Longyou caves, China

Longyou Caves are a series of large artificial caverns located at Phoenix Hill, near the village of Shiyan Beicun on the Lan River in Longyou County, Quzhou prefecture, Zhejiang province, China.

In June, 1992, a villager named Wu Anai, decided to pump the water out in one of the locally known caves revealing the first of many man-made caves in the region.  After 17 days pumping, enough water had been removed to reveal the cave including several carved stelae, thus confirming his idea that they were not natural reservoirs at all, but rather man-made. The floor of the grotto occupies more than 2,000 square meters, with the tallest point of the cave exceeding 30 meters. The four steles of cave 1 are symmetrically distributed. Following this discovery, he continued to pump out another four caves only to find that they all bore the same markings on the walls and ceilings.They are considered by Chinese to be the 'Ninth Wonder of the Ancient World'

 

How were they constructed?

A rough estimation of the workload involved in building these five caves is awe-inspiring. The quantity of rock that would have been removed in the overall excavation of the grottoes is estimated to be nearly 1,000,000 cubic meters. Taking into account the average digging rate per day per person, scientists have calculated that it would take 1,000 people working day and night for six years to complete.  These calculations are based purely on hard labour, but what they haven’t taken into account is the incredible care and precision of the sculptors, meaning that the actual workload would far surpass the theoretical estimation.  As for how they were constructed and what tools were used, it is still unknown. No tools have been found in the area, and, as we will explore later, scientists still don’t know how they achieved such symmetry, precision, and similarity between the different caves.

 No traces of construction Despite their size and the effort involved in creating them, so far no trace of their construction or even their existence has been located in the historic record.  Although the overall excavation involved almost a million cubic metres of stone, there is no archaeological evidence revealing where that quantity of stone went, and no evidence of the work. Moreover, there is not a single historic document that refers to them, which is highly unusual considering the sheer scale of the project.  Their origin is a complete and utter mystery. 

How did the caves remain so well preserved?
One of the most interesting and challenging questions is how the caves have been able to keep their structural integrity for more than 2000 years.  There are no signs of collapse, no piles of rubble, and no damage despite the fact that in some areas the walls are only 50 centimetres thick.  Over the centuries, the area has gone through numerous floods, calamities and wars, the mountains have changed their appearance and exposed stones have been weathered, but inside the caves, the form, patterns and markings are still clear and precise – it is as though they were built yesterday.

How did the builders work in the dark?
Due to the great depths of the caves, some areas at the bottom, which are not exposed to the opening above, are pitch-black. Yet even those dark areas are decorated with thousands of parallel lines on the walls, columns, and ceiling.  So how did the ancient people work in the dark?   According to Jia Gang, a Tongji University professor specializing in civil engineering: "There should be lamps, because the cave's mouth is very small, and the sunbeam could only shine in the cave at a certain angle during a certain period of time. As one goes deeper into the cave, the light becomes dimmer. At the cave's bottom, which is usually dozen of meters from the mouth, one could hardly see anything." However, this was at least two millennia ago and nothing that could have been used for lighting has been found.

Were the caves meant to be connected?
All of the 36 grottoes are distributed across an area of only one square kilometre. Considering such a high density, one cannot help asking whether some grottoes were meant to be connected.  What would be the purpose of making so many separate caves in such a tight area without connecting them? In many areas, the walls between the caves are very thin, only 50 centimetres, but they were never linked so it appears they were intentionally kept apart.  What’s more, many of the caves are almost identical to each other.

 

Who built them? Nobody has any idea who built the caves. Some scientists have claimed that it was not possible or logical for such as mammoth job to have been undertaken by regular village people. Only the emperor and the leaders could have organised such a huge project, like the construction of the Great Wall, which was built to defend against invasion from the outside. But if it was commissioned by an Emperor, why are there no historical records of its construction?

BuzzNet Tags: China,caves

Haunted Sites in India

What is haunted site means?

A haunted sites is a house or other building often perceived as being inhabited by disembodied spirits of the deceased who may have been former residents or were familiar with the property. Parapsychologists attribute haunting to the spirits of the dead and the effect of violent or tragic events in the building's past such as murder, accidental death, or suicide.More scientific explanations for the perception that a house is haunted include misinterpreting noises naturally present in structures, waking dreams, suggestibility, and the effect of toxic substances in environments that can cause hallucinations.

1. Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan

 

Who’s place was it?

The Bhangarh Fort is a 17th century fort built by order of King Sawai Madho Singh in Rajasthan.

There are two legends narrated to the history of the fort city which is reported to be haunted and no one is allowed to remain the precincts of the fort at night as per a notice board put up by the Archaeological Survey of India at the entrance.

Reasons for haunting

One version of the legend is that a sadhu named Baba Balanath lived within the fort area. It was his injunction that any houses built in the precincts of the fort should not be taller than his house and in case the shadow of any such house falling on his house would result in destruction of the fort town.

In another version, Singhiya, the wizard who was adept in black magic fell in love with the Ratnavati, the princess of Bhangarh who was very beautiful and had suitors to marry her from many royal families of the country. One day while the princess, 18 years of age, went shopping with her friends and was buying Ittar (perfume). The wizard saw this and replaced the scent with some potion in order to ensnare the princess. He offered the potion to her so that she took a liking for him and marry him. However, the princess saw through the wizard's trickery and when he offered her the bowl of potion, she threw it on a big boulder nearby and as a result the boulder started rolling down towards the wizard and crushed him. Before he died he cursed that Bhangarh would be destroyed soon and no one will be able to live within its precincts. Subsequent to the curse Bhangarh Fort was invaded by the Mughals from the north and the city was surrounded and sacked; 10,000 people lived in the fort city at that time. All the people in the fort including the princess were killed. The present state of the fort is attributed to the curse of the wizard and people believe the ghosts in the fort are that of the princess and the wizard.  Since from that day at the night time there are some paranormal activities are said to take place, some people have reportedly died by these paranormal activities.

 

2. Dumas Beach, Surat – Gujarat

Dumas Beach is an urban beach along the Arabian Sea located 21 km southwest of Surat City in Indian state of Gujarat. This beach is famous for its black sand. It is a popular tourist destination in south Gujarat. Apart from the beach, places of interest at Dumas including the Dariya Ganesh Temple located adjacent to the main beach.

Many people lost their lives here as per the belief of local people. As per the belief of the local people, if you don’t believe in this story then spend a night at the beach. Dumas Beach was also reported as one of the most haunted places in the Gujarat state.

Reason for haunting

If one goes by the story, Hindus burn their dead bodies on the beach, and this area has been reported numerous of times for its paranormal activities. People have reported experiences like hearing strange whispers on Dumas beach. It`s like the wind around this area is full of spirits of dead people. Some tourists have been even known to have disappeared while taking walks on the beach at night.

 

3.Dow Hill Kurseong, Darjeeling – West Bengal

Dow Hill in Kurseong is often reported to be a centre of paranormal activities as reported by the locals. The Victoria Boys High School is believed to be the place where spirits reside. People opine that sound of footsteps emanating from the school can be heard even when the school is closed for the three long months from December to March. Countless people have been found murdered in the forests near the school. Locals believe that the spirits will not spare them and thus their days are spend in worry and anxiety. While some locals have started enjoying the myths and take pleasure in frightening other people, the rest prefer to remain ignorant. Persistent enquiries by the tourists and researchers only add to the list of unanswered questions

 

4.Lambidhar Mines

 

The Lambi Dehar mines are located at the outskirts of Mussoorie. A few years ago there were mines and lime quarries in this area but they were shut down following innumerable truck accidents and irregularities in safety precautions. It is estimated that more than 50,000 workers lived in this area but a lot of them died a painful death due to lung diseases caused by improper mining. People no longer live here and during night time, some tourists have reported hearing strange noises. Many travellers met with fatal road accidents while driving and the most recent one being the shocking crash of a helicopter near the Lambi Dehar mines site

 

What are the other legends /folkore about this site??

