Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy Alyam is is an ancient Hindu temple at Srinivasamangapuram in Tirupat. In Telugu, “Alyam” means home. It is believed that after his marriage to Padmavati, Lord Venketeswara Swamy spent six months living here.
The actual year and century of the temple have not yet been determined by archaeologists and temple experts. During the Sultans’ rule in 1324, the historic Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy temple was destroyed. Later, Chinna Tirumala Acharya, the poet-sage Annamacharya’s grandson, restored it in the 16th century. After that, the Tallapaka family looked after it for a while. The temple was governed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) from 1967 to 1981 before being turned over to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam. The ASI has categorised the temple as an ancient monument of national importance.

Hidden among the old buildings and bustling traffic of Okhla one can spot a sign board with ‘Sarai Julena Gaon’. The actual Sarai, now lost in oblivion, was built by a Portuguese lady named Dona Juliana Dias da Costa. How did a Portuguese woman come to construct a Sarai? Moreover who was this Julliana da Costa, also referred to as Bibi Julliana in Mughal texts?
She is well known for serving in the Mughal court in late 17th and early 18th century Mughal India and for being a close companion of the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah First (Shah Alam). Nevertheless, none of the accounts of her early life are backed up by historical evidence. She reportedly joined the Mughal Court and served there, according to several accounts. Her extensive professional background included serving as a doctor, a Portuguese ambassador, a diplomat, and a tutor for the royal prince.

The Agra Fort holds the distinction of being a UNESCO World Heritage site. Originally known as Badalgarh, it was ruled by Raja Badal Singh, a Hindu Sikarwar Rajput king, around 1475. The fort’s historical significance dates back to 1080 AD, when it was seized by a Ghaznavide force. Sikandar Lodi, the inaugural Sultan of Delhi, made Agra his seat of power Noteworthy figures like Babur and Humayun left their mark on the fort’s legacy. Akbar, recognizing its strategic importance, designated it as his capital in 1558. The fort, originally in a state of disrepair and known as ‘Badalgarh’ according to Akbar’s historian Abdul Fazal, underwent extensive reconstruction with red sandstone from Barauli, Rajasthan. The fort’s transformation into its current state, however, occurred during the reign of Shah Jahan.

Indian forts are characterised by their elaborate gateways, and the Agra Fort is no exception. The Amar Singh Gate, originally known as Akbar Darwaza or Lahore Gate, is situated in the southern direction and dates back to 1568-69 CE. Its name likely originated from its association with the Mughal Emperor Akbar and the royal family as only they were allowed to use it. Legend has it that Emperor Shah Jahan later renamed it as Amar Singh Darwaza. The Amar Singh gate is flanked by octagonal towers on either side. The gate stands perpendicular to the fort wall and, although not extravagantly adorned, displays intricate white marble inlay work. Historically, it was tiled with vibrant tiles, now lost.