide; the tourist office in Leh issues the permits for a small fee. For security reasons, India does not permit boating.
Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangong_Tso
The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu Himachal Around the World to more than 50+Countries & 200+Major Destinations across 6 Continents.
Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu
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+91 9816499629
+974 55344547
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
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SunDeep Bhardwaj Kullu
MBA-Sales & Mktg.(Symbiosis,Pune)
B.Pub.Admn.(H.P.University,Summer Hills, Shimla)
BHM (GCC-Bangalore)
***Publishing Photostories clicked in the most exotic places on earth in 15 countries that I visited in last 6 months. For all stories of 70+ Countries go to my oficial website sundeepkullu.com ™©®
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RAWANDA KIGALI TOUR
PHOTOSTORIES from SunDeepKullu.Com World Travel Fine Art Photography Sept 2012
Having Spent interesting day in Kigali in RAWANDA where I arrived today morning via Entebbe in UGANDA the city of Hills is really great to discover and very distinct from other Africa countries.
Know Kigali Rawanda the best of best -
Rwanda is a relatively stable East African country, and easily accessible from Kenya and Uganda. It is relatively easy, safe and simple to travel around. It is landlocked, surrounded by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.
Rwanda is not only the land of a thousand hills, but also a country rich in flora and fauna and stunning natural beauty in its scenic rolling and breathtaking green savannah. The country hosts some rare species of animals like the silverback mountain Gorillas as well as unique birds and insects in the tropical forest of Nyungwe.
Understand
It's been over a decade since the civil war and genocide of 1994 that devastated this tiny country, and it's come a long way. Shake off your memories of war and expect a warm and friendly welcome to a beautiful country.
Rwanda has 3 national parks:
Akagera National Park
Volcanoes National Park – home to the mountain gorillas, this park spreads into Uganda and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Nyungwe National Park
If you are traveling overland, it is no longer possible to obtain a visa at the border. However, visa application can easily be made at www.migration.gov.rw/singleform.php. You will within a few days receive a entry visa acceptance by email. Bringing this acceptance letter, the visa will be issued at the border. The US$60 visa fee is paid at the border.
I'm not a plastic bag!
Thin plastic bags are prohibited in Rwanda. Luggage will be searched at the border and even at police checkpoints throughout the country to make sure you are not carrying plastic bags. Prior to the ban, one-time use plastic bags plagued city streets and threatened the delicate environment. Today, Rwandan cities are almost litter-free and some of the cleanest in Africa!
See
National Museum of Butare in Butare –
Lake Kivu in Western Rwanda – a large lake bordering the DRC, it's a nice place to relax for a week or so
The Genocide Memorial in Kigali – fantastic insight into one of the world's greatest tragedies
The Nyamata Genocide Memorial is a worthwhile complement to the Gisozi Memorial Centre in Kigali. Located in the town of Nyamata, 40 minutes south of Kigali on a newly paved road, the memorial is in a church where over 5000 people were killed during the 1994 genocide. Visitors take a short tour and see the evidence of the genocide that remains there today - victims' clothing piled on benches, the roof pockmarked with bullet holes, and the open crypts behind the church that hold the remains of over 40,000 people from the area. An extremely moving look into one of the places where the genocide was carried out.
The Ntarama Genocide Memorial, just 20 minutes away from the Nyamata memorial, is also worth visiting. Like the Nyamata memorial, this site was a church before the genocide, and was nationalized to serve as a memorial after thousands of people were killed within its walls. The church itself is similar to Nyamata, with victims' clothing and remains visible to offer proof of what happened there, but Ntarama also has a peaceful memorial garden and wall of names in the back of its compound. Ask the resident guide for a tour in English or French, and remember to give them a donation for the site afterwards; it gets almost no support from the government. To get there, take the highway from Kigali to Nyamata and follow the signs for the Ntarama memorial, before you reach Nyamata.
Do
Parc National des Volcans, home of the mountain gorillas, and the setting for Gorillas in the Mist author Dian Fossey's research. If you can afford it it's an excellent experience... even possible as a daytrip from Kigali. Enquire at the Rwandan Office for Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN), Boulevard de la Révolution n° 1, Kigali, +(250) 576514 or 573396, reservation@rwandatourism.com, [4]. It cost 500 US dollars per person. Besides that you will have to take an official taxi which costs you another 50 USD. Prices are rising constantly, and you should really consider if you want them to get away with these rip-off prices, because as long as there are people who pay them, they will continue to rise them.
Respect
Rwanda is a very conservative society; most people dress modestly, especially women. Wearing shorts or tight skirts and skimpy tops is likely to get you stared at twice as much as normal.
It is unusual for a couple to make public displays of affection, even though many men walk hand in hand with male friends. Also, Rwandans will generally never eat or drink in public, apart from at restaurants. Rwandan women are rarely seen smoking in public or out in bars unaccompanied.
Rwandans are very private, reserved people and loud public confrontations (shouting matches) or obvious displays of emotion (such as crying) are also frowned upon. If you feel you are being overcharged by a trader, quietly persisting with the negotiation (or your complaint!) is likely to produce results much faster than an angry outburst!
It is also impolite to make eye contact with an elder.
Please understand that Rwanda is still recovering from a civil war and genocide in which over 800,000 people, perhaps a million, were killed. Many Rwandese lost relatives and friends. Remember to be sensitive to this sad fact when dealing with Rwandese. Most people today are trying to forget the tribal divisions and would rather be referred to as Rwandese than Hutu or Tutsi. It is considered impolite to ask someone about their ethnic origin.
There is not much political discourse in Rwanda, unlike in many neighboring countries such as Uganda and Kenya where people talk freely about the government and political issues, people in Rwanda will be uncomfortable if asked their views or even if seated at a table where national politics is discussed.
Kigali in Rawanda houses several memorials, museums, and centers dedicated to the Rwandan Genocide, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. Other museums include the National Museum of Rwanda and Kandt House Museum of Natural History.
Urugwiro is the official residence of the President of Rwanda. It constitutes an entire village within the Kacyiru distrct of Kigali.
The city now has international class hotels, some played a role in history:
The Mille Collines in the Kiyovu area. This hotel became a refugee centre during the genocide, as famously depicted in the film Hotel Rwanda (although the hotel shown in the film is in fact in South Africa). It is also the setting for the famous novel Un dimanche à la piscine à Kigali, by Quebecer Gil Courtemanche, and its movie adaptation Un dimanche à Kigali.
The Kigali Serena Hotel, formerly known as the InterContinental Kigali. Formerly a Belgian-owned hotel known as the Diplomates, the hotel was briefly portrayed in the second half of Hotel Rwanda. It was later bought by the InterContinental Hotels group and remodeled in 2003.
Interesting places around Kigali
The Virunga National Park (French: Parc National des Virunga), formerly named Albert National Park, is a 7800 square km National Park that stretches from the Virunga Mountains in the South, to the Rwenzori Mountains in the North, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Rwenzori Mountains National Park and Queen Elisabeth National Park in Uganda. The park was established in 1925 as Africa's first national park. It was classified as a World Heritage Site in 1979. In recent years the park has become known for its mountain gorillas, although poaching and the Congo Civil War have seriously damaged its wildlife population.
The Lava Lake of the Nyiragongo Volcano, one of the spectacular sights of Virunga NP
Virunga NP Mountain Gorillas
Bukima Camp is situated in the foothills of the Mikeno Mountain, the home of the Congolese Mountain Gorillas
Rwenzori Mountains
Silverback of the Rugendo family at Bukima patrol Post
The cabanes are situated at the edge of the crater in sight of the lava lake, the sight of which has an astounding effect on visitors
Lake Kivu is one of three known exploding lakes
sundeepkullu2.see.me/onelife2012.
SunDeep ™ Bhardwaj Kullu World Photography ™ | SDBWP™ | 70+Countries | 555+Places-Destinations | 6 Continents | 2222+ Fine Art Photostories | 16 Years World Travel | 5 years World Tour May 2007-till date-continued | 10 years Incredible India tour from year 1997-2007 May | Multiple years exploring the unexplored Himachal Pradesh Himalayas India | Exhibitions & Fine art Gallery HCV | Landscapes People & Portraits | Fine Art Photography | World Travel Photostories Coffee Table Books eBooks iBooks |
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WORLD IS MY STUDIO
Still on my World tour entering 6th year of World travel to 70+Countries 555+Destinations across 6 Continents and multiple years of Travel Photography I am busy designing my first Travel Photostories Book named "111 MIRACULOUS WONDERS OF WORLD YOU MUST SEE WHEN YOU ALIVE" and corresponding "111 WOW" iPhone Application soon by the end of this year 2012
SunDeep ™ Bhardwaj World Photography ™ | SDBWP™ | 7 years Amazing World Tour May 2007-till date-continued to 2014 if possible | 10 years Incredible India tour from year 1997-2007 May including Unforgettable Himachal Tour since Childhood |
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Recently Explored 16 Destinations ( In first half of 2012)
*INDIA- Mayad Valley, Lahaul , Rohtang Pass, Manikaran, Jispa, Sissu, Gondla, Deepak Taal, Baralachha Pass, Zing Zing Bar, Deepak Taal , Suraj Taal, Kasol, Kullu-Manali, Bhunter, Keyong
*AUSTRALIA-Melbourne-Great Ocean Road-Twelve Apostles this week
*BELGIUM Brussels
*DENMARK-Copenhagen, VIETNAM Hanoi-Halong Bay
*MALAYSIA-Kuala Lumpur-Kanting Falls-Batu Caves-Petronas Twin Towers
*CANADA-Quebec-Ontario-Montreal
*SOUTH AFRICA Johnnesburg-The Cradle of Mankind-Stolkfontien Caves and Lion & Rino Park
*INDIA-Kashmir-Gulmarg-Srinagar-HIMACHAL-Kullu-Manali-Shimla-Lahaul-Spiti -Dharamshala-Kinnaur-Udaipur-Leh-Laddakh-*KERALA-Athirappily & Vazhachal Falls
*GERMANY-BAVERIA-Black Forest-Oberbayern-Garmich Patenkirchen-Eibsee Lake-Zugspitze
*UK-SCOTLAND Glencoe-Fort William-Castle around Scotland-Lochness-ENGLAND-London-Manchester-Glasgow
*ITALY-Rome-UNESCO Heritage Sites around Rome
*VATICAN CITY-Samallest Country in the World
*CHINA-Shanghai-Zhejiang-Hangzhou-The West Lake-Chongquing-Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area-Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries-Lushan-Buddha JAPAN Horyuji Temple 1300 years old Japan's most sacred place & UNESCO site
*UAE-Al Ain-Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Burj Al Arab-Al Khaleefa Tallest building in the World,
*SWEDEN-Stocholm-National Parks
*NORWAY-Oslo
*RAWANDA-Kigali
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.For full size images contact me.
Contacts:-
Primary :
wittysam@gmail.com ( E-mail/Skype/Whatsapp/Google+/LinkedIn/Fring/Yoono/Twitter/Gmail/Insta gram/http://sundeepkullu.com & Photography & Videography and Quote for Assignments related)
World Roaming +974 55344547 (Facebook Mobile/Viber/Facetime/WhatsApp)
India New Delhi & Himachal Roaming +91 8527745789 (Google Plus)
sb@sundeepkullu.com ( Facebook & Personal Mail )
Secondary :
eurekasun@yahoo.com ( Flickr & Yahoo Messenger )
admin@phototube.co ( phototube.co related )
enquiries@himachalculturalvillage.com ( himachalculturalvillage.com related )
SunDeep Bhardwaj Kullu
MBA-Sales & Mktg.(Symbiosis,Pune)
B.Pub.Admn.(H.P.University,Summer Hills, Shimla)
BHM (GCC-Bangalore)
***Publishing Photostories clicked in the most exotic places on earth in 15 countries that I visited in last 6 months. For all stories of 70+ Countries go to my oficial website sundeepkullu.com ™©®
Slide Shows | Full Screen Mode | Adobe Flash or Mobile
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/sets/72157624062762956/
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/sets/72157624062638852/show/
Available on Skype / Facetime / Viber / WhatsApp / Facebook / Google Talk / Yahoo Messenger mostly.
