Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

In 1912, the 13-year-old Boy Scout Indiana Jones battles a group of grave robbers in Utah for the ornamental Cross of Coronado. As the robbers give chase, Indiana hides in a circus train where he uses a bullwhip for the first time, scars his chin and gains his fear of snakes. Although he retrieves the Cross, the robbers tell the local sheriff that Indiana was the thief, and he is forced to return it. Indiana's father, Henry Jones, remains oblivious to the incident as he researches the Holy Grail. The leader of the robbers, dressed similarly to the future Indiana, is impressed by the young Boy Scout's tenacity and gives him his fedora and some encouraging words. Twenty-six years later, in 1938, Indiana finally recovers the Cross and donates it to his friend Marcus Brody's museum.
Indiana is later taken to the residence of wealthy businessman Walter Donovan, who informs him that his father has vanished while searching for the Holy Grail, leaving behind partial directions from an incomplete stone tablet along with his diary containing his life's work on the Grail. Indiana and Marcus travel to Venice to investigate Henry's disappearance, meeting up with his colleague Elsa Schneider. Discovering catacombs beneath the library where Henry was last seen, Indiana and Elsa find the tomb of Sir Richard, a knight of the First Crusade who is buried with a complete version of the tablet, allowing Indiana to interpret the remaining directions to the Grail, leading to Iskenderun, Hatay. They are suddenly chased by a cult guarding the secret of the Holy Grail, believing them to be thieves. Capturing the cult's leader, Indiana explains he is only searching for his father, whom the cult leader points out is being held hostage in a castle on the Austrian-German boarder. There Indiana finds his father, only to be betrayed by Elsa, who reveals that she and Donovan are working with the Nazis to find the Grail.
The Nazis steal the Grail diary and capture Marcus in Iskenderun, where he was sent with pages from the diary to seek the protection of Sallah. The Joneses manage to escape the castle and follow the Nazis to Berlin, where they recover the diary from Elsa. The Joneses take a Zeppelin to Athens, only to find the authorities on the Zeppelin ordering the aircraft to be turned around. The Joneses escape on a biplane and fight off pursuing Nazi fighter planes until Henry accidentally shoots themselves down with their own tail gun. They survive the crash and meet with Sallah in Hatay, who informs them that the Nazis are moving towards the Grail's location with Marcus and a map from the diary. The Joneses ambush the convoy of Nazi tanks and rescue Marcus. Donovan and Elsa continue down to the Canyon of the Crescent Moon, where the temple containing Grail is located.
The Joneses, Marcus and Sallah arrive to find that the Nazis are unable to pass through three "trials" of God (depicted as booby traps guarding the Grail). Donovan shoots and mortally wounds Henry as a means of forcing Indiana to seek the Grail for its powers to restore life, which will save his father. Using information from the diary, Indiana braves the trials with Donovan and Elsa following behind. Following the trials, Indiana encounters the last Knight of the First Crusade, kept alive by the power of the Grail, who has hidden the Grail among many false Grails that will drain the life of anyone who drinks from them. Elsa selects a golden cup for Donovan, but when he drinks from it, he rapidly ages into dust. Deducing that Christ's cup would be fit for that of a carpenter, which he was raised to be, Indiana drinks from a humble wooden chalice, which turns out to be the real Grail. Indiana brings the Grail to his dying father, who drinks from it and fully recovers. Elsa takes the Grail and attempts to leave the temple with it, despite the Knight's warnings not to, causing the temple to collapse. While attempting to recover it, Elsa falls down a chasm to her death. Indiana nearly meets the same fate until his father tells him to let it go. The Joneses, Marcus and Sallah flee the temple before it caves in.
In response to Sallah's questioning as to why Henry keeps referring to his son as "Junior," Henry reveals that Indiana's real name is "Henry Jones, Jr.," and that "Indiana" was actually the name of the family dog. Following this rather humorous scenario, the Joneses, Marcus and Sallah proceed to ride off into the सुन्सेट.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

