CIRCULAR - Xth World Sanskrit Conference - 1997, Bangalore, India

Dr Shivamurthy Swamiji swamiji at giasbg01.vsnl.net.in
Fri Jul 19 19:37:16 UTC 1996


Xth WORLD SANSKRIT CONFERENCE - 1997	(Silver Jubilee Year)
Taralabalu Kendra, Bangalore   [ INDIA ]
(3-9 January 1997)
__________________________________________________________________


GENERAL INFORMATION


Dear Participants,

Welcome to the garden city of Bangalore!

The conference is hardly six months away from now.  We want to give you the following information to facilitate you to plan your visit to India more fruitfully.


-------------------------------------
1.  ABOUT BANGALORE
-------------------------------------

Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka, the Kannada speaking state of India (the eighth largest state in the country).  Once described as the "Paradise of the Retired People",  Bangalore is known for its salubrious climate.  Located 1000 m above the sea level, Bangalore has a moderate climate throughout the year. In the 'coldest' month of January,
it is 20.48 degree Celsius and the maximum temperature during the day rarely exceeds 34 degree Celsius.  This bustling capital city of Karnataka, has a perpetual holiday atmosphere. 

The city abounds in picturesque sight-seeing places.  The cubbon part with extensive stretch of green land and beautifully laid out lawns and enchanting botonical garden with Glass House in the midst of Lal Bagh lend all the charming grandeur to the city.  Bangalore is well connected by air and land with all major cities in India and directly connected by air with a few coutries.

Founded in 1537 by a local cheiftan Kempe Gowda, Bangalore is the firth largest city in the country and one of the fastest growing in the world.  Rapid industrial growth has not taken away from Bangalore the old charm of the city.  Bangalore offers more than a day or two of sightseeing.  Daily, there is something going on here - music and dance concerts, dramas, exhibitions etc.

As a citadel of learning, Bangalore has some outstanding technical, scientific and research institutions.  The Indian Institute of Science is one of the foremost scientific institutes in the country.  In addition, Bangalore University, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Raman Research Institute and numerous professional and general colleges, give necessary impetus for educational progress.

With many Computer Software development companies coming up in recent times,  young skilful software engineers here, have earned for this "village of boiled beans" (BENGALURU) a world reputation of "The Silicon Valley of India".

As a well planned modern city, it has many imposing structures conveniently located.
The majestic Vidhana Soudha, a magnificient post-independence structure houses the Secretariat of the Karanataka Government and the State's legislature.  It is a sheer delight to see the illuminated building during nights, especially on Sundays and holidays. It is here that the organizing committee is planning to hold the inaugural session of the Xth World Sanskrit Conference.

--------------------------------------------
1. PROGRAMME SUMMARY
-------------------------------------------

Regular academic sessions will be held at Taralabalu Kendra, another important building 
of a Centre that has come up in recent times in the Rabindranath Tagore Nagar area
(abbreviated as R T Nagar)  of  Bangalore to promote Indian cultural heritage and academic research.  In the words of a common man on the street, it is a miniature of Vidhan Soudha
in its architectural splendor. The magnificent 5-storey building of this Kendra with modern facilties like computers and e-mail communications, has an auditorium of 1000 seating capacity, a large community hall, conference hall, prayer hall,  dining hall, guest rooms, dormitories etc.  It is here and in the neighbouring educational institutions that all the academic sessions and cultural programmes will be held on all the days of the conference.

*Venue:  Taralabalu Kendra, R T Nagar, Bangalore   
__________________________________________________________________
3.1.1997 Fri             		Arrival 
        		11am - 6pm     	Registration at Taralabalu Kendra
          		6pm - 8pm 	Get-together/ Dinner
_________________________________________________________________
4.1.1997 Sat   	10am      	Inaugural Session at Vidhana Soudha
          		2pm - 5pm 	Academic Sessions
_________________________________________________________________
5.1.1997 Sun   	9am - 5pm 	Academic Sessions
_________________________________________________________________
6.1.1997  Mon  	Full Day 	In-conference Tours (four options):
				1. Srirangapatna/Mysore 
				2. Sravanabelagola/Belur-Halebeed
				3. Tirupati and
				4. City Tour 
__________________________________________________________________
7.1.1997  Tue  	9am - 5pm 	Academic Sessions
8.1.1997  Wed 	9am - 5pm 	Academic Sessions
               	6pm - 9pm 	Closing Session/Cultural programmes/Dinner
__________________________________________________________________
9.1.1997  Thu            		Departure
__________________________________________________________________
* Special Panels and Pandit-Parishads are also being planned


--------------------------------------------
2.  PAPERS AND SECTIONS
-------------------------------------------

The broad subject areas mentioned  in the  first announcement  are classified into 20 sections as given below. Scholars whose  papers are accepted get 20 minutes for the presentation of their  papers followed by 10 minutes discussions.  Rescheduling  of papers  will not be done if for any reason the  paper presenter  does not  show up.

