Neelachal calling

Neelachal Calling

 

Best known as one of the Char Dhams or citadels of faith in India, Puri is the pilgrim resort overlooking the Bay of Bengal. Having spent my formative years and education period in Odisha, I had many opportunities to visit Puri- locally reputed as the land of Neelachal. The pilgrim resort of Puri was founded by Shankracharya and is renowned as the abode of Lord Jagannath.

 

For us, the major attractions of the pilgrim destination have been to visit the shrine of Lord Jagannath and to get immersed in the magic of sun, sea and sand at its Golden Beach.

Lord Jagannath Temple

 

Lord Jagannath Temple

 

For centuries, the towering shrine of Lord Jagannath belonging to 12^th century A.D has been the calling card of the pilgrim destination of Puri. The huge shrine rising to a height of 65 metres was the premier monument of the Ganga dynasty of Odisha in bygone times. 

 

The shrine stands on a raised platform and there are a flight of 22 steps from the ground. There are grand stone carvings with fascinating sculptures on the walls and this shrine is one of the best examples of Kalinga architecture.

 

I have visited the shrine a number of times and each time, I have experienced a sense of bliss. During my third visit to the shrine, I trekked the entire route from Swargadwar to the shrine. The shrine of Lord Jagannath stands on a wide road called Bada Danda and the shrine complex has a slew of shrines like Nrising temple, Sarba Mangala temple, Lakshmi and Vishnu temple. The entrance of shrine is flanked by lions called Singhadwar that forms a typical feature of Kalinga School of Art. The presence of an imposing nine feet figure of Lord Nrising depicts an interesting piece of art.

 

When one visits Lord Jagannath shrine during evenings, one can get to hear religious discourses. While visiting the shrine of Lord Jagannath, we always try to collect the “Mahaprasad” cooked in Anand Bazaar, regarded as the largest food mart in the world.

Vimala Mata temple

 

Another attraction of Lord Jagannath shrine is to visit Vimala Mata shrine devoted to the female goddess and is one of the Shakti Peeths in India. Devotees are refrained from using their lenses in the precincts of the shrine.

Gundicha temple

 

Nearly 2 km away from Jagannath shrine is Gundicha Ghar where Lord Jagannath along with Balabhadra and Subhadra make their annual journey during Rath Yatra from the Jagannath shrine and stay at the small sanctum for a period of eight days.

Golden Beach

 

Puri sea beach

 

 Once the visit to Jagannath shrine is over, devotees hang out on the Golden Beach where nature is at its best with the sun, sea and sand playing a magical rhythm. One can get to view Shankracharya Math on the Beach Road. The southern end of the Golden Beach has Swargadwar with the statue of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Vignettes from land of Black Pagoda

Vignettes from land of Black Pagoda

No visit to Puri is complete without travelling to Konark renowned as the land of Black Pagoda. 

 

Yatri Niwas

 

 

I recall my last visit to Konark when I had stayed at Yatri Niwas run by Odisha Tourism Development Corporation for a few days. At Konark, I had a chance to explore the coastal destination that is barely 30 km drive from Puri and 64 km from Bhubaneshwar.

 

Also known as Arkashetra, Konark is derived form two words- Kona and Ark that imply “corner of the sun”. The old-world town of Konark is untouched by the influence of the jet age. History flows on that Konark was widely known as the forest of “Maitra Aranya” on the banks of river Chandrabhaga way, way back in the medieval period. 

 

In today’s era, the river has dried up and only a miniature pond remains close to Chandrabhaga beach where devotees congregate on the occasion of Shukla Sapatmi in the month of January to take a holy dip in the legendary river to wash away one’s sins.

Enchanting Sun Temple

 

Sun Temple

 

The beauty of Konark is its Sun temple or the Black Pagoda that reflects a glorious heritage of Odisha. Steeped in mute silence, the colossal Black Pagoda has a potted history of its own. Listed as a world heritage monument, the Sun temple is on the “to-go” list among all segments of tourists. The magnificent 13^th century temple, built by the Ganga king, Narasimhadeva in honour of the Sun God has a rich display of Odishan architecture. In fact, it is a magic created in stone and is one of the masterpieces of Kalinga art. 

 

The Chariot at Sun Temple

 

The rock-cut temple was built in the shape of a huge chariot with seven horses and twelve pairs of divine giant wheels each measuring 10 feet high that are engraved on both the sides and carry the reigning deity forming the highpoint of the temple. 

 

There are numerous images carved on the walls of the temple that depict superb works of craftsmanship of Odishan architecture. There is a detached structure- the Natamandir or the dancing hall built on a square platform and has a flight of steps. The Navgraha temple dedicated to nine planets lies adjacent to the Sun temple.