Facebook/Facetime/Skype/WhatsApp/Viber/Twitter/ with wittysam@gmail.com , sb@sundeepkullu.com ,
+91 8527745789 India and World roaming
+974 55344547 World roaming
KINDLY NOTE***The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
Add me as a friend on my facebook profile 2 as my facebook profile 1 is allmost full with 4000 plus friends here - www.facebook.com/sundeephimachal
Thanks and regards sundeepkullu.com Sundeep™ Bhardwaj World Photography SDBWP™
"Fine Art Wedding's by SDB" * SunDeep Bhardwaj * SunDeepKullu.com "THE WORLD IS MY STUDIO" Travelled & Photographed 70+Countries 555+ Destinations Across 6 Continents in Decades long World Tour.World Traveller Fine Art & Commercial Photographer
Still Pre- Wedding, Candid Wedding, Post Wedding, Pre-Wedding Films & Ad films ( Cinematography), Family Portraits, Conventional Traditional Wedding Photography
" I live with one vision to create things that would outlast me. I discovered Fine Art Photography of subjects in all the 6 Inhabited Continents & 70+ Countires i travelled and photographed in last few decades as a means for me to connect with my innerself " - SunDeep Bhardwaj ( SDB Fine Art )
Official Portfolio website-
www.sundeepkullu.com/sdb-fine-art-home.html
SDB Fine Art pieces can be seen online on this URL's -
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam www.gettyimages.in/search/2/image?phrase=SDBWP&family... &
"Fine Art Wedding's by SDB" SunDeep Bhardwaj Events Group-
"Fine Art Wedding's by SDB" SunDeep Bhardwaj Events Page -
Locations - " The World is my Studio "
Work Locations Worldwide- Anywhere under Sun and Sky | Himalayas | India Nepal China Tibet Bhutan |
Work Locations Incredible India- Himachal Uttranchal Arunachal Pradesh Sikkim Kashmir Himachal Sundernagar Mandi Bilaspur Ghumarwin Kullu Manali Shimla Sirmour Kinnaur Dharamshala Chamba Lahaul Spiti Chandigarh New Delhi Jaipur Bangalore Kolkatta Mumbai | "The World is my Studio"
"Fine Art Wedding's by SDB" with Photography not limited to one genre, theme or style. My style is Candid for Wedding's and Glamour for Portraits and I do Modern Contemporary Fine Art. For Digital Fine Art of Photography i use backdrops of elements of nature in most exotic & natural scenic locations on Himalayas ( Anywhere in 2300 Kms Himalayan Arc is my first choice ) or in backgrounds of various Historical Cultural Heritage Natural Sites by UNESCO with emphasis to various Traditions & Customs and exclusive Events specific to location.
Locations : Currently taking assignments Worldwide India Bhutan Nepal ( Do support place by planning your Holiday in Nepal ) Jaipur New Delhi Chandigarh Himachal Kolkata Chennai Madras Bangalore Surat Ahmedabad Hyderabad Mumbai or anywhere under Sun "The World is my Studio"
SunDeepKullu.Com or sundeepkullu.weebly.com "The World is my Studio"|
Travelled & Photographed All Inhabited 6 Continents 70+Countries 555+Most Exotic Destinations / Wonders of World / UNESCO World Heritage Sites | Nearby 200+Cities | 150+Airports | 300+Villages / Towns/ Countrysides | Himalayas Himachal | 2 Decades of World Travel Photography |
Welcome aboard to my official World Travel Photography Website SunDeepKullu.com " The World is my Studio " with "Photostories" across 6 continents after travelling far and wide across the globe from Brazil to Australia, from the UK to South Africa, from Egypt to Malaysia, from Morocco to Thailand, from Switzerland to Vietnam across all inhabited continents is quite wide and I find the whole world a perfect mosaic of beauty. I travelled around all 6 inhabited continents mostly in Europe (East & West Europe), Africa (Eastern Africa, Middle Africa, Northern Africa, Southern Africa & Western Africa), Asia (Eastern Asia, Northern Asia, Southeastern Asia, Southern Asia, Western Asia, Indian Sub-Continent & The Middle East), North America, South America, Central America& Australia. My Photography ranges from 'Ancient Wonders of the World' to 'New 7 Wonders of the World' & the 'Highest Points on the Earth' (Himalayas-India China Nepal-Mount Everest) to the 'Lowest Points on the Earth' (Dead Sea-Israel, Palestine, Jordan). My Photostories concentrates on 'The UNESCO World Heritage Sites', Himalayas, Historic Cities, Metropols & other most beautiful places & cities of the World. I intensively covered Unexplored Himalayan Landscapes and UNESCO World Heritage sites ( Cultral, Historical, Mixed as well as Natral ) of 70+ Countries i traveled to since 1991 and after setting or a World Tour in 2006 and i am still exploring more exotic places on this Planet Earth. I believe "World is just amazing" and every place & face has a unique story to tell. I connect to my subjects as to my soul.
Latest Interviews -
- www.sundeepkullu.com/magazine-interviews.html or PDF orignal at bit.ly/SDBKinterview
- voices.halabol.com/2013/12/03/picture-perfect-story-globe...
Fine Art Candid Weddings | Creative Commercial Photography | Fine Art Still Photography | Landscapes | People | Portraits | Fashion | Family | Modelling Portfolio's | Fashion | Celeb | Corporate | Institutional | Advertising 5 Star International Airlines | Hotels & Resorts | Catalogues | Magazine Editorials | Photo Journalism | Wonders Of World | New 7 Wonders of World | Ancient Wonders of World | UNESCO World Heritage Sites | Photo Journalism | High Profile Events | Corporates Still & Motion Picture shoots | Ad Film | Catalog Shoots | Architectural Photography | Interior & Exterior | Product Photography | Professional Creative Commercial Photography | Full Frame Still | Full HD Films | 35mm Film Cinemetography | Blue Ray Media | Outdoor Travel Photography
Total 2 Decades of Travel Photography | 8 years World Tour 2007- 2014 | Multiple years of Landscape Photography of most exotic places on Himalayan Arc spreading 2400 Kms in length | 10 years Incredible India tour 1997-2006 | Multiple years Fine Art Photography of Unforgettable Himachal, Kashmir-Leh-Laddakh, Tibet, Nepal & China in Himalayas | Fine Art Photography |
CONTACTS -
Call/SMS on Mobile or WhatsApp on +91 9805305912
Facebook me on facebook.com/SunDeepKullu
flickr.com/people/wittysam Skype (eurekasun@yahoo.com)
E-Mail - wittysam@gmail.com , sb@sundeepkullu.com , sundeepkullu@gmail.com &
Audio or Video Call via Viber Google+ Hangouts Skype Tango +91 9805305912
Education Background - MBA Sales & Mktg.(Symbiosis, Pune),BHM(Degree in Hotel Management),B.Pub.Admn.(HP University, Summer Hills, Shimla) | Founder Owner at SDB Fine Art Wonders of World gallery Himachal | " The World is my Studio " All rights reserved ® SunDeepKullu.com © copyright 1991-2015 SDB Fine Art
Key Skills- Management, Sales & Marketting, Branding & Business Development Areas- 5 Star International Airlines Hotels, MNC's
Coffee Table Book eBook-ePub format iOS Android iPad Amazon Kindle Google Books Blurb in making - "111 Miraculous Wonders of World you must see when you alive"
'SDB Travel Photography Worldwide Covering UNESCO World Heritage Sites Himalayas Himachal Cities Villages Towns Metropols Historical cities , Cultural Sites, Fairs & Festivals of World, Landscapes, Culture, People & Portraits, Biggest Events in the World
The Various wings of SDB Fine Art i am busy expanding in 2015 are as follows. -
"FINE ART WEDDING's by SDB " SunDeep Bhardwaj
Still Pre- Wedding, Candid Wedding, Post Wedding, Pre-Wedding Films & Ad films ( Cinematography), Family Portraits, Traditional Photography
"Fine Art Wedding's by SDB" with Photography not limited to one genre, theme or style. My style is Candid for Wedding's and Glamour for Portraits and I do Modern Contemporary Fine Art. For Digital Fine Art of Photography i use backdrops of elements of nature in most exotic & natural scenic locations on Himalayas ( Anywhere in 2300 Kms Himalayan Arc is my first choice ) or in backgrounds of various Historical Cultural Heritage Natural Sites by UNESCO with emphasis to various Traditions & Customs and exclusive Events specific to location.
Locations : Currently taking assignments Worldwide India Bhutan Nepal ( Do support place by planning your Holiday in Nepal ) Jaipur New Delhi Chandigarh Himachal Kolkata Chennai Madras Bangalore Surat Ahmedabad Hyderabad Mumbai or anywhere under Sun "The World is my Studio"
-'SDB Fine Art Web Design's' for Web Android iOS in Responsive Layouts
-'SDB Fine Art Wonders of World gallery™'
-'SDB Fine Art™' SDBFA™
-SDB World Stock Photos' Online on Official Portfolio website SunDeepKullu.com 70+ Countries 6 Continents UNESCO HIMALAYAS SunDeep™ Bhardwaj World Photography™' 'SDBWP™
-'Architectural SDB Fine Art Design Studio'
-'SDB Fine Art Professional Creative Commercial Photography'
Some of Previous & Latest Facebook Pages , Groups , Events , Places , Lists SDB founded in last few decades -
HIMACHAL PAGES & GROUPS -
PAGE - Kullu Manali Himachal Pradesh 43300 LIKES 43K LIKES
Community/Government www.facebook.com /KulluManaliHimachalPradesh
PAGE - Himachal 11K LIKES
Community www.facebook.com/Himachal.Pradesh.In
GROUP - HIMACHAL LahaulSpiti Kullu Mandi Bilaspur Shimla Sirmour Chamba Kinnaur +4 (498)1K MEMBERS
www.facebook.com/groups/himachal.in
PAGE - Sundernagar Mandi Himachal (924)1K LIKES
Community www.facebook.com/SundernagarMandiHimachal
GROUP - Sundernagar Valley Himachal Himalayas India
Public Group www.facebook.com/groups/189764805995
HIMACHAL FESTIVALS FINE ART SOCIETY CULTURE FAIRS -
PAGE - Sundernagar Devta Mela & Nalwar Fair Himachal India 306 LIKES
Community www.facebook.com/pages/Sundernagar-Devta-Mela-Nalwar-Fair...
SDB Fine Art works can be seen online on this URL - www.fluidr.com/photos/wittysam/interesting
SunDeepKullu.Com "The World is my Studio". Travelled & Photographed All Inhabited 6 Continents 70+Countries 555+Most Exotic Destinations / Wonders of World / UNESCO World Heritage Sites | Nearby 200+Cities | 150+Airports | 300+Villages / Towns/ Countrysides across 6 Continents | 2 Decades of World Tour | Work Area - Anywhere under Sun and Sky | Current Locations - Worldwide Himalayas Himachal Sundernagar Manali Ghumarwin Shimla Chandigarh Jaipur New Delhi Mumbai
Contacts -
Call/SMS on Mobile or WhatsApp on +91 9805305912
Facebook me on facebook.com/SunDeepKullu
E-Mail - wittysam@gmail.com , sb@sundeepkullu.com , sundeepkullu@gmail.com &
Audio or Video Call via Viber Google+ Tango
Latest Interviews -
- bit.ly/HimachalTourismInterview
- voices.halabol.com/2013/12/04/picture-perfect-story-globe...
Education - M.B.A. Sales & Mktg. ( Symbiosis, Pune ) , B.Pub. Admn. ( HP University, Summer Hills, Shimla ) B.H.M. ( Degree in Hotel Management GCC Bangalore )
"Fine Art Wedding's by SDB SunDeep Bhardwaj", Still Pre- Wedding, Candid Wedding, Post Wedding, Pre-Wedding Films & Ad films ( Cinematography), Family Portraits, Traditional Photography
"SDB Fine Art Wonders of World gallery" in Himachal 3 locations ( Lalit Nagar-Sundernagar-Mandi, Naggar-Manali-Kullu ( under construction ) & Himachal Cultural Village-Jol Palakhi-Kuthera-Ghumarwin-Bilaspur in Himalayas of India which are under construction.
"SDB Fine Art Stock Photos" online on official portfolio website SunDeepKullu.com, curated by SunDeep Bhardwaj
"Architectural SDB Fine Art Design Studio", Installations, Interior & Exterior Decoration Metal Roofing Design
"SDB Fine Art Web Designs & Applications", All Devices & Platforms in responsive layout
"SDB Fine Art Creative Commercial Photography" Landscape Photography Modelling Portfolio's Fashion Advertising Magazine Editorials Photo Journalism Events & Corporates Still Video and Ad Film Catalog Shoots Architectural Shoot Interior & Exterior Product Photography
www.fluidr.com/photos/wittysam/interesting
Copyright 2011 © sundeepkullu.com All rights reserved.
The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu Himachal Around the World to more than 50+Countries & 200+Major Destinations across 6 Continents.
Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu
sb@sundeepkullu.com
+91 9816499629
+974 55344547
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
All rights reserved.
copyright 2011 © sundeepkullu.com
Developer - phototube.co
Affiliation - himachalculturalvillage.com
Slide Shows | Full Screen Mode | Adobe Flash -
©All rights reserved © sundeepkullu.com ™©® SunDeep™©® Bhardwaj Kullu
Share this Photostory (As i call it..) Publically with these URL Links below (Embedding Not Allowed) :
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/6793754500/in/photostream or
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/6793754500/in/photostream/...
©SunDeep™©® Bhardwaj Kullu
SDBWP™©® SunDeep™ Bhardwaj World Photography™©®,
70+Countries 300+Destinations across 7 Continents™©®
"The World is my Studio"™©®
"I live with one vision to create things that would outlast me. I discovered photography as a means for me to connect with my innerself."
