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India.com
10 hours ago
- General
- India.com
7 Must-Visit Villages Near Delhi City For A Peaceful Getaway
The Indian capital of Delhi stands out for its energetic culture alongside impressive historic sites as well as its energetic life routines. A great number of exploration activities exist in the city yet sometimes you need to recover your mental and spiritual well-being by taking a break from the overwhelming pace. Many users can reach multiple picture-worthy villages near Delhi by car to experience peaceful encounters with nature along with traditional customs and authentic rural ambiance. A peaceful getaway awaits visitors in the seven recommended villages located near Delhi. 1. Mandawa – The Open-Air Art Gallery You will find the Rajasthan town of Mandawa situated at about 280 kilometers southeast of Delhi while locals refer to it as an 'open-air art gallery.' Many people visit this village because it contains beautiful havelis with mythical and historic wall frescoes that depict life as it existed long ago. The artistic masterpieces enable people to time-travel to the Rajput and Marwari merchant era that prevailed in this location. Visitors who come to Mandawa will experience peaceful relaxation together with educational opportunities to learn about regional history. 2. Dharamshala Village – A Spiritual Retreat Situated 50 kilometers outside Delhi exists the Haryana town Dharamshala Village which offers spiritual tranquility as its main attraction to visitors. The village envelops its guests in forested landscapes that contain multiple ashrams and meditation facilities to practice yoga and mindfulness. The relaxing atmosphere of this place provides an ideal environment for finding peace within yourself and relaxing during your visit. Visitors who love exploring nature find an exciting element from the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary located near the village. 3. The traditional meets modern aspects of Badshahpur create a unique environment Badshahpur serves as a peaceful Indian village which exists 40 kilometers from Delhi within Gurugram district. Due to its handicraft and traditional pottery culture alongside its close proximity to Delhi Badshahpur provides both a rural experience of India and a convenient rapid weekend getaway. Local artisans in this location permit visitors to witness their craft-making processes and buy distinctive keepsakes. Tourists can enjoy picturesque walk trails alongside traditional Haryanvi food that local restaurants prepare. 4. Sohna – A Serene Hill Station The town of Sohna meets the requirements for being termed as a town instead of a proper village yet its quiet ambiance with Delhi proximity justifies its inclusion. Sohna resides within the Aravalli Hills about 60 kilometers from Delhi while presenting panoramic views over its beautiful surrounding hills. Villagers visit this area primarily because its hot sulphur springs are recognized for healing abilities. Sohna transforms into a widespread winter attraction for people who enjoy outdoor picnics followed by night camping under the stars. 5. The Village of Abhaneri Demonstrate Architectural Brilliance The architectural masterpieces of Abhaneri in Rajasthan exist about 180 kilometers outside Delhi. The village provides visitors with the opportunity to see Chand Baori which stands as one of India's most profound symmetrical stepwells with its 3,500 narrow steps. Visitors must experience the magnificent Harshat Mata Temple built in the traditional design of ancient Indian architecture. Abbhaneri offers visitors a serene sanctuary together with historical exploration activities which appeal to history enthusiasts and photography enthusiasts. 6. Alwar – The Tiger Gateway Alwar in Rajasthan functions as the entrance to the tiger reserves of Sariska National Park while resting around 170 kilometers from Delhi. In addition to its wildlife sights Alwar presents the enchanting old-world atmospheres of Siliserh and Bhangarh villages. Boating and birdwatching activities take place at Siliserh Lake which stands between the Aravalli Hills. Meanwhile, Bhangarh Fort, though infamous for ghost stories, offers a thrilling experience for adventure seekers during daylight hours. 7. Neemrana – A Heritage Haven Neemrana lies about 120 kilometers from Delhi and it gained worldwide recognition through its transformed heritage hotel built from Neemrana Fort-Palace. The town maintains its original rural spirit while letting tourists experience authentic Rajasthani cultural practices and eating traditions. The fort's elevated position creates a perfect relaxation environment because it provides sweeping landscape views of the surrounding countryside. People who prefer eco-tourism activities will find Neemrana offers programs dedicated to sustainable lifestyle development. Why Choose These Villages? The villages present distinct experiences to their visitors which may include artistic exploration, spirituality, adventurous activities or peaceful relaxation. These destinations stand as opposite to city life since they enable people to step into rural Indian beauty and experience rural simplicity. These destinations guarantee a restful experience which can be achieved during brief weekend travels. Tips for Visiting These Villages Adequate