Golkunda Fort,India

• 

Golconda Fort

• Destination: Hyderabad

Golconda Fort is also called as Golla Konda . It is one of the magnificent fortress complexes in India and built on a granite hill that is 400 feet high with some walls of 60 feet height and normally other walls ranging from 17 to 34 feet height. The region is universally famous for the most coveted gems like Koh-i-noor, Hope Diamond, Idols Eye and Darya-i-noor which were produced in Golconda mines.
History
Golconda fort was constructed by the Kakatiya kings in the year 1143 based on an interesting story behind it. There was a day in the history that a shepherd boy came across an idol on the rocky hill, which was called Mangalavaram and the news about the boy has come to known to the Kakatiya king by his informers. Then the king ordered to construct a mud fort around the holy spot and latterly the people started calling the hill as “Shepherd’s Hill” or “Golla Konda”, which was popularly known in Telugu.
As the decades are passing away In AD1363 it was ceded to the Baihmanis. After their downfall in the Qutb Shahi kings (AD 1518-1687) started ruling Telangana region made Golconda as its seat of power and extended the mud fort into a massive and expansive fort of granite with the area extended to 5 kilometres .later on Hyderabad was made as capital in 1590 and the fort outer wall was extended to10 kilometres.
Prestige of the Fort Today
The age of the fort until today is almost 800 years but still stands as a Hyderabad’s greatest architectural wonders. This fort is having greatest engineering marvel with fantastic acoustic effects, when we clap at the entrance dome at a certain point we can hear sound at the highest point of the fort which is almost 1 kilometre away. This acts like a warning call for the royals if there is any attack.
Timings and entry fee structure

• Timings: 09.00 am – 5.00 pm (Closed on Monday)
• Entry Fee: Rs. 10 for Indian Nationals, Rs. 100 for Foreign Nationals
• Video: Rs. 25
• Contact: +91 40 23512401
• Sound & Light Show (Organised by APTDC):
• Timings: All days 1st Show 7.00 pm to 8.00 pm (Nov to Feb); All days 2nd Show 8:15pm to 9:15 pm (Mon, Wed, Fri – Telugu Show; Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun – Hindi Show)
• All days 1st Show 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm (March to October)
• Entry Fee: VIP Class Rs. 100 (Adult) Rs.75 (Child) Non Executive: Rs.50 (Adult) Rs.30 (Child

BIRLA TEMPLE Hyderabad,India

• 

Birla Mandir

• Destination: Hyderabad

Birla Mandir is a temple of Lord Venkateswara, known as Balaji. It is one of the famous tourist attractions in Hyderabad. The temple is open for every religious people. There is a brass memorial welcoming for everyone at the very entrance of the temple.

History of Birla Mandir

Raja Baldev Birla had built the Birla Mandir in the year 1938; the temple was inaugurated by father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. There is a very interesting story based on inauguration of temple, at that point of time, there was a social evil of Untouchability in the society and was in a peak level, so there is a need of eliminating it. Permissions are not given to anybody for entering into the premises of the temples. Gandhiji had passed a condition that if everyone in the society is allowed into the temple and offer their prayers then he would inaugurate the temple. Then onward everyone in the society was allowed into the temple.

About Birla Mandir

Birla Mandir is located on top of the “kala pahad”, which is one of the Naubat Pahad twins and the integration Oriya and South Indian style makes it unique from other temples in India. Speaking about the South Indian style, there is a Rajagopuram at the entrance to greet you as soon as you enter the temple. Lord Venkateshwara is main God in the temple; the tower over this main God reaches a height of 165 feet whereas the towers over the Venkateshwara’s consorts, Padmavati and Andal reach a height of 116 feet. The sculptures resembling scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata are awesome.
Lord Shiva and Durga, Lord Buddha are also placed in this temple. Beautiful Fresco paintings on the walls of this temple make temple more attractive. An artificial landscape with mountains and waterfalls has been the memorisable beauty spot which is at the end of the temple.
Being located near assembly, the temple offers an additional attraction as it shows great views of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. When temple is lighted in the night, that particular scene will never ever be forgetted in your life.

