My Science School

1. In memory of the martyrs

The India Gate was formerly called the All India War Memorial. This war memorial stands for nearly 70.000 soldiers of the British Indian Army who died between 1914 and 1921 during the First World War and the Thing Afghan War. When the foundation stone of the memorial was laid in 1921 by Prince Arthur, the Duke of Connaught units of the Army from cross India had arrived to attend the event. Even though the foundation stone was laid in 1921, it took over a decade for the monument to be constructed

2. Lutyens' design

The war memorial was designed by Sir Elwin Landseer Lutyens, an English architect known for designing several war memorials in Europe. Lutyens was also the chief architect of present-day New Delhi. Lutyens designed the India Gate as a secular memorial, free of religious and culture specific iconography. The 42 metre-tall structure is often compared to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. The monument built using red Bharatpur stone, spans 30 feet and has India written on both sides at the top of the arch. One can find a shallow domed bowl at the top of the monument. This bowl was intended to be filled with burning oil on special occasions. However, it has rarely been used.

3. Inscriptions on the walls

The names of nearly 13,000 soldiers who perished during the wars are found inscribed on the walls of the India Gate. The list of names, along with the regiment they served and their date of death, can be found on the website of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the international organisation which maintains the martyrs list of World Wars, their monuments, and graves.

4. The eternal flame

At the base of the India Gate, one can find another memorial called the Amar Jawan Jyoti (Flame of the immortal soldier). This memorial was constructed after the Indo-Pak war of 1971 to commemorate the soldiers who lost their lives during the war. It was inaugurated on January 26, 1972 by then Prime Minister of India. Indira Gandhi. The monument, which stands on a marble pedestal has 'Amar Jawan inscribed on all four sides of the cenotaph atop which stands a rifle on its barrel with the helmet of an unknown soldier on top. Four urns can be found around the pedestal of which one holds a continuously bunting flame. DIA

5. Republic Day parade

Until 2020, each year on Republic Day, the Prime Minister and the President of India would visit the India Gate to pay tributes at the Amar Jawan Jyoti. After this, the parade would start from the Rashtrapati Bhavan and pass through the India Gate.

 

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The Great Pyramid of Giza, located on the bank of River Nile in Egypt is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Relics of Egypt's Old Kingdom era, they were constructed nearly 4,500 years ago. Egyptian pharaohs (kings) erected temples and giant tombs for themselves to sustain them in their afterlife. These tombs that we know as pyramids were filled with all the things the pharaohs would need in their afterlife, including gold, boats to carry them. and small tombs for the officials and relatives they would like to accompany them. Today, the Great Pyramid is the oldest and the only remaining ancient wonder of the world.

1. The three pyramids

The Giza pyramid complex has three pyramids. The first pyramid, known as the Great Pyramid of Khufu, was built by Pharaoh Khufu. It is the tallest among the three and was built around 2550 BC. It stands at 481 feet above the plateau.

The second pyramid was built by Khufu's son, Pharaoh Khafre in 2520 BC. Khafre also built the Sphinx, a mysterious limestone monument of a lion with a pharaoh's face.

The third pyramid, which is the smallest of the three, was built by Pharaoh Menkaure, son of Khafre, in 2490 BC.

2. The weight of the Great Pyramid

The Great Pyramid of Khufu took nearly 20 years to build. The massive structure required 2.5 million limestone and granite blocks to build. While some of the limestone blocks were quarried from near the site. the larger granite stones were fetched from Aswan, nearly 800 km away. Each stone block on average weighed 2.5 tonnes. The pyramid was built by skilled Egyptian workers who lived in a temporary city close by. When it was completed, the Great Pyramid was the tallest structure in the world. It retained the title for nearly 3,800 years, when it was finally overtaken by the Lincoln Cathedral in the 1300s. Experts estimate that the Great Pyramid would cost over 1 billion dollars if it were to be built today.

3. Aligned to the stars

The three pyramids of the Giza necropolis are built in such a way that they are perfectly aligned with the Orion constellation.