planning plays essential role when you aim to visit distant locations because it ensures you reach each stop according to your schedule. Efforts should focus on respecting local customs and traditional ways of behavior when villagers are encountered. Wear lightweight clothes combined with water bottles and sunscreen when planning day trips for outdoor activities. Experience authentic regional cuisine since these local dishes express original cultural roots from the area. Sustainable travel methods should become your choice to protect the environment. The surrounding villages of Delhi provide visitors an enchanting experience which unites peaceful environments with local heritage and beautiful natural landscapes. Every one of these travel destinations provides exceptional experiences that include natural encounters and historic visits and picturesque settings. Experience rural India by hitting the road to observe the fantastic charm that extends outside urban areas.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Shah at 150th anniv of Bhuleshwar temple, talks cultural preservation
Mumbai: Recalling his childhood memories of a Mumbai quarter where the early Kathiawar, Kutch and Marwar migrants settled, Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday dwelt on the traditions that shaped the community and praised the trustees of a 150-year-old temple in the area for keeping their customs alive. Shah chose to speak in Gujarati during the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Laxmi-Narayan Temple at the Madhavbaug complex in Bhuleshwar on Tuesday, an area predominantly Gujarati and Marwari in character. He began by greeting those present with "Jai Shri Krishna." Lauding the trustees, he said he ran a similar charitable trust but in a smaller capacity and knew how difficult it was, especially in a city like Mumbai. "I was born in Mumbai. I am linked to Mumbai. On several occasions, I came to this Laxmi-Narayan Temple for Aarti (Puja) and darshan while visiting the city. There used to be a wadi, a marriage hall run by the trustees, where scores of middle-class families could conduct their marriages at a very reasonable cost. My three sisters were married in this very wadi. This is four decades ago; there used to be a small hall, a large open space. I remember very clearly," he recounted fondly. He said he closely observed the idols since childhood, whose expressions are so beautifully essayed by the sculpture. Shah said he was born in a Vaishnav family, and the puja is still conducted in pure Vaishnav traditions. The trust used to teach the Bhagavad Gita, run a Sanskrit school too, and did a lot of social work. Praising the generosity of the temple's founders, Varjivandas and Narottambhai, he said the lakhs of rupees they donated in 1875 would be equivalent to billions today. It was the only time he spoke a few words in Hindi, addressing chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Shah said after 150 years, it was not enough to celebrate; rather, it was the trustees' responsibility to now lay the roadmap for the future. "Can Madhavbaug be a spiritual centre for the troubled middle class? Can this trust become a centre to teach the mother tongue, which is slowly being forgotten by grandchildren going to English medium schools? Today, go to a Gujarati home, and if you do not know English, it can become difficult; even parents do not speak to their children in Gujarati," said Shah, adding the trustees should work to make Madhavbaug a centre for Gujarati, Marwari, and Sanskrit. Referring to the achievements of the Modi govt, he said Narendra Modi completed 11 years as PM on Monday. "This Gujarati son (Narendra Modi) has been focused on the development of the country... we have become the fourth largest economy, made the country secure, and those who tried to make the country unsafe, we entered their house and beat them up," said Shah. Shah said Modi made Indians proud of India. "When I met a French diplomat, I asked him, what was the difference after 10 years? He said for those from the Western world, Modi has increased the value of India's passport," he said. The home minister said political will was needed, and Modi, after 550 years, ensured the Ram idol was moved from a tent to a splendid temple, and the Kashi-Vishwanath corridor, which was destroyed by Aurangzeb, was restored. Shah said Operation Sindoor showed the importance of Sindoor. "...Ek chutki sindoor, which is important to our mothers, sisters... we have shown the importance of the Sindoor. There were ten crore online searches for the meaning of Sindoor... we went into their home and destroyed their hideouts," said Shah.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Hyd co tangled in racehorses' deaths under GHMC lens for ‘illegal import'
