Southern pinnacles of faith

Southern pinnacles of faith

 

Madurai - City of gopurams

 

My enthusiasm knew no bounds when I had a chance to travel to Madurai, the temple city of Tamil Nadu lying on an impressive jagged coastline. Earlier known as Madhurapuri, Madurai prides in having a rich heritage of temples and manmade monumental glory that would take you back in time.

 

The greatest landmark of Dravidian architecture in India, the 2500-year-old temple city of Madurai on the banks of river Vaigai is undoubtedly the second largest city in Tamil Nadu with soaring gopurams. 

 

Meenakshi Temple

 

The magnificent Meenakshi Sundareshwar temple on West Tower Street has five prominent, intricately carved colourful gopurams. We entered the shrine through west gopuram that has multi-coloured images and stone sculptures. The nine-storied west gopuram is highly adorned with 1,124 sculptures and the southern gopuram is the tallest soaring at a height of 48.8 metres. All the gateways display sculpted tales from Indian mythology.

 

We entered the temple comprising two sanctorums- the first devoted to Lord Shiva and the other to his consort- Meenakshi. The chief attraction is the Meenakshi Amman temple with walls and ceilings richly laid with colourful sculptures of gods and goddesses. It was a divine experience for us visiting the shrine that forms one of the largest temple complexes of South India. There are other wonders in the shrine like richly embellished musical pillars, the Hall of Thousand Pillars with 985 pillars, huge mandaps and a lotus tank in the temple complex. 

 

Tirumalai Nayak Palace

 

Another 2 km away from Meenakshi temple is the 17^th century Tiurmalai Nayak Palace on Palace Road that was built by King Tirumalai Nayak, the prominent ruler of Nayak dynasty in 1636. One can get to know more about the ancient Chola paintings, Vijaynagar paintings and the Pandya art at the palace. Set in soft tones, the palace is an example of Indo-Sarcenic architecture that stands as a memorial of the bygone ruler where he lived and held court. There are two residential portions- Swarag Vilasam and Ranga Vilasam and a rectangular court at the centre flanked by intricately carved tall columns.

 

Rameshwaram-A journey back to epic times

 

Rameshwaram Shrine

 

 Tucked away around 174 km from Madurai on the Gulf of Mannar is the tiny island of Rameshwaram that is truly a remarkable pilgrim destination and is considered as one of the four pilgrim centres in India. The pilgrim resort evokes the charm of the epic era and for those wishing to pay a tribute to Lord Rama and his victory over the kingdom of Ravana, Rameshwaram is the perfect choice.

 

On our way to Rameshwaram, we crossed the Pamban Bridge or the Indira Gandhi Bridge built over a bay spanning over 2.2 km. Being the longest bridge in the country, the Pamban Bridge connects Rameshwaram with the mainland.

 

We visited Ramanathaswamy temple housing one of the 12 jyotirlingams in India. Better known as Rameshwar shrine, the temple was visited by Swami Vivekananda way back in 1897. The entrance of the shrine bears a huge gopuram rising to a height of 38.4 metres. The shrine is devoted to Lord Ramanathaswamy with wonderful glimpses of artistic grandeur, carved pillars, ornate ceilings and adorned corridors that are longest in Asia.

 

We also visited Gandhamardana Parvat on the hillock that forms the highest point on the island. The legendary shrine has the footprints of Lord Rama. Our visit to Sethubandh deserves mention since it has a fabulous display of floating rocks and stones used by Lord Rama in the bygone era to build the Ram’s Bridge connecting India and Sri Lanka. There is the five-faced Hanuman at the entrance of Sethubandh.

 

We wended our way to Dhanushkodi, a barren island on the southernmost tip of Rameshwaram. At a distance of 18 km from the pilgrim resort, Dhanushkodi has the ruined, historic shrine of Kothanda Ramaswamy or Vibhishan temple where Vibhishan had surrendered to Lord Rama.

 

Kanya Kumari- Holy land on southernmost tip of India

 

The shores of Kanya Kumari

 

Nearly 300 km from Rameshwaram down south, is the sacred land of Kanya Kumari, also popular as Cape Comorin. A visit to the land is a must for all travellers since ages for it marks the merging of three great seas of the Indian sub-continent – the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. For us, travelling to Kanya Kumari was something out of Great Expectations since the land has been sanctified by great souls like Swami Vivekananda and Thiruvalluvar.

