Category: Culture

Asoka Mission – Buddhist Vihara in Mehrauli (Video – Hindi and English)

Bringing to you another hidden gem from #TranquilDelhi 🙂 Here’s ASOKA MISSION for you! A #Buddhist Vihara in #Mehrauli ..since 1948!

 

 

A premier Buddhist institution of Delhi, Asoka Mission was founded by the eminent Cambodian monk Ven. Dharmavara Mahathera in 1948 with invaluable support from Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru and other public men and scholars.

Asoka Mission is a registered society. Its objective is “to promote friendly relations, understanding and peace amongst men through education, health care, social and religious services and economic upliftment”. It endeavours to promote friendly relations between nations and communities.

Asoka Mission has the privilege of receiving high ranking dignitaries like HH the Dalai Lama, HH the Panchhen Lama, Prince Norodom Sinhanouk of Cambodia, HH Sangharaja of Laos, Fuji Guruji of Japan, HH Gamboja Hambo Lama of Mongolia, former President KR Narayanan of India and many others. Former Prime Minister of Myanmar, U Nu had planted the bodhi tree on the mission premises in 1953.

Ven. Dharmavara Mahathera left for USA in 1975. Asoka Mission was formally reorganized with Ven. Lama Lobzang as President. New Activities were started to revitalize it.

Asoka Mission campus is spread over 12.5 acres in the heart of capital city of India. One of the old structures is used as the shrine. It has been regularly celebrating the bUddha Purnima and other functions and religious rituals. It has been organizing meditation camps and retreats, (including those by foreign monks) from time to time.

Asoka Mission apart from running a meditation center and its other activities is presently concentrating on providing a firm foundation to its research wing, Centre for Studies in Transnational Buddhism & Civilizations. It is engaged in research on Education in Ancient Asia of which the Global Buddhist Congregation, the current conference is an offshoot. Before this conference, The Meaning of SriNalanda, held in April 28th to 30th, 2003 was the first international conference the Mission conducted. The Mission is also engaged in two other projects, viz., the Himalayan Research Centre for High Altitude Diseases, and the Asoka Mission Health Care Centre, New Delhi- A lifeline for Ladakh.

Note: Text sourced from: https://www.indiamart.com/asoka-mission-delhi/aboutus.html

Jain Mandir Dadabari (Mehrauli)

Latest webisode in the #TranquilDelhi #JourneysWithin vlog series – Jain Temple Dadabari of Mehrauli, Delhi, India!

“Khidki se Dilli” – Exploring the lesser-known trail

Saket, which is now synonymous with glitzy malls, global brands, and a swankier lifestyle, was once dotted by beautiful medieval structures stretching from the Qutub to Chirag Delhi, comprising of the fourth city of Delhi – “Jahanpanah”.

Delhi Karavan will take you to the unknown alleys of the Khirki Village, where the Khirki Masjid, ‘The Window Mosque’ still stands tall amidst a crowd of urbanity, like a breath of fresh air! The next stop would be Sheikh Yusuf Katal Tomb. Still off the usual heritage circuit, this 16th century Lodhi era tomb is hidden away and even difficult to locate on Google. We shall further move to the Satpula Dam, the seven arched waterways of the medieval period, showing the excellent canal system that existed during the Tughlaq’s Sultanate. Experience with us the aesthetic beauty of symmetry of these structures, the multitude of domes and the peace which surrounds the otherwise busy streets and traffic of the posh locales of South Delhi.

If time and logistics permit, we shall also attempt to visit the nearby Dargah of Chiragh e Dehlvi.

Places to be covered:

*Shaykh Usman Saiyah Tomb
* Khirki Masjid
* Sheikh Yusuf Katal Tomb
* Satpula
* Dargah of Roshan E Chirag Dehlvi (if time permits)

Total walking 3.5km

DAY, DATE & TIME: Sunday, 16th Dec, 2018, 9am to 12 noon
MEETING POINT: Main entrance of Select City Walk Mall

Language: Hindustani (Hindi)Urdu)

CHARGES: Rs. 300 per person

In case of any dikkat, please call us at 9818278665.