Timings of Birla Mandir

Timings: Timings: 7.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon (Morning) /
3.00 p.m. – 9.00 p.m. (Evening)
Open on all days

A temple in India-Yaganti -where Altar of Nandi grows slowly in Andhra Pradesh,India

Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple

Yaganti is famous for the Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Swamy Temple. It was constructed by the first Vijayanagara Sangama King Harihara Bukka Rayalu in the 15th century.

The temple is in Kurnool District in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

The devotees here believe that the Nandi idol in front of the temple is continuously increasing its size.

 

• Destination: Kurnool

Location
Yaganti Temple, popularly known as Sri Yaganti Uma MaheshwaraTemple, is located in the Banaganapalle mandal of Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. It is situated 77 km away from its district headquarters. It is one of the ancient temples and people from all over the country come to this place to feel the scenic and divine beauty of the temple. Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and sacred bull, Nandi, are the presiding deities of this temple.

About the Temple
According to a legend, Sage Agastya found this beautiful place called Yaganti during his Dakshin Desha Yatra. He wanted to build a temple for Lord Venkateswara on this holy site. He roamed around the caves and found a very old idol of Lord Vishnu. He performed Yagna and pooja before installing the idol. But during this process, he found out that the toe nail on the foot thumb finger of the idol is broken. On seeing this, the sage got upset and did a penance for Lord Shiva. Due to his pure devotion, Lord Shiva appeared and told him that this place contains natural springs, which resemble Kailash, so here only I can be worshipped. The sage then requested Lord Shiva to reside in this holy abode with his consort Goddess Parvati and, therefore, Lord obliged to his request. The main shrine contains Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati engraved on a single stone. Hence, this temple came to be known as Uma Maheshwara Temple.
This temple is believed to be constructed during 15th century under the reign of King Harihara Bukka Rayalu of Sangama Dynasty of Vijayanagara Empire.
The most amazing feature of this temple is its Pushkarini. It is a small pond inside the temple premises. The water comes from the nearby hills and reaches the pond all year around. It is considered highly sacred to take a dip in this holy pond before paying tribute to Lord Shiva.

Yaganti Caves
Yaganti Caves are situated in very close vicinity to the temple and are three in number. The first one is the Agastya Cave, where Sage Agastya did penance to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. You have to climb 120 steep steps to enter the cave. There is also an idol of Goddess here which is also equally worshipped. The next one is the Venkateswara Cave, where you can still have a glimpse of damaged idol of Lord Venkateswara. The idol is not worshipped because of that damaged portion. This idol is said to be existed even before the Tirupati Temple came into existence. Though the steps are very sharp, it is easier to reach here in comparison to the Agastya Cave. And the third one is the VeeraBrahmam Cave. It is at this place where Sri Potuluri Veera Brahmendra Swamy wrote Kala Gnaanam, his prophecy. While entering, one needs to bend very short as the height of this cave is very short.

Other Interesting Facts
Devotees and the locals believe that the Stone idol of Nandi is continuously increasing in size. According to Archaeological Survey of India, the idol is growing at a rate of 1 inch per 20 years. It is also believed that this stone Nandi will come alive and shout when Kali Yuga ends.

One interesting thing you will notice here is the absence of crows. It is said that when Sage Agastya was doing intense meditation, crows disturbed him. Therefore, he cursed the crows and banished them from coming anywhere near Yaganti.

Address
Sri Uma Maheshwara Temple/Yaganti Temple
Yaganti, Dist. Kurnool
Andhra Pradesh

Details
Taluka: Banganapalle Area: Kurnool
Timings: 7 AM- 11 AM and 5 PM- 8 PM (On All Days)

Fast Facts
State: Andhra Pradesh District: Kurnool Languages: Telugu, English
Best Time to Visit: October-March Weather: 22 C-45 C
STD Code: 08515 Pin Code: 518124

How to Reach
By Air
Hyderabad airport is the nearest one, 290 km away from the temple and is well connected to the major cities of India and abroad.
By Rail
The nearest railway station is at Nandyal, 48 km away and is well linked with major cities of India. It lies on Vijayawada-Guntakal rail route.
By Road
APSRTC operates regular bus services that ply to Yaganti from Kurnool, Banaganapalle and other major towns nearby. The best way to reach here is by your own means of transport like car or a private taxi.