1    Agamas and Tantras     
2    Art, Architecture and Archaeology     
3    Buddhist Studies  
4    Classical Sanskrit Literature    
5    Dharma Shastra and Artha Shastra      
6    Epics and Puranas 
7    Hindu Studies     
8    Jaina Studies     
9    Manuscripts and Historical Resources
10  Modern Sanskrit Literature      
11  Music and Performing Arts 
12  Philosophies (Darshanas) 
13  Poetics and Aesthetics 
14  Sanskrit and Regional Languages 
15  Sanskrit Scientific Literature 
16  Sanskrit Medical Literature 
17  Sanskrit and the Environment 
18  Sanskrit and Computer 
19  Veda and Vedangas 
20  Vyakarana and Linguistics 

------------------------------------
3. REGISTRATION FEE
-----------------------------------

The Registration Fee is US $ 100 if it is paid before 31st August. If it is paid after this date, 
it would be  US $  125.   (Students and  the  scholars  retired  from   service  are   allowed  50 % concession.)    The  bank  draft, drawn  in favour  of "Xth  World Sanskrit  Conference,  Bangalore".   (Account No.:  SB A/c  11953, Syndicate Bank, RT Nagar Branch, Bangalore),  
should be mailed  to the address of the conference secretariat.

---------------------------------------------------------------
4. FOOD AND HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
---------------------------------------------------------------

Indian vegetarian food and soft drinks  will be  provided free  of cost at the conference venue.   
M/s GAIN  NET is  appointed as  the official travel agent for the Xth World Sanskrit
Conference and is entrusted  with  the  responsibility  of  taking   care  of   the requirements  like  Hotel accommodation,  Transportation from  the airport to the hotel, in-conference tours, pre/post-conference  tours, domestic  &  international   bookings,  reconfirmations,   Foreign
Exchange requirements, etc.   Printed booklet  containing all  the necessary  information  about hotel  tariff, in-conference  tours, pre-post conference tours etc., is being mailed separately.   He may  be contacted  directly  for all  such needs.   His  address is  given below.   The  last  date for  booking hotel  accommodation is  31 October 1996.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. ADDRESS OF THE OFFICIAL TRAVEL AGENT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

M/s GAINNET
Raheja Plaza
Ground Floor
Richmond Road
Bangalore - 560 025
Karnataka (India)

E-mail: gainwell.gainnet at gems.vsnl.net.in

Tel:   + 91-80-551 2631 
          + 91-80-551 2651
          + 91-80-551 2507
          + 91-80-557 7549

Fax:  + 91-80-559 3451 
          + 91-80-558 7769

Tlx:    0845-3218 GAIN IN

----------------------------
6.  HOTEL TARIFF
----------------------------

The following rates are the specially negotiated rates for the Xth World Sanskrit Conference.  
The rates quoted below are for single/double occupancy rooms (exclusive of taxes) and are 
subject to periodical revisions, if any.  Distance from the conference venue is given against each name of the hotel.  Free transportation facility is provided by the organizing committee,
from the hotel to the conference venue and back. For further details, please contact the travel agent. The  last  date for  booking hotel  accommodation is  31 October 1996.  

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	Hotel		Category	Single	Double	Tax1+Tax2**	Distance	
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1  Taj Residency	5 Star		$125   	$135 	15.75%+10%	9 Kms
2  The Oberoi*		5 Star		$189	$207	15.75%+10%	9 Kms
3  Taj West End		5 Star		$200	$225	15.75%+10%	6 Kms
4  Windsor Manor*	5 Star		$150	$160	15.75%+10%	4 Kms
					$200	$210
5  Holiday Inn*		5 Star		$110	$120	15.75%+10%	4 Kms
					$140	$160
6  Ashoka Hotel*	5 Star		$110	$110	15.75%+10%	5 Kms
7  Gateway Hotel	4 Star		$80	$95	15.75%+10%	8 Kms
8  Kensington Terrace*	4 Star		$46	$58	16%	NA	9 Kms
9  The Capitol*		4 Star		$63	$71	15.75%+10%	6 Kms
10 The Atria*		4 Star		$50	$61	15.75%*10%	6 Kms
11 Harsha Hotel*	3 Star		$29	$34	15.75%	NA	7 Kms
					$32	$37
12  Vijaya Residency*	3 Star		$35	$43	18%	NA	7 Kms

________________________________________________________________________
* Rates include breakfast
** Tax1 = Luxury Tax	Tax2 = Hotel Exp Tax


-------------------------------------------
7.  IN-CONFERENCE TOURS
-------------------------------------------

The following four optional tours (one full day) are planned for 6th January 1997.  Participants are requested to select any one of them and register their names with the official travel agent of the conference.