Travel Photographer-Entrepreneur-Business Development Manager-Himachal Cultural Village-Environmentalist
*Friends ***DO COMMENT*** on my flickr Photostream. Thanks for your valuable feedback, comments, likes, favourites and sharing my work within my website and flickr URL's.Your comments are like a fuel to my passion of this Art of Photography ( *I have made a group for the same on flickr & facebook too as listed below)
( *I have made a group for the same on flickr & facebook too as listed below)
Do join these groups no matter you are photo admirer amatuer serious or professional photographer and even compete for Monthly Amwards & Titles-
AOP WORLD FLICKR GROUP www.flickr.com/groups/prodigious/ or short link - bit.ly/ProdigiousAOP
AOP WORLD FACEBOOK GROUP www.facebook.com/groups/111942842150274/ or short link - htp://on.fb.me/AOPworld or bit.ly/AOPworld
FLICKR AOP PRODIGIOUS AWARDS www.flickr.com/groups/candid/ or short lnk - bit.ly/AOPawards
or visit
sundeepkullu.com
™©® or
flickr.com/photos/wittysam or flickr.com/photos/wittysam/show to access all the Photostories.
Quebec City
Quebec ( /kw?'b?k/ or /k?'b?k/; French: Québec [keb?k] ( listen)), also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City (French: Ville de Québec) is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of 2011, the city has a population of 516,622,[1] and the metropolitan area has a population of 765,706[2], making it the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about 233 kilometres (145 mi) to the southwest.
The narrowing of the Saint Lawrence River approximate to the city's promontory, Cap-Diamant (Cape Diamond), and Lévis, on the opposite bank, provided the name given to the city, Kébec, an Algonquin word meaning "where the river narrows". Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Quebec City is one of the oldest cities in North America. The ramparts surrounding Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec) are the only remaining fortified city walls that still exist in the Americas north of Mexico, and were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 as the 'Historic District of Old Québec'.[3][4]
According to the federal and provincial governments, Québec is the city's official name in both French and English, although Quebec City is commonly used, particularly to distinguish the city from the province. The city's most famous landmark is the Château Frontenac, a hotel which dominates the skyline. The National Assembly of Quebec, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (National Gallery of Quebec), and the Musée de la civilisation (Museum of Civilization) are found within or near Vieux-Québec.
Quebec
Quebec /kw?'b?k/ or /k?'b?k/ (French: Québec [keb?k] ( listen))[7] is a province in east-central Canada.[8][9] It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level. Quebec is Canada's largest province by area and its second-largest administrative division; only the territory of Nunavut is larger. It is bordered to the west by the province of Ontario, James Bay and Hudson Bay, to the north by Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay, to the east by the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick. It is bordered on the south by the US states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. It also shares maritime borders with Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.
Quebec is Canada's second most populous province, after Ontario. Most inhabitants live in urban areas near the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City, the capital. English-speaking communities and English-language institutions are concentrated in the west of the island of Montreal but are also significantly present in the Outaouais, Eastern Townships, and Gaspé regions. The Nord-du-Québec region, occupying the northern half of the province, is sparsely populated and inhabited primarily by Aboriginal peoples.[10]
Sovereignty plays a large role in the politics of Quebec, and the official opposition social democratic Parti Québécois advocates national sovereignty for the province and secession from Canada. Sovereignist governments have held referendums on independence in 1980 and 1995; both were voted down by voters, the latter defeated by a very narrow margin.[11] In 2006, the Canadian House of Commons passed a symbolic motion, the Québécois nation motion, recognizing the "Québécois as a nation within a united Canada."[12][13]
While the province's substantial natural resources have long been the mainstay of its economy, sectors of the knowledge economy such as aerospace, information and communication technologies, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry also play leading roles. These many industries have all contributed to helping Quebec become the second most economically influential province, second only to Ontario.[14]
Old Quebec
Historic District of Old Quebec *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Old Quebec (French: Vieux-Québec) is a historic neighbourhood of Quebec City, the capital of the province of Quebec in Canada. Comprising the Upper Town (French: Haute-Ville) and Lower Town (French: Basse-Ville), the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Administratively, Old Quebec is part of the Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–colline Parlementaire district in the borough of La Cité–Limoilou.
The area is sometimes referred to as the Latin Quarter (French: Quartier latin), but this title refers more to area around the Séminaire de Québec, the original site of Laval University.
History
Old Quebec is the oldest part of Quebec City, chosen in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain as the location for the Chateau Saint-Louis. Old Quebec maintained a strong military and administrative presence from its beginning, a use determined by the strategic heights of Cap Diamant. While the Lower Town was populated with merchants and craftsmen, the Upper Town was inhabited by military officials and members of the clergy.
This strong military presence long limited the city's expansion. At the end of the 19th century, many wanted to demolish the fortifications, judging them to be unnecessary and a hindrance to urban development. However, Governor Dufferin successfully managed to preserve the character of the walled city, while adapting the further expansion of the modern city.
Despite having undergone some degradation in the 1950s, the Old City has been subject to somewhat of a renaissance period since the 1970s.
The rich historic nature of Old Quebec is marked by the city's ramparts, fortifications, and many historic houses and buildings. The legacy of previous generations and the beauty of the district make it particularly unique.
The majority of buildings in the neighborhood date from 19th century, although the construction of some date back to 17th and 18th centuries. It also is home to several commercial streets, including Rue Saint-Jean, Rue Sainte-Anne and Rue De Buade. Many institutions are still housed in the heart of the city, such as the Quebec City Council, the Séminaire de Québec, the Ursulines Convent, and the Augustinian monastery. As a popular tourist destination, Old Quebec is also home to several hotels, including the famous Château Frontenac. Guided ghosts tours are also of interest to its residents and visitors.
Ramparts of Quebec City
World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1985
National Historic Site of Canada in 1948
Located in Canada, the Ramparts of Quebec City are the only remaining fortified city walls in the Americas, north of Mexico.[1] The English began fortifying the existing walls,[2] after they took Quebec City from the French in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759.
The wall surrounds most of Old Quebec, which was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1985.[3] The fortifications were designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1948.
***Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
External Links:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:World_Heritage_Sites_in_Ca...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramparts_of_Quebec_City
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Quebec
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_City
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/show
sundeepkullu.com ™©®
*** My URL's:
phototube.co ™©® - Developer
Eureka Photography & Web Design™©® - Director
himachalculturalvillage.com ™©® Environmentalist, Exclusive Artist , Business Development Manager ( Offshore ) & NGO Founder
Getty Images - Contributer
sundeepkullu.com ™©® - Founder & CEO
I travelled to most exotic places on this earth in last 9 years since 2003. I was exploring India from east to west and north to south till mid 2007. Then i started my World tour to 6 continents in May 2007 & entering 2012, my World tour is still on & i am exploring more and more exotic places around all major countries. I believe "World is just amazing" and every place & face has a unique story to tell. I connect to my subjects as to my soul.
Do not forget to subscribe or login from toolbar at the base of any page on my official website sundeepkullu.com ™©® ( Includes connect with my facebook profile/facebook page/facebook group/facebook Like/twitter/twitter follow/Google Plus/Google Buzz/Google +1/LinkedIn/You Tube/Twitter/Facebook subscribe and not to forget TRANSLATE button to translate al tet to al major languages for subscribers followers & fans from all parts of the World.
Cheers!!!
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.For full size images contact me.
Contacts:-
Primary :
wittysam@gmail.com ( E-mail/Skype/Whatsapp/Google+/LinkedIn/Fring/Yoono/Twitter/Gmail/Instagram/http://sundeepkullu.com & Photography & Videography and Quote for Assignments related)
World Roaming +974 55344547 (Facebook Mobile/Viber/Facetime/WhatsApp)
India New Delhi & Himachal Roaming +91 8527745789 (Google Plus)
sb@sundeepkullu.com ( Facebook & Personal Mail )
Secondary :
eurekasun@yahoo.com ( Flickr & Yahoo Messenger )
admin@phototube.co ( phototube.co related )
enquiries@himachalculturalvillage.com ( himachalculturalvillage.com related )
SunDeep™©® Bhardwaj Kullu
MBA-Sales & Mktg.(Symbiosis,Pune)
B.Pub.Admn.(H.P.University,Summer Hills, Shimla)
BHM (GCC-Bangalore)
***Publishing Photostories clicked in the most exotic places on earth in 15 countries that I visited in last 6 months. For all stories of 70+ Countries go to my oficial website sundeepkullu.com ™©®
My latest 15 explored destinations in my 6th year of World tour so far to 70+Countries & 300+Destinations across 6 Continents and 9 th year of Travel Photography & Videography of Places People Culture Landscapes.Recently explored these exotic places in JAPAN Horyuji Temple 1300 years old Japan's most sacred place & UNESCO site UAE-Al Ain-Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Burj Al Arab-Al Khaleefa Tallest building in the World, SWEDEN-Stocholm-National Parks, AUSTRALIA-Melbourne-Great Ocean Road-Twelve Apostles this week. BELGIUM Brussels, DENMARK-Copenhagen, VIETNAM Hanoi-Halong Bay MALAYSIA-Kuala Lumpur-Kanting Falls-Batu Caves-Petronas Twin Towers , CANADA-Quebec-Ontario-Montreal, ATLANTIC-GREENLAND-LABRADOR PENINSULA-Lebrador Sea, SOUTH AFRICA Johnnesburg-The Cradle of Mankind-Stolkfontien Caves and Lion & Rino Park with others INDIA-Kashmir-Gulmarg-Srinagar CHINA-Shanghai-Zhejiang-Hangzhou-The West Lake GERMANY-BAVERIA-Black Forest-Oberbayern-Garmich Patenkirchen-Eibsee Lake-Zugspitze HIMACHAL-Kullu-Manali-Shimla-Lahaul-Spiti -Dharamshala-Kinnaur-Udaipur-Leh-Laddakh UK-SCOTLAND Glencoe-Fort William-Castle around Scotland-Lochness INDIA Jog Falls Ooty Goa Athirappily & Vazhachal Falls Kerala UK-ENGLAND-London-Manchester-Glasgow & others ITALY-Rome-Vatican City and Other UNESCO Heritage Sites around Rome. Soon my first book on 111 MIRACULOUS WONDERS OF WORLD YOU MYST SEE WHEN U ALIVE will be out with "111 WOW" i Phone application by the end of this year. Updating my official website sundeepkullu.com
KINDLY NOTE***The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting me.
Add me as a friend on my facebook profile 2 as my facebook profile 1 is allmost full with 4000 plus friends here - www.facebook.com/sundeephimachal
Slide Shows | Full Screen Mode | Adobe Flash or Mobile
Copyright 2011 © sundeepkullu.com All rights reserved.
The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu Himachal Around the World to more than 50+Countries & 200+Major Destinations across 6 Continents.
Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu
sb@sundeepkullu.com
+974 55344547
Eibsee
Eibsee is a lake in Bavaria, Germany, 9km southwest of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and roughly 100km southwest of Munich. At an elevation of 973.28 m, its surface area is 177.4 ha. Eibsee lies at the base of the Zugspitze (2950 meters above sea level), Germany's highest mountain.
As of May 2010, trains from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen leave roughly once an hour and the trip takes about an hour and a half[1]. Buses travel regularly from the train station in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Eibsee[2]. A valid train ticket can often be used to ride the bus
Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eibsee
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a mountain resort town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, and the district is on the border with Austria. Nearby is Germany's highest mountain, Zugspitze, at 2961 m (9714 ft.).
Origin
Garmisch-Partinkirken was at first two separate cities (Garmisch and Partinkirken).Until the Olympics were held right in between the two cities and often faught over simple things. So, as a compromise, they merged together to create Garmisch-Partinkirken and make the process much easier.
[edit]History
Garmisch (in the west) and Partenkirchen (in the east) were separate towns for many centuries, and still maintain quite separate identities.
Partenkirchen originated as the Roman town of Partanum on the trade route from Venice to Augsburg and is first mentioned in the year A.D. 15. Its main street, Ludwigsstrasse, follows the original Roman road.
Garmisch is first mentioned some 800 years later as Germaneskau ("German District"), suggesting that at some point a Teutonic tribe took up settlement in the western end of the valley.
The valley came under the rule of the Bishop of Freising and was governed by a bishop's representative known as a Pfleger (caretaker or warden) from Werdenfels Castle on a cliff north of Garmisch.
The discovery of America at the turn of the 16th century led to a boom in shipping and a sharp decline in overland trade, which plunged the region into a centuries-long economic depression. The valley floor was swampy and difficult to farm. Bears, wolves and lynxes were a constant threat to livestock. The population suffered from periodic epidemics, including several serious outbreaks of bubonic plague. Adverse fortunes from disease and crop failure occasionally led to witch hysteria. Most notable of these were the notorious trials and executions of 1589-1596, in which 63 victims — more than 10 percent of the population at the time — were burned at the stake or garroted.