Distance from Nearby Cities
Tirupati – 282 km
Hyderabad – 300 km
Bangalore – 335 km
Chennai – 415 km
 journey planner

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Jagannath Temple

Puri is one of the four holy dhamas of India (The others are Dvaraka, Badarinath and Rameshvaram). It is located 60km from Bhubaneshwar, on the coast of the Bay Of Bengal.

Puri is called Sri Purushottama Dhama, the abode of the Lord Vishnu on earth. Other names are Sri Kshetra, Nilachala-dhama, Jagannatha-dhama, Yamanika-tirtha, Martya Vaikuntha, Nilagiri, Shankha-kshetra, Dasha-avatara-kshetra and Narasimha-kshetra. Puri is about 2 km wide and 4 km long.

 The name Jagannath literally means the Lord of the Universe. King Indradyumna first established the temple of Lord Jagannath here on the Nilachala hill with the Deity being installed by Lord Brahma himself.

The present temple was begun by King Chora Ganga deva and finised by his descendant Ananga Bhima Deva during 12th century. The temple complex comprises an area of 10.7 acres and is enclosed by 2 rectangular walls. The outer enclosure is called Meghanada Prachira. The walls are 20ft high. The inner wall is called Kurma bheda. The walls were built during 15th or 16th century.

This temple has the largest kitchen in the world, and feeds thousands of devotees daily. The kitchen can prepare food for 1,00,000 people on a festival day and 25,000 is not unusual on a normal day.

There are 36 traditional communities who render a specific hereditary service to the Deities. The temple has as many as 6000 priests. There is a wheel on the top of the Jagannath temple made of an alloy of 8 metals. It is called Nila-Chakra (blue wheel). Everyday a different flag is tied to a mast attached to the Nila-Chakra. Every Ekadashi a lamp is lit on the top of the temple near the wheel.

Thirty different smaller temples surround the main temple. The Lord Narasimha temple adjacent to western side of the Mukti-Mandapa, was constructed before the present temple. In front of the main gate is an 11 m pillar known as Aruna Sthambha. This pillar was once in front of the Sun Temple in Konark. It was bought to puri during 18th Century. The figure on the pillar is Aruna, the Sun god's charioteer. 

In the passage room of this gate is a Deity of Lord Jagannath known as Patita Pavana (Savior of the Fallen). This deity is visible from the road, so non-Hindus may take His Darshan.

There are 4 gates:

• The Eastern Simhadwara (Lion Gate).
• The Southern Ashwadwara (House Gate).
• The Western Vyaghradwara (The Tiger Gate).
• The Northern Hastidwara (Elephant Gate).

There is a carving of each form by the entrance of each gate. The Lion gate, which is the main gate, is located on the Grand side of the road.

The main Deities in the temple are Lord Jagannath, His brother Lord Baladeva, and his sister Subhadra. Some of the other temples within the walls of the temple house Deities of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Rama Chandra, Sakshi Gopal, Hanuman, Lord Narasimha, Lord Varaha and others.

Jagannath

BEAUTIFUL TORNA AT VADNAGAR GUJARAT

BEAUTIFUL CARVING OF BEAUTIFUL TORNA AT VADNAGAR GUJARAT

The town is famous for its torans, a pair of 12th century columns supporting an arch, about 40 feet tall built in red and yellow sandstone, just north of the walled town. They stand majestically on the bank of Sharmistha Talav, on a road going down from Arjun Bari. They are among the few surviving examples of the entrance gates, once a regular feature of the architecture of Gujarat in Solanki period. The carving style is similar to the Rudra Mahalaya at Sidhpur.

Perhaps erected after a war victory, the architecture is embellished with carvings of battle and hunting scenes. The one to the east is in better condition and has been used as a symbol of Gujarat in recent times. The torans might have served as an entrance to a large temple complex, but there are no remains found here.

How to get there

By road: Mehsana (47km), Ahmedabad (111km). Local Transport: Non-metered auto rickshaws.

By rail: Siddhapur is a railway station on Ahmedabad – New Delhi railway line, 42 km from Vadnagar.

By air: Nearest airport is Ahmedabad (111k

TARANGAJI JAIN TEMPLE GUJARAT

TARANGAJI JAIN TEMPLE GUJARAT

Taranga Hills are located around 20 km from Vadnagar, on the Aravali range and harbours have the profound connections with Buddhism.