In 1935 (notably a year before the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark), Indiana Jones narrowly escapes the clutches of a crime boss in Shanghai. With nightclub singer Willie Scott and his ten-year-old Chinese sidekick Short Round in tow, Indiana flees Shanghai on a plane that, unbeknownst to them, is piloted by the crime boss's affiliates. The pilots leave the plane to crash over the Himalayas, though the trio manage to escape on an inflatable boat and ride down the slopes into a raging river. The trio come to a desolate village in India, where the poor villagers believe them to have been sent by the Hindu god Siva and enlist their help to retrieve a sacred Sivalinga stone stolen from their shrine, as well as the community's kidnapped children from evil forces in the nearby Pankot Palace. During the journey to Pankot, Indiana hypothesizes that the stone may be one of the five fabled Sankara stones, which promise fortune and glory.
The trio receive a warm welcome from the residents of Pankot Palace, who rebuff Indiana's questions about the villagers' claims and his theory that the ancient Thuggee cult is responsible for their troubles. Later that night, however, Indiana is attacked by a would-be assassin, leading him, Willie and Short Round to an underground temple where the Thuggee worship the Hindu goddess Kali with human sacrifice. The trio discover that the Thuggee, lead by their evil high priest Mola Ram, are in possession of three of the five Sankara stones, and have enslaved the children to mine for the final two stones, which they hope will allow them to rule the world. As Indiana tries to retrieve the stones, he, Willie and Short Round are captured and separated. Indiana is forced to drink a potion called the "Blood of Kali," which places him in a trance-like state called the "Black Sleep of Kali Ma," and begins to mindlessly serve Mola Ram. Willie, meanwhile, is kept as a human sacrifice, while Short Round is put in the mines to labor alongside the enslaved children. Short Round breaks free and escapes back into the temple where Willie is about to be lowered into a pit of lava. He burns Indiana with a torch, shocking him out of the Black Sleep. While Mola Ram escapes, Indiana and Short Round manage to save Willie, retrieve the three Sankara stones and free the village children.
After a mine cart chase to escape the temple, the trio emerge aboveground only to be cornered by Mola Ram and the Thuggee on a rope bridge over a crocodile-infested river. Using a machete stolen from on of the Thuggee warriors, Indiana cuts the rope bridge in half, leaving everyone to hang on for their lives. In one final struggle against Mola Ram for the Sankara stones, Indiana evokes an incantation, causing the stones to glow red hot. Two of the stones fall into the river, while the last falls into and burns Mola Ram's hand. Indiana catches the now-cool stone while Mola Ram falls into the river below and is torn to pieces by the crocodiles. A squadron of riflemen from Pankot arrive to apprehend the remaining Thuggee. Indiana, Willie and Short Round return victoriously to the Indian village with their sacred Sankara stone and missing children.

