Parveen Dua

Rana Kumbha is credited for the fort as it stands today, however, it is said that a fort was built by Jain Prince named Samprati, second son of King Ashoka of Maurya empire 200 years BC and was known as Machhindrapur. As mentioned earlier Rana Kumbha built this fort on the ruins of the fort built by prince Samprati. After the death of Rana Sanga, Rattan Singh was crowned king and when Rattan Singh passed away, it was turn of Vikramaditya Singh his younger brother to become King. After entering from main gate, when we start walking towards the main palace complex, we come to Ganesh temple built by Rana Kumbha and is dedicated to Ganesh Ji.

But we decided on doing it the hard way, by doing our own trip planning, after our research about the Ladakh weather, routes, road conditions, and were finally ready with an itinerary. With our travel gear ready and itinerary meticulously planned (will soon share the post about Ladakh bike trip planning and cost involved), we were all set. The SHO arranged for the bike to be transported to Kothi Bagh police station in Srinagar, which was very close to the Yamaha agency. The SHO had already talked to the people at Kothi Bagh police station in Srinagar to keep the bike in safe custody and also arranged the hotel nearby, as it was peak season, and getting a hotel at this hour would not have been easy.

A beautiful view of Lake Pichola with City Palace and other palaces being kissed by the first rays of Sun. This Palace is built on the banks of Lake Pichola and is supposed to be the grandest palace in Rajasthan. If Dilkusha Mahal attracts the visitors for its Murals and paintings, Badal Mahal amazes with its garden palace built along the slopes of 90 feet high natural rock formation. Other Palaces include Moti Mahal having beautiful interiors, Sheesh Mahal for mirror inlay work and Chini Chitrashala has beautiful Dutch and Chinese tiles.

Angry because the idol of Sun God, which is said to be made of Gold with a huge diamond in its hand and used to illuminate the entire Garbhgriha with light, when the first ray of Sun used to fall on it during equinox is not there. The Sun Temple Modhera, a magnificient offering in sculpture to Sun god, was built around 1026 AD, by Solanki Kung Bhimdeva These figurines are shown singing, dancing, playing music and even figures of men and women engaged in erotic postures symolising the start of a life, depicting last rites that is the end of a life, completing the universal cycle of birth life to death. Dikpalas in Hinduism are guardian gods who preside over the eight directions of space and protect the entire universe as under Dikpals in Modhera Sun Temple are in standing postures, are four armed and display other attributes As we walk around the temple and arrive at the North East facade, a very rare sculpture draws attention.