1.	MYSORE/SRIRANGAPATNAM: ($ 7 per person)
	
The city of Mysore, 140 kms from Bangalore, was once the capital of the kings Wodeyars.  It still retains a quaint charm that never fails to enchant.  The Mysore Palace, once the residence of the Wodeyar kings, is one of the largest of its kind in 
India and one of the most splendid.  This Indo-Saracenic building has among other things - a carved silver door, a solid gold throne and gallery of exquisite paintings.

Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery is a palace transformed into an art gallery with paintings dating from 1875.  The collection includes paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, the Russian Svetoslav Roerich and the traditional Mysore 'gold leaf' style of painting.

St. Philomena's Church, in the Gothic style, is one of the largest churches in the country and has beautiful stained glass windows.

Chamundi Hills are 13 kms off Mysore City.  Halfway-up is the Nandi Bull, a 4.8 m monolith.  This Nandi Bull is the emblem selected for the Xth World Sanskrit Conference.  

About 19 kms north-west of Mysore is the KRS Dam. The adjoing Brindavan Garden attracts thousands of visitors with its ornamental terraced gardens, the swirling fountains dancing to the rhythm of soft music and the colourful fairy lights.

Srirangapatna is 14 kms north-east of Mysore on the Bangalore-Mysore Highway.
The island fortres that was once the capital of the Warrior-kings Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore.  Tipu's summer palace, Daria Daulat, built in 1784, was his favourite retreat.  It is now a museum and tells eloquently of his valour and his losing battle against British.  It has ornate and beautiful frescoes.  


2	SHRAVANABELAGOLA, BELUR AND HALEBEEDU ($10 per person)
	
Shravanabelagola is 158 kms from Bangalore.  This is one of the most important Jaina pilgrim centres with the 17 m. high monolith of Lord Bahubali - said to be the world's tallest monolithic statue.  Thousands of devotees congregate here to perform the 'Mahamastakabhisheka', a spectacular ceremony held once in 12 years when the 1000-year-old statue is anointed with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins. The last 'Mahamastakabhisheka' was held in the year 1993.  

Belur and Halebeed with their exquisite temples are about 220 kms from Bangalore.  
The Chennakeshava Temple is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. It took 103 years to complete.  The facade of the temple is filled with intricate sculptures and friezes - with no portion lef blank.  Elephants, episodes from the epics, sensuous dancers ... - awe-inspiring in their intricate workmanship.  Inside are hand-lathe-turned filigreed pillars.  

What astounds one about the Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebeed is the wealth of sculptural details.  The walls of the temple are covered with an endless variety of gods and goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls.  Yet no two facets of the temple are the same.  This magnificent temple - guarded by a Nandi Bull - was never completed, despite 86 years of labour.
..
3	TIRUPATHI:  ($ 16 per person)

Tirupathi, about 250 kms from Bangalore, is in the neighbouring Telugu speaking state of Andhra Pradesh. The famous Venkateswara Temple here, attracts thousands of Hindu devotees from all over the country.  A day's offerings made by 
its ardent devotees, as reported in the news papers recently, were Rs 30 lakhs (approximately 85 thousand US dollars)


4	CITY TOUR: ($ 2 per person)

The Vidhana Soudha, housing the State Legislature and Secretariat, was conceived and executed by Kengal Hanumanthaiya, the then Chief Minister of Karnataka, in the year 1956.  It is built entirely of Bangalore granite in the Neo-Dravidian style.

Directly opposite to it, stands the Gothic structure of the Attara Kacheri which houses the State Hight Court.  Within the walking distance are the Public Library, the Government Museum, the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum and the Venkatappa Art Galery.  The High Court building was completed in 1868 and stands in the green splendour of the Cubbon Park laid out in 1864 by Lieutenant General Sir Mark Cubbon.  Bangalore's other sprawling park is in the South of the city, the Lalbagh Gardens, laid out in 1760 by Hyder Ali, has an area of 240 acres.  The Glass House, inspired by the Crystal Palace in London, is a favourite spot in Lalbagh.  

The Bangalore Palace, built in 1887 by a Wodyar king, is today a favourite spot for picnickers and film-makers, with its vast grounds and Tudor-style architecture.  