4. The monument of Glorious Light

In its initial years, the Great Pyramid was covered in highly polished limestone blocks known as casing stones. These stones reflected the Sun's light so well that the people of ancient Egypt used to call the Great Pyramid Ikhet, meaning GloriouS Light. The casing stones are now gone. It is suspected that massive earthquakes loosened the stones and they were taken away to build mosques in Cairo.

5. Depicting life in ancient Egypt

The interiors of the Pyramids of Giza are decorator with scenes from every aspect of life in ancient Egypt. The art includes depictions of carpentry, costumes, ancient farmers working in their fields, fishing, religious rituals and burial practices among others. The pyramids also contain inscriptions and texts that allow experts to research ancient Egyptian language and grammar.

 

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Considered the most architecturally sophisticated stone circle in the world, the Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England is a prehistoric monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monument is made up of a circle of standing stones. It is said that the outer circle had 30 sarsen stones which were surrounded by five huge stone arches in a horseshoe shape. There were also two smaller arcades of bluestones smaller than the sarsens. Four station stones were positioned outside the central monument and the entire site is surrounded by a circular ditch and bank which remains to this day.

The Stonehenge has faced degradation owing to natural wear and tear, however, most of the stones can still be seen standing today.

1. Spanning centuries

Construction of the monument spanned centuries, with work beginning in the Neolithic Age, over 5,000 years ago, and the final changes made in the Bronze Age, around 1,500 BC. It was built and rebuilt by generations of ancient people.

2. The building mystery

How did the ancient people build the Stonehenge, transporting huge stones from faraway places and putting them together at the site? This is a question that has left people baffled. Till date, there is no proven theory as to how the Stonehenge was built. A 12th century legend states that giants had placed the monument on a mountain in Ireland, and a wizard named Merlin magically moved the entire stone circle to England.

Meanwhile, archaeologists believe the sarsen stones, weighing at least 22 tonnes each, were hauled to the site on big wooden sledges from their actual location about 32km away from the Stonehenge While the bluestones, which have been traced to a place in Wales, about 225 km away from the site, were dragged on sledges to a waterway and then floated on rafts to the site.

3. Link with astronomy

The purpose of the construction of the Stonehenge is also a mystery Researchers believe the Stonehenge may have been a calendar linked to the study of the stars as each year on June 21 (the longest day of the year or Summer Solstice), the Sun rises over the Heel Stone, the single large sarsen stone that stands outside the main monument. Similarly, the Sun always sets over the Heel Stone on the shortest day of the year (December 21, the Winter Solstice).

4. A cemetery

One thing that is known for sure is that the Stonehenge served as a cemetery in its initial years. While experts do not know for sure why people were laid to rest at the site, they estimate that about 200 people were buried at the site. They also think that funeral ceremonies could have been performed at the site.

5. The Welsh angle

A recent discovery suggests that the Stonehenge might have originally been built in Wales! Archaeologists have found evidence of a stone circle in Wales similar to the Stonehenge, close to the quarry where the bluestones originated from. They believe the stones might have stood in Wales for many years before being moved to Wiltshire to form part of the Stonehenge.

 

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Shared between two countries

The Sundarbans is spread across West Bengal, India, and Khulna Division, Bangladesh. Covering an estimated10,00,000 hectares, about 64 per cent of the entire mangrove area of the forest is said to be in Bangladesh, with the remaining 36 per cent in India. The Sundarbans is listed as 'Sundarbans National Park, as a World Heritage Site from India, and as The Sundarbans World Heritage Site from Bangladesh.

The largest Mangrove forest

The Sundarbans is home to the largest mangrove forest in the world, and is also the only mangrove forest to be inhabited by the tiger. Nearly 78 species of mangroves have been recorded at the Sundarbans, making it one of the richest mangrove forests, as well as one among the most biologically productive of all natural ecosystems.

The largest population of tigers

Apart from being the only mangrove forest inhabited by the tiger, the Sundarbans is also home to the largest number of Bengal Tigers in the world A part of the Sundarbans is designated as the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve to protect the species. The tigers here have adapted to the environment and have become amphibious, swimming long stretches in search of food.

