This bridge is half under the water, for ships to pass and then again, it comes out on the other side. Truly a marvelous piece of engineering! This bridge is between Sweden and Denmark ... Picture taken from the side of Sweden. The bridge goes under water to allow movement of ships.

THIS PHOTO IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. BE SURE TOREAD THE TEXT BELOW TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOU ARE VIEWING. IT IS HISTORIC TOO AS THIS IS THE LAST MISSION FOR COLUMBIA .

The photograph attached was taken by the crew on board the Columbia during its last mission, on a cloudless day. The picture is of Europe and Africa when the sun is setting. Half of the picture is in night. The bright dots you see are the cities' lights.
The top part of Africa is the Sahara Desert .
Note that the lights are already on in Holland , Paris , and Barcelona ,and that's it's still daylight in Dublin , London , Lisbon , and Madrid .
The sun is still shining on the Strait of Gibraltar . The Mediterranean Sea isalready in darkness.
In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean you can see the Azores Islands; below them to the right are the Madeira Islands ; a bit below are the Canary Islands; and further South, close to the farthest western point of Africa , are the Cape Verde Islands.
Note that the Sahara is huge and can be seen clearly both during day time and night time.
To the left, on top, is Greenland , totally frozen .

Mobile Ameo

Here comes a phone with a hard drive. T-Mobile (a unit of Deutsche Telekom and one of the operators in Germany ) has unveiled a phone with a hard disk disk (HDD), saying the pocket-sized device with a 13-centimetre screen would go on sale in Germany just before Cebit show in March. Called Ameo, the phone contract manufactured by HTC uses Microsoft's operating system Windows Mobile 5.0. It would cost about 500 euros ($650) bundled with two years of phone service. It has a 8 GB HDDD and looks more like a mini laptop. Its best feature is its detachable 13-centimetre wide keyboard and upright display. However, T-Mobile has no immediate plans to sell it in the US or rest of Europe .

Nokia N6110

One of the hottest buzzwords in the mobile industry since sometime has been: Location-based services. The services primarily allow people to view where they are on a map, search for points-of-interests (POI) around them and create routes to get them there free of charge. However, navigation by mobile phone has been slow to catch on. Courtesy, small phone screens, short battery life and the directions and maps that often lacked accuracy. Taking a cue, the world?s biggest cellphone manufacturer Nokia unveiled its first mass market navigation-enabled phone, the N6110 Navigator. The launch unwraps company?s plans to make a big push in location-based services. Nokia 6110 Navigator is a GPS-enabled mobile phone that features integrated maps and turn-by-turn directions with voice guidance and turn arrows pointing users in the appropriate direction. The Nokia 6110 Navigator can also provide users with traffic information, weather services and travel guides. According to a company spokesperson, Nokia would launch "a number" of navigation devices in 2007.

LG Prada

This is the phone for which the maker LG Electronics has officially accused Apple of copying the design for its newly launched iPhone last month. LG Electronics and PRADA unveil the first completely touch screen mobile phone. The PRADA Phone by LG introduces the world?s first advanced touch interface which eliminates the conventional keypad. The phone comes with 3.0-inch display and Bluetooth 2.0 and a 2 megapixel camera featuring Schneider-Kreuznach lens and LED flash. It also features a player supporting MPEG4, H.264, a document viewer and an audio player with support for MP3/ACC/ACC+ /WMA/RA format. The PRADA Phone by LG will be available with prices starting from 600 Euros at selected PRADA stores in the UK , France , Germany and Italy by the end of this month, followed by countries in Asia such as Hong Kong , Taiwan , and Singapore by late March.