Chandrabhaga sea beach

 

Chandrabhaga

 

Once our Sun temple tour was over, we were off to the isolated silver beach of Chandrabhaga. Just a few kilometres away from the Sun temple, the pristine Chandrabhaga beach has the verdant beauty of lush coconut groves that tempts all segments of tourists. 

 

Once upon a time, tourists rarely visited the beach but new-age tourists crowd the palm-fringed beach that is steeped in tradition and has a long coastline. In the twilight hours, at Chandrabhaga, it is a sheer delight to watch the last rays of the sun play with the silver beach. We did not forget to visit the age-old Hanuman Chalisa shrine near the beach that finds its mention in the Puranic texts.

Legendary Ramachandi shrine

 

The Shrine of Ramachandi

 

For pilgrims on a tour of Puri and Konark, a visit to the pilgrim point of Ramachandi is another wonderful experience. Nearly 8 km from Konark, the shrine of Ramachandi is at the confluence of river Kushabhadra meeting the Bay of Bengal.

 

A half-an-hour drive from Konark brought us to the tranquil environs of Ramachandi in the midst of casuarina-lined roads on Konark-Puri Marine Drive Road. The shrine flaunts a typical Odishan architecture with lions adorning the apex of the temple. Moreover, there is mythological significance associated with the shrine that mentions about the existence of legendary Goddess Ramachandi. 

 

Ten avatars of Goddess Ramachandi

 

Back in the 16^th century, the Goddess had foiled the attempt of Kalapahar who had set out to demolish the Sun temple at Konark. The Puranic text mentioned in the shrine premises highlights that it was the Goddess who had suggested Lord Rama, the plan to conquer Lanka. 

 

The shrine premises is adorned with ten statues depicting the different forms of the Goddesses including Kali, Lakshmi, Dhumawati, Bagla, Chinnamasta et al. After the darshan of the shrine is over, one can get to see the Kalpavat or the sacred banyan tree in the shrine complex believed to fulfil the desires of pilgrims.

Bhubaneshwar – City of Odishan grandeur

Bhubaneshwar-City of Odishan grandeur

 

Once the ground of historic Kalinga War, the city of Bhubaneshwar on the banks of river Daya has been the bygone capital of Kalinga and is replete with history. 

 

I have travelled to Bubaneshwar many times during my visit to Puri. Best known as the temple city of Odisha, Bhubaneshwar flaunts the earliest rock-cut sculpture of India in the form of a huge elephant that is present in the Ashokan rock edict. 

 

The temple city has three prominent monuments that are frequently visited by tourists- Lingaraj temple, Peace Pagoda on Dhauli Hill and the fascinating pink temple of Mahavira in Khandagiri cave representing the influence of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism during age-old times.

Lingaraj temple

 

The most significant and the biggest shrine dominating the city skyline is Lingaraj temple rising to a height of 54 metres and honours Lord Shiva. The shrine dates back to 11thcentury and stands as one of the architectural jewels of Kalinga art. Here we had a glimpse of richly adorned sculptures on the walls of the shrine. The shrine has a huge shikara at a height of 45 metres.

Mukteshwara temple

 

Another famed shrine portraying Kaling art is the highly embellished Mukteshwara temple belonging to 10th century. The shrine has an impressive stone arch at its entrance and lives up to the reputation in being an architectural marvel. There are tales of Panchatantra carved on the exterior walls of the shrine.

Dhauligiri

 

Peace Pagoda, Dhauligiri

 

Dhauligiri fares high on the itinerary of tourists visiting Bhubaneshwar and Puri. Just an 8 km-drive from the capital city, Dhauligiri is set on Dhauli hill in the midst of tranquil, rustic environs on the banks of river Daya. The major attraction of Dhauli hill is the one-of-a-kind white-domed Peace Pagoda known as Vishwa Shanti Stupa or the Japanese Pagoda that has the life-size statue of Lord Buddha and serves as a sound example of Indo-Japanese venture.

Khandagiri and Udayagiri

 

Jain Caves of Khandagiri

 

Around 8 km north-west of Bhubaneshwar are the Jain rock-cut caves of Khandagiri and the Buddhist caves of Udayagiri that are as old as 1st century B.C. Udayagiri has 18 caves while Kandagiri has 15 caves done up with sculptural motifs. Built by king Kharavela, the caves were cut out in a solid rock and stand high in the vertical of rock-cut Indian architecture. The two-storied carved Rani Gumpha or Queen’s cave is the largest of all caves in the complex.

Deccan Getaways

Deccan Getaways

The most popular and conventional places in Karnataka are Bengaluru and Mysore while Udhagamandalam, famed as Ooty in Tamil Nadu is visited by tourists heading to Mysore.

Tourist attractions in Bengaluru

ISKCON Temple

ISKON Temple, Bengaluru

 

A spiritual landmark in contemporary times, the shrine was set up in 1997. The ISKCON complex has shrines of Lord Krishna, Prahlad and Balaram and represents ornate style of architecture. The ambience is blissful that makes visitors get immersed in spiritualism. Way back in October, 2011, I had a chance to visit ISKCON Temple.