Werdenfels Castle, where the accused were held, tried and executed, became an object of superstitious horror and was abandoned in the 17th century. It was largely torn down in the 1750s and its stones used to build the baroque Neue Kirche (New Church) on Marienplatz, which was completed in 1752. It replaced the nearby Gothic Alte Kirche (Old Church), parts of which predated Christianity and may originally have been a pagan temple. Used as a storehouse, armory and haybarn for many years, it has since been re-consecrated. Some of its medieval frescoes are still visible.
Garmisch and Partenkirchen remained separate until their respective mayors were forced by Adolf Hitler to combine the two market towns in 1935 in anticipation of the 1936 Winter Olympic games. Today, the united town is casually (but incorrectly) referred to as Garmisch, much to the dismay of Partenkirchen's residents. Most visitors will notice the slightly more modern feel of Garmisch while the fresco-filled, cobblestoned streets of Partenkirchen offer a glimpse into times past. Early mornings and late afternoons in pleasant weather often find local traffic stopped while the dairy cows are herded to and from the nearby mountain meadows.
[edit]Transportation
Garmisch-Partenkirchen,
painting by Anton Doll
The town is served by Federal Highway 2 as a continuation of the A95 Autobahn (motorway), which ends at Eschenlohe 16 km north of the city.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is on the Munich–Garmisch-Partenkirchen line and the Mittenwald Railway (Garmisch–Mittenwald–Innsbruck). It is the terminus of the Außerfern Railway to Reutte in Tirol / Kempten im Allgäu and the Bavarian Zugspitze Railway (with sections of rack railway) to the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany. Regional services run every hour to München Hauptbahnhof and Mittenwald and every two hours to Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof and Reutte. In addition there are special seasonal long-distance services, including ICEs, to Berlin, Hamburg, Dortmund, Bremen and Innsbruck.
Several accessible hiking trails from the town are especially spectacular and cover both the lower and higher elevations.
[edit]Sports
Aerial view of
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
In 1936 it was the site of the Winter Olympic Games, the first to feature alpine skiing. A variety of Nordic and alpine World Cup ski races are held here, usually on the Kandahar Track outside town. Traditionally, a ski jumping contest is held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on New Year's Day, as a part of the Four Hills Tournament (Vierschanzen-Tournee). The World Alpine Ski Championships were held in Garmisch in 1978 and 2011.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is also a favored holiday spot for skiing, snowboarding, and hiking, having some of the best skiing areas (Garmisch Classic and Zugspitze) in Germany.
It was announced on December 7, 2007, that Garmisch-Partenkirchen is part of a Bavarian bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, with partner candidates Munich and Schönau am Königsee (near Berchtesgaden). The Winter Olympics were last held in the German-speaking Alps in 1976 in nearby Innsbruck, Austria.
[edit]Public institutions
The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies[2] is also located in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The Marshall Center is an internationally funded and mostly U.S.-staffed learning and conference center for governments from around the world, but primarily from the former Soviet Union and Eastern European countries. It was established in June 1993, replacing the U.S. Army Russian Institute. Near the Marshall Center is the American Armed Forces Recreation Centers (Edelweiss Lodge and Resort) in Garmisch that serves U.S. and NATO military and their families. A number of U.S. troops and civilians are stationed in the town to provide logistical support to the Marshall Center and Edelweiss Recreation Center.
Zugspitze
Zugspitze
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zugspitze
The Zugspitze massif from the west (left: the summit)
Elevation2,962 m (9,718 ft) [1]
Prominence1,746 m (5,728 ft) [2]
↓ Fern Pass → Parseierspitze
Parent peakFinsteraarhorna / Mont Blancb
Isolation = 24.6 km → Acherkogel
ListingCountry high point (Germany)
Ultra
Location
Zugspitze
Germany
Location on Austria/Germany border
LocationTyrol, Austria
Bavaria, Germany
RangeWettersteingebirge, Eastern Alps
Coordinates47°25′16″N 10°59′07″ECoordinates: 47°25′16″N 10°59′07″E[2]
Geology
TypeWetterstein limestone[3]
Age of rockTriassic
Climbing
First ascent27 August 1820 by Josef Naus, Johann Georg Tauschl and survey assistant, Maier
Easiest routeReintal Route
Geography
Map showing the Zugspitze's location
The Zugspitze belongs to the Wetterstein range of the Northern Limestone Alps.
The border between Germany and Austria goes right over the mountain. There used to be a border checkpoint at the summit. But since Germany and Austria are now both part of the Schengen zone, the border crossing is no longer manned.
The exact height of the Zugspitze was a matter of debate for quite a while. Given figures ranged from 2,690–2,970 metres (8,830–9,740 ft), but it is now generally accepted that the peak is 2,962 m (9,718 ft) above sea level as a result of a survey carried out by the Bavarian State Survey Office. The lounge at the new café is named "2962" for this reason.
[edit]Location and surrounding area
Aerial photograph
View from the Alpspitze of the Zugspitze summit and the Höllentalferner glacier in 2007
Annotated aerial photograph of the Zugspitze massif
At 2,962 metres (9,718 ft) (eastern peak) the Zugspitze is the highest mountain of the Zugspitze massif. This height is referenced to the Amsterdam Gauge and is given by the Bavarian State Office for Survey and Geoinformation.[4] The same height is recorded against the Trieste Gauge used in Austria, which is 27 cm lower. Originally the Zugspitze had three peaks: the east, middle and west summits (Ost-, Mittel- and Westgipfel). The only one that has remained in its original form is the east summit, which is also the only one that lies entirely on German territory. The middle summit fell victim to one of the cable car summit stations in 1930. In 1938 the west summit was blown up to create a building site for a planned flight control room for the Wehrmacht. This was never built however. Originally the height of the west summit was given as 2,964 m (9,724 ft).[5]
The Zugspitze rises eleven kilometres southwest of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and just under six kilometres east of Ehrwald. The border between Germany and Austria runs over the west summit; thus the Zugspitze massif belongs to the German state of Bavaria and the Austrian state of Tyrol. The municipalities responsible for it are Grainau and Ehrwald. To the west the Zugspitze massif drops into the valley of the River Loisach, which flows around the massif towards the northeast in a curve whilst, in the east, the streams of Hammersbach and Partnach have their source. To the south the Gaistal valley and its river, the Leutascher Ache, separate the Wetterstein Mountains from the Mieming Chain. To the north at the foot of the Zugspitze is the lake of Eibsee. The next highest mountain in the area is the Acherkogel (3,008 m or 9,869 ft) in the Stubai Alps, which gives the Zugspitze an topographic isolation value of 24.6 kilometres. The reference point for the prominence is the Parseierspitze (3,036 m or 9,961 ft). In order to climb it from the Zugspitze, a descent to the Fern Pass (1,216 m or 3,990 ft) is required, so that the prominence is 1,746 m (5,728 ft).[6]
[edit]Zugspitze Massif
The massif of the Zugspitze has several other peaks. To the south the Zugspitzplatt is surrounded in an arc by the Zugspitzeck (2,820 m or 9,250 ft) and Schneefernerkopf (2,874 m or 9,429 ft), the Wetterspitzen (2,747 m or 9,012 ft), the Wetterwandeck (2,698 m or 8,852 ft), the Plattspitzen (2,679 m or 8,789 ft) and the Gatterlköpfen (2,490 m or 8,170 ft). The massif ends int the Gatterl (2,024 m or 6,640 ft), a wind gap between it and the Hochwanner. Running eastwards away from the Zugspitze is the famous Jubilee Ridge or Jubiläumsgrat over the Höllentalspitzen towards the Alpspitze and Hochblassen. The short crest of the Riffelwandkamm runs northeast over the summits of the Riffelwandspitzen (2,626 m or 8,615 ft) and the Riffelköpfe (2,459 m or 8,068 ft), to the Riffel wind gap (Riffelscharte, 2,161 m or 7,090 ft). From here the ridge of the Waxensteinkamm stretches away over the Riffelspitzen to the Waxenstein.[7]
[edit]Zugspitzplatt
The Zugspitzplatt above the Reintal valley in 2006
The Platt or Zugspitzplatt is a plateau below the summit of the Zugspitze to the south and southeast which lies at a height of between 2,000 and 2,650 m (6,600 and 8,690 ft). It forms the head of the Reintal valley and has been shaped by a combination of weathering, karstification and glaciation. The area contains roches moutonnées, dolines and limestone pavements as a consequence of the ice ages. In addition moraines have been left behind by various glacial periods. The Platt was completely covered by a glacier for the last time at the beginning of the 19th century. Today 52% of it consists of scree, 32% of bedrock and 16% of vegetation-covered soils, especially in the middle and lower areas.[8]
[edit]Climate
Climatic diagram for the Zugspitze: normal periods 1961-1990
From a climatic perspective the Zugspitze lies in the temperate zone and its prevailing winds are Westerlies. As the first high orographic obstacle to these Westerlies in the Alps, the Zugspitze is particular exposed to the weather. It is effectively the north barrier of the Alps (Nordstau der Alpen), against which moist air masses pile up and release heavy precipitation. At the same time the Zugspitze acts as protective barrier for parts of the Alps to the south. By contrast, Föhn weather conditions push in the other direction against the massif, affecting the region for about 60 days per year. These warm, dry air masses stream from south to north and can result in unusually high temperatures in winter. Nevertheless frost dominates the picture on the Zugspitze with an average of 310 days per year. The nearest place with comparable values is the island of Spitsbergen in the Arctic Ocean.
For the decades from 1961 to 1990 - designated by the World Meteorological Organization as the "normal period" - the average annual precipitation on the Zugspitze was 2,003.1 mm; the wettest month being April with 199 mm, and the driest, October with 108.8 mm.[9] By comparison the values for 2009 were 2,070.8 mm, the wettest month being March with 326.2 mm and the driest, January, with 56.4 mm.[10] The average temperature in the normal period was -4.8 Celsius, with July and August being the warmest at 2.2 °C and February, the coldest, with -11.4 °C.[9] By comparison the average temperature in 2009 was -4.2 °C, the warmest month was August at 5.3 °C and the coldest was February at -13.5 °C.[10] The average sunshine during the normal period was 1,846.3 hours per year, the sunniest month being October with 188.8 hours and the darkest being December with 116.1 hours.[9] In 2009 there were 1,836.3 hours of sunshine, the least occurring in February with just 95.4 hours and the most in April with 219 hours.[10] In 2009, according to the weather survey by the German Met Office, the Zugspitze was the coldest place in Germany with a mean annual temperature of -4.2 °C.[11]
The lowest measured temperature on the Zugspitze was -35.6 °C in 14 February 1940. The highest temperature occurred on 5 July 1957 when the thermometer reached 17.9 °C. A squall on 12 June 1985 registered 335 km/h, the highest measured wind speed on the Zugspitze. In April 1944 meteorologists recorded a snow depth of 8.3 metres.[12][13]
[edit]Geology
The north face of the Zugspitze seen from the Eibsee lake
All mountain-building strata consists of sedimentary rocks of the Mesozoic era, that were originally laid down on the seabed. The base of the mountain comprises muschelkalk beds; its upper layers are made of Wetterstein limestone. With steep rock walls up to 800 metres high, it is this Wetterstein limestone from the Upper Triassic that is mainly responsible for the rock faces, arêtes, pinnacles and the summit rocks of the mountain. Due to the frequent occurrence of marine coralline algea in the Wetterstein limestone it can be deduced that this rock was at one time formed in a lagoon. The colour of the rock varies between grey-while and light grey to speckled. In several places it contains lead and zinc ore. These minerals were mined between 1827 and 1918 in the Höllental valley. The dark grey, almost horizontal and partly grass-covered layers of muschelkalk run from the foot of the Great Riffelwandspitze to the Ehrwalder Köpfe. From the appearance of the north face of the Zugspitze it can be seen that this massif originally consisted of two mountain ranges that were piled on top of one another.[14]
[edit]Flora
The Eibsee in front of the Zugspitze: woods on the northern shore
The flora on the Zugspitze is not particularly diverse due to the soil conditions, nevertheless the vegetation, especially in the meadows of Schachen, the Tieferen Wies near Ehrwald, and in the valleys of Höllental, Gaistal and Leutaschtal is especially colourful.
The shaded and moist northern slopes of the massif like, for example, the Wettersteinwald, are some of the most species-rich environments on the Zugspitze. The Mountain Pine grows at elevations of up to 1,800 metres. The woods lower down consist mainly of Spruce and Fir, but Honeysuckle, Woodruff, poisonous Herb Paris, Meadow-rue and Speedwell[disambiguation needed ] also occur here. Dark Columbine, Alpine Clematis, Blue and Yellow Monkshood, Stemless carline thistle, False aster, Golden cinquefoil, Round-leaved saxifrage, Wall hawkweed, Alpine calamint and Alpine Forget-me-not flower in the less densely wooded places, whilst Cinquefoil, Sticky Sage, Butterbur, Alpenrose, Turk's cap lily and Fly Orchid thrive on the rocky soils of the mountain forests. Lily of the Valley and Daphne also occur, especially in the Höllental, in Grainau and by the Eibsee.[15]
To the south the scene changes to Larch (mainly in the meadow of Ehrwalder Alm and the valleys of Gaistal and Leutaschtal) and pine forests and into mixed woods of Beech and Sycamore. Here too, Mountain Pine grows at the higher elevations of over 2,000 metres.