Samsung Ultra Smart F700

If Nokia has kicked so much dust in Barcelona , could Samsung be far behind? With its newest handset Ultra Smart F700, the Korean giant has joined Apple and its arch-rival LG into the club of touchscreen mobile phones manufacturers. The phone is Samsung's first that is compatible with 3G (third generation) WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) in addition to GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) . It also works with HSDPA and EDGE data transmission systems on 3G networks and can receive data at up to 7.2Mbps (bits per second). The phone features a 2.8-inch 440x240 screen to control calling, Internet access, and music functions. Media playback support includes multiple AAC audio formats, Real, and variants of MPEG-4 including H.264. It also includes VibeTonz, a vibration system introduced in the recent W559 that simulates tactile feedback to touchscreen presses. And unlike Apple's iPhone, where typing on a small screen with your thumbs can leave you sore, F700 includes a slide-out keyboard to accommodate typing. And that is not all! The phone has a 5-megapixel camera with auto-focus that is far superior than iPhone's meager 2-megapixel offering. But of course, it has a microSD slot that will help expand the memory you would require for storing the humongous 5 MP photos, and music.

HP iPAQ 500

Another big launch at 3GSM World Congree 2007 was the Hewlett-Packard iPaq 500 smartphone. Hewlett Packard unveiled its first smart phone, a slimmed-down iPaq that will be among the first Windows Mobile 6 handsets when it launches by second quarter this year. The 500 series will be the first iPaqs that look like cellphones, with phone keypads instead of QWERTY keyboards or touch screens and styli. iPaq 500 comes with VOIP compatibility, push e-mail, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Outlook Mobile. The phone features 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, 64MB of memory and 128MB of storage with a micro SD card slot to expand memory. The iPaq 500 connects to the Internet via GSM/GPRS/Edge networks, as well as via Wi-Fi. The handset also allows users to play music and videos, store photos and play games on the device.

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Visual C#® 2005: How to Program, Second Edition :

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What is Tornado?

tornado is a violently rotating column of air which is in contact with both a cumulonimbus (or, in rare cases, a cumulus) cloud base and the surface of the earth. Tornadoes come in many sizes, but are typically in the form of a visible condensation funnel, with the narrow end touching the earth. Often, a cloud of debris encircles the lower portion of the funnel.

Most tornadoes have wind speeds of 110 mph (175 km/h) or less, are approximately 250 feet (75 m) across, and travel a few miles (several kilometers) before dissipating. However, some tornadoes attain wind speeds of more than 300 mph (480 km/h), stretch more than a mile (1.6 km) across, and stay on the ground for dozens of miles (more than 100 km).[1][2][3]

Although tornadoes have been observed on every continent except Antarctica, most occur in the United States.[4] Other areas where they commonly occur include south-central Canada, south-central and eastern Asia, east-central South America, Southern Africa, northwestern and central Europe, Italy, western and southeastern Australia, and New Zealand.[5]

Types of tornadoes
True tornadoes
Multiple vortex tornado

A multiple vortex tornado is a type of tornado in which two or more columns of spinning air rotate around a common center. Multivortex structure can occur in almost any circulation, however it is very often observed in intense tornadoes.
Satellite tornado
A satellite tornado is a term for a weaker tornado which forms very near a large, strong tornado contained within the same mesocyclone. The satellite tornado may appear to "orbit" the larger tornado (hence the name), giving the appearance of one, large multi-vortex tornado. However, a satellite tornado is a distinct funnel, and is much smaller than the main funnel.[3]

A waterspout near the Florida Keys.Waterspout
A waterspout is officially defined by the U.S. National Weather Service simply as a tornado over water. Amongst researchers, however, they are typically divided into two categories: "fair weather" waterspouts, and tornadic waterspouts.
"Fair weather" waterspouts are the less-severe (but far more common) variety, and are similar in dynamics to dust devils and landspouts.[13] They form from the bases of cumulus congestus (also called "convective cumulus") cloud towers in tropical and semitropical waters.[13] They have relatively weak winds (F0 on the Fujita scale), smooth laminar walls, and typically travel very slowly, if at all (since the cloud they are attached to is being formed by convective action instead of the interaction between colliding fronts).[13] They occur more commonly in the Florida Keys than anywhere on Earth.[14]
Tornadic waterspouts are more literally "tornadoes over water", and form the same way as tornadoes. A tornado which spawns in the traditional manner on land and later crosses into a body of water would also be considered a tornadic waterspout. Since they form from severe thunderstorms and have the capacity to be far more intense, faster, and longer-lived than their fair weather cousins, they are considered to be far more dangerous.

