SU.MAN.: 2013

Thursday, 19 September 2013

Shivaji Bhosale ( Feb 19 1627- April 3 1680) Coronated as Chhatrapati (Supreme Ruler) of Maratha Empire at Fort Raigad (which was his Capital) in 1674. It was during his rule that Maratha Empire was extended to new horizon and covered greater part of Western India and parts of South India. He was a competent and progressive ruler and gave the call for Hindavi Swaraj (Self rule for Hindus). His killing of Afzal Khan a Maratha General is a matter of research and an important part of tactical warfare. Shivaji pioneered the Guerilla warfare methods in India.He is much respected ICON of Maratha life style and people in Maharashtra worship him almost as a God. Every aspect of life in Maharashtra has the spirit of Shivaji Maharaj behind it. The Mumbai Victoria Terminal Railway Station, a UNESCO site, has been renamed as Chhatrapati Shivaji terminal and the Sahar Internation airport is also named as Chhatrapati Shivaji Air terminal.

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

The Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls, Ontario. The hub of tourism, including the casinos, are now in the Fallsview area shown in the background.

Niagara Falls, a world-famous set of three large waterfalls on the Niagara River and benefits from the fact that both falls, the Americanand Horseshoe, can be best seen from the Canadian side of the river, thus giving the city one of the major tourist attractions of the world. The natural spectacle brings in millions of tourists yearly. The city permitted the development of a tourist area along the falls and the gorge. This area which stretches along the Niagara Parkway and tourist promenade is particularly concentrated at the brink of the falls and, apart from the natural attractions along the river, includes huge parking lots, souvenir shops, observation towers, high-rise hotels, casinos and theatres, mostly with colourful neon billboards and advertisements. Further to the north or south there are golf courses alongside historic sites from the War of 1

Tuesday, 20 August 2013

Cable Cars of San Francisco.

Waiting in a Q for the next Cable Car .Cable Car system of SFO is world's last manually operated cable car.But it is an ICON of Calfornia.

The next car is due to arrive.This is a part of the San Francisco Municipal Railway "Muni" in short.

23 lines started between 1873-1890 but only three remain.These pictures are of the route Union Square to Fisherman Wharf covering areas of China Town,North Beach,Nob Hill and Aquatic Park.The system is mainly used by Tourists but also by some commuters who live along the track.

The system did face upheavals and for short time in 1951 they were closed too.It is expensive to run an old fashioned system but traditions keep the communities alive.

It is exciting to go up and down in some of the original trams that bring the old world charm back to the memory.The system is not without blemishes for in the last 10 years it had 126 accidents forcing SFO Muni to pay $8 million in compensation.