 

The merging of three seas presents an unforgettable sight. We first headed to the reputed ancient shrine of Kanya Kumari that houses the deity- Goddess Kanya Kumari adorned with a diamond nose ring that glitters in the dark. The shrine is for only Hindu pilgrims. We paid obeisance to Lord Ayappan temple at the entrance and there is an age-old shrine of Adi Shankara.

 

The highpoints of our trip to Kanya Kumari was the 20-minute cruise to the colossal Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the Vivekananda Kendra standing in the midst of the sea. Swami Vivekananda had arrived here in 1892 and meditated for three consecutive days on the rock from December 25 to 27. 

 

In contemporary times, Vivekananda Memorial stands on the rocks created by Eknath Ranade. We could view the towering statue of Thiruvalluvar, the great Tamil poet at a height of 133 feet adjacent to Vivekananda Rock Memorial. The Holy Church of Lady Ransom stands prominently on the mainland.

 

Mandapam at Vivekananda Rock Memorial

 

The Rock Memorial constitutes a mandapam bearing a giant statue of Swami Vivekananda with an “Om” symbol installed at Dhyan Mandapam. Built in 1970, the mandapam has been consecrated by Swami Vishweswarand of Belur Math. We sighted the Pada Mandapam and digging the mythology, one gets to know that Goddess Parvati had meditated in the incarnation of Kanya on the spot marked as “padam” symbol.

Heritage wonders of Saurashtra

Heritage wonders of Saurashtra

 

Historic Jamnagar

 

Once famed as the Halar region, the coastal city of Jamnagar lying about 92 km from Rajkot was the stronghold of Jadeja Rajputs known as Jams. Jamnagar has been founded by Jam Rawal of Nawanagar down the memory lane in 1640. 

 

Lakhota Lake, Jamnagar

 

For history buffs, the walled Lakhota Lake sprawling over an area of 1040 sq. km has the magnificent Lakhota Island Palace or Ranmahal that came up sometime in 1856 with the statue of former cricket icon, Ranjeet Singhji at the entrance.

 

Idyllic beach palace of Chorwad

 

The fascinating beach destination of Chorwad is just 95 km drive from Porbandar in the district of Junagadh that we couldn’t afford to miss during our trip to Porbandar. We halted at the Holiday Camps of Gujarat Tourism that form the only options for tourists on their trip to Chorwad. Lying on the southern coast of Saurashtra, Chorwad is only 23 km from the fishing town of Veraval and proved to be quite exciting for us.

 

The beach rests in utmost tranquillity with the waves lashing on rocks. Chorwad is one of the few beach destinations in Gujarat that has a royal grandeur.

 

Summer Palace, Chorwad

 

Overlooking the beach is the spectacular Summer Palace of Nawab Mohabbat Khanji III, the Nawab of Junagadh. If luck is on your side, you can get to watch the sun rising gorgeously in the historic backdrop of the palace.

 

Junagadh’s regal grandeur

 

The fabled city of Junagadh on the foothills of Mount Girnar offers a plethora of medieval Islamic architecture that would surely quench the wanderlust of tourists. Junagadh was once the bastion of Nawabs and founded by Sher Khan Bazi, it joined hands with Independent India after a lapse of 85 days sometime on November 9, 1947. The fort city is a repository of historic marvels but unlike Hyderabad, has failed to take off as a popular tourist destination.

 

Our discovery of Junagadh began with the visit of 20 metres high Uparkot Fort or the Upper Fort that dominates the city and has an adorned gateway.

 

Durbar Hall Museum

 

The Durbar Hall Museum, or the residence of the Nawabs provides an insight into the fascinating lifestyles of the rich and famous. Tourists will be amazed with the range of exquisite objects d’art exhibited in the hall that make up a rare blend of European and Saurashtrian flavour.