Relatively rare in the entire Zugspitze area are trees like the Lime, Birch, Rowan, Juniper and Yew. The most varied species of moss, that often completely cover limestone rocks in the open, occur in great numbers.
Bilberry, Cranberry and Cowberry are restricted to dry places and Lady's Slipper Orchid occurs in sheltered spots. Below the Waxenstein are fields with raspberries and occasionally wild strawberries too. The Alpine poppy and Purple mountain saxifrage both thrive up to a very great height. On the scree slops there are Penny-cress and Mouse-ear chickweed as well as Mountain avens, Alpine toadflax, Mint and Musky Saxifrage or Cloth of Gold. Following snowmelt Dark stonecrop and Snow gentian are the first to appear, their seeds beginning to germinate as early as August. And well-known Alpine flowers like the Edelweiss, Gentians and, more rarely, Cyclamen flower on the Zugspitze.
[edit]Fauna
Alpine choughs on the Zugspitzeck
The rocks around the Zugspitze are a habitat for Chamois and Marmots are widespread on the southern side of the massif. At the summit there are frequently Alpine Choughs, drawn there by people feeding them. Somewhat lower down the mountain there are Mountain Hare and the Hazel Dormouse. Alpine birds occurring on the Zugspitze include the Golden Eagle, Rock Ptarmigan, Snow Finch, Alpine Accentor and Brambling. The Crag Martin which has given its name to the Schwalbenwand ("Swallows' Wall") at Kreuzeck is frequently encountered. The basins of Mittenwald and Seefeld, as well as the Fern Pass are on bird migration routes.
The Viviparous lizard inhabits rocky terrain, as does the black Alpine Salamander known locally as the Bergmandl, which can be seen after rain showers as one is climbing. Butterflies like Apollo, Alpine Perlmutter, Gossamer-winged butterfly, Geometer moth, Ringlet and Skipper may be seen on the west and south sides of the Zugspitze massif, especially in July and August.[16] The woods around the Zugspitze are home to Red Deer, Red Squirrel, Weasel, Capercaillie, Hazel Grouse and Black Grouse. On the glaciers live glacier fleas (Desoria saltans) and water bears.[17]
[edit]Glaciers
Three of the five German glaciers are found on the Zugspitze massif: the Höllentalferner the Southern and Northern Schneeferner.
[edit]Höllentalferner
The Höllentalferner in 2009
The Höllentalferner lies northeast of the Zugspitze in a cirque below the Jubilee Ridge (Jubiläumsgrat) to the south and the Riffelwandspitzen peaks to the west and north. It has a northeast aspect. Its accumulation zone is formed by a depression, in which large quantities of avalanche snow collect. To the south the Jubiläumsgrat shields the glacier from direct sunshine. These conditions meant that the glacier only lost a relatively small area between 1981 and 2006.[18] In recent times the Höllentalferner reached its greatest around 1820 with an area of 47 hectares. Thereafter its area reduced continually until the period between 1950 and 1981 when it grew again, by 3.1 hectares to 30.2 hectares. Since then the glacier has lost (as at 2006) an area of 5.5 hectares and now has an area of 24.7 hectares. In 2006 the glacier head was at 2,569 m and its lowest point at 2,203 metres.[19]
[edit]Schneeferner
The Northern Schneeferner and winter sport infrastructure in 2009
[edit]Northern Schneeferner
Southwest of the Zugspitze, between the Zugspitzeck and Schneefernerkopf, is the Northern Schneeferner which has an eastern aspect. With an area of 30.7 hectares (2006) it is the largest German glacier. Around 1820 the entire Zugspitzplatt was glaciated, but of this Platt Glacier (Plattgletscher) only the Northern and Southern Schneeferner remain. The reason for the relatively constant area of the Northern Schneeferner in recent years, despite the lack of shade, is the favourable terrain that results in the glacier tending to grow or shrink in depth rather than area. In the recent past the glacier has also been artificially fed by the ski region operators, using piste tractors to heap large quantities of snow onto the glacier in order to extend the skiing season. At the beginning of the 1990s, ski slope operators began to cover the Northern Schneeferner in summer with artificial sheets in order to protect it from sunshine.[20][21] The Northern Schneeferner reached its last high point in 1979, when its area grew to 40.9 hectares. By 2006 it had shrunk to 30.7 hectares. The glacier head then lay at 2,789 m and the foot at 2,558 metres.[22]
[edit]Southern Schneeferner
The Southern Schneeferner is surrounded by the peaks of the Wetterspitzen and the Wetterwandeck. It is also a remnant of the once great Platt Glacier. Today, the Southern Schneeferner extends up as far as the arête and therefore has no protection from direct sunshine. It has also been divided into two basins by a ridge of rock that has appeared as the snow has receded. It is a matter of debate whether the Southern Schneeferner should still be classified as a glacier.[23] The Southern Schneeferner also reached its last high point in 1979, when it covered an area of 31.7 hectares. This had shrunk by 2006 to just 8.4 hectares however. The highest point of the glacier lies at an elevation of 2,665 metres and the lowest at 2,520 metres.[24]
[edit]Caves
Below the Zugspitzplatt chemical weathering processes have created a large number of caves and abîmes in the Wetterstein limestone. In the 1930s the number of caves was estimated at 300. By 1955 62 caves were known to exist and by 1960 another 47 had been discovered. The first cave explorations here took place in 1931. Other, largest exploratory expeditions took place in 1935 and 1936 as well as between 1955 and 1968. During one expedition, in 1958, the Finch Shaft (Finkenschacht) was discovered. It is 131 metres deep, 260 metres long and has a watercourse. There is a theory that this watercourse could be a link to the source of the River Partnach.[Note 1][25][26]
[edit]Name
From the early 14th century, geographic names from the Wetterstein Mountains began to be recorded in treaties and on maps, and this trend intensified in the 15th century. In 1536 a border treaty dating to 1500 was refined in that its course was specified as running over a Schartten ("wind gap" or "col").[27] In the 17th century the reference to this landmark in the treaty was further clarified as "now known as the Zugspüz" (jetzt Zugspüz genant).[27] The landmark referred to was a wind gap on the summit of the Zugspitze and is used time and again in other sources. During the Middle Ages Scharte was a common name for the Zugspitze.[27]
The Zugspitze was first mentioned by name in 1590. In a description of the border between the County of Werdenfels and Austria, it states that the same border runs "from the Zugspitz and over the Derle" (von dem Zugspitz und über den Derle")[28] and continues to a bridge over the River Loisach. Another border treaty in 1656 states: "The highest Wetterstein or Zugspitz" ("Der höchste Wetterstain oder Zugspitz").[28] There is also a map dating to the second half of the 18th century that shows "the Reintal in the County of Werdenfels". It covers the Reintal valley from the Reintaler Hof to the Zugspitzplatt and shows prominent points in the surrounding area, details of tracks and roads and the use pasture use. This includes a track over the then much larger Schneeferner glacier to the summit region of the Zugspitze. However the map does not show any obvious route to the summit itself.[29]
The name of the Zugspitze is probably derived from its Zugbahnen or avalanche paths. In winter avalanches sweep down from the upper slopes of the massif into the valley and leave behind characteristic avalanche remnants in the shape of rocks and scree. Near the Eibsee lake there are several plots of land with the same root: Zug, Zuggasse, Zugstick, Zugmösel or Zugwankel.[28] Until the 19th century the name der Zugspitz was commonplace. It was described as die Zugspitze for the first time on a map printed in 1836.[30]
[edit]Summit cross
Summit cross on the Zugspitze
Since 1851 there has been a summit cross on the top of Zugspitze. The driving force behind the erection of a cross on the summit was the priest, Christoph Ott. He was a keen meteorologist and whilst observing conditions from the Hoher Peißenberg mountain he saw the Zugspitze in the distance and was exercised by the fact that "the greatest prince of the Bavarian mountains raised its head into the blue air towards heaven, bare and unadorned, waiting for the moment when patriotic fervour and courageous determination would see that his head too was crowned with dignity."[31] As a result he organised an expedition from 11 to 13 August 1851 with the goal of erecting a summit cross on the Zugspitze. Twenty eight bearers were led through the gorge of the Partnachklamm and the Reintal valley under the direction of forester, Karl Kiendl, up to the Zugspitze. The undertaking, which cost 610 Gulden and 37 Kreuzer, was a success. As a result, a 28-piece, 14 foot high, gilded iron cross now stood on the West Summit. Ott himself did not climb the Zugspitze until 1854. After 37 years the cross had to be taken down after suffering numerous lightning strikes; its support brackets were also badly damaged. In the winter of 1881–1882 it was therefore brought down into the valley and repaired. On 25 August 1882 seven mountain guides and 15 bearers took the cross back to the top. Because an accommodation shed had been built on the West Summit, the team placed the cross on the East Summit. There is remained for about 111 years, until it was removed again on 18 August 1993. This time the damage was not only caused by the weather, but also by an ill-disciplined American soldier who had shot at the cross in 1945, at the end of the Second World War. Because the summit cross could no longer be repaired, a replica was made that was true to the original cross. After two months the rack railway carried the new cross on 12 October to the Zugspitzplatt, from where it was flown to the summit by helicopter. The new cross has a height of 4.88 metres.[32] It was renovated and regilded in 2009 for 15,000 euros and, since 22 April 2009, has stood once again on the East Summit.[33]
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
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Quebec City
Quebec ( /kw?'b?k/ or /k?'b?k/; French: Québec [keb?k] ( listen)), also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City (French: Ville de Québec) is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of 2011, the city has a population of 516,622,[1] and the metropolitan area has a population of 765,706[2], making it the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about 233 kilometres (145 mi) to the southwest.
The narrowing of the Saint Lawrence River approximate to the city's promontory, Cap-Diamant (Cape Diamond), and Lévis, on the opposite bank, provided the name given to the city, Kébec, an Algonquin word meaning "where the river narrows". Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Quebec City is one of the oldest cities in North America. The ramparts surrounding Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec) are the only remaining fortified city walls that still exist in the Americas north of Mexico, and were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 as the 'Historic District of Old Québec'.[3][4]
According to the federal and provincial governments, Québec is the city's official name in both French and English, although Quebec City is commonly used, particularly to distinguish the city from the province. The city's most famous landmark is the Château Frontenac, a hotel which dominates the skyline. The National Assembly of Quebec, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (National Gallery of Quebec), and the Musée de la civilisation (Museum of Civilization) are found within or near Vieux-Québec.
Quebec
Quebec /kw?'b?k/ or /k?'b?k/ (French: Québec [keb?k] ( listen))[7] is a province in east-central Canada.[8][9] It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level. Quebec is Canada's largest province by area and its second-largest administrative division; only the territory of Nunavut is larger. It is bordered to the west by the province of Ontario, James Bay and Hudson Bay, to the north by Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay, to the east by the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick. It is bordered on the south by the US states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. It also shares maritime borders with Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.
Quebec is Canada's second most populous province, after Ontario. Most inhabitants live in urban areas near the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City, the capital. English-speaking communities and English-language institutions are concentrated in the west of the island of Montreal but are also significantly present in the Outaouais, Eastern Townships, and Gaspé regions. The Nord-du-Québec region, occupying the northern half of the province, is sparsely populated and inhabited primarily by Aboriginal peoples.[10]
Sovereignty plays a large role in the politics of Quebec, and the official opposition social democratic Parti Québécois advocates national sovereignty for the province and secession from Canada. Sovereignist governments have held referendums on independence in 1980 and 1995; both were voted down by voters, the latter defeated by a very narrow margin.[11] In 2006, the Canadian House of Commons passed a symbolic motion, the Québécois nation motion, recognizing the "Québécois as a nation within a united Canada."[12][13]
While the province's substantial natural resources have long been the mainstay of its economy, sectors of the knowledge economy such as aerospace, information and communication technologies, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry also play leading roles. These many industries have all contributed to helping Quebec become the second most economically influential province, second only to Ontario.[14]
Old Quebec
Historic District of Old Quebec *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Old Quebec (French: Vieux-Québec) is a historic neighbourhood of Quebec City, the capital of the province of Quebec in Canada. Comprising the Upper Town (French: Haute-Ville) and Lower Town (French: Basse-Ville), the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Administratively, Old Quebec is part of the Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–colline Parlementaire district in the borough of La Cité–Limoilou.
The area is sometimes referred to as the Latin Quarter (French: Quartier latin), but this title refers more to area around the Séminaire de Québec, the original site of Laval University.