At Basavanagudi is one of Bangalore's oldest temples, the Bull Temple.  Nandi, the Sacred Bull, has been carved out of a single boulder and is 4.6 m tall.


----------------------------------------------------------------
8.  PRE AND POST CONFERENCE TOURS
----------------------------------------------------------------

The following tours are conducted by the travel agent, GAIN NET,  for those who intend to do sightseeing in India before/after the conference.  The rates will be furnished by him on request.

1  Mystical Caves	4 Nts/5 Days	Aurangabad, Ajanta & Ellora Caves
2  Beaches & Palms 	4 Nts/5 Days	Mangeshi Temple, Vagator, Calangute, 					Anjuna Churches & Cathedrals of Goa, 					Miramar, Dona Paula, Colva and Dudhsagar 					falls.
3  Exotic Temple Tour	5 Nts/6 Days	Madras, Kanchipuram, Pakshitirtham and 					Tirupati.
4  The Tiger Trail	4 Nts/5 Days	Nainital, Corbett National Park and Delhi
5  The Golden Triangle	5 Nts/6 Days	Mysore, Ooty, Coonoor, Kadaikanal
6  Desert Wonders	10 Nts/11 Days	Udaipur, Mount abu, Jaipur and Delhi
7  Backwaters and the sea 5 Nts/6 Days	Cochin, Spice Village, Periyar and 					Kumarakom
8  Heritage Tour		4 Nts/5 Days	Delhi, Agra and Jaipur
9  The Palace on Wheels  7 Nts/8 Days	Delhi, Jaipur, Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Sawai 					Madhopur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharathpur 					and Agra.
10 The Royal Orient			Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Palitana, Somnath, 					Ahmedpur-Mandvi, Diu, Junagadh-Sasan, 					Gir, Ahmedabad and Jaipur.
11 Scintillating Nepal	9 Nts/10 Days	Kathmandu, Shambhunath, 					Pashupatinath, 	Dhulikhel, Pokhara, Tiger top, 
					Chitwan National Park
12 Beautiful Maldives	3 Nts/4 Days	Male.

-----------------------------------
9. DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
-----------------------------------

Several airlines operate daily between Bangalore and other important cities in India.  The following are the flight details from the four major cities having international airports: Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta and Madras.

IC   =  Indian Airlines			*	1 = Sun	
D2  =  Damania				*	2 = Mon
9W =  Jet Airways			*	3 = Tue
M9 =  Modiluft				*	4 = Wed
S2  =  Sahara				*	5 = Thu
4S  =  East-West Airlines		*	6 = Fri  	
D5  =  NEPC Airlines			*	7 = Sat	

1.	BOMBAY/BANGALORE:

	IC - 105		0615	0745	1,3
	IC - 105		0615	0745	2,4,5,6,7
	IC - 109		1040	1210	Daily
	IC - 107		1800	1930	Daily
	D2- 203		1745	1945	Daily
	D2- 201		0630	0800	Daily
	9W- 411	0625	0755	Daily
	9W- 441	1725	1900	Daily
	M9- 429		1700	1830	Daily
	S2- 901		0625	0755	Daily (Except Sat)


2.	DELHI/BANGALORE

	IC  - 803	0645	0915	Daily
	IC  - 403	1630	1900	Daily
	9W- 811	1655	1930	Daily
	M9 - 501	0605	0845	Daily
	4S - 903	0615	0845	Daily
	4S - 905	1720	1950	Daily
	S2 - 502	0650	0925	Daily (Except Sun)
	

3. 	CALCUTTA/BANGALORE

	IC  - 771	0600	0825	Daily
	9W- 511	1410	1745
	M9- 429		1700	1830	Daily (Except Sat)


4.	MADRAS/BANGALORE
	
	IC  - 911	1750	1835	Daily
	IC  - 929	0925	1010	1,2,4,6
	IC  - 917	1015	1100	1,3,5,7
	IC  - 951	1145	1230	3,5,7
	IC  - 923	1145	1230	2,4,6
	D2 - 811	1130	1230	2,4,6
	D2 - 811	1130	1230	2,4,6
	D5 - 409	1700	1800	1,3,5
	D5 - 205	0945	1045	2,4,6

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10. CONFERENCE VENUE / SECRETARIAT
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Secretariat
Xth World Sanskrit Conference
TARALABALU  KENDRA
3rd Main, 2nd Block, RT Nagar
BANGALORE - 560 032 
Karnataka,  [ India ]

Tel:   +91-(0)80-3430017
         +91-(0)80-3332759
Fax:  +91-(0)80-3334541
E-mail: swamiji at giasbg01.vsnl.net.in
Webpage: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucgadkw/indnet-wscx-html


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