Great horror films are profoundly unsettling. They linger in the subconscious like a nightmare or bad childhood memory. They chill you to the bone and make you look over your shoulder on the way home from the theater. For the most part, the films I have chosen for my list have passed the test of time. They have improved with age, like fine wine.

I have included few recent films in my top 50 because it is too early to determine their historical significance. I have ranked the horror films in order of preference. They were judged in terms of direction, acting, and originality. Of course, I also considered how scary they are.

I’ve seen more English language than foreign language horror films, so I’m sure I missed some international classics (there are supposed to be a ton of great hard to get Asian horror films for instance).

I have also left out most horror comedies (such as “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein”), and science fiction flicks even if it has horror elements (such as “The Fly” ).

1. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (USA, 1974)
2. A Nightmare on Elm Street (USA, 1984)
3. Halloween (USA, 1978)
4. Night of the Living Dead (USA, 1968)
5. Dawn of the Dead (USA, 1978)
6. The Evil Dead (USA, 1981)
7. Hellraiser (UK, 1987)
8. The Exorcist (USA, 1973)
9. Braindead (AKA Dead Alive) (New Zealand, 1990)
10. Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn (USA, 1987)
11. Suspiria (Italy/West Germany, 1977)
12. The Thing (USA, 1982)
13. Return of the Living Dead (USA, 1985)
14. The Ring (USA/Japan, 2002)
15. The Shining (UK, 1980)
16. 28 Days Later (UK/USA/France, 2002)
17. Friday the 13th (USA, 1980)
18. Army of Darkness (USA, 1993)
19. Poltergeist (USA, 1982)
20. Alien (UK, 1979)
21. Ring (AKA Ringu) (Japan, 1998)
22. Cabin Fever (USA, 2002)
23. Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (Germany, 1922)
24. Re-Animator (USA, 1985)
25. E Tu Vivrai Nel Terrore – L’aldilà (AKA The Beyond) (Italy, 1981)
26. House of 1000 Corpses (USA, 2003)
27. Day of the Dead (USA, 1985)
28. Nightbreed (USA, 1990)
29. Zombi 2 (AKA Zombie) (Italy, 1979)
30. Psycho (USA, 1960)
31. Batoru Rowaiaru (AKA Battle Royale) (Japan, 2000)
32. Frankenstein (USA, 1931)
33. Sleepaway Camp (USA, 1983)
34. Ginger Snaps (USA/Canada, 2000)
35. The Omen (UK, 1976)
36. An American Werewolf in London (USA/UK, 1981)
37. Black Christmas (Canada, 1974)
38. Bio-Zombie (Hong Kong, 1998)
39. Aliens (USA/UK, 1986)
40. The Haunting (UK, 1963)
41. The Lost Boys (USA, 1987)
42. Child’s Play (USA, 1988)
43. May (USA, 2002)
44. The Fog (USA, 1980)
45. Freddy vs Jason (USA, 2003)
46. Bride of Frankenstein (USA, 1935)
47. Ghost Ship (USA/Australia, 2002)
48. Candyman (USA, 1992)
49. Honogurai Mizu No Soko Kara (AKA Dark Water) (Japan, 2002)
50. The Blair Witch Project (USA, 1999)

Just outside the top 50: Audition, Se7en, Scream, Ju-On:The Grudge, Dracula (1933), Thirteen Ghosts (2001), Wrong Turn, Ichi The Killer, The Eye, Bubba Ho-Tep, Two Thousand Maniacs, The Silence of the Lambs, Night of the Living Dead (1990), In The Mouth of Madness.

The Basement Chambers and a probable Third Grave

Two staircases on the northern side of the red sandstone plinth of the Taj lead below into the basement chambers which are seventeen in number and have been laid out in a line on the riverside of a narrow through-corridor. The rooms and corridor are of arcuate construction in brick and plaster, with stucco and painting ornamentation, distributed aesthetically on the soffits. At the extreme points on both sides there are doors sunk in the northern wall. They were blocked up permanently and securely with thick masonry at some unknown date, undoubtedly for some well calculated purpose. As may be surmised, the set on the northern side could have been repeated on the sides below the marble structure, with a rotating corridor, chambers and probably a crypt in the centre – all being interconnected.

This crypt would have contained the third and the real set of graves. The custom of providing cenotaphs or replicas had been followed by the Turks and the Mughals alike as we meet with this practice at the tomb of Iltutmish at Delhi and at the tombs of Saqid Khan and Akbar at Agra. The tomb of Akbar has three tombstones, one on the grave and two as cenotaphs. The tomb of Itmad-ud-Dauhlah and Chini-ka-Rauza too had three tombstones each. The lowest of the former was contained in a crypt which was originally accessible from the riverside and has now been completely blocked up. These examples indicate that the Mughals liked to provide three tombstones in a mausoleum. At the Taj, the third is traditionally claimed to exist. It is only in these underground vaults that the third set could have been placed. The doors in the basement corridor no doubt exist and must have originally given entry to some underground arrangement of chambers and corridors. Though they are now impregnably blocked, their existence lends weight to the legendary version.