A landspout near North Platte, Nebraska on May 22, 2004.Landspout

A landspout is an unofficial term for a tornado not associated with a mesocyclone. The name stems from their characterization as essentially a "fair weather waterspout on land". They share most of the characteristics with their water-based brethren, including relative weakness, short lifespan, and a small, smooth condensation funnel which often does not reach the ground. Landspouts also create a distinctively laminar cloud of dust when they make contact with the ground, owing to their differing mechanics from true mesoform tornadoes. Though usually weaker than classic tornadoes, they still possess strong winds and can cause serious damage.[3][15]

Tornado-like circulations
Gustnado
A gustnado (gust front tornado) is a small, vertical swirl associated with a gust front or downburst. Because they are technically not associated with the cloud base, there is some debate as to whether or not gustnadoes are actually tornadoes. They are formed when fast moving cold, dry outflow air from a thunderstorm is blown through a mass of stationary, warm, moist air near the outflow boundary, resulting in a "rolling" effect (often exemplified through a roll cloud). If low level wind shear is strong enough, the rotation can be turned horizontally (or diagonally) and make contact with the ground. The result is a gustnado.[3][16] They usually cause small areas of heavier rotational wind damage among areas of straight-line wind damage. It is also worth noting that since they are absent of any Coriolis influence from a mesocyclone, they seem to be alternately cyclonic and anticyclonic without preference.

Dust devil in Johnsonville, South Carolina.Dust devil
A dust devil resembles a tornado in that it is a vertical swirling column of air. However, they form under clear skies and are rarely as strong as even the weakest tornadoes. They form when a strong convective updraft is formed near the ground on a hot day. If there is enough low level wind shear, the column of hot, rising air can develop a small cyclonic motion that can be seen near the ground. They are not considered tornadoes because they form during fair weather and are not associated with any actual cloud. However, they can, on occasion, result in major damage and fatalities, especially in arid areas.[17][18]
Fire whirl
Tornado-like circulations occasionally occur near large, intense wildfires and are called fire whirls. They are not considered tornadoes except in the rare case where they connect to a pyrocumulus or other cumuliform cloud above. Fire whirls usually are not as strong as tornadoes associated with thunderstorms. However, they can produce significant damage.[8]
Cold air vortex
A cold air vortex or shear funnel is a tiny, harmless funnel cloud which occasionally forms underneath or on the sides of normal cumuliform clouds, rarely causing any winds at ground-level.[19] Their genesis and mechanics are poorly understood, as they are quite rare, short lived, and hard to spot (due to their non-rotational nature and small size).

Characteristics

A wedge tornado, nearly a mile wide.
A rope tornado in its dissipating stage.
Shape
Most tornadoes take on the appearance of a narrow funnel, a few hundred yards (a few hundred meters) across, with a small cloud of debris near the ground. However, tornadoes can appear in many shapes and sizes.

Small, relatively weak landspouts may only be visible as a small swirl of dust on the ground. While the condensation funnel may not extend all the way to the ground, if associated surface winds are greater than 40 mph (64 km/h), the circulation is considered a tornado.[15] Large single-vortex tornadoes can look like large wedges stuck into the ground, and so are known as wedge tornadoes or wedges. A wedge can be so wide that it appears to be a block of dark clouds, wider than the distance from the cloud base to the ground. Even experienced storm observers may not be able to tell the difference between a low-hanging cloud and a wedge tornado from a distance.[20]


Size
In the United States, an average tornado is around 500 feet (150 m) across, and stays on the ground for 5 miles (8 km).[17] While this is the average, there is an extremely wide range of tornado sizes, even for typical tornadoes. Weak tornadoes, or strong but dissipating tornadoes, can be exceedingly narrow, sometimes only a few feet across. In fact, a tornado was once reported to have a damage path only 7 feet (2 m) long.[17] On the other end of the spectrum, wedge tornadoes can have a damage path a mile (1.6 km) wide or more. A tornado that affected Hallam, Nebraska on May 22, 2004 was at one point 2.5 miles (4 km) wide at the ground.[2]