Tipu Sultan’s Palace

Fort and Tipu Sultan's Palace

 

This is regarded as a priceless piece of heritage and if heritage viewing is something you enjoy, Tipu Sultan’s Palace on Palace Road is the destination of choice. The monument is a two-storied wooden structure with exotic carvings.

 

Ulsoor Lake, Bengaluru

 

The summer palace was initiated by Haider Ali and was completed during the times of Tipu Sultan.

Touristy Mysore

Chamundeshwari Temple

Chamundeshwari Temple, Mysore

 

 The Palace City or Silk City of Mysore is 140 km from Bengaluru. It has one of the eight sacred shrines of South India renowned as Chamundeshwari Temple. 

 

Mahisasura on Chamundi Hill

Resting on Chamundi Hill around 10 km from the city, the 2000-year-old towering shrine honours goddess Chamundeshwari and mythology has it that the goddess had killed the demon Mahisasura on Chamundi Hill.

 
The shrine is elegantly carved on its outer walls at the top with Hindu pantheons and apsaras. Besides, the Chamundi Hill has around 8,000 sandalwood trees.

Brindavan Gardens

 

 

Lying across river Cauvery below Krishnarajasagar Dam is the vast, magical Brindaban Gardens laid out in Mughal style. We were simply taken aback by the colourful musical fountain that rises and falls with the musical rhythm after the sunset and transforms the place into a fairyland.

St. Philomena’s Church

St Philomena's Church

The towering church is one of the largest in the country and has twin spires and exotic stained glass windows.

Nilgiri Retreat of Ooty

Garden view of Ooty Lake

 

This is one hill station that has been highly popular since the Post-Independence era and formed a summer escapade for family leisure travellers. About 160 km from Mysore, the colonial hill resort of Ooty has fascinating gardens and scenic lakes. The drive from Mysore to Ooty is scenic and passes through Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and Bandipur National Park and we could spot herds of elephants passing through the highway.

Ooty Lake

Ooty Lake

 

The lake is a favourite haunt for tourists visiting Ooty with boating facilities and a fascinating garden with floral species in bloom.

 

Flora in bloom in Ooty Lake Garden

Botanical Gardens

Botanical Gardens, Ooty

 

This is a one-of-a-kind garden on 22 acres of land area that was laid out in 1848. Well known as one of the famed heritage gardens in the world, there is an Italian-style garden with the entrance of the garden having a heritage gate. The premier mulberry plant of Ooty was planted in this garden.

Pune - City of Peshwas

Pune-City of Peshwas

Well-known as the cultural capital of Maharashtra, Pune is brimming with heritage monuments belonging to the old-era of Peshwas. The city is a convenient stopover for travellers driving to the hill resort of Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani and the pilgrim point of Bhimashankar. The historic city of Pune was a strong bastion of Peshwas during the Maratha reign and its forts, palaces, temples and museums have their origin during the times of Shivaji and Peshwa regime.

Aga Khan Palace

Aga Khan Palace

 

My journey of the city began with the elegant Aga Khan Palace that is the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. This is the destination where Gandhiji along with his wife, Kasturba Gandhi and other freedom fighters like Sarojini Naidu and Meeraben were in confinement during the Quite India movement. Laid out in a sprawling garden, the massive monument is of immense national significance since it has preserved the milestones achieved by Mahatma Gandhi during his life.

Osho International Commune Centre

 

This is a not-to-be-missed destination for those interested in yoga and meditation. Standing in the lush forested area on Koregaon Park, Osho International Commune Centre is widely known as Bhagwan Rajneesh Ashram. The ashram is a spiritual health centre that has devotees trickling from all across the globe. For visitors intending to know about yoga and meditation, there is a silent tour organized for them.

Shaniwarwada

Shaniwarwada, Pune

 

 

We were quite eager to know about the conquest of the Maratha empire during the reign of Shivaji and we moved to Shaniwarwada that was the chief residence of Peshwas during the bygone times. We spent a lot of time in the imposing fortress built by Baji Rao I down the memory lane in 1780. One should be careful negotiating the steep, rock-cut staircases leading to the fort. This heritage grandeur formed the significant destination for signing the treaty between the East Indian Company and Peshwas against Tipu Sultan way back in 1790. We could capture panoramic glimpses of the city from the fort.

 

Lal Mahal

Lal Mahal, Pune

Away from Shaniwarwada is another heritage structure of Lal Mahal at Budhwar Peth that was the brainchild of Dadaji Kondev, the mentor of Shivaji. The monument was built in 1640 and has the memorial of Jijamata, the mother of Shivaji.