A unique tidal system

The Sundarbans experiences a unique tidal phenomenon, witnessing high and low tides several times within a day. During the high tides, you can witness the water levels rising by six to ten feet. And during low tides, you can see huge areas of flat mud lands.

There is a great natural depression called "Swatch of No Ground in the Sundarbans area. This depression leads to a sudden change in the depth of the water from 20 m to 500 m.

What's in a name?

Did you know the Sundarbans got its name from the Sundari tree? It is a special kind of mangrove tree found in this area. It has aerial roots (roots which are above the ground) to help with respiration. This is especially useful for the tree during the rainy season when the entire mangrove area is waterlogged.

 

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Standing in the middle of the sea, the Statue of Liberty is a 93 metre - tall copper statue; think of it as equivalent to the height of a 22-storey building. The statue is a national treasure of the United States visited by millions every year.

A gift from France

To commemorate the centennial of the United States’ independence and honour France's relationship with the U.S., French jurist Edouard de Laboulaye, in 1865, proposed the idea of presenting a gift from the people of France to the people of the U.S. Laboulaye was touched by the recent abolition of slavery in the U.S., which furthered the ideals of freedom and democracy in which he greatly believed.

Sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, who resonated with Laboulaye, conceptualised a colossal structure that is formally known as Liberty Enlightening the World.

A symbol of liberty and freedom

Several elements of the statue symbolise liberty and freedom. The statue is named after the Roman Goddess Libertas who personifies freedom. The tablet she carries is inscribed with July 4. 1776 in Roman numerals, the day America became a free country. The torch carried by the statue is considered a symbol of enlightenment and lights the way to freedom. As a symbolism of abolition of slavery, Bartholdi has placed a broken shackle at the statue's foot.

The Eiffel connection

Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the man who built the Eiffel tower in Paris, France, was closely involved in the building of the statue. He was engaged by Bartholdi to address structural issues associated with designing the statue. Eiffel designed the massive iron pylon and the secondary skeletal framework that allows the statue's copper skin to move independently yet stand upright.

Of seas and continents

The seven spikes radiating from the statue's crown are meant to be a halo, also known as an aureole. The spikes represent the seven seas and the seven continents of the world and emphasise the statue's message of inclusiveness and freedom.

Modelled on a real person

The face of the Statue of Liberty is said to have been modelled on Bartholdi's mother, Charlotte. This was first discovered in 1876, when Bartholdi invited French Senator Jules Bozerian to his box at the opera, where his mother was also present and Bozerian noticed the similarity instantly.

 

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Read up

The World Wide Web has a plethora of information for you to consume. Log onto UNESCO’s website and you will find authentic information about not just physical heritage but also cultural heritage of different countries. You can also visit the local library and find books relating to India’s cultural heritage. Reading up about our country’s vast cultural heritage is the first step towards doing your bit to preserve it.

Talk to your parents

Cultural heritage has evolved over the years and has been passed down through multiple generations. Talk to your parents and elders at home about cultural heritage in general or any specific topic such as an art form that piques your interest. You will get to hear many fascinating stories that they have witnessed and experienced over the years. It also makes for a great bonding time.

Organize discussions

The best way to preserve our cultural heritage is by getting your peers involved. Organise discussions in class or via video calls and talk to your peers about all the interesting information you have gathered about cultural heritage. Encourage them to share stories and the knowledge they possess on the same. Once school reopens, you can request your teachers to organize cultural events that showcase the country’s rich heritage and encourage your classmates to participate in them.

Volunteer

There are various organizations and groups that are doing their best to preserve our cultural heritage. You can volunteer with any of these groups and help spread the word and organize events with them. Sometimes they may even visit remote places to experience the heritage fthat has not yet caught the eye of the mainstream media. Volunteering with them would be an enriching experience.

Get creative

In this era of technology, you can capture people’s attention faster than usual. Take photographs and video of cultural heritage and blog or vlog about it. You don’t have to do it alone. Gather your friends along and get them to take part as well. You can make interesting videos and blogs and share them on social media.

At the local level, you can design pamphlets and brochures and spread the word among your neighbours and the local community.