ESSENTIALS TO CARRY/WEAR:
1) Dress comfortably but conservatively keeping in mind the local religious sentiments because, if time permits, we may visit Chiragh Dilli Dargah . No shorts and skirts allowed. Also, please carry something to cover your head if you wish to go to the dargah
2) A bottle of water.

HOW TO REACH:
Nearest metro station is Malviya Nagar. A quick auto rickshaw ride from there will get you to the meeting point.
Please note that parking of vehicles might pose an issue as there’s no public parking space available (except for that of the malls), please consider the same in case you’re driving down.

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/213137589612782/

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The Changing Face of the Hauz Khas Complex : A Heritage Walk (9 Dec 2018)

The Changing Face of the Hauz Khas Complex : A Heritage Walk.

Popular as ‘HKV’, in today’s modern lingo, known more for it’s upscale cafés, high end boutiques, antique shops and a bustling hangout was once a repository of culture and knowledge. This charming site has seen several twists and turns with time; it housed a water reservoir built by Alauddin Khilji, converted into a battlefield ushering the beginning of the Tughluq dynasty and got an uplifting during Feroze Shah Tughluq’s reign as he built a Madrasa; a seminary of international repute. It also became his final resting place.

On 9th December, we will walk down these incidents with walk leader, Aditya Pathak and will discuss the peculiar architectural innovations of the Firozian times, which laid the foundation of Indo Islamic architecture.
We’ll also discuss a conjectural reconstruction of the place

The primary structures to be covered in the walk :
● Hauz e Alai
● Madrasa e Feroz Shahi
● A Medieval mosque with innovative architecture
● University Buildings.
● Feroze Shah Tughluqs tomb.

Walk leader : Aditya Pathak
Catch him in action on his YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/adityapathakutube

Day and Date : 9th Dec’2018/Sunday

Timings : 9am to 11:30 am

Language : English/Hindi

Charges : ₹300

Contact number: 9818278665

Meeting Point : mein “Deer Park entrance (near Hauz Khas Village parking)”
Parking is available at the meeting Point.
The nearest metro station is Hauz Khas on the yellow line. Then take an auto to the meeting point. https://goo.gl/maps/PaG9YbRb4Go

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/364088394138826

Upcoming Heritage Walk : Hauz Khas Necropolis

Hauz Khas Necropolis – the fall of the Delhi Sultanate

Register here >> https://goo.gl/NDcZbR

“The city of Delhi, built hundreds of years ago, fought for, died for, coveted and desired, built, destroyed and rebuilt, for five and six and seven times, mourned and sung, raped and conquered, yet whole and alive.. Yet the city stands still intact, as do many more forts and tombs, and monuments, remnants and reminders of old Delhis, holding on to life with a tenacity and purpose which is beyond comprehension and belief.”
– Ahmed Ali, “Twilight in Delhi”

In the heart of one of the city’s upscale localities lie scattered remains of the Delhi Sultanate’s fascinating history. In an earlier walk we had explored the Hauz Khas complex, this time we shall walk through the Hauz Khas Necropolis, which holds a rich cultural and civizational heritage.

This coming Sunday we shall understand how ‘Tarabaabaad’, at its zenith flourished under the patronage of the Khilji and Tughluq era until Taimur’s invasion finally crippled the Sultanate paving the way for the Mughal era in coming years.

In this walk we will attempt to connect to that bygone era by visiting some of the remnants of this Necropolis –

●Daadi Poti ka maqbara
●Chhoti Gumti
●Sakri Gumti
●Barakhamba
●Bagh-e-Aalam ka Gumbad
●Kaali Gumti
●Hauz Khas lake
●Munda Gumbad

Walk Leader : Aditya Pathak

Language : English

Date: 15th April ‘2018, Sunday.

Time : 8:30AM to 11AM

Charges : ₹300

Meeting point: Outside the Green Park Free Church

Meeting Point Map: https://goo.gl/maps/hrapcHurNPr

Total Walking Distance: 2.5 km approx

Nearest Metro Station: Green Park Station (the meeting point is around 750 meters from the station)

Nearest Parking: Either the Green Park market or the parking near Deer Park. We will be walking from the church and ending the walk at the Lake. Please choose the parking accordingly.

For any queries write to us at – adaab@delhikaravan.com