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Adi Kailash

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Over 180 pilgrims, returning from Adi Kailash, were recently rescued by a joint team of the state disaster response force (SDRF), revenue police and Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) from Najang, where they had been stranded following a massive landslide.

About Adi Kailash:

  • It is considered to be one of the five Kailash mountains and is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva.
  • It is also known as Shiva Kailash, Chota Kailash, Baba Kailash, or Jonglingkong Peak.
  • Location:
    • It is located in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.
    • It is situated among the Kumaon Himalayan mountain range.
    • It lies in close proximity to the Indo-Tibetan border near Sin La Pass.
  • Altitude: 6310 meters
  • Adi Kailash is known as the replica of Kailash Mansarovar. It is immensely popular among devotees of Shiva.
  • It is scripted in Hindu Mythology that Shiva meditated and stayed at Adi Kailash for some time.

What is Pancha Kailash?

  • These are the five holy peaks that are said to be the abodes of Lord Shiva.
  • The five peaks are Kailash Manasarovar, Adi Kailash, Kinnaur Kailash, Shrikant Mahadev Kailash and Manimahesh Kailash.


350th anniversary of the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

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Celebrations marking the 350th anniversary of the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj recently began at the Raigad fort in Maharashtra.

About Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj:

  • He was the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India.
  • He was born on February 19, 1630 to Shahaji Bhosle and Jijabai in the fort of Shivneri, near the city of Junnar of the Pune district. 
  • With his valor and great administrative skills, Shivaji carved out an enclave from the declining Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur. It eventually became the genesis of the Maratha Empire.
  • He was known as the Father of Indian Navy, Shivaji was the first to realise the importance of having a naval force, and therefore he strategically established a navy and forts at the coastline to defend the Konkan side of Maharashtra.
  • He was a secular ruler who was very accommodating of all religions. He had numerous Muslim soldiers in his army.
  • Shivaji was a dependable supporter of women and their honour. Anyone under his rule caught violating woman’s rights was severely punished.
  • He had a council of ministers (Asht Pradhan)to advise him on the matters of the state but he was not bound by it.
  • He was called as the ‘Mountain Rat’ and was widely known for his guerrilla warfare tactics. He was called so because of his awareness in geography of his land, and guerrilla tactics like raiding, ambushing and surprise attacks on his enemies.

Key facts about Raigad fort:

  • Location:
    • It is a hill fort situated in Raigad district, Maharashtra.
    • It is situated in the Sahyadri mountain ranges or the western ghats.
  • It is one of the strongest-ever fortresses of the Deccan Plateau and is known as the ‘Gibraltar of the East’ across the world.
  • It was seized by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1656 from Chandraraoji More, the King of Jawali. 
  • Several structures and other constructions in Raigad were developed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
  • He made this his capital in 1674, after being crowned as the king of the entire Maratha Kingdom and later on, the Maratha Empire.
  • The fort was the location for an armed campaign executed by the British East India Company in 1765. On May 9, 1818, the fort was looted and subsequently destroyed by British forces.
  • The fort also overlooks an artificial lake known as the ‘Ganga Sagar Lake’.


Pragati Maidan

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Authorities in Delhi recently demolished several shanties near central Delhi’s Pragati Maidan as part of an anti-encroachment drive.

About Pragati Maidan:

  • It is one of the biggest exhibition centers in India.
  • Location: New Delhi.
  • History:
    • It was inaugurated on 3 November 1972 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
    • The first show which took place here was the ASIA 72 TRADE SHOW – to celebrate 25 years of India’s Independence. 
  • It is owned, operated, controlled and managed by India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO), the trade promotion agency of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India.
  • It hosts over 70 national and international exhibitions annually, with the largest being the India International Trade Fair.
  • Features:
    • It is a huge complex of buildings, covering over 150 acres (0.61 km2) sprinkled with many lawns, overlooking the historic Purana Qila.
    • The complex houses many pavilions like the Nehru Pavilion, the Defence Pavilion, the Indira Pavilion, and the Son of India Pavilion.
    • It also has an auditorium where rock shows and plays are held quite frequently. 
    • The complex houses 18 exhibition halls, several buildings, eateries, performance spaces and compounds, including headquarters of the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO).

Key facts about Purana Qila:

  • Location:
    • It is located on the South Eastern part of the present city of New Delhi.
    • It is one of the oldest forts in Delhi and built on the banks of river Yamuna.
  • The present citadel at Purana Qila started its construction in the reign of  Humayun and was completed by Sher Shah Suri (‘The Lion King’).
  • The Qila was inspired by Jama Masjid, which was established 15 years before the reconstruction of Qila.
  • Architecture:
    • It is rectangular in shape and is spread over an area of 1.5 kilometers. 
    • Another amazing feature of the Purana Qila are the three gates that are a display of a happy blend of Hindu and Muslim styles of architecture. – Bara Darwaza or the Big Gate facing west, the Humayun Gate facing south, and the Talaqqi Gate, which is often referred to as the forbidden gate.
    • All of the gates are double-storeyed and comprise of huge semi-circular bastions flanking either of their sides.