In terms of path length, the Tri-State Tornado, which affected parts of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana on March 18, 1925, was officially on the ground continuously for 219 miles (352 km). Many tornadoes which appear to have path lengths of 100 miles or longer are actually a family of tornadoes which have formed in quick succession; however, there is no substantial evidence that this occurred in the case of the Tri-State Tornado.[8] In fact, modern reanalysis of the path suggests that the tornado began 15 miles (24 km) further west than previously thought.[22]


Appearance

Tornadoes, depending on the environment in which they form, can have a wide range of colors. Tornadoes which form in a dry environment can be nearly invisible, marked only by swirling debris at the base of the funnel. Condensation funnels which pick up little or no debris can be gray to white. While travelling over a body of water as a waterspout, they can turn very white or even blue. Funnels which move slowly, ingesting a lot of debris and dirt, are usually darker, taking on the color of debris. Tornadoes in the Great Plains can turn red because of the reddish tint of the soil, and tornadoes in mountainous areas can travel over snow-covered ground, turning brilliantly white in the process.[17]
These are two photographs of the Waurika, Oklahoma tornado of May 30, 1976, taken at nearly the same time by two different photographers. In the top picture, the tornado is front-lit, with the sun behind the east-facing camera, so the funnel appears nearly white. In the lower image, where the camera is facing the opposite direction, the tornado is back-lit, with the sun behind the clouds.[23]Lighting conditions are also a major factor in the appearance of a tornado. A tornado which is "back-lit", or viewed with the sun behind it, will appear to be very dark. The same tornado, viewed with the sun at the observer's back, may appear gray or brilliant white. Tornadoes which occur near the time of sunset can be many different colors, appearing in hues of yellow, orange, and pink.[24][12]

Rotation

Tornadoes normally rotate cyclonically in direction (counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere, clockwise in the southern). While large-scale storms always rotate cyclonically due to the Coriolis effect, thunderstorms and tornadoes are so small that the direct influence of Coriolis effect is inconsequential, as demonstrated physically by the Rossby number. Supercells and tornadoes would rotate cyclonically even without the Coriolis effect, as evidenced by their doing so in numerical simulations which neglect the Coriolis component.[28][29] Low-level mesocyclones and tornadoes owe their rotation to complex processes within the supercell and ambient environment.[30]

Sound and seismology

Tornadoes emit widely on the acoustics spectrum and multiple mechanisms cause the sound of a tornado. Various sounds of tornadoes have been reported throughout time, mostly related to familiar sounds for the earwitness and generally some variation of a whooshing roar. Among the popularly reported sounds are a freight train, rushing rapids or a waterfall, and a jet engine from close proximity, or combinations thereof. Many tornadoes are not audible from much distance; the nature and propagation distance of the audible sound depends on atmospheric conditions and topography.

The winds of both the tornado vortex and constituent turbulent eddies, as well as airflow interaction with the surface and debris, contribute to the sound of a tornado; this is evidenced by both funnel clouds and tornadoes having sounds, and the associated sounds differing. Funnel clouds and small tornadoes are reported as a whistling, whining, humming, or the buzzing of innumerable bees or electricity, or more or less harmonic, whereas many tornadoes are reported as a continuous, deep rumbling, or an irregular sound of “noise”.[33] It is important to note that many tornadoes do not produce any sound unless one is within very close proximity, so sound is not reliable forewarning of a tornado; and that not only tornadoes but also any strong, damaging wind, even a severe hail volley or continuous thunder within a thunderstorm may produce a roaring sound.[34]

Electromagnetic, lightning, and other effects

Tornadoes emit on the electromagnetic spectrum, for example, with sferics and E-field effects detected.[citation needed] The effects vary, mostly with little observed consistency. Luminosity has been reported in the past, and is probably due to misidentification of external light sources such as lightning, city lights, and power flashes from broken lines, as internal sources are now uncommonly reported and are not known to ever been recorded. Correlations with patterns of lightning activity have also been observed, however, no consistent correlations have been advanced. Electromagnetics and lightning have little to nothing to do directly with what drives tornadoes (tornadoes are basically a thermodynamic phenomenon), though there are likely connections with the storm and environment affecting both phenomena.