 

The portrait of Nawab Bahadur Khan, the foremost ruler of Junagadh and the Nawab of famed Babi dynasty greets tourists in the Durbar Hall. The main hall has a wide range of furniture belonging to 19^th century crafted from wood, glass and silver that depict an exemplary of superb craftsmanship of silversmith in foil mounted on carved wood. The antique chairs and tables, silver casket and palanquin, betel box carved out of silver, the Belgian cut glass mirrors and an exquisitely carved glass tree in the shape of a fountain add a touch of grandeur to the palace.

 

We entered the Textile Gallery of the museum replete with richly embroidered, gem-studded carpets flaunting karbochi works, hand fan and the flag of Junagadh. The Arms Gallery also exhibits a wide range of specialized weapons commonly used by the Nawabs

 

Our last sightseeing spot was the Nawab’s Mausoleum, the greatest landmark in the chequered history of Junagadh. It consists of Bahauddin Maqbara, an excellent piece embodying the post medieval Islamic architecture in India. A stopover at Ashoka’s Rock Edicts indicates the extension of Ashoka’s empire over Saurashtra.

Heritage landmarks of Central India

Heritage landmarks of Central India

 

Awesome Gwalior Fort

 

Gwalior Fort

 

For those who are in love with heritage monuments and are planning a trip soon, why not visit Gwalior Fort, the most reachable destination in Central India. The historic city has witnessed the reign of great Indian dynasties ranging from Pratiharas to Kachwahas and Tomars to Scindias. The massive fort dominates the city skyline and it was our premier visiting destination in the city.

 

Rising at a height of 35 feet and being the most unconquerable fort in the country, the glorious fort stands witness to landmark historical events. We negotiated through a steep winding road at the entrance and sighted the Gujari Mahal that showcases impressive architecture from the medieval times. 

 

The 15^th century monument was built in loving memory of the Gujjar queen, Mrignayani and there are rare antiques displayed at the Archaeological Museum in the monument.

 

Man Mandir Palace in Gwalior Fort

 

We proceeded uphill and came across Man Mandir Palace that was established by Raja Mansingh of Tomar dynasty. The palace is a fabulous example of Hindu architecture and its ambience echoes with the chivalry of Rajput rulers. The fort has other prominent attractions like Teli ka Mandir and Sas-Bahu ka Mandir. 

 

Teli ka Mandir- a 19^th century monument soaring at a height of 100 ft presents an exotic blend of Dravidian and Indo-Aryan art. Tourists should not miss on Scindia School in the fort complex.

 

For those intending to take a peek into the royal lifestyle of Scindias, a visit to Jai Vilas Museum that forms the present residence of the royal Scindia clan is the right thing to do.

 

Maharaja Jiwaji Rao Scindia Museum

 

A portion of the place has been transformed into Maharaja Sir Jiwaji Rao Scindia Museum way back in 1964. Built in 1874, the palace is an Italian structure with the life-size statue of Sir Jiwaji Rao Scindia at the entrance. 

 

The icons of Scindia dynasty starting from the founder of the family-Maharaja Mahadji Scindia to the present member- Jyotiraditya Scindia are all framed in portraits. The museum has a host of galleries including coins gallery, carpet gallery, textile gallery, manuscript gallery, Nepal and Kashmir Art gallery, Malabar furniture, French furniture, Jacobean furniture gallery and Belgian cut glass gallery. Tourists should take a peek at Gwalior Sangeet Gharana that shows off an array of stringed instruments. The most astonishing item was a silver train chugging on miniature rails at the grand Durbar Hall.

Heroic flavours of Jhansi

 

Around 98 km from Gwalior is the fabled town of Jhansi in the heart of Bundelkhand region and the destination that is synonymous with the valiant deeds of Rani Lakshmi Bai that continues to reverberate in the hearts of millions. Jhansi has diverse attractions with forts, palaces and shrines and is rarely visited by tourists.

Amod Garden, Jhansi Fort

 

At Jhansi, we dropped in at Rani Mahal, the former residence of Lakshmi Bai. The 18^th century palace was the brainchild of Raghunath II of Nawalkar dynasty that was converted into one of the residences of Lakshmi Bai. The palace has a flat roof with double storied structure on all three sides except the western side and there is a quadrangular courtyard. 