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

In South America, 1936, treasure hunter/archaeologist Indiana Jones braves an ancient temple filled with booby traps in the Peruvian jungle to retrieve a Golden Idol. Upon escaping the temple, Indiana is confronted by rival archeologist René Belloq and the indigenous Hovitos people. Surrounded and outnumbered, Indiana is forced to surrender the idol to Belloq, and flees from a jungle chase onboard a waiting seaplane।
Shortly after returning to America to the college where he teaches archaeology, Indiana is informed by two Army intelligence agents that the Nazis, in their quest for occult power, are searching for his old mentor, Abner Ravenwood, who is in possession of the headpiece of an artifact called the Staff of Ra and is the leading expert on the ancient Egyptian city of Tanis. Indiana deduces that the Nazis are searching for the Ark of the Covenant, the biblical chest built by the Israelites to contain the fragments of the Ten Commandments, and is said to grant the power of God to whoever holds it. The Staff of Ra, meanwhile, is the key to finding the Well of Souls in Tanis, which is where the Ark is buried. The agents subsequently authorize Indiana to recover the Ark with the promise of displaying it in a museum. Indiana travels to Ravenwood's tavern in Nepal for the headpiece, only to find that he had died and that the headpiece is in the possession of his daughter and Indiana's embittered former lover, Marion. The tavern is suddenly raided by a group of thugs commanded by Nazi agent Major Toht। The tavern is burned down in the ensuing fight, during which Toht burns his hand on the searing hot headpiece as he tries to grab it. Indiana and Marion escape with the headpiece, with Marion declaring she will accompany Indiana in his search for the Ark so he can repay his debt.
Indiana and Marion travel to Cairo where they learn from Sallah, Indiana's friend and a skilled digger, that the Nazis are currently digging for the Well of Souls with the aid of Belloq and a replica of the headpiece modeled after the scar on Toht's hand. In a bazaar, Nazi operatives kidnap Marion and fake her death in front of Indiana, who strengthens his resolve to find the Ark. That evening, while deciphering the markings on the headpiece, Indiana and Sallah realize that the Nazis have miscalculated where to dig for the Well of Souls. Using this to their advantage, Indiana and Sallah infiltrate the Nazi dig and use the Staff of Ra to correctly determine the location of the Well of Souls. Shortly afterward, Indiana discovers that Marion is captured but alive, but does not free her out of fear that it will draw the Nazis' attention to him. Indiana gathers a small group of diggers and uncovers the Well of Souls, which is filled with poisonous snakes (of which Indiana is deathly afraid). Upon obtaining the Ark, Belloq and the Nazis arrive to take it for themselves. They proceed to toss Marion, who had refused to reveal any information to the Nazis despite Indiana's perceived betrayal, down into the well with Indiana and seal them both in. However, Indiana and Marion manage to navigate the underground temple and escape. After chasing down a convoy of trucks holding the Ark, Indiana manages to take it back before it can be shipped to Berlin।
Indiana and Marion leave Cairo to escort the Ark to England on board a tramp steamer. The next morning, their boat is boarded by the Nazis who once again steal the Ark and kidnap Marion. Indiana stows away on the Nazis' U-boat and follows them to an isolated island where Belloq and the Nazis plan to test the power of the Ark before presenting it to Hitler. Indiana reveals himself and threatens to destroy the Ark with a rocket launcher, but Belloq calls his bluff for, as archeologists, they both want to see it open as badly as each other. Indiana surrenders and is tied to a post with Marion as Belloq performs a ceremonial opening of the Ark, which appears to contain nothing but a pile of dust, the ruined remains of the Ten Commandments. Suddenly, spirits emerge from the Ark; aware of the supernatural danger of looking at the opened Ark, Indiana warns Marion to close her eyes. Belloq and the Nazis, who do not look away, are all killed by the Ark's divine powers, and the Ark closes itself with a crack of thunder. Back in Washington, D.C., the Army intelligence agents tell a suspicious Indiana that they are sending the Ark away to be studied by "top men." In reality, the Ark is sealed in a wooden crate and stored in a giant government warehouse filled with countless similar करतेस

Mindhunters movie Storyline

PLOT

The titular Mindhunters are a group of young FBI students who are undergoing training as profilers. They are tasked by their instructor Jake Harris to travel to a small island off the coast of Virginia. This island is used as a training facility by the FBI and the military, and a mock town has been constructed there. Harris has arranged an elaborate training scenario for his students; they are to create a profile of a serial killer who has committed a murder there.

The students include Bobby (a young man with a talent for fixing things), Vince (a wheelchair-bound ex-cop who goes nowhere without his gun), Nicole (a smoker who is attempting to quit), Sara (A talented but insecure profiler who is also petrified of drowning), Gabe (an outside observer), Rafe (a very intelligent, caffeine-powered British investigator), Lucas (a supposedly fearless man whose parents were killed when he was a child), and J.D. (their leader).

Once they arrive at the island and settle in, they begin their investigation the following day. The group encounters an elaborate, Rube Goldberg-style trap; J.D.'s position of leadership prompts him to investigate it close-up, and the trap kills him via liquid nitrogen. Convinced that this wasn't an accident, the group heads to the dock to leave the island. Another trap is triggered, this one destroying the boat docked there. Tensions run high among the group, and they find messages from the killer that indicate when more victims will be killed.

Several more of the profilers are killed, in ways that correspond to their personalities: Rafe through his need for coffee (drugged; decapitated and drained of blood while unconscious); Bobby through his desire to repair things (harpooned by a device he triggered while trying to shut off a water valve); Nicole through her need for nicotine (after finding cigarettes in a vending machine, they turn out to be laced with a strong acid); and Vince through his need to have his gun handy (it had been rigged while he was unconscious to explosively misfire).