In addition to winds, tornadoes also exhibit changes in atmospheric variables such as temperature, moisture, and pressure; for example, in June 2003, a probe measured a 100 mb (hPa) (2.95 inHg) pressure

Matha Vishnavi Devi Temple

INTRODUCTION

"Chalo Bulawa Aya Hai Mata Ne Bulaya Hai,” is the usual refrain of one overwhelmed with the irresistible urge. He forgets his past commitments, drops the job on hand and, at the first opportunity, rushes to catch the train to Jammu, the railroad to reach Vaishno Devi. Over 4.5 million Indians from all parts of the country respond this way to the call of the Mother every year to one of the holiest shrines in northern India. Youngsters hope to fare well in examinations; newlyweds look for conjugal bliss. Some hope to win property cases; others look forward to the blessing of an heir. And some visit Vaishno Devi for no other reason than their wish to see Mata.

Devotees aver that the revered Mata calls out to her followers, and only then can one go to her sublime shrine. An arduous journey up the Trikuta Mountain range and the final darshan (audience) of the Goddess leaves one with staunch faith in Her. It is believed that one can ask the great Mother of any needful thing and promise to visit her when the wish is fulfilled. Lakhs of people vouch for the deity's graciousness and visit the shrine in the form of thanksgiving.




LEGEND

Vaishno Devi originated out of the combined tejas or powers of the three Supreme Gods forming the Trinity, i.e., Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The purpose of her creation was to eliminate the invincible and troublesome Rakshas community, mainly the vicious Asura Mahishasura. Another reason was that she might usher on earth an era of pious and ascetic life so that peace could prevail upon the world. She was destined to ultimately merge with Vishnu after attaining higher levels of spirituality through her penance. Vaishno Devi is the embodiment of the collective spiritual strengths of Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati.

The Goddess took birth in her human form in the house of King Ratnakar Sagar who ruled South India. Named Vaishnavi, she was a very extraordinary girl displaying an insatiable inclination towards meditation and penance right from the childhood. Ultimately, she decided to adopt a life of renunciation and go to the forest for tapasya (meditation).

It was during her tapasya that Lord Rama, who was in his fourteen years of exile, happened to visit Vaishnavi. The divine Goddess recognized him immediately as her supreme goal, i.e., Lord Vishnu himself. Subsequently, she prayed to be absorbed into the Creator. Lord Rama, however, told her that it was not the right time for the convergence and said that he would visit her again after the end of his exile. If Vaishnavi succeeded in recognizing him at that time, then he would fulfill her wish. Rama visited her again after killing Ravana, but this time in the guise of an old sage. As destiny would have it, Vaishnavi failed to recognize him. The benevolent Lord, however, consoled her by saying that the appropriate time for Vaishnavi's merging with the God would come in the Kaliyug when he would be incarnated as Kalki. He advised Vaishnavi to meditate in the cave of the Trikuta hills until then.

As instructed by Rama, the Goddess settled down at the foot of the Trikuta Hills and became engrossed in meditation. Very soon, her glory spread to far and wide and people started pouring in to seek her blessings. In the course of time, a tantrik named Gorakh Nath became curious about the sanguinity of the famed Goddess and sent forth his disciple Bhairon Nath to find out the details about her. However, on seeing Vaishnavi, Bhairon Nath felt so enamored by her beauty that he became possessed with the idea of marrying her.

At about the same time, Sridhar, an ardent devotee of the Mother, organized a Bhandara (community meal). All the village people including Guru Gorakh Nath and his disciples were invited. As the Bhandara progressed, the Goddess came to provide Sridhar with the necessary food items and also to attend to the guests. On seeing the beautiful Goddess, Bhairon Nath tried to embarrass her by demanding meat and alcohol. When Vaishnavi declined to provide Bhairon Nath with his desired items, the rogue sprang to grab Vaishnavi. The Goddess ran away and the nonchalant tantrik ran after her. There ensued a long-drawn drama of chase between the two. During her flight, the Goddess halted at Bana Ganga, Charan Paduka, and Ardhkwari.