The Taj Mahal was a Rajput Palace!!

A group of Hindu fundamentalists which seeks to deny any positive role of Muslims in India disputes the claim that the Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jehan. Instead, as outlined in the book The Taj Mahal Was a Rajput Palace, fourth-century Hindu rulers are given credit for its erection. The claim is without serious merit, but it has acquired something of a following in India.

The Taj is sinking!!

The architect of the Taj Mahal aimed at giving maximum strength and stability to the tomb and worked out the minutest details with utmost precision : the weight of the entire structure is uniformly distributed, extraordinarily massive piers and vaults were constructed to support this heavy load., the very best quality of bonding material helped combat the disrupted tensile stress etc. However, in spite of all these precautions and care, dangerous cracks and leakages developed in the substructure just four years after its completion. Aurangzeb in his letter to Shah Jehan in 1652 mentions these cracks. Some defects ere discovered about the same time in the dome. Though thorough repairs were undertaken, the nature of the cracks was not discovered. The cracks were again noticed to have developed to dangerous proportions in 1810. As a result an Advisory Committee on the restoration and conservation of the monument was set up and a survey with reference to the damage was undertaken.

Some very important facts resulted from this survey. It was discovered that the plinth of the mausoleum on the northern side (or the riverside) is lower than on the south by 3.5cms. Cracks were not noticed on the exterior wall, but they were definitely present on the second storey vaults of the marble structure and, on a much larger scale, in the underground vaults below the northern side. The long series of cracks in the underground vaults may be due to the crushing of lime on account of the excessive weight, or as seems more probable, this may be due to the sinking of the whole structure towards the riverside!! Such a sinking would shift the load out of balance slowly and gradually and the unequal settlement would crack the weak points, particularly the soffits of the vaults and arches, which is actually happening in the underground chambers. A structure which stands on the edge of water has a natural tendency to move towards the more open side, the higher edge always acting as a strong buttress, thrusting it in the opposite direction. It is the whole mass, and not a part of it, that is gradually sinking. This is what can justifiably be concluded from the available data.

The Story of a Second Taj

According to popular legend, Shah Jehan decided to construct another Taj Mahal in black marble on the other side of the river Yamuna and to connect the two by a bridge. This structure was intended to be his own tomb. It has been recorded almost contemporarily by Tavernier : “Shah Jehan began to build his own tomb on the other side of the river but the war with his sons interrupted his plan and Aurangzeb who reigns at present is not disposed to complete it”. Later gazetteers and guide books mention this story almost invariably. The irregular position of the cenotaph of Shah Jehan as compared to that of Mumtaz Mahal which occupies the exact centre of the hall is said to be proof of this assumption. The Mehtab Burj and the wall adjoining it opposite the Taj Mahal are generally said to be the foundations and remains of the proposed plan.

Many scholars, however, believe that this idea belongs to fiction rather than history. The traces which are identified as the foundations of the second Taj are actually the enclosing wall of a garden founded by Baber. The irregular position of Shah Jehan’s cenotaph in comparison to Mumtaz Mahal’s, is similar to that at the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, and thus should not be of any striking significance. Besides, according to Islamic law, bodies are buried with their faces towards Mecca and legs towards the south, and the husband is placed on the right hand side of his wife. The interpretation that the cenotaph of Shah Jehan was not meant to be placed here appears to be superfluous.

The Taj was designed by an Italian Architect

Some European scholars held the view that the Taj was designed by an Italian – Geronimo Veroneo. This was first suggested by Father Manrique, an Augustinian Friar, who came to Agra in 1640 A.D. to secure the release of Father Antony who had been imprisoned by the Mughals. It was in Lahore that he met Father Joseph de Castro, the executor of Veroneo who died at Lahore in 1640 A.D., and it was Castro who told him about “the Venetian by the name Geronimo Veroneo who came in the Portuguese ships and died in the city of Lahore before he reached it…”

During the reign of Jehangir, a goldsmith named Veroneo did in fact come to India and, as mentioned by Father Manrique, did die on his way to Lahore. He lived for a time in Agra, and prospered there. He knew many influential Europeans throughout the North Indian provinces, and when he died, he was buried in the Christian cemetery of Padres Santos in Agra.