 

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Follow the rules

Visiting a heritage monument might seem exciting. But many monuments have rules laid out by the organisation in charge of its conservation. These rules could include having to maintain silence at a sacred place, or not touching articles on display. Remember, these rules are made keeping preservation in min So do your best to follow the rules listed and ensure your family and peers follow them as well.

Do not litter

One of the major problems seen many monuments is littering. As the tourist inflow increases, it gets difficult for officials to monitor each and everyone. Many tourists carry food or drinks along and throw away empty packets and bottles around the site. This creates a negative impression about the monument in the eyes of the public. As a responsible citizen, do not litter and discourage your family and friends from doing so. Many monuments have trash cans placed around them. Throw rubbish only into the trash can. And if the dustbin is found to be full or if there isn't one, take the waste back with you and discard it at the nearest dustbin.

Say no to vandalism

Another common problem witnessed at most monuments is vandalism. Vandalism is the action of deliberately damaging public or private property. When you at the walls of some heritage monuments you can find scribbles left by people. In some places, you might even see artefacts broken. Vandalism is a threat to heritage monuments. Refrain from it and talk to others about it as well. Next time you spot someone indulging in the act, inform your parents or the authorities and let them take action.

Volunteer

Many organisations encourage youngsters to volunteer and do their bit for physical heritage. You can volunteer individually or encourage your school to take students to different monuments as an activity and help in their preservation Volunteering can mean serving as a guide, helping people navigate the heritage site, or even helping researchers take notes during their routine checks of the site.

Take photographs and spread the word

One of the best ways to draw attention towards preservation of a heritage site is by spreading the worst. Take photographs of heritage monuments and post them on social media. You could also create brochures and pamphlets and share them with people and make them aware about the rich history of monuments Use technology and social media to your advantage and reach and encourage as many people as you can to volunteer and visit heritage monuments.

 

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How old is it?

No one really knows how old the Grand Canyon is. While it was earlier thought to be six million years old, around the time the Colorado river cut through the landscape, many believe the Canyon could date back as far as 70 million years. This thought came to the fore after a study released in the early 2010s suggested some of the rocks in the Canyon may have been eroded and exposed at the surface millions of years ago. However, the debate, on how old the Grand Canyon actually is, goes on.

Not the deepest canyon

Though it is one of the most popular gorges, and a natural wonder of the world, the Grand Canyon is not the deepest or the longest gorge. The average depth of the Canyon is 1.6 km and it stretches nearly 446 km. However, the Guinness Book of World Records states that the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon in the Himalayas is the world's longest and deepest canyon with its maximum depth reaching about 5,382 m and the canyon stretching nearly 496.3 km.

Experience different weather conditions

With an elevation spanning 2000 feet to 8000 feet, one can experience a variety of weather conditions at the Grand Canyon. With every 1000-feet loss in elevation at the Canyon, the temperature increases by 5.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hidden Caves

It is estimated that there are nearly 1,000 caves spread across the Grand Canyon. However, only 335 of them have been recorded and explored so far. Of the 335, only one cave, the Cave of the Domes on Horseshoe Mesa, is open to the public.

Beware the rock squirrel

The Grand Canyon is home to a large array of wildlife from the bighorn sheep and the Gila monster, to the California condor and Ridgway's rail. But the most dangerous animal at the Canyon is the rock squirrel! Every year dozens of visitors to the Canyon are bitten by these animals when they try to feed them. Hence, one can find signs around the park asking people not to feed animals.

 

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1. Took nearly two centuries to build

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was designed to be a bell tower for the Pisa Cathedral. Construction of the tower started in 1173. Workers had almost completed the third storey of the tower by 1178, when war broke out between Italian states. The war halted the construction for nearly a century, and work resumed in 1272. Again after 12 years, another war halted construction. Finally, the third stage of the construction began in the early 14th Century and concluded with the installation of the bell chamber in 1372.