Peshwa Energy Park

 

Peshwa Energy Park, Pune

Spread over 7 acres of land, the Peshwa Energy Park was earlier a zoo and was initiated by Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA) funded by the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Resources.

 

Parvati Temple

 

Resting on the hillock, Parvati temple is the place to head for devouts and history buffs. We had to climb a flight of 108 steps to reach the shrine that provides a panoramic view of the city. We were on our last leg of the city tour and visited Parvati and Devdeveshwar shrine. Before departing, we peeked into the nearby Peshwa Museum that has the relics used by the Peshwa dynasty. There are scenes depicting the Maratha War and the portraits of Peshwa rulers.

Stunningly attractive Goa

Stunningly attractive Goa

For those who would love to immerse themselves in the world of sunny beaches and golden sands with vignettes of Portuguese charm reflected in the priceless monuments, a visit to Goa would make their holiday memorable. 

 

I had missed out on my earlier attempts to make it to Goa but it was sometime in April, this year, I was determined to make a two-day detour of the one-time Portuguese bastion on the invitation of Goa Tourism to have a glimpse of Goa Food and Culture Festival 2015 held in Panjim.

Calangute Beach

A view of Calangute Beach

 

On reaching Goa International Airport, a 45-km scenic drive to the seaside city of Panjim brought us to Miramar Residency owned by Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC). The drive offered glimpses of the river Zuari, St Sebastian Island and St. Jacintha Island on the way. Soon after refreshing at Miramar Residency, we were on our way to Calangute, just 17 km from Panjim in Bardez district of North Goa. 

 

Calangute Beach

 

Calangute sea beach is the largest in North Goa and is densely crowded with a steady stream of tourists. 

Konkani delight Ambat Ambati at Destination One

There are a number of beach shacks that we could sight on the beach and one can enjoy water sports facilities like parasailing and water skiing on the beach. 

We lunched at Destination One of Calangute Residency, a property of GTDC after Goan food demonstration session in the 

restaurant.

Panjim

River Mandovi in Panjim

 

Since I had limited time in hand, I decided to visit the Miramar Beach the next morning. Lying close to Miramar Residency, the Miramar Beach is at the confluence of river Mandovi and the Arabian Sea. 

Miramar Beach, Panjim

 

 

The beach is one of the most visited beaches in Goa and one can enjoy sound views of Panjim city. It was a pleasure to visit Goa Food and Cultural Festival 2015 hosted by GTDC that was held at Campal Ground on Dayanand Bandodkar Marg in Panjim.

Ponda

Tropical Spice Plantation at Keri, Ponda

 

 

We drove around 30 km from Panjim to head to Ponda to visit the Tropical Spice Plantation that is snuggled at Keri hamlet.

 

Cashew nut Tree at Tropical Spice Plantation

 

The 250-year-old plantation site has opened its doors for travellers over the last 17 years. 

 

Cinnamon tree at Tropical Spice Plantation

 

There are 30 species of spice flora in the spice garden and our spice trail made us get close views of the spice plants like cinnamon, cashew nut, red pepper and lemon grass. One can also come across pine apple plants with the ripe fruit and star fruit.

Old Goa

Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa

 

 

No mention of Goa can be made without Basilica of Bom Jesus on Old Goa Road in Old Goa popular as Velha Goa. Listed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the basilica has preserved the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. Although it was my second visit to the Basilica of Bom Jesus, I could rarely recollect my memory of visiting the basilica along with my parents during my formative years. 

 

The huge monument that exhibits baroque architecture is the only church in Goa that is without any plaster on its exterior walls. The church is only 9 km from Panjim on the banks of river Mandovi and represents elegance and simplicity. In fact, there are lots to see in the monument exhibiting Jesuit architecture.

Based on the inscriptions, the foundation of the huge church was laid way back on November 24, 1594 by the then Archbishop of Goa during the Portuguese regime. The monument was completed on May 15, 1605. The church is widely known as Bom Jesus that implies “infant” Jesus or “good” Jesus. We entered the main altar measuring 54 ft high and 34 ft wide with huge pillars made from basalt. The imposing three-storied façade is a distinguished blend of Ionic, Corinthian and Doric architecture. 

 

The altar of St. Francis Xavier

 

The main entrance has two small entrances and the façade has three letters in Greek inscribed on the top –IHS that connotes Jesus. Beneath the choir, we came near the altar of St Anthony on the right side and the wooden statue of St. Francis Xavier on the left. Getting an opportunity to come near the altar of St. Francis Xavier was a moment of bliss for me.

Goa Food & Cultural Festival 2015

 

Adjacent to the Basilica of Bom Jesus is another heritage attraction. It is none other than the massive Church of St. Francis of Assisi that was set up in 1661 representing a fine example of Portuguese architecture. The church is plastered with lime and built on laterite blocks. The heritage structure stands as the reminder of the religious group of St. Francis who visited Goa during 16^th century.