Ghost that is believed to be haunting these mines is that of an Army officer who used to live in Mussorie with his beautiful wife. Whether this officer belonged to Indian or the old British Army, no one knows. His wife was cheating on him with another man and wanted to get rid of her husband. So they planned his murder and one day the wife took the officer out for a walk at the mines. Her lover was waiting for them on top of a cliff and as the couple passed down below, he hurled a huge boulder towards them. Wife knew what was coming so she jumped to safety however the poor husband got crushed under the boulder. What happened to the unfaithful wife and her lover is unknown but it is believed that ghost of that Army officer is still trapped at the mines, forced to repeat the scene of his death every night, over and over again for eternity. People talk about how he has been heard still by several people, crying out in pain, every night. They say that he still doesn’t know what happened, that the woman he so dearly loved broke his trust and murdered him. Per the local belief, he is stuck in a death loop unless he finds out the reality

The next legend is of a witch who has taken shelter in the mines and has been responsible for several deaths that occurred here. Interestingly enough, this woman was also an unfaithful wife in her life. She was the wife of a local miner and mother of two. One day her husband found about her extra-marital affair and the wife, out of fear and guilt, unable to face her husband ran to the mines and hid there for days. Her husband and other villagers looked and looked for her but she couldn’t be found. What she didn’t know was that her lover had also taken off and it created an impression of both of them leaving the village together. This further infuriated the husband and out of anger he killed both their children, not able to decide if they were his own or other man’s. Days later, the wife stepped out of the mines only to learn about the death of both her children. Ashamed of what she has done and how her acts destroyed her family, she ran to a nearby cliff and jumped off it. Ever since, it is believed that her soul is still trapped in the mines and is getting violent day by day. People say that right after the death of the wife, strange happenings started to occur in the mines. People started to die in strange and freak accidents every other day. Then there came a time that everyone feared for their lives and not even a single person was ready to step in this mines which by them had earned the fame of being called a death pit.

Then there is also the tale of a woman, wife of a miner, who one fine day heard an explosion at the mines. She immediately ran to the place where her husband was working to enquire of his safety. It turned out that there was no explosion and it was just her hallucination that she explained to her husband who was working his shift in one piece. After listening to what his wife had to say, the miner went down to enquire and ensure that everything was safe and sound and this is when the blast happened that killed him. Since then, people say that the ghost of this woman runs to the mines every evening trying to save her husband from the blast that she had a premonition of.

 

5.Shaniwarwada Fort, Pune

Shaniwarwada is a royal palace in the city of Pune in Maharashtra, India. Built in 1746,it was the seat of the Peshwa rulers of the Maratha Empire until 1818 when the Peshwas surrendered to the British. The fort itself was largely destroyed in 1828 by an unexplained fire, but the surviving structures are now maintained as a tourist site.Following the rise of the Maratha Empire, the palace became the center of Indian politics in the 18th century

Legends

Haunted by young Prince who was killed by his own relatives in the fort. As per the tales of the local people, supernatural activity increased in every full moon. Most of tourists visit this place during the sunlight i.e. day time. It is not advisable to enter in the fort during the night.

 

6.Agrasen ki Baoli

 

Agrasen ki Baoli , designated a protected monument by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958, is a 60-meter long and 15-meter wide historical step well on Hailey Road near Connaught Place, a short walk from Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India. Although there are no known historical records to prove who built Agrasen ki Baoli, it is believed that it was originally built by the legendary king Agrasen during the Mahabharat epic era and rebuilt in the 14th century by the Agrawal community which traces its origin to Maharaja Agrasen.

As per the tales of local people, the step well was filled with black water. As per the beliefs of the local people, the water hypnotizes people to commit suicide in the step well.

 

Other Haunted places in India

 

Brijraj Bhawan Palace, Kota – Rajasthan

It is one of the haunted royal palaces of Rajasthan since. As per the news reports and beliefs, British major Mr. Burton was killed in the palace before the India’s independence. His son was also killed along with him. That’s why both of them have made this place as their home.

 

D’Souza Chawl Mahim, Mumbai – Maharashtra

D’Souza Chawl is the most haunted place in Mumbai as well as in Maharashtra state. As per the tales of the residents of this chawl, a woman has lost her life in the well when she was trying to get water from the same well.The residents of D’Souza Chawl have also reported, that she is not harming anyone. They have also added that, she just walks from the area during midnight. The ghost of this lady also disappears when the sun rises and again appears at midnight.