 

Rani Mahal has many rooms, six halls and parallel corridors with multi-fold arches that are done up in red colours flaunting floral and faunal designs. There are curios displayed on the ground floor comprising sculptural works collected from Barwasagar, Madanpur and Chandanpur of Jhansi and Lalitpur districts.

 

Our major attraction was Jhansi Fort snuggled on Bangra Hill, built by Bundela chief, Bir Singh Ju Deo dating back to 1613 AD. The famed fort sprawling over 16 acres of land has 10 gates and was once under the domain of Mughals, Marathas and British for a considerable period of time. It was under the stronghold of Rani Lakshmi Bai who had thrown the gauntlet against the Raj rule during Sepoy Mutiny in 1857. 

 

We checked into the major attractions of the fort like Kadak Bijli Canon and Panch Mahal- the three-tier storied building that formed the residence of Rani Lakshmi Bai and her husband, Raja Gangadhar Rao. There is Kal Kothri, the prison built by the Marathas and the well-known Jumping Spot that marked the escape point for the great queen from the hands of the British.

 

Bhopal- the heart of Malwa

 

Bhopal was founded by the legendary Paramar ruler of Dhar, Raja Bhojadeva sometime back in 11^th century A D while the princely state and the present day city of Bhopal has been the discovery of Afghan ruler- Dost Mohammad way back in 1723. During the rise of British rule in India, Bhopal was the second largest Muslim state and remained a separate state till in 1949 when it joined with Independent India.

 

On our premier visit to the city back in 2000, we travelled to Bhojpur that lies around 28 km from the city. The quaint little hamlet of Bhojpur is well-known for 12^th century Bhojeshwar temple that honours Lord Shiva. 

 

The shrine is a protected monument and is popular as “Somnath of the East.” It attracts devotees in droves and is set on a raised stone ramp with its ornate dome supported by four huge pillars with tapering ends representing an amazing structure. 

 

The giant lingam in the sanctum rests on a huge square-shaped platform measuring 21.5 feet and is composed of three limestone blocks. It is the rare architectural gem that makes the lingam light and solid. The interiors of the shrine comprise a large ornate ceiling with concentric rings that have impressive mythical figures engraved.

 

From Bhojpur, we returned to the walled city that wears a traditional look with the bustling Chowk and vibrant markets.

 

Taj-ul-Masjid

 

We had a glimpse of Taj-ul-Masjid, the largest mosque in India that was established by Shah Jehan Begum, the queen of Bhopal. The towering mosque is characterized by inter-arched roof, broad façade and a large courtyard that makes it stand apart from other Indian mosques. Some of the other popular monuments belonging to medieval period are Jama Masjid with gold spikes adorning the minarets, Moti Masjid, and Sadar Manzil.

World-famous Stupas of Sanchi

 

Quite close to Bhopal is the Buddhist landmark of Sanchi that is nearly 10 km from Vidisha in Raisen district on the Itarsi-Jhansi section of Central Railways. Sanchi is a picturesque, tranquil getaway that has many global tourists. It was the Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka, the great Buddhist patron who laid the foundation of a Buddhist bastion on Sanchi hill or Vedisagiri in search of peace and tranquillity with a view to lead an austere life.

 

Listed as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site, Sanchi is renowned the world over for its magnificent stupas, monasteries, temples and uniquely carved pillars that are open from sunrise to sunset. The centuries-old stupas came up between 3^rd century BC to 12^th century AD and stand witness to glorious Buddhist era.

 

Sanchi Stupa No 1

 

We first headed to Stupa No.1; a brilliant piece of architecture set up by Emperor Ashoka as early as 2^nd century BC and has been carved from Chunar sandstone. Being the oldest stone structure in India, the stupa has a huge plastered dome in the form of a hemisphere crowned by a triple umbrella. There are the renowned Four Gateways- Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern gateway that provide unforgettable glimpses of Buddha’s journey of life towards enlightenment in the form of exquisite carvings.

 

The best thing about going to the Great Stupa 1 at Sanchi is that one can get to view the Four Gateways. We gazed at the lofty gateways that portray the Jataka Tales that have been finely chiselled with rich motifs and serve as best examples of early classical art.