At Ardhkwari, she hid inside a very narrow cave and remained there meditating for whole nine months. When she came out, the charlatan Bhairon Nath again commenced on his chase after her. Finally, both of them reached the cave entrance of the present-day shrine. It is here that the Goddess was compelled to behead the tantrik to end the drama. The severed head of Bhairon fell at the place where the Bhairon Mandir now stands. The dying Bhairon Nath realized the power of the Divine Goddess and begged her of forgiveness. The merciful goddess forgave him and blessed him with the boon that Bhairon Nath would have the glory of being visited by every devotee of the Mother. She ordained that a person's yatra (journey) would remain fruitless and incomplete if he/she fails to visit the temple of Bhairon Nath after having visited the Goddess. Since then, the custom is to visit the Mata's shrine first and then to visit the Bhairon Nath temple.

It is believed that Vaishno Devi is still meditating upon Vishnu and would continue to do so until the Lord arrives as the Kalki Avatar. She resides in the holy cave in the form of a five and a half feet tall rock with three heads or pindies. These pindies constitute the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine.

WHEN TO VISIT

Although the Vaishno Devi shrine can be visited throughout the year, the pilgrimage is generally undertaken by the devotees in the severe cold months of the year, i.e., from October to February. During the festival of Navaratri, thousands of diehard followers from all over the country and even abroad line up the long mountain roads to worship the deity. Navaratri is the biggest festival in honor of the Goddess and people have to stand in lines for hours to have the darshan.

THE PILGRIMAGE

The Journey



A deluxe bus from Jammu takes one to the first halt at Nagrota, 13 km away. Known as Pehla Darshan (First Sighting), it is said that Vaishno Devi was first sighted here when she was barely five years old. The spot is sanctified by a stone temple believed to have been built by the Pandavas during their exile.

The next stop is at the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) Tourist Bungalow at Katra, which is perched at 900 meters above sea level. The actual yatra starts at Katra, from where pilgrims are required to cover an arduous stretch of 13 km either on foot or by ponies.

The journey begins with the procurement of the yatra slip from the tourism reception center at the Katra bus stand. The slip, which comes free of cost, is nevertheless vital to initiate the pilgrimage.




One can get various assorted items for the yatra such as caps, canvas shoes, sticks, etc., on hire and purchase. Pithus (coolies) can be hired for carrying your goods and small children. In addition, pony and dandi (palanquin) services are available for those who have problems in climbing the mountains. However, only registered pithu, pony and dandis should be hired and their tokens kept during the period they are engaged.
The 8–10 feet wide, neatly cemented pathway is lined with drinking water and toilet facilities, and a variety of tit-bit shops. There emerges an atmosphere of congeniality as the fellow pilgrims start cheering each other to undertake the arduous journey. Many people sing in the praise of the Goddess and assert their faith that the Divine Mother would help them to reach their destination up across the difficult path.

One kilometer further up is the Bana Ganga, a gushing rivulet. It emerged from the spot where Vaishno Devi struck a bana (arrow) on the bare mountainside to dig up a water spring for quenching her thirst.

Ardhkwari is at halfway to the Bhavan, the main shrine spot. It is 1,500 meters above sea level. The venerated Mother was believed to have vanished into the cave of Ardhkwari to escape from the pursuing Bhairon Nath. Many devotees undertake the ordeal of the difficult narrow cave. It is believed that a sinner cannot pass through this cave shrine. This place has been developed on a large scale with the setting up of several dharamshalas (charitable rest houses), vegetarian restaurants and other shops.

The pathway narrows down after this and the climb gets increasingly steep. Clouds gather around at Sanjhi Chhat, perched at 2,000 meters above sea level. The atmosphere gets cold from here and visibility drops to a few feet.

Up at Bhavan, one has to show the yatra slip at the registration office and take the batch number provided on the slip. This is necessary only when there are a large number of yatris assembled for the darshan. Bhavan is situated in a valley and is literally a small, crowded, colorful hill station.

Rituals

Upon reaching Bhavan, it is preferable if not mandatory to take a bath before going for the darshan. One should then proceed to buy prasad, chunri and coconuts from the shops located near the cave shrine. Now comes your turn to proceed towards the cave shrine. Amidst the chants of the joyous devotees, as they move in queue towards the awe-inspiring and venerated place where the pindies are worshipped, your pilgrimage to the abode of the Mother is made.