1 2 Hyderabad: Just two days before 57 horses were transported from Hyderabad to Jabalpur, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has charged HithaNet India Pvt Ltd for "illegally importing" horses into the city. The company is currently caught in a controversy over the death of eight racehorses in Raipura village of Panagar in Jabalpur district. According to reports, these horses were among those it had transported discreetly from Hyderabad to Jabalpur without due diligence. The matter is currently under investigation by the Madhya Pradesh govt. The GHMC has charged a senior manager from the firm of violating section 540 (1) of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act, 1955, which prohibits the import of cattle, sheep, goats, or swine, or their flesh, into the city without the written permission of the GHMC commissioner. "The incumbent was found to import horses into GHMC without permission," reads the notice issued on April 28 by the veterinary officer of Charminar zone. A copy of it is in TOI's possession. While it does not give details about the count of animals or where they were imported from, sources claimed that about 100 Marwari horses including some retired racehorses, were brought to the city. Sources said that the GHMC swung into action after allegedly some disgruntled employees of HithaNet alerted the Marwari community about these horses not being kept properly by the company. The community, in turn, lodged a complaint with BJP leader Maneka Gandhi, who runs People For Animals. "Following a complaint from her to the Telangana govt, GHMC inspected these horses, which were kept in stables taken on lease from the Hyderabad Race Club (HRC)," said the source. When contacted, the HithaNet management said they were unaware about the need to seek GHMC's permission to bring horses into the city. "We were in touch with HRC. Only after taking stables on lease from them did we bring the animals here. No other permissions were obtained because we did not think that was necessary," said Pavani Gaddam, authorised signatory of the firm. Both the firm and HRC also did not furnish transport and fitness certificates for each horse, as sought by GHMC. "We, however, submitted other documents such as passports – unique identifiers for individual horses – vaccination details, feed and nutrition logs, case sheets, and registration certificates of veterinary doctors to GHMC," a HRC official said.
Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Brought from Hyderabad, 8 racehorses die mysteriously in Madhya Pradesh, govt launches probe
The Madhya Pradesh government has launched an investigation into the mysterious deaths of eight high-value racehorses — belonging to heritage breeds — that were recently transported from Hyderabad to Raipura village in Jabalpur district. Jabalpur Collector Deepak Saxena ordered the probe after the local veterinary department responded to reports of multiple horse deaths at a private farm in Raipura. Officials are now examining allegations that a total of 57 horses were transferred from Hyderabad to Madhya Pradesh without the required veterinary documentation. Authorities are investigating claims that 'around 57 horses were covertly moved between 29 April and 3 May' by a local resident, Sachin Tiwari, in collaboration with a businessman based in Hyderabad. Among the breeds transported were Marwari and Thoroughbred horses. The Marwari, native to Rajasthan, is distinguished by its inward-curving ears and known for being a hardy riding horse with a natural ambling gait. Thoroughbreds, originally bred in England, are globally renowned for their speed, agility and racing prowess. Marwari horses are often crossed with Thoroughbreds to produce a larger horse with more versatility. According to Prafulla Moon, deputy director of the state veterinary department, four teams were deployed after officials located the horses. 'The horses were transported in a hot atmosphere from Hyderabad. The horses began falling sick due to stress. In total, eight horses have died. We have sent blood samples of 57 horses to a lab in Haryana. The reports of 44 horses have come negative for any infectious disease,' Moon said. Preliminary findings suggest that the animals were housed in inadequate conditions—a cramped cattle shed with insufficient shade and limited space to move. Following public outcry, the National Horse Breeding Society of India dispatched a truck carrying medical supplies to the farm. However, farm owner Sachin Tiwari allegedly barred the vehicle from entering the premises. In response, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which is expected to hear the matter in the coming days. The PIL, filed by Jabalpur-based animal rights activist Simran Issar through her advocate Umesh Tripathi, seeks urgent court intervention to 'protect the life of 49 horses' still held at the facility. The petition describes the animals being kept in open fields during a heatwave without adequate access to water, sanitation, or shelter. The petition further claims that one of the respondents—a Hyderabad-based businessman—is the 'kingpin behind sponsoring all big horsing races in the country, with online betting ventures exclusively for the Philippines'. According to the PIL: 'At the peak of this horse racing venture, they have 154 horses for racing. They had 24 horse races everyday according to Manager for these horse races… This horse racing, which is illegal in India, was streamed on an app in the Philippines.' The petition also asserts that the operation fell into neglect after staff salaries were allegedly not paid, leaving '154 horses without food and water'. 'That, in the first week of February, 2025, out of 154 horses only 64 horses were left…That, these remaining horses were loaded on truck and were sent to Jabalpur from Hyderabad in the command and control of Sachin Tiwari,' the PIL stated.