From the banks of the Saraswati, you start on the path that ascends up the Taranga hills. On your way you may see Jain monks striding barefoot. On the peaks above, you sight tiny white chhatris and a little shrine to Devi Taranamata from whom the village derives its name. The idols in the temples of Taranmata and Dharanmata are basically of Buddhist goddess Tara. There are a few images found from here and the broken terracotta images of Buddha, four carved images of Dhyani Buddha on a stone plate, stone and brick walls inside rock shelters are some of them.

As your footsteps ascend upward the Taranga Jain temple, suffused in the fresh air of the hill, welcomes you. This 12th century derasar, is one of the best preserved and least restored temples in Gujarat, and a testament to the devotion and dedication of the Solanki Rajputs. Though a less-frequent stop on the standard tourist trail, it is considered to be one of India’s most treasured works of architecture.

Entering the womb of this magnificent Jain temple, where a five-meter tall sculpture of the 2nd Jain tirthankar, Shri Ajitnath, sits peacefully, may be a portal, for some, into deep unspeakable inner stillness. The teacher, Ajitnath, having transcended action and suffering, transmits an intense and unmoving quiet, beyond the known.

The temple lingers mysteriously in the consciousness of its visitor. The almost absent gaze of the tirthankar inside contrasts with the overflow of fluid sensual movements of dancing maidens, gods and goddesses, lovingly detailed outside in stone. The voluptuous damsels in their intricately carved costumes, as though dancing, both graceful and arousing. In the words of travel writer Philip Ward, “If you thought Jainism would be too intellectual to appeal to you, let this riot of sculptural delights overwhelm you.”

Background

Taranga is a three peaked hill in the Mehsana District of Gujarat. The river Rupen flows along the Taranga Hills; and to the east flows the river Sabarmati.

Taranga tirtha is considered one of the most important Shvetambar Jain temples, one of the five most important mahatirthas of the Jains. Of the 108 places known as Siddhachal, where holy people have attained enlightenment, one is called "Tarangir".

Temples of such magnitude as this one are generally built at a siddh kshetra, a holy place where saints are said to have attained enlightment. It is popularly believed that 35,000,000 munis, including Vardutt and Sagardutt, attained moksha here.

Under the guidance of renowned Jain scholar and poet Hemachandracharya, the Solanki King Kumarpala (1145-72), ruling from the capital in Patan, converted to Jainism and laid the foundation for this colossal temple, adding it to his growing legacy, along with the restoration of the ruined Somnath temple and the construction of the walls of Vadnagar. It was renovated on a large scale in the 16th century during the rule of the Mughal emperor Akbar, who supported diversity of religions.
How to get there

By road: Approx. 130 Kms from Ahmedabad, 50 Kms from Ambaji shrine and 56 Kms from Mehsana. Bus service and private vehicle rental are available from Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Patan, Siddhpur and Ambaji. Your bus will drop you off at Timba near Danta.
By rail: The nearest major railway stations are Visnagar (38 kms), Mehsana (52 kms), Unjha (54 kms) & Vijapur (60 kms) approx. A slow local train also travels from Mehsana to Taranga (2 hrs.) The temple is 5 km from the railway station.

By air: The nearest Airport is Ahmedabad, approx. 125 Kms from Taranga.

Gor Gathri Peshawar, Pakistan

Gor Gathri Peshawar, Pakistan

Very old and celebrated by a Chinese pilgrim, Hiuen Tsang, who visited Gandhara in the early 7th Century AD, had paid glowing tribute to the city. The Gorakshanath (Lord Shiva) temple is situated in the centre of the building.

Mughal Emperor Babar, who recorded its importance in his autobiography, visited the place.

We had heard stories about Gor Khatri, a holy place of the yogis and Hindus who came from long distances for pilgrimage and got their head and beards shaved there. At once I headed for Bigram (or present day Peshawar), saw its famed, ancient tree and surrounding countryside. But much as we enquired about Gor Khatri, our guide Kamari said nothing about it. However, when we were almost back in our camp, he told Khwaja Muhammad Amin that Gor Khatri was in Bigram and that he had said nothing because of its confined cells and narrow passages. Khwaja Amin repeated his words to us. But we could not go back because the road was long and the day was spent