VISIT TO BARCELONA SPAIN 04 TO 07 AUG 2018 - II

 

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY,

C/O COL GKS REDDY,

Secunderabad - 500 084.

          Visited Barcelona, in Catalonia Province of The Kingdom of Spain from 04 to 07 Aug 2018 along with my daughter. Took off from Stansted Airport near London by Ryanair Flight at 1230h on 04 Aug and Landed in Barcelona by about 1530h (Barcelona Time). Went straight from the Airport to Hotel Porta Fira.

 

BARCELONA

          Barcelona (/ˌbɑːrsəˈloʊnə/ BAR-sə-LOH-nə, Catalan: [bəɾsəˈlonə], Spanish: [baɾθeˈlona]) is a city in Spain. It is the capital and largest city of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within city limits, its urban area extends to numerous neighbouring municipalities within the Province of Barcelona and is home to around 4.8 million people, making it the sixth most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, London, Madrid, the Ruhr area and Milan. It is the largest metropolis on the Mediterranean Sea, located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, and bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range, the tallest peak of which is 512 metres (1,680 feet) high.

           Barcelona is one of the world's leading tourist, economic, trade fair and cultural centres, and its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities.

Barcelona Cathedral

          The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, also known as Barcelona Cathedral, is the Gothic cathedral and seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona, Spain. The cathedral was constructed from the 13th to 15th centuries, with the principal work done in the 14th century. The cloister, which encloses the Well of the Geese was completed in 1448. In the late 19th century, the neo-Gothic façade was constructed over the nondescript exterior that was common to Catalan churches. The roof is notable for its gargoyles, featuring a wide range of animals, both domestic and mythical.

A View of the Barcelona Cathedral from the Main Road

A Closer View of the Cathedral

A Frontal View of the Cathedral

The Main Entrance of the Cathedral

The Cathedral Complex Housing the Bishop and the Priests

The Head Post Office Barcelona

          Correos Y Telegrafos Building in Barcelona located near Marina at the Plaça Antonio López was the famous Posts and Telegraph HQ Building in Barcelona. The building was designed by the Famous Catalonian Architect Joseph Gaudi and constructed during 1920s.

Front view of the Head Post Office Barcelona

Close Up of the Head Post Office Building, Barcelona

Snap Taken at Night from the Corner of the Head Post Office Building

Via Laietana

         Via Laietana (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈbi.ə ləjəˈtanə]) is a major thoroughfare in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in the Ciutat Vella district. The avenue runs from Plaça Urquinaona to Plaça d'Antonio López, by the seafront, and separates the neighbourhoods of the old city it has on either side: La Ribera/El Born and Sant Pere on one and Barri Gòtic on the other. Besides being always overcrowded with both locals and tourists attracted by its Modernista Art Nouveau, Art Déco, and Noucentista neo-classical architecture, in addition to its nearness to the Ramblas and the quiet pedestrian streets of Barri Gòtic.

One of the Modern Building in Via Laietana

A view of the Via Laietana from the Head Post Office

The Magic Fountain Barcelona

         The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc (Catalan: Font màgica de Montjuïc, Spanish: Fuente mágica de Montjuic) is a fountain located at the head of Avinguda Maria Cristina in the Montjuïc neighborhood of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The fountain is situated below the Palau Nacional on the Montjuïc mountain and near the Plaça d'Espanya and Poble Espanyol de Barcelona. The fountain, like most of the surrounding developments, was constructed for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition.

The Columns at the Entrance to the Magic Fountain

The Fountains on the way to the Magic Fountain

The Magic Fountain Barcelona

The Information about the Places is kind Courtesy Wikipedia and other sites on the subject

VISIT TO HUSSAINIWALA BORDER CROSSING AND BHAGAT SINGH MEMORIAL - II

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY,g
C/O COL GKS REDDY,

Secunderabad - 500 015.

VISIT TO HUSSAINIWALA BORDER CROSSING AND BHAGAT SINGH MEMORIAL

Introduction

          Visited Hussainiwala Border post and Bhagat Singh Memorial on 10 Feb 2016 along with all the Veterans of my parent Unit, who were in the Area for a Veterans Re-Union from 09 Feb 2016 to 11 Feb 2016.

Hussainiwala

          The village is named after the Muslim Peer Baba Hussainiwala ji (Saint Hussaini wala or Saint "who is of Husain"), whose tomb is in the Border Security Force headquarters at Hussainiwala

Hussainiwala Border Post

          The Hussainiwala border crossing is now closed for travelers, although a flag retreat ceremony is still held daily. Until 1970, it was the principal road crossing between India and Pakistan, and was a trade route for truckers, mostly for the import of Kandahari Angoor (dehydrated grapes) and other fruits and food products from Pakistan and Afghanistan. The border crossing was replaced by the border crossing at Wagah, a little further north. In 2005 there were proposals to reopen the border, but it has not yet frutified and the Border Post remains closed.

Visit to Bhagat Singh Memorial

          After witnessing the Flag Downing Ceremony at the Hussainiwala Border Post, we moved to Bhagat Singh Memorial, located close by.

  The famous National Martyrs Memorial marks the location where Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were cremated on March 23, 1931 on the banks of the Sutlej river. It is also the cremation place of B.K. Dutta (Batukeshwar Dutt) (died 1965) who was also involved in bombing the Central Legislative Assembly with Bhagat Singh. His last wish was to be cremated at the place where Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev where cremated. The mother of Bhagat Singh, Vidyawati, was also cremated there in accordance with her last wish, and later she was awarded the title of Punjab Mata (Mother of Punjab). | image_skyline = File:National Martyrs Memorial Hussainiwala closeup.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = The National Martyrs Memorial, built at Hussainiwala in memory of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru

        The National Martyrs Memorial Hussainiwala, built in 1968, depicts an irrepressible revolutionary spirit of the three National Martyrs, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. The memorial is located just one km from the India-Pakistan border on the Indian side and has memorials of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. After Partition, the cremation spot went to Pakistan but on January 17, 1961, this martyr's land was received when India gave 12 villages near the Sulemanki Headworks (Fazilka) to Pakistan. B.K. Dutt was also cremated here on 19 July 1965 and in accordance with his last wishes. Bhagat Singh's mother, Punjab Mata Vidyawati, was also cremated here in accordance with her last wish.

          This memorial was damaged by the withdrawing Pakistani troops in 1972. The memorial was restored in 1973 by the efforts of the then Punjab Chief Minister, Zail Singh.

         Every year, on the 23rd of March, the Shaheedi Mela is observed at this National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala, in which thousands of people pay their homage. The day is also observed across the state of Punjab.

The Entry Gate to the Bhagat Singh Memorial at Hussainiwala

A Tower of Hussainiwala Fort. The Memorial is located outside the Fort

Another Tower of the Fort

Full View of the Hussainiwala Fort

Self with Col Sharawat, of my unit, who was one of my 

Company Commander, in front of the Fort

One of the Images in Bhagat Singh Memorial, - Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev

A closeup of the Statues of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev at the Memorial

Self, Maj SR Roy, Col VS Sharawat and Col VK Rana, All Veterans at the Memorial

The Spot Near the Fort, where the Railway Track Going into 

Pakistan has been cut and Terminated after the Partition

A Placard at the Memorial

A View of the Fort from the Memorial

The Placard Indicating the Destruction of the Memorial by Pakistani Army in 1972

15 Punjab War Memorial Near the Monument

Statues of the Company Commanders of 15 Punjab, who 

sacrificed their lives, Defending the Memorial

Note - The Information about Hussainiwala has been extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.