 

Vrindavan Society, Thane (Maharashtra)

It is believed that a man had committed suicide in the building no. 66 B of the society. Vrindavan Society is also considered as one of the most haunted place in Thane.A bad incident was happened in the society which proves it. The security guard was doing his duty i.e. patrolling in the society, someone has slapped him so much hard while he was sitting on the chair. He was thinking that other guard who was sitting near to him slapped him, he immediately slapped the other guard.

 

Gujarat Technological University (GTU) Campus, Ahmedabad

GTU is the most popular university in the state of Gujarat in India. GTU administrative staff and security personnel recently faced an unusual ghost experience in the building. As per the claim of security guard, he has heard voices of women. Even the doors were automatically opened and closed, furniture being thrown over and there. This news was reported by the Ahmedabad Mirror, a prominent newspaper of the city.

 

Three Kings Church, Goa

The 3 Kings Church is situated on the hill of the Cansulim village in the South Goa. This church is famous for the feast of the three kings. The celebration is also held on 6th January of each year. Three Kings Church is mostly visited by the local people and a few tourists.According to the local people, this church is haunted. Long time ago, 3 Portuguese kings were living in the state of Goa. They want to gain power at any cost. King Holger Alvunger, one of the kings has invited two other kings in the palace. He poisoned both of them and both died there. After some time, he also committed suicide by consuming poison. This place becomes one of the most haunted places in Goa.

Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai

Sanjay Gandhi National Park is the only national park with a large protected area in the city. It is located in the Borivali East in Mumbai. People often visit this place as their weekend getaway in Mumbai.Leopards and other dangerous animals have eaten people staying in the forest. If believed to be true, a phantom hitchhiker spirit is haunted in the national park. Forest Guards are also insisting that it is true. It is also considered as one of the most haunted places in Mumbai city in Maharashtra.

 

Writer’s Building, Kolkata

Kolkata was the major center of power during British rule in India. To accommodate junior writers and clerks, British Government built writer’s building as the official residence. It is located on the center of the city i.e. BBD Square, Kolkata. It is currently used by the Government of West Bengal as the secretariat of the state.

As per the tales of the local people, Indian revolutionaries Binay, Dinesh and Badal has killed Captain Simpson who was working in the British East India Company in this building. Due to sudden death, his spirit is still roams in the building. None of the officials stay here after the office hours or after dusk. It is one of the most haunted places in Kolkata, West Bengal.

South Park Street Cemetery, Kolkata

South Park Street Cemetery is another haunted place in the city of Kolkata. This cemetery is the oldest in the city, which was constructed in 1767. As per the reports, a group of friends visited this place and they have clicked group photo in the cemetery. Soon the weird things started happening with each of them. The one who clicked the group picture had an asthma attack. As a shocking, he wasn’t asthma patient at all!

GP Block, Meerut

GP Block is one of the haunted places in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located in the city of Meerut. As per the tales of local people, four boys were sitting inside the house with a single candle light. They were drinking beers.

Haa Valley,Bhutan

 

Adjoining the districts of Paro, Chhukha and Samtse, Haa valley is one of the most picturesque places in the Kingdom, spread over an area of 1706 sq. km. During pre-Buddhist era, Haa valley was known for its animist tradition. Inhabitants then were enthused in offering animal blood to their local deities. Such animist belief however was transformed into peaceful Buddhist tradition in 8th century by Guru Padmasambhava. The tantric master, Guru Padmasambhava, subdued the local deities like Ap Chundu and made the guardians of the Buddhist tradition. However, the traces of this belief system are still noticed in the form of festivals and rituals.
The Haa valley was opened for the first time to foreign tourists in 2002.  It is culturally rich valley and some of famous sites in this region are : 7th century Lhakhang Karpo (White temple) and Lhakhang Nagpo  (Black temple) at the foothills of a venerated three brotherly mountains known as Meri Puensum. The grand annual Haa Tshechu is also performed here at Lhakhang Karpo on the 8th-10th day of the 8th Bhutanese month.