 

Near the Southern Gateway is Stupa No3 that is decorated by an umbrella. We also sighted the 5^th century Gupta Temple lying in ruins that represent one of the earliest examples of Indian temple art. The lion capital of the Ashokan Pillar is preserved in the museum run by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Saurashtra- World of pilgrims

Saurashtra-World of pilgrims

Dwarka- where pilgrims congregate

The pilgrim land of Dwarka reminds me of the times when I had packed my bags and set out for a pilgrim tour along with my family sometime in 2004. The land steeped in myth and history on the Kathiawar Peninsula, Dwarka on the southern coast of Gujarat is one of the revered pilgrim centres in India. 

 

A 450-km-long drive from Ahmedabad on the National Highway No.8A brought us to the renowned temple resort of Dwarka where the mesmerizing chime of bells rent the ambience and soothes the tired minds with the promise of harmony and rejuvenation.

 

Dwarkadhish Temple on the banks of Gomati

 

The magnificent shrine of Dwarkadhish on the banks of Gomati creek draws a large chunk of pilgrims. Known as Jagatmandir, the five-storied shrine spreading over 4,000 sq. ft houses the black idol of Lord Krishna that is said to be over 2,500 years old and was the creation of Badrinath, the great grandson of Lord Krishna.

At Dwarka, we were at Toran Tourist Bungalow of Gujarat Tourism. We had an opportunity to watch the Mangla aarti in the wee hours of dawn at Dwarkadhish temple. There are 60 granite and sandstone pillars that are intricately carved in the shrine with a shikara rising to 170 feet. Other significant shrines in the complex are Satyabhama, Saraswati, Pradyumna and sage Durwasa. Here Prasad is locally known as Loni that conjures sweet butter.

Travelling another 16 km from Dwarka, we came across Nageshwar Mahadev that has the smallest jyotirlingam in India. From here, we were on to Beyt Dwarka, around 30 km away from Dwarka. A saying goes on that no visit to Dwarka is complete without a pilgrimage to the ancient holy site of Beyt Dwarka. 

 

We landed at Okha Port that offers sound views of saline marshes formed by Arabian Sea at Okha Rann where thousands of migratory birds flock. We hired a steam launch at Okha Port and departed for a 45 minute- cruise to Beyt Dwarka. 

 

The temple town of Beyt Dwarka belongs to hoary past and has the shrine of Beyt Dwarkadhish with hand-painted interiors, adorned doors, windows, balconies and pillars. Mythology puts forth that this was the place where Lord Krishna resided along with his family. We also visited temples of Jambuwanti, Satyabhama and Devaki. 

 

Rukmani Temple

 

 

While returning from Beyt Dwarka, we stopped at Rukmani temple, only 12 km from Dwarka. The splendid limestone shrine dates back to 1,600 years old.

Religious relevance of Veraval

From Dwarka, we travelled to Veraval, the bygone port and close to it is the holy Bhaluka Teerth where Lord Krishna breathed his last before being shot by a hunter. The shrine honours Lord Krishna apart from the legendary Peepal tree where the Lord had departed. Pilgrims can watch the Triveni Sangam- the confluence of three rivers including Hiranya, Kapila and Saraswati. 

 

Nageshwar Mahadev Shrine, Dwarka

 

It is widely believed that the last rites of Lord Krishna were performed on the Hiranya river banks on the spot known as “Dehotsarg” and the complex is famed as Prabhas Kshetra with Geeta Mandir and Naagshtan that marks the transformation of Lord Balaram into a snake before entering into the ground.

Somnath- the land of divine faith

Somnath Mahadev Shrine

 

Veraval is the gateway to Somnath in Junagadh district and the renowned Somnath Mahadev shrine lies on the tip of Saurashtra Peninsula that has tempted pilgrims, history buffs, archaeologists and travellers ever since inception. Spread over 5 sq. km on the shores of Arabian Sea, the legendary 12^th century shrine of Somnath has the premier jyotirlingam of India that was ravaged 11 times by Mohammad of Ghazni. 

 

Renovated by Sardar Vallabhai Patel around five decades ago, the shrine has a unique location since there is no land between the shrine and the South Pole. We were amazed by the ornate silver doors, umbrellas and chandeliers in the sanctum. There are highly decorated stone columns with mythical figures in the shrine that provide the best example of Chalukyan art.