History
Old Quebec is the oldest part of Quebec City, chosen in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain as the location for the Chateau Saint-Louis. Old Quebec maintained a strong military and administrative presence from its beginning, a use determined by the strategic heights of Cap Diamant. While the Lower Town was populated with merchants and craftsmen, the Upper Town was inhabited by military officials and members of the clergy.
This strong military presence long limited the city's expansion. At the end of the 19th century, many wanted to demolish the fortifications, judging them to be unnecessary and a hindrance to urban development. However, Governor Dufferin successfully managed to preserve the character of the walled city, while adapting the further expansion of the modern city.
Despite having undergone some degradation in the 1950s, the Old City has been subject to somewhat of a renaissance period since the 1970s.
The rich historic nature of Old Quebec is marked by the city's ramparts, fortifications, and many historic houses and buildings. The legacy of previous generations and the beauty of the district make it particularly unique.
The majority of buildings in the neighborhood date from 19th century, although the construction of some date back to 17th and 18th centuries. It also is home to several commercial streets, including Rue Saint-Jean, Rue Sainte-Anne and Rue De Buade. Many institutions are still housed in the heart of the city, such as the Quebec City Council, the Séminaire de Québec, the Ursulines Convent, and the Augustinian monastery. As a popular tourist destination, Old Quebec is also home to several hotels, including the famous Château Frontenac. Guided ghosts tours are also of interest to its residents and visitors.
Ramparts of Quebec City
World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1985
National Historic Site of Canada in 1948
Located in Canada, the Ramparts of Quebec City are the only remaining fortified city walls in the Americas, north of Mexico.[1] The English began fortifying the existing walls,[2] after they took Quebec City from the French in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759.
The wall surrounds most of Old Quebec, which was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1985.[3] The fortifications were designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1948.
***Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
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I travelled to most exotic places on this earth in last 9 years since 2003. I was exploring India from east to west and north to south till mid 2007. Then i started my World tour to 6 continents in May 2007 & entering 2012, my World tour is still on & i am exploring more and more exotic places around all major countries. I believe "World is just amazing" and every place & face has a unique story to tell. I connect to my subjects as to my soul.
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These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.For full size images contact me.
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SunDeep™©® Bhardwaj Kullu
MBA-Sales & Mktg.(Symbiosis,Pune)
B.Pub.Admn.(H.P.University,Summer Hills, Shimla)
BHM (GCC-Bangalore)
***Publishing Photostories clicked in the most exotic places on earth in 15 countries that I visited in last 6 months. For all stories of 70+ Countries go to my oficial website sundeepkullu.com ™©®
My latest 15 explored destinations in my 6th year of World tour so far to 70+Countries & 300+Destinations across 6 Continents and 9 th year of Travel Photography & Videography of Places People Culture Landscapes.Recently explored these exotic places in JAPAN Horyuji Temple 1300 years old Japan's most sacred place & UNESCO site UAE-Al Ain-Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Burj Al Arab-Al Khaleefa Tallest building in the World, SWEDEN-Stocholm-National Parks, AUSTRALIA-Melbourne-Great Ocean Road-Twelve Apostles this week. BELGIUM Brussels, DENMARK-Copenhagen, VIETNAM Hanoi-Halong Bay MALAYSIA-Kuala Lumpur-Kanting Falls-Batu Caves-Petronas Twin Towers , CANADA-Quebec-Ontario-Montreal, ATLANTIC-GREENLAND-LABRADOR PENINSULA-Lebrador Sea, SOUTH AFRICA Johnnesburg-The Cradle of Mankind-Stolkfontien Caves and Lion & Rino Park with others INDIA-Kashmir-Gulmarg-Srinagar CHINA-Shanghai-Zhejiang-Hangzhou-The West Lake GERMANY-BAVERIA-Black Forest-Oberbayern-Garmich Patenkirchen-Eibsee Lake-Zugspitze HIMACHAL-Kullu-Manali-Shimla-Lahaul-Spiti -Dharamshala-Kinnaur-Udaipur-Leh-Laddakh UK-SCOTLAND Glencoe-Fort William-Castle around Scotland-Lochness INDIA Jog Falls Ooty Goa Athirappily & Vazhachal Falls Kerala UK-ENGLAND-London-Manchester-Glasgow & others ITALY-Rome-Vatican City and Other UNESCO Heritage Sites around Rome. Soon my first book on 111 MIRACULOUS WONDERS OF WORLD YOU MYST SEE WHEN U ALIVE will be out with "111 WOW" i Phone application by the end of this year. Updating my official website sundeepkullu.com
KINDLY NOTE***The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting me.
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Malana is an ancient village to the north-east of Kullu Valley. This solitary village in the Malana Nala, a side valley of the Parvati Valley, is isolated from the rest of the world. The majestic peaks of Chandrakhani and Deotibba shadow the village. It is situated on a remote plateau by the side of torrential Malana river at a height of 3029 m above the sea level. Unaffected by the modern civilisation, Malana has its own lifestyle and social structure. People are strict in following their customs. Malana has been the subject of various documentaries including, Malana: Globalization of a Himalayan Village,[1] and Malana, A Lost Identity.[2] The existing speakers of the autochthonus language Kanashi, the traditional language of the inhabitants of Malana are approximately 1700. According to the 1961 census, language speakers were 563. Today the population of Malana is at least three times as large as 40 years ago.[3]
History
Malana has a history and it goes back to Jamlu rishi (sage) who inhabited this place and made rules and regulations. It is one of the oldest democracies of the world with a well organized parliamentary system. All of this is guided by the their devta (deity) Jamlu rishi.[4] Although Jamlu is currently identified with a sage from the Puranas, this is a relatively recent development. Jamlu is believed to have been worshipped in pre-Aryan times. Penelope Chetwood recounts a tale about an orthodox Brahmin priest, who visited Malana, and tried to educate the locals about the pedigree of their god, and what subsequently befell the hapless priest.[5]
Malana is considered to be one of the first democracies in the world. According to tradition, the residents of Malana are the descendant of Aryans, and they acquired their independence during the Mughal reign when the Emperor Akbar walked to the village in order to cure an ailment that he was afflicted with; after having been successfully cured he put out an edict stating that all the inhabitants of the valley would never be required to pay tax. An alternative tradition suggests that Malana was founded by remnants of Alexander the Great's Army.
A dam project, the Malana Hydro Power Station, has brought Malana much closer to the rest of the world and provides revenue for the region. A new road has shortened the walking time from several days to just 4 hours.
Culture and lifestyle
The village administration is democratic and is believed[by whom?] to be the oldest republic of the world.[9]
The social structure of Malana in fact rests on villagers' unshaked faith in their powerful deity, Jamblu Devta. The entire administration of the village is controlled by him through a village council. This council has eleven members and they are believed as delegates of Jamblu who govern the village in his name. His decision is ultimate in any dispute and any outsider authority is never required. It is although a real fact that Malanis through this council perform a political system of direct democracy very similar to that of ancient Greece. Thus Malana has been named the Athens of Himalayas[10]
Malanis (the inhabitants of Malana) admire their culture, customs and religious beliefs. They generally do not like to change though some traces of modernization are visible.
People in Malana consider all non-Malani to be inferior and consequently untouchable. Visitors to Malana town must pay particular attention to stick to the prescribed paths and not to touch any of the walls, houses or people there. If this does occur, visitors are expected to pay a forfeit sum, that will cover the sacrificial slaughter of a lamb in order purify the object that has been made impure. Malani people may touch impure people or houses as long as they follow the prescribed purification ritual before they enter their house or before they eat. Malanis may never accept food cooked by a non-Malani person, unless they are out of the valley (in which case their Devt can't see them). Malanis may offer visitors food but all utensils will have to undergo a strict purification ritual before they can be used again.
Despite of being a part of the Kullu valley, the Malanis have very distinct physical features, and a dialect which is different from the rest of the valley. There are various legends about their origin. According to one of them, it is believed that they are the descendants of Greek soldiers of Alexander's army. As the legend goes, some soldiers took refuge in this remote land after Alexander left the country and later settled there permanently. This myth is however disputed because there are those who claim that it is the valley of Kalash, in Pakistan that is actually the area in which Alexander the Great's soldiers took refuge. This legend is also inconsistent with the legendary descent of the local people from Indo-Aryans who would predate Alexander the Great's soldiers by approximately a thousand years. Recent genetic typing of the Malani population is more consistent with an Indo-Aryan origin with a large proportion of Y-DNA haplotypes J2 and R1a associated with Indo-Aryan influences in South Asia than with a Greek origin which would have a different characteristic mix of Y-DNA haplotypes.[11]
Malana was also once famous for producing some of the best quality hashish (Cannabis resin) in the world, known as "Malana Cream", which sells for 1,200-1,800 rupees per tola (= 10 grams).
Copyright 2011 © sundeepkullu.com All rights reserved.
The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu Himachal Around the World to more than 50+Countries & 200+Major Destinations across 6 Continents.
Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu
sb@sundeepkullu.com
+91 9816499629
+974 55344547
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
All rights reserved.
copyright 2011 © sundeepkullu.com
Developer - phototube.co
Affiliation - himachalculturalvillage.com
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WORLD IS MY STUDIO sundeepkullu.com
Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malana,_Himachal_Pradesh
The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu Himachal Around the World to more than 50+Countries & 200+Major Destinations across 6 Continents.
Sundeep Bhardwaj Kullu
sb@sundeepkullu.com
+91 9816499629
+974 55344547
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
All rights reserved.
copyright 2011 © sundeepkullu.com
Developer - phototube.co
Affiliation - himachalculturalvillage.com
Slide Shows | Full Screen Mode | Adobe Flash -
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam/sets/72157624062638852/show/
WORLD IS MY STUDIO sundeepkullu.com
"Fine Art Wedding's by SDB" * SunDeep Bhardwaj * SunDeepKullu.com "THE WORLD IS MY STUDIO" Travelled & Photographed 70+Countries 555+ Destinations Across 6 Continents in Decades long World Tour.World Traveller Fine Art & Commercial Photographer
Still Pre- Wedding, Candid Wedding, Post Wedding, Pre-Wedding Films & Ad films ( Cinematography), Family Portraits, Conventional Traditional Wedding Photography
" I live with one vision to create things that would outlast me. I discovered Fine Art Photography of subjects in all the 6 Inhabited Continents & 70+ Countires i travelled and photographed in last few decades as a means for me to connect with my innerself " - SunDeep Bhardwaj ( SDB Fine Art )
Official Portfolio website-
www.sundeepkullu.com/sdb-fine-art-home.html
SDB Fine Art pieces can be seen online on this URL's -
www.flickr.com/photos/wittysam www.gettyimages.in/search/2/image?phrase=SDBWP&family... &
"Fine Art Wedding's by SDB" SunDeep Bhardwaj Events Group-
"Fine Art Wedding's by SDB" SunDeep Bhardwaj Events Page -
Locations - " The World is my Studio "
Work Locations Worldwide- Anywhere under Sun and Sky | Himalayas | India Nepal China Tibet Bhutan |
Work Locations Incredible India- Himachal Uttranchal Arunachal Pradesh Sikkim Kashmir Himachal Sundernagar Mandi Bilaspur Ghumarwin Kullu Manali Shimla Sirmour Kinnaur Dharamshala Chamba Lahaul Spiti Chandigarh New Delhi Jaipur Bangalore Kolkatta Mumbai | "The World is my Studio"
"Fine Art Wedding's by SDB" with Photography not limited to one genre, theme or style. My style is Candid for Wedding's and Glamour for Portraits and I do Modern Contemporary Fine Art. For Digital Fine Art of Photography i use backdrops of elements of nature in most exotic & natural scenic locations on Himalayas ( Anywhere in 2300 Kms Himalayan Arc is my first choice ) or in backgrounds of various Historical Cultural Heritage Natural Sites by UNESCO with emphasis to various Traditions & Customs and exclusive Events specific to location.