India Today
20-05-2025
- General
- India Today
How Deccan riots of 1875 laid foundations of cooperative sector
May 12, 1875. It was market day at Supa, a village on the highway from Pune to Ahmednagar (present-day Ahilyanagar). As always, many farmers and money-lenders had thronged the market. There was an argument over a trivial issue between a farmer and a savkar (moneylender) and soon, this escalated into a massive moneylenders were attacked in the market. This fanned the simmering discontent against agrarian distress and debt bondage of farmers. The Supa disturbances sparked off a spontaneous peasant uprising against the usurious practices of the savkars in the regions of Pune, Solapur, Satara and houses of these moneylenders were attacked and papers, mortgage deeds and other documents related to the debt bondage of peasants were burnt during these agrarian riots. These 'Deccan riots,' which completed 150 years on May 12, laid the foundations of the cooperative later period of the 19th century had seen crippling droughts. But the government and its officials did not hesitate to force farmers to pay their taxes and dues. For instance, in Pune's Indapur taluka, the years 1871 and 1872 had seen poor rainfall and crop failures; yet officials persisted in recovering land revenue. This pushed farmers deeper into the vicious circle of debt as they sought loans from moneylenders after mortgaging their cattle, land and houses to make ends meet. Then, there were no formal or institutional sources of credit, and the savkars were the only entities the farmers could fall back on to meet their July 1873, Gopal Narsingh Deshmukh, a vatandar from Indapur, sent a representation to the Bombay government with signatures of 2,500 farmers, complaining that the savkars and the government had robbed them of their rights, and that they had been reduced to the position of serfs. Organisations such as the Pune Sarvajanik Sabha, led by Ganesh Vasudev Joshi aka Sarvajanik Kaka and Justice M.G. Ranade, formed a sub-committee which submitted a report to the government, pointing to the lacunae in the revenue settlement peasants were also upset with the moneylenders. While granting loans, the largely illiterate farmers had to affix their thumbprints on the loan papers. Since the farmers could not read what had been written on these papers, the moneylenders would read out the contents aloud to more often than not, the terms written out on paper were different from what had been told to the farmers. In case of defaults in repayment, the farmers eventually forfeited their lands to the savkars. The farmers had to sell their produce immediately after harvesting, which meant they could not get remunerative first sign of open hostility to the Marwari moneylenders was shown by the people of Karde in Pune's Shirur in 1874, who boycotted them socially and economically. In his 'Visavya Shatakatil Maharashtra-Khand I' (Maharashtra in the 20th century-Volume I), Y.D. Phadke too says that initially, the farmers had socially and economically boycotted the savkars, who were largely Gujarati and simmering anger among the peasants took a violent form in Supe on May 12, 1875. After the altercation in the market, there was a spontaneous outbreak of disturbance. The houses and shops of savkars in Supe were attacked, and the loan and debt papers in their possession 'Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency-Poona' says that at Supe, the house of a Gujar (Gujarati Vani) was burnt down, and about a dozen other houses and shops were broken into and gutted. Account papers, bonds, grain and country cloth were burnt in the street. No personal violence was chief constable of the sub-division, with six or seven constables, arrested about 50 persons and recovered stolen property. Within 24 hours of the riot at Supa, the leading Marwari lender of Kedgaon, about 14 miles to the north of Supa, had his stacks burnt down and house set on fire. During the following days, riots occurred in four other villages in the Bhimthadi belt (the valley of rivers Bhima and Nira), and were threatened in 17 farmers would ask the savkars to hand over the papers, and in rare cases when they refused to do so, they were assaulted. The disturbances soon spread to Indapur, Purandar, Parner, Srigonda and other places. However, there were very few instances where the savkars were killed. Eventually, the army had to be used to help the civil authorities restore order.'The most remarkable feature of these disturbances was the small amount of serious crime. A direct appeal to physical force, over a large area, was usually restrained within the limits of a demonstration. The few cases which bear the vindictive spirit usually shown in agrarian disturbances were probably due to the presence of other rioters besides the