Haa Valley

The Haa Wangchuklo Dzong built in 1915 after the Dumchog Dzong was razed to the ground by fire is worth visiting. The other place of interest which involves some walking includes the hike to the 8th century Juneydrag, Katsho Goempa, Drana Trashidingkhag, Yangto Goempa, Jamtoe Goempa, Shelkardrag, Takchu Goempa and Haa Goempa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The valley is also unparalleled in Bhutan in terms of the diversity of the folk culture, legends and shamanistic rituals. The shamanistic traditions is vividly practiced in almost all the communities, most notable of which is the annual ceremony to honour Ap Chundu, the guardian deity of the valley. The valley is also a paradise for nature lovers and travelling there is a very rewarding experience. 

Yercaud :A Travel Guide

Yercaud, at a top of 1515 metres, is located inside the Shevaroy Hills of Tamil Nadu. A serene small hill city, Yercaud is located around the Eastern Ghats and promises a distinctive encounter because of its uncommon topography. Yercaud has a very pleasant climate. Yercaud is considered to be a poor man’s Ooty, as it is less expensive place than Ootacamund.

Owing of its picturesque scenic beauty and greenery, Yercaud is now gaining popularity as a favorite tourist spot among locals as well as foreigners. In Tamil language, “Yeri” means lake and “Kaadu” means forest. Yercaud has a lake located at its center and hence the name.

Yercaud is famous for oranges and coffee plantations and it has preserved some of the forests in original condition with several resident species of flora and fauna. The main crop of Yercaud is coffee, but fruits like guava and jackfruit and spices like black pepper, cardamom are also grown as plantation crops. The coffee plants were brought to Yercaud from Africa in 1820 by M. D. Cockburn.

Major Tourist Attraction in Yercaud 

Yercaud Lake : The Yercaud Lake with a picturesque pool surrounded by gardens and well-wooded trees are the very first issues that catches the attention of vacationers. The water is chilly and plea sing and it leaves you refreshed to your deepest self. The garden surrounding the lake is well groomed and very best seen throughout the month of May well once the Summer Festival is organized. Get pleasure from a scintillating boat journey within the lake, which is amidst one of the most breathtaking gardens and trees.

Lady’s Seat : Lady’s seat is identify offered to a cluster of rocks about the south west facet of Yercaud. There is a steep drop of about 200 ft below from this point. One will get a panoramic see of distant Salem as well as the winding road up. It certainly is really a breath-taking view. The watch is spectacular especially in the night using the twinkling lights of Salem town in sight.

Killiyur Falls : The Killiyur waterfall is situated at a distance of about three km in the Yercaud Lake. The perfect time for you to go to the waterfall is instantly soon after the monsoons. The water comes by way of a stream all of the way in the Massive Lake. The water arrives via a stream all of the way from your Major Lake.

Pagoda point : or pyramid point is a viewpoint located on the eastern part of Yercaud hills. This has four piles of stones arranged so as to form a pyramid shape. It is said to be built by the local tribes and now there is a Rama temple located between the piles of stones.

One can get a thorough view of the town of Salem and a little village called Kakambadi from this hill. The cliffs in this area look really beautiful especially in early mornings or evenings and spending some time in this point itself is refreshing to the body and mind.

Bear’s Cave : Situated near the Yercaud’s oldest bungalow, Norton Bungalow, Bear’ s Cave is shaped by two large boulders and lies in the method to Servaroyan Temple. The cave is about 7 ft beneath the floor stage and is stated to extend beyond the Servaroyan temple till Kaveri within the state of Karnataka which is about 485 Km away.

The Servarayan Temple : Situated in the highest level in Shevaroy hills, the Servaroyan temple is often a superbly carved cave temple. This temple is famous for the festival, which is organized right here from the nearby tribes within the month of Might. The temple is often a narrow and dark cave possessing the God Servarayan as well as the Goddess Kaveri within, which the Shevaroy Hills and also the Cauvery River.

Silk Farm : One of the places of interest in Yercaud is the silk farm. The silk farm is located very near to the Lady’s seat. Visiting the silk farm will be a memorable and knowledgeable experience especially to the children.