In between these events, the investigators use the resources at hand (including a fully-stocked forensics lab and computer database) to process the clues they have (including blood samples and an elaborate cypher, written in Rafe's blood). The results point to Sara, who denies being the killer; Lucas supports her, and suspicions seem to point to Gabe because of a map of the island found next to his bed. The remaining profilers elect to stick together, to keep an eye on each other. Later, Sara, Gabe and Lucas find Harris (who did not leave the island, though he led the profilers to believe that he had) and two other FBI agents next to him, all dead; Harris has been strung up to wires from the ceiling as a sort of marionette, just like the fake crime scene that they were to investigate. In the shootout that ensues, Gabe seemingly takes out Lucas. Gabe and Sara confront each other, each believing the other to be the serial killer. Lucas, who was wearing a bullet-proof vest, returns and jumps Gabe from behind. The two violently attack one another, eventually falling through a glass ceiling. Gabe starts to get up but is knocked unconscious by Sara, who then begins to tend to Lucas.

Sara explains to Lucas the trick up her sleeve; she set a trap taking into account the unsub’s obsession with time. However, this reveals that Lucas, not Gabe, is the mastermind. Lucas says he was the one who murdered his parents, but after no one suspected him, he grew bored and required more intelligent peers as worthy prey.

Lucas muses that Sara has another weakness besides a fear of water: “Me.” Lucas tries to drown Sara but she kicks him into the water and an underwater gunfight ensues. In the end, Sara gains the upper hand. Lucas begins to taunt her about the evidence he planted until Gabe reappears. Lucas attempts to use the distraction to his advantage, forcing Sara to dispatch him.

The film ends with Sara and Gabe flagging down a helicopter together. As they move to board, Sara wonders whether or not she has achieved profiler status.

My India

Background:

Aryan tribes from the northwest infiltrated onto the Indian subcontinent about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. The Maurya Empire of the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C. - which reached its zenith under ASHOKA - united much of South Asia. The Golden Age ushered in by the Gupta dynasty (4th to 6th centuries A.D.) saw a flowering of Indian science, art, and culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkic in the 12th were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU brought independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. India's nuclear weapons testing in 1998 caused Pakistan to conduct its own tests that same year. Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as significant overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and widespread corruption

Geography

Location: 
Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan 
Geographic coordinates: 
20 00 N, 77 00 E 
Map references: 
Asia 
Area: 
total: 3,287,590 sq km 

land: 2,973,190 sq km 

water: 314,400 sq km 
Area - comparative: 
slightly more than one-third the size of the US 
Land boundaries: 
total: 14,103 km 

border countries: Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463 km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km 
Coastline: 
7,000 km 
Maritime claims: 
territorial sea: 12 nm 

contiguous zone: 24 nm 

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm 

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin 
Climate: 
varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north 
Terrain: 
upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north 
Elevation extremes: 
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m 

highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m 
Natural resources: 
coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land 
Land use: 
arable land: 48.83% 

permanent crops: 2.8% 

other: 48.37% (2005) 
Irrigated land: 
558,080 sq km (2003) 
Total renewable water resources: 
1,907.8 cu km (1999) 
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): 
total: 645.84 cu km/yr (8%/5%/86%) 

per capita: 585 cu m/yr (2000) 
Natural hazards: 
droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes 
Environment - current issues: 
deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural resources 
Environment - international agreements: 
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling 

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements 
Geography - note: 
dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes; Kanchenjunga, third tallest mountain in the world, lies on the border with Nepal.

LIttle abt PURI

Hilgiri, Niladri, Hilachal Purushottam, Sankhakshetra, Srikehetra, Jagannath Dham, Jagannath Puri, Puri is a place with many names over the centuries. Two great forces dominate puri: the sea (Bay of Bengal) and the great temple of Lord Jagannath. One of the four celebrated religious centers (Char Dhams) of India, Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath needs no introduction. 

According to tradition Puri was once a thickly wooded hill inhabited by the Sabaras (Pre-Aryan and Pre-Dravidian tribes of the Austric linguistic family). Very few cities are so dominated by a single factor in so many diverse ways as Puri is, influenced by Lord Jagannath. A very large part of Puri's population is connected with the temple in one way or the other. Some are involved in the service of Lord Jagannath (the Pandas and Purohits), others have gainful employment indirectly generated because of the deity. Apart from Jagannath temple, the other two most important temples around are Lokanath Temple and Gundicha Temple. 