2. The lean is accidental

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was never supposed to lean. It happened accidentally. The reason the tower began to lean is attributed to its weak foundation and the inexperience of the engineers. The tower began to sink when the second floor was being constructed. This was due to a three-metre foundation set in weak, unstable subsoil. The tower would have toppled over as construction progressed, however, the gap of nearly a century owing to the war helped the underlying soil to settle. To compensate for the tilt, engineers built the upper floors with one side taller than the other. Because of this, the tower is curved.

3. Status: Currently stable

The tower continued to tilt nearly 0.05 inches per year, placing the monument in danger of an imminent collapse. By 1990s, the tilt of the tower was almost 5.5 degrees (15 feet) from the perpendicular. This led the government to take urgent measures to protect the monument. The tower was closed to the public and a team of engineers levelled the soil underneath the tower. Engineers also used anchoring mechanisms to rectify its lean. While this helped the monument stabilise, it did not prevent its continued lean. In 2008, engineers again tried to balance the foundational soil and for the first time since it was constructed, the continued tilt of the tower halted. Engineers stated that the tower would be stable for at least the next 200 years.

4. No bells tolling

The Leaning Tower of Pisa has seven giant bells at the top, one for each musical note from the major scale. While the bells are still around, they haven't tolled since the 20th century. This is because restorers and engineers were worried that their movements might make the tower lean more.

5. Not the only leaning tower in Pisa

As a result of Pisa's soft soil, the Leaning Tower of Pisa isn't the only building in the city that leans. The most popular building after the Leaning Tower of Pisa is the Bell Tower of the San Nicola church. Built around the same time as the Leaning Tower, this octangular bell tower also has a slight, but unmistakable tilt. Another popular building is the San Michele degli Scalzi, a 11th Century church, which tilts even more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa!

 

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1. A little history

A popular tourist site today and one of the world's largest sporting arenas, the Colosseum was built between 72 AD and 80 AD by the Roman emperor Vespasian. Though construction started during the time of Vespasian, he did not live to see its completion. His son, Titus opened the arena. The Colosseum is built using stone and concrete and the manpower of tens and thousands of Jewish slaves.

The first-ever games at the Colosseum were held in 80 AD by Titus. It went on for 100 days straight

2. Largest amphitheatre in the world

The oval-shaped Colosseum is the largest amphitheatre in the world. It measures 189m long, 156m wide and 50m high. The arena was so big that it could fit a modern-day football pitch inside. The Colosseum had 80 entrances and could seat approximately 50,000 spectators at a time.

3. Free for all, mostly

Sporting events at the arena included gladiatorial combats, wild animal hunts and naval battles. These games continued to be held for centuries, with gladiatorial combats held till the fifth century, and wild animal hunts till the sixth Most the major events held at the Colosseum, which were often organised and paid for by the emperors, were free for spectators. Sometimes free food was also served to the spectators. Emperors did this to gain popularity and support from the public.

4. What's underground?

There were numerous rooms and passages below the Colosseum. This is where the gladiators and the animals were kept before they were allowed entry into the arena. The Colosseum also had 36 trap doors for special effects during games.

5. A graveyard for animals

Along with other sporting events, Romans staged wild animal fights and hunts at the Colosseum. This left thousands of animals such as elephants, tigers, lions, bears and other exotic creatures wounded or dead.

 

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James Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster movie “Titanic” left almost everyone who watched it teary eyed. But not many know that the movie is based on the real-life sinking of a British ship by the same name, RMS Titanic was a luxury liner that hit an iceberg on April 14, 1912, broke apart and sank to the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean by April 15. The liner, operated by the White Star Line, was on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. It was carrying an estimated 2,224 passengers and crew aboard when the mishap occurred, killing more than 1,500 people.

The sinking of the Titanic was one of the biggest disasters in maritime history. It met with worldwide shock and outrage due to the huge loss of life as well as the regulatory and operational failures that led to it. It was the largest ship afloat at the time it entered service.

The aftermath of the disaster initiated public inquiries in Britain and the United States and led to major improvements in maritime safety. One of the important aspects was the establishment of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) in 1914, which still governs maritime safety.