However, an important part of the yatra is still left after Bhavan. It is the ascent to the Bhairon Temple, which is located at a higher altitude. As ordained by the Goddess, it is compulsory to undertake the yatra of Bhairon Mandir, failing which the pilgrimage is deemed incomplete. The return journey from the Bhairon Temple takes one to an even higher height before leading down the mountains. This route is comparatively shorter.

DON'T MISS

The following is a list of attractions in the vicinity of the Vaishno Devi shrine:

1.Deva Mai
2.Devi Pindian
3.Baba Dhansar
4.Aghar Jitto
5.Salala Lake
6.Riasi
7.Bhim Garh Fort
8.Shri Raghunath Temple (Jammu)
9.Darshani Darwaza
10.Kol-Kandholi
11.Bana Ganga Temple and Bridge
12.Charan Paduka Temple
13.Shali Gram
14.Ardhkwari
15.Hathi-Matha Ascent
16.Sanjhi Chhat
17.Shri Raghunath Temple (Katra)
18.Bhumika Temple

LODGING

Jammu

Hotel Asia Jammu Tawi, Hotel Hari Niwas Palace, Hotel Jewels are some of the standard hotels in Jammu. The room rent ranges from Rs. 300 to Rs. 3,000 per day. Besides, there is the Yatri Niwas managed by the Shrine Board.

Katra

Beside the Yatri Niwas, a number of quality hotels and rest houses are available at Katra.

HOW TO REACH

By Air

The nearest airport is at Jammu, 48 km from Katra. Regular flights are available from Delhi and Srinagar. One has to go by bus or private vehicle to Katra, which is at the base of the Trikuta range.

By Rail

The nearest railhead is the Jammu Tawi railway station, which is connected with Calcutta, Delhi and Kanyakumari

By Road

The interstate bus terminus at Jammu has bus services to several cities within and outside the state.

INFORMATION TIT BITS

Devotees can buy the items for worship from the souvenir shops run by the Shrine Board at Bhavan and Vaishnavi Dham, Jammu.

The following is a list of the items available with their rates:

Superior chunris: Rs. 125
Medium chunris: Rs. 65
Other chunris: Rs. 30
Blouse piece: Rs. 6
Sari: Rs. 40, Rs. 75, Rs. 90, Rs. 100, Rs. 130, Rs. 150
Chola: Rs. 15, Rs. 50, Rs. 100

DO'S AND DON'TS



1.One must take official receipts for all payments made to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board as well as private vendors.

2.One must pay the actual prices of all services. For the purpose, official rate lists are available.

3.Services of only the registered people—be it pithu, pony or the dandiwalla—are advised to be taken. One should also keep their tokens for the period they are engaged.

4.Luggage and belongings must not be kept with unknown and unauthorized persons.

5.One should be also careful against doubtful people, as such people abound in pilgrimage centers.

6.Sanctity of the place has to be maintained with abstinence from indulging in gambling, playing cards, smoking or chewing paan on the journey.

7.Beware of anti-social elements at Ardhkwari, especially during the overnight.

8.As for clothing, light woolen garments are required at night during the summer while heavy woolens are necessary in the winters.

9.Donations to the Shrine are exempt from Income Tax under the Income Tax Act.

Why We Vote Taj Mahal ?

In 1612, Arjumand Banu Begam, a Muslim Persian princess better known by her other name, Mumtaz Mahal was married to Shah Jahan (then Prince Khurram), the fifth Mughal emperor. Mumtaz, the emperor's second wife, was her husband's comrade and counselor. An inseparable companion on all his journeys and military expeditions, she inspired the emperor to do acts of charity and benevolence towards the weak and the needy. Mumtaz bore 14 children, and when she died during childbirth in 1631, Shah Jahan was so heartbroken that all his hair and beard were said to have turned snow-white in a few months! Overpowered by grief, Shah Jahan decided to immortalize the memory of his beloved wife by building the finest sepulcher ever - a monument of eternal love. Herein lies the genesis of the Taj Mahal.
The construction documents show that its master architect was Ustad Ahmed Lahori, the renowned Islamic architect of his time. The much-celebrated saga of royal love was brought to life by dexterous and skilled artisans from places as far away as Delhi, Kannauj, Lahore, Multan, Baghdad, Shiraz and Bukhara.