Palitana

On our last leg of Saurashtra tour, we were at Palitana in Bhavnagar district where we halted at Hotel Sumeru owned by Gujarat Tourism. We were excited to begin our trek to the sacred mountains of Palitana and reached before dawn at the foothills. 

 

We began our arduous trek of 4 km to the Shetrunjaya Hills at a height of 1,800 feet comprising 3,745 steps. Once we began our climb, it was an amazing experience. We experienced the break of the dawn with the cool air soothing our body and river Shetrunjaya gleamed like a silver coil far away. It took two-and-half hours to complete the trek when we finally reached the gallery of shrines.

We spotted as many as 863 exquisitely carved shrines that form the largest Jain temple complex in North India. The sacred shrines of Palitana belong to 13^th century and were crafted by the craftsmen who were involved in the creation of fabulous shrines of Dilwara and Ranakpur.

 

Shri Adishwara Temple

 

The most significant shrine is Shri Adishwara temple honouring Rishabhdev, the first Jain Tirthankar and was set up at a cost of Rs 2.97 crore. The Sausthambh temple has 100 pillars and Shantinath temple is dedicated to Bahubali and Bharat, the brother Lord Rama. 

 

There are ashtadhatu images of Pandavas, not to mention the Hindu shrines of Hanuman, Saraswati and Lord Shiva. Once our trek was over, we began our return trek. We were tired and were beaten by hunger pangs when we indulged in having masala dahi sold by Rabadi women. Once the trek was over, I was filled with a sense of contentment.

Ambaji

Temple of Amba Mata at Ambaji

 

For pilgrim travellers on a spiritual tour of Saurashtra, Ambaji is a 200 km drive from Ahmedabad in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat that provides views of scenic landscapes of Arasur Hills in the Aravalli range. One of the most popular pilgrim destinations in Saurashtra, the revered Shakti Peeth of Ambaji is crafted in marble and is fondly known as “Mota” (elder) Ambaji among devotees. The shrine adores Goddess Ambaji without any idol. One would come across a triangular yantra in the sanctum sanctorum. Devotees throng here during Navratri and full moon fairs are held in Chaitra, Kartik and Bhadrapad.

Alluring Western Chats

Alluring Western Ghats

Mahabaleshwar-The land of strawberry

 

The most exciting destination on the Western Ghats in Satara district of Maharashtra is Mahabaleshwar that was the bygone summer capital of Bombay Presidency. The charm of the hill resort of Mahabaleshwar is incredible offering unending vistas of natural beauty, virgin peaks, verdant groves of valleys, meandering roads, plateaus and the best glimpses of Western Ghats. The hill resort has everything. There are pilgrim points, waterfalls, lakes and strawberry gardens and we couldn’t have bargained for more. There are a plethora of activities for tourists and they can indulge in bush walking, horse riding, boating on Venna Lake and strawberry gardens.

 

Around 120 km from Pune and a 3½ hour-drive by Volvo brought us to the ancient hill resort of Mahabaleshwar. For pilgrims, the hill resort has 450-year-old Panchganga temple that constitutes the source of five rivers- Savitri, Krishna, Saraswati, Gayatri and Koyna. Lying about 9 km from the town, the shrine honours Lord Krishna and Brahma and waters of five rivers gush out from the mouth of the Nandi forming a spring. 

 

There are many fascinating points around the hill resort like Arthur’s Seat with mesmerizing views of the Western Ghats. One can go to Hunter Point and Echo Point that echoes with the buzzing sound of scores of honey bees. A visit to Tiger Spring has water gushing out from a needle-like hole and Window Point has breathtaking views of Western Ghats. One can drive 6.8 km from the town to reach Kate’s Point to enjoy unforgettable glimpses of Krishna Valley and Deccan Plateau. 

 

Needle Point, Mahabaleshwar

 

The attraction of Needle Point is quite tempting that has a portion of the hill resembling an elephant’s face.