The wreck of the Titanic was discovered in 1985 during a Franco-American expedition and United States Military mission. The ship was split into two and the shipwreck is slowly disintegrating at a depth of about 12,000 feet.

Now, OceanGate, a manned submersibles company, is planning tourist dives to the shipwreck. From May to September 2021, the company plans to dive to the wreck of the ocean liner, allowing three passengers to descend with it in each dive. The firm intends to dive about 18 times in this window using its ‘Titan’ sub which will also carry a pilot and a scientist-researcher apart from the three passengers. During the dive, passengers would be able to survey the wreck and debris field which is scattered across 86 sq km.

The dives will also help OceanGate with its overall objective to scan the entire wreck site – the ultimate goal being to create a photorealistic virtual 3D model of the shipwreck before it’s gone.

 

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1. A king and his love for astronomy

The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is one among five such observatories built by Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur. Jai Singh II was extremely enthusiastic about astronomy and even owned telescopes. He came up with the idea of building the astronomical observatories in India when he noticed that the astronomical tables of the Zij (an islamic astronomical book that tabulates parameters used to calculate the positions of the Sun, Moon, stars, and the planets) were incomplete. He used the observatories to come up with a more accurate zij and new astronomical tables known as the zij-i Muhammad Shahi. These tables were used in India for nearly a century.

2. One among five observatories

The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is the largest among the five observatories built by Jai Singh II, and the only one among the five to receive the UNESCO World Heritage tag. The other observatories, also called Jantar Mantar, were built in Delhi, Varanasi, Mathura, and Ujjain between 1724 and 1735. However, today only four of these exist. The one in Mathura was destroyed just before the Revolt of 1857.

3. Astronomy with the naked eye

The monument has a collection of 19 astronomical instruments constructed out of local stone and marble. Each of these giant instruments caries an astronomical scale and facilitates calculation of the positions and distances of the celestial bodies with the naked eye.

4. World's largest stone sundial

The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is home to the largest stone sundial in the world. The Vrihat Samrat Yantra, which stands at the centre of the observatory, is a 27m-tall sundial which can help calculate time accurately down to two seconds.

5. No longer in use

Apart from stone and marble, bronze tablets, bricks and mortar were employed during the construction of the observatory. The Jantar Mantar was in continuous use till about the early 1800s, and then fell into disuse. It was restored several times during the British rule. Today, the observatory serves as a tourist attraction, kindling students interest in astronomy through guided tours, and music and light shows. It was declared a national monument in 1948, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.

 

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1. Largest religious monument

Angkor Wat spread over 160 hectares, is considered to be the largest religious monument in the world by land area. The temple complex in Cambodia was built by Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th Century. The complex was initially constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu. However, it gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th Century. Today, it is described by many as a Hindu-Buddhist temple.

2. A national symbol

Angkor Wat features on the national flag of Cambodia. It is one among a handful of monuments that feature on the national flags of their respective countries. The only other Asian country with a monument on the flag is Afghanistan.

3. Represents Mount Meru

The temple's design is said to represent Mount Menu, the home of the Gods, according to Hindu mythology. The five towers of the temple are intended to recreate the five peaks of Mount Meru, while the walls and the moat below honour the surrounding mountain ranges and the sea.

4. Oriented to the West

While most Hindu temples are oriented to the East, Angkor Wat is oriented to the West. While there is no conclusive evidence of why this is so, many researchers believe that Suryavarman intended Angkor Wat to serve as his funerary temple.

5. An underground city?

A forensic aerial mapping of Angkor conducted by archaeologists Damian Evans and Jean-Baptiste Chevance, using ground-sensing radar, discovered the lost city of 'Mahendraparvata', located nearly 40 km from the Angkor Wat, in 2012. This city is believed to be the template of Angkor and its great temple. Since its discovery, the lost city has proved to be even bigger than what the archaeologists had expected.

 

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The land of the rhinoceros

1. The British connection

One of the oldest national parks in Assam, Kaziranga owes its existence to Mary Curzon and Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of India. Back in 1904, Mary Curzon visited the area after having heard about the population of rhinos there. However, she was unable to spot a single rhino there was a sharp decline in numbers due to hunting and poaching. She persuaded Lord Curzon to take urgent measures to protect the species and the area. He obliged, and on June 1, 1907, the Kaziranga Proposed Reserve Forest was created with an area of 232 sq km. In 1908, Kaziranga was designated a ‘Reserve Forest’.