Locations : Currently taking assignments Worldwide India Bhutan Nepal ( Do support place by planning your Holiday in Nepal ) Jaipur New Delhi Chandigarh Himachal Kolkata Chennai Madras Bangalore Surat Ahmedabad Hyderabad Mumbai or anywhere under Sun "The World is my Studio"
SunDeepKullu.Com or sundeepkullu.weebly.com "The World is my Studio"|
Travelled & Photographed All Inhabited 6 Continents 70+Countries 555+Most Exotic Destinations / Wonders of World / UNESCO World Heritage Sites | Nearby 200+Cities | 150+Airports | 300+Villages / Towns/ Countrysides | Himalayas Himachal | 2 Decades of World Travel Photography |
Welcome aboard to my official World Travel Photography Website SunDeepKullu.com " The World is my Studio " with "Photostories" across 6 continents after travelling far and wide across the globe from Brazil to Australia, from the UK to South Africa, from Egypt to Malaysia, from Morocco to Thailand, from Switzerland to Vietnam across all inhabited continents is quite wide and I find the whole world a perfect mosaic of beauty. I travelled around all 6 inhabited continents mostly in Europe (East & West Europe), Africa (Eastern Africa, Middle Africa, Northern Africa, Southern Africa & Western Africa), Asia (Eastern Asia, Northern Asia, Southeastern Asia, Southern Asia, Western Asia, Indian Sub-Continent & The Middle East), North America, South America, Central America& Australia. My Photography ranges from 'Ancient Wonders of the World' to 'New 7 Wonders of the World' & the 'Highest Points on the Earth' (Himalayas-India China Nepal-Mount Everest) to the 'Lowest Points on the Earth' (Dead Sea-Israel, Palestine, Jordan). My Photostories concentrates on 'The UNESCO World Heritage Sites', Himalayas, Historic Cities, Metropols & other most beautiful places & cities of the World. I intensively covered Unexplored Himalayan Landscapes and UNESCO World Heritage sites ( Cultral, Historical, Mixed as well as Natral ) of 70+ Countries i traveled to since 1991 and after setting or a World Tour in 2006 and i am still exploring more exotic places on this Planet Earth. I believe "World is just amazing" and every place & face has a unique story to tell. I connect to my subjects as to my soul.
Latest Interviews -
- www.sundeepkullu.com/magazine-interviews.html or PDF orignal at bit.ly/SDBKinterview
- voices.halabol.com/2013/12/03/picture-perfect-story-globe...
Fine Art Candid Weddings | Creative Commercial Photography | Fine Art Still Photography | Landscapes | People | Portraits | Fashion | Family | Modelling Portfolio's | Fashion | Celeb | Corporate | Institutional | Advertising 5 Star International Airlines | Hotels & Resorts | Catalogues | Magazine Editorials | Photo Journalism | Wonders Of World | New 7 Wonders of World | Ancient Wonders of World | UNESCO World Heritage Sites | Photo Journalism | High Profile Events | Corporates Still & Motion Picture shoots | Ad Film | Catalog Shoots | Architectural Photography | Interior & Exterior | Product Photography | Professional Creative Commercial Photography | Full Frame Still | Full HD Films | 35mm Film Cinemetography | Blue Ray Media | Outdoor Travel Photography
Total 2 Decades of Travel Photography | 8 years World Tour 2007- 2014 | Multiple years of Landscape Photography of most exotic places on Himalayan Arc spreading 2400 Kms in length | 10 years Incredible India tour 1997-2006 | Multiple years Fine Art Photography of Unforgettable Himachal, Kashmir-Leh-Laddakh, Tibet, Nepal & China in Himalayas | Fine Art Photography |
CONTACTS -
Call/SMS on Mobile or WhatsApp on +91 9805305912
Facebook me on facebook.com/SunDeepKullu
flickr.com/people/wittysam Skype (eurekasun@yahoo.com)
E-Mail - wittysam@gmail.com , sb@sundeepkullu.com , sundeepkullu@gmail.com &
Audio or Video Call via Viber Google+ Hangouts Skype Tango +91 9805305912
Education Background - MBA Sales & Mktg.(Symbiosis, Pune),BHM(Degree in Hotel Management),B.Pub.Admn.(HP University, Summer Hills, Shimla) | Founder Owner at SDB Fine Art Wonders of World gallery Himachal | " The World is my Studio " All rights reserved ® SunDeepKullu.com © copyright 1991-2015 SDB Fine Art
Key Skills- Management, Sales & Marketting, Branding & Business Development Areas- 5 Star International Airlines Hotels, MNC's
Coffee Table Book eBook-ePub format iOS Android iPad Amazon Kindle Google Books Blurb in making - "111 Miraculous Wonders of World you must see when you alive"
'SDB Travel Photography Worldwide Covering UNESCO World Heritage Sites Himalayas Himachal Cities Villages Towns Metropols Historical cities , Cultural Sites, Fairs & Festivals of World, Landscapes, Culture, People & Portraits, Biggest Events in the World
The Various wings of SDB Fine Art i am busy expanding in 2015 are as follows. -
"FINE ART WEDDING's by SDB " SunDeep Bhardwaj
Still Pre- Wedding, Candid Wedding, Post Wedding, Pre-Wedding Films & Ad films ( Cinematography), Family Portraits, Traditional Photography
"Fine Art Wedding's by SDB" with Photography not limited to one genre, theme or style. My style is Candid for Wedding's and Glamour for Portraits and I do Modern Contemporary Fine Art. For Digital Fine Art of Photography i use backdrops of elements of nature in most exotic & natural scenic locations on Himalayas ( Anywhere in 2300 Kms Himalayan Arc is my first choice ) or in backgrounds of various Historical Cultural Heritage Natural Sites by UNESCO with emphasis to various Traditions & Customs and exclusive Events specific to location.
Locations : Currently taking assignments Worldwide India Bhutan Nepal ( Do support place by planning your Holiday in Nepal ) Jaipur New Delhi Chandigarh Himachal Kolkata Chennai Madras Bangalore Surat Ahmedabad Hyderabad Mumbai or anywhere under Sun "The World is my Studio"
-'SDB Fine Art Web Design's' for Web Android iOS in Responsive Layouts
-'SDB Fine Art Wonders of World gallery™'
-'SDB Fine Art™' SDBFA™
-SDB World Stock Photos' Online on Official Portfolio website SunDeepKullu.com 70+ Countries 6 Continents UNESCO HIMALAYAS SunDeep™ Bhardwaj World Photography™' 'SDBWP™
-'Architectural SDB Fine Art Design Studio'
-'SDB Fine Art Professional Creative Commercial Photography'
Some of Previous & Latest Facebook Pages , Groups , Events , Places , Lists SDB founded in last few decades -
HIMACHAL PAGES & GROUPS -
PAGE - Kullu Manali Himachal Pradesh 43300 LIKES 43K LIKES
Community/Government www.facebook.com /KulluManaliHimachalPradesh
PAGE - Himachal 11K LIKES
Community www.facebook.com/Himachal.Pradesh.In
GROUP - HIMACHAL LahaulSpiti Kullu Mandi Bilaspur Shimla Sirmour Chamba Kinnaur +4 (498)1K MEMBERS
www.facebook.com/groups/himachal.in
PAGE - Sundernagar Mandi Himachal (924)1K LIKES
Community www.facebook.com/SundernagarMandiHimachal
GROUP - Sundernagar Valley Himachal Himalayas India
Public Group www.facebook.com/groups/189764805995
HIMACHAL FESTIVALS FINE ART SOCIETY CULTURE FAIRS -
PAGE - Sundernagar Devta Mela & Nalwar Fair Himachal India 306 LIKES
Community www.facebook.com/pages/Sundernagar-Devta-Mela-Nalwar-Fair...
"Experience is what you get, when you don't get what you want." - SDBWQ
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The Stock samples of SDBWP SunDeep Bhardwaj World Photography in flickr Photostream cannot be Copied,Distributed,Published or Used in any form,full or in part,or in any kind of media without prior permission from Sundeep Bhardwaj the owner of these images.Utilization in other websites,intenet media,pages,blogs etc without written consent is PROHIBITED.
The images are also available for licence through GETTY IMAGES or directly by contacting Sundeep Bhardwaj @
For any direct correspondance with me contact me on
www.facebook.com/sundeephimachal (Primary) or
www.facebook.com/SundeepBhardwaj (Secondary)
www.facebook.com/sundeepkullu (Tertiary).
E-mail me on
sb@sundeepkullu.com (Primary) or
wittysam@gmail.com (Secondary) or
admin@phototube.co (For Photo Tube . Co related) or
enquiries@himachalculturalvillage.com (For Himachal Cultural Village . Com related).
INDIA ROAMING AND HIMACHAL +91 9816499629 (Please drop me a SMS message)
WORLD ROAMING +974 55344547 (I prefer all correspondances on facebook as i am still on my World Tour which i started 5 years before and may be in some other country.Will definately contact back whenever next to internet or reply by SMS)
These are reduced sized pictures.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
All rights reserved.
copyright 2011 © sundeepkullu.com
Developer - phototube.co
Affiliation - himachalculturalvillage.com
HIGH RESOLUTION images on sundeepkullu.com WORLD IS MY STUDIO This picture is LOW RESOLUTION for web compatibility **Sorry Guys i have deleted most of my pictures from facebook due to copyright infringement by parties not authorised by me.But i have made a flash website for exibiting my Photostories Do visit sundeepkullu.com
And alternatively my pictures can be see in better resolutions on
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St. Charles's Church, Vienna
The St. Charles's Church (German: Karlskirche) is a church situated on the south side of Karlsplatz, Vienna. It is located on the edge of the 1st district, 200 metres outside the Ringstraße. It is one of the most outstanding baroque church structures, and boasts a dome in the form of an elongated ellipsoid.
Ever since Karlsplatz was restored as an ensemble in the late 1980s, the Karlskirche has garnered fame due to its dome and its two flanking columns of bas-reliefs, as well as its role as an architectural counterweight to the buildings of the Musikverein and of the Vienna University of Technology.
The church is cared for by a religious order and has long been the parish church as well as the seat of the Catholic student ministry of the Vienna University of Technology.
Design and construction
Karlskirche column, with spiral as on Trajan's Column
In 1713, one year after the last great plague epidemic, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, pledged to build a church for his namesake patron saint, Charles Borromeo, who was revered as a healer for plague sufferers. An architectural competition was announced, in which Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach prevailed over, among others, Ferdinando Galli-Bibiena and Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt. Construction began in 1716 under the supervision of Anton Erhard Martinelli. After J. B. Fischer's death in 1723, his son, Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach, completed the construction in 1737 using partially altered plans. The church originally possessed a direct line of sight to the Hofburg and was also, until 1918, the imperial patron parish church.
As a creator of historic architecture, J. B. Fischer united the most diverse of elements. The façade in the center, which leads to the porch, corresponds to a Greek temple portico. The neighboring two columns, crafted by Lorenzo Mattielli, found a model in Trajan's Column in Rome. Next to those, two tower pavilions extend out and show the influence of the Roman baroque (Bernini and Borromini). Above the entrance, a dome rises up above a high drum, which the younger J. E. Fischer shortened and partly altered.
[edit]Iconography
The iconographical program of the church originated from the imperial official Carl Gustav Heraeus and connects St. Charles Borromeo with his imperial benefactor. The relief on the pediment above the entrance with the cardinal virtues and the figure of the patron on its apex point to the motivation of the donation. This sculpture group continues onto the attic story as well. The attic is also one of the elements which the younger Fischer introduced. The columns display scenes from the life of Charles Borromeo in a spiral relief and are intended to recall the two columns, Boaz and Jachim, that stood in front of the Temple at Jerusalem. They also recall the Pillars of Hercules and act as symbols of imperial power. The entrance is flanked by angels from the Old and New Testaments.
This program continues in the interior as well, above all in the dome fresco by Johann Michael Rottmayr of Salzburg and Gaetano Fanti (pseudoarchitecture) which displays an intercession of Charles Borromeo, supported by the Virgin Mary. Surrounding this scene are the cardinal virtues. The frescos in a number of side chapels are attributed to Daniel Gran.
The gold piece high above the altar symbolizing Yahweh.
The high altar painting portraying the ascension of the saint was conceptualized by the elder Fischer and executed by Ferdinand Maximilian Brokoff. The altar paintings in the side chapels are by various artists, including Daniel Gran, Sebastiano Ricci, Martino Altomonte and Jakob van Schuppen.
Full view of the Altar
As strong effect emanates from the directing of light and architectural grouping, in particular the arch openings of the main axis. The color scheme is characterized by marble with sparring and conscious use of gold leaf. The large round glass window high above the main altar with the Hebrew Tetragrammaton/Yahweh symbolizes God's omnipotence and simultaneously, through its warm yellow tone, God's love.Below is a representation of Apotheosis of Saint Charles Borromeo.
Next to the structures at Schönbrunn Palace, which maintain this form but are more fragmented, the Karlskirche is Fischer's greatest work. It is also an expression of the Austrian joie de vivre stemming from the victorious end of the Turkish Wars.
Karlsplatz
Karlsplatz ("Charles' Square") is a town square on the border of the first and fourth districts of Vienna. It is one of the most frequented and best connected transportation hubs in Vienna. The Karlskirche is located here.
Resselpark, adorned with numerous monuments, takes up the most area in the plaza and is on the south side. The Evangelische Schule (Evangelical School) and the Technische Universität Wien (Vienna Technical University) are located here. The plaza is closed in by Karlskirche (which has a water tank and a Henry Moore sculpture in front of it), the main building of the Vienna Museum, and the Winterthur Insurance building. Separated from the plaza to the north are the buildings of the Wiener Musikverein (Vienna Music Society), the Künstlerhaus (art house), and the Handelsakademie (business school). A Video of the plaza and a eventlist are available on the Website of the association karlsplatz.org Verein zur Förderung d. kulturellen Belebung öffentlicher Räume [1].