In the silk farm one can see how the silk worms are reared, how they are fed on mulberry leaves and how the cocoons are used for spinning the silk threads etc. The life cycle of silk worm and methods of spinning silk can be understood by visiting this place.

The Grange : The Grange is one of the oldest buildings in Yercaud, built in 1820′s by the then District Collector of Salem, M D Cockburn.

Anna Park : Another important place of visit in Yercaud is the Anna Park which is located near the lake. This park has a collection of the natural species of plants and trees seen around Shevaroy hills. Flower shows are conducted in this park during summer months. There is a breathtaking Japanese garden inside this park in which plants are grown in Japanese style. Children can enjoy playing in the garden. It is a well maintained garden and is worth a visit.

Small Lake : Small Lake is located incredibly shut to city, which is well-known for being fed by 7 wells. A road bound the lake and in direction of 1 end from the lake is Montfort School and in the direction of the opposite finish will be the town.

Activities in Yercaud 
 
Yercaud has a much laid back atmosphere. Everything seems to move in slow motion here that entices you to just relax and do absolutely nothing. You can while away the hours walking along little trodden paths and sauntering through the forests, relaxing in grassy woods or boating on the placid lake. You can go trekking through the numerous trails in the wooded areas. There are quite a few caves and if you are game enough, try exploring them.

Yercaud Accommodations:

The hotels in Yercaud range from luxury hotels to budget rooms to cottages. The luxury hotels are situated in some breathtaking spots. They have facilities such as spas, swimming pools, recreational centers and bars. The views from these luxury hotels are pretty exciting. They could charge you Rs 3,000 per night. The midrange hotels suit many tourists. Their 24 hour travel desks help the tourists plan a great holiday. Air conditioning is not necessary, given Yercaud’s pleasant climate.
Yercaud maybe called poorman's Ooty but the range of hotels caters to a decent enough standard with Hotels.

Sterling Holiday Resort India Ltd.
P.B #11, Lady's Seat
Yercaud , Salem Dist,
Tamilnadu, India
Telephone: 04281-222707 / 222706
Fax: 04281 - 222537
E-mail: shriltd@rediffmail.com

Hotel Shevaroys,
Yerucaud, Tamilnadu, India
Telephone: 04281-222288 /222383

Hotel Grand Palace.
Killiyur Falls Road,Yercaud – 636 602
Salem ( District )
Tamilnadu, India
Telephone Number: 04281 - 223481 - 87
Fax: 04281 - 223489
Office Mobile : 098652 56886
E-mail: reservation@grandpalaceyercaud.com

Panchayath Union Guest House,
Yercaud, Salem District,
Tamil Nadu 636 602, India.
Telephone: 04281-222233.

Tamil Nadu Tourism Hotel,
Yercaud Ghat Road, Near The Lake,
Yercaud, Salem District,
Tamil Nadu , India,
Telephone: 04281-222273.
Fax: 04281-222745

Grange Resort
Pakoda Point Road, Five Roads,
Yercaud - 636 601,
Phone & Fax : 91 - 4281 - 222180, 81,82
Email: info@grangeresort.com

Hotel Tamilnadu,
Salem Road, Oodikadai,
Yercaud, Salem District,
Tamil Nadu 636 602, India.
Telephone: 04281-223334 / 223334

Select Hotel,
Next to Bus Stand, Yercaud,
Salem District, Tamil Nadu 636 601, India,
Telephone: 04281-222525

Gem Holiday Resorts Pvt. Ltd.
Killiyur, Yercaud, Salem District,
Tamilnadu - 636 602, India.
Telephone: 04281-222579

They are usually cheap and cost in the range of Rs 800-1,000. You will also find budget hotels throughout in this hill station. Rooms here will cost around Rs 500-600 for a night. These hotels have good facilities and will fit the bill for many tourists. Booking rooms in advance throughout the year is recommended.

How to Reach Yercaud

163 kms from Trichy
271 kms from Madurai
358 kms from Chennai
190 kms from Coimbatore
222 kms from Bangalore

By Air: The nearest airport to Yercaud is at Tiruchirapalli.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is in the Salem Junction along with the Salem City at a distance of 33 km.