ordinary Kunbi peasantry. This moderation is in some measure to be attributed to the nature of the movement. It was not so much a revolt against the oppressor as an attempt to accomplish a definite and practical object—the disarming of the enemy by taking his weapons, his bonds and accounts,' the 'Gazetter' 1875, the Bombay government appointed a commission to inquire into the causes underlying the outbreak. The members held inquiries in the disturbed areas, recorded the statements of landholders and lenders, and compiled other evidence. Their report, which was submitted to the government in 1876, contained a detailed history of the relations of the Deccan landholders and moneylenders since the beginning of British to the 'Gazetteer', the chief complaints made against moneylenders were that bonds usually ran at excessive interest. A member of the 1875 commission cited a case wherein a loan of Rs 10 was taken in 1863. An amount of Rs 110 was paid from time to time, and, at the end of 10 years, Rs 220 was still Phadke notes that the colonial regime blamed the moneylenders for the riots without acknowledging the fact that its taxation policies had led the farmers to this Ravinder Kumar writes in his 'The Deccan Riots of 1875,' these riots 'highlight the social transformations brought about in rural Maharashtra in western India during the first five decades of British rule. The riots are of special interest to the social historian since they hinged upon relations between two important and well-defined rural social groups—the cultivators and the moneylenders'.advertisementKumar says that while all sections of society were affected by the patterns of authority that had shaped up after the fall of the Maratha confederacy in 1818, the tensions which resulted from administrative changes 'found their clearest expression in the relationship between the kunbi (peasant/ tiller) and the vani'. The introduction of the ryotwari system by the British changed the role of the moneylender in the supply of credit to the village. The new system emphasised on individual responsibility instead of the collective responsibility of the village in the payment of land tax, and the money lender dealt with each peasant instead of the village head or 1876-77, the Bombay Presidency and the Hyderabad state saw more drought. During these years, thousands of men and animals died due to water scarcity in Pune, Ahmednagar and Solapur. The activists of the Sarvajanik Sabha worked across the state to provide relief. Based on their inputs, Justice M.G. Ranade sent a report to the government on the plight of agriculturists and suggested relief 1892, there was another crippling drought, and Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak wrote about the sorry condition of the farmers. Tilak wrote that during the 1896-97 drought, 'cattle were being sold at the rate of kadba (cattle feed), and cattle feed commanded the price of gold.'However, despite the general apathy of the colonial bureaucracy towards these social and economic realities, some British officials such as Sir Bartle Frere, the governor of Bombay, and William Wedderburn, the district judge of Ahmednagar, were sympathetic to the cause of the in 1879, the Deccan Agriculturists' Relief Act of 1879 was passed by the Governor-General's Council to reduce interest rates and ensure a check on the predatory tactics of moneylenders. It aimed at restoring the dealings between lender and borrower to an equitable basis. Two years later, Wedderburn, in consultation with Justice Ranade, propounded the launch of agricultural banks, but this turned out to be a stillborn idea. In 1901, the Famine Commission however recommended the establishment of rural agricultural banks through the establishment of mutual credit March 25, 1904, the Cooperative Societies Bill was enacted. This was based on the recommendations of the Edward Law Committee, which was set up to provide a legal basis for cooperative societies. This 1904 Act provided for the constitution of societies, and laid down rules for issues such as eligibility for membership, liabilities on members, disposal of profits, and shares and interests of members. Apart from credit societies, the law also catalysed the launch of some non-credit initiatives like the Triplicane society in Madras, which ran a consumer store, and weaver credit cooperatives in Dharwar and Hubli, which gave credit in the form of 1875 Deccan riots and the preceding and subsequent cycles of drought had another impact—it led to many young Indians being spurred to shake off the British yoke. On February 20, 1879, Vasudev Balwant Phadke launched an armed uprising against the British with the aid of his Ramoshi, Brahmin, Koli, Dalit and Muslim associates. That is of course, another story for another to India Today Magazine