Most people go to Puri for religious reasons - it being one of the four most holy Hindu 'Dhams' (meaning a holy place). But a very large number also go for both adventure as well as restful holidays. Drawing the maximum number of visitors as compared to any other place in Orissa, Puri not only has scores of hotels, but also hundreds of holiday homes owned by various organisations and business houses. The sunny beach at Puri is one of the finest in the world. Watching the sunrise in a symphony of colours is a wonderful experience. It is one of the most popular seaside resorts where visitors from any part of the globe can comfortably relax. There is the added attraction of one of the few remaining relies of the British period - the South Eastern Railway Hotel. There must be very few places left in India with such spacious rooms and so much living space. The lifestyle at this hotel can be an experience of a lifetime for those coming from crowded cities. 

Puri being a coastal district of Orissa is famous for its Historic antiquities, Religious sanctuaries, Architectural Grandeur, beautiful sea and moderate climate. It holds a wealth of attraction for the visitors. It boasts of a continuous history from the 3rd Century B.C. to the present day and its unique monuments like those of Lord Jagannath at Puri, the Sun God at Konark are the famous in the world. It has the Chilika Lake, one of the largest brackish water lakes in India, which holds a picturesque Seascape beauty. It offers an ideal resort for birds that migrate from different parts of the continent. By virtue of Geographical location , the climate of Puri is equable through out the year. 

Puri the abode of Vishnu as Jagannath, which contributed the word "Juggernaut" to the English language, represents its integrated individuality as its cultural heritage, a unique blend of claims of time and eternity with a power answerable only to wisdom. Puri's compendious heritage has been representing that spark of immortality that the Oriyas and the Indians have own against the powers of negation, through a spirit of university, adaptability, and an astute mixture of the present which no other culture can aspire to explain as its self justification. The name of the Lord as Purusottama (perfection personified) or as Jagannath (Lord of Universe) represents a universality in true with the familiar faternity of mankind (Vasudheiva Kutumbakam). Adi Shankaracharya visited Puri, set up the Gobardhan matha (monastery) as the exception from his other three mathas as a vaishnavite, defined Jagannath as the Supreme one. It is thus not only one of the four Dhams (Holy Places) for Hindus but the most pious and sacred place. 

The Quintessential characteristic of its culture and philosophy has made it from Pan-Indian to Pan-Continental. The Car-Festival of Shri Lord Jagannath now not limited to Puri or Orissa rather it is celebrated in global scale, the reverberation echoes of which are heard from Los Angeles to Piccadilly from Heidelberg to Tokyo. The Jagannath culture is not only pre-dominated in Puri but it is global. Its Universal affirmation is secular diffusion of such an attitude is futuristic. It calls for unity in diversity is an age of diverse perversity. 

The evolution of Odissi Dance and music out of the Devadasi-institution still enchants all with its mystic rhythm. The Orissan School of architecture emerging from here is a poetry frozen in stone. The Patta-paintings and appliqué work are a craze in the west, particularly in U.S.A. The Shell-craft of Puri have a major appeal. It is thus here at puri that the pattern of a Pan-Indian, culture of tomorrow is on the anvil. People are individual atoms ever contributing their properties to the "matter" of Jagannath Dharma without consciousness of mutual distinctions. Puri belongs to humanity, the seat of an eternal education, the bridge that gulfs the past and the future and the blending of diverse impulses for a single embodiment in the march of all fulfilling time. Temples and sanctuaries, beaches and glorious lakes, colourful, vibrant and the numerous festivals for every reason and for every season that can take on a"Jagannath-like momentum". Puri has then all and much more for all. Excellently connected by air, rail,and road , Puri invites you to its hospitable environs and promises you an experience you will never forget .When others talk of taking you down memory lane. Puri will take you back to your ancient linkages. When others talk of romancing with the stones, her ancient architects and sculptors will show you what it really means. 