The theory that Veroneo designed the Taj is intriguing and still finds occasional champions, especially in Italy. But the scales of evidence weigh heavily against it. True there is the testimony of Father Manrique, but he was no more than a casual tourist who heard that the Taj had been built by an Italian. However, nowhere else is mention made of Veroneo’s participation in planning the Taj Mahal. As a matter of fact, there is no record that Veroneo had any skill other than that of working gold. Other Europeans who saw the Taj under construction never mentioned his name, and furthermore, it is difficult to suppose that an artist trained in seventeenth century Italy, the Italy of Bernini, could build a mausoleum that would typify Indo-Persian architecture. The Taj is not an isolated phenomenon, the creation of a single mastermind but the glorious consummation of a great epoch of art.

Continued..

The abode of the great saint of the 20th century, Sai Baba, who lived in Shirdi for more than 50 years of his life, has made this small village in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra a big pilgrimage site for the devotees of the saint from all around the world.

The story of Sai Baba entering this small village is unique enough, the way his miracles were. He came to Shirdi along with a marriage party and then stayed back. He was denied entry into a temple by a priest taking him to be a Muslim from his dress. So throughout his life the saint stayed in the Mosque of Shirdi.

The small place which is barely a 100 km from Nashik today is a bustling pilgrimage centre of India. Nearly every nook and corner of the small village has some affiliation with the great saint. Even today the last few surviving elders of the village vividly recall the miraculous wonders of the sage. Sai Baba left for the heavenly abode in 1918 and his Samadhi is visited by thousands daily.

Places to see in Shirdi:

• Samadhi Mandir
Samadhi Mandir of Shri Sai Baba was actually owned by a millionaire from Nagpur and a famous Sai devotee Shreemant Gopalrao. He wanted to keep an idol of Murlidhar here. However, according to the legends, Baba himself became Murlidhar and the temple became the Samadhi Mandir of Baba. The Samadhi of Baba is built with white marble stones. The railings around it are full of ornamental decorations. The idol of Baba is a marvelous statue made up of Italian marble built by Late Balaji Vasant in 1954.

• Shri Khandoba Mandir
This place is near Shri Sainath Hospital. Baba stepped here in Shirdi at the foot of banyan tree near Khandoba Temple along with Chand Patil’s wife’s Nephew’s Marriage party. The then Pujari Mhalsapati welcomed Him by calling “Aao Sai.”

• Dwarkamayi
Situated on the right side of the entrance of the Samadhi Mandir is Dwarkamai, a mosque. This was the place where the sage stayed until the end of his life. Main attraction of the site is the oil paintings of the sage.

• Shri Gurusthan Mandir
This is the place where Baba first appeared to the world as boy of 16 years and this place is supposed to be Baba’s Gurusthan. The famous Margosa (Neem) tree is here which has a reference in “Sai Sat-Charitra”. It is an experience of devotees that there aliments are cured by burning incense hear.

• Lendi Baug / Datta Mandir
This is the place where Shri Sai Baba used to go for stroll. Nandadeep is kept constantly burning near the Pimple tree planted by Shri Sai Baba himself. There is also Datta Mandir in this garden and Shri Sai Baba’s beloved horse ‘Shamkarna’ (Sham Sundar) is taking Eternal rest here. There is also a well here called as ‘Baba’s Shivdi’.

• Maruti Mandir
There is a Maruti Mandir located at some distance from the cottage of Abdul Baba. This mandir was visited by Baba for the sat-sang with Devidas, a Bal yogi, who lived at the Mandir ten to twelve years before Baba arrived. There are also temples of village deities named Shani, Ganapati, and Shankar that are worth visiting.

Festivals in Shirdi:

Ramnavami
Ramnavami is one of the most important festivals celebrated with great excitement and fanfare. In the year 1897 Goplarao Gund proposed holding in Urus in name of Saibaba in gratitude of a child which he was granted after so many childless years. Saibaba conceded to celebrate his urus on the condition that it is celebrated on Ramnavami. This was indeed an ingenious touch of Saibaba bringing together the Hindus and Muslims together. People may know Urus is a Muslim festival that is celebrated to honor a saint.

Gurupurnima
Gurupurnima or Full Moon is also a wonderful time to visit Shirdi. It is the time to honor the Guru and seek his special blessing. Quite a significant festival in Shirdi Guru Purnima was the only festival which Saibaba has asked his devotees to celebrate. This is the time devotees all across the world converge in Shirdi to seek Saibaba’s blessings.

Shirdi Vijayadashmi
Vijayadashmi is a big festival in Shirdi, venerated as a holy day when Shri Saibaba left his mortal body for heavenly abode. The festival is also celebrated as Shri Sai Punyathithi in Shirdi attracting great number of devotees from all over the world. Various religious activities are arranged Great number of people flock to Shirdi during this Festival.

How to Get There:

Air:
The nearest airports are Mumbai (260 kms), Pune (185 kms) and Aurangabad (125 kms).

Train:
The nearest railway station is Manmad (60 kms) on the Central Railway, which is connected to many parts of the country with Express trains.

Road:
Shirdi is very well connected by a network of roads and road transport to all major towns of Maharashtra and surrounding areas.