On the Karlsplatz the exhibition of the United Buddy Bears was shown in 2006 for the first time in Austria. The exhibition was opened by Christiane Hörbiger, Film actress and UNICEF Ambassador, together with Grete Laska, Deputy Mayor of Vienna and Karin Schubert, Mayor of Berlin. According to the City of Vienna, project partners, they were able to count nearly 1 million visitors over the 6 weeks of the exhibition[1].
The first district can be reached either by subway or via Operngasse (a street). The pavilions of the former Karlsplatz Stadtbahn Station remain despite the construction of the U-Bahn system.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlskirche
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlsplatz
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Landscapes in 6 Continents (Title 1- Stupendous Landscapes across 6 Continents) ,
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28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (Title 3 -"All 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India") ,
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Lahaul and Spiti district
The district of Lahaul-Spiti in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh consists of the two formerly separate districts of Lahaul and Spiti. The present administrative centre is Keylong in Lahaul. Before the two districts were merged, Kardang was the capital of Lahaul, and Dhankar the capital of Spiti.
Kunzum la or the Kunzum Pass (altitude 4,551 m; 14,931 ft) is the entrance pass to the Spiti Valley from Lahaul. It is 21 km from Chandra Tal.[1] This district is connected to Manali through the Rohtang Pass. To the south, Spiti ends 24 km from Tabo, at the Pare chu gorge where the road enters Kinnaur and joins with National Highway No. 22.[2]
The two valleys are quite different in character. Spiti is more barren and difficult to cross, with an average elevation of the valley floor of 4,270 m (14,009 ft). It is enclosed between lofty ranges, with the Spiti river rushing out of a gorge in the southeast to meet the Sutlej River. It is a typical mountain desert area with an average annual rainfall of only 170 mm (6.7 inches).[3]
Flora and fauna
Lahaul valley in winter
Mountain peak in Lahaul and Spiti district
The harsh conditions of Lahaul permit only scattered tufts of hardy grasses and shrubs to grow, even below 4,000 metres. Glacier lines are usually found at 5,000 metres.
Animals such as yaks and dzos roam across the wild Lingti plains. However, over-hunting and a decrease in food supplies has led to a large decrease in the population of the Tibetan antelope, argali, kiangs, musk deer, and snow leopards in these regions, reducing them to the status of endangered species. However, in the Lahaul valley, one can see ibex, brown bears, foxes and snow leopards during winter.
[edit]People
Mother and child in near Gandhola Monastery. 2004
The language, culture, and populations of Lahaul and Spiti are closely related. Generally the Lahaulis are of Tibetan and Indo-Aryan descent, while the Spiti Bhotia are more similar to the Tibetans, owing to their proximity to Tibet. Fairer skin and hazel-colored eyes are commonly seen among the Lahaulis.
The languages of both the Lahauli and Spiti Bhutia belong to the Tibetan family. They are very similar to the Ladakhi and Tibetans culturally, as they had been placed under the rule of the Guge and Ladakh kingdoms at occasional intervals.
Among the Lahaulis, the family acts as the basic unit of kinship. The extended family system is common, evolved from the polyandric system of the past. The family is headed by a senior male member, known as the Yunda, while his wife, known as the Yundamo, attains authority by being the oldest member in the generation. The clan system, also known as Rhus, plays another major role in the Lahauli society.
The Spiti Bhutia community has an inheritance system that is otherwise unique to the Tibetans. Upon the death of both parents, only the eldest son will inherit the family property, while the eldest daughter inherits the mother's jewellery, and the younger siblings inherit nothing. Men usually fall back on the social security system of the Trans-Himalayan Gompas.
[edit]Lifestyle
The lifestyles of the Lahauli and Spiti Bhotia are similar, owing to their proximity. Polyandry was widely practiced by the Lahaulis in the past, although this practice has been dying out. The Spiti Bhutia do not generally practice polyandry any more, although it is accepted in a few isolated regions.
Divorces are accomplished by a simple ceremony performed in the presence of village elders. Divorce can be sought by either partner. The husband has to pay compensation to his ex-wife if she does not remarry. However, this is uncommon among the Lahaulis.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Potato farming is common. Occupations include animal husbandry, working in government programs, government services, and other businesses and crafts that include weaving. Houses are constructed in the Tibetan architectural style, as the land in Lahul and Spiti is mountainous and quite prone to earthquakes.
[edit]Religion
Kunzum Pass between Lahul & Spiti
Ki-Gompa Spiti
Most of the Lahaulis follow a combination of Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyu order, while the Spiti Bhotia follow Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelugpa order. Within Lahoul/swangla, the Baralacha-La region had the strongest Buddhist influence, owing to its close proximity to Spiti. Lahoul/swangla has temples such as Triloknath , where pilgrims worship a certain god in different manifestations, notably in the form of Shiva and Avalokiteshvara where Udaipur is a puritan temple. This bas-relief, of marble, depicts the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara (the embodiment of the Buddha's compassion) in a stylized seated position; Hindu devotees take it to be Shiva Nataraj, Shiva dancing. This image appears to be of sixteenth century Chamba craftsmanship. It was created to replace the original black stone image of the deity, which became damaged by art looters. This original image is kept beneath the plinth of the shrine. It appears to be of 12th century Kashmiri provenance . Much of the art thieves are active in this remote belt because of neglected gompas and temples.
Before the spread of Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism, the people were adherents of the religion 'Lung Pe Chhoi', an animistic religion that had some affinities with the Bön religion of Tibet. While the religion flourished, animal and human sacrifices were regularly offered up to the 'Iha', a term that refers to evil spirits residing in the natural world, notably in the old pencil-cedar trees, rocks and caves. Vestiges of the Lung Pe Chhoi religion can be seen in the behaviour of the Lamas, who are believed to possess certain supernatural powers.
The Losar festival (also known as Halda in Lahauli) is celebrated between the months of January and February. The date of celebration is decided by the Lamas. It has the same significance as the Diwali festival of Hinduism, but is celebrated in a Tibetan fashion.
At the start of the festival, two or three persons from every household will come holding burning incense. The burning sticks are then piled into a bonfire. The people will then pray to Shiskar Apa, the goddess of wealth (other name Vasudhara) in the Buddhist religion.
In the Pattan belt of the valley in Lahoul most population follows Hinduism,but counts for 14 percent of the total and they are called swanglas. The fagli festival is celebrated between February and March all over the valley. This festival is a new year festival and closely precedes beginning of tibetian and Chinese calendar. Notable is the Pattan people are the late settlers in the valley around 1500 A.D. and have broad highlights and have distinct language on the likes the central Asians,chamba, pangi, pashtoons and uyghurs. This belt is known for the convergence for chandra and bhaga rivers to form Chenab.
[edit]Tourism
Ki Gompa
The natural scenery and Buddhist monasteries, such as Ki, Dhankar, Shashur, Guru Ghantal and Tayul Gompas, are the main tourist attractions of the region.
One of the most interesting places is the Tabo Monastery, located 45 km from Kaza, Himachal Pradesh, the capital of the Spiti region. This monastery rose to prominence when it celebrated its thousandth year of existence in 1996. It houses a collection of Buddhist scriptures, Buddhist statues and Thangkas. The ancient gompa is finished with mud plaster, and contains several scriptures and documents. Lama Dzangpo heads the gompa here. There is a modern guest house with a dining hall and all facilities are available.
Another famous gompa, Kardang Monastery, is located at an elevation of 3,500 metres across the river, about 8 km from Keylong. Kardang is well connected by the road via the Tandi bridge which is about 14 km from Keylong. Built in the 12th century, this monastery houses a large library of Buddhist literature including the main Kangyur and Tangyur scriptures.
The treacherous weather in Lahaul and Spiti permits visitors to tour only between the months of June to October, when the roads and villages are free of snow and the high passes (Rothang La and Kunzum La) are open. It is possible to access Spiti from Kinnaur (along the Sutlej) all through the year, although the road is sometimes temporarily closed by landslides or avalanches.
Buddhist Monasteries in Spiti: Spiti is one of the important centers of Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh. It is popularly known as the 'land of lamas'. The valley is dotted by numerous Buddhist Monasteries or Gompas that are famous throughout the world and are a favorite of Dalai Lama.
Kye Monastery: Kye Monastery in Spiti is the main research center of the Buddhists in India. Near about 300 lamas are receiving their religious training from here. It is oldest and biggest monastery in Spiti. It houses the rare painting and beautiful scriptures of Buddha and other gods and goddess. You may also find rare 'Thangka' paintings and ancient musical instruments 'trumpets, cymbals, and drums in the monastery.
Tabo Monastery: Perched at an amazing altitude of 3050 meters, Tabo Monastery in the valley of Spiti is often referred to as the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'. The 10th century Tabo Monastery was founded by the great scholar, Richen Zangpo, and has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The monastery houses more than 6 lamas and contains the rare collection of scriptures, pieces of art, wall paintings -Tankhas and Stucco.
Flora and fauna of Spiti Valley: The valley is blessed with the good population of snow leopards, ibex, Himalayan Brown Bear, Musk Deer, Himalayan Blue Sheep etc. which serves as the boon for the wildlife lovers. There are two important protected areas in the region that are a home to snow leopard and its prey including the Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Surprisingly, due to ardent religious beliefs, people of Spiti do not hunt these wild animals.
Apart from the exotic wildlife, the Valley of Spiti is also known for its amazing wealth of flora and the profusion of wild flowers. Some of the mot common species found here include Causinia thomsonii, Seseli trilobum, Crepis flexuosa, Caragana brevifolia and Krascheninikovia ceratoides. Then there are more than 62 species of medicinal plants found here.
Adventure activities:
To- do-Trials: For trekkers, the Spiti Valley is a paradise, offering challenging treks to explore the new heights of the Himalayas. The treks takes you to the most remote areas including the rugged villages and old Gompas followed by the exotic wildlife trails. Some of the popular trekking routes in the area includes Kaza-Langza-Hikim-Comic-Kaza, Kaza-Ki-Kibber-Gete-Kaza, Kaza-Losar-Kunzum La and Kaza-Tabo-Sumdo-Nako. Please note that you carry all the necessary things before out for the trekking tour to Spiti. Tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, heavy woollens and sunglasses are a must.
Skiing: Skiing is the popular adventure sports in Spiti and is popular in India from the past few years. The amazing snow clad mountains with the added advantage of inspiring heights are enough to allure the adventure spirits of the avid skier, providing all the thrill and fun attracted to the sport. People from all around the globe come to experience this enthralling adventure activity.
Yak Safari: The most exciting of all adventure activities in Spiti is the Yak safari. You can hire the Yak to see the flora and fauna of trans-Himalayan desert. It is, in fact, the lifetime opportunity that you won't find anywhere else so easily. Apart from this, horse safaris are also conducted in this area.
Sources en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahaul_and_Spiti_district
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To protect my work i load pictures only on flickr and they are in web compatible resolutions only.Orignal pictures shot in 5,616 × 3,744 (21.1 megapixels) using Canon EOS 5D Mark II FULL FRAME DSLR CAMERA or 3872 x 2592 (10.2 million effective pixels) using NIKON D60 DSLR or 4,288 × 2,848 (12.3 effective megapixels) USING NIKON D90 DSLR's.
Groups i administer on facebook and flickr (1000 plus members allready in few months )
ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY & WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF SERIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS on facebook
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111942842150274
HIMACHAL Kullu Manali, Sundernagar Mandi, Dharamsala,Shimla,Lahaul Spiti12
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=234474081858
ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY & WORLD THROUGH SERIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS EYES
www.flickr.com/groups/prodigious/
I intent to publish in near future the TRAVEL PHOTOBOOKS on
Landscapes in 6 Continents (Title 1- Stupendous Landscapes across 6 Continents) ,
Wonders of World (Title 2 - "Ancient and New 7 Wonders of World from a Himalayan Photographers Eye") ,
28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (Title 3 -"All 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India") ,
Himalayas in India, Nepal, China, Tibet & Bhutan (Title 4 -"Stupendous Himalayas"),
UNESCO Interesting World Heritage Sites across globe ( Title 5 - "Best of UNESCO World Heritage Sites") ,
Himachal Pradesh (Title 6 - "Unforgettable Himachal Pradesh" Photostories by SunDeep® Bhardwaj sundeepkullu.com)
I do not allow downloading of my images and they are digitally watermarked with Digimarc (DMRC) which makes it easier for me to identify any unauthorised party using the across web or any media. Even if my work is downloaded in full or in part Digimarc is capable of tracing the use of images across web or any other media. Due to previous copyright infringement by parties not authorised in written by me, i have penalised parties using my images without my permisision. I stock my photos on my official website sundeepkullu.com and flickr (the world's best photography website for professionals amateurs and serious photographers as well as photo admirers) in web compatible resolutions only with no permissions to download or use my pictures in any kind of media without prior written permission from me. Thanks for your understanding.
Thanks for your LIKES and COMMENTS and VISITING
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