2. Find the largest population of…

The Kaziranga National Park takes credit for being home to the world’s largest population of the greater one-horned rhinoceros, wild Asiatic Buffalo and eastern, swamp deer. The rhinoceros, which has become synonymous with the park, has been hunted over the years for its horn. However, thanks to the efforts of the park, the Indian rhinoceros, which was earlier categorized as ‘endangered’, is now categorized as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. According to the Union’s last assessment in December 2018, the population of the rhino is steadily increasing.

3. Did you spot a tiger?

While the park is famous because of the rhinos, it is also home to many large cats, including the tiger. Kaziranga has one of the highest densities of tigers in the world, and was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006. It approximately has a population of 118 tigers, with a density of one per five sq km.

The park is also one of the few breeding sites outside Africa for large cats such as leopards and Bengal tigers.

4. Important bird area

Apart from mammals, one can find a variety of migratory birds, scavengers, game birds and water birds in Kaziranga. The park has been identified by Birdlife International as an Important Bird Area. Some birds such as the lesser white-fronted goose, ferruginous duck, Baer’s pochard duck and lesser adjacent migrate to the park from Central Asia during winter. Water birds in the park include Blyth’s kingfisher, white-bellied heron, and spot-billed pelican. When it comes to birds of prey, one can spot the rare eastern imperial eagle and lesser kestrel among others. The park was once home to seven species of vultures. However, the population reached near extinction due to feeding on carcasses containing the drug Diclofenac. Today, one can only find the Indian vulture, slender-billed vulture, and Indian white-rumped vulture in the park.

5. Water, water everywhere

The park is known for flooding during the monsoon season, Kaziranga experiences three seasons-summer, monsoon and winter. The monsoon, usually lasts from June to September and is responsible for most of the rainfall in the region. However, during the peak monsoon months of July and August, nearly three-fourths of the western, region of the park is submerged due to the rising water levels of the Brahmaputra River. Flooding of the park has now become common, with many animals migrating to elevated and forested regions outside the southern border of the park. The flooding has led to the death of several animals in the park over the years.

 

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The loyal architect

The temple was built in the 13th Century King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty who was a worshipper of the sun god. The project was led by architect Bisu Moharana. It took 12 years to complete the temple using over 1,200 artisans. It is said that Moharana was so committed to the project that he did not even meet his son, who was born during this period, for 12 years. However, Moharana was unable to complete the temple during his time. It was his son who actually completed the temple by constructing its cupola.

A chariot

The Sun Temple is built to represent the chariot of the sun god. The chariot has 12 pairs of wheels drawn by seven horses. These pairs of wheels found at the base of the temple are said to represent the 12 months of the Hindu calendar. Some believe that the 24 wheels represent the 24 hours in a day. When it comes to the horses, they are said to represent the seven days of the week. The temple is also adorned with many intricate engravings.

Wheels of time

The wheels of the chariots are designed as sundials that can be used to calculate the time. Each wheel has eight spokes, representing three hours each. As the sun's rays fall on the wheel, the shadow of the spokes tell you the time. This is how time was predicted in ancient India. It is said that some experts can calculate the time accurately by just looking at the wheel!

The Black Pagoda

While today the Sun Temple is a little away from the shore, it was actually constructed on the shore. Over the years, the water receded. During its heyday, the temple was treated as a landmark for navigational purposes by European sailors. The sailors referred to the temple as the Black Pagoda due to the dark colour of the stone used.

A temple in ruins

The Sun Temple, as we see it today. is mostly in ruins. It is still unclear as to what caused the decline of the temple. When it was constructed, the temple had a main sanctum sanctorum, almost 229 feet tall. This is where the main idol of the sun god was kept. This sanctum fell in the year 1837, and the temple has remained without a sanctum sanctorum or a main idol ever since.

 

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