Construction began in 1631, and over 20,000 workmen and master craftsmen worked laboriously for 22 years to give shape to the emperor's passionate dream! The material was brought in from all over India and central Asia and it took a fleet of 1,000 elephants to transport it to the site. The complex was finally completed in 1653 at a cost of 32 Million Rupees (approx USD 68000) on the banks of river Yamuna in Agra, the capital of the Mughal monarchs.

But the beauty of Taj Mahal is also tainted by the gory fact that the hands of some of the master craftsmen were amputated... to ensure that the perfection of the Taj could never be repeated ever again!

A Day at Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal in the MorningThe glory of the monument is strangely undiminished by the crowds of tourists who visit each day, as small and insignificant as ants in the face of this immense and captivating monument. That said, the Taj is at its most alluring in the relative quiet of early morning, shrouded in mists and bathed with a soft red glow. As its vast marble surfaces fall into shadow or reflect the sun, its colour changes, from soft grey and yellow to pearly cream and dazzling white; it's well worth visiting at different times. This play of light is an important decorative device, symbolically implying the presence of Allah, who is never represented in anthropomorphic form.

Beauty of Taj Mahal during DayThe Taj Mahal shows a different aspect of beauty at different times of the day. The sight of the Taj awash with the subtle pinks of dawn is an unforgettable sight. Sunsets stain the Taj an exotic shade of orange. But nothing beats the poignant beauty of the Taj seen when the cool white marble is bathed in the soft silver light of the moon. Even in the bright light of the day, this wonder of the world shines with an awe-inspiring loveliness.

There's no time limit on visits to the Taj, and some people spend most of the day here, sitting, reading, dozing or picnicking in the beautifully kept gardens. Hawkers and salesmen are not allowed in, and official guides are not available on site, but can usually be provided by hotels, and always accompany organized tours. The ticket office, just outside the western gate, is rarely blocked by long queues, except between 4 and 5 pm before the admission fee increases; bring the right amount of money as the ticket booth attendants rarely have change and tend to pocket the difference.
The Mausoleum of the Taj Mahal at Agra stands in a formally laid-out walled garden entered through a pavilion. The architectural complex comprises five main elements: the Darwaza or main gateway, the Bageecha or garden, the Masjid or mosque, the Naqqar Khana or rest house, and the Rauza or the Taj Mahal mausoleum. The actual Tomb is situated inside the Taj. The unique Mughal style combines elements of Persian, Central Asian, and Islamic architecture. The mosques, built only to balance the composition are set sufficiently far away to do no more than frame the mausoleum. In essence, the whole riverside platform is a mosque courtyard with a tomb at its center. The great entrance gate with its domed central chamber, set at the end of the long watercourse, would in any other setting be a monument in its own right.

The Taj stands on a raised, square platform (186 x 186 feet) with its four corners truncated, forming an unequal octagon. The architectural design uses the interlocking arabesque concept, in which each element stands on its own and perfectly integrates with the main structure. It uses the principles of self-replicating geometry and a symmetry of architectural elements. The four graceful and slender 162.5 feet minarets, set symmetrically about the tomb, are scaled down to heighten the effect of the dominant, slightly bulbous dome. Its central dome is 58 feet in diameter and rises to a height of 213 feet It is flanked by four subsidiary domed chambers.

The tombs of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal are actually located in a shadowy burial crypt. Above them, in the main chamber are false tombs, a common practice in mausoleums built during the Mughal period. Light is admitted into the central chamber by finely cut marble screens. The echo in this high-domed chamber is worth hearing, and there is always somebody there to demonstrate it.
Ironically, the perfect symmetry of Taj is disrupted by the tomb of the man who built it. When Shah Jahan died in 1666, his son Aurangzeb, placed his casket next to that of Mumtaz Mahal. His presence which was never intended, unbalances the mausoleum's interior.