Lodwick Point

Perched at a height of 1,240 metres from the ground is Lodwick Point at a distance of 4.8 km away from the town and a favourite destination for travellers. The first Britisher, General Peter Lodwick had set foot in Mahabaleshwar after trekking through rough terrains in 1824. A monument in memory of General Lodwick has been erected.

A pilgrim’s passage to Bhimashankar

Bhimashankar Shrine

 

Nestling in the Western Ghats and nearly 130 km from Pune is the pilgrim resort of Bhimashankar in Pune district that has one of the 12 jyotirlingams of India where pilgrims in droves congregate.

 

A three-and-half hour drive from Pune through jungle clad and semi-barren hills of Western Ghats offered wondrous glimpses of nature. Lying on the banks of river Bhima, the pilgrim point of Bhimashankar rests in Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary in the midst of thick floral groves. The highly revered shrine has been the creation of Nana Phadnavis, the famed statesman. The huge black shrine with interior carvings houses the idols of Shiva and Parvati and Lord Ganesha.

Gandhi trail in Saurashtra

Gandhi trail in Saurashtra

 

Dollops of history in Ahmedabad 

 

Way back in the last decade, a journey to Ahmedabad provided us an opportunity to have glimpses of Sabarmati Ashram- a dream conceptualized by Mahatma Gandhi. The sylvan environs on the banks of river Sabarmati represent an ode to simplicity and idealism. It was here way back on March 12, 1930 that the historic Dandi March took off for the coastal hamlet of Dandi.

 

A view of Gandhi Ashram

 

At Sabarmati Ashram, we stepped into Hriday Kunj- a simple ashram where Gandhiji stayed from 1918 to 1930 and the regular items like the spinning wheel used by Gandhiji are preserved here. A visit to Vinoba Kutir that formed the residence of Vinoba Bhave from 1918 to 1921 is worth the experience.

 

Ahmedabad prides in some of the impressive shrines like Shri Radha Govind Dham, an enchanting shrine done up with intricately carved doors with aluminium engravings and painted interiors that portray the life of Lord Krishna. There is Vaishno Devi Teerth Dham – a cave shrine replica of Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu. For history buffs, a visit to Adalaj Vav or steep well is a must lying about 17 km north of Ahmedabad. A unique five-storied well set up in 1499 has four highly carved pavilions.

 

The old quarters of the city has Siddi Saiyed Mosque that displays sandstone latticed work. The mosque was the work of Siddi Saiyed, a slave of Ahmed Shah, founder of the city of Ahmedabad. At the Sidhi Basher mosque, there are architectural wonders of the famed Shaking Minarets or Jhoolta Minar where when one minaret is moved with force, the other shakes in sympathy.

 

No tour of Ahmedabad is complete without a visit to the holy citadel in pink sandstone called Akshardham in Gandhinagar. Sprawling over 23 acres of land, the glorious shrine of 108 feet has a gold-plated copper statue of Lord Swaminarayan and the shrine is supported with 97 carved pillars, 17 domes and 8 ornate windows. It is a brilliant mix of ancient and modern artistry.

Gandhiji’s ties with Rajkot

 

Our next destination was Rajkot, around 216 km from Ahmedabad where Mahatma Gandhi had his early education. Once the capital of Saurashtra, Rajkot is one of the largest cities in Gujarat that has Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Vidyalay or Alfred High School set up in 1874. Rajkot has Ramakrishna temple bearing an elaborate display on the life and teachings of Ramakrishna and Sarada Devi and the global spiritual mission of Swami Vivekananda.

The charm of Porbandar

 

While trailing in the land of Mahatma, our ultimate destination was Porbandar or the “Yellow City” on the sea shore that evokes strong memories of Gandhiji. Porbandar was earlier known as Sudamapuri since it is the birthplace of Sudama, Lord Krishna’s friend. 

 

Bharat Ashram at Porbandar

 

 We headed to Kirti Mandir, the three-storied ancestral residence of Gandhiji. He was the fourth son of Putlibai and Karamchand Gandhi who was born in 1869 AD and the place of his birth is marked with a mystic cross. The residence has a library, prayer hall and oil paintings. One should not miss out on Bharat Mandir on Dayanand Bagh that was set up in 1956. The sprawling temple has a relief map of India and its walls have life-size works on canvas of Indian luminaries.