                                                        Access

Air     : Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport - 60 km . Indian Airlines offers excellent connections to Bhubaneswar from Delhi, Calcutta, Visakhapatnam, Nagpur,Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mumbai.

Rail   :-A terminus on the S.E. Railway having fast and superfast train links with New Mumbai, Delhi,Guwahati , Hyderabad ,Thiruvanantapuram Calcutta and Baidyanath Dham & etc.Puri has good rail connections with Delhi , Calcutta, Tirupati, Okha and Ahmedabad. 

Road : 60 km by State Highway from Bhubaneswar. One can also approach by road via Konark and then through the Marine Drive covering about 100 km. OTDC provides luxury coaches and cars from Bhubaneswar and puri. 


                                             Places of Interest In Puri:

The Temple of Lord Jagannath built during the 12th century A.D. by Chodaganga Deva dominates the landscape for kilometers around. Being the tallest temple (65 metres) in Orissa, it is one of the most magnificent pieces of monuments of India. In front of the main gate stands a 16-sided monolithic pillar (11 metres high), called Aruna Stambha, which formally stood in front of the Sun Temple and was brought to Puri during the 18th century A.D. Some of the other important temples are Gundicha, Sunaragauranga, Lokanath, Daria Mahabir and Tota Gopinatt. There are also a number of holy tanks like Narendra, Markandeya, Sweta Ganga and Indradyumna. There are many Monasteries locally known as Mathas also of tourist interest.

Sea Beach - The golden beach of Puri is one of the best in the country for Sun, Surf and Sand. The beach area has been a popular seaside resort for decades, and some of the old hotels capture the charm of bygone days. For this shining beach, Puri has got its dual importance of a relaxed seaside resort and of an important pilgrimage centre. A stroll along the beach or a much-desired bath here in the sea is very much refreshing. The beach goes festive on occasions like "Kartik Purnima" i.e. the full moon day of the lunar month of Kartik when Hindus gather here in the early morning to take a holy deep and pray sea God. The five days long Beach Festival in the months of February is now very popular in the Festival calendar. Beach clothes are appropriate for this seaside resort 

                                    Places of Interest around Puri:

Balighai -8 km
The Casuarina fringed Balighai beach is a famous picnic spot. The Sun and fun at the mouth of the river Nuanai is unforgettable. 

Brahmagiri - 25 km
Brahmagiri is known for the living shrine of Alarnath. Streams of pilgrims visit Alarnath during Anabasara of Lord Jagannath. Nearby is the shrine of Baliharachandi on the solitary sand dunes. 

Satyabadi - 20 km
Satyabadi or Sakshigopal is known for the shrine of Lord Sakshigopal. It is believed that the visit to Puri is incomplete without a visit to Sakshigopal. The temple is only 2 km away from the main road leading to Puri and is convenient to visit. 

Baliharachandi - 27 km
27 km to the south-west of Puri is the temple of Baliharachandi. Situated on a sandy hill near the sea and adjacent to the mouth of the river Bhargavi, Goddess Durga is worshipped here as Baliharachandi. The scenic beauty of this place is ideal for group picnic. 

Raghurajpur - 16 km
One of the most famous artists village in Orissa, the village of Raghurajpur boasts not only of the exquisite pattachitra's and talapattachitra's, but also of being the native place of Guru kelucharan Mohapatra, the famed Odissi dancer. Even today, under the tutelage of renowned Guru's, young boys can be seen practicing the Gotipua dance here. A visit to Orissa would definitely be incomplete without a visit to this little village. 

Satapara - 52 km
Satapara, a retreat in nature on Chilika Lake, has been thrown open to visitors. Its location near the confluence of the Lake with the Bay of Bengal, and proximity to Puri (52 km), makes it an ideal spot to enjoy Chilika. The thrilling sight of dolphins round the year and abundance of migratory and resident birds in winter make it a preferred place for a vacation with nature. 

Sakshigopal:
Sakhigopal is 20 km from puri is famous for Radha Krishna temple. It is also famous for Satyabadi bana vidyalaya and bakulabana. 


                                                             Accommodation


Name
                                                                          Telephone (06842)


Hotel Grand Central 
Hotel Hans-Cocopalms 
Hotel Holiday Resort 
Hotel Mayfair Beach Resort
Hotel New Victoria Club 
Hotel Nilachal Ashok 
Hotel Sun-n-Sand 
Hotel Toshali Sands 
Hotel Vijoy International 
Hotel 'Z' 
Panthanivas 
Puri Hotel 
S.E. Railway Hotel 
Sterling Holiday Resorts 
Victoria Club Hotel

Very LIttle abt CUTTACK

Cuttack

30 Km north of Bhubanewar was the medieval capital Cuttack, one of the oldest towns in Orissa. It was the capital and administrative centre until the end of the British Raj, still the year 1956. Cuttack was founded by Nripati Kesari (920-935). It occupies an important strategic position in relation to the network of canals in the region. The town is almost an island and situated at the head of the Mahanadi delta and surrounded by the great river and its tributary the Kathjuri. 

Time stops in Cuttack, Katakis are a confident a lot, with thousand years of history behind them. Thousands of Katakis witness the century's worst floods in their unique style, eating Dahibaras and Aludam on the embankments of Kathjori and Mahanadi. Bhaichara, Parampara and Aitiho: these three words dominate every public discourse in Cuttack, roughly translated; these words mean brotherhood, tradition and history. We have seen all, is the predominant sentiment of Katakis. And truly so, Katakis have seen the glory of Kalinga empire, the might of Mauryan Ashoka, the Marathas and Mughals, the British and the fight for independence. Pride of thousand years of existence has an equalizing effect.

1803 is the foundation year of the Cuttack district under the Bengal Presidency of the British India. It was the capital of Orissa with Cuttack Commissioner as the head of the British Government. The district has contributed liberally to Orissa's who's who list. Cuttack district is a narrow strip of land spreading from East to West. Topographically Cuttack has two prominent divisions viz., hilly terrain on the west and Mahanadi delta plains in the East. The highly fertile and densely populated land in criss-crossed by hundreds of rivers and rivulets. These water bodies function both as tributaries of the Mahanadi river system. Large portion of the landmass is low lying and gets submerged during floods. With very limited industrialization, people of Cuttack depend upon agriculture as the primary means of livelihood. The vast network of irrigation canals established by the British after the great famine of 1866, is the backbone of agriculture. Cuttack city is still the commercial capital of Orissa with the Malgodown controlling the trade throughout the State. Following are some of the relevant facts about Cuttack district.

                                 General Information 

 Geographical Area: 3932 Sq.Km. District, 59.57 Sq. Km. City

 Altitude                  : 14.62 metres above sea-level

 Major rivers          : Mahanadi, Kathjori, Birupa, Debi, Kandal, Chitrotpala, Sapua, Hadua-Nallah,                                     Rana- Sankha nallah, Genguti

 Population             : 23.40 Lakh

 STD Code              : 0671

 Climate                  : Hot in summer, humid during monsoons and dry in winter

                                                                  PLACE OF INTEREST


Stone Revetment of Cuttack
The river banks of Cuttack are protected by stone revetment, a great engineering marvel of the 11th century A.D. and a remarkable example of ancient technological skill of Orissa. 

Barabati Fort
The ruins of a medieval fort with its moat and gate and the earthen mound of the nine-storied palace on the bank of the river Mahanadi are noteworthy. Adjacent to the fort is a modern stadium. 

Choudwar - (10 km by road, 5 km by water)
Choudwar, a growing industrial area was once the capital of Somakuli Keshari Kings of Orissa. Eight prominent Siva pithas were established by the Keshari dynasty in the vicinity of Choudwar, which is now in ruins. Tradition records that it was the capital of Virat, the brother-in-law of Kichaka. The five Pandava brothers with their consort Draupadi took shelter in Choudwar in their secret exile. 

Naraj - (15 km)
A picturesque scenic spot, Naraj was a famous seat for Buddhist culture and learning. The scenic view of the river Mahanadi at the origin of its branch Kathajodi is simply bewitching. 

Quadam-i-Rasool
A sacred shrine both for the Hindus and Muslims, Quadam-i-Rasool, having a compound wall and towers at each corner has inside three mosques with beautiful domes and a Nawabat Khana (music gallery). It is an object of veneration for Hindus and Muslims alike. 

Temple of Cuttack Chandi
Being the shrine of the presiding deity of the city, the temple of Cuttack Chandi is normally visited by every Hindu visitor.

                                                                   Excursions


Ansupa - (70 km)
Ansupa, the small but picturesque lake holds a prominent position in the tourist map of Orissa and offers an asylum to the migratory birds in winter. The play of the shadow of Saranda Mountain and surrounding bamboo and mango groves on the rippling waters of Ansupa make it a real thing of beauty. One can have a boat journey or go for fishing in the lake. Ansupa is 70 km from Cuttack and 20 km from Raja-Athagarh station, connected with regular bus service. 

Bhattarika - (108 km) 
This place is famous for the shrine of goddess Bhattarika, often crowded by pilgrims and picnickers. 

Chandikhol - (40 km)
Chandikhol in the lap of thickly wooded hills and by the side of a perennial stream is an extremely ideal picnic spot. The Ashram of Baba Bhairavananda is an added attraction of the place. Adjacent to Chandikhol, Mahavinayak enshrines the five godheads in one Lingam. It is a place of worship for Ganapati. 

Chhatia - (30 km)
Popularly known as Chhatiabata, Chhatia is a sacred place of pilgrimage. The shrine of Lord Jagannath at Chhatia is a modern piece of Orissan temple architecture. Nearby one can find the archaeological remains of Amaravati-Kataka, one of the five important forts of Chodaganga Deva. Amaravati with the backdrop of the hill "Dhania" presents an attractive sight. 

Dhabaleswar - (35 km)
A small island in the Mahanadi, the temple of Dhabaleswar is situated on a hillock. Though a new structure, sculptures of 10 / 11th century A.D. are found in the temple premises. 

Jajpur - (92 km)
Otherwise known as Vaitarani Tirtha, Jajpur with Goddess Viraja (Durga) as its presiding deity is one of the sacred places of pilgrimage in Orissa. The place has its unique importance in India as Navigaya Kshetra where pinda is offered for the satisfaction of the ancestors. The shrine of Sweta Varaha (the white boar incarnation of Vishnu) along with hundreds of other shrines here made Jajpur a Tirtha par excellence. The "Dasasvamedha Ghat", the flight of steps leading to the Vaitarani where the ten horse sacrifices were performed is a great sanctified spot for the Hindus. 

Kendrapara - (65 km)
Known as "Tulasi Kshetra", Kendrapara is famous for the temple of Lord Baladeva. A grand car festival is held here annually which draws a mammoth crowd. 

Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary 
Sprawled over 672 square Kilometers, it has a variety of animals in its mangrove forests crises-crossed by rivers and creeks. Known for crocodiles, sea turtles (on the Gahirmatha beach) and water monitor lizards, it has rare white crocodiles. It is also a sanctuary for deer and migratory birds. One can also see 10th-11th century temple, sculptures, mud-forts and pottery. Accommodation is available at the forest Inspection Bungalow and Interpretation Center at Dangmal and Forest Rest house at Ekakula on Gahirmatha beach. Contact Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar, Dist, Kendrapara. 

Niali-Madhava - (47 km)
Niali is famous for the shrine of Sovaneswar. There is an archaeological sculpture shed here. 8 km from Niali is Madhava, a small village where is enshrined the lovely image of Madhava. It is also a beautiful picnic spot. 

Paradeep - (94 km)
Paradeep, a major sea port of India for trade activities with a fine sea beach and a marine drive is an enjoyable tourist resort attracting large number of visitors from far and wide. 

Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri, Udayagiri - (55 km - 70 km)
These three hills comprise a remarkable Buddhist complex. Hieun-T'sang, the Chinese pilgrim found it to be the seat of a flourishing Buddhist University called "Puspagiri". Extensive ruins of brick pagodas, sculptured stone portals and esoteric Buddhist images testifying its ancient glory have been unearthed. Ratnagiri is the gem of this complex. The magnificently carved doorjambs of the Vihar and superbly finished Buddha images form perhaps the greatest concentration of Buddhist sculptures of the post-Gupta period. Ratnagiri is 70 km, Lalitgiri is 55 km and Udayagiri